Chapter Twenty Seven: Metastasis
~BlackRoseRaven
Luna watched moodily as Burning Desire picked up the last piece of shattered blood quartz, the demon gritting his teeth as his horn glowed, and Hollow Star glared at him before twitching as the stone shattered into pieces and the energies inside it were released in a gasp of crimson smog. Then the sapphire mare spat to the side and glared over at the Destroyer, who had returned to the ugly, terribly thin – and in Luna's opinion, fittingly-witch-like – body she had first met them in. “There. We do not use such wicked necromancy.”
“I was merely putting the weak to use serving a better purpose.” Hollow Star muttered distastefully, shifting and sitting up as she looked moodily out over the piles of useless, broken and lackluster stone. Luna only growled at this as Scrivener sighed quietly, shaking his head slowly and shifting uneasily: the blood quartz had been made by soaking pieces of magically-imbued gemstone in blood drained out of demons and fusing them together, creating giant red crystals that were used as soul cages... cages in which the energies and spirits of demons were bound after they were killed, kept in constant agony so they would bleed demonic essence into the air. Who knew how many demons had been murdered here by Hollow Star...
Scrivener began to get to his hooves... then flinched and hurriedly brought his right forehoof up with a curse at the twinge of pain that ran through it. It was the hoof that had shattered from the corruption he had pumped into Luna, and it was wrapped in thick cloth bandaging already visibly speckled with his black blood, and was still cracked in several pieces. The pain throbbing out of it was tremendous, and the stallion breathed uneasily before Hevatica said quietly: “Please, Scrivener. Let me fix it in a sling.”
“No, I'm fine. I'll be fine.” Scrivener mumbled awkwardly, shaking his head and giving a faint smile as he glanced up awkwardly. The Kelpie only gazed at him softly, but the stallion hurriedly shook his head and held up his cloth-wrapped hoof, saying quietly: “When we get back to Ponyville I promise I'll let Scarlet and Twilight look at it. It's not that bad though, it... can't be, Luna isn't...”
He looked over at her awkwardly, and Luna smiled faintly, holding up her own right hoof. There was a cut or two still visible around it, but otherwise it was fine, the mare saying softly: “Aye, mine is not split all asunder. 'Tis a good sign, it means Scrivener must be on the way to healing.”
Hevatica only looked at Scrivener for a few moments with quiet concern in her eyes, and then she finally sighed softly and nodded slowly, and the stallion smiled a little as he carefully got to his three working hooves, keeping his cloth-wrapped front limb hugged up against his chest. Both he and Luna were bruised, battered, beaten, and their armor hung in pieces around them, but while they felt and looked like hell, they also felt... normal.
Of course, it had only been two hours since the fight: Hevatica now looked a little drained, and Burning Desire was still bruised and weak. But the Destroyer, on the other hoof, looked almost the same as she had when they had first met now, in spite of the blood quartz being destroyed and the demonic energies allowed to fade from the air. She healed fast even by supernatural standards... even if her body still had some visible wear and tear, and she was likely stuck in her emaciated witch's shape for now.
Scrivener gave Luna a mild look, and the sapphire mare huffed as the stallion hobbled over to her, before muttering as he sat down beside her: “Witch, hag, use whatever term thou prefers, 'tis what she resembles to mine eyes.”
Hollow Star didn't take the bait, but she did fix them with an icy glare for a few moments as Burning Desire looked awkwardly up from the summoning circle he had drawn: it allowed him to trade small items back and forth over long distances with Twilight Sparkle, who was apparently waiting on the other side anxiously for them. She had sent them letter and parchment too, in order to explain what had happened, and Luna had simply drawn a silly little comic with stick figures of her and Scrivener beating on what was clearly supposed to be Hollow Star and sent this back in return. Twilight had been less than thrilled with it from the spark of frustration Luna and Scrivener had both felt in their minds.
Surprisingly, though, Luna made herself take a breath and become professional, looking calmly up to say quietly: “All else aside, I believe that 'tis time for us to work out an understanding, Hollow Star. Thou may not be happy to be our soldier-”
“I am not your soldier. I am a slave. Just like big brother always wanted.” Hollow Star said disgustedly, before the Wrath demon's eyes flashed as she looked with distaste at Scrivener Blooms. “I sincerely hope that if you decide to lay your filthy hooves on me, you're better that Burning Desire ever was in bed. And you don't cry after sex.”
“I'd probably cry after sex with something like you.” Scrivener muttered, and Hollow Star bared her teeth at him, the stallion wincing backwards a bit as Luna grinned wryly despite herself, and Burning Desire dropped his head forwards with a groan. “But see, I think this is one thing we need to get straight. We want your help.”
“Then you must make me stronger. Give me your blood.” Hollow Star said coldly, and when Scrivener winced and Luna growled, the demon shrugged and continued in an icy voice: “It's what makes sense, for both of us. I desire more power, more strength, and you desire the strongest possible servant. It serves in both our interests.”
“No. That's not an option. Besides, neither of us know... what would happen.” Scrivener looked silently at Luna, who closed her eyes tightly and nodded slowly. “It only... worked... because, as you've no doubt guessed, Luna and I have linked souls. And even then you saw what happened. It's corruption. It's poison. We... we lose control of ourselves.”
The Destroyer studied them for a few moments, then she said distastefully: “And why would you volunteer this information to me? Although if you aim to make me feel more pathetic about my loss than I already do, in that case you have done splendidly. Losing is bad enough. Losing to an idiot, berserk animal...”
“'Twas still thy own fault.” Luna said with disgust, looking coldly up, and Hollow Star growled even as the sapphire mare continued, undaunted: “Thou uses light and purification. So-called 'holy' powers. 'Tis what I am most vulnerable to when... when the corruption fills my spirit. Even now, such powers do great harm to myself and Scrivener.”
“You again volunteer information I will gladly use against you in the future.” Hollow Star said in an almost-contemptible voice, and then she gritted her teeth. “Or are you mocking me? Because you know that now that I'm bound to you... I have to listen to any order you command, I can't so much as bat an eye at you without your consent?”
“Aye, partly for that reason. But partly because I wish thee to know thou art a stupid, boorish idiot, Destroyer.” Luna shot back, and Hollow Star glared furiously as the winged unicorn said quietly: “Thou lost thyself in battlelust, and sought only the physical. The entire fight, as a matter of fact, thou only retaliated with magic when magic struck thee first. Thou uses thy magic to torture and torment... but in the fray, relies only upon physical fight.”
Hollow Star stood slowly, pushing herself to full height as she leaned forwards and said coldly: “I do not cheat with cheap tricks, if that's what you're getting at, Luna Brynhild. I hunger for battle, for a challenge, for a real fight. Victory itself is meaningless to me, it only means the fight is over and my distraction and pleasure is at an end.”
Luna smiled wryly at this, then she said softly: “Good.”
