//------------------------------//
// Making Conversation 
// Story: Synthesis of the Atheist 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Twenty Eight: Making Conversation
~BlackRoseRaven

Twilight Sparkle carefully finished tightening the straps of the hard plastic boot over Scrivener's foreleg, the stallion groaning in pain as he trembled for a moment before wheezing quietly and mumbling: “You know what? This was a stupid idea.”
“Aye, I agree with Scrivener.” Luna groaned from across the library, where she was laying on the bedding on her back and sucking childishly on her front hoof, even though she knew all the agony running through her body was coming from her link with the stallion. The Lich only glared at them both, however, hiding her own pain well... but she clearly could feel it too, from the way she gingerly kept pawing her right hoof at the floor.
“We have to try this, at least. Celestia said she doesn't want to make too many assumptions until we... until we know for sure.” Twilight said quietly, and then she sighed and reached up to rub slowly at the stitching across her face: she had felt much of the pain Scrivener and Luna had gone through in the battle with Hollow Star, and the damage feeding through the two ponies had caused her not just considerable discomfort but worn on her body more than a little. But hopefully as they healed, some of her wounds would close completely, and she wouldn't have to walk around feeling even more patchwork than usual. “Test it.”
Scrivener glowered at the order, then winced when Twilight glowered grumpily back before he muttered: “Hey, Luna and I were the ones who were poked and prodded all night by Celestia. You got to just sit and watch after you showed up here.”
All the same, the stallion carefully stomped the gray boot a few times, and when he didn't feel more than a faint pulse of pain, he hesitantly shifted to put his weight on it... and winced only slightly, looking surprised as he mumbled: “Wow, just feels like a stubbed hoof now. How the hell did you do that?”
Twilight only smiled at this, glancing towards the back room and replying: “Don't thank me, thank Celestia. Although I think the salve we put all over your hoof came from a demon's recipe.”
Scrivener grunted, looking thoughtfully down at his foreleg as he stomped it absently a few times, then smiled a little again. His shattered, possibly-transforming hoof was covered in some mint-smelling salve, wrapped in some kind of elastic thingy, sealed in a leg-hugging cast, and now covered by this boot. It was supposed to make it bearable to walk around in, even though getting all of it on had been painful beyond measure... and Scrivener sighed a little as he mumbled: “This better heal fast.”
“Don't rush it too much, Scrivy. Besides, you might regret saying that if...” Twilight stopped, then she sighed a little and shook her head slowly, looking silently over at Scrivener. The stallion smiled faintly at her, and Luna glanced up quietly from the bedding before the Lich closed her eyes. “No, I'm not going to scold you two. It's... harder to, anyway, when I feel your emotions and everything. I just... at least you're not dying.”
“Wow, Twilight, that's an optimistic take on things.” Scrivener said mildly, and Twilight gave him a flat look as Luna giggled a little, then hurriedly looked away when the violet mare shot a sour look at her.
Then Twilight sighed a little before glancing over at Scrivener, saying softly: “Look, I... it's just hard to think about. Why does this always happen to you, not Luna?”
Luna gave an insulted shout at this, but both she and Scrivener were surprised into smiling as the Lich gave her own small smile. But at the same time, her eyes were asking a serious question, and the charcoal stallion shifted before he sighed and replied softly: “It's because of what I am, I guess... and maybe my exposure to the other cuckoos, or what they were doing, and Clockwork World and... well... we've been through a lot.”
He smiled wryly, then shook his head slowly before glancing over at Luna and saying hesitantly: “And we've... we've both changed, if you think about it, Twilight. Luna... might hate me for this, but Nightmare Moon...”
“Aye, Nightmare Moon is a part of me... and she certainly showed her own transformation, did she not?” Luna almost shuddered for a moment, then shook her head slowly and looked down, reaching up and touching her chest quietly. “Perhaps Scrivy is right. All of us have changed... we just both hope that... that this does not harm or change thou, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight smiled faintly at this, shaking her head slowly and murmuring: “That's the last thing I'm worried about, honestly. I just... I want you both to be okay. It's really important.”
She reached up, rubbing slowly at her breast for a moment before shaking her head and saying finally: “Look, we've got a lot of things to do. Scrivener, Barry sent a letter to me last night, something about the publisher. Celestia has to go back to Canterlot later today, but Cowlick first wants us all to meet with her at the labs, she finally finished analyzing some of the Silverbacks she caught. I know you have to deal with Hollow Star, too, and we need to do a few more tests on you, Scrivener.”
The stallion groaned as Luna sighed tiredly, slumping as the Lich looked between them pointedly before the sapphire mare whined: “And what of Celestia? Where does damnable Celestia figure into all this, what nonsense is she up to?”
“Sleeping, Luna. Please let her sleep, it's been... so long since she's had a decent night's rest.” Twilight said pleadingly, and Luna glowered even as Scrivener softened, and the Lich held up her hooves when the sapphire mare slowly began to inhale. “Luna, come on! It's been... it's been years and years and years now, you don't have to take every chance to make Celestia miserable!”
“That is what siblings do, Twilight, they make each other miserable. 'Tis the greatest source of happiness one sibling can give another, as a matter of fact. Thou would know this if thou would bond more with poor Shiny.” Luna said informatively, and the Lich sighed tiredly before Luna frowned thoughtfully, then turned and called: “Wicked witch! How would thou like to meet a Clockwork Pony, and study thy future enemy? He is an ally, and only half as strong as he once was, but I think all the same 'twill be quite informative!”
For a few moments, there was silence... and then Twilight stared in shock at the Destroyer as she emerged from the top of the stairs, the tall, gangly demon muttering: “Do not call me...”
She broke off, freezing suddenly up as her eyes locked on Twilight Sparkle, and the two stared at each other for a few moments before Hollow Star whispered almost eagerly: “What powerful magic... and I see a connection. She is a Deathless Knight. I've heard all about them, but in all my years I have never seen someone either so loyal or so foolish to undergo the ritual...”
