Synthesis of the Atheist

by BlackRoseRaven


To The Crystal Kingdom

Chapter Thirty Three: To The Crystal Kingdom
~BlackRoseRaven

The train roared along the tracks, giving the ponies from Looking Glass World uneasy memories of how their journey in the last layer to Appleloosa had gone. Whatever was happening up north sounded like it was similar... but at least this time, they were better prepared for whatever the hell was waiting for them in this so-called Crystal Kingdom. Or at least, they hoped they were.
Scrivener Blooms shook his head slowly, then he smiled faintly as he looked over at Luna Brynhild, who was resting on the small bed of the cabin beside him, her head lowered and eyes closed, but nowhere near asleep. The curtains were drawn, and it was deep night outside, and the only light came from Twilight's dimly-glowing horn as she sat back in the tiny chair on the other side of the cramped room, several books piled up on the flimsy fold-out table beside her. It buckled with every bump in the tracks, and Scrivener kept expecting it to give out under the heavy tomes at any moment.
Twilight looked up and met his eyes, and Luna invited quietly: “Come, we have many hours of travel yet. Put down the musty books for now, curl up with us. I am cold and lonely.”
“Maybe that's because you're both still in armor... although I am glad that you at least stored your weapons back in the luggage car, Luna.” Twilight hesitated, then she reached up and touched her own gemstone vest, which was hidden beneath the folds of her cloak. “Then again...”
“Aye. The further north we go, the more I expect something to happen.” Luna murmured, looking slowly up, and Twilight sighed softly before the sapphire mare smiled a little. “'Tis funny, though. I believe Celestia... Freya, rather... retired to her own room. Spike is staying with Discombobulation, and the Princesses each have their own cabins, too... and of course, the guards are all crammed together in their own car. I do not know why Princess Celestia insisted on bringing soldiers... well, apart from the fact she clearly does not trust us.”
“Funny, though. Celestia outside of Canterlot and her royal duties, even bringing Princess Luna along, even though she's...” Twilight halted, but Luna Brynhild only grunted in agreement, nodding slowly and crossing her forelegs moodily. “What do you think it means?”
“Well, 'tis very clear from the conversations we have had and what we have seen that Celestia would not do anything to put... Quiet Luna in danger.” Luna Brynhild halted, then added in a softer voice: “And thou saw her.”
Twilight closed her eyes and nodded slowly: back at Canterlot, she, Freya, Luna, Scrivener, and Princess Celestia had all shared in a long discussion, while Discord had led Spike and Discombobulation off and Princess Luna had returned to her chambers for 'much needed rest.' During the talk, in Celestia's throne room but with the guards placed outside the closed doors for privacy, Princess Celestia had removed her cape, and revealed that she was missing one wing, while the other that remained was badly mangled.
She had explained this curtly as the cost of stopping Chrysalis, and Twilight shivered a little. She knew what Celestia had done: she had studied all manner of necromancy to better understand her own state of being as a Lich, after all. Magic drew on reserves of energy... usually spiritual strength, and the mind naturally limited the magic output of a person based on their stamina, so they couldn't injure themselves seriously while using a spell. But if you were willing to pay a heavier price in flesh and blood, you could drastically increase your own reserve of magic power, if only for a short time... and apparently, Princess Celestia had been more than willing to pay that toll to defeat Chrysalis, after the Changeling Queen had beaten back Celestia and turned her eyes on vulnerable, scared Luna.
It had apparently taken Chrysalis many months to drag herself back to Equestria from wherever Celestia had blasted her, and without their Queen, the Changelings had dispersed in terror and confusion. Now, Equestria was on more even footing with the creatures: they knew what they were dealing with, had developed ways to detect their presence and magic, and they weren't considered nearly as dangerous a threat as this shadow-beast named Sombra.
Twilight shook her head slowly: they'd deal with things as they came, like they always did, after all. And then the Lich looked back down at the book, saying quietly: “I'm getting the feeling everything I've read about so far is... tainted, I guess, for the lack of a better word. It seems like a lot of supposition and second-hoof accounts taken from ponies who all know each other. But if this kingdom magnifies emotions or emotional energy or something...”
“Aye, can thou imagine the applications? We could keep all of Subterra fed with ease. Perhaps even larger demon settlements.” Luna Brynhild smiled slightly, then she drew her eyes towards Twilight, asking curiously: “I am sorely interested in how the process is accomplished. I imagine Freya is, too, but she is far too tactful to ask and probably only waiting for me to make an idiot of myself doing so, in order to scold me later.”
Twilight smiled a little despite herself, and then she said finally: “I don't know. I just see a lot of things about how it's... a blessed place, a sacred Kingdom, etcetera etcetera. Look, how about I ask Princess Celestia, okay? Or maybe we can wait and speak to... she said Princess Cadence is watching over the Crystal Kingdom, right? I'm sure they'll be happy to help. It's not like you want to take it over, you just want to understand why it works.”
“Yes, to feed my dark and terrible forces of the night. Every Princess Celestia we've met thus far has been less than receptive to learning I am the Mistress of countless demons and monsters and icky things like Scrivener. Terrible, terrible monster that he is.” Luna nudged the stallion a few times lightly, and Scrivener grunted and pushed back at her before the two slapped at each other childishly a few times, and Twilight sighed softly.
Then they hit a particularly-large bump, and the small table finally snapped under the weight of the books, sending them spilling to the ground before violet mare grumbled under her breath as she snapped her current tome closed. But after a moment, she stood and picked the fallen texts up with telekinesis, tossing them and the book in her front hoof into the chair before striding across the room and crawling up into bed.
She rolled onto her back, their armor clanking quietly as she settled into place beside Scrivener Blooms, and there was quiet for a few moments as they laid side-by-side-by-side before the violet mare said finally: “I hate this. I hate that this feels natural to me now. Not so much our... weirdness... I'm used to that by now, I mean the fact we're laying here in armor, on a train ride to a place we don't know, picking a fight with... Clockwork Ponies. I hate that of all the things in the universe, that is beginning to feel like my natural state of being.”
