//------------------------------//
// Impossible Decisions 
// Story: Synthesis of the Atheist 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Twenty Nine: Impossible Decisions
~BlackRoseRaven

Scrivener Blooms lay on the futon in front of the fireplace as Luna looked at him worriedly, while Twilight Sparkle finished rinsing off his split-apart hoof in a bowl of water. The violet mare sat back after a moment, then she nodded slowly as she murmured: “It's already changing. Does it hurt more or less?”
“If it hurt more than it did before, I'd be either dead or crying right now.” Scrivener muttered, then he carefully rose his hoof out of the bowl, flexing it slowly and wincing... but it was more in anticipation of pain, then the pain that hit him. It definitely hurt a lot less, and he flexed his developing digits slowly: they had taken on a blocky, ugly shape, looking almost as if they had been chiseled crudely out of stone. But even if they moved slowly, the material they were made of was still moving... but it wasn't flesh, it wasn't stone, it wasn't nail. He didn't know what the hell his hoof had become.
Twilight and Luna both studied it, and then the violet mare smiled faintly and said encouragingly: “It's... it's a good start, right? You might not need the full boot again tomorrow... let me wrap it and we can even leave it off for tonight. And you're not bleeding anymore, even if it looks like... pieces of your hoof are a little... crumbly.”
“Crumbly. That's a great word.” Scrivener winced a bit, then he slowly closed his... well, he guessed it really was a claw now, into a fist... and was surprised when he saw how his digits roughly locked together. They almost formed a hoof, but the jagged pieces of his claw all ground together painfully and it felt sensitive as hell, so he let his digits uncurl again as he muttered: “Weird.”
“Aye, but that describes thou best. Weird.” Luna said dryly, and Scrivener laughed despite himself before he shook his head slowly, and the sapphire mare sighed a bit as she mumbled: “'Tis funny, though. I see it there before me, and even now 'tis no longer the chief concern on my mind. Poor Antares is.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm really worried about him too.” Scrivener said softly, and he let his hoof drop back into the bowl: it felt soothing against his claw, and Twilight had added a few small drops of Ambrosia solution to the liquid, which they hoped would help with it healing. “I didn't think we were... that lousy at parenting.”
“Oh, we are not! We... we are... aye, we are lousy.” Luna grumbled, and Twilight gave them both a soft look before the Lich smiled faintly as Luna turned and buried her face into the mare's neck, grumbling a little under her breath. “I do not know what to do. If I merely sit back, 'twill feel as if I am neglecting him, and Antares may become even more distant. If I push too hard, though, then Antares will surely leave... already he is spending the night at the library, with Hollow Star. How that thought curdles my stomach, that he prefers the Destroyer's company over us! Celestia is not even there, she long since has gone back to Canterlot, so... there is no other explanation!”
“He does not, Luna, and... Hollow Star really can help him. She's just... confrontational. And Antares needs some time alone, to think and... figure out what he really wants.” Twilight said softly, shaking her head slowly, and Luna grumbled before the Lich soothingly wrapped a foreleg around the sapphire mare, saying gently: “It's going to be okay, Luna. I'm sure that it is. He just needs... he just needs a little bit of time, that's all.”
Luna mumbled in response, then sighed quietly as Scrivener looked down into the water, the three falling silent for a moment before the stallion finally asked: “What about that stuff Cowlick figured out?”
The sapphire mare rose her head slightly... then frowned thoughtfully before she bulled Twilight sideways, the Lich wincing as she was plowed onto the futon beside Scrivener. Then Luna wiggled herself away from the violet mare before leaping on top of both ponies, making Scrivener wheeze as Twilight glared over her shoulder, but Luna only sprawled out over them comfortably as she said thoughtfully: “'Tis a good idea, perhaps, Scrivy. Aye, that would be a grand chance.”
“What are you talking about?” Twilight asked sourly, and when Luna looked at the Lich pointedly, the violet mare sighed and muttered: “Can we please just have a normal conversation about this? It would be nice, really.”
“Oh, thou art no fun at all. But very well.” Luna paused, then explained as she reached out and began to absently play with Twilight's mane: “Remember what Cowlick said, my gorgeous mare? She not only found traces of the mire in the Silverbacks she captured, she and Celestia may have discovered where the nasty little creatures originated from, at least in this Equestria. And she has been working extensively with thy poor mechanical brother.”
Twilight shifted uncomfortably, not knowing how she took to having Shiny referred to as her 'brother,' but Luna only smiled softly and patted her head gently, murmuring: “Now cease that. 'Tis... a chance thou should take, believe me on this if nothing else.”
Scrivener shifted a little, glancing pointedly over his shoulder at Luna, and the sapphire mare grumbled a little but nodded, getting herself back on topic as she said softly: “Shiny does not know the location, but knows there is more than one place where our enemies den. She believes this information is stored in Shiny's mind, and that he will remember given time to... adjust.”
Twilight nodded, thinking of how rough the Clockwork Pony had looked today, how he had barely even cared while Hollow Star had inspected him, shoving him around a little until Twilight had told her to stop. Then Cowlick had started talking to them about all these different things, and the Destroyer had apparently taken the opportunity to leave and go find Antares...
She felt something tickle through her mind: not either of her lovers, but instinct, and after a moment the Lich asked suddenly: “It has to do with the fact that... Cowlick said she thinks the Silverbacks came from one place, but the Replicants are somewhere else, right?”
“Precisely. I believe as well that Thesis is not stupid enough to put all his eggs in one basket, especially when he has at least three other Replicants to order around as he pleases, and who knows how much of Clockwork World's forces.” Luna grimaced a bit, shaking her head slowly before she said softly: “What Scrivy is getting at is that... should the opportunity present itself, to both save time and to give our son the chance to prove himself he so fiercely desires, to be treated as an adult... perhaps we should send him to one world, and we ourselves will go to the other.”
“It would let us cover more ground at once, gather more information on what Thesis is doing.” Scrivener sighed a little, looking uneasy all the same as Twilight looked at him worriedly. “I don't like it that much, believe me... but it would be good for all of us, maybe. And Thesis... well...”
Scrivener rose his claw out of the liquid, studying it silently. “I'm kind of scared, to be honest, about whatever Thesis must have in mind. I think... I think Valthrudnir is worried too, which scares the hell out of me even more. I mean, all Valthrudnir cares about is power and self-preservation... so if Thesis is meddling in something that would make even him hesitate...”
Stop putting your idiot words in my mouth, you ungrateful little child! snarled the Jötnar in Scrivener's mind... but at the same time, there was a lingering hint of unease, even as the dragon continued disgustedly: My 'concern' is not that Thesis will succeed or that his plans will even place you – and more importantly, me – in any degree of serious danger. It's that... he will abuse and distort my perfect visions, my projects, into... crude, hideous mockeries of their former glory, such as he did with that moldy pile of building blocks Thesis excused as a fortress.
“Yeah, he's worried.” Scrivener said blandly, and Valthrudnir muttered something in another language Scrivener was fairly certain was a very, very unpleasant curse word. “We need to start moving faster. Getting ahead of the game.”
Luna nodded in agreement, and Twilight shook her head slowly, saying uneasily: “It's not that I think Antares isn't capable of taking care of himself, especially if he was with his friends... but what if he ended up in a place like Clockwork World, or some other hub for Thesis? What if he ran into Thesis himself or... what if Cheshire...”
