//------------------------------//
// Music, Madness, And Mirth 
// Story: Decretum 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Fifty Seven: Music, Madness, And Mirth
~BlackRoseRaven

Amdusias, Graceful Melody, and Riffraff belong to CrossroadsPony


The heat of summer had ended, and yet the leaves were only just beginning to turn to brilliant red and orange in the trees. Day lessened, night lengthened, but sat at the moment in a comfortable balance between light and darkness: it was coming on autumn, Luna and Scrivener's favorite time of the year, and not just because of the quickly-approaching Nightmare Night and Antares' birthday.
Scrivener's own birthday was in autumn, not that he ever celebrated or most ponies even knew what day it was. And after several disastrous birthday attempts by Luna, she had given up trying to use Scrivener's birthday as anything more than an excuse to make people buy her presents: she liked to celebrate her birthday on the same day as Scrivener's.
Antares was growing up, Avalon was getting bigger and beginning to learn to focus her energy into sports and athletics, and Cowlick was baby-proofing the house she and Ross shared. It wasn't an uncommon sight these days to see Ross nervously carrying a practice foal toy around as Cowlick did everything she could to help him adjust: she didn't think he'd be a bad father, but she was worried about how long it could take him to get used to things, hence the fancy textbooks filled with math problems and puzzles she'd recently ordered.
Discombobulation had also written a letter he'd meant to mail to Odin, but he had awkwardly run into the once-god himself one day in Ponyville, so he had given it to the one-eyed entity and then turned and run away. A bemused Odin had later come by Scrivener and Luna's cottage, saying mildly: “Discombobulation recommended transferring Discord to the custody of Canterlot. At least, I'm fairly certain that's what this letter says, but it's very hard for me to make heads or tails of.”
Odin had debated this for a little while, then said he'd also already talked to Celestia about it, and she had thought over the request before saying she agreed with Discombobulation. As it was, Discord had been rendered harmless by his own neutralizing bracelet. They would monitor him, talk to him, try and teach him: that, and keeping the chaos entity in a cell would serve no point, and there were better things for the Knights of Valhalla to do than spend their days sitting outside of Discord's prison.
So Discord would be transferred down to Canterlot at some point and time, although Luna planned to make Celestia promise not to turn him to stone. While Odin visited, they also discussed Gymbr, Nightmare Moon, and what he had deduced from the information they had taken from Valthrudnir's manse. But the only thing that was clear was that Kvasir was needed for some reason by Clockwork World.
Odin still doubted that Valthrudnir was back: in fact, he had begun to wonder about Clockwork World itself... he didn't doubt its origins came from Valthrudnir, but he had a hunch that it wasn't some great and glorious project from what he'd read in the alchemy textbooks and drawn from the other notes they'd taken. It had been a prototype, perhaps, for Valthrudnir's vision of a perfect world... but Odin thought that after Valthrudnir had gotten bored of his games – or perhaps there had been something else, something that had gone wrong – he had abandoned or shut down his prototype world. It would explain why Valthrudnir hadn't made himself a throne in Decretum, and used that layer to wipe out the others, just as it would explain why there had only recently been signs of violence that could be traced back to Clockwork World throughout the layers.
Something, however, had obviously started up the gears and machinery that had been shut down for... who knew how long. Awoken Clockwork World from whatever slumber it had been in, brushed off the dust, and brought the Clockwork Ponies to life. After all, when Scrivener thought of Visionary's memories, it felt like she had spent countless years locked away in her solitary cell, until time had become impossible to measure. In reality, it could have been weeks after she first awoke... or it could have been decades, centuries, even longer. Who knew how long it took the mechanically-enhanced bodies of the Clockwork Ponies to break down?
But no one they knew stood to gain anything from turning Clockwork World back on, if it really had been shut down at some point: they seemed to be running on some kind of doomsday programming, seeking to destroy everything now that Valthrudnir was gone, and take revenge on Scrivener and Luna by attacking them and their friends and family. The Norns were a possibility, but ultimately, they didn't seem to fit very well: they might be callous enough to find entertainment in what evils Clockwork World was wreaking, but they were also well aware that they had to stay out of Decretum's sight or risk being destroyed themselves.
And again, Scrivener couldn't help but think of his vision of Valthrudnir, the way his features had been hidden in the shadows, his stutter, his... madness. How the Prophet had been there beside him... talking for him, but not... servile, either. It all pointed towards the idea that it wasn't actually Valthrudnir. It had to be some other force... but what would or could imitate the Jötnar, and why try and move his projects forwards?
Scrivener was confident they'd have the answers in time: if things continued, probably not even a long time. Then he shook his head quickly and forced himself to look up with a small smile, gazing over the enormous tree that housed the library as Luna rested against his side and murmured: “Aye, poet. Think not too much on our conversation with Odin. What surprised me was that he was so little interested in Gymbr... but I suppose that to him, a magical talking doll, whether invincible and bringing with it an evil story or not, is not the most impressive of creatures.”
“I think it was because you said Gymbr was an ally and... Odin trusts you, Luna.” Scrivener smiled  bit over at her before he looked ahead at the library door, adding meditatively: “Not as much as he trusts Celestia, though. And I think he still clearly really likes Celestia.”
“I know, 'tis sick!” Luna exclaimed, but she was grinning all the same before she looked over her shoulder and called loudly at two approaching ponies, making the others in the square stare: “There thou art, Sleipnir, we were just talking about how thy father wishes to diddle our big sister!”
“What? Do not be ridiculous, Luna, Celestia would kill him did they try to sleep together and I am very sure Odin knows that.” Sleipnir replied cheerfully, and Luna laughed as Scrivener snorted in amusement and Pinkamena only rolled her eyes, before a loud barking rose up and a medium-sized, dog-looking beast hopped up over the back of Sleipnir's head, wagging its long tail furiously and drooling a bit of icy mist into the air. Its bleached-skull features gleamed in the light, but the large, pink collar and bow around its neck made it markedly less fearsome, as did the cute pink vest covering its body: mostly to hide its ribs and internal organs from view, but also because Sleipnir complained that he didn't want to risk Kǫttr catching a cold. Something that made no sense, the beast being an animalistic ice demon and all, but all the same no one could convince the enormous stallion otherwise.