For a few moments, there was silence between them, and then Luna looked down and said quietly: “Burning Desire spoke highly of thy prowess, and I believe him. But whether thou art an ancient demon or not, thou seems to need to refresh thyself in the art of strategy. So thou shall train alongside us, and we will learn to be a unit together.”
Hollow Star looked disgusted, but at the same time she kept silent: there was a subtle shift in her body language, a change in her eyes, as she read between the lines. They were going to make her stronger, and that was half of what she cared about... and the other half, drowning herself in war... “I may not like you, and you may rely on cheap tricks... but what is so powerful that it will require both of us to fight it? No, you said 'unit...' there are other warriors?”
“There are others, aye. Others thou shalt learn to respect and fight beside, because if thou does not, we shall die.” Luna said simply, and Hollow Star laughed shortly before the sapphire mare smiled calmly. “Oh no, thou art free to make thine own decisions in that regard, Hollow Star. I will never order thee to fight on my behalf. I shall ask thee to stand beside us and to fight with us, but I will leave it entirely up to thee, whether thou fights or not against the monsters we shall face. But tell me, shieldmaiden. I am thy mistress now: what kind of warrior does it make thee, even if enslaved to me, if thou simply sits back and lets me be killed?”
“A coward.” Hollow Star said contemptibly, and then she cursed under her breath, looking down and muttering: “You are more cunning than I thought. Then tell me, what are we faced against?”
Burning Desire began to smile at this, and Hollow Star glared over at him, making the demon quail as she snapped: “And I demand that this filthy scum be kept out of my sight and away from me! I have no interest in coddling him after he caused this to me!”
“And here I thought thou wert happy as a demon.” Luna said ironically, and then she sighed and added crankily: “And thou art both damned adults, thou can work out thy issues between thyselves! 'Tis not that I do not sympathize with what thou went through a millennia ago, witch, 'tis that thou art a murderer and brigand and foul loathsome wretch, and Burning Desire is trying to save thy stupid life from becoming even more... stupid. Thou art stupid. And... skinny. Ugly. Thou art stupid and skinny-ugly and I will not foal-sit thee both!”
Hollow Star's eye twitched as she gritted her teeth so tightly they looked like they were about to crack, as Scrivener stared with disbelief at Luna and Burning Desire dropped flat, covering his head with a whimper. Luna looked completely undaunted, however, glaring challengingly back at the Destroyer... until finally, Hollow Star cursed quietly and dropped her head forwards, mumbling moodily: “I... bow to your wishes.”
“What? Just... just like that?” Burning Desire said incredulously as he sat up, looking with disbelief at Hollow Star, who narrowed her eyes dangerously at him, and the fiery unicorn flinched backwards. “What did I do?”
“Don't make me answer that.” Hollow Star said distastefully, and then she looked back at Luna sourly, pawing one steel hoof at the floor of the cavern. “Tell me about our enemies.”
Luna looked over at Scrivener, and the stallion shrugged a bit before saying quietly: “They're... monsters. I call them cuckoos... but if you want to understand what we're up against, we have to tell you about the Clockwork Ponies, and Valthrudnir.”
“I have no desire to listen to your blathering, but I recognize that I have little choice in the matter... we're waiting for something, aren't we? And the more I know, the more efficiently I can hurt them... nor will I be lectured again and patronized on the art of battle. I am a Destroyer.” Hollow Star said moodily, and then she straightened slowly as she studied Scrivener Blooms. “Keep your story short.”
Scrivener sighed as Luna glared and Hevatica looked up from where she was resting, the Kelpie saying quietly: “Be careful, Hollow Star. The patience of your masters is not infinite.”
“Don't talk to me, Kelpie.” Hollow Star said disgustedly, glaring over at the demon before the Destroyer shook her head slowly, muttering: “Your other warriors better be of greater mettle than my brother and your water rat.”
Luna only snorted in distaste at this, replying acidly: “And thou had best show thyself to be a better warrior than thou proved in our initial fight, wretched witch.” She paused, then studied the Destroyer moodily before adding: “And we should probably do something about thy appearance. Other demons, at least, have some sense of attempting to blend in with society in Ponyville... but even by Subterra's standards, thou art... unhygienic.”
The Destroyer only grinned callously at this, and Scrivener winced as Luna moodily studied the sickly pink demon before grunting and gesturing with her head at Scrivener. And the stallion sighed tiredly before he looked down at his aching right hoof, muttering: “Might as well just try and quote from my stupid book...”
The five spent the night in the cavern together, leaving the barrier up to keep out any curious eyes while Scrivener and Luna took a look around the series of small caverns past the stone arena with Hollow Star acting as their guide, grouchily showing them through what served as her home.
Hollow Star's home was comprised only of three little caverns: one that was covered in blood and had a cold steel box filled with meat taken from... well, neither pony wanted to guess... and a small cooking pit with a narrow chimney to vent smoke out of the cave. In other words, her very-disturbing kitchen, complete with a little stone table and simple rock tools for food preparation. The second cavern was less disturbing, and just as simple: a storeroom that was uncared for and where most things were covered in dust and left just to rot.
The last cave, down the same narrow offshoot that connected to the storeroom, was only a little larger but clearly the most used. There was a simple bed of hay with a cloth blanket thrown overtop, and actual furnishings in the form of tiny, curved shelves. She had a few old books, a rusting helm, some knickknacks... and even though it all seemed like wild miscellanea, Luna recognized a very precise order in everything, and that it was all well-handled and often cleaned. It made her smile, because it reminded her of Celestia.
Hollow Star had only looked at her moodily the whole time they were here, until finally Luna realized that the Destroyer was continually positioning herself between them and the bed. She and Scrivener shared a thoughtful look as the demon glared at them, and then Luna said softly: “Pack up everything thou needs, and we shall go, Hollow Star. But thou may not have secrets from us, not yet. Thou hast not earned that privilege, Destroyer.”
The demon mare looked down at them for a few moments, and then she turned her eyes to Scrivener and said quietly: “That wasn't an order though, was it? So in that case, I'll negotiate. Give me some of your blood. I want to see what happens.”
Scrivener and Luna traded an uneasy look, before Valthrudnir said meditatively in the stallion's mind, pushing into his thoughts with an awful casualness: It's an interesting proposition, Nihete. I would be eager to study the effects of the Clay of Prometheus on such a powerful demon, but at the same time... if the vicious little pugilist loses her excuse for sentient thought, she may attempt to squeeze you dry. And while I would rather enjoy watching you be torn apart in the same manner your awful excuse for literature deserves to be dichotomized, I would prefer it if you were exsected only after I have safely removed myself from your feeble mind and frail body.
“What about my filthy soul? Aren't you going to say anything about my filthy soul?” Scrivener asked sourly, glancing upwards, and then he cleared his throat when Hollow Star frowned moodily down at him, the Destroyer leaning forwards and narrowing her eyes at the stallion. “Sorry uh. Voices in my head. They said it was a bad idea.”