Scrivener and Luna both shifted a bit, and then the sapphire mare groaned and grabbed at her face, mumbling: “May the dead gods of Asgard curse me for saying this but... we shall send Hollow Star with him when he goes. Assuming we have not been forced to kill her by then, of course.”
Twilight looked incredulous, and Scrivener mumbled as he splashed the water in the bowl a little before saying disconsolately: “Maybe I just shouldn't have ideas anymore. They always seem to lead back to... poo.”
“Thou art poo.” Luna mumbled, shifting a bit to hammer a hoof against him quietly, and Scrivener only nodded a little in response before they both sighed loudly as Twilight slowly looked down, actually beginning to consider the idea now that she was over her shock, and surprised to realize it really was a good one. Cheshire had been terrible... but from what she had seen in Luna and Scrivener's memories of Hollow Star, and the fact that they had actually been forced to resort to... corruption... in order to take down the Destroyer...
“Well, at least soon enough I shall have my prize.” Luna said wryly, and Twilight and Scrivener both glowered up at her as the winged unicorn huffed. “Oh shut up, thou art both looking forwards to it too, I know this well.”
“Not really, no. No, I can't say I am.” Scrivener said sourly, looking ahead into the fireplace, which was burning as always with quiet blue flames. “You already cause enough trouble as it is. You on one of Cowlick's machines is just going to be a freaking nightmare.”
Luna only grinned wryly at this, then she finally shifted and wedged herself firmly between the two ponies, earning a sour look from both of them as she replied cheerfully: “Precisely, and I am thy nightmare, am I not, my poet?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Scrivener looked at her meditatively for a few moments, and then he shook his head and said finally: “It creeps me out that you remember all the poems I've written for you over the years, Luna. I mean, not even Sparkles keeps track of everything I've written.”
Twilight huffed at this, leaning up and glaring past Luna as she replied dryly: “I know plenty about your writing, Scrivy. You just get so touchy about it every time I bring it up, which is funny because... you know, there's four hundred thousand ponies out there, at least, reading your book...”
Scrivener slowly wilted, covering his face with his hoof as his claw spasmed in the water bowl, and Twilight added conversationally: “Not including the ponies who are studying your book for university classes on popular modern literature, or the ponies who are seeing advertisements for it everywhere, and your face plastered in bookshops and probably writer's groups right now...”
Scrivener gave a little mumble, burying his face into the futon, and Luna stared at her husband for a moment before slowly drawing her eyes towards Twilight, saying almost admiringly: “Thou art very cruel at times. I knew there was a reason that I have always liked thee so much. 'Tis very sexy.”
Twilight laughed despite herself, then smiled warmly when Luna reached up and tugged her down into a kiss... but the night they spent together was soft and warm. Bad feelings were cast aside slowly but surely, and by the time morning rolled around, they had settled on their plans. Luna had declared that today she would speak to Antares about things, and then she would send a letter to Celestia and let her know what was going on.
Luna was absolutely determined that it would be a good day, no matter what lingering worries continued to play through her mind. Instead, she made herself focus on laughing at Scrivener as he grumbled and limped down the path through the Everfree Forest in his single plastic boot, while Twilight kept up easy conversation with them both, and the sounds of the forest filled the air around them as they made their way down the well-trod path, until he sapphire mare looked up with a smile... and simply stared at what awaited them near the end of the forest road.
His dark robes shifting gently around him, the trees seeming to bend almost respectfully towards him even as their branches spread to leave him standing in the middle of a ray of sunlight, stood Kismet. The silver-masked Great Reaper was quietly reading a book in one gauntlet-covered claw, the sleeve of his other arm hanging loose... likely because his severed lower arm was currently locked away somewhere in the Cowlick's lab.
He glanced calmly up as they approached, and none of the ponies knew what to say to the gigantic creature. A deer was sitting tamely nearby, only studying the death entity curiously, while several birds were happily chirping away from where they were perched on the death entity's antlers.
“Valkyrie Brynhild. It's very nice to see you and your family... I hope this does not prove to be too much of an inconvenience for you.” Kismet said politely, as he closed his book, and then it simply vanished into dark smoke before the death entity turned towards them and carefully made a short little bow with his arm across his chest, as if he didn't want to disturb the birds on his antlers.
Luna only continued to stare, as Scrivener and Twilight stopped on either side of the sapphire mare. None of them knew quite what to make of the creature's appearance, before Luna finally said honestly: “I direly desire to be furious with thee for many reasons, damnable crow. But... 'tis warring with my deep want to simply laugh at thee and thy, uh... companions.”
“Well, I will not blame you for your anger. Shortly you and your family will be much more angry at me, but I have a message to deliver from Thesis, and I am bound to serve him, little as I like to.” Kismet replied in his soft, cordial voice, and then he carefully reached up and waved his hand a few times, murmuring: “Away now, away. Live and sing, younglings.”
The birds chirped and fluttered their wings a few times, refusing to move, but they finally gave in to the death entity's insistence and took to the air, fluttering quickly away. Kismet seemed to smile at this with his glowing fire eyes, and then he looked down and asked curiously: “I have seen Phooka here... are they truly so comfortable with the ponies that they are willing to live in such close proximity to that village?”
“That place is Ponyville, and aye. They are that and more.” Luna said firmly, and then she asked quietly: “What is the message thou has for us, Kismet?”
“It is not just for you. I must speak to your son Antares as well, as he was also present when you made first contact with Thesis.” Kismet said quietly, and then he bowed his head politely when Luna snarled at him and stepped forwards aggressively. “I apologize.”
“I... very well, let us... go to Ponyville, messenger.” Luna muttered after a moment, cursing and relenting, and Scrivener and Twilight both looked surprised as Kismet tilted his head with interest. “I... am trying to recognize that my little colt is now... a grown stallion. 'Tis damnably difficult.”
Kismet nodded, and then as Luna began to stride quickly ahead, the death entity fell in pace with her, exiting the forest as Scrivener and Twilight traded a nervous look before following. The uncomfortable silence lasted only a few moments, before Luna attempted to make things even more uncomfortable by commenting wryly: “So. Messenger boy. 'Tis a slight step down from being a master of death, is it not?”
The death entity only shrugged calmly, and when Luna glanced up at him with irritation he replied gently: “Compared to some of the tasks I have been given, this has been very relaxing so far. But you will... not like the message I must deliver.”
“I do not like thee at all, so I am trying not to trouble myself with it. I suppose it has to do with whatever plot Thesis has concocted, and desires us to sacrifice ourselves to?” Luna asked moodily, and when Kismet only nodded, she glared at him and muttered: “Wonderful. I don't suppose we can simply skip the witty banter, and thou can take us straight to Thesis, and we can chop off his wretched head and be done with this?”
“No. Not at this juncture, at least, Valkyrie. I sense that you are smarter than that, however...” Kismet said thoughtfully, before he paused and added gently over his shoulder: “And you may stop struggling with that guilt, miss. Sometimes opposing forces must meet on the battlefield, that is all, and I understand it was nothing personal. I do not blame you: I only ask in return that you do not blame me for these unpleasant circumstances.”