“We could take off our armor, then...” Luna grinned widely, tickling a hoof up Twilight's front, but the Lich only huffed and slapped it lightly away, making the sapphire mare grumble. “Oh, thou art no fun. And well, Twilight... thou art free to blame us for that if thou likes. Since for Scrivener and I, running into danger has long become second nature, and thou does feel what we feel.”
“Yeah. Luna and I are both pretty sure that any stupid things you do, we're the ones who cause that.” Scrivener agreed after a moment, and the Lich sighed tiredly but nodded moodily in agreement herself all the same, and there was quiet for a few moments before the charcoal stallion added quietly, as he looked up at the ceiling: “But you know. I guess that's not necessarily a bad thing, either. We've all... helped each other grow and change, haven't we?”
Twilight smiled a little, then she reached her forelegs up, and Scrivener and Luna smiled as either limb wrapped around their shoulders. They slipped their own around the violet mare's, and reached their free hooves out without looking, silently interlocking them and letting them rest against Twilight's stomach as she closed her eyes and murmured: “We have. And I wouldn't ever want to change that, I think... I'm glad we can do everything that we do for each other. I'm glad we're there for each other, in every possible way. And I'm honored to be... who I am to you. I just... is the price we pay for all the good... all this constant pain and fighting and heartache?”
“I dunno. I hope not.” Scrivener stopped, then smiled a little and closed his eyes before he murmured: “But you know what? Even if it is... it's a cheap price. Family, friends, belonging somewhere, and being able to stand up and help others. It makes it all worthwhile.”
“Aye, it does. Being able to bend darkness to protect those that den in the light...” Luna smiled as well, nodding slowly as she murmured: “'Tis wonderful. Playing our necessary roles fulfills me, even if all the same... I cannot help but wish...”
“Things would just calm the hell down for once now and then, yeah.” Scrivener finished, and Twilight and Luna both looked at him with amusement, and the stallion simply shrugged. “What can I say? I'm a poet and all that.”
“Yes. Yes, thou certainly art. Great idiot.” Luna said amusedly, squeezing his hoof gently before she leaned down and kissed Twilight's cheek firmly, and the violet mare smiled warmly and closed her eyes before the sapphire mare paused and looked thoughtfully up at the ceiling. “I do wonder, though. Did thou notice how even with all my baiting, Princess Celestia refused to ever rise to the occasion? Why, I could swear that Freya was nearly ready to strike me down herself with all the nerves I was attempting to press at once, and all the secrets I kept teasing at spilling.”
Scrivener grunted, and Twilight only gave the sapphire mare a mild look, Luna huffing loudly in response to them both before she grumbled and looked meditatively towards the ceiling. “I suppose I shall just have to work on becoming more frustrating in the future than I already am. 'Twill be a great task of course, aye. After all, I am extremely adorable, am I not? 'Tis why I can get away with anything.”
The charcoal stallion only sighed, knowing better than to answer, and Twilight pointedly half-turned away from the mare to bury her face against Scrivener's neck, making Luna glower at them. As they both continued to ignore her, Luna grumbled moodily, then suddenly half-rolled into the two in a wild attack, both ponies wincing and flailing back at her uselessly before all three ponies fell off the bed with a loud crash and landed in a tangled heap.
After only a few seconds of them laying in a half-stunned pile, there was a polite knock at the door before Celestia Freya pushed it open, and said calmly: “Not to interrupt, but Princess Celestia says that Princess Luna wants to... speak to you.”
The ivory mare softened as she glanced down the hall, and the three ponies on the ground gave varying moody noises before Luna managed to crawl up to her hooves, Scrivener and Twilight pulling themselves up after a few moments as well. The sapphire mare gazed up at her older sister, nodding meditatively before she opened her mouth to ask how Princess Celestia could know anything Princess Luna wanted or was saying... before slowly closing her jaw as she saw the smile that spread over Freya's face, and she only grinned wryly and shook her head slowly.
“Showoff.” Luna finally pronounced, and then she absently kicked her rear hoof backwards into Scrivener's skull several times, making him wince a little before he looked grouchily up as she said mildly: “Come, come, let us go. But a curiosity does rise to my mind: if a voiceless mare screams in delight, does she make any noise?”
The stallion sighed tiredly, before Twilight answered dryly: “Maybe, Luna, but the mare who makes her scream gets to sleep on the couch for the next ten weeks.”
“Thou art so damnably possessive.” Luna said disconsolately, and then she sighed and slumped before giving Celestia Freya a moody look when she reached up to cover her mouth with a slight smile. “Oh shut up, Celestia. At least I do not have to buy escorts to have my delights.”
“I'm not Sleipnir, Luna.” the golden-armored mare replied easily, and then she paused and glanced over the three, adding quietly: “So you kept your gear on, too. Ease or instinct?”
“Neither, my instincts tell me 'twould be fine to take it off, but... that growing malevolence in the air... the others must feel it, even the ponies of this layer must feel it.” Luna muttered, shaking her head slowly before she sighed quietly and strode out into the hallway, turning and calmly making her way toward the door that separated the cars.
She pushed it open, then grimaced at the icy wind that immediately bit at her, her starry locks sizzling and twisting backwards as a breath of snow washed against her. They were already well into the north, it looked like... either that, or they were passing through an area suffering an early winter. She didn't know which she hoped for more: all she knew was that it seemed like even if the Pegasi of this world were responsible for the weather, from the snowy tundra she glimpsed as she leaned out between the train cars, she thought they had likely lost control of nature in this area.
The mare grimaced to herself, shivering once before she flicked her horn to open the way into the passenger car ahead. It was full of large, comfy seats and tables, the similarity to the train car they had been in over much of the trip of Appleloosa startling. But then again, the worlds were all supposed to reflect each other... she guessed that even included some of the details.
Princess Celestia was sitting in one of the seats ahead, while Princess Luna was bouncing up and down between the seats, again reminding Luna almost of a foal, and she softened a little despite herself. With how Princess Luna – or Quiet Luna, as she preferred to think of her – couldn't speak, it made it hard to judge how old her mental age really was... but every time Luna glimpsed her, she couldn't help but think that more than her magic had been damaged, more than her voice had been lost. The Elements hadn't just harmed her, but forced her mind to... regress.