Scrivener gave as large a smile as he could force out, reminding himself that the terrifying demon couldn't hurt him... and then he winced when Luna punched him in the shoulder, knocking him staggering. He automatically tried to catch himself on his broken hoof, but the blast of pain that sent through him only made him curse and half-throw himself in the other direction, the sapphire mare wincing and hurriedly turning to half-catch him as the Destroyer said disgustedly: “You remind me of a carnival act I once saw while a child. I have never liked clowns.”
“Thou art a clown!” Luna shouted immediately, snapping her head up and almost shoving Scrivener over, and the stallion winced as he flopped down on his side with a groan to avoid landing on his bad hoof, Luna wincing but then glaring grouchily up at Hollow Star. “How dare thee refer to me as such. For that, I order thee to reveal thy secret, to show us whatever thou hast hidden away and does not want us to see.”
Hollow Star gritted her teeth, and then she cursed under her breath before turning and flicking her horn to the side as it glowed brightly, Luna and Scrivener both wincing as her bed of hay and cloth burst into flames as it was blasted aside by telekinesis. Then the Destroyer grumbled as she reached out and swept up a thick, dragon-scale satchel bag, holding this up by the strap with one hoof.
Luna cocked her head curiously before her horn glowed, lifting the bag away and opening the heavy silver clasp on it with only a tilt of her head to gaze inside, surprised to find there was only a single beautiful necklace. The sapphire mare lifted this carefully out, letting the satchel gently fall to the floor as she studied it: it was made of multicolored, uncommon gemstones, all carefully cut and shaped, although the silver, apple-shaped plate at the front looked like it had been added on after the necklace had been completed. And the crest on this plate, of a roaring beast, seemed oddly familiar, although Luna couldn't quite place it.
She shrugged after a moment, then smiled up at Hollow Star with amusement, remarking wryly: “Thou does not seem quite the type for jewelry, demon. And speaking of which, thy appearance, again... we will have to do something about it.”
“I am a Wrath demon. I don't care what I look like. Why does it matter, anyway?” Hollow Star retorted, and she reached out and almost yanked the necklace away, hurriedly stuffing it back in the saddlebag before turning to moodily begin scooping up some of her other possessions, muttering: “Appearances are meaningless except to serve perhaps as tools of deception.”
“And precisely who and what art thou deceiving by appearing to be a giant witch eager to devour little foals?” Luna asked sourly, and Hollow Star snarled over her shoulder before the sapphire mare softened and said quietly: “Many demons hide their true faces with the shapes they choose for themselves. Hollow Star... Morning Glory... I do not believe that we have seen thee yet. Oh, thou art bitter, furious, hateful, all these things and more, aye. That anyone could clearly see. But I think there is much more to thee than this.”
“You don't know anything about me, Luna Brynhild. So why don't you keep your opinions to yourself?” Hollow Star replied sourly, and the sapphire mare only smiled wryly before the demon turned with a snort of derision, grabbing the last of her things with telekinesis and shoving them almost angrily into her leather satchel before she half-turned and spat: “I'm ready to leave whenever you've rested your poor little hooves enough, mistress.”
“Let me consult with thy fellow master on the subject and we will see if we have.” Luna retorted grouchily, then she looked at Scrivener, who was still laying on the ground, wincing a little when the mare glared at him. “Lazy.”
“No, it's... safer down here.” Scrivener said finally, and then he sighed and added dryly: “Have you ever noticed that we make friends a lot with angry mares who quickly make it a hobby to beat on me, while the people trying to kill us are usually large, overtalkative males who want to torture and kill us, sometimes not always in that order?”
“Yes, of course. Just as I know the real reason that so many of these large, overtalkative males desire to kill and torture us is because they lust for us pretty mares, but we deny them so much as a brush of our buttocks.” Luna replied mildly, and Scrivener simply looked up at her for a few moments before she added kindly: “Fear not, I often include thee in this number. For thou hast a most wonderful buttocks as well, Scrivener Blooms.”
Hollow Star rolled her eyes, looking disgusted and frustrated as she straightened and muttered: “You are nothing but pathetic little fools. No wonder Burning Desire seems so eager to serve you, though... he must throw himself all over you with what a slave he is to primal desire.”
Luna only shook her head slowly, and Scrivener grimaced a little as he pushed himself to his hooves... but admittedly, that was partly from the pain still radiating through his foreleg, before Hollow Star asked in calmer tones: “What precisely are you both? Clockwork Ponies, and Valkyries, and Jötnar and demons... they're not terms I've never heard before in my many years of laying in wait here, biding my time for the perfect opportunity to take revenge on my brother. But when you explained things to me, it brought more questions to mind than it did answer them, although I think that was purposeful. You both like feeling superior, don't you? You like feeling powerful. You like acting like you're better than me... than all of us, really, with the sycophants you've made out of Burning and the Kelpie. Then again, it's no surprise... you tricked an army of demons into becoming loyal to you. The only thing that separates you in my mind from that filthy coward Cupidus is that you at least fought your own battle... but when the chance presents itself, Luna... know that I will kill you just like I killed him.”
“Thou may try when thou feels ready, but know that 'tis far from the first time that I have heard this threat.” Luna replied acidly, and she and Hollow Star glared at each other for a few moments before the sapphire mare spat to the side and added darkly: “And I am no Greed demon, nor anything like their ilk. Hevatica and her Kelpies, as a matter of fact, I released from their bonds long ago. The loyalty they give me now is willing, for I will take loyalty promised freely over loyalty coerced any moment of any day, no matter what the pitfalls are.”
“I don't believe your words.” Hollow Star replied with a shake of her head, and then she leaned forwards and said icily: “Then release me, and I promise to serve you until such time as I am ready to challenge you and take your head.”
“Not yet.” Luna said quietly, and Hollow Star began to give a cruel grin before Luna looked up and met her eyes calmly. “A week, Destroyer. Ask me again in one week's time, after thou hast had but a taste of our life, and see what we desire to protect, and glimpse demons that unlike thee, have not simply controlled their natures... have put their powers to use for good. In one week, ask me again. Besides, I must better judge thy character... and find out if thou truly art worth the words thy brother blessed thee with.”
Hollow Star snorted contemptibly, but she didn't say anything, and her eyes became thoughtful as she looked down at Luna Brynhild silently. Luna looked fearlessly back up, and then the Destroyer questioned in a voice that sounded almost entertained beneath her exasperation: “We will be arguing and negotiating often, won't we?”
Luna only smiled wryly and traded a look with Scrivener Blooms, before they both gazed back up towards the demon. “Perhaps thou shan't believe me, creature... but I would prefer that over wordless, silent loyalty. I have more than enough humble servants as it is... and I have always gotten along the very best with those who would question me. 'Tis why I and the poet get along so well, isn't it, poet?”
“Well, you can also beat me into submission whenever I disagree too much with you over something.” Scrivener said mildly, and Luna grinned and nodded in agreement before both ponies looked up at Hollow Star, the stallion adding finally: “I guess... I'm the same way, though. And it's better this way. We want to be... we want to work together. Not rule you.”
