//------------------------------//
// The Hounds Of War 
// Story: Synthesis of the Atheist 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Thirty Six: The Hounds Of War
~BlackRoseRaven

“Now, let me present my plans to you, or rather, what I think would be the best course of action for this situation.” Thesis said softly, looking calmly back and forth before he continued in the same peaceful voice, as dark, ominous smoke continued to rise up around him out of the shattered earth. “I have no desire to bring harm to anyone here, and I think it's already clear that I am more than capable of doing so. Instead, I ask politely that you give me the Crystal Heart: it serves all our interests. I'll no longer have to take ponies to power my machines, and I am sure that you, Luna Brynhild, can afford to spend a few extra days protecting this... Crystal Empire or whatever it's called while I finish my work here. Then I will send Kismet back with the artifact, and to give you further instructions on where we can meet next, my friends, to discuss our... problem.”
Luna slowly traded disbelieving looks with the ponies on either side of her, and then she snarled in barely-restrained fury before saying coldly: “Counteroffer: thou leaves this place, and I pummel thee mercilessly and then send thee only a little broken back to thy nefarious lair, where thou may cower until we come to hunt thee down after a few days of mercy. Or, thou can stay here, and we will kill thee now and be done with it. But we shall do it slowly.”
“Oh, Valkyrie Brynhild...” Thesis shook his head slowly, and then he smiled as he slowly pushed his front hooves down against the ground, and Scrivener's mind flared with instinct a little too late. “I have just proved my strength to you. But at least I attempted a fair negotiation.”
Luna snarled, then staggered backwards in shock as black smoke vented up out of the spiderweb of cracks around the Clockwork Pony, before the section of platform he was standing on was launched into the air by a geyser of boiling black mire. It splattered down in every direction, sending the ponies of this layer panicking before Cadence managed to snap her horn upwards and create a barrier that protected them, as Spike winced and covered himself with his shield, cursing.
Thesis threw his head back, and Scrivener's eyes widened as the entire world darkened and the air reverberated with the hostile, toxic language of Wyrms, hearing the shocked screams of the ponies of this world as they felt the agony these words alone could bring on for the first time: “Rise, rise, pawns of war, rise to your master's bidding, begin your dance of death!”
It wasn't the Black Verses, it was something else... before Scrivener's eyes widened in shock as comets of black mire launched themselves out of the fountain of black muck, staring in horror as they splattered to the ground before rippling violently into new, monstrous shapes. Limbs clawed at the earth and long, whipping tails lashed outwards, as Wyrm-like heads formed with sockets full of malevolent blue fire. The mire beasts screamed, dripping with black slime, their emaciated bodies ever running and rippling like hot wax before Thesis said softly: “Exterminate the defenders present.”
The mire beasts lunged forwards, surprisingly agile as they turned on the nearest creatures. Several leapt at Cadence's shield, smashing into the barrier and rapidly cracking it as they clawed and ripped at it wildly as Spike cursed and dropped to a crouch when one of the monsters tried to pounce on him, the beast landing on his shield before Spike leapt to his feet and shoved outwards to throw the monster backwards into another.
“Go after him!” their Looking Glass World Twilight shouted as she snapped her horn downwards, sending a blue fireball into a nearby monster, and most of the mire beast exploded in a hail of black goo with a shriek, its lower legs stumbling backwards as its tail whipped back and forth for a moment longer before it simply dissolved into black liquid.
Scrivener and Luna didn't have time to argue, both looking upwards as Thesis smiled at them calmly before he leapt off the island of stone floating atop the geyser towards one wall of the spire, then he smoothly shoved off this with all four limbs and landed on one of the lower balconies, stepping forwards to lean over the railing with infuriating casualness.
Luna snarled, and Scrivener gritted his teeth as he felt her mental order as the geyser of corruption finally sank back down, releasing only a few more mire beasts as it fell. Normally he hated this, but for once the stallion thought this would be the perfect way to say hello as he felt Luna's magic wrap around him, the two running forwards before they both leapt up into the air, Luna's wings spreading wide as a sapphire aura completely encased the stallion as he curled himself up tightly before she launched him as viciously as she could straight at Thesis.
Thesis leapt backwards with a look of surprise a moment before Scrivener smashed through the end of the balcony and the railing like a cannonball. He barely felt it with the magic shielding him, and his fury and adrenaline outweighed vertigo as he felt the aura vanish as he dropped out of midair. The moment he began to freefall, he looked down and twisted himself to make sure he was falling straight towards Thesis, swinging both forelegs out to try and smash in the surprised-looking Clockwork Pony's face-
Thesis caught his forelegs and half-turned, flinging him through the set of double-doors leading into the spire, and Scrivener let out a curse of frustration more than pain before Luna shot up over the balcony, three silver javelins floating around her and spear across her back. She snapped her horn forwards, but Thesis was already moving even as the javelins shot at him one after the other.