Kǫttr barked happily a few more times, and then Sleipnir laughed and bucked the puppy over his head, catching it easily and setting it down in front of him. Immediately, the energetic little Hellhound woofed and charged forwards, prancing around on its manicured, groomed claws in an excited circle as Luna laughed, then chased after it cheerfully. Sleipnir immediately joined in as well, and the three ran in a circle as Pinkamena sighed and rolled her eyes, striding over to Scrivener and headbutting him before she glared over at the frolicking ponies and demon beast. “I see things like that, Scrivy, and I wonder if we should maybe just let Clockwork World plow us down and mulch us all into bits and pieces. So what the hell are you waiting out here for?”
“Celestia and Twilight are in a meeting right now with a Strange One ambassador and a few dignitaries from Canterlot. They apparently couldn't wait a few days for Celestia to get back to the Royal Courts so... we're giving them a bit of time to finish up.” Scrivener paused, then he rose a hoof awkwardly at Twilight when she approached the window to see what the noise outside was, before the violet mare glared and pointedly gestured for them to quiet down.
Scrivener sighed and rolled his eyes, then he looked over his shoulder and whistled loudly. Immediately, Kǫttr glanced up, then happily pranced over to the charcoal earth pony before leaning up and slurping up his breast and over his neck, making him wince as it left a trail of ice crystals behind and he felt numbness tingling through his body. Thankfully, Fluttershy and Sleipnir had quickly trained Kǫttr out of gnawing and chewing on things, but the affectionate Hellhound still breathed ice and its licks were more painful than pleasant, in spite of its best efforts.
Hellhounds were a little more intelligent than the average dog, and pack animals: since Kǫttr had been raised almost from birth by ponies, it naturally saw other ponies as its fellows in the pack and family. But while it had sharp fighting and hunting instincts, it had also been babied and pampered constantly by Sleipnir, who treated it the very same as he'd treat a normal dog, and it had learned to fall more into its role of house-pet than hunting animal.
Kǫttr was still a Hellhound, though: it ate dog food readily enough, but it also needed a steady diet of meat and it had a lot of energy it had to work out. Neither of these things were any problem, however: Sleipnir had a boundless supply of energy himself, after all, and was constantly playing and frolicking with the Hellhound when he wasn't training it, and Pinkamena already regularly had large quantities of venison and beef delivered by the Nibelung to Sugar Cube Corners, although she was grumpy about how much of her food she was now sharing with their pet.
Sleipnir huffed as he strode over and reached out to push a hoof against Scrivener's forehead, firmly shoving him over, and Kǫttr barked happily as Sleipnir said grumpily: “Do not try and usurp my pet, poet. Go get thine own.” He paused, then looked over at Luna, adding curiously: “Unless Twilight Sparkle counts as one, or the Draconequus. I do not know why I never thought of that before.”
“Oh, shush, Double Swing.” Luna huffed, and Sleipnir glared at her before she added kindly: “'Tis only because I love thee, brother. Because I accept and love thee, I tease.”
“Well, it makes thy teasing no less... teaseful.” Sleipnir paused, then he looked down at Scrivener, who was simply laying on the ground and gazing meditatively up at the sky. “Does thou have a word for teasefulness?”
“I do, but I'm not going to tell it to you until you stop making up words.” Scrivener said mildly, and then he winced when Kǫttr barked and licked his face, leaving a blue trail of frost. “I. I really like you too, Kǫttr, but you need to stop doing that.”
“Yes, Kǫttr, do not kiss him, thou does not know where he has been; well, all the worse, I do, actually... he has been with my little sister, and the places she goes, well.” Sleipnir shivered as Luna glared at him and Pinkamena grinned. “'Tis not for me to describe to my son whilst so young!”
Luna swung her horn at him, but Sleipnir easily blocked it with a hoof before shoving her backwards, and the sapphire mare snorted and growled. Before she could tackle him, however, the library door swung open, and several ponies strode out... before paling and staring at the sight of the Hellhound, which barked happily at them and looked excitedly over the strangers.
One of them stumbled backwards, but it only bumped into a cloaked Strange One before it yelped when the Hellhound barked again, and the pony politicians all shot immediately off. Kǫttr gave chase after them, barking gleefully, and Sleipnir winced and chased after his pet, yelling frantically at it.
The Strange One simply strode calmly away from the building as Pinkamena laughed and Scrivener and Luna both watched with entertainment as Sleipnir disappeared down the road after his demon dog, and then they turned their eyes forwards as Celestia finally stepped out of the library, smiling amusedly as she walked towards them before glancing curiously down at Scrivener Blooms. “Sleipnir or Luna?”
“Sleipnir.” Scrivener replied with a shrug, and then he smiled before looking past Celestia at the blue sky above, saying softly: “Not a lot of clouds today. Good day for that picnic, if you're still up for it.”
“Of course.” Celestia smiled slightly, glancing over her shoulder to Twilight as the violet mare hurried out the door and closed it behind herself. “Twilight, it's okay. It can wait a few days... as a matter of fact, it's not even an important matter at all, you know that those dignitaries were only there to try and gain some influence through me.”
She paused, then glanced back and forth, and Luna tilted her head curiously before the rainbow-maned mare shook her head quickly. “It's nothing, little sister. Well, nothing serious, at least... I just feel like someone's been watching Ponyville lately. Not in a hostile way, but... I worry that I'm drawing unnecessary attention from all of Equestria here with my presence. I worry that because of ponies trying to come here simply to get to... meet the Baroness, or try and make a good impression on me, or all of that...”
“Oh, thou worries too much!” Luna huffed, then she paused and reached down to jerk Scrivener Blooms firmly to his hooves before she grumbled and began to brush him quickly off. “And thou art filthy. Filthy like... like many things that come to mind, most of which are also diseased.”
“You're a disease.” Scrivener muttered, and Luna replied by smacking him with her horn, the stallion wincing before he returned his eyes to Celestia and added reassuringly: “And you really don't have to worry, Celestia. It's been... years since you began staying here. I know that... tourists do sometimes mill through, and you've had to pose and make nice with more than one pony who was interested in meeting... the Baroness Celestia, not the real-you Celestia... but look around and tell me that even if Ponyville is growing, it still... it's still the same, if you get what I'm saying.”