Or maybe the Elements had nothing to do with it. Maybe this was just Princess Luna's way of trying to protect herself from being hurt any further, and from coping with the fact she was clearly so heavily reliant on a big sister who maybe protected her a little too much. But Brynhild thought she was projecting her own emotions and thoughts onto the mare... except why not? We are supposed to be the same, are we not? Except... I am Brynhild, as much... perhaps more... than I am Luna.
The Princess of the Night skidded around in a circle, then stiffened and straightened when she saw she was now being watched by four ponies. But after a moment of studying them, she suddenly hurried forwards... except Princess Celestia was quick to lean over and put out a foreleg, stopping her and quietly tugging her younger sister a little to the side as she leaned down to whisper in her ear, and Brynhild grinned despite herself: there was much that was different, oh yes, but that surly expression on Quiet Luna's face, on the other hoof...
“Nay, fear not, Princess Celestia. Let Princess Luna come and see us, I am never one to mind a little play before or after business myself.” Luna Brynhild said kindly, but when Princess Celestia only gave her a scowl, the armored sapphire mare huffed and straightened, saying mildly: “Oh, very well then, be that way. Sour Celestia... I think that is what I shall call thee, yes. Thou art now Sour Celestia, as she is Quiet Luna.”
“Quiet Luna.” Princess Celestia repeated moodily, but when Princess Luna only cocked her head curiously and smiled hesitantly, the rainbow maned mare sighed quietly and nodded slowly. “Let's just... move forwards, Brynhild, I think that would be for the best. My little sister... she said she want to show you something.”
Princess Celestia's tone all but challenged Luna to dare to say something about Little Luna having 'said' anything, but the starry-maned mare only held up a front hoof in a calming gesture, and Princess Celestia hesitated, then sighed and finally sat back, letting go of Quiet Luna. The Princess of the Night looked inquisitively at her older sibling for a moment, but when the golden-caped mare only nodded, the strangely young-seeming winged unicorn bounced happily on her hooves and nodded vehemently several times in return before hurrying down the aisle to Brynhild.
She skidded to a halt in front of her and stopped dead in her tracks for a moment, fidgeting and shifting shyly from hoof-to-hoof before reaching childishly upwards and pawing at her shoulder gently. Luna Brynhild gazed at her counterpart in silence, ignoring Princess Celestia's frown completely before the armored mare finally asked gently: “And what is it, Princess Luna? What would thou show me?”
Princess Luna shifted embarrassedly, and then she looked up and smiled hesitantly after a moment before gesturing a few times with her head, and Luna Brynhild nodded calmly before following after the twinned mare. She studied Quiet Luna as they walked to the front of the car and faced several windows that still had their curtains open.
The two looked out into the emptiness of the night together: all Luna Brynhild could see was plains of snow and a few dead trees here and there, over uneven, barren-seeming earth. The train rocked a little now and then as it rumbled over the raised trestles they were following, but after a moment of staring into darkness, Quiet Luna silently pointed up at the night sky above.
Brynhild smiled after a moment at this, raising her own eyes to look at the velvety ceiling of darkness and the rhinestone stars that dotted it, murmuring softly: “Aye. I see it, Quiet Luna... art thou telling me to read the message hidden inside them? Or did thou simply want to share this sight with me, my friend?”
Quiet Luna looked surprised at this, and then she smiled hesitantly before turning her eyes back upwards, looking silently into the darkness above before briskly shaking her head and then gritting her teeth, visibly concentrating. Brynhild frowned curiously as she looked at the mare, her eyes flicking up to note how... ghostly and weak the glow around her horn was, even as Quiet Luna visibly poured all her strength into her magic.
Luna Brynhild looked out the windows and into the darkness, and she smiled faintly as high above, stars began to light up quietly one after the other, twinkling brightly in a slow, simple pattern before they gradually began to rearrange themselves, and after a moment, Luna Brynhild chuckled as she recognized the awkward circles that were forming, murmuring: “So thou did see that... and even weakened as thou art, thou can still move the lights in the sky. That is reassuring... but I suppose like me, all thou really has to do is ask, and the merciful stars are glad to move themselves, are they not?”
Quiet Luna smiled, and then Luna Brynhild hesitated before she turned her own eyes upwards, concentrating as she murmured: “The stars in my world do not listen so easily. Let us see...”
In the night sky, multiple stars began to glow brighter, then Brynhild grinned as she tilted her horn slightly and their colors slowly started to change, becoming a sharp blue instead of ivory white as they rearranged themselves into a new, larger shape, distinctly forming into the image of a running pony in the sky as she murmured: “My sister used to become so angry with me when I would play with the night sky whilst bored... she said 'twas like telling the entire world of my presence, challenging all the evils we used to fight in their own territory... but she always forgot, the night was my territory, too.”
Quiet Luna smiled brightly over at Luna Brynhild, and then the armored mare finally stepped back and smiled slightly as she looked up at the constellation she had formed: with its differently-hued stars of blue, it clearly stood out against the dark night sky. She shook her head after a moment with a chuckle, then looked over her shoulder at Freya, who was smiling softly even as Princess Celestia looked a little less-than-pleased. “'Tis funny, the way the world turns, is it not?”
Then Quiet Luna reached up and pawed gently at Luna Brynhild's shoulder, and the starry-maned mare looked down at her softly before Quiet Luna reached up with both front hooves and gestured firmly several times at her horn, before motioning at Brynhild's. The warrior mare frowned curiously, but Princess Celestia almost leapt out of her seat, hurrying over to her younger sibling's side and leaning down to murmur hurriedly: “Now what did I tell you about that little sister? Come on. Come on, let's go sit down...”
Quiet Luna shifted uncomfortably, shrugging and trying to pull away from her older sister for a moment, but then she relented, even as Brynhild frowned suspiciously and Freya looked up with her own distinct unease. Twilight and Scrivener traded apprehensive looks, but after Princess Celestia got Quiet Luna to sit back down in her bench seat at the table, this world's Princess of the Sun sighed tiredly as her younger sibling gave her a trembling look. “Alright, alright, I... I can't stand when you're upset, little sister. My... my younger sibling wants to know if you have a ring like she does.”