“You should take your chance to rule me while you can, slave hoof, because you will not rule me for long.” Hollow Star said calmly, and then she smiled slightly when Luna's eyes narrowed dangerously. “You don't like that? Well, in my day, that's what earth ponies were called... in your day, too, isn't that right?”
“They are not slave hoofs... not my husband, not any other pony like him. They are earth ponies. I do not desire to ever hear thou speak that term again.” Luna said quietly, and Hollow Star frowned slightly... but after a moment, Luna tilted her head curiously, feeling her anger fading into curiosity at the strange expression on the demon's face.
“Earth ponies...” the Destroyer murmured, looking away... and then she closed her eyes and shook her head quickly as it to clear it before glaring down at them. “Enough. I have almost completely healed, unlike the rest of you lazy weaklings. Let us begin the march back to your Ponyville... I am aware of where it is. The demons who traded information with me for their lives have told me much about Ponyville and Canterlot and Subterra.”
Luna grunted moodily, then she replied sourly: “Fear not, Hollow Star. We need not waste the time on a march. Burning Desire shall open a portal, if he has recovered enough.”
Hollow Star laughed shortly at this, shaking her head in disgust before she stormed out of her room, and the two ponies followed after a moment as Scrivener tossed one last awkward look at the ashes and embers that had spilled over the floor, while the Destroyer rebuked in a disgusted voice: “A portal spell, cast by my so-called big brother? What a quaint notion. In life, little Ardent couldn't even open a jar, let alone a portal.”
“Those are two different things, my lovely little sister. Besides, you and Dad always put the lids on too tight.” Burning Desire called loudly from the entrance to the circular cavern, and Hollow Star glanced up... then reared her head back in shock as she saw that the fiery stallion's horn was glowing as he modified the line of runes creating the force barrier.
He grinned at the look on her face as the curtain of energy twisted and sparked violently, emitting a strange thrumming noise as Luna cocked her head with interest and Scrivener hobbled along beside her. Then Burning turned his eyes back towards the barrier as Hevatica explained kindly: “Burning Desire has been tapping into this magic trap... the runes were not just drawn in demon blood, but intense magical energy has been stored here.”
“More than once I have left my home on a scouting mission. I don't enjoy intruders, so I designed the barrier to last for the long term. There's enough power to supply the barrier for a year... or, as I'm sure you've guessed by now, to restore my own powers in case something happened to me.” Hollow Star replied distastefully, the faintest hint of humiliation as well as frustration in her grit teeth. “I'm surprised you were able to figure it out, water rat.”
“Oh, I had nothing to do with it, hideous old hag.” Hevatica replied in an almost-kind voice, as she gestured calmly towards Burning Desire, who winced a little as Hollow Star's eyes flashed. “It was all your handsome big brother's doing. He is handsome, isn't he? I see the way your eyes still linger on him... it makes me think that maybe you're the one who seduced him, which would explain why you're such a miserable-”
“That is enough, Hevatica. We are trying to get along with Hollow Star for now.” Luna said mildly, raising a hoof, but she had to fight to suppress a smile all the same before she turned her gaze to the Destroyer when the demon growled in disgust. “Thou shall have to excuse the Kelpie. She is naughty as a Phooka at times... well, prankish as one, I should say. She is far more naughtier in other ways, to be perfectly precise.”
Hevatica only smiled in agreement and bowed her head politely at this, winking slowly over at the winged unicorn before Hollow Star strode quickly forwards, leaning down to study the modified runes with a frown as Burning Desire pointedly attempted to ignore her. “This is a ridiculous attempt to earn favor, Ardent. You've never been any good at magic. You've never been any good at anything except for crying and getting yourself in trouble.”
“Well, true, yes, but don't forget that all the magic I studied while I was alive was demonic magic. There were a few reasons why that didn't work for me as a mortal... but I'm no mortal anymore, am I?” Burning Desire paused and smiled faintly over at Hollow Star. “They call me Burning, by the way, in case you haven't realized. Burning Desire was the name I took.”
Hollow Star only looked at him moodily, and the stallion cleared his throat after a moment before turning his eyes back to the runes, horn glowing a little brighter for a moment as he gritted his teeth in concentration, then broke into a grin with a firm nod when the runes flashed red and the curtain of energy transformed into a wall of burning red flames in a whoosh. “Excellent!”
The Destroyer looked up with a grimace, and Burning Desire smiled warmly over his shoulder at Luna and Scrivener. “I changed the energy wavelength, I can't honestly believe I pulled it off properly. If you're ready to leave, I can draw on all the energy stored here and create a portal to Ponyville. It'll last more than long enough for us to go through, and then the energy stored here should quickly use itself up.”
“How glorious. Years of work that I put into storing all this energy here, gone and used to help march me into enslavement at the hooves of my brother and his pathetic, flesh-obsessed masters.” Hollow Star said disgustedly, and Burning Desire gave her a pleading look, which she replied to by reaching up and swatting his horn with a glare.
Burning Desire winced backwards at this, then he blinked in surprise before looking up at her silently, and Hollow Star flushed as her eyes darted back and forth before turning hurriedly away. Luna and Scrivener both only cocked their heads, but then the charcoal stallion winced and looked down, bringing his cloth-wrapped hoof up to gingerly touch his forehead as Valthrudnir grumbled: You pathetic ponies are less than animals, and even combined you and the Valkyrie have the acuity of a mentally-incompetent two year old that happens to be deaf and dumb as well as lobotomized. That was clearly a familial gesture.
“Because you know anything at all about family.” Scrivener muttered, rubbing at his forehead and wincing at how even that made his hoof ache... but what struck him by surprise was the way that Valthrudnir immediately fell silent, and the earth pony shifted awkwardly as he felt... what the hell? Do I actually feel... bad for the fact I managed to clip a nerve?
You did nothing of the sort. I was simply disregarding your statement as irrelevant, as I have no family. The Jötnar were one clan, but all of us simply... were. It was our power that decreed where we sat. Power... and Ymir's favoritism... Valthrudnir sounded bitter, and for a moment Scrivener thought he could see the dragon, standing in some icy library, facing towards a corner of the room, his head turned sharply away so Scrivener couldn't see his face, as the Frost Giant muttered: But none of it matters. The... the past does not matter. Now I am supreme, and I will be supreme again. Ymir did not win, Odin did not win, none of you won. I will win. I am the rightful master of this universe, I am the most powerful being in existence, I... I have worth...
There was a buzz of static, and then Scrivener shook his head quickly as he pushed himself to his hooves before he looked dumbly up to see Hevatica in front of him, the Kelpie frowning at him worriedly before Scrivener said lamely: “I... sorry. I got lost in my own thoughts.”
“It's alright, Scrivener Blooms. I was just asking to see your hoof.” Hevatica said softly, and Scrivener glanced past the Kelpie curiously to see Luna currently arguing with Hollow Star and Burning Desire simply sitting back and studying his little sister. He wondered how much time had passed... then winced when Hevatica cleared his throat before the stallion smiled lamely and held it quickly up.