Celestia nodded slowly after a moment, looking thoughtfully back and forth before Luna added cheerfully: “And besides, thou art boring and stuffy, and Ponyville was far more interesting and exotic when I, fearsome Nightmare Moon, wert living as an exile on its borders. And Ponyville did not explode into some tourist despot then!”
“Tourist despot. I think you meant...” Scrivener broke off when Luna glared at him, and then he simply cleared his throat and looked away. “Right, right. Rule fifty-four. Don't correct what Luna says.”
Pinkamena grinned widely at this, snorting in amusement as she rubbed absently at the tattoo over her chest. “Me and Sleipnir got a similar rule. Every time he says something stupid I get to punch him. I like to keep count over the course of the day, then spend my evenings relaxing by beating him to a pulp. He's real pretty when he's all bruised and purple and red.”
Twilight, Luna, and Celestia were all simply staring at the demon as she grinned widely, and then Scrivener said moodily: “Thanks, Pinkamena. That's really just what I need, you giving Luna ideas like that.”
“I would never bring such evil down upon thy head!” Luna looked outraged, and then she paused and leaned in thoughtfully, making Scrivener wince as she added musingly: “Although thou art a very handsome stallion when all beaten up. It makes thee look masculine and tough. Less like the mare thou art, in other words.”
“I understand that as I'm not married or in any serious relationship right now, I may sound a little out of place saying this... but I really think that perhaps you and Pinkamena should reconsider your approach to your relationships.” Celestia said moodily, and Twilight smiled awkwardly up at the ivory mare as Scrivener nodded in hurried agreement. Pinkamena and Luna, however, both blew loud raspberries in response, and the ivory mare looked at them meditatively.
“I do honestly find myself wondering how you both managed to find such good stallions for husbands. Well, admittedly, I understand a little clearer for you, Pinkamena, since Sleipnir has always been a little...” Celestia paused thoughtfully, gazing off into the distance at the sight of the enormous, vine-maned stallion cheerfully coming back with Kǫttr riding on his back, the Hellhound barking happily. “Peculiar. On the other hoof, though, Luna, Scrivener is a fine stallion-”
“And thou may not have him, Celestia, although if thou begs and pleads I may permit thee to borrow him for the night, as long as thou does not break him.” Luna winked over at her older sister, who gave her a moody look. “I know thou can be a little rough upon even the hardiest of ponies, after all. Why, 'twas why we used to joke thou wert able to kill a dragon with thy-”
Celestia held up a hoof, closing her eyes with a sigh before she looked meditatively over at Scrivener and said finally: “You know, it wouldn't be difficult to arrange a divorce for you. Technically, after all, your marriage was even less official than Sleipnir's.”
“My marriage was very official! How many ponies saw me take my wife to bed that night? 'Twas far more than half a dozen and even more than that, I am sure, heard her cries of pleasure!” Sleipnir interjected as he approached, looking huffily over the group, and Kǫttr barked on his back as if in agreement, Sleipnir nodding violently. “See? My son remembers when he was conceived!”
Pinkamena looked dryly over at Sleipnir at this, and then Celestia and Luna traded looks before the younger sibling said kindly: “Sleipnir, thou does realize that babes do not simply sprout from the ground like heads of lettuce to be plucked, aye?”
Sleipnir gave his siblings an insulted look, retorting firmly: “Now do not treat me as a child! But to make love is to pray for a child and look, look upon my back, a child we were given! Oh, sure, perhaps Kǫttr is not the brightest, but all the same he is our sweet little son, and by Helheim he is much more handsome than Antares is!”
Luna gave Sleipnir a horrible glare at this, and Scrivener grumbled under his breath before Pinkamena finally simply reached over and punched him in the side of the neck, and Sleipnir gave a little, girlish squeal and staggered to the side. Then Pinkamena glared at him and said flatly: “Keep your damn mouth shut.”
Sleipnir nodded hurriedly, making a zipping motion across his lips as Kǫttr whined loudly, and Pinkamena glowered up at the Hellhound, saying grumpily: “And don't you start, either, or I'll make you sleep with sissy.”
There were grumbles from around the group, and then Twilight quickly rose her head, saying awkwardly: “So uh. Fluttershy is watching the foals right now at her cottage, let's hurry over there, pick them up, and then head over to Sweet Apple Acres for the picnic. Sound good?”
More grumbles, but Celestia nodded, and then Luna did, and finally Pinkamena. They began to turn, and then Luna frowned suddenly, perking up before her eyes slowly narrowed as she looked back and forth. Scrivener frowned as well after a moment as he picked it up too, but Celestia quickly said pointedly: “We should go, little sister.”
Luna grunted after a moment, then turned to lead the group off as Pinkamena bristled a little and Sleipnir smiled, but took on a visibly-curious posture. Twilight frowned over the group, then sighed as she turned to follow them towards the road, muttering under her breath: “I really hate being the last one to know what's going on.”
“It's alright, Twilight. I wouldn't have picked up on it either, but... the whole Luna thing.” Scrivener replied mildly, and the violet mare only grumbled a bit before Scrivener added musingly: “Besides. I don't think it's anything too serious...”
Twilight made a face as she looked over her shoulder, and then Celestia said softly, attracting her attention: “It comes with time, Twilight Sparkle. Don't forget how long my sister and I have been alive, and what we first were... and well, my brother, too, but...” Celestia smiled slightly over at Sleipnir. “Sleipnir has also always had the advantage of being able to speak with the earth in a way few ponies can.”
“Perhaps I shall teach Antares, though.” Sleipnir said thoughtfully, and Luna looked up in surprise at this as Pinkamena grunted and gave the enormous, vine-maned stallion a look. “Well, no, I think 'tis very possible, phoenix. 'Tis just a matter of... learning. Better yet, the foal is young and whilst he seems to enjoy flying, like his mother he seems to feel most that he belongs upon the earth. He has respect for nature, as well, and that is what is most important. Besides, nature all but yells to me when such fools as are trying to follow us tromp all over her.”
Twilight looked awkwardly back over her shoulder again, and then Luna remarked mildly: “Oh, thou shan't see them. They are not completely unskilled, and I think Celestia knows them, does thou not?”
“In a manner of speaking.” Celestia said delicately, and when Luna grinned up at her, the ivory winged unicorn sighed and said finally: “I'm allowed to be friendly with ponies apart from those you choose. Again, let me remind you that I'm the one who took care of both you and Sleipnir for all those years.”