“And what precisely does this ring do? All that I am adorned with is this.” Luna reached up and calmly touched the black pearl that rested in the hollow of the ivy collar around her neck, the sapphire mare adding quietly: “And this is only my cherished Promise to my partners.”
Princess Celestia was quiet, and then she sighed as Quiet Luna gestured violently at her horn with one hoof several times before the golden-caped mare nodded slowly. “Alright, I said I would explain it, didn't I?” She halted, then turned and said quietly: “My sister's ring is a... do you have inhibitor rings in your world, for foals?”
“For unicorn foals who can't control their magic, yes.” Freya seemed to loosen up slightly, although Brynhild still looked moody and uneasy, something pricking at her instincts: she didn't think Princess Celestia was precisely lying to them, or even doing anything to hurt her sister. Yes, she was overprotective... but all things considered, that was more than understandable. “But she can still focus her magic...”
“If she concentrates, yes. Her magic power is still greatly reduced, but it also works better for her like this... when she tries to concentrate her magic without using the ring, sometimes we have... accidents. My baby sister was just curious if you... if you had to wear a ring too.” Princess Celestia stopped, then looked across at her sibling, who was silently staring down at the books in front of her... and Brynhild realized after a moment they weren't magazines, but a foal's coloring books, with a set of crayons sitting on the table beside this. “But it's a good sign, sister, it is. It means that you'll be strong again one day, just like Luna Brynhild is now, okay?”
Quiet Luna nodded silently, and then Brynhild hesitated before she smiled faintly and slipped forwards, quietly slipping into the seat beside the mare as Scrivener gazed at her softly. And as her horn glowed to pick up the box of crayons and the coloring book and slide them both in front of her, Scrivener remembered all the reasons he loved her so deeply, so dearly, as the mare said softly: “I am an artist too, I will have thee know. There are few things more splendid in the world...”
Quiet Luna blushed a little as Luna opened the book and smiled, turning through the pages as she looked down at them curiously. For the most part, Quiet Luna had colored inside the lines, but here and there, she had gone outside them, adding swirls there, scrawling designs there. The sapphire mare smiled despite herself at this, then she shook her head slowly before picking up a crayon as she turned to a blank set of pages, murmuring: “I have always been much better at linework than at coloring, if thou must know the truth. But let us see what we can do, shall we?”
Luna Brynhild started to color in an image of an earth pony, glancing up with a small smile at Scrivener, Twilight and Freya, and she blushed a little at the tender look she was getting from the two former ponies, while her older sister was shaking her head slowly but looking... proud, she thought. And beside her, Quiet Luna looked happy, honestly happy, as she quickly picked up a crayon before beginning to color one of the ponies on the page opposite in happily.
Across from them, Princess Celestia looked at the two silently, reaching up to touch her own lips quietly as she swallowed thickly: she looked happy and almost self-loathing all at once, her amethyst eyes glimmering with both warmth and unshed tears as she looked across at them. So many conflicting emotions, in the Princess of the Sun, who had always loved and adored and watched out for her regressed baby sister... but never once simply sat down to play with her toys, or color beside her, always pushed her in the hopes that she would get better but never once tried to see things from her own little sister's eyes, experience the simple joys that were all Quiet Luna had left.
And so Princess Celestia watched as the Valkyrie Brynhild, twinned mare to her little sister, calmly colored in the book beside her. She watched, to learn how to be a better sibling; and she watched, to feel happiness through her heartache at the sight of Princess Luna's happy smile.

The train rumbled slowly to a halt at a platform half-covered by blowing snow: there were heavy gray clouds here and there in the dark, ugly skies, but from the enormous dunes of powder, it was clear that the wind itself was the source of most of the snowy sea. It whipped back and forth like a hurricane, screaming and biting at them as it kicked up blowing white, trying to drown them in the waves of rolling white.
The Princesses were the first out, Celestia's horn glowing brightly as she created a glowing shield of warmth that repelled the heavy winds and melted the snow in a wide area around herself. Princess Luna was huddled close, bundled up in a scarf, a heavy poncho, and a pair of fuzzy earmuffs as she looked back and forth with wonder at the sea of snow, before pointing excitedly several times at the glowing beacon in the distance.
Scrivener and Luna Brynhild were next to exit, the sapphire mare wheezing in relief at the cloud of warmth Celestia had created even as she felt the snow beneath her hooves slowly turning to slush. But any complaining she quickly swallowed back as she noticed where Princess Luna was pointing, and she frowned in surprise at the bright, glowing light in the distance... in fact, she thought she could even make out some kind of glimmering spire, and what looked like bright daylight instead of rotten gray skies...
“The Crystal Kingdom is just ahead. Let's move on quickly, my soldiers will catch up.” Princess Celestia said calmly over her shoulder, as Freya and Twilight hopped out of the train, followed by Bob and Spike. “I'll keep up this aura of warmth while we move, but stay close. There's... there's a sensation in the air that I've never felt before.”
“It's Clockwork World.” Scrivener said quietly, before he could stop himself, and when Princess Celestia frowned over her shoulder at him, the stallion shook his head. “Sorry. We... we should move quickly. We don't want to get caught out in the open by their forces.”
“Of course.” Princess Celestia said quietly after a moment, and then she shook her head slowly before she began to lead the way forwards, keeping a close eye on her sister and ensuring that her younger sibling stayed beside her at all times.
They walked for a good twenty minutes, before Princess Celestia hesitated, then looked towards the strange, glowing beacon that was slowly drawing nearer and nearer through the icy wastes, as she said: “This is where Sombra first resurfaced... this is where the Elements of Harmony helped Shining Armor and Princess Cadence stop his plans to take back the Crystal Kingdom. I still remember when my sister and I first arrived here, the evils we saw. Ponies, being treated as slaves...”
“Yeah, I can't imagine that.” Scrivener mumbled before he could stop himself, and then he cleared his throat at the frown that Princess Celestia shot him. “Sorry. I... uh... so you said... 'crystal ponies' before, right? What's a crystal pony?”
“A resident of the Crystal Kingdom, as you'll soon see. They are a prosperous and talented people, and have shared their wealth with Equestria since its founding.” Princess Celestia said slowly, turning her eyes back ahead before she frowned slowly, murmuring: “Wait... I see something ahead... little sister, get behind me.”