“Sorry. I... oh, hell.” Scrivener flinched a little as the Kelpie carefully unwrapped his front hoof, revealing that it had shattered into five distinct pieces... pieces that almost looked like gnarled claws, and made Scrivener think of Cheshire, how his own hooves... except Cheshire wasn't...
His broken hoof, however, was dripping a reeking mire, and Hevatica winced as she studied this nervously before murmuring: “Someone will have to carry you through the portal, you can't run on this hoof. There must be an infection in your flesh... and worse, the way it's splintered...”
“But Luna isn't feeling it... that has to be a good sign.” Scrivener said quietly, leaning slightly past the Kelpie, and Luna tossed a nervous look over her shoulder at Scrivener, meeting his eyes and trading emotions and thoughts in a rapid flurry with him before she turned her eyes back towards Hollow Star to continue her debate with the Destroyer, even as at the same time, she stomped her forehoof several times to show there was no pain in it.
“I'm no expert in matters like this, Scrivener. I'm only what I am.” Hevatica said quietly, and then she hesitated before carefully leaning down and licking his broken hoof slowly, and Scrivener winced, but then surveyed the mare's reaction as the demon closed her eyes and shivered once. “Strange... no, that does not taste like infection. It's different. And your corruption is... stronger, yes. May I take a better taste?”
Scrivener groaned, but then he sighed quietly and nodded moodily, and Hevatica smiled slightly as she leaned slowly in and then gently nipped his shoulder, Scrivener wincing and cursing under his breath as she bit just deep enough to draw black blood. She lapped up a bit of it slowly, still holding his front hoof gingerly in both of her own, before closing her eyes and massaging slowly up his lower leg as she murmured: “Yes. Yes, your taste is very different, Scrivener Blooms. Your corruption has become more concentrated...”
“Maybe it's because of what... what I did to Luna. Celestia said we couldn't do things like that without cost... I...” Scrivener shivered a bit, looking down before he glanced slowly up and asked quietly: “Hevatica... when you give in to your hungers, do you... do you ever feel yourself become less you, and more... someone else?”
Hevatica smiled faintly as she opened her eyes, and then she let go of his injured limb before picking up the torn cloth and beginning to carefully wrap Scrivener's hoof again, taking her time with both the work and choosing her words. Finally, she said quietly: “I believe that there is a difference between slaking one's thirst, and feeding one's gluttony. Just as I have come to believe that even if at our cores we are all... instinct, and animal... we can still choose to rise above that. In time, we can master every part of ourselves.”
She tied off the cloth bandaging, then gently rose the covered, broken hoof to her muzzle to kiss it tenderly, gazing silently at Scrivener as she said softly: “I respect you and Luna Brynhild, Scrivener Blooms. The more time I spend with you, the more I understand I am right to. I understand that you doubt in yourself... but I believe that both you and the Mistress of the Night can master yourselves. You have taught strength and compassion to many demons, after all, and we would not listen to hypocrites and liars who do not possess the strength to follow their own teachings.”
Scrivener smiled after a moment, bowing his head forwards as he murmured quietly: “Sometimes I think you and the demons are the ones who taught us everything, Hevatica. I'll never forget what it was like in Corrupted Equestria, coming home and finding... desperate Nightmares and demons and other creatures of darkness waiting for us, pleading with us to take them across the Bifrost... how hesitant Luna and I were at first. Just like how I'll never forget how glad I was that we did, especially once... it created such a ripple through the world.”
“You gave us wild demons a chance to live in harmony and safety, to join up with a growing alliance of ponies, dwarves, demons and spirits... instead of constantly being on the move as nomads, or living in hidden, dark depths, always fearing that we would turn a corner and find Hunters from Helheim or some hungry, terrible beast waiting to devour us.” Hevatica replied quietly, the Kelpie smiling softly. “Joining you made sense, and was the best decision I have ever made in my life. It remains one of my fondest memories, pledging my loyalty to yourself and Luna Brynhild... and don't think I don't still find you very attractive, Scrivener Blooms, you and Lady Luna both.”
She winked, and Scrivener laughed a bit despite himself before they both looked up as Luna called loudly: “Scrivener Blooms, Hevatica, cease flirting with each other and come here instead, before we go through the portal I require a new nickname for this Helheim-cursed witch.”
“Oh shut up, you insolent little bruised flower.” Hollow Star said moodily, and Luna only looked dumbly up at the Destroyer, who growled down at her with disgust. “You don't deny it, then?”
“Oh, uh, I'll translate. My dear sister just called you a slut, Lady Luna.” Burning Desire said informatively, and Luna glowered at the fiery stallion, who winced back a bit and shook his head hurriedly. “I didn't! She did!”
“Always the tattletale, Ardent. I suppose some things really must never change after all, but I don't know why I'm even surprised. Every time something goes wrong, after all, there you always were, happy to run off and cry to anyone who would listen about all the injustices done to you.” Hollow Star muttered with distaste, but Burning Desire only smiled wryly towards his sibling.
“I don't know if that's so true, Miss Hollow Star, uh... pleasant a light as you put me in.” the fiery stallion replied delicately, and then he turned his eyes back towards the wall of fire, adding in a quieter voice: “After all, who did I have to run to back then?”
Hollow Star shifted uncomfortably, and there was an awkward silence for a moment before Luna mumbled: “I am no slut. Thou art a slut. Stupid wretched... witch-face.”
Scrivener sighed a little, and then Hevatica interrupted gently: “Lady Luna, I must also add that Scrivener Blooms should not be walking on his own... someone should carry him through the portal, or at least help him...”
“No, it's just a short run, right? I can make it.” Scrivener said awkwardly, and when Hevatica gave him a quietly-concerned look, the stallion smiled a little, flexing his broken hoof beneath the cloth even as Luna turned a quiet, worried look to the male. “I'm fine, okay? Well... I mean, fine enough to run through a hole in reality.”
“Yes, because even we demons do that on a regular basis.” remarked Burning Desire, and then he leaned forwards, horn beginning to glow as he added: “I'll do my best to keep it as stable as I can, then... with all this energy to help fuel it, it should last longer and be less painful than last time.”
“Wonderful. Scrivy, very well. But if thou gets lost in the depths of time and space I am not coming to rescue thee.” Luna said grumpily, and Scrivener nodded awkwardly as Hevatica sighed and shook her head, and Hollow Star only looked with distaste over the group. “When thou art ready, Burning Desire, open the way.”
The fiery unicorn nodded, closing his eyes and bowing his head forwards as he breathed slowly, the aura around his horn beginning to brighten as he gritted his teeth and concentrated, then grunted and snapped his horn sharply upwards as it gave a flash and pulse.
The flames in front of them wafted upwards before twisting into a spinning vortex that burst down the tunnel beyond the cavern. Light glowed out of the center of the tunnel formed by the fire before the wild flames rippled and smoothed out, and in a flash the center of the tunnel was no longer filled with a formless glow, but instead had become a window into the streets of Ponyville, the library clearly visible on the other side of the hole in reality.