The Clockwork Pony slapped one out of the way with a foreleg as he lowered his body slightly, the second shooting just over his shoulder and sinking uselessly into the ground behind him before he swung his other foreleg up and hit the third javelin in the neck, sending it flipping wildly into the air above him. Luna cursed as she shot forwards, bringing her spear up, but Thesis continued his movement, seizing the butt of the javelin behind him, ripping it free from the floor and flinging it hard at Luna in one smooth motion.
The winged unicorn was forced to throw herself backwards as she swung her spear out at the same time, barely deflecting and avoiding the missile before Thesis caught the third javelin as it fell out of the air, and without a twitch he spun and flung it straight at Scrivener Blooms like a dart, sending it tearing through his armor and sinking into his chest. The charcoal earth pony howled as he was knocked backwards, skidding over the floor as Luna cursed and twitched backwards, feeling a bloody wound forming in her own body.
She breathed hard as Thesis slowly relaxed, smiling and looking over his shoulder at the winged unicorn. She snarled in return, then hissed in fury through her teeth before snapping her horn forwards, sending a blue fireball rocketing at the Clockwork Pony, but he calmly batted this to the side like it was nothing more dangerous than a beachball, saying softly: “You are not living up to my expectations.”
Luna roared, then shot in, stabbing downwards with her spear in a flurry, but Thesis easily dodged backwards into the corridor. The sapphire mare dropped to the balcony to engage Thesis on the ground, but the moment her hooves touched the balcony, Thesis lunged forwards: one foreleg he wrapped around the neck of her spear, catching it and holding it in place as the other he stomped down in the doorway, and the stone floor of the balcony immediately rotted away into dark mire, the structure trembling before the balcony collapsed in a hail of rock, dust, and dark mush.
Luna staggered and lunged desperately upwards, spreading her wings and trying to catch the air, and Thesis reached calmly forwards and seized her by one wing in that moment of defenselessness, briskly snapping her into the wall like she weighed no more than a pillow. Luna cried out in shock before she lost her telekinetic grip on her spear as Thesis spun around and flung her at Scrivener Blooms as the earth pony charged down the hallway. The stallion cursed, every instinct screaming at him to leap up and catch her, but instead he forced himself to duck beneath the sapphire mare as Thesis tossed the spear into the air to catch it in both front hooves and then stab it firmly forwards.
The charcoal stallion sidestepped to avoid the stab... and Thesis stepped forwards as he shifted his grip on the weapon with lightning precision, pinning Scrivener firmly into the wall with the body of the spear. The earth pony winced in pain as he was left helpless for a moment, and then Thesis slammed a headbutt into the side of his face, rattling his senses before the Clockwork Pony dropped the spear and grabbed Scrivener by the throat, slamming his head savagely down into the stone floor.
Scrivener went limp for a moment, and down the hall, Luna staggered with a groan, her vision going blurry before Thesis rolled Scrivener onto his back and slammed another front hoof down into his face, leaving him in a broken, near-unconscious heap. The blast of pain had the opposite effect on Luna, however, waking her up as she shook her head, then snarled furiously even as she felt blood running from her mouth and an ear. “Thou shall suffer for that.”
“Really? I thought we were only playing a game, Valkyrie.” Thesis replied, as he strode into the center of the hall and towards the mare, smiling at her with that horrible, patronizing kindness. “Oh don't worry. I have no intention of killing either of you. I just want to test how strong you really are.”
Luna snarled and ran forwards, and Thesis halted and waited patiently for her before the mare suddenly snapped her horn upwards, releasing a blast of light and blue flame that washed over the stallion before she slashed her horn down on instinct... and it hit something solid before she felt herself twisted and slammed viciously down into the ground. She gagged, and then Thesis grabbed her by the back of the neck and one wing, swinging her face-first into the wall, then lifting her above his head and twisting firmly, the bone of her wing shattering and making Luna scream.
He threw her to the ground, and she bounced several times before forcing herself to roll in spite of the agony in her body, agony so terrible it jarred Scrivener Blooms back awake. He sat up just in time to watch with shock as Thesis stepped easily forwards and hammered a blow into Luna's face, sending up a thick spray of blood as she was sent rolling the rest of the way down the hall... then out into thin air with a broken wing, and Scrivener shouted in denial as he immediately dove after her.