Twilight blushed deeply, looking down and nodding meekly as Scrivener shifted uncomfortably, and Luna stopped. Kismet politely halted to wait as well, glancing down at her curiously as they stood together in the middle of the road outside of Ponyville. And it struck Scrivener what a strange scene it was: a courteous death entity, a reborn Valkyrie, a Lich and a cuckoo in a cast, holding not-unpleasant conversation in a road, in a field, on a beautiful brisk autumn day.
“Thou art so... so... Scrivener Blooms, word!” Luna snapped, glaring over at Scrivener, who flinched backwards before Luna turned quickly back towards the death entity. “Zen! Thou art so damnably zen! Thou art... incarnate of death, why art thou not rasping and cursing us and... how art thou so wretchedly at peace with thyself?”
Kismet only bowed his head towards Luna, responding gently: “I am natural death, Valkyrie, and normally I only come to those whose bell has tolled, whose time has come. I believe that I help them find peace and comfort... and I concentrate on the smiles of those I have helped find the path to wherever they are to go next. I must, because Valkyrie, what I am doing right now goes against so many of my own beliefs, so much of my own nature. I have been forced to harm yourself and your friends and other lives innocent and not, and I do not like that. That is not my duty, that is not my task.
“But I can still find joy in everything.” Kismet reached his arm up, his eyes glowing as he said softly: “Look around yourself. This is what you fight for, and I understand that. Look at the animals and the friendships you have formed, gaze upon the warmth of this world, and rejoice that you live, when so much has tried to steal that life from you. I see you, and I see new life forming, and I feel the energy and the happiness in this place, and it brings me great pleasure. And when I return to Thesis, I will tell him of this place, and again tell him he is being selfish and foolish in his pursuit of personal glory... when there is so much more glory already to be celebrated in the world around us.”
The ponies looked up at the death entity, and then Kismet glanced curiously over his shoulder at the sound of approaching hoofsteps. Luna, Scrivener and Twilight were surprised to see it was Fluttershy, Nirvana, and their sons, all striding fearlessly towards them.
They stopped a few feet away, and Nirvana whispered something in his scintillating language. And to the surprise of the ponies, Kismet first bowed respectfully, then he replied in the same language with an easy, calm gesture. There was silence for a moment, and then Nirvana bowed deeply, followed by the rest of his family, but Kismet only chuckled quietly and gestured at them, saying something further, and Nirvana and Fluttershy both smiled as they rose quickly, while their sons still looked almost awed.
The Phooka and his sons turned to leave, as Fluttershy lingered a moment longer, and she and Kismet looked at each other for a moment before the death entity said softly: “Do not worry for your friends. No matter what is to come, the bell has yet to toll for them.”
Fluttershy smiled a little, and then Luna blurted: “What in the name of Helheim is going on here? Oh damnation, my life is complex enough as it is!”
“Oh, I'm sorry, Luna, I didn't mean to interrupt...” Fluttershy said awkwardly, shifting a little, but when Luna only grumbled and shook her head hurriedly, and Scrivener awkwardly held up a hoof to show it was okay, the Pegasus smiled hesitantly before she glanced up at Kismet and said quietly: “The Phooka teach that death is part of life. Life is an endless loop: we are born, and we live, and we die, and our bodies nourish the earth and its living things, and then we are... born anew. The Phooka do not fear death, and they do not worship it... but they respect it, and think of it as a provider, not a destroyer.”
“And I am only an instrument of that, nothing more.” Kismet bowed his head calmly, and there was silence for a moment before the death entity said gently: “You should return to your flock, gentle shepherd. They will be lost without you.”
“No, I think my family are the ones who help guide me.” Fluttershy smiled up at Kismet, and there was silence for a moment before they both bowed to each other respectfully, and the Pegasus turned to stride quietly off.
Then Kismet turned back around, and Luna glared up at him, earning a curious tilt of the death entity's head before she grumbled: “Thou art making it excessively hard for me to remember that thou art the villain of this piece.”
“I am neither hero nor villain. I simply am.” Kismet said kindly, and when Luna gave him a horrible look, he gestured politely with one arm. “Shall we continue?”
Luna grumbled under her breath, spitting a few nasty curses as Scrivener coughed a few times and Twilight smiled despite herself, gazing quietly out after Fluttershy before the Lich looked up and said impulsively: “I'm... I'm really sorry. Not just about what I did to you, even though I know I... I lost control. I... I thought of you as something you weren't, and I feel bad about that.”
Kismet turned his gentle eyes to Twilight, and he bowed his head politely to the Lich as he responded kindly: “And I made my own mistake, my child, that I would like to apologize for. So perhaps we shall simply call ourselves even.”
He turned, and as they began to stride towards Ponyville's open gates again, Luna asked moodily: “And precisely what was that, foul crow?”
“I thought she was dead, and it was long past her time to sleep... when in fact, I see now that she is very much alive, and has never had more reason to live than she does now.” Kismet answered, and Twilight bowed her head and trembled as she blushed furiously, a bright smile spreading over her face as Scrivener softened and Luna ground her teeth together... then groaned loudly.
“Now thou art just cheating.” she mumbled, then she added sulkily: “We are still enemies and I am still going to ruthlessly pummel thee into the ground.”
“I understand. It is the way of things.” Kismet said softly as they strode into town, and Luna grumbled and shifted awkwardly back and forth as they headed through the gates, past staring Nibelung and ponies. The death entity was unperturbed by the stares he received, however, or any of the other reactions his presence got.
Instead, he looked back and forth curiously, studying the village, the buildings, the fact that Nibelung and pony and other beings could all be seen here and there, before he tilted his head with interest when Discombobulation slowly stuck his head out from around the corner of a building ahead. “A chaos entity.”
“Hey, I can do that too.” Bob said in a cranky voice, and then he strode out and flicked his wrists, a thick gray robe and floppy wizard's hat appearing before he rubbed vigorously at his chin, then made a long, drawing gesture, pulling an enormous white beard into existence as he said in a grumble: “A death entity.”
“Thou art a little late, I must admit, Bob, to help me in the immense task of attempting to sour this foul creature's irritatingly-peaceful mood.” Luna remarked moodily, glowering at the Draconequus. “But I suppose that, coward as thou are, thou wert spying upon us to ensure 'twas safe, yes?”
Discombobulation huffed at this, then retorted: “A Draconequus is never late, Scrivener Blooms. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.”
“What? Nonsense!” Luna huffed, then glared ahead and stormed past the Draconequus as Kismet calmly followed, the mare muttering: “Let us simply find Antares, and move on to the pummeling. For someone shall be pummeled shortly, mark my words.”
Scrivener only shook his head as Twilight smiled a little at Discombobulation, who created a large staff topped with a gemstone with a flick of his wrist before calmly following last. Soon, the library was within sight, and Luna tossed an apprehensive look to Kismet as they drew close, but the death entity only shook his head and said quietly: “I am not going to attack you. It would not be unfair to call this an ambush, but... I will only defend myself it it becomes necessary.”
“Kismet, now I am truly worried what thy message must declare.” Luna said in a more solemn voice, and the death entity only nodded calmly before halting, and Luna looked up as the door to the library was thrown open and Antares staggered out.
He was breathing hard, looking disbelievingly at Kismet, then to his parents and Discombobulation, before Luna said wryly: “I made the foolish attempt of going outside my door this morning despite the most awful feeling of impending frustration, my son. Thou will never guess just who was waiting for me at the edge of the forest.”