“It's open!” Burning Desire shouted, and Luna immediately ran forwards, Scrivener stagger-running after her for the portal before the winged unicorn leapt through. Again, there was that intense heat and vertigo, that sensation of movement and pain and exhaustion before she burst out the other side in a blast of red, harmless flame, cursing as she staggered over the ground before flopping to the floor of the square in front of the library with a wheeze.
Scrivener emerged next, feeling the strength ripped from his body and his muscles revolt as he stumbled out the other side... and automatically tried to catch himself on his broken hoof when he felt his legs wanting to give out. The pain was excruciating as he accidentally dropped his full weight on it, a weak whimper rising out of his throat before he simply fell forwards on his face, as ahead, Luna cursed and twitched violently, feeling the agony in her own hoof as she automatically clutched at it with a snarl.
Hevatica, Hollow Star, and lastly Burning Desire followed them through the portal, only the Destroyer seeming unaffected as Burning Desire wheezed and dropped to a sitting position, and Hevatica dropped her head forwards, taking a few moments to breathe. And by the time the Kelpie rose her head again, the portal had begun to stutter and flicker as it lost cohesion, then burst apart into ashes and glowing embers that settled slowly to the ground behind them.
Hollow Star was only looking moodily around, completely ignoring the blast of force and fire as Burning Desire and Hevatica both winced over their shoulders. Then the Kelpie turned her attention forwards, striding quickly up beside Scrivener Blooms, who was laying with hoof held out far ahead of him, as if stretching it as far away from himself as he could would help keep the pain at a distance, too.
Luna was slowly hauling herself up to her hooves, as Scrivener simply twitched a few times, and then the demon leaned down and asked gently: “Would you like me to help you up?”
“I'm... I'm very happy here.” Scrivener mumbled, and then all eyes glanced upwards as the door to the library opened, light spilling out in a wide beam over the group before the profile of a tall winged unicorn appeared in the doorway, and the charcoal stallion smiled wryly from the ground as Celestia quickly approached. “Uh. Hi.”
“Celestia, Scrivy is broken again. Please fix him. 'Twas not my fault this time.” Luna said informatively, and Celestia sighed tiredly as she strode towards them, looking moodily at her younger sibling... but visibly softening a little at the nervousness in Luna's eyes despite the almost-mocking mood she was putting on, as the sapphire mare murmured in a quieter voice: “Please.”
Celestia looked hesitantly down at Scrivener, as the charcoal stallion slowly began to push himself to his hooves, but before the ivory winged unicorn could do anything, Hollow Star strode quickly forwards and shoved herself in front of the rainbow-maned mare. Immediately, Celestia's eyes narrowed slightly, studying the aggressive demon as the Destroyer glared back at Celestia, before their eyes silently locked.
Luna looked up with a wince as Burning Desire shifted uneasily, the early morning air seeming to drop in temperature as the world around them became silent. There was no wind, no hum of insects, no song of night-birds... not even a breath from any of those gathered, as the two mares fought a silent and unflinching battle with their eyes.
And then all of a sudden, Hollow Star's irises dropped, and a moment later the Destroyer bowed her head deep as she clenched her eyes tightly shut. Celestia only continued to look directly at the demon as a faint tremble ran through her, but after a moment, the ivory winged unicorn finally bowed her head forwards as her amethyst irises softened, saying quietly: “Morning Glory. I'm glad to see you've joined us.”
Hollow Star only nodded once, keeping her head respectfully bowed, and Luna stared blankly back and forth before gesturing with a hoof and blurting: “And what in the name of Helheim is this nonsense, damned Celestia? How did thou already steal my newly-acquired servant from me? I was the one who beat the Destroyer to a pulp, why does she bow to thee and not me?”
Celestia only smiled slightly over at Luna, and Hollow Star muttered moodily: “Because you only conquered me through your cheap little tricks, little girl.”
“I am not little!” Luna snapped furiously, stomping a hoof as one of her eyes twitched, and then she glowered up at Celestia, saying grouchily: “Well, even if she respects thee, Celestia, remember that thou might be my big sister but I am the one in charge. Not thou. I am.”
“Yes Luna. I know, I know.” Celestia was smiling a little even as she gazed with exasperation down at the sapphire mare, as Hollow Star glanced up slightly, looking moody... but still clearly, calmly deferring to Celestia, even as the ivory mare stepped past the Destroyer to look down at Scrivener as he carefully sat up, frowning a little now before she murmured: “Please go and wait in the library.”
Luna quieted a bit at this, losing some of her playfulness as Scrivener nodded, and the two ponies climbed to their hooves. Surprisingly, they were joined by the Destroyer, while Burning Desire smiled awkwardly as Hevatica bowed her head to Celestia, remaining where they were. The rainbow-maned mare looked at the two demons for a moment, then said gently: “Hevatica, please feel free to go and get some rest... Burning Desire, thank you for all your help, even if this serves your interests, too. Your willingness to help and the lengths you were determined to go to will not be forgotten, I promise.”
“Well, then... thank you, Celestia, for... everything.” Burning Desire replied lamely, shifting with an awkward smile up at the mare, then he hesitantly leaned past Celestia to watch Scrivener, Luna, and Hollow Star disappear into the library, asking nervously: “You... I mean... this is... she's...”
“I think she just needs time, Burning Desire. I think you made the right choice here, even if... I had my worries before.” Celestia paused, then she hesitated for a moment before returning her eyes to the fiery stallion as the Kelpie cocked her own head curiously. “Can you tell me about her, what you remember from your life with her as a mortal?”
Burning Desire smiled awkwardly, then he nodded hesitantly when Hevatica reached up to squeeze her shoulder gently... while meanwhile, Hollow Star was prowling around the library, looking moodily over the shelves of books and muttering: “I can already tell I'm not going to like it here.”
“Ponyville is a wonderful place, thou art just a vile creature.” Luna grumbled, and then she gritted her teeth before asking finally: “And what madness was that outside, Destroyer? Some fierce and mighty monster thou art, quailing like a little filly before mine sister!”
Hollow Star simply fixed Luna with a sour look, and Scrivener sighed a little before the sapphire mare muttered: “Well, 'tis true, thou did. And 'tis wretched and pathetic. Why, I have never once quailed beneath the gaze of my sister, in this life or the last!”
“That's a lie.” Scrivener muttered, and Luna slowly turned her head to glare at him balefully, and the earth pony winced a bit before awkwardly holding up his hoof, saying lamely: “Sorry, uh... that was... definitely Valthrudnir, not me.”
“I cannot believe thou would even joke about that. Thou art sick, Scrivener Blooms. Sick, mentally ill, disturbed, demented, distracted. Sick.” Luna grumbled, and then she returned her eyes to Hollow Star as the Destroyer paced slowly over to a table, leaning down and studying several papers left out over it. “And I realized why I am so eager to change thy appearance, creature. Thou looks like an anorexic, bald Celestia.”