“She is a Lich, not a Deathless, whether or not 'tis an understandable mistake and little more than a matter of semantics.” Luna said sharply, and Hollow Star frowned slightly before the sapphire mare added quietly, as both she and Scrivener turned their gazes to the violet mare: “She is part of my family. She, Scrivener and I are a triad. She is no servant, she is equal to us.”
Hollow Star opened her mouth, likely about to spit some mockery, but at the glare Luna favored her with the Destroyer grumbled, then surprisingly simply nodded, saying distastefully: “Fine. I've seen worse. Helheim is full of the sick and the strange and the simply-is.”
“That sounds like something Bob would say.” Scrivener muttered, and then he stepped a little closer to Twilight, and the Lich smiled faintly. The stallion hesitated for a moment, but as Luna continued to only glare and growl under her breath at the demon, he decided to push forwards and ask: “Do you want to walk around with us today? We have a lot to do, but... I guess it would be a great way for you to see how things work around here. Meet some ponies and... understand us a little better.”
Hollow Star nodded after a moment, then returned her eyes to Twilight, studying her with interest before Luna asked wryly: “I don't suppose that it would be asking thee too much to cloak thy shape and form, would it? Or at least put a paper bag over thy terrible visage, witch. There are foals outside.”
The pale-pink demon only glared at Luna in response, and then she snorted in distaste before her horn glowed as she strode calmly down the steps. As she moved, a mane and tail of golden flames burst into life as silver bled out of her skin and formed rapidly into metal, and a moment later, Luna and Scrivener were looking sourly up at the massive, monstrous metallic behemoth they had fought in the cavern, as Twilight gaped in shock. “Am I prettier like this?”
“Well, aye, much prettier, but all the same 'tis not what I had in mind.” Luna retorted blandly, before the sapphire mare sighed tiredly and grumbled: “But fine, it will do. At least thou does not have thy stupid chains.”
“They are not necessary at the moment, that is all. But rest assured, I've fully healed... we Wrath demons are made for constant war, always ready for more battle, unlike... some softer creatures.” Hollow Star glanced meditatively down at Scrivener's cast, and the stallion grumbled even as he blushed slightly before the demon's eyes surprisingly turned to Twilight, asking almost eagerly: “You understand, don't you, Deathless?”
“I uh... well...” Twilight flushed deeply, then she turned quickly away, not even knowing how to respond as Luna glared at Hollow Star and Scrivener stepped comfortingly closer to Twilight. The violet mare smiled faintly, then she shook her head and said awkwardly: “Let's just... head to Cowlick's lab and... we'll see how things are there first.”
Luna nodded, then strode quickly forwards, taking the lead. Twilight hurried close behind, and Scrivener limped only slightly behind the Lich as Hollow Star slowly followed last...but the enormous Destroyer was smiling beneath the fierce-looking mask that covered her face, her eyes glowing with growing interest at her new allies.

Antares had been woken up late in the night – or was it early in the morning? – by Twilight Sparkle, the violet mare telling him that his mother and father were back and she was going to go and see them to help with... something. The young stallion had been dumbfounded, and part of him had wanted to run out after the Lich as she'd quickly left... but eventually logic and tiredness had won out, and he'd just flopped back down in bed.
In the morning, Antares had dragged himself out of bed, had breakfast, and then tossed on a saddlebag before heading out onto the path leading into Ponyville. He'd woken up a good bit on the walk to town, and by the time he'd gotten there he'd felt much more awake, and ready to talk to his parents. Not just to find out what had happened, but to tell them what had been on his mind since their little awkward argument.
He stopped outside Ponyville to wave at Fluttershy, who was standing outside the animal care center, keeping an eye on several grazing animals with the help of Nirvana and her sons. The Pegasus smiled and waved back, and the glossy-black unicorn gazed fondly over her little family... they seemed so normal in spite of everything, and so close. And he couldn't help but sigh a little as he turned to head through the open gates into Ponyville, nodding absently to the guards on duty as he strode quickly down the dirt path and into town.
Antares arrived at the library after only a few minutes, steeling himself as he approached and shoved the door open... but all he saw was Celestia sitting at the table, drinking a cup of tea with her pet squirrel happily munching on a block of cheese beside her on the table. She glanced up curiously as Antares strode in, the young stallion looking lamely back and forth. “It's nice to see you so early, Antares... are you looking for your parents?”
“Yeah.” the stallion said after a moment, and the smiled awkwardly as he glanced up, but Celestia only smiled back, and it helped steady his nerves a little before he asked hesitantly: “Are... are they okay? Twilight, yesterday, she was having some really awful pain and... well...”
“I... your father has an injured hoof, but... otherwise, they seem healthy.” Celestia said quietly, and Antares nodded even as his eyes studied the mare. She seemed cautious suddenly... no, almost guarded, and as his eyes slipped downwards, he couldn't help but notice the way she shifted the papers over the desk to cover up whatever it was she was researching. “I think they went to Kilby Kwolek's engineering lab... you should go and find them, Antares. They'd be very happy to see you, and it would be good for you to meet Morning Glory.”
The young stallion nodded hesitantly, then he decided to change the subject, asking: “What's she like, anyway? I mean, from what Burning said... is she like Pinkamena?”
“That's not the... worst comparison.” Celestia replied delicately, smiling a little despite herself, and Antares thought he could read relief in her expression as well, saw her body relax ever-so-slightly. “I think she's had a harder past than we know. And I think that in spite of how she behaves and the way she's so... vicious towards her brother in particular, she still cares about Burning, and she still retains... some sense of duty and obligation. It's difficult to say, but I think there's more to her than she wants to be seen.”
“Like all of us.” Antares murmured softly, and Celestia nodded slowly before the young stallion hesitated a bit, then asked impulsively: “Do you think she and Burning can work things out between them? Do you really think that maybe...”
“It's hard to say, Antares. But I think she still cares about him, and it's clear that Burning cares about her. Luna and Scrivener told me a little of the fight they had with her, and even though she tortured and injured Burning Desire badly, he never rose his hoof against her in return.” Celestia said quietly. “It's up to Morning Glory. Or... Hollow Star, as she goes by.”