“Kismet...” Antares whispered, and then he winced over his shoulder as Hollow Star strode out behind him, the Destroyer's eyes studying the death entity eagerly as a grin spread over her features: in spite of the fact an entire day had passed, she was still cloaked in steel, and her chains snapped excitedly upwards even as Antares said quickly: “No, wait! He's clearly here for a reason...”
“He claims to have a message.” Luna said quietly, and she strode forwards with Scrivener, Twilight, and Discombobulation, joining Antares and Hollow Star. They formed a rough line, but Luna kept herself loose even as Antares tensed up and looked uncertainly from the death entity to the ponies around him... but only Hollow Star looked like she wanted to pick a fight with the enemy, and Antares tried his hardest to relax as Luna asked calmly: “Will thou deliver thy message now?”
“Yes. And I am sorry, again, for this. But I cannot disobey Thesis.” Kismet said quietly, and then he rose his arm, holding his silver claw out to the side, and a strange murmur filled the air as the death entity said quietly: “He desires peace between us. So I have been told to offer a tribute.”
Dark smoke began to spill up from the ground at the death entity's side, and Luna gritted her teeth as Scrivener winced and Antares set himself... before the smoke whirled and twisted on itself, thickened and reshaped into the form of a pony as smoke turned to dark flesh, and a moment later, Antares stumbled forwards as his mouth fell open, staring weakly at... “Prestige Luster?”
The mare opened her eyes slowly, raising her head: and while she was a smoky, ashen black, her eyes were the same beautiful silver they had been in life, one of them with that same, impossible-to-miss red flaw. Her mane hung loose and shimmered, silver and streaked with white and gray, and she had no cutie mark... but the shape of her body, so familiar in Antares' memories even now, was just as he recalled it. Everything about her, as she looked at him silently, and Antares almost collapsed as he breathed hard in and out.
Luna snarled in fury, and Kismet turned his head away, saying in an honestly-pained voice: “I know. I know. It's not right, it's interference and it is... only a source of suffering. But I have been told to offer this, in spite of how many times I have protested, and how I tried to reason with him.”
“You... Prestige... she...” Antares stared at her, stumbling forwards again, and then he looked desperately over his shoulder when Twilight ran forwards and caught him quickly, stopping him from staggering any closer. “No, it's... it's Prestige!”
“Is it?” Twilight asked after a moment, half to Antares and half to Kismet, and the stallion trembled as he looked ahead, while Kismet only sighed and shrugged slowly.
“I can take away, and I can bring things back. This is only a shadow, formed from cast-off energies and a glimpse of the soul beyond the veil, but if you accept my master's gift... I will go, and bring her spirit back.” Kismet said quietly, keeping his eyes away. “Spirit will infuse shell, and restore life to it, and she will be as she was before she died... but I have no desire to lie. Souls that have gone willingly... do not often return to this world easily, even if promised kingdoms and miracles. It is not even that Heaven is so much sweeter than life upon this world... it is because it is hard to return to the journey you ended, and pick up all the pieces to continue a life you know has already finished.”
“Is this a gift, or is this a twisted bribe?” Luna asked coldly, looking up as her eyes flashed, and she bared her fangs at the death entity as Nightmare Moon shifted inside her. “Thou art nothing but a conniving, wretched, pathetic coward...”
“No, this is against everything I stand for. This is the opposite of what I am... unnatural life, when I am inevitable death.” Kismet shook his head slowly, then he finally looked down at the phantasmal black shape beneath his silver claw and shuddered. “But I have no choice but to do as Thesis demands...”
“Why?” Scrivener almost shouted, stepping forwards, feeling his heart aching, his mind a blur: it wasn't just that he could feel the pain of Twilight and Luna, and Luna's disgust and Twilight's horror; it wasn't just because he could see how Antares was almost crying, still staring without really understanding what was going on at the shape of Prestige Luster; it was his own soul, crying out in pain. Because he knew this was a bribe no one could refuse... and at the same time, it was a torment too cruel to inflict on even the worst monster. “What the hell could Thesis have that would make you do... do this to someone?”
“He has my soul.” Kismet said simply, and Luna and Scrivener both stared as Twilight looked up sharply, trembling, as the Great Reaper lowered his head. “But that is a story for another day. As long as he possesses my soul and what contains it, I cannot refuse him. I believe you understand it best, young miss... or no, perhaps... I speak out of bitterness. Our circumstances are different: I am only a tool in the hands of a foolish young child. You... are loved.”
There was silence, and then Antares looked up, trembling hard and whispering: “Why would he offer... how did he... how did he know?”
“Thesis ordered me to find someone... important, but recently lost. There were several who I came across, but she stood out most.” Kismet explained in a gentle voice, trying to avoid Antares' gaze as he turned his head away. “This is only an offering. A gift. Nothing is expected in return: Thesis instead expects that this show of generosity will help you understand him better, and his aims.”
“Oh, we understand something more of him, aye... that he does not know what he tampers with. That he does not understand...” Luna clenched her eyes shut... and then she and Scrivener both looked up in surprise as Antares hurriedly shrugged Twilight off and bolted forwards, skidding to a halt in front of the shadowy Prestige.
He leaned towards her, studying her, every detail, and Kismet looked down at the young stallion silently before the death entity advised in low tones: “If you love her as much as you do, you will spare her the suffering of returning to this world, my child.”
Antares looked up at the death entity, trembling, and then he turned back towards the shadowy Prestige, staring into her eyes: not perfect, but with that flaw that made them so much more beautiful, and deep, and... and...
He slumped as he trembled weakly, looking slowly down as he bit his lip and clenched his eyes shut tightly... and then, even as tears spilled down his cheeks, the stallion looked up and asked weakly: “Can you bring her back?”
“Antares!” Luna stepped forwards, but the glossy-black unicorn only shot a look over his shoulder and shook his head violently, and the sapphire mare trembled a little as Scrivener closed his eyes tightly, and Twilight reached up to touch her stitching. “Antares...”
“Can you bring her back... without any memories of me?” Antares asked after a moment, looking up silently, and all eyes looked at him with surprise before he smiled faintly, whispering: “I love her, but... Meadowlark... I can't abandon Meadowlark. She's the one I have a life with now, and I've worked so hard to let go of Prestige. To move on with things, to be... to...”
He closed his eyes, shivering before looking down and continuing weakly: “I have to save her if I can. I have to give Rosewood and Scutum their child back, like I'd save Rustproof for Cowlick and Ross if I could. And... she was a friend to all of us, but... I have to move on, too. I have to let go, no matter how much it hurts, and... I... I dunno, maybe it's selfish. Maybe I'm hoping in some way we'll be drawn back together, or... but... I can't... I can't say no to this offer even if I know that I should, even if there's something here... she was... I still...”
Kismet looked down at Antares silently, and then the Great Reaper lowered his arm, and the shell of Prestige turned to smoke before the Great Reaper said quietly: “It's a dangerous line, my child. I will give you time to think, and consider your options carefully. I have other business in this world.”
There was silence for a few moments, and then Hollow Star said coldly: “No one gives a gift like this freely. This is temptation and poison... Luna Brynhild, why don't we just destroy the source?”