Quiet Luna shifted uneasily, but then allowed Princess Celestia to push her backwards as she stepped forwards, the ivory mare's frown darkening as both Brynhild and Scrivener hurried to the front, flanking the Princess of the Sun. Twilight and Freya automatically stepped up to either side of Quiet Luna, who shifted uneasily, looking worriedly back and forth as they veered slightly off-course to approach a stain of black amidst the white wastes.
“It looks like Sombra's power... but no, it's... different.” Princess Celestia said quietly, as they halted by it, and Scrivener shivered a little before he stepped forwards and reached down to touch the frozen, zigzagging streak of black, Princess Celestia giving him a sharp look. “What are you-”
Steam hissed up from the frozen dark matter, cutting Princess Celestia off as her eyes widened in surprise before the goo bubbled violently, thawing quickly into sludgy mire as Scrivener cursed and drew his hoof quickly back, shaking it several times. “Goddammit. It's more of that concentrated corruption, like we saw in the other layer.”
“Is it the same, or more concentrated? It reacted extremely quickly to your touch.” Freya asked quietly, and Scrivener hesitated before wincing over his shoulder, and the ivory mare smiled faintly. “I'm sorry, Scrivener. I don't want to ask it of you...”
“Great. Great. Yeah, okay. I... I understand, it's important.” Scrivener sighed tiredly, and then he shared a wince with Luna Brynhild as Twilight looked away uncomfortably, before the stallion stepped forwards and leaned down even as Princess Celestia stared in horror.
He took a short drink of the mire, then shivered once as he felt it race through his system. At the same time, Brynhild winced and Twilight closed her eyes tightly, before the stallion spat to the side and muttered: “Yeah, you're right, Celestia... I mean, Freya. It's more concentrated than the stuff we saw.”
Thesis is a fool. Valthrudnir muttered inside Scrivener's mind, and the stallion couldn't help but look up slightly, listening in spite of everything telling him it was a bad idea to, as he felt the corruption in his own veins boiling and bubbling. The Clay of Prometheus was carefully calibrated, transforming, terraforming, but not simply empowering... granting control. That deluded lummox is well on his way to creating an unstable serum that will only serve the purpose of destroying the excuse for finer-thinking processes you pathetic puppets possess and exacerbate only primal and destructive instinct. In other words, like any infective agent... it will cease to care about any function or calling apart from attempting to spread itself as far and wide as possible in the shortest amount of time.
The stallion shivered a little, and then he clenched his eyes shut as he saw a clear vision of the Jötnar slowly shuffling his cards, looking down thoughtfully before the dragon said slowly, his amber eyes gleaming: But perhaps for something that already has developed a symbiosis with it... can act in concert with the Clay... perhaps for them it could serve as a source of power. And between you and the Valkyrie, there are many things you can do with what you so foolishly refer to as 'corruption,' are there not?
Scrivener shook his head quickly, and when he realized all eyes were looking at him, the stallion mumbled: “Sorry. Got lost in my own thoughts there for a moment, just... just... trying to figure out what's going on, you know?”
Princess Celestia nodded slowly, but even she clearly realized this wasn't the whole truth as Princess Luna quietly wandered over to stare at Scrivener Blooms. The stallion awkwardly tried to avoid Quiet Luna's intense, childlike gaze, before the sapphire mare turned her eyes to the dark stream and leaned down curiously, reaching a hoof out... before silently yelping when Scrivener made a face and hurriedly grabbed her, pulling her back as Princess Celestia snapped: “No, Luna, don't!”
Quiet Luna trembled a bit, then spun around and hurried over to Luna Brynhild, half-hiding behind her as Princess Celestia sighed and Scrivener Blooms winced, before the Princess of the Sun slowly composed herself. “I... it's okay, little sister. But that's very bad, that's not water or snow, that's poison to us. Remember, these... these ponies are different from us.”
Princess Luna shifted uneasily, then nodded silently a few times before looking up as Brynhild reached up and firmly squeezed her shoulder, smiling comfortingly into her eyes. “Fear not, Quiet Luna. We are only here to keep thee safe... here, walk with me awhile, and perhaps we shall talk, aye?”
Princess Celestia looked almost jealous for a moment before she sighed and nodded slowly, dropping her head forwards and gesturing calmly, murmuring: “I don't want to linger here, and we can discuss things in the safety of the Crystal Kingdom. Let's keep going, please.”
The others nodded, and the group of people made their way onwards in mostly silence: it was another twenty minutes until they reached the border of the magically-protected Crystal Kingdom, and Princess Celestia calmly stopped here, saying quietly over her shoulder as she gestured at where cold snow suddenly halted, and beautiful green grasses began: “As you can see, there's a barrier in place. It protects from both evil forces as well as shields against the harsh environment. Princess Cadence expects us, but these are a peaceful people who are still tormented by the memory of Sombra's rule. Even after a thousand years sealed away, for them it was less than a decade ago, instead of a millennia. Please treat them with understanding and kindness.”
“Aye, aye, thou sounds as boring as Freya now.” Brynhild said grumpily, and the golden-armored winged unicorn sighed tiredly before the starry-maned mare grinned over her shoulder. “Oh fine, perhaps that is not entirely fair. Thou art a little more fun these days, I must admit.”
Princess Celestia only shook her head slowly, then gestured quietly to her sibling, and Princess Luna nodded hesitantly before the two strode through the faintly-glowing barrier. They both glowed brightly with energy, but then the aura settled as Princess Celestia called: “Come through!”
“Bossy.” Brynhild grumbled, and then she and Scrivener traded awkward looks before Twilight strode up beside them, smiling and nodding quickly. They both gazed over at the violet mare, then all three faced forwards, shifting and setting themselves before nodding once: Lich, dark Valkyrie, and Clockwork Pony... but it was not what they were that decided who they were.
The three strode forwards, and they all winced as the barrier sparked violently as they pressed through it, scalding their skin, making them feel the same ache as their linked souls twisted. But a moment later, they emerged through the other side and all breathed a sigh of relief, smiling back and forth nervously to one another as Princess Celestia seemed slightly-surprised... but also relieved.