“Thanks, Aunt Tia.” Antares stopped, then he smiled a little before bowing his head politely, and Celestia nodded back as Ratatoskr chittered loudly at the unicorn before he turned away and headed for the door, pausing and saying over his shoulder: “If I somehow miss them, just... let Mom and Dad know I'll catch up to them at home, okay?”
Celestia nodded, tilting her head curiously, but before the winged unicorn could ask anything Antares hurried out the door and closed it behind him with a wheeze. He glanced back and forth, shifting uneasily for a moment before shaking his head out and hurrying across the square, not heading in the direction of the engineering lab; the last thing he wanted to do right now was try and make nice with a new demon.
It wasn't that he thought getting help from a demon like Morning Glory was a bad idea, and the fact it helped Burning Desire was honestly a welcome bonus. Burning Desire was a role model for him, after all, and had been Prestige's mentor, and... he would do anything to help someone who had meant so much to Prestige Luster. The stallion felt his thoughts slow a little, like they always did when they came to Prestige these days... but he hurriedly shook his head out and continued onwards.
No, what bothered him was... the thoughts of what he knew would happen. He'd end up being a little patronized, even if his parents wouldn't mean to, and they'd refuse to answer or laugh off all his questions and worries about what had happened, and he'd end up looking like he was mentally handicapped or a little kid or something in front of the new demon. He direly did not want that to be the first impression he made on Morning Glory.
And that thought led into what he wanted to talk to his parents about: that he was an adult, and he not only deserved to be treated like one, he was ready to start acting like it. He wanted to move out into his own little flat in Ponyville, and find himself a job, and... live a normal adult life. Not cling any longer to his parents, staying in his room out at their home in the wilds of the Everfree any longer. Scarlet, after all, had grown up and moved out a long time ago... it was time for him to do the same.
Antares looked down as he continued slowly on his path, shifting uncomfortably all the same with these thoughts: Meadowlark had told him that it was okay, that really all he needed to do was talk to his parents and get some things straight with them, while Avalon thought his plan was great since they could really use a place to party and all, and it wasn't like she was probably going to ever move off the land belonging to the Apple Family. Tender Trust had only asked him curiously why he would want to move away from his family, and Aphrodisia, to Antares' surprise, had been the most disapproving of all his friends, saying firmly that he was lucky to live where he did and he was going to regret it.
Still, it was the right thing to do... right? It was normal, and he wasn't a kid anymore and... well... Twilight had lived on her own since she was young and he knew about his father's life. Not that... that was a stellar example of moving out and living on one's own: Scrivener's hoof had been semi-forced, after all, and for him it had been... an escape, more than growing up.
The young stallion shifted uneasily at this, then smiled as he looked up and realized where he was, letting himself get distracted as he looked up with a smile towards the Ponyville newspaper office. It wasn't a very large building, but it was busy and old-looking and had a certain sense of integrity about it that Antares always liked: Meadowlark and his father both had told him that while you could never escape politics or personal agendas, small town newspapers were usually a little more honest than their big city counterparts.
The stallion's eyes drew downwards, and then he smiled warmly and called out as he saw an all-too-familiar Pegasus trotting hurriedly along the street towards the building. The crimson mare glanced up dumbly, then laughed when Antares came hurrying towards her, the stallion grinning awkwardly as Meadowlark asked him in a surprised voice: “Antares, what are you doing here?”
“I uh... I just wanted to... walk you to work, that's all.” Antares said lamely, after a moment, the first thing that came to mind, and the Pegasus favored him with an amused look as she slowly gestured with one hoof towards the doors leading into the building just a few feet away. “Yeah uh... I know. Not. Not the best timing in the world.”
“Well, uh... thank you for the thought at least, Antares.” Meadowlark said after a moment, and then she shook her head before studying him curiously, leaning towards him a little, and the stallion shifted awkwardly on his hooves before the Pegasus asked quietly: “Hey, what's really on your mind?”
“Nothing, nothing... nothing.” Antares said quickly, shaking his head wildly before he blushed a little when Meadowlark frowned and leaned forwards a bit more, before the stallion smiled faintly and looked up. “I just wanted to see you, that's all. I... I honestly feel a thousand times better just seeing you, Meadow. You do a lot for me, especially these days.”
“Okay.” Meadowlark said softly after a moment, still studying him curiously before she finally nodded once, and then the mare glanced towards the squat newspaper office, hesitating a moment before she asked: “Hey, you want to go get a coffee and talk or something, Mir? No one's going to notice if I'm twenty minutes late or so, my boss will probably be happy I don't show up early for once. He's always complaining I'm making him look bad with how little I whine about the cramped quarters, the long hours, the tiny paycheck...”
“No, no, you go... enjoy all those things.” Antares replied with an amused smile after a moment, shaking his head and laughing a little despite himself before he shifted a bit, then softened and said quietly: “Honestly. Just seeing you... that was more than enough. You go to work, I think I'll head out to Sweet Apple Acres myself... Avalon's harvesting today, right?”
“I don't remember, to be honest. But it's still morning, so if she's not working she's sleeping and you can have fun waking her up.” Meadowlark smiled back after a moment, looking up into the stallion's eyes, and then she stepped forwards and they shared a brief, quick kiss before pulling apart, the Pegasus reaching up to touch his face gently as she said softly: “Take care of yourself, okay, Mir? And be nice to your Mom and Dad when you find them.”
“I hate how well you read me.” Antares said softly, but Meadowlark only smiled again as they gazed at each other: she knew he didn't. And he knew that she knew he didn't, before he nodded firmly once. “Take care of yourself. I'll try and come back during your lunch break, okay?”
Meadowlark nodded at this, saying softly in return: “You do the same then, Mir, and I'll be looking for you, in that case. Behave, huh?”