Luna grumbled moodily at this as they headed to the gates of Ponyville, Twilight and Scrivener now both looking curiously at Celestia, but it was Pinkamena who spoke up first, saying sourly: “Princess Sunshine, either you come clean or I'm going to go and scare our guests out of hiding.”
“Oh, oh, oh! Thou art so adorable when thou does that, oh, please do, please do, please do!” Sleipnir said excitedly, nodding rapidly, and Pinkamena gave him a half-irritated, half-amused look before he waggled his eyebrows and leaned in, whispering something in her ear. For a moment, Pinkamena continued to look indecisive... and then she sighed tiredly and nodded with a mutter, and Sleipnir giggled like a child before he continued to prance forwards.
The group walked onwards, Twilight looking curious as they headed at a fair pace down the road, every so often what sounded like a faint hum brushing through Twilight's mind... and then the violet mare stared in surprise as Pinkamena simply vanished into black smoke in mid step, Sleipnir giggling again before he quickly reached out and yanked Twilight along before she could stop and stare, exclaiming: “No, no, no! Thou must keep moving, grant the illusion... and in three, two, one...”
Then the group spun around almost in synchronization, Twilight staggering hurriedly in a circle as they formed a line across the road. For a moment, Twilight thought she saw a strange shimmer in the air... and then Pinkamena reappeared in full demonic glory in a blast of black smog down the road, lunging out of the mist and roaring furiously as her mane swirled backwards and her cloven hooves ripped into the road.
The sound of girlish screaming rose in the air before the shimmer transformed into three visible figures that were falling all over each other as they scrambled away from the demon; ironically, one of them seemed to be a demon itself, while the other two were Pegasi. One was feminine and pretty, with a periwinkle coat and silver eyes currently filled with terror and a cerulean mane that had a look of permanent bedhead with its organized chaos of spikes and curls.
The other Pegasus was much larger and yet clearly just as scared, his coat crimson, his mane almost pink and combed straight, with smooth, natural bangs that fell across his features. He was wearing something on his back: at first, Twilight and Scrivener both tensed as they thought it and the demon accompanying the stalking Pegasi had weapons, but then the bipedal demon fell forwards in a sprawl and the glinting object flew from its hand as the Pegasi became tangled up with the creature, all three of them cursing and flailing as they tumbled all over one-another.
A beautiful, slightly-battered silver saxophone bounced through the dirt, and the demon winced and scrambled towards this before Luna stepped forwards and stomped a hoof down on this, grinning widely down at the demon. Slowly, she leaned down over the reptilian creature as it stared up at her with its gleaming golden eyes, studying its crown of four horns – one visibly chipped and cracked – and the rows of spikes along its muzzle and which jutted along its spine and the long, odd tail of the creature, which forked into two distinct tines. It was armored with silver and golden scales over its chest, and thicker-still navy hide blanketed the rest of its body.
“And what do we have here?” Luna studied them thoughtfully, and when the strong demon began to pick itself up, she clicked her tongue and Pinkamena stepped forwards with a loud growl, the tattooing over the Gluttony demon's breast and leg seeming to writhe of its own accord as she bared her fangs, and immediately the demon that had been hiding with the Pegasi quailed with a wince. “A demon and his familiars?”
“That one's a half-demon.” Pinkamena replied moodily, jerking her head at the crimson Pegasus, and dark silver eyes winced immediately even as he began to get up. Luna frowned as she studied him, from the battered, rusted harmonica hanging around his neck to the single piercing in his ear, to the emblem on his flank... and at this, Luna grinned widely. It was of a crossroads, complete with road markers... and 'tis not a natural mark. 'Tis a sign of a contract with a demon... but...
Luna leaned in thoughtfully, and then Celestia sighed and stepped forwards, reaching up and pulling the sapphire mare back as Sleipnir bounced curiously forwards as well, gazing over the Pegasi with interest. “Luna, they're friends. Please, go ahead, stand up.”
“Yes, as if we need your permission.” muttered the masculine demon, but he winced when Pinkamena growled at him loudly. When he glanced over his shoulder, however, he saw Pinkamena in her normal pony shape instead of her demonic form, but it didn't seem to reassure him much even as he leaned forwards, snatching up his saxophone and standing tall, kicking the Pegasi at either side of him up to their hooves as he grumbled: “I warned you both it wouldn't work. Cowards.”
“You suggested it in the first place!” snapped the red Pegasus, and then he blushed deeply as he looked awkwardly towards Celestia as he adjusted the acoustic guitar on his back, grinning widely and lamely. “We... uh... hi.”
“Hi!” the other Pegasus parroted hurriedly, and Scrivener reflected that the high, melodic voice of the effeminate Pegasus made it no easier to tell whether or not it was a stallion or a mare, as he studied the piercings adorning the muzzle and nose and ears of the Pegasus, then the tattoos of yellow lightning over his forelimbs that went from shoulder to hoof, and finally the emblem on his flank, of a microphone stand framed in a burst of light.
“What manner of creature is this?” Sleipnir asked curiously, studying the effeminate Pegasus with interest as he leaned slowly forwards, and the smaller, lithe pony giggled a little, gazing with a bit of a blush back at Sleipnir before the enormous, vine-maned stallion licked his lips thoughtfully. “'Tis very pretty, in any event.”
Celestia sighed as Pinkamena grunted and circled around them to rejoin Sleipnir's side, and then the ivory mare turned around, introducing calmly as she gestured to them: “The Pegasi are named Riffraff and Graceful Melody, and the demon is named Amdusias. They...” She hesitated, then smiled over her shoulder at them, saying quietly: “They're friends.”
The demon grumbled under his breath grouchily, as Riff awkwardly waved a hoof with a faint blush and Grace bounced happily, nodding rapidly a few times. For a few moments, the other ponies studied them, and then Sleipnir and Luna traded looks before the sapphire mare exclaimed cheerfully: “Celestia, thou has friends who aren't imaginary! And one is a demon, no less! What manner of nonsense is this?”
“'Tis not a very impressive demon, though. But so that creature is a stallion, my... that makes it no less pretty, though.” Sleipnir said cheerfully, and Grace seemed to take this as a compliment even as Amdusias glowered at Sleipnir, who huffed as Kǫttr growled distrustfully on his back. “Well, 'tis true! Look at thee, great brute, with thy... trumpet.”