“For once I agree.” Luna growled, and Antares looked over his shoulder in disbelief, as both sapphire mare and Destroyer stepped forwards and dropped themselves into ready positions, eyes narrowed at Kismet.
The Great Reaper only bowed his head politely in response, clearly unafraid as he responded politely: “I would rather not be caught up in another battle, and I understand emotions run high and blood calls for blood. I will return by nightfall: have your answer ready then.”
“Stand and fight!” Hollow Star shouted furiously, but Kismet vanished from sight in a gasp of dark smoke, and the Destroyer cursed and stomped a hoof as Luna shook her head in disgust. “You told me we faced powerful enemies, Luna Brynhild... not skulking cowards!”
“Stop it, just... shut up!” Antares shouted angrily over his shoulder, and then he staggered around in a circle as the ponies looked at the young stallion with surprise, as he asked desperately: “What the hell is so wrong in accepting this gift, in... fixing some of what I should have stopped? It's not for me, it's for Prestige!”
“You don't understand, little boy.” Hollow Star snarled, striding forwards, and Luna gritted her teeth... but clenched her eyes shut and sent a mental order to Scrivener when the stallion started forwards, and he gave the mare a look of surprise... then simply nodded slowly and lowered his head. Twilight sat silently back as well, watching as Hollow Star advanced slowly on Antares and cut him off before he could speak again. “No, you are the one who doesn't understand, not us. This is not a gift. There is no such thing as 'gifts.' Even when you give something to a stranger, you do it for the reaction, and to get yourself a little more in their favor. And when an enemy gives you a 'gift' of this magnitude, it's to exploit your weaknesses, make you question your own decisions, and make you forget that on the battlefield, it is them or us.
“And you also don't understand, Antares, because you haven't died yet.” One of Hollow Star's chains lashed out over her shoulder and seized Antares by the throat, hauling him into the air above her head, and he gargled in shock as she snarled up at him furiously. “Yet is the key word there, colt. That can change at any time, though, and then we can drag you out of your grave and you can understand how unpleasant it is.”
“That is enough, Hollow Star. Put him down.” Luna said quietly, and Hollow Star snorted before throwing Antares to the ground, the glossy-black unicorn crashing down on his side with a  grunt of pain before Luna closed her eyes, saying softly: “Antares, I... I have to ask more of thee right now, than I could ever ask of myself, or anypony else. I have to ask thee to refuse Kismet... because I think the death entity was trying to warn us that this is treachery... not tribute. Thou... thou does not want to travel down this path...”
Antares only picked himself up, choking back a sob as he shook his head violently, and then he turned and stagger-ran out of the square, hurrying down the street. Luna looked after him, trembling, and Hollow Star spat to the side before Scrivener dropped his head and whispered: “Goddammit.”
Twilight Sparkle only nodded silently, before the Lich and others looked up in surprise as Discombobulation said quietly: “If you don't mind, friends... I think I'll take a swing at fixing things this time around. I might only be able to get him to sit down and watch television with me, but... maybe an old home movie will do the trick. It worked for the guys in Cincinnati when they needed to get through to poor Herb, after all... and just between you and me, I think Antares is a little bit smarter than poor Mr. Tarlek.”
Luna gave a small smile as she looked up at Discombobulation, and Twilight and Scrivener both nodded. The Draconequus straightened, and then he reached up and carefully pulled off his beard and hat, tossing the former aside and throwing the latter to land on Hollow Star's head, the demon glaring at him as Discombobulation said mildly: “Suits you nicely, Miss Almira Gulch.”
With that, he firmly grasped the robes covering himself, then tore them off and tossed them aside as he felt an all-too-familiar sizzle of energy. The tattered fabric vanished long before it could hit the grassy ground, and Discombobulation smiled slightly to himself as he wiggled his feet gently against the soft earth.
He looked back and forth at where he was standing now, no longer in the middle of Ponyville, but instead... “Of course. I never know if I should disagree with Steinbeck or not, you know... perhaps it's not that you can't go home again, it's that once you leave... home is nowhere.”
The Draconequus paused, tapping a metallic finger against his lip absently before he glanced up at the sound of hooves, and he whistled to himself before remarking: “Kid's moving fast. Or maybe I'm just moving slow. Let's find out.”
The Draconequus set himself in the middle of the path he was now standing in, looking back and forth at the wall of trees on either side of him: if Antares had cut through the forest itself, he never would have found him. But then again, these ponies could be a little predictable, even if sometimes that just made them even trickier to keep up with. That thought made him smile to himself, as he rose his gray-skinned hand slowly and readied his fingers, wiggling them before settling them together, ready to give a quick snap.
The sound grew louder through the Everfree Forest, and then Antares shot around a twist in the path ahead before the stallion winced when he saw the Draconequus standing just ahead. But the stallion didn't slow, zigzagging and launching himself quickly past the chimerical creature in a blur of movement, and Discombobulation winced as he snapped his fingers hurriedly.
A net exploded up from the ground in front of the charging stallion, but without stopping, Antares swung his horn down and simply tore right through it. Next, an enormous cardboard box fell from the sky, open-top down, but the stallion dove forwards with a curse, diving just under the lip and hitting the ground before-
There was a mashing, crackling sound, and Antares realized after a moment that he was laying on some kind of sticky, disgusting yellow paper, the stallion cursing under his breath as he shifted back and forth, staring down with disbelief at this. “W-What is... dammit, I don't... I don't have time for this right now!”
“No, I think you have all the time in the world right now, Antares.” Discombobulation replied mildly, and then he winced a little when the glossy-black unicorn began to shove himself fiercely up from the flypaper he'd landed on, the Draconequus snapping his fingers quickly again.
Antares yelped as the paper around him immediately rolled tightly up, the extra pieces at either end tearing free to leave him trapped inside a tight yellow cylinder of gooey flypaper. He immediately began to struggle furiously, then he shouted in a frustrated voice: “I don't want to play games with you right now! Let me go!”
“Yes, well. We all have to do things we don't want to, Antares. Besides, I just want to talk. But if I didn't tie you up, well, I'm pretty sure you'd just keep running away.” Discombobulation replied cordially, and then he calmly snapped his fingers, and Antares winced before the sticky feeling at least went away, replaced by a scratching, woolen sensation. The flypaper had become something else, that felt harder and much thicker and smelled faintly of mothballs, and the stallion shook himself wildly back and forth, but to no avail.
“Now come on, this doesn't have to be so unpleasant. Think of it as your magic carpet ride. We can even sing a song if you want.” Discombobulation said pleasantly, striding over to the young stallion before he reached down with his metallic arm and picked the rolled-up-in-a-rug stallion off the ground and tossed him over one shoulder. He turned as Antares groaned, then the Draconequus added softly: “And of course, you know, I can't help but notice that no matter what you say, Antares... the place you still tried to run back to first, is home.”
Antares muttered under his breath, then he shifted back and forth with a curse before snapping out: “Can't you just let me go? I'm... I'm not a goddamn kid!”
“I know you're not. We all know you're not.” Discombobulation murmured in a strangely-consoling voice, and then he smiled wryly and looked down as he continued to stride slowly onwards, adding: “But sometimes, when we're adults, we have to do the very things we never, ever wanted to do. And of course, the biggest part of being an adult is learning to put up with being treated like an infant.”