“You already told me to!” Antares called as he turned around and Meadowlark turned to head inside, and the Pegasus' laughter sounded like music in his ears over the other sounds rising through Ponyville now: conversation and hooves and animals and all kinds of other noises, forming a chorus that he closed his eyes and simply listened to as he let his hooves carry him through town...
And when he next opened them, he was striding out the gates again, this time stepping out onto a dirt road that led through the farming community outside of Ponyville. He smiled, gazing back and forth: Fluttershy's cottage was out here, and so was the Apple Family ranch.
More and more, this once lightly-populated place was getting more and more traffic and more and more ponies, looking to build properties and expand outside the walls of the Ponyville itself. Antares had even heard a rumor that they were thinking of tearing down the walls that protected the village and rebuilding them much further out, not just so they could encompass this entire farming district, but so they could begin turning Ponyville from a thriving village into a thriving city.
Antares wasn't sure how he felt about that: the Ponyville he knew was busy and happy, but it was small enough almost everypony knew each other by name... and hell, most of the Nibelung and Phooka and demons could be included in that, too. He liked Ponyville as a small place, even if he knew that change was inevitable, and growth was, by and large, good. Thinking of it as a city, where factories might start to crop up, where Cowlick's lab might be expanded into an industrial sector on its own... it didn't sit well with him, and he knew it didn't sit well with a lot of other ponies who lived out here precisely because Ponyville was... Ponyville. Not Ponycity.
He laughed despite himself, shaking his head slowly as he continued slowly up the road, glancing past a row of fencing to smile at the sight of Nibelung laborers humming and easily picking apples from the trees that filled the orchard, calling and chatting easily to each other and with other pony workers. Then the stallion's ears pricked up as he heard a sound he recognized all too well over the pleasant rhythm of conversation.
A single faint boom: most of the farm staff either didn't react or recognized all too well themselves what it was, and Antares smiled warmly as he leapt into the air, spreading his leathery wings and flapping them firmly to propel himself upwards.
He rarely flew that much, especially these days: it made his back ache and he was happy enough running over the ground. For the most part, his wings were simply there to help with his acrobatics. But every now and then he took a short flight, either to save time or just because he admittedly enjoyed the wind in his mane and the feeling of freedom that flight brought with it.
For now, it was more the former than anything else: it would be a lot easier from the air to spot what he was looking for, as his sharp eyes roved through the enormous apple orchard below until he caught a line of gold, watching it streak up towards the sky before it shot down like a meteor with another faint booming sound.
Antares flew quickly over with a grin, letting himself descend through a hole in the closely-knit blanket of apple trees to land safely back on the earth. His wings flapped once before furling tight to his sides as he jogged quickly to the edge of the field: just in time to watch as Avalon Apple shot in towards Tender Trust, the half-Phooka smiling calmly as she swiftly jumped and twisted out of the way, Avalon passing sharply beneath her.
The tiny Pegasus flipped her body in midair, slamming all four hooves down to skid to a halt through the grassy field before she sprung upwards as her wings spread. She flapped them once hard to launch herself forwards a good distance, then immediately springing to the side, zigzagging back and forth in great bounds as she moved forwards. She was incredibly fast, seeming to vanish from one place to reappear in another for one brief moment before she was suddenly right in front of Tender Trust, swinging a hoof viciously forwards-
Tender Trust arched her back and neatly flipped backwards, but just as she was touching down Avalon leapt forwards with a roar and slammed her other hoof in a straight, sharp strike into the half-Phooka's breast, hitting with so much force it launched the light, smoky equine flying backwards and out of the field. Avalon panted roughly, grinning widely before Rainbow Dash said amusedly from the side of the grassy meadow: “Holy hell kid, calm down! She might not feel anything but you don't gotta be that rough, and look, you're using up all your strength, Ava.”
“Sorry, Dad, sorry. I get... I get so worked up though, you know, and I guess I just start slinging and forget to conserve my strength.” Avalon replied embarrassedly, and Antares smiled softly from where he was calmly sitting in the shade of a large tree, watching as Rainbow Dash and Applejack both strode towards their daughter from the edge of the field, as the tiny Pegasus looked up with a wide grin. “I did good though, right?”
“Yeah. You're somethin' else, honey.” Applejack said softly, then she reached forwards and squeezed her daughter's shoulder firmly, nodding once and smiling faintly. “Your Daddy and I used to think we were tough, but... you kids, you fight like Luna and Celestia do. Sometimes I don't know what to think of it...”
“Hey, Mom, you're still really strong. You and Dad... best athletes in Ponyville, right?” Avalon said warmly, looking up at them with almost childlike adoration, and Applejack nodded firmly as Rainbow Dash gazed down at his daughter affectionately before the tiny Pegasus fluttered upwards and grinned over her shoulder at Tender Trust. “Besides, you know, you shouldn't judge all the new kids on the block by me, I'm kinda badass.”
“You really are just like your father.” Applejack said amusedly, and Rainbow Dash shoved the mare lightly, but he looked absurdly touched all the same, gazing affectionately at the mare before the goldenrod earth pony glanced to the side and winked as she finally spotted Antares. “Hey, Ava, looks like you've got an audience.”
Avalon cocked her head curiously, then half-spun to grin brightly at Antares, gesturing easily at him with one hoof. “Hey, Mir! You up for a sparring match or two? Come on, come on, T here has probably had enough, after all.”
“Thank you, Avalon, but I feel very good still. I don't physically tire or hurt like you do, remember.” Tender Trust said kindly, and both Rainbow Dash and Avalon yelped and twitched backwards, the resemblance between them in face and body far too clear as they both looked with surprise at the half-Phooka, who was calmly sitting only a foot or so away with a kind smile on her features.
Applejack and Antares both laughed, earning glares from Rainbow Dash and Avalon respectively, and then the young stallion asked curiously: “What about the harvest? I mean, it's starting to get late in the year now, right?”
The mare nodded, giving Rainbow Dash a pointed look, but the blue Pegasus only huffed and waved a hoof absently. “Oh, don't even get started. Look, we got all this help on the farm now, Soarin' and Big Mac are making sure everything's in order, and you seriously needed a break from making cider. We can get back to that this afternoon, right Ava?”