The sapphire mare reached a hoof up on instinct, and Scrivener caught it in his own as he slid over the edge of the corridor, his right hoof snapping apart into a claw that seized desperately into the crumbled stone. He hung there, cursing as Luna clung to him, her head hanging as blood ran down one half of her face and her starry mane sizzled faintly, cheek crushed in. Breath whispered in and out of her jaw as it hung loose, and the world was dizzy and unfocused, and she could feel their hooves locked together... but... slipping... slipping...
Luna slowly looked up, and Scrivener tried to haul her upwards... but moving made their hooves shift, and he couldn't get a grip with these goddamn hooves against her. Then he cursed as he looked up with a tremble, staring at the sight of Thesis now at the edge of the balcony, looking down with interest before he smiled as he leaned down and encouraged: “Just hang on, okay? I'm sure you can hang on long enough for me to finish my business here, and then your friends will save you. Excuse me.”
And with that, Thesis turned and walked calmly down the hallway, and Scrivener let out a roar of frustration before Luna coughed loudly and whispered: “Let me go, Scrivy. The fall is not high enough to kill me and I shall cushion myself with... what little magic I have left. 'Twill hurt, but then thou can go after him, it... the pain should not be enough to incapacitate thee...”
“And get my ass kicked, if you can't beat him, I can't beat him. We need to do it together, don't be... don't be me, Luna.” Scrivener muttered, and then he cursed under his breath before looking down and gritting his teeth. Past Luna, far below, he could see the others still trying to fight off the mire monsters. It looked like they had been joined by other allies, but they were peaceful ponies trying to defend themselves against monsters made of vileness and evil...
Scrivener looked down at his left hoof... then he bit his tongue before closing his eyes and beginning to concentrate. And Luna looked up at him with a frown before she grimaced in pain, then looked up as black mire began to run down her foreleg, leaking out of Scrivener's hoof in an increasing flow...
The pain spiked, and Scrivener heard a distinct crackling sound as he clenched his eyes shut... then he let out a howl of pain as his left hoof shattered into a claw in a blast of black goo. Luna cried out in pain and shock as well, feeling the same agony even as her hoof thankfully only trembled, but both ponies flinching made them let go of each other for a moment, Luna beginning to fall again-
Scrivener's left, broken claw seized Luna's foreleg in a painfully-tight grip, the stallion biting back a scream of agony at how much it hurt, and Luna's eyes bulging as she gasped in pain before the stallion flexed and grunted, hefting her slowly upwards with his one claw, and pulling himself as high as he could with the other. And the moment Luna could reach up to find purchase, she did, managing to grab Scrivener's shoulder and get her rear hooves against his body, yanking her bloody foreleg free from his claw with a grunt of relief as she climbed up him like a ladder and into the corridor above.
Luna seized the stallion and helped yank him up into the corridor after her, and Scrivener wheezed in relief before the sapphire mare threw him into a wall and leaned forwards, kissing him firmly. They tasted one another's blood and life and strength in those slow-passing moments, before their mouths parted as Luna gritted her teeth, her eyes glowing with renewed fury as she said coldly: “I shall have to pummel thee later, but for now, let us chase down Thesis. And Scrivener, loathe as I am...”
“Only a little drink, though.” Scrivener muttered, and the mare nodded once before she and the stallion studied each other for a few long seconds, and then she cursed quietly as she leaned forwards and bit firmly into him, Scrivener gritting his teeth as his body trembled, seizing into her shoulders and only hoping they could make it down below in time.
The Clockwork Pony hadn't returned to the square yet, but the fight was already desperate: even though Shining Armor, Princess Celestia, Discord, and a slew of Royal Guard had joined the fray, the mire monsters were relentless and vicious, their corrosive claws searing flesh and their toxic jaws leaving hideous wounds.
Fluttershy was laying injured and gasping for breath, Applejack standing over her and staring back and forth in desperation, trembling from a terrible, smoking black wound that covered most of one foreleg. Rainbow Dash was hovering over them both, looking wildly back, her hooves smoldering from contact with the mire creatures.
Rarity and Pinkie Pie both ran towards them, screaming in terror as a mire monster chased after them, and Rainbow snarled as she readied herself to lunge. But before she could, a blue fireball hammered into the beast's side and exploded with enough force to knock it staggering, and the mire monster turned to snarl at the trembling violet unicorn standing near Cadence.