“Saxophone!” Amdusias snapped, then he reached out and shoved a finger against Sleipnir's nose, adding moodily: “And I'll have you know, pony, that-”
Sleipnir was apparently not interested in learning whatever the demon had to teach him, as he opened his jaws and promptly bit down on the creature's finger, and Amdusias flinched and tried to yank his hand quickly back. Sleipnir gamely hung on with a loud, horrible slurping sound however, Luna giggling loudly as Riff stared and Grace's eyes slowly widened. Finally, Celestia sighed and punched Sleipnir in the side, and Amdusias' finger pulled free of the stallion's mouth with a pop as the enormous earth pony wheezed loudly.
Amdusias grimaced in disgust as he held up his finger, then reached down and grumpily dried it off against Riffraff's mane, the masculine Pegasus glaring up at him in irritation before Luna leaned forwards and studied the saxophone-carrying demon curiously before asking kindly: “Art thou a band?”
“Oh yes, that's us, we're a band.” Amdusias' voice dripped sarcasm as he leaned forwards moodily, glaring down at Luna before he looked over the ponies and huffed moodily, his eyes returning to Celestia grumpily... but with what looked surprisingly like respect, too. “If you knew it was us, why oh why did you sic that... awful little monster on us?”
“Oh, what's wrong, pretty-boy?” Pinkamena grinned widely, leaning up and licking her teeth slowly as her eyes gave a flash. “I smell it now, why you're hanging out with them. You have a link to the half-demon... and you're all skin and bones spiritually-speaking, because you gave up a chunk of your powers somewhere... lemme guess, I love puzzles, and this one ain't hard: since you aren't connected to Luna but I'm guessing you were born and raised in Helheim, I'm thinking you ran like a little girl when the collapse happened, is that right?”
Amdusias looked down at the demon stiffly, and then she snapped her teeth at him, and he grimaced back in distaste as she added mockingly: “You must have been first tier like me once, but now you're... what, a chew-toy? No wonder you hit the dirt so fast. Gee, I'm sorry I scared you, I hope I didn't make you piddle yourself too much.”
The demon grimaced and gritted his teeth, and Luna frowned darkly... but then Celestia quickly held  hoof out, saying softly: “I'm willing to vouch for them, Luna. I know I've mentioned Amdusias at least once before... he was the demon that serenaded-”
“It was not a serenade, it was an example of my musical prowess.” Amdusias interrupted hurriedly, glaring over the ponies as Celestia only smiled at him kindly. “You always have to make it more about you than it really is, don't you, Celestia? You can't just appreciate my generosity in sharing the stuff that dreams are made of with you, oh no, it has to become some vast thing done solely for the benefit of delighting you because obviously you're the center of everyone's world.”
Scrivener slowly traded a look with Luna as Twilight stared, and then Pinkamena said moodily: “I agree with you both. Princess Sunshine's got a real big problem with thinking that just like the sun, everything revolves around her. But you seem to be getting pretty goddamn excited for a slow-ass sloth demon over her.”
“Oh shut up, Gluttony, go shove your face into a garbage can and eat yourself to death.” Amdusias retorted moodily, glaring down at her. “I cause dreams and vivid delights. You cause obesity and cannibalism.”
“I could go for some cannibalism right now.” Pinkamena flashed her teeth at the demon, and Amdusias grimaced as Riff winced before staring when the pony-shaped demon's eyes turned to him. “And you. You're on the menu too.”
“Alright, enough.” Celestia interjected before anyone could add more fuel to the fire, and then she sighed and looked back and forth, saying quietly: “We're out here, standing and arguing in the middle of the road... but perhaps Graceful, Riffraff, and Amdusias would like to accompany us... they could give us a show of their talent.”
Amdusias looked almost offended, but Grace nodded quickly, trilling brightly: “Of course, right, Riff? Isn't that what we came here for anyway?”
“I... well, I mean, we meant... private maybe, not in front of a...” Riff stuttered awkwardly, wincing as he looked up at Celestia, and as Celestia smiled gently, the other ponies all looked at the Pegasus with amusement: it was quickly becoming clear that the large red half-demon stallion had something of a crush on the rainbow-maned winged unicorn. “But I mean, they're... if you really want us to...”
“'Tis very cute. Not at all like thou, Pinkamena.” Luna said positively, and Pinkamena grunted as Riff gave Luna a surly look. “But very well. I shall hold thee accountable for how they behave, though, Celestia. And Amdusias, thou and I shall have to have a little talk, unbound demon: I like to keep track of all minions of darkness, after all.”
“Music is slave to neither time nor place. I'm no servant.” Amdusias said grouchily, and when Luna slowly looked over her shoulder and glared at him, the demon shrank back a bit and mumbled: “But... perhaps I can spare a rest or two.”
“Good.” Luna said comfortably as she turned to lead the way onwards, and as Scrivener and Twilight fell into step on either side of her and Sleipnir trailed behind, with Celestia following last to chat a bit with the three newcomers, Luna whispered eagerly: “Look! Celestia wasn't lying, she wasn't simply making up stories! She indeed has been working on making friends of her own, what joyous occasion!”
Scrivener grunted at this as Sleipnir nodded thoughtfully, Pinkamena rumbling moodily as she allowed herself to drop back a little with an almost clinically-interested look back at the trio of Pegasi and musical demon. “It's very interesting, Luna, yes, but she also made friends with a... rock band. Or glam bland, I can't tell.”
“How dare you, you uncultivated lout!” snapped Amdusias, glaring pointedly at Scrivener's back, and Riff looked a little ruffled as well as Scrivener only looked mildly over his shoulder at the two as they continued down the dirt road. “Do I look like some preening poser to you, more interested in fame and fortune and an image than pursuit of true talent?”
Scrivener's eyes roved musingly to the effeminate Grace, who still seemed a little confused over what was going on, to glowering Riffraff, and then finally to the tall demon... and he said finally: “A little.”
Amdusias snorted smoke out of his nostrils, his baleful yellow gaze locked on Scrivener as he muttered: “Your company is nothing but a ship of fools, Celestia. What rudeness. What idiocy.”