“Right, Dad.” Avalon nodded firmly, looking up at her father warmly, and Antares softened a little as he gazed over this little knot of family, and a thought about earlier and his own plans flitted through his mind. How Avalon thought it was fine for him to move out... but how she said she would always be 'stuck' at the Apple Family farm. Except Antares and everypony else who saw the tiny Pegasus knew that there were few places where Avalon was happier than at home.
He shifted a little, thinking of his own situation uneasily for a moment before shaking his head out when Tender Trust gave him an inquisitive look, but thankfully Rainbow Dash asked easily: “So hey, Antares, how about you help Ava and me with some aerial maneuvers? You up for that?”
Antares nodded firmly after a moment, spreading his wings and flapping them once, and Tender Trust smiled as she said softly: “To master the air... I must admit, it almost makes me jealous at times.”
“Oh hell, Tender Trust. You can fly fine... the problem is that you're so lightweight even the wind knocks you around.” Rainbow said kindly, gesturing over at her with a smile. “But you learn as fast as my little girl does in the air, and even Antares still has yet to catch on to half the things I taught him.”
“Hey, screw you, Dad.” Avalon huffed and shoved at her father, but Rainbow only grinned amusedly and pushed at her in response as Applejack sighed and shook her head slowly. “I ain't no filly no more, y'know. And I'm gonna be faster than you soon.”
“Dream on, kid. I ain't that old yet and you still have a few tricks to learn. But let's see what we can teach you today.” Dash replied easily, and then he leapt into the air and rocketed suddenly skywards, and Avalon laughed as she followed quickly upwards, smiling brightly.
Antares smiled as well despite himself as he strode forwards, trading a nod with Applejack before the young stallion's leathery wings flapped, carrying upwards to join the two ponies who were already circling and making short, playful dives at each other.
Antares worked with the two ponies until he was sore, and then some, but the pain was worthwhile: there were precious few fliers across Equestria who could match Rainbow Dash. And back when he had just been a little foal, Antares had learned to fly with these two, as much as Luna: his mother was no aerial expert, after all, nimble as she was. Luna had taught him the basics of flight, but also how to use his wings for agility purposes on the ground: it was Rainbow Dash who had taught him how to master the air, even with his flawed wings.
By the end of it, though, Antares was wheezing, touching slowly down and groaning as he cracked his back loudly, muscles aching. His wings refused to furl completely, but that was normal after a heavy workout, as he looked mildly up into the sky before snorting in amusement at the sight of Rainbow and Avalon still mixing both play and hard flight training together... but if there were ever two Pegasi who belonged in the air, it was them.
“Hey, Mir, how're you feeling?” Applejack asked kindly, and Antares blinked in surprise, turning to see Tender Trust and Applejack were both still here in the field. The stallion smiled after a moment, then he shrugged a little before the earth pony grinned wryly. “What can I say? Guess Rainbow's rubbed off on me a little... besides, I can admit I'm a little jealous of my little girl and Dashie there. Not so much of bein' in the air, more... well, you know.”
Applejack rubbed absently at her chest, and Antares nodded slowly: during the war with Decretum, Applejack's lungs had gotten 'chewed up,' as she phrased it. She was still strong and limber... but she no longer possessed the stamina she'd once had, and friends and family treated her much gentler than they had used to... much gentler than she liked to be.
The earth pony hesitated, then she glanced back and forth between Antares and Tender Trust before asking impulsively: “How'd you two like to take a run with an old mare? It's been a while since I've raced somepony other'n Dash, and I could use the exercise. Don't worry, if I fall over and start wheezing I just gotta take a few minutes to breathe, but I know I'm strong enough for this. I did it just last week, and well...”
Applejack reached up and smiled a little, rubbing at her face slowly. “I think I need this. To prove I ain't some old mare yet, even if I'm getting up there in years. But hell, you two don't wanna listen to me ramble on.”
“Elders are the most respected of our clan. With age comes great wisdom.” Tender Trust bowed her head politely, and Applejack chuckled and smiled wryly.
“I wish that was true for me, Tender Trust, but I think all I've gotten is a little more stubborn and maybe a little more stupid, thanks to Dashie.” Applejack said softly, glancing up before she looked back across at Antares, pawing a hoof at the field. “What do you say?”
Antares smiled and nodded after a moment, and Applejack grinned widely, stomping a hoof eagerly. “Great! Come on, let's take the wide path, and don't you hold back now Antares, I know you can move like the wind.”
“I will join you as well. It will be pleasant exercise.” Tender Trust said softly, and Applejack nodded quickly, looking warmly at the half-Phooka. “I appreciate this.”
“Nah, I'm the one who's glad for it, Tender Trust. You know... you really remind me so much of your mother.” Applejack laughed quietly and shook her head slowly, turning to lead them on as she continued softly: “Used to be I didn't always appreciate her as much as I should have, but these days... it really helps me see what a damn good pony she is.”
Tender Trust only smiled kindly, bowing her head politely forwards as Antares rolled his shoulders slowly, feeling comfortable and ready... but an hour later, he was breathing hard and leaning against the wall of the barn, and Applejack was wheezing loudly but grinning widely even as she clutched at her chest, gasping out: “Good... run.”
“Horses of Heaven you're... fast...” Antares groaned, and Applejack laughed and shook herself out before she coughed several times. Antares turned to her worriedly, but the earth pony shook her head sharply and held up a hoof before clearing her throat loudly and spitting to the side.
She looked back up, and her breathing was still rough, but she was smiling and the flush was fading from her cheeks as Tender Trust finally trotted up to join them beside the enormous old barn, the half-Phooka saying softly: “Thank you both for the experience and the exercise. It was a very nice run.”
“I forget how big this place is sometimes. Never again.” Antares muttered as he shook himself out, and Applejack grunted and gave him an amused look before the stallion rubbed slowly at his throat, then asked awkwardly. “You sure you're okay?”