The mire beast charged with a growl, lunging towards the two before Cadence snapped her horn down, unleashing a bright ray of pinkish light that washed over the monster as it lunged... and then fell to the ground, turned to solid stone by the beam of positive energy. Almost immediately, however, the statue began to shake violently, black mire starting to bubble up here and there through the rock before Twilight Sparkle lashed her horn outwards with a cry of disgust, and the statue was shattered into pieces that rapidly dissolved into boiling corruption.
Cadence breathed hard, one of her wings hanging limp at her side before she looked up in horror as another mire beast pounced towards them, but a cloaked shape lunged between them; its claws went ignored even as they ripped through the tattered vestments and gemstone armor below before the beast was blown apart by a blast of force. The violet winged unicorn landed, and she looked sharply over her shoulder at her counterpart, shouting: “Protect your friends! We'll take care of the last of them!”
The Lich's eyes flicked up as another mire monster charged towards her, and Twilight Morgan's horn glowed before she snapped it firmly upwards, spikes of stone ripping out of the earth and cutting the mire beast almost in half. The lower half dissolved, but the upper half attempted to keep going until the Lich swung her horn forwards and sent a blue fireball hammering into it, to a much-more destructive result than her counterpart had gotten, as ashes and black goo hailed down in all directions.
Cadence dragged the Twilight of this layer backwards as she stared at the Lich, who forced a quick, reassuring smile over her shoulder despite the aches and wounds and pain she could feel through her body: not from this fight, these creatures couldn't hurt her spirit that badly, but she knew that Luna and Scrivener had run into trouble against Thesis.
Across the square, Shining Armor gritted his teeth as he slung a large chunk of rock into the head of another mire beast with telekinesis, and the creature staggered to a halt before flopping over and bursting apart into bubbling black slime. Behind him, Princess Celestia breathed hard, looking back and forth before she gestured to a trio of soldiers on one side of her, shouting: “There, there's Twilight and her friends, go and help them! You too, Shining Armor!”
“Yes ma'am!” Shining Armor grinned in gratitude over his shoulder at Celestia, immediately sprinting for where his sister and wife were standing by the other five ponies of this layer, his soldiers hurrying behind him. And Princess Celestia gave a faint smile, before her eyes flicked to the side as a mire beast slunk towards her, hissing furiously.
She began to turn to face it, the Guard around her running forwards and dropping in position, but a moment later a strange pink cloud floated over the creature before simply dropping on top of the mire beast. In a matter of moments, the mire-creature was suffocated completely in the pink fluff, which bounced almost comically... before the cotton candy cloud suddenly went rigid and crushed in on itself with a single sickening squelch.
The cotton candy cloud melted into a puddle of pink and black liquid as Princess Celestia looked up, unsurprised to see Discord half-crouched over another pink cloud floating a little above the ground. He grinned awkwardly down at her, twiddling his fingers... and then Celestia's eyes widened in horror as Princess Luna poked her head up past him, the Draconequus saying hurriedly: “Hey, before you get mad at me, you should know that one of those crazy Clockwork Ponies is up in that lame castle thing. Really, I saved your sister's life.”
Princess Celestia cursed in frustration, looking across the square, but it was too late to recall Shining Armor and the other guards. But then she caught movement in the corner of her eye, and the Princess of the Sun shouted sharply: “Captain Armor, on your left!”
The unicorn skidded to a halt with a curse, turning at the same time to see two mire beasts charging at them: but at the same time, there were also more mire-creatures closing in on Cadence, his sister, and the other Elements. But after only a moment he shouted: “I'll deal with them, the rest of you, protect Princess Cadence and the Elements!”
The soldiers obeyed without question, and Shining Armor set himself as the mire beast snarled, then ran towards him. Without hesitation, Shining Armor leapt to meet it, slashing his horn down through the beast's features and hissing in pain as boiling muck splattered over his face, but the monster was driven back. It gave him enough time to stab his horn forwards into its chest and unleash a raw telekinetic blast, the monster all but exploding... except the blast covered him with black, acidic slime as well, making him curse and stagger, blinded and stunned for a moment.
He finally wiped the sludge away, only to stare in shock at the sight of another beast leaping in towards him as he stood, helpless... but then the tall figure of the dragon stepped between him and the beast, Spike swinging up his shield and scooping the mire monster up on it, hefting it over his head before slinging the mire monster savagely down into the ground. Then Spike stomped forwards, crushing its head beneath a greave and stilling it, before the dragon half-spun and lashed out with his silvery sword when another mire beast charged in.