“Scrivener Blooms can be a little blunt at times, but he's a good pony. Although I worry sometimes that my little sister Luna has rubbed off on him a little too much.” Celestia smiled as she turned her eyes forwards, and Scrivener shrugged before Celestia added: “And I almost forgot, I'm sorry. Riffraff, Graceful, Amdusias, these ponies are Pinkamena, Sleipnir, Luna Brynhild, Scrivener Blooms, and Twilight Sparkle. And yes, little brother, don't worry: the Hellhound on my brother's back is Kǫttr.”
Kǫttr barked cheerfully at this, wagging his tail as he scrambled around the vine-maned stallion's back to look happily down at the newcomers now that he had decided the strangers apparently weren't bad people, and Amdusias grumbled under his breath as Riffraff nodded awkwardly and Graceful chirped a cheerful 'hello!' again before his eyes settled on Sleipnir. Sleipnir grinned widely at him, and Graceful half-lidded his eyes in return... then winced when Pinkamena moodily glared at him, the effeminate pony falling back a little bit as Celestia sighed and shook her head, but smiled all the same.
Fluttershy was surprised to see the newcomers as well as the others at the door of her cottage, and she nervously peered out the ajar door for a few moments before settling a bit when Celestia said gently: “They're trustworthy. And Amdusias is a friend.”
“Sure, why not? Let's all be friends, that's not something that takes years at all.” Amdusias muttered moodily, shaking his head before he winced back when Celestia gave him a pointed look. Then he sighed dramatically and slumped his shoulders, grumbling: “The lows I've been forced to sink to... a Lord of Helheim, now just a pathetic musical theater performer for a cadre of... pathetic little ponies.”
“Oh, 'tis not theater, friend, thou art not wearing a funny hat.” Sleipnir said cheerfully, and Grace giggled a bit at this as Riff looked confused and Amdusias simply glared sourly at the enormous earth pony, before he grinned and winked. “Think of it this way, thou wert lost but now, thou art found and free! Is freedom not worth giving up some of thy strength?”
“Did you not hear me before, or are you really that thick? I was beyond even that Devourer you have enslaved, I was a master of the icy wastes and all within!” Amdusias snapped, and then he winced when Sleipnir glared at him.
“That is my wife, not my slave, Amdusias. Aye, my sweet phoenix is a demon, but I am more a slave to her through my love for her than she ever will be to me.” Sleipnir said firmly, and Amdusias looked dumbstruck by this remark as Pinkamena gave a mumble and a faint blush. The other ponies all smiled towards the vine-maned stallion, but he then promptly ruined the romantic moment by glancing towards Fluttershy and asking cheerfully: “So will thy handsome Phooka friend be joining us as well? For if he and thou art not yet a couple I may again seek to make advances upon him.”
“Phooka?” Grace perked up immediately at this, looking curiously back and forth immediately. “I heard there were Phooka around here, but there's all kinds of rumors about this place, and I didn't know what was true and what wasn't... I'd be real interested to see that!”
Scrivener smiled despite himself as Fluttershy blushed and the door quickly closed... but within seconds, it was open again, and Nirvana emerged, Avalon buzzing happily around the Phooka's head and Meadowlark and Antares at his heels. Amdusias stared as the Phooka snorted at the demon distrustfully, and then he winced back a bit when Grace bounced forwards, grinning into Nirvana's eyes fearlessly as he leaned forwards. “Hi!”
The Phooka rumbled awkwardly, and then he shook his head as Fluttershy emerged with a large bag thrown over her back, smiling a little as she said softly: “I'm ready to go. Sorry I took so long...”
“It was no wait at all, Fluttershy.” Twilight said softly, and Fluttershy nodded with a warm look to Twilight as she slipped up beside the violet mare. Twilight flicked her horn to close the door for the Pegasus, then she turned her eyes to watch as Luna nuzzled and fussed a bit over Antares, grinning and laughing at the dried paint still splattered here and there over the colt. “Looks like they got up to quite a mess.”
Avalon and Meadowlark were now both staring at Amdusias, Riffraff wincing a bit as the demon glared at them, then he suddenly bared his teeth and growled. Immediately, Meadowlark squeaked and hid behind Nirvana, and Avalon shivered in the air, the foal – still quite small for her age – staring at Amdusias as he began to look pleased with himself... and then Avalon shot violently forwards and smashed into his face, hammering it with her hooves and making the demon yell and stagger backwards in horror before she spun around and shot over to Sleipnir, dropping down beside Kǫttr and glaring at Amdusias as Kǫttr growled in agreement even as Sleipnir threw his head back and laughed.
Amdusias cursed a few times as he rubbed at his features, grinding his teeth together loudly: but most of all, he seemed incredulous even as Fluttershy said gently but firmly: “No, Avalon, now I want you to apologize to-”
“No!” Avalon said defiantly, glaring over Sleipnir's shoulder at the demon. Pinkamena grinned in approval at this, and then Avalon squeaked when Kǫttr turned to her and licked her face a few times, but the foal only shivered for a moment before clinging to the Hellhound, mumbling: “Doggy nice.”
Then Antares awkwardly bounced over to Amdusias, looking up at the demon as the demon looked sourly down before Pinkamena loudly and pointedly cleared her throat, and Antares nodded brightly. His eyes fearlessly met Amdusias' own, and the demon leaned down moodily as Riff frowned in surprise and leaned forwards to study the featherless wings of the unicorn, even as the musical demon began dryly: “Am I supposed to be afraid of a little half-demon foal that-”
Antares smiled wide, making his enormous, sharp teeth gleam, and Amdusias gave the same reaction almost everyone gave at the sight: he reared back in surprise, fumbling his saxophone, before he winced when Pinkamena and Luna both gave wide grins of their own. Death-traps of fangs sharper and larger than Amdusias' own impressive grin made the demon wince backwards a bit, hugging his saxophone impulsively closer before Antares gazed at the newcomers, asking curiously: “My name is Antares Mīrus... what's your names?”
Amdusias looked less-than-thrilled to go through introductions yet again, and his mood only became more sour when they went over to Sweet Apple Acres and he was faced with only a few looks of surprise. Worse than the ponies not being intimidated by his presence or the way they so simply, so casually accepted him as one of their own – insulting in its own odd way, even if there was perhaps just the tiniest bit of relief and gladness, too – was the way that they kept trying to hold conversation with him, talk to him like an equal – an equal! – and asked him and Riffraff all kinds of probing, curious questions.