“I'm fine, I'm fine.” Applejack waved a hoof absently, smiling and shrugging a little. “Sure, hurts more than a little, but... it's a good kinda burn, you know? And I know myself, Mir, don't think I don't. Besides, I gotta get the others making cider while I start baking.”
“And you're gonna sit down and rest for lunch.” Rainbow Dash's voice came pointedly as he flew down from above, and Antares and Applejack both looked up with surprise as the Pegasus and his daughter hovered over their heads. “AJ, seriously, you're supposed to take it easy.”
“Well, you're supposed to be on harvest duty. I don't see that going on today or most other days, now do I?” Applejack said pointedly, and Rainbow cleared his throat awkwardly as he looked lamely over at his daughter, who only shrugged in response. Then the earth pony smiled wryly as she turned her eyes towards Antares and Tender Trust, asking kindly: “You two wanna join us for lunch?”
Tender Trust nodded politely, but Antares shook his head, smiling and replying: “Sorry, but I promised Meadow I'd try and meet her on her lunch break.”
“I understand that. See that, Rainbow? That's called bein' thoughtful.” Applejack said mildly, glancing up pointedly at the blue Pegasus, who huffed before reaching down and grabbing her hat, the earth pony mare glaring up at him as he pointedly placed it on his own head. “Y'know, you can only hide up there in the air for so long.”
The stallion shrugged amiably, replying easily as he tilted the brim of the hat towards her: “Yeah, but I can probably hide up here longer than you can stay mad at me for.”
Applejack rolled her eyes as Avalon giggled behind her hooves, and Antares smiled despite himself. They were a close, strong family, like his own was... or well...
Antares excused himself with a smile, but he thought Tender Trust saw through his forcedly-cheerful goodbye. She didn't say anything, though, and he was glad for it as he made his way back into town, feeling a little uneasy about things as he took his time and paced himself. Family... family meant everything to him, but he also didn't want to be treated like a child, or patronized every time he was given a job or got himself hurt. But at the same time he wanted all those years he'd lost back, thinking it would fix everything, and he wanted... oh hell, he didn't even know anymore.
He sighed softly as he walked through the gates of Ponyville, striding moodily down the road as he tried to think. Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage had both moved out of their respective homes, right? Moved in together, and they lived here in Ponyville... but of course, Apple Bloom spent most of her time at Cowlick's labs and Scarlet Sage worked at the clinic and hospital. And both of them had grown up with their families... while Antares, well, he wasn't sure he'd ever grown up at all.
The stallion grumbled under his breath, wishing moodily for a distraction... and that was when the enormous metal pony strode into the street in front of him and turned to face him, glaring at him. Immediately, Antares could feel the sharp malice coming off this thing that had to be some kind of demon, his eyes slowly rising up to stare at the behemoth.
He'd never seen a demon like this before, and in spite of all of Ponyville's familiarity with demons and their kin, everyone was giving this particular demon a very wide berth, treating it with a very palpable, almost physical fear. Not that Antares could blame any of them: it was all malice and sharp steel, with golden flames for a mane and tail and terrible white eyes. Its tall horn crackled with energy as studied him, and Antares swallowed nervously, automatically stepping apprehensively back from this terrible creature before it asked in a mare's cold voice: “Antares Mīrus?”
“Uh. Yeah? Are... are you Morning Glory?” Antares asked lamely, and when the demon nodded curtly, he sighed in relief, looking up and smiling as he began: “It's uh... really great to meet you then, I've heard a lot about you... and... and...”
He stumbled to a halt as he stared up at the creature, seeing how her stance only tightened, the grin spreading slowly over her face, the expression and the pose telling him... oh no. “You're... you're uh... you're an ally, right?”
“Luna and Celestia have earned my allegiance. You have not.” the demon replied calmly, and then she slowly lowered herself to a ready position, and Antares stumbled backwards with a wince of horror as the Destroyer grinned at him callously. “Your parents and the Deathless spoke highly of you. I plan to find out what's true, and what's only lies. And my name, Antares Mīrus, is Hollow Star.”
“Oh hell no.” Antares mumbled, and then his eyes widened in shock when the Destroyer simply lashed her horn forwards, sending a blast of white energy shooting at him, the stallion barely throwing himself out of the way as the civilians in the street around them yelled and then panicked when Hollow Star snapped her horn upwards and unleashed a shockwave that made the street tremble. “Wait, there's people here!”
“Then they had best run quickly!” Hollow Star retorted, before she leapt forwards and swung a hoof out, and Antares cursed as he flung himself backwards before the demon slashed her horn down, and Antares gritted his teeth as he was forced to parry the attack with his own. The Destroyer seemed surprised, caught off guard for a moment, and Antares took the opportunity to snap his horn forwards, unleashing a blast of white light directly into her eyes.
Hollow Star staggered backwards with a snarl, cursing and shaking her head violently, and Antares spun around in a circle before starting to sprint, hoping to lead her out of town: he could figure out what the hell was going on after he got Ponyville out of danger. But before he could get very far, there was a loud crackle before a wall of white flames burst into life across the street, Antares skidding to a halt with a wince before his eyes bulged as he heard the clanking of steel as the Destroyer charged at his back.
Antares flung himself upwards, flapping his aching wings once to try and launch himself over the demon... and he was horrified when steel chains snapped up and wrapped painfully around his body, twisting and moving like living things instead of metal. Then he howled in pain as the chains extending out of Hollow Star's back lashed him down into the wall of white fire, the stallion cursing and struggling wildly as the demon said distastefully: “How pathetic.”
The stallion fought uselessly for a few more moments against the absurdly-strong chains, then snarled in concentration even as the pain began to grow more intense, his horn glowing. And Hollow Star's eyes widened as the wall of purifying flame was drawn slowly upwards, coalescing rapidly into a concentrated sphere of white flame that hovered at the end of Antares' horn.