Freya followed next, then Discombobulation strolled casually through as Spike came last, blinking and glancing down at himself with surprise at the faint, lingering glow. They were all glowing slightly, as a matter of fact, and the Princess of the Sun gave a small smile before she said quietly: “It's a side effect of the Crystal Kingdom. If the charge of positive energy in the air were higher, we may ourselves have all taken on the likeness of the Crystal Kingdom's inhabitants... but right now, it's a little low, thanks to the worries in the air. Still enough to keep the barrier powered, not enough to transform outsiders.”
“Good. I do not desire to be made of shiny rock.” Luna Brynhild grumbled, and when Quiet Luna gave several silent giggles, the starry-maned mare smiled slightly before gesturing politely to Princess Celestia. “Alright, lead us onwards. I will admit, 'tis very pretty here.”
And as the others surveyed the scenery and Princess Luna led them into the Crystal Kingdom, they couldn't help but agree. It was a beautiful, strange place, like nothing they had ever seen before: gorgeous stone homes and cottages, polished roads and paths, every garden of flowers and shrubs well-tended and unique, and in the center of it all was that gorgeous spire that stood to the sky, keeping watch over all this miniature world unto itself.
The crystal ponies themselves were also like nothing the group from the other layer had seen before: they literally glimmered, seemed almost like they were carved from real gemstone, every one of them as flawless as if they were made of something better than flesh. Brynhild and Freya stared back and forth in amazement, before Princess Celestia said quietly: “And all this was threatened once... destroyed by Sombra. It's funny, that such a terrible evil as he exists in our world, but does not on your own...”
“My siblings and I fought many enemies in the past, Princess Celestia... and I was never as merciful as you are.” Celestia said quietly, smiling faintly as she closed her eyes. “I fought many unicorns who thought themselves masters of dark arts. But I rarely imprisoned them or defeated them through magic, before I... before my siblings. I simply killed them through the fastest possible means and moved on. If Sombra existed on our layer...”
Princess Celestia was silent, while Princess Luna was only hopping happily along beside Brynhild, looking at her brightly every so often as the starry-maned mare gazed around them. Crystal ponies stared at them with awe as they passed, and many of them bowed respectfully: it wasn't at all what any of them had expected, from what Celestia had warned.
They reached the base of the enormous tower, and Luna was surprised to see that it stood on four large, angled supports: these legs supported it overtop a shaded square, at the center of which sat an enormous, heart-shaped gemstone, hovering quietly above a pedestal and filled with radiant energy. Several crystal ponies stood nearby, gazing upon this with happiness, and Princess Celestia stopped near this, gesturing towards it and saying softly: “This is the Crystal Heart. It fuels the magic of the Crystal Kingdom, and is powered by the happiness... the positive emotions and energy... of every pony inside the Crystal Kingdom.”
“Now I understand.” Freya said softly, looking up and saying softly: “The energy is constantly gathered, from every citizen, every living thing inside this 'kingdom,' and funneled to the Heart. The Heart concentrates and funnels the energy into the spire... this entire tower itself must be an amplifier, in order to generate such a massive barrier. But it's genius.”
Freya paused, then smiled slightly over at Princess Celestia. “But it's no surprise. All these crystal ponies... almost every single one of them is an earth pony, and I expect the others are more recent arrivals. They must be master crafters and artisans... I can tell that from the homes alone.”
Celestia laughed quietly and nodded slowly, murmuring: “Correct. They have harnessed a different, ancient and powerful magic here.” The golden-caped mare stopped, then gazed softly over her shoulder as her sibling ran happily over to the Crystal Heart, staring at it with as much rapture as the other ponies before Princess Celestia smiled faintly. “To be honest, I was hoping that bringing my little sister here... I was waiting for an excuse to do so, because I... I had so hoped... all the positive energy in the air, it would... I don't know.”
She looked down for a moment, but before anyone could speak, a voice called warmly: “Princess Celestia! I'm so glad to see you!”
The golden-caped mare looked up with a soft smile as two ponies quickly approached, and Luna Brynhild grinned wryly despite herself: even if she had never seen them like this before, she recognized these ponies from all the times they had encountered them in other layers. The glowing white, twinkling-blue maned unicorn could only be Shining Armor, and the sparkling, pink winged unicorn beside him was Princess Cadence, if she remembered correctly.
Cadence's mane was coiffed and styled beautifully, twinkling brightly and a trio of colors exaggerated even more by the glint of her crystalline mane. The streaks of cream, violet and pink all seemed to shine with a thousand different hues, and further pronounced the brightness of the polished tiara atop her curled mane as her purple eyes glowed with more than a little relief. The cutie mark on her haunch was a crystal heart, backed by golden ribbon: something all the more fitting for her considering where they were.
They both halted to bow deeply, but Princess Celestia only shook her head and gestured for them to rise, then motioned at the six from another layer, their eyes widening slightly as they looked over them and saw both the similarities and the differences. “These are the ponies I was talking about, from another realm. They're here to help, and... I believe they were telling the truth when they told me that. In spite of our differences.”
Brynhild grinned wryly, then she said cheerfully: “But thou art free to pick a fight with us if thou likes. My husband and I would be delighted to beat thee into sense and submission.”
“What my little sister means is that we aren't looking to start any fights ourselves. We should save our strength to fight the real enemy... whatever has been threatening the Crystal Kingdom.” Freya slipped in smoothly, and the starry-maned mare grumbled and stomped a hoof moodily before the armored ivory equine continued softly, as Cadence and Shining Armor both stared at her with awe: “My name is Celestia Freya... please, just call me Freya. My sister is Luna Brynhild...”
“And... wait, is that...” Shining Armor's eyes widened, and then he laughed, grinning widely as Twilight Sparkle blushed. “Wow, you look just like Twilight, my little sister!”
Cadence smiled warmly, then she suddenly trotted forwards towards the violet mare before prancing on the spot, chanting brightly: “Sunshine, sunshine...” She dropped, covering her eyes with her front hooves as she grinned brightly, pulling them away as she continued: “Ladybugs awake! Clap... clap your...”