Riffraff was awkwardly attempting to make nice, although he looked a little strained and kept trying to wiggle his way towards Celestia, and Graceful was having a ball, eagerly chatting up Sleipnir and Nirvana, staring around with amazement at the group of people that had met them here: the Apple Family, Soarin', Rarity and Spike, Pinkie Pie, Zecora, Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage... it all drew the interest and amazement of delighted Graceful Melody.
Eventually, Celestia cajoled Riffraff into playing a song for them, smiling kindly at the red Pegasus... and once Riffraff started, Grace hurriedly excused himself from where he had been staring at the Pink Twins and Sleipnir to join his friend... well, who was clearly more than just a friend, even without him sitting so close, their body language so tight and in sync as he began to sing and Riffraff smiled even as he grimaced, his hooves playing the acoustic guitar with incredible skill. And a moment later, they were joined by the demon, even if it was clear from Amdusias' grudging expression that he thought he was far above this.
All the same, once the demon started to play, he visibly relaxed bit-by-bit. The song Graceful sang was low and sweet and sultry, his voice strong and never missing a note, never cracking or weakening. Riffraff followed him flawlessly, and Amdusias' melodic saxophone rolled smoothly along with them: even when he went into a long, powerful solo, he followed the rhythm that had already been set by the others, he played with the Pegasi, not against them.
At the end of the song, they were applauded, and Amdusias seemed pleased by the appreciation. The demon lightened considerably... that was, until there was a loud bang, startling the gathering as a cloud of smoke went up before it was torn apart to reveal Discombobulation sitting with his back to a piano, a bowtie around his neck as he laced his fingers with his wooden prosthetic and asked pleasantly: “That's nice, kids, but anyone can do show and tell by themselves. Can you keep up with me?”
“A lousy patchwork doll wants to compete against me?” Amdusias glared furiously, and Riffraff looked sourly at the Draconequus as Graceful only cocked his head curiously, slowly drawing his eyes over the piano and seeming more interested than insulted. “Music is about movement and eloquence, not a jumble of random chaos!”
“Music is passion.” Discombobulation smiled slightly, then he spun around in his seat, grimacing as he carefully arranged his prosthetic fingers, and Amdusias' lip curled in contempt before the Draconequus rose and wiggled the digits of his other hand. “But you probably know that: after all, Hell is full of musical amateurs.”
Amdusias glared at this... and then, without warning, Discombobulation began to play, using his prosthetic hand to hammer out chords as his fingers smoothly danced over the black and white keys, and Graceful laughed before he brightened as he recognized the tune, throwing his head back and belting out: “Ain't no pony in the world I'd rather see tonight than you, you, you, you; not a single thing will keep from bein' with you too, too, too, too!”
Riffraff laughed as he began to rapidly strum along the strings of his guitar, grinning widely as he looked with sudden appreciation over at the Draconequus, and Amdusias followed along quickly, stuttering a bit at first more out of surprise than anything else, but quickly picking up on the beat and smiling despite himself before Luna laughed and leapt to her hooves, dragging Scrivener into a dance. A moment later, Applejack was on her hooves with Rainbow, and Sleipnir grinned as he seized Pinkamena, who yelled in frustration even as she was pulled up into a whirl with the laughing stallion.
Antares, Avalon and Meadowlark laughed and cheered them on as they danced through the grasses, Kǫttr barking happily as other ponies stomped their hooves and Spike clapped along with a laugh, Rarity leaning against him and smiling warmly: and the music didn't stop with that one song, Discombobulation firmly leading them through an entire set of quick, jaunty music as Graceful sang with all his heart before he ran forwards into the crowd with a laugh to all-but-tackle Soarin' and yank the embarrassed former Wonderbolt into a dance, as Riffraff leaned back and marveled as Amdusias turned around, pressing almost back-against-back with Discombobulation as piano and jazz saxophone dueled for supremacy.
It ended in a barrage of notes, ponies applauding as Luna yelled enthusiastically and approvingly and Celestia smiled warmly, eyes all but glowing before Discombobulation tapped out a few slow notes... and without hesitation, Amdusias picked up the melody, leaning forwards as his saxophone rumbled and Graceful strode back up to join the others, half-pulling Soarin' along with him as he sang in a low, gentle voice: “I stare at the stars... and the sky up above... and think, 'what am I made of?'”
He pulled Soarin' gently up beside him, leaning against the Pegasus stallion, winking at him, and the Wonderbolt swallowed awkwardly, but then sang along in a low voice that wasn't as strong as Graceful's, wasn't as melodic, but its roughness, its texture, complimented the effeminate Pegasus' almost perfectly... and what surprised Scrivener most of all was how clearly Soarin' seemed to know the words, as they sang together: “Am I full of sorrow? Am I hurt... and pained? Or am I filled... with love?”
Riffraff gazed almost jealously at the two as Amdusias added an extra bar, drawing out and on the song, but even Discombobulation had no problem following the altered rhythm. The music continued, pouring up from Graceful's soul and backed with Soarin's masculine timbre, piano, guitar and saxophone all making one effortless melody together...
It was soulful, in a word, and Celestia looked almost adoringly over the musicians... but even Luna felt like her breath had been taken away as she rested her head against Scrivener's shoulder; he was smiling, his eyes closed and head bowed, drinking in the atmosphere and the feelings, letting himself be swallowed up by the music. Music so strong that with his eyes closed, he could smell the smoky atmosphere of some rundown bar and felt all around him not a grassy field and trees but old wood that had known countless patrons, coming and going and drinking away their sorrows, their only escape this little club right here where they all gathered together to listen as their storytellers, their artists, their saviors made all the pain go away for a bittersweet hour as they played their blessed melodies...
For a few long moments in the silence that followed, there was nothing but the sound of breathing... and then when the applause came, it was like a typhoon, and Graceful smiled and bowed his head, sneaking a quick kiss to Soarin's cheek and making the former Wonderbolt blush but grin as he hurried away. Discombobulation stood up and bowed once before he and his piano vanished, and Amdusias looked pleased with himself as he crossed his arms and cradled his cherished saxophone close, while Riffraff grinned widely, gazing warmly over at Celestia.