The Destroyer glared over at Luna, then snorted as she straightened and asked moodily: “Who is this Celestia, anyway? She emanated great strength and power, but there was deep passion mixed with great knowledge and determination. She is powerful... and has wings and a horn, like you. Has almost the same spirit as you...”
Luna smiled wryly, then she sighed a little as Scrivener limped carefully over to sit down in a chair, the sapphire mare looking towards her husband and studying him for a few moments: with her eyes, she questioned him, and Scrivener answered her with his body language and the emotions she felt in his mind without the stallion even having to look at her, making her smile faintly.
She turned her gaze back to Hollow Star after a moment, replying quietly: “My sister, like mine own self, is a Valkyrie. Her true name is Freya, as mine is Brynhild. And she is powerful, aye... she is strong, and a natural leader... much more of one than myself, Hollow Star, if I am to be entirely honest. I am no great leader, nor do I have any desire to be... the only place I desire to rule is the battlefield.”
Hollow Star studied Luna thoughtfully for a few moments, and then the pale-pink unicorn nodded slowly once before the demon approached slowly, looking down at Luna as the sapphire mare gazed up with a frown. They were both silent as their eyes locked, before the Destroyer smiled slightly and said after a moment: “No challenge.”
“No challenge!” Luna glared furiously, leaping up to her hooves as her mane sparked, and Scrivener sighed tiredly... before to their surprise, Hollow Star laughed and shook her head, both ponies looking dumbly at the demon.
She continued to laugh, then suddenly blushed faintly as she hurriedly regained her composure, her ivory eyes returning quickly to Luna as the sapphire mare stared up at her with disbelief. Luna could see... entertainment, maybe even something like optimism in the Destroyer's eyes now, and it confused her at first before the demon said softly: “Yes, no challenge. There is no challenge because I cannot challenge you... yet. In a week, we'll see.”
Luna still looked confused, but before she could ask or say anything, Celestia calmly entered the library and closed the door behind herself, and immediately the Destroyer turned and bowed her head politely. Celestia only smiled, however, then she asked quietly: “I take it your mind is clearing?”
Luna frowned horribly at this as Scrivener looked up in confusion, and Hollow Star nodded respectfully before the sapphire mare blurted: “What in the name of Helheim is going on here? Damnation, Celestia! I beat her up, I tamed her, and thou just met her... so why is it that I get the feeling that yet once again, oh no, Celestia knows all and sees all and Luna knows nothing?”
Celestia sighed, but she was smiling a little all the same as she replied: “Would it make you feel better if I said it's because I've been spending this last while obsessively going over every bit of material on Destroyers I could find in Canterlot, and was in the middle of reviewing some of my personal notes here in Ponyville on the same subject?”
“A little, but I would prefer thou to just admit now and then thou just makes guesses constantly, and thy wretched luck means thou art often wretchedly right.” Luna grumbled, and Celestia laughed quietly and shook her head slowly before the sapphire mare glared over at Hollow Star, who still had her head bowed politely. “She is weird. I do not like her any longer.”
“She is a shieldmaiden, Luna, as well as a powerful Wrath demon. Be kind. She has her honor.” Celestia said softly, before continuing quietly: “A Destroyer lives for battle, but those who force one into submission can demand their loyalty, like many Wrath demons. Wrath demons naturally serve those more powerful than them, and those who are strong leaders... who they can trust will lead them into battle. I was also told that Morning Glory had been using blood quartz, correct? I expect now that you're out of that environment, your strength has decreased but your mind feels clearer.”
“I was always lucid, Mistress Celestia... but my emotions feel less turbulent now, yes.” Hollow Star replied politely, and Luna grumbled under her breath before the Destroyer added quietly: “Seeing that Luna wasn't lying as well, that there are strong warriors here... knowing that true challenges await... this helps as well.”
Celestia smiled slightly, and then she glanced calmly up before saying softly: “It's alright, Bob. She won't harm you.”
Hollow Star frowned at this, and then the demon looked sharply up as Discombobulation shook a fist threateningly from where he was sitting on the ceiling, declaring: “One of these days, Celestia, one of these days... pow! Right in the kisser!”
The ivory mare only smiled wryly, and then Hollow Star hissed before looking disbelievingly over at Celestia when the ivory mare gestured at her to calm down, the Destroyer asking incredulously: “A Draconequus? A patchwork doll is your ally?”
“Hey, that's hurtful. Hurtful.” Discombobulation said in a wounded voice, and then he paused before clapping his hands together and vanishing, reappearing in a puff of smoke a moment later safely beside Celestia as he leaned thoughtfully towards Hollow Star, asking mildly: “So who are you then? Ursula? Maleficent? That ugly lioness from the sequel no one really cares about? No, no, you're from a completely different genre. I should be asking if you're Granny Goodness, Cheetah... oh, I have it, Baroness von Gunther!”
There was silence for a few moments, and then Hollow Star said conversationally: “I would like you to be aware of the fact that in a week I'm going to be free of my bondage. And then I'm going to make it my first order of business after defeating Luna Brynhild to hunt you down and rip you limb-from-limb and devour your entrails.”
“She's nice. I like her already.” Discombobulation said ironically, and then he shifted awkwardly when Celestia reached up and silently touched his wrist, smiling over at him.
“I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Bob. Morning Glory has simply been... without contact for a long time, and you know how demons tend to react to you as it is. Working on introducing yourself instead of going right into confusing and mocking might be a good start to making a better impression as well.” Celestia said gently, and Bob huffed a little at this.
“Then I wouldn't be me, and that's no fun at all. Well, at least not for me, because I'm busy being someone else, so it may be fun for whoever I am at the time but I certainly won't be able to enjoy myself.” he replied seriously, before returning his gaze to Hollow Star and sighing a little when the demon growled at him. “Oh, fine. Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk to you again.”
Hollow Star only looked moody at this, and then she turned her eyes to Celestia, who nodded once before the Destroyer sighed and straightened, muttering: “Greetings, Draconequus.”
Awkward silence followed this for a few moments, and then Discombobulation held up his metallic hand and said lamely: “I need to pee.”
With that, he turned and hurried off, and Celestia shook her head slowly as Hollow Star gazed moodily over her shoulder. Then the demon turned her eyes back to Celestia when the ivory winged unicorn said gently: “I apologize. Perhaps that was a little fast... we have many allies for you to meet, though, and while many of them are perhaps... a little strange... they are all good people. People I trust, and who have helped us greatly in the past.”
Hollow Star nodded slowly, and then Celestia smiled kindly, saying gently: “Up the stairs is a guest room you can use to get some sleep. I imagine you must be at least a little tired, or could at least use a bit of time to yourself. Luna, is it alright if Hollow Star stays with me for the night?”