Cadence sat up and held out a hoof, and then she blushed deeply as Twilight only stared at her blankly. Brynhild and Scrivener, meanwhile, slowly shared a look before covering their mouths to hide their giggles, and the Lich said lamely after a moment: “I... hello?”
“Oh, Twilight Sparkle, you're awful at this.” Discombobulation remarked mildly, and then he stepped forwards and carefully swept the violet mare aside with one leg, before sitting primly down, and he reached up and clapped a hand against Cadence's hoof before firmly clapping twice as he continued: “Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”
He held both hands up, wiggling them back and forth with a quick smile before clearing his throat, calmly standing up, and stepping slowly backwards. Cadence blinked several times as Spike coughed several times into a fist to try and hide his grin, but Luna Brynhild was laughing loudly now as even Princess Luna gave a few silent giggles with a bright, happy expression.
Finally, Twilight managed to smile awkwardly as Cadence blushed and shook herself out, the Lich explaining: “Our... our world is different than yours, I'm sorry. Cadence doesn't exist in our world, any more than Shining Armor does or... this entire Crystal Kingdom. I'm... I'm Twilight Sparkle, but I'm... I'm not like the Twilight you know.”
She blushed a little, self-consciously touching her chest through the cloak and vest hiding her body, and Cadence nodded a few times as she smiled embarrassedly. Shining Armor looked surprised, however, tilting his head and asking: “Really? Then... you grew up alone, Twili? I mean, Twilight.”
“I did.” Twilight smiled a little, glancing over at Scrivener Blooms as she added quietly: “But I did have... a certain bad influence while I was attending the Canterlot Magic Academy.”
Scrivener only shrugged, giving the violet mare an entertained look before Princess Celestia cut in gently, gesturing to the double doors inset into one of the large support pillars holding up the tower: “Perhaps we should head inside. My little sister needs to have a rest, anyway, and there's a few things we have to discuss.”
“Of course.” Princess Cadence nodded and turned, then she softened and halted, looking over at where Quiet Luna was now looking over at them curiously, and the crystalline mare smiled faintly before calling quietly: “It's very nice to see you, Princess Luna. Do you want to come inside? We have a room all ready for you to have a little rest, okay?”
Quiet Luna shifted uncomfortably, glancing back and forth, and after a moment Luna Brynhild said softly: “I must admit that I am rather weary myself. My big sister is more than capable of explaining things with Twilight Sparkle... perhaps we could keep thee company, Quiet Luna.”
Both Cadence and Shining Armor winced a little at this nickname, but Princess Celestia seemed like she had grown used to it, the ivory mare sighing quietly... but when Quiet Luna gave her big sister a pleading look, the Princess of the Sun relented and nodded slowly with a quiet sigh. “Very well then. That sounds... fair enough.”
Quiet Luna smiled brightly, hurrying over to the group, and Cadence gave the sapphire mare a soft, affectionate look before saying kindly over her shoulder: “Then please, everyone, follow me. We'll head to the throne room first so everyone gets an idea of the castle layout, and then Shining can show the Princess and her friends to the guest quarters.”
The others nodded, Spike smiling a little as he lingered a little, eyes drawing over the crystal architecture before he sighed and said wryly aside to Bob: “You know, I can't decide if we walked into paradise or hell for me. I mean, even the stuff we saw outside aside. Everything here is shiny and crystal and I want to put it in my mouth.”
“You should never say that to a Draconequus.” Discombobulation remarked mildly, and then he paused and halted before peering moodily back and forth, Spike tilting his head curiously as they fell a little behind the group. “Wait. I sense something; a presence I've not felt since...”
He halted, then grumbled a bit, rubbing moodily at his metallic arm as Spike gave him a curious look. “If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly.”
“You uh. Okay there?” Spike asked awkwardly, and then he winced when Discombobulation seized him by the arm and suddenly dragged him away from the group, the dragon looking dumb and unable to so much as shout to the others as he was hurriedly dragged out of the square.
“You're the Watson to my Sherlock, the Ron to my Harry, the Sam to my Dean, the... I don't know, the Boy Wonder to my Goddamn Batman. You know, Batwoman was introduced in1956 because of allegations of homosexuality. Amongst one of the first fictional characters to be attacked on that ground, as a matter of fact: personally, though, I've always enjoyed Mr. Miller's interpretation, and for this I will actually admit that I'm quoting someone: 'he'd be much healthier if he was gay.'” Discombobulation rambled on, and Spike gaped a little before the Draconequus suddenly turned, grabbed the dragon by the shoulders, and leaned in uncomfortably close as he asked seriously: “Do you think I'd be happier if I was homosexual?”
“Uh... I... uh...” Spike stared at him, slowly leaning backwards, and then Bob spun back around, and the dragon wheezed and slumped before looking blankly back and forth at the beautiful houses around them. The enormous spire, at least, was a fairly direct landmark, and Spike looked over his shoulder at this for a moment before he winced and hurried after the Draconequus, who was striding quickly down the street. “Wait, where are you going? Where are we going?”
“What was she fighting for? What am I fighting for?” Discombobulation spun around, seizing Spike again by the breastplate and shaking him violently once before the Draconequus fell to his knees and threw his head back, howling: “What are you fighting for?”
Again, Spike was struck dumb, and Discombobulation cleared his throat after a moment and slowly climbed up to his hooves, brushing calmly at himself. “Excuse me, sorry. It's just all so exciting to be in a new place and everything. And it's been a long time since I had a sidekick. To be honest, I feel rather like I just started off on a big adventure, and you're the fire-type starter I decided to pick, and we're just about to go out into the world to battle our rival in a race to see who can beat the Elite Four first and claim the title of... well... that's not the important part. The important part is hunting down Red in the legendary caves and making him cry like a little sissy.”
Spike looked blank, and then Discombobulation smiled pleasantly before he turned around, windmilling his arms slowly and adding dryly: “Believe me. It's best to just roll with things for now. I mean, do you know what those ponies are up to right now? Being boring, probably, or even worse yet, responsible. Except for Scrivener Blooms, of course. She always gets up to all kinds of fun and games and madness. It's almost enough to make me feel jealous.”