Antares mumbled under his breath, and then he trembled a little before whispering: “I... I don't wanna be seen like this, Bob... I... please. Please just let me go...”
“Now stop that, it's not like I'm taking you hostage or anything, nor am I parading you through the town. I'm not even going to use you as bait for a dragon, even if you would probably make an alright maiden sacrifice.” Discombobulation said pointedly, and Antares groaned before the Draconequus looked up and continued: “I just need you to calm down, and promise me you aren't going to run away. Then I'll put you down, because I have something to show you.”
“Allonym was always the Draconequus that showed me stuff. And he's... gone.” Antares murmured, and Discombobulation nodded slowly, smiling faintly as his eyes flicked downwards, before the stallion finally sighed quietly and murmured: “Okay. Okay. I promise not to run away.”
“Never-ever, Antares? That's a big promise to make.” Discombobulation said mildly, and then he shrugged the carpet off his shoulder, catching one end of the rolled up rug and snapping it briskly out, and Antares winced as he suddenly found himself on his hooves, staggering stupidly before staring downwards even as the large, square rug floated slowly down to the floor of the Everfree Forest.
It touched down to the ground, but still felt strangely solid under his hooves before the stallion looked back and forth in disbelief: furnishings had appeared over the large square rug as well, from a bean-bag chair to an L-shaped couch that took up an entire corner of the rug to a large television with several knobs on it and misshapen bunny-ear antennae. The stallion mouthed wordlessly, and Discombobulation calmly jackknifed the couch to land in a sprawl, bringing up a hand that suddenly had a remote in it as he said softly: “Let's see what's on TV.”
A click of a button, and the television flickered on, nothing but snow passing over the screen for a few moments as Antares winced... then stared as a grainy image slowly filtered in. At first it was hard to recognize, Antares unable to make sense of the shapes he saw, before he heard his own voice come in through the speakers, patchy but recognizable: “They're okay! We can get them out of there, I know we can, please... please... oh, oh please...”
Antares slowly stepped forwards, staring at the screen and trembling, as he watched himself on the screen as if from above. And now he recognized that place, and all those crying ponies in black-and-white, even as the image skipped and stuttered...
He reached up and touched the scars on his chest: scars he'd known hadn't come from any of his skirmishes with Cancer, but instead had occurred afterwards, in some... unknowable nightmare. But it had all been buried under good memories that had covered up the bad dreams... except now he felt himself coming to understand that the bad dreams had been real, and the good memories were nothing but lies.
The stallion shivered, almost pressing his face into the screen as he watched with self-loathing and terror, tears spilling from his eyes as he saw himself screaming, saw the strange Draconequus trying to stop him, saw everyone either too numb or too far away to do anything before it was too late... and from the ground in that awful, terrible, dark sea where the ponies on screen stood, monsters began to rip free from the ground. Terrible, vile creatures that wore the faces of his parents like thin masks, but he had been too stupid to know what he'd unleashed until it had been too late; just like he had been too weak to try and stop them, until...
He traced slowly over the scars on his chest, trembling hard before the screen went dead black, and Antares staggered backwards, looking over his shoulder at Discombobulation. Discombobulation looked silently back, then he reached up and tapped his own temple quietly, saying softly: “Everyone else knows that something went wrong, yes. But no matter how much or how little I liked Allonym, it's only fair to give credit where credit is due, and he did do one thing right.
“It's not that he couldn't've made everything fit perfectly if he wanted to. He could have covered up the nightmares completely, and left you without the signs of the struggle you survived, Antares. The past may be indestructible, but the indestructible can be buried and forgotten if you dig a deep enough hole, and all of our minds are graves anyway.” Discombobulation paused reflectively, looking down and lacing his fingers together in his lap silently. “I'm rather certain he could have even erased my mind, since it's barely there to begin with, but he didn't. And while it was a cruelty and not a kindness, young Antares Mīrus, it was a necessary one.
“Because, I suppose, he was always afraid of this occurrence. For one so young, you see, you've already seen much pain and much tragedy, and it makes you an easy target for the enemy. It's hard to take pain away but oh-so-easy to pile suffering on top of suffering. It's not like sand, or Jenga, or ice cream: pain always balances perfectly on top of pain.” Discombobulation smiled wryly, but his eyes were sorrowful and serious as he looked across at Antares quietly. “And now I've stirred up those old memories, used Allonym's contingency plan, and I'm sorry I have to make you remember you made this mistake once before.”
“That's why you and Aunt Tia... I... does she know? Does... does anyone... everyone...” Antares trembled hard, staring weakly over at Discombobulation, and the Draconequus slowly shook his head.
“Everyone knows, beneath the surface, Antares. Everyone just also happens to think it was all nothing more than a passing nightmare.” Discombobulation replied quietly, bowing his head and turning his eyes away. “I wouldn't be surprised if dear Tia put things together, though... she and I both seem to be aware that there was a nasty little incident between us, after all, that sent us going our separate ways. Oh, if they tried hard enough, I'm sure they could remember, really really remember what happened... but... who wants to remember pain and suffering? Only poets like your father.”
Antares looked down, trembling and breathing slowly, and then the Draconequus quietly stood up and snapped his fingers, everything he had created vanishing, leaving them standing on the road in the middle of the Everfree Forest. For a few moments, there was silence except for the sounds of the branches swaying in the wind, and the birds in the trees... and then the chimerical creature closed his eyes and said softly: “Once upon a sunny day, Antares, when you were just a cute little tyke in a diaper, you called me your brother. I don't know if I quite deserve to be called that, but I am your friend, strange as that word is for a chaos entity like me to say. This hurts, I know... but it's better to suffer a needle now, than amputation later.”
Antares nodded silently, looking down with a tremble, and Discombobulation looked at him for a moment longer before simply vanishing. The stallion appreciated it as he shivered, tears running down his face before he rubbed slowly at his cheeks, whispering: “I'm not... I'm not gonna screw up again. I'm going to make this right.”

The night was deep and dark, and Ponyville was tense: everyone knew that something important was going on, but no one was quite sure what. But demons had been posted around the square, blocking off access to it, and the library had more than one guest within its walls.
Antares currently sat with his back to this, eyes closed, breathing slowly in and out. Kismet was late... very late, as a matter of fact. It was long past sunset and now almost midnight, and the young stallion didn't know what to make of this. He trembled a little, rubbing at his face slowly, taking this moment just for himself... before his eyes widened in surprise as a voice asked gently: “Have you come to your decision, my child?”
Slowly, Antares looked up, as that sensation of inevitability slowly filled the air around him: Kismet was standing only ten feet away or so, looking down at him quietly. For a few moments, Antares looked up at him silently, and then he simply nodded a little before looking down and asking quietly: “Thesis thinks there's no difference between... offering a life, and offering something like money or privilege, does he?”
“Thesis is... is very young, for one so old.” Kismet said softly, and the death entity silently studied Antares as the young stallion looked up at him, before he added gently: “I can read your mind and your emotions, child. This trap is clever but it is no ambush. Please, tell your friends to come out.”
“Not yet. I want to talk to you a little first.” Antares smiled a bit, and he looked away as he added quietly: “Besides, it's still a trap. You can't leave until you do what Thesis asked you to do, right? Which I take it means you have to stay here until I give you a yes or no.”