“Excellent! Excellent indeed!” Luna finally shouted as the applause began to die down, and she hopped to her hooves with a  bright grin, looking over at Celestia as the ivory equine rubbed almost embarrassedly beneath one eye before she said firmly: “Thou should hire them at Canterlot! It seems they already adore thee, after all... and what better excuse to ensure thy friends are always close?”
Celestia looked thoughtfully up at this, and Amdusias snorted in amusement, half-turning away even if his eyes flicked with half-hope towards the rainbow-maned mare as he said dryly: “As if I would ever lower myself to be the servant to some silly pony. I still have both my pride and my dignity, thank you very much.”
Celestia smiled amusedly at this, then she asked in a slow, tactful voice: “Perhaps, Amdusias, you would be interested all the same in helping Ponyville out with the annual Nightmare Night celebrations that will be coming up in a few months' time. It would be an excellent way for you to showcase your talents... and I'm sure that the presence of a real demon would be inspiring.”
Amdusias looked moody as Graceful brightened and Riffraff grinned, even as he held up a hoof, asking quickly: “Would you be there? I mean... I mean, is this a paying gig?”
“I'll be there, yes, as I'm sure will be several members of the Royal Court, and I'm sure we can scrape together some payment for your services.” Celestia responded with a slight smile, looking over her shoulder at Zecora. “Do you recall who's in charge this year?”
“The mayor herself is, I'm fairly certain... this year, she hopes to reach the final curtain.” Zecora paused, then the zebra smiled slightly over at Luna as the sapphire mare grinned widely. “Since a certain pony here likes to ruin it long before, and over this fact the mayor is feeling a little sore.”
“Oh shush, I make things interesting!” Luna said positively, and then she glared over at Amdusias, adding mildly: “And do not think that just because thou art friends with my sister, it shall exempt thee from inspection. The only reason I do not pummel thee and forcibly make thee take the same vow of peace and loyalty as thy brethren have is because thou art clearly no threat.”
Amdusias looked less than pleased at this, and Scrivener cleared his throat pointedly, looking moodily over at Luna, but she only huffed and flailed her front hooves at the air. “'Tis true! 'Tis a saxotubist. 'Tis not a dangerous profession.”
Celestia slowly closed her eyes, looking pained as Scrivener reached up and calmly petted Luna on the head, making her glower before Amdusias said moodily, pointing at the sapphire mare: “Keep her away from me and I'll consider your offer, Celestia. If only because I have nothing better to do and am willing to part with some of my dignity if it keeps me away from... that.”
“That! That! Thou art that!” Luna shouted furiously, and Amdusias winced backwards a bit before Luna leapt forwards, but Celestia sighed and reached out with a foreleg, blocking her from charging at the demon. Instead, Luna only huffed and pawed at the grasses, then she sat grumpily back and looked sulkily at the trio, saying finally: “Very well. But then... well, I am curious as to how thy strange group came to be, and demand thou tells the story.”
“Very well.” Amdusias sighed tiredly, rolling his eyes before he looked at Riffraff, who was only looking awkwardly at the gathered, interested ponies before the stallion winced when Amdusias curled his long tail around and prodded him firmly with one of the tines. “Well, tell the story, then, and don't forget to tell them all about how you died and went to Helheim and were at my mercy for all that delightful time we had together, soul-seller.”
“Yes, I'll be sure to tell them every detail.” Riffraff said tiredly, looking grouchily over his shoulder at the demon before he shook his head and turned his gaze back over the audience. He seemed to be searching for something – likely Graceful Melody, Scrivener realized after a moment as he noted the slender Pegasus had vanished – and then the crimson half-demon stallion sighed a bit and nodded, looking down at a hoof that Luna realized after a moment actually had what looked like strange flanges sticking out of the bottom of it. They were small, like little flexible claws that were only visible because of the sapphire mare's sharp eyes and the way Riffraff was studying his own hoof, as he said finally: “I was... a lawyer, but I always wished that I could play the guitar...”
“Yes, he was a very awful guitarist before he met me. I checked.” Amdusias said dryly, looking moodily down at the stallion, who slowly looked sourly back up at the demon. “The little dreg had some appreciation for proper music but couldn't produce anything more symphonic than the barking of the Hounds of Helheim.”
“Do not mock my son's singing voice! He is very talented!' Sleipnir said grumpily, and Amdusias gave a groan and a roll of his eyes.
Then Riffraff looked up at the demon flatly and asked dryly: “Do you want me to tell this story or not? And do you know where Grace went?”
“It's cute how you still worry about your sweet little maiden after all these years.” the demon said moodily, and he pointed grumpily off towards the back of the crowd without looking up. “He's trying to hold a conversation with the Phooka again. Every time I think I've finally grown used to you mortals and your filthy habits, you come up with some new way to remind me that oh no, no, you can always find new lows to sink to.”
“Go take a nap, loser.” Pinkamena said moodily, and Amdusias glowered at her before the demon leaned forwards and grinned widely at him. “Go ahead. Give me a reason.”
Amdusias only mumbled as he leaned back, crossing his arms and glowering grumpily at the demon before Riffraff cleared his throat and said finally: “Why don't I just get started on the story?”
The others nodded at this, Luna leaning forwards intently and Scrivener tilting his own head with interest as Antares and Meadowlark both sat and leaned forwards intently. Avalon buzzed around her parents' heads as Rainbow Dash smiled and Applejack looked thoughtfully at Amdusias, and Riffraff cleared his throat again before he started in on his story.
At the back of the group, meanwhile, Grace was happily relating his own story to Fluttershy and Soarin' and Nirvana as he studied the Phooka with fascination. The stories were different at first... but soon merged into one tale, of how they had traveled across Equestria together after Riffraff had made a deal with Amdusias, trading his soul for power... something that pained Riffraff to talk about and made Amdusias smile contritely, but the tables shortly turned and the demon was left looking embarrassed as Riff detailed how Amdusias had done everything in his power to not only escape to Looking Glass World from the collapsing layer, he had dragged Riffraff along with him... and even aided in helping bring him back to life.
And as Riff talked, Luna couldn't help but smile at Celestia, understanding more and more with every word that the scarlet Pegasus spoke and in the background, Graceful Melody almost unknowingly echoed, why her big sister had taken such an interest in these admirers... and how the idea of redemption, of friendship across worlds forged in fire and pain, could bring even the strangest of people together and forge the strongest of bonds from the most tenuous of materials.