The dragon rubbed the back of his head nervously, then he sighed and adjusted his shield and backpack, shifting a little as he wondered moodily if this was really a good idea, as he followed after the Draconequus. He imagined that Twilight and Celestia were probably already getting everything sorted out and in order, after all, while Scrivy and Luna were probably enjoying themselves instead of chasing after a crazy chaos entity...
Spike was actually very close to correct, at least about Luna and Scrivener: they were both comfortable enough in this warm, happy place that they had removed their armor and put their other gear aside. The room they had been left in was large and spacious, with a plush bed on one side and shelves full of books and a large chest filled with all kinds of toys. Scrivener and Luna both thought the latter had likely been quietly moved in and simply left here for Quiet Luna to find, to avoid patronizing her too much... but the Princess of the Night was now happily playing with a large, stuffed pony doll as Brynhild and Scrivener rested back and watched, holding hooves quietly.
They had both noticed something: Quiet Luna tried hard to be more mature and adult when Celestia was around, but right now she seemed almost... content. And Luna Brynhild smiled faintly as she shook her head slowly, murmuring: “I do not know if I should pity her, Scrivy, or if I should envy her. But I do know that I shall speak to her older sibling later. Pushing her is clearly not helping her mind heal, 'tis only hurting her more, I think. Because I know that it would only hurt me more.”
Scrivener nodded a little, and then Quiet Luna looked up at them curiously before she suddenly smiled brightly and simply dropped the doll. She strode over to them, then studied them both quietly before reaching out and tugging firmly at Luna Brynhild, who chuckled quietly and said softly: “Now cease that, Quiet Luna. Thou may not be able to speak, and thou may be... different from me... but I know that thou can signal thy wants to me.”
Quiet Luna seemed to blush a little, then she smiled and reached down, quietly touching the linked hooves of the two, and Brynhild laughed quietly before she said kindly: “Aye, Scrivener and I love each other, we are husband and wife. Does thou understand that?”
Quiet Luna nodded firmly a few times, looking almost exasperated, and Luna Brynhild grinned wryly and shrugged easily. “Blame me not, child. Thou has presented thyself to me as both a Princess and a... younger pony than thy years would suggest.”
The Princess of the Night blushed at this, shifting to half-hide behind her pale blue locks, and then she suddenly smiled before hopping forwards and turning around, sitting herself down between the two. Scrivener and Luna both leaned to either side, letting go of one another's hooves, but almost immediately Quiet Luna reached out and caught them. Her grip was surprisingly firm, and both ponies looked surprised before Quiet Luna dropped her head against Brynhild's shoulder.
She closed her eyes as she curled up a little comfortably, and as she smiled softly, she silently spoke a single word. Luna Brynhild softened at this, shaking her head and beginning: “No, child I am not...”
Then Quiet Luna looked up with her guileless, innocent eyes, and Luna Brynhild sighed inwardly before she gave a faint smile and reached up, touching her face gently. “Nevermind. Rest thy eyes, Quiet Luna, and let thyself... believe as thou pleases, 'twill do no harm. Only know that I will not be here forever, but... aye, I will be here for now. We both are here for now.”
Quiet Luna closed her eyes and smiled warmly, holding tightly onto their hooves, and Luna and Scrivener traded faint smiles over the mare's head: Quiet Luna had mistaken them for her parents. But there was no point in correcting her, maybe even hurting her... in fact, Luna Brynhild understood it all too well, and envied her. Envied even the fantasy of having parents...
She squeezed slowly against the mare's hoof, as Scrivener looked down at Quiet Luna silently and thought of his own family. His own parents, Tia Belle and Bramblethorn... and of Ersatz Major, who was so focused on him, had told him that his mother had always been there for him, even if she'd never shown it. Had loved him...
There was only silence, but it was good. Quiet Luna radiated happiness, safe there between her make-believe parents, falling into a doze. And as Scrivener and Luna both looked at her, their thoughts synced up, going from bittersweet remembrances to softer, happier memories. Of Antares being born, and raising him, growing up and looking after him, how often he had smiled and laughed and was so calm and good and nothing like them, with all their flaws...
They both closed their eyes and smiled faintly, feeling the same twist inside themselves, hearts thudding with the same tempo before Luna said quietly: “I love thou, Scrivener Blooms, with all my heart and soul and... more. As I love Twilight Sparkle so deeply. And I think...”
“I know. Me too.” Scrivener said softly, not needing her to finish as they felt one-another's emotions, and the two traded warm smiles before the stallion cleared his throat quietly and looked down, adding after a moment: “I'm just glad that this time, at least, you aren't going to attempt to sleep with yourself on this layer. At least, I really hope not.”
“Shut up, Scrivy. That is almost too sick a joke even for me.” Luna Brynhild said grouchily, and then she paused before muttering: “Oh, who am I kidding, thou hast heard me tell the joke about Celestia and the orphans. But aye, I am no monster. Poor Quiet Luna... I wish to just... cuddle her until she is better. Never did I expect to come across a version of myself on any layer even cuter than I am, Scrivener Blooms. 'Tis simply incredible.”
The stallion only sighed at this, shaking his head and smiling a little before the two ponies looked ahead quietly, as Quiet Luna sank deeper into slumber between them. After a few more minutes, her grip on their hooves naturally began to loosen, and the two carefully shifted free before the starry-maned mare smiled softly, asking quietly: “Can thou assist me, Scrivener?”
Scrivy smiled back, and then he strode over to the bed and pulled the covers back before Luna  Brynhild's horn glowed, gently lifting Quiet Luna's limp body into the air. It floated silently over to the bed to settle carefully down, and Quiet Luna shifted uncomfortably... but Scrivener gently reached out and helped the sapphire mare settle, before he grasped the covers and tucked her in with easy, natural affection as she nestled her face against the pillow.
The stallion brushed her mane out of her eyes, and Luna Brynhild hesitated only a moment before stepping forwards and impulsively leaning down to kiss Quiet Luna's forehead, just beneath her horn. And Quiet Luna smiled softly, settling comfortably into place as the two ponies gazed down at the sleeping Princess of the Night with tenderness, taking one another's hooves as they watched over the winged unicorn as she dreamed of being a small foal with her big sister by her side, and their parents watching over them both, keeping them safe from the darkness always lurking on the horizon.