“Cunning. And correct, yes.” Kismet said after a moment, tilting his head before he strode calmly forwards, and the death entity carefully sat himself down beside Antares, who couldn't help but smile faintly in spite of himself. But Kismet only chuckled quietly, looking up towards the dark night sky as he murmured: “No, I have no fear of the Destroyer. She would not stab me in the back, whether she bore her mind still or not. I know well the ways of demons and mortals alike... or at least I like to think I do. I have been doing my job for many, many years.”
Antares nodded a little, and the two were silent for a few moments before the stallion lowered his head and said quietly: “This is hard. The last enemy I fought was Cancer... and he was a monster. Heartless destruction, with all the madness of chaos. But you're nothing like him. I'm having trouble even thinking of you as an enemy.”
“That is because I am not. We only have the ill fortune to be on opposing sides of the battlefield... the Valkyries understand this.” Kismet said softly, looking up toward the stars above. “I don't like what I am doing. Nor is it loyalty that binds me to Thesis. But this simply is what it is: we must make the best of it, that is all.”
“You're a strange creature, Kismet.” Antares stopped, then he looked down and murmured: “If I brought Prestige back... no matter what I did, how I did it, it would hurt her, wouldn't it? And she wouldn't have... a life here. Her parents are trying to move on, and... even I'm trying to move on now. And I guess... paradise above must be nicer than getting dragged into the middle of a war.”
“Happiness is where you find it, Antares. There is beauty in all things, if you know where to look, and you are willing to gaze past your own inner turmoil. But most of all, peace is found within one's own self.” Kismet said calmly, nodding slowly as he reached up and gently tapped the stallion's breast with one finger. “If you can find that place of hidden sanctuary within your own self, then even in the worst of peril, the darkest of pits, you can find a reason to persevere and a reason to be happy.”
“You remind me of my uncle, except he's a lot less calmer than you and a lot more... well, he laughs a lot.” Antares looked up with a faint smile, and then he asked quietly: “Where's Thesis, Kismet? What is he doing?”
“I can't simply reveal that information. I can't go against what Thesis tells me or has wished, as much as I would like to.” Kismet said quietly, and Antares nodded a little before the Great Reaper reached up and touched his shoulder, and the stallion was surprised: not just how gentle it was, but that the silver gauntlet was warm. “You cannot force someone to come back to you, Antares, when they have gone willingly beyond. But even when a loved one is far away, you can still speak to them, in your mind, in letters, in words that echo to the sky and have a habit of finding the right ears... and you can always ask them to visit.”
There was silence for a moment, and Antares frowned slowly up at Kismet, who seemed to smile through his mask, before the stallion asked impulsively: “Will you take a message to her, then? Tell her how much I... I still love her, that I'm trying to move on, but... I'd... I'd like to see her?”
Kismet nodded without hesitation, and then the death entity stood, saying quietly over his shoulder: “Then our business is complete, and I must head off to complete my other tasks. I apologize for taking so long, by the way... but I wanted to catch you alone, Antares Mīrus, and my other business took... much longer than expected.”
Kismet turned... then he suddenly stopped, lowering his head with a frown before chuckling quietly and shaking his head slowly. “Oh. I didn't expect that.”
Antares smiled wryly, and slowly, the death entity turned around, glancing calmly back and forth with his golden-fire eyes as he asked with what sounded like honest interest: “Those demons around the area... they're not here to help attack me, are they?”
“Nightmares aren't very strong, but they're cunning, and they work really well in groups...” Antares smiled slightly, gesturing at the library. “That, combined with my aunt's apparently-infinite knowledge about everything magical...”
“You're disrupting my ability to step outside reality. There's... just enough static in the air to prevent me from becoming wholly ethereal... but that means many of the creatures of darkness will lose their own ethereality as well. Even the Phooka inside the zone you've created would be harmed by physical means... I am impressed. Not just by your strategy, but by the trust you must have fostered with these creatures.” Kismet said softly, bowing his head politely. “But a single ring of my bell would disrupt the effect completely.”
“You could... in fact, you would hurt innocent people if you did that, Kismet. Do you really want to take that risk?” Antares asked softly, tilting his head as the library door opened, and Hollow Star, Celestia, and Luna all strode out in full armor, followed a moment later by Twilight Sparkle, who was dressed only in a thick sweater.
“I suppose not. And I don't sense the intent to kill me...” Slowly, Kismet's eyes roved over the group of ponies as they assumed a line, and Antares slowly stood and joined them, smiling faintly as he stood between Twilight and Luna: armor or not, he was determined to take part in this. And he knew that for Celestia and Luna, wearing their armor wasn't about protecting themselves: it was a sign of their honor, of who they were. Kismet was a Great Reaper, after all: it wasn't the physical he would hurt most. “Ah, I see. That's very clever, demon.”
“Shut up.” Hollow Star growled, but she was grinning as her chains extended, snapping back and forth as she whispered: “You're going to lead us right to Thesis. And if these Replicants are half as strong as I've been told, all this time spent as a servant will be worthwhile.”
“Before we begin, I do have a request.” Kismet said calmly, holding up his hand, and Celestia frowned but tilted her head as Luna glared and Hollow Star snorted in dark amusement. “Would you please return my arm to me? This state is a little uncomfortable for me, you see.”
“No.” Luna said sourly, before anyone could speak. “I am having it repurposed for scratching my backside. 'Twill be much more worthwhile that way.”
Kismet sighed quietly, and then he flicked his hand calmly out to the side, a long, polished wand appearing in his grip. “I'm afraid I can't permit you to bind me down.”
“We'll do what we have to do, Kismet. Good luck to you.” Celestia said gently, and then she bowed her head deeply, Luna and Hollow Star following the golden armored mare's example, and Kismet straightened before bowing politely in return to them.
And then, without further ado, Celestia flicked her horn sharply forwards, unleashing a blast of golden flames, but Kismet only calmly flicked his wand upwards, and the fireball exploded in midair. Luna and Hollow Star were both already charging forwards through the blast, but Kismet backstepped and flicked his wand almost absently out to one side, the earth erupting upwards in a jutting wave of spikes that forced Luna to stagger hurriedly sideways with a wince, halting in her advance, before the Great Reaper snapped his wand fiercely to the side as Hollow Star leapt at him.
The metallic demon was blown backwards by a blast of force, but the Destroyer snarled as she snapped her head downwards and her chains lashed fiercely into the ground, catching and halting her... but then her eyes bulged in shock, mane and tail both beginning to shrink when Kismet pointed his  wand at her, gold and white energy bleeding like smoke out of the plates in her armor as he said quietly: “I only have to stop you, demon. No one else here possesses the magic necessary to recall me.”
The Destroyer sank to her knees, but then Celestia leapt in front of her and snapped her horn firmly forwards, unleashing a blast of golden flames that Kismet was forced to block, interrupting his drain of Hollow Star. The demon was on her hooves immediately as her eyes flashed, her energy already starting to return, before she grinned viciously as Celestia continued to pummel Kismet with blasts of golden energy, the Destroyer stepping slowly backwards as she rose a metallic hoof, and a large spike of steel shot out of it.