“Of course, Celestia, thou clearly art the best choice in the matter and not at all stealing my new demon and I am most certainly not jealous or angry at thee in the slightest.” Luna said crankily, and Celestia smiled wryly before the sapphire mare sighed tiredly, grumbling under her breath as she looked slowly back and forth. “Damnation. Hollow Star, I clearly do not have to say this, but treat Celestia as well as thou treats me. Not... better, as thou art already treating her.”
“I will treat her as she earns, Luna, that is all.” Hollow Star replied moodily, but then she hesitated before sighing tiredly and dropping her head forwards, adding finally: “I will look forwards to working with you. Just keep Burning Desire away from me.”
Luna rolled her eyes as the Destroyer turned and headed for the stairs, the demon stopping to look hesitantly back once; when Celestia only smiled and Luna cocked her head curiously however, the Destroyer mumbled and turned quickly back forwards, hurrying up the steps and vanishing into the guest room.
For a few moments, there was silence... and then Celestia turned her eyes towards Scrivener Blooms, who was still resting back in the chair quietly, content to just watch events unfold until the ivory mare said softly: “I don't know if I should be angry, upset, or just worried about you and my sister. What happened?”
Luna shifted uncomfortably, and Scrivener dropped his head forwards... but that was the only answer Celestia needed as the ivory mare closed her eyes and shook her head slowly, murmuring: “Of course. After everything we discussed, I can't believe you fell back on that, though... I would rather you even used the Black Verses than that. I...”
She fell silent, then took a slow breath and visibly calmed herself, shivering once before she shook her head slowly. “No, I'll... save my anger and scolding for later. After you tell me everything that happened, and after I see what's wrong with your hoof, Scrivener Blooms. Something tells me it's more than just pain, even if my sister seems fine.”
Luna smiled wryly, shrugging a little and stomping her hoof a few times to demonstrate it was fine, and Scrivy shifted uncomfortably as he almost uncomfortably rose his cloth-wrapped hoof as Celestia approached. The ivory mare's horn glowed, unwrapping it slowly as Scrivener mumbled: “Hevatica said it might be infected... and she also mentioned that... my corruption... it tasted more concentrated. Hey, on that note-”
“No distractions right now, Scrivener. Not until I...” Celestia's eyes widened slightly as the cloth fell away from his hoof, and Scrivener looked hurriedly away as the mare studied the shattered appendage slowly before looking disbelievingly over at Luna, then returning her eyes quickly to Scrivener.
She reached slowly up,touching it silently... and Scrivener flinched at the pain even that caused, as the broken pieces of his hoof clicked and shifted. The stallion tried his hardest not to look as he felt Celestia beginning to touch along his hoof, cursing weakly at every contact with it as she murmured: “This is a bad sign... this is exactly why I told you over and over you can't use those abilities...”
“It's... it's not that bad.” Scrivener began, and Celestia gave him a sharp look before she simply squeezed his hoof gently, and the stallion half-choked, half-screamed as he convulsed once in his seat, and Luna cursed and winced, her whole body twisting with the pain that shot through her.
“Don't downplay this. Not right now. Not with what I think we're dealing with.” Celestia said quietly but firmly, and Scrivener swallowed thickly and nodded uneasily, shivering once as the ivory mare took a slow breath before silently looking down at the stallion's broken hoof again, studying it slowly before she closed her eyes. “Mimir's head, Scrivener, Luna...”
“What? What is it?” Luna strode forwards worriedly, then she held up her own hoof, saying quickly: “Well, look, mine is fine, that is a good sign, is it not? Simply... purge the infection, Scrivener and I shall deal with the pain, and then heal it, 'tis that simple, is it not?”
“Luna...” Celestia shook her head silently, then she sighed quietly and looked quietly from her little sister to the charcoal stallion she saw as brother, saying weakly: “Scrivener, Luna, are you blind to what this is, what's happening? Everything done to one affects the other with your soul link, except for only a few things... such as polymorphing and other forms of transformation or... mutation. Don't you see? Don't you understand why I can't heal this, why I can't do anything except... let it run its course?”
“I... no... no...” Scrivener's eyes widened as Luna looked up in disbelief, and then the charcoal stallion yanked his broken hoof away before looking down at it, trembling hard as he thought of insane, grinning Cheshire, how his claws had been formed from shattered hooves; he thought of himself, how in his own mind, he always saw himself as having... “No, no, no... that's... that's not possible... I'm not going to... I can't become... Valthrudnir didn't...”
He looked up with a snarl, but even before he heard the voice of the Jötnar, he felt the dragon's surprise... and horribly, what felt like discomfort. Oh, this is none of my doing, Nihete... nor is this any preprogrammed evolution. This is what happens when experiments are not monitored, and permitted to mutate on their own means. This is a natural effect of your constant exposure to outside influences and abusing your powers as you do... how ironic that your own fear of losing yourself may lead precisely to that climax.
Scrivener trembled, then he gritted his teeth as he forced himself to slowly flex the broken hoof... and even as tears filled his eyes at how agonizing the pain was, he realized that even while black corruption bled out of his hoof, each cracked section was moving separately. Like his single hoof was becoming five articulate claws...
Luna was silent for a few minutes, and then she slowly looked up at Celestia as the ivory mare closed her eyes before the sapphire mare quietly, calmly asked: “Will my husband become a Tyrant Wyrm, in time? Has all this time, his subconscious self... been warning us what he is to become? Is this perhaps what Thesis meant by... by becoming complete?”
There was silence for a few moments, and then Celestia looked up and said the most terrifying, unwanted thing that Luna ever heard whispered from her big sister. Something she never expected to hear, something so rarely heard before that it sounded so terribly alien...
“I don't know.”
The three sat in silence together, trying to process these words, Celestia looking down quietly as Luna turned her gaze to Scrivener, and Scrivener simply stared down at the ground. For a little while, there was only silence... and then the stallion closed his eyes and asked quietly: “Do you think that when this heals... it won't be a hoof any longer?”
Celestia laughed faintly, and there was no need for her to repeat her answer as the three all stared down, before Luna finally looked up at Scrivener and smiled a little at him, saying softly: “Well, at least thou shalt no longer complain about thy sordid hooves.”
For a moment, Scrivener only stared at her, and even Celestia looked up with disbelief, before Luna shook her head slowly and murmured: “I shan't get into this again. Scrivener Blooms is Scrivener Blooms, and I am Luna Brynhild. Even if this is what Thesis meant by evolution and completion... he shall still be Scrivener, and I shall still be me. Let it happen. Let what will happen, happen. We shall be there to meet it head on.”
There was silence for a few moments, and then Scrivener looked down at his shattered hoof before clenching it slowly, gritting his teeth at the agony that filled his system, but still forcing himself to do it even as black blood dripped down the broken claw. And then he nodded firmly, not giving into the pain even now, reminding himself as Luna looked over at him silently that he could push through anything, as long as she was by his side.
Celestia gazed between the two ponies, and then she smiled faintly before reaching up and rubbed a hoof at her face slowly, nodding silently. And Luna nodded firmly as well, before stepping back and raising her head proudly, eyes burning with determination to face the future together with her husband.