Then he snapped it viciously to the side, and Hollow Star was blown backwards in a tremendous explosion of purifying flame, the demon cursing as her armor rattled violently and the chains binding Antares were torn apart, as the young stallion himself was hurled down the street. His smoldering body hit the ground before he rolled violently several times, coughing out smoke before barely managing to catch himself on his hooves, staggering drunkenly to the side as he looked up and shouted brazenly before he could stop himself: “I got plenty more just... just like that, too!”
Hollow Star only looked at him moodily, and then the demon slowly, calmly strode forwards, and Antares stared up at the giant metal behemoth as his shoulders slumped and his wings twitched weakly. His body ached, he was burnt and scorched, and he didn't think he even had the strength left to so much as pee himself, even though he really, really wanted to.
The Destroyer towered over him moodily, remains of four chains twisting lethargically around her before they shivered, then withdrew into her body with a series of clicks. And a moment later, the demon leaned down as her facemask clicked and snapped suddenly upwards as if on a hinge, revealing her sallow, ghostly features as she said distastefully: “You're not old enough to be rude, colt. And your magic is messy. Clearly you've never been taught properly, so I'll teach you how to use purification.”
“I... I...” Antares stared up at her disbelievingly, and then he looked back and forth stupidly before mouthing wordlessly and asking in a high-pitched, crazed voice: “What the hell is going on?”
“I could ask the same, Hollow Star!” snapped another pony, and a moment later, Luna landed on the roof of a nearby home, glaring furiously down at the Destroyer. “Thou art not allowed to just... disappear on us, and parade around Ponyville, and thou art especially not allowed to attack my son! How dare thee!”
“I did not attack him, Luna Brynhild. Let me demonstrate something.” Hollow Star stepped forwards, putting one large steel hoof on Antares as the stallion looked dumbly up, then yelped as she easily crushed him down into the ground as Luna snarled in fury, even as Hollow Star continued moodily: “There, see? A fraction of my strength pins the foal helplessly. If I attacked him he would be dead. What we held was... a conversation.”
“Get off my son.” Luna said coldly, and Hollow Star snorted as her metallic facemask snapped back down into place before she stepped backwards, hauling Antares easily back to his hooves at the same time by the scruff of his neck, and the young stallion staggered stupidly before he caught himself and simply stood, not knowing what the hell else to do. “Now step away. And stay away, foul, wicked, cowardly demon.”
“Oh, don't be so sensitive! You're as mollycoddling as Ardent Desire.” Hollow Star retorted, and then she snorted and looked coldly down at Antares, who stared up at her with something very near terror, but also what might have been the faintest hint of admiration, as the demon said calmly: “If I stay away from him, Luna Brynhild, I cannot teach this little colt to properly use his magic. He has not been instructed properly in this field.”
“I... what?” Luna frowned at this, tilting her head curiously before she jumped down from the house, quickly striding to her son's side and turning to stand almost protectively over him, not looking away from the Destroyer even as Scrivener Blooms finally staggered out of an alleyway with a wheeze, Twilight Sparkle worriedly following the limping earth pony. “What does thou mean? He has been taught much, by many... even my big sister who thou so readily licks the hooves of. And thine own brother, of course. Thy nicer, better-adjusted, smarter big brother.”
Hollow Star looked sourly at Luna, but ignored the insults as she replied distastefully: “I do not doubt in Celestia's teaching ability, and Ardent Desire... has many faults, but...” She shifted and gritted her teeth, looking disgusted with herself as she muttered: “He seems to be... adequate... at magic... but Antares has not been taught to harness his specific skills with purification, has he?”
Luna didn't reply right away, looking measuringly at the demon as Scrivener limped up on Antares' other side... and again, the young stallion felt himself being almost wedged out of conversation... wedged out of even existence, perhaps, as he cursed under his breath even as shrank down a little, closing his eyes. All he knew was that again, his parents were going to start making decisions for him, after he'd gotten ambushed and thrown around with ease by the Destroyer... “No!”
The sapphire mare blinked and tilted her head as both Scrivener and Twilight Sparkle looked at Antares, and Hollow Star turned her moody eyes down the glossy-black unicorn as he flushed and realized a little late he'd just blurted his denial out loud. Then he winced when Luna nodded firmly and looked up at Hollow Star, saying: “See? My child agrees! So thou can take thy offer of teaching and shove it up thy-”
“No, I.. I mean, no, I don't... not want...” Antares flushed as his parents stared at him again, and then he forced himself to take a breath as he looked up and said finally: “I want to learn from her.”
There was silence for a few moments, and Luna grimaced as she looked nervously at the Destroyer, who leaned back thoughtfully before the sapphire mare opened her mouth... but when Twilight Sparkle gave her a quietly-pleading look past Antares, who looked almost... angry, she thought... the starry-maned winged unicorn finally closed her eyes and nodded slowly, muttering: “Oh... very well then. I... I am not going to question thy decisions, Antares. Even if I find it strange thou desires to learn from the very same demon that apparently recently set thee aflame.”
Luna moodily poked at her son a few times with one hoof, and Antares gave an awkward little laugh as he began to open his mouth, glancing over at himself... and then staring as he saw he was still smoldering faintly, in spite of the fact there was very little pain, only an uncomfortable... crawling sensation. He mouthed wordlessly for a moment, then hurriedly cleared his throat before saying finally: “But I do... I guess... there's no better way to learn, right?”
“I do  not know, Sleipnir never learned well in spite of how oft Celestia set him aflame.” the winged unicorn replied wryly, and then she sighed and shook her head slowly. “Very well. But know this, Hollow Star, I am still going to pummel thee terribly later for what thou hast done. Not just for my son's sake, but because thou ran off and terrified half of Ponyville, and were extremely rude to Cowlick, even by my standards.”
“I don't like her.” Hollow Star said moodily after a moment, shaking her head distastefully, and then she glared at Scrivener when he snorted in amusement.
“You don't like her because you couldn't scare her. But nothing scares Cowlick. That's why she gets in trouble so often.” Scrivener said dryly, and Hollow Star studied him for a moment before she nodded grudgingly, and the stallion smiled wryly before glancing at Antares, adding quietly: “But maybe you just uh... could use some work on your social skills in general, Morning Glory.”