Kismet grunted as he finally managed to parry a blade of golden energy before whirling his wand in a short circle, and Celestia winced and staggered, setting herself as a torrent of black smoke driven by icy wind whirled around her. It blinded and disoriented her, and Kismet began to draw his wand back... before the Great Reaper was staggered as the stony spikes he had warded off Luna with were blown backwards in a hurricane of rocky shrapnel, pelting him.
Smoke burst up from his robes where large chunks of rock hit, and pieces of stone clanked off his armor as Luna and Twilight both flicked their horns, snarling and working in tandem to repeatedly throw and catch chunks of rock at the death entity, keeping him distracted. Kismet staggered, kept off balance before he sharply snapped out his wand, and for a bare moment of time, the world around him froze completely: chunks of stone ceased to move, ponies froze in place, even the black smoke itself encircling Celestia seemed to turn solid as ice.
Antares watched with disbelief, breathing hard as he looked back and forth at what looked like frozen time: only he was far enough back to not be affected by it, as Kismet visibly shivered before snapping his wand firmly up, and a shockwave of static energy tore through the air around him as time returned to normal. It knocked the storm of rocky shrapnel to the ground and sent Celestia staggering further backwards even as it also disrupted the cloud of smog around her, and Luna and Twilight both cried out in pain... but Kismet himself seemed visibly winded by the exertion, slumping slightly even as he rose his wand defensively.
For a moment, they all only stood in stalemate... and then Luna snarled before leaping forwards, and Kismet quickly snapped his wand out, blasting her backwards in an explosion of blue flame before he snapped his wand to the side, knocking Twilight sprawling from a blast of force before his wand pointed directly at Celestia. But the mare's horn glowed brightly as she gritted her teeth, her mane and tail sparking as she reared backwards, fighting the drain Kismet was attempting to put on her.
The death entity looked surprised, then he flicked his wand quickly, and Celestia's eyes widened before she burst into golden flames, staggering back and forth a cry of pain as Antares shouted in denial, then snarled and spun towards Kismet, snapping his horn down to send out several blasts of white fire. Kismet deflected each of these with his wand before the young stallion charged forwards, but the death entity slapped his wand out the moment Antares lunged, smacking the stallion painfully out of the air to crash down with a groan of pain.
The death entity began to raise his wand, but was distracted as Hollow Star charged past kneeling, smoldering Celestia, the Destroyer grinning widely before Kismet flicked his wand towards her... but to the surprise of the others, the Great Reaper then staggered backwards himself, whirling his arm as if he had been blasted by massive magical recoil. He looked surprised for a moment, and then he gasped when Hollow Star rammed into him, sinking her horn through his robed chest before she hefted him into the air, then lashed the death entity down into the ground and pounced on top of him, starting to mercilessly crush and pummel the creature with a wide, cold grin.
Kismet's mask was dented, one of his antlers cracked, his body jarring with every savage strike of a front hoof down into him before he finally stabbed his wand up into the Destroyer's stomach, and there was a thunderous blast as she was knocked flying off him to crash down on her shell-armored back,while the shockwave of force not only disintegrated the death entity's own weapon, it crushed him flat into the ground. And in a moment, both Luna and Twilight leapt forwards, the sapphire mare snapping her horn out to send a wave of blue mist washing over the creature as Twilight spread her wings and hovered above, horn glowing as vines and thick mud burst upwards.
In moments, Kismet was pinned, trapped beneath ice and rock and thick vines, only his head left free from the mound. The death entity breathed hard in and out as Twilight landed on one side of him and Luna strode up overtop with a wide grin, her horn glowing and gaze baleful as she said distastefully: “Thou art very fortunate I actually like thee, Kismet. Otherwise, now would be the time to fetch all manner of nasty things to pour into thy mouth and eyesockets.”
Antares winced at this as he slowly picked himself up, and Celestia smiled wryly from where she was sitting, as Hollow Star slowly shoved herself to her metallic hooves. The Destroyer shook her head slowly as she strode forwards, and Luna glanced meditatively over her shoulder at the demon before she noted the glowing set of white runes carved all along the metal plates that protected one foreleg. “It seems thou knows much, Hollow Star.”
“I was the warlord of a powerful Greed devil. I needed to know much.” Hollow Star said calmly, glancing down at the runes along her limb. “A simple reflection charm. To be honest, I'm disappointed it worked so well.”
“I am no warrior. And I have no desire to kill any of you. Only to escape.” Kismet said calmly, trying to shift beneath his prison of muck and vine and ice, before he looked slowly up as Hollow Star stepped forwards and grinned coldly.
The Destroyer leaned down as her horn glowed, and Kismet twitched and shivered as the mare slowly cut several large runes into the death entity's mask, making him flinch as Antares bit his lip and Twilight shivered a little. But Celestia and Luna only calmly looked on, even if both mares seemed less than pleased as Hollow Star leaned back and said contemptibly: “Death is soft, I see. Are you sure you're not the death of infants and babies, instead of natural demise?”
“Be silent and get on with it, Hollow Star.” Luna snapped, and the Destroyer smiled coldly before simply nodding. The demon lowered her head, her horn beginning to glow, and Luna grimaced and stepped carefully backwards as Celestia shifted uneasily, and Twilight stepped quickly away, but forced herself to keep watching.
Antares winced, and he could barely keep his eyes on what was going on as Kismet twitched, cursed... then visibly bit back a scream, his body shivering hard as energy violently burst back and forth over his mask. His body quaked, ice and stone both crackling as the vines writhed, then several burst into flames from the energy that was building higher and higher around the Great Reaper.
The runes carved in his mask took on a white sheen, smoke beginning to pour up from them as Kismet's golden eyes glowed brighter, and lightning crackled through the air as Hollow Star snarled, leaning down over the Great Reaper until their faces were almost touching. The world rumbled as Destroyer shoved forwards and the death entity resisted, before the trapped creature gave a single, final cry, and in a flash of light and a boom of sound, he was simply gone.
Hollow Star staggered backwards as electricity sparked violently over her horn, her body shaking as cracks ripped through the line of runes down one of her forelegs and all along her metallic-armored body, before the Destroyer slumped, breathing hard and shivering violently. Blood dripped slowly from one nostril, and trickled silently from one ear as the demon closed her ivory eyes.
There was silence, the ponies all looking at Hollow Star as she slowly regained her breath... and then the demon gave a quiet laugh before slowly looking up and grinning coldly, her eyes glowing bright white for a moment. “What a surprise, he survived. Maybe he's not as soft as I thought. Yes, I can trace this route. I'm not nearly powerful enough to open a portal there myself, but the location is etched in my memories now. I can tell you where he is, if you figure out how to get there.”
“We have many ways to travel, fear not.” Luna muttered, and then she hesitated before straightening and glancing over at Antares, nodding silently once to him. The stallion smiled faintly and nodded back, and there was quiet for a few moments before the winged unicorn turned and looked quietly up at a balcony on the second floor of the library, where Scrivener was standing, smiling a little down at them and raising his booted foreleg.
Luna shook her head, but laughed quietly all the same before glancing over at Celestia. She only smiled in return, but it reassured the sapphire mare as she turned her eyes to Twilight next, who met her eyes, trading emotions and tender thoughts for a moment. The winged unicorn turned back ahead as the connection broke, and she nodded firmly once before striding towards the library, proud of what they had accomplished and knowing it was a step forwards... and for now, using those positive feelings to block out her worries for the future, and what her family had yet to face.