“Your son just agreed to be my student, did he not? Maybe my social skills are just fine. It's you pathetic ponies who need the help.” Hollow Star retorted distastefully, and then she looked down at Antares and said calmly: “Training begins now. Come with me, we will return to the library and I shall start you with a soft lesson, as these soft ponies would no doubt demand.”
Luna glared furiously, her mane sparking violently as her eye twitched, and even Twilight Sparkle looked like she was starting to get a little angry now. But Antares hesitated only a moment before he reached up and touched Luna's shoulder, saying quietly: “I think I should go, Mom. And... I want to talk to you and Dad later.”
The sapphire mare frowned at this, and then she smiled faintly before saying softly: “Thou can talk to us any time, Antares. And look at thou, thou art... by Mimir's head, thou art fortunate to not have  been seriously harmed... Hollow Star, thou should perhaps go ahead, give us a moment here to speak and us to heal what damages thou hast left on my colt.”
Antares gritted his teeth, flushing slightly before Scrivener added hesitantly: “It... Antares, you do kind of look like hell, you know. Twilight, can you-”
“No, I... no.” Antares said sharply, closing his eyes tightly and trembling, and he didn't even know why the hell this was making him so angry now as he felt all their eyes on him... right here, in the middle of the street, and ponies were probably watching because of what they had just been through and... “I... I gotta go. I gotta go.”
Antares shoved hurriedly away, and Twilight sighed quietly as Luna looked stupefied for a moment, then shouted: “Antares! Wait!”
Luna hurried after the young stallion, and Scrivener groaned before he began to limp after the mare. Hollow Star calmly let him pass, but once Twilight began to follow, the Destroyer swept a limb easily up and out, catching and halting her as she looked down at her, the Lich wincing as Hollow Star said softly: “Come with me, Deathless.”
“I'm not a Deathless... and... you're... why do you keep bossing us around? I thought you were loyal to Luna or something, I...” Twilight struggled for a moment, gritting her teeth before she clenched her eyes shut and forced herself to breathe, swallowing down her emotions as best she could as she muttered: “I... I'm sorry. But Luna and Scrivener and... you're really stressing us all out and it compounds really, really fast on top of everything else.”
“Luna Brynhild is not a leader, as she told me herself... she is a warrior on the battlefield, to be treated as an equal, not as a superior.” Hollow Star said softly, and Twilight frowned up at this before the Destroyer shrugged. “She's angry now. But she strikes me as always being in the throes of one emotion or another. Now come with me, Deathless.”
Twilight mumbled under her breath, then sighed and turned to follow the Destroyer, glancing up as they started down the familiar path towards the library. The Lich was fairly certain that was where she was being led, anyway... it seemed to be the only place that Hollow Star really was fond of so far. What surprised her was when the demon asked curiously: “Antares is like a son to you, you said, is that correct?”
“Yes, it is.” Twilight said slowly, frowning a little as she shifted a bit uncomfortably, and when Hollow Star gave her an inquisitive look, the Lich glanced down and mumbled: “It's just funny to talk about. People don't always react the greatest to hearing about... all that. But he's a wonderful son and I'm proud of him and... he's strong. You must know that. I get the sense you wouldn't be interested in him if you thought little of him.”
“I think he is as emotional as his mother, but... I see potential.” Hollow Star paused, then said with surprising tact: “But even with only my first glimpse of your family, he seems... frustrated with how he was being treated.”
Twilight looked dumbly over at the Destroyer, but after a moment Hollow Star snorted in distaste, adding moodily: “Don't make the mistake of thinking I care, Deathless. But it will affect his productivity and I don't desire to be on a battlefield where I have to fight side-by-side with my mommy-worshiping brother and a mother-hating colt.”
The Lich sighed tiredly, and then she murmured quietly: “It's not that at all. Luna just... has trouble letting go.”
“All mothers do.” Hollow Star murmured, and Twilight frowned curiously up at the Destroyer. The demon glanced down, then nodded as she answered: “I spent eight hundred years in Helheim. I bore seven children over that time... but I was only a breeding tool. Cupidus hoped that by having me mate with another powerful demon, it would produce powerful offspring, but he was wrong.”
Twilight shivered, lowering her head awkwardly, not even knowing what to say, but Hollow Star only muttered: “Don't give me your pity, Deathless. It was part of life in Helheim, that's all, part of my duties for Cupidus. He desired to create powerful assets, and none of what was produced was worth a long-term investment, in the Greed demon's terms... and I was only stupid enough to care about one of my babies before they were destroyed.”
Twilight stared in horror at this, and Hollow Star said coldly, looking ahead: “All life has predetermined value. To a Greed demon, those values are very set and strict: none of the demons produced by my breeding were worth the risk of raising, according to what they were developing into. For Cupidus' purposes, they were worth much more dead. I killed them, dissected them, harvested their blood and organs. And it proved my loyalty to Cupidus.”
“You... you did that... seven times? To... to your own children?” Twilight whispered weakly, stumbling after the demon, but the Destroyer didn't miss a step, didn't slow, and refused to so much as look at the Lich.
“Yes, Deathless, I did. They were often centuries apart... and I was only foolish enough to love the first child born to me. But I killed him when he turned four years old and showed no signs of being exceptional, as Cupidus ordered. I have never cried for any of them and have no plans to. It is all in the past now, and was necessary.” Hollow Star said calmly, and then she finally glanced at Twilight Sparkle. “Their cost as liabilities exceeded their asset value. Pray you never go to Helheim, Deathless, and if you do, then know that it would be better to throw yourself into the torture pits to be torn apart by bestial demons than to serve a devil of Greed.”
Twilight shuddered and looked away in disbelief, and she couldn't think of anything else to say as they walked onwards in silence, the Destroyer refusing to so much as look at the Lich, but the coldness in her eyes doing little to hide how she still suffered.