It staggered as the blade sliced through its skull before the dragon dropped and drove forwards with the shield, slamming it upwards and knocking the beast further back before swinging it down in a curving arc, the shield's edge hitting with almost enough force to tear the monster's head off before a final slap of the rounded metal guard knocked the creature onto its back, letting Spike easily finish it off with a single thrust of his sword. He tore the weapon back with a smile over his shoulder through the black goo splattered over his face, asking: “You okay?”
Shining Armor only smiled faintly, and for a moment, everything was still as ponies looked back and forth... and then Shining Armor's eyes widened in horror as in a blink, a terrible, synthetic stallion appeared out of nowhere behind Cadence with a calm smile, seizing her by the back of the neck and turning around to fling her by the head towards the Crystal Heart at the center of the square.
She slammed into the barrier formed by the six glowing, ominous rods, and the pink winged unicorn screamed as her horn began to glow violently and electricity sparked back and forth, arching over her body and between the control rods. Cadence jittered and gargled helplessly, her eyes beginning to glow with light before she was blown backwards as the shielding overloaded with a sizzle of energy, and Shining Armor cried out before snarling at Thesis and charging straight for the Clockwork Pony.
But Thesis only smiled, ignoring the ponies scattering in all directions away from him, Twilight Sparkle running towards Cadence's prone body as the power rods smoldered and the Crystal Heart pulsed with energy. Shining Armor ignored the yells and shouts as he leapt at Thesis, then slammed his hooves into the Clockwork Pony's face, hammering them against his breast, punching as hard as he could again and again...
His hooves swung down as Shining Armor fell forwards, gasping for breath, trembling in disbelief as he supported himself against the chest of this synthetic stallion, that felt like metal and stone, not flesh. And slowly, he looked up, shivering in disbelief and horror, his hooves aching as Thesis only smiled, not a single mark on him as the Clockwork Pony asked gently: “Do you feel better now? How feeble you mortal ponies are... and yet I can extract so much spiritual essence from you, such powerful energy, with the right application of force... your biology fascinates me.”
Thesis reached calmly up, grasping Shining Armor's horn and twisting his head forcefully back and forth before tossing him aside, and the unicorn hit the ground in a sprawl and stared weakly up at him before the Clockwork Pony turned towards the Crystal Heart with a calm smile. But in a moment, Applejack and Rainbow Dash both lunged in front of him, gritting their teeth as the Pegasus snapped: “You... we aren't gonna let you lay a hoof on that!”
“If you want it, it'll be over our dead bodies!” Applejack agreed, setting herself, and they were joined by Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, and even Fluttershy, as Twilight trembled beside Cadence, trying desperately to shake her awake.
“No, I don't have to kill you. I just have to get you out of my way.” Thesis said softly, and then he stepped forwards and seized Rainbow Dash by the face before slamming her into the ground, leaving her in a broken sprawl with a fractured skull. None of the other ponies knew how to react, only staring blankly before Applejack began to snarl, began to turn... and a moment later, she was on the ground, wheezing weakly for breath, tears leaking from her eyes and her ribs shattered.
Thesis smiled calmly, and all the other ponies could do was tremble and cower, and he bowed his head to them politely before striding over the bodies of their friends. But Twilight Sparkle staggered into his way... except Thesis barely paid attention to her as he swatted her aside like a toy, knocking her down with a cry of pain.
He began to reach towards the barrier... but then paused, slowly glancing to his right, then his left. Discord and Celestia had taken the time he'd been distracted by the other ponies to flank him, and he shook his head almost disapprovingly before cracking his neck as Discord's hands crackled with green electricity and Celestia's horn glowed with golden light. “I don't want to hurt you.”
In reply, Discord snapped a hand out, and there was an explosion of green fire in the space where Thesis had been a moment before, the stallion already sidestepping even as Celestia snapped her horn down, sending a golden fireball at him. But Thesis' hoof smashed into this, and it knocked it flying back into the winged unicorn's face, sending her sprawling backwards with a curse before Thesis simply vanished, and reappeared with his hoof already buried in Discord's stomach.
The chaos entity gargled, staggering backwards and clutching at himself, eyes bulging as he gave a weak whimper before Thesis slammed a hoof up under his jaw, knocking him onto his back. The Clockwork Pony smiled and began to turn again... before he was finally caught by surprise as the Twilight Sparkle of Looking Glass World slammed savagely down onto his back, her hooves glowing with black flames as the Clockwork Pony gave a cry of shock before he bucked her backwards, then turned around with a snarl of fury, leaping up and slamming a hoof into her breast.
The Lich was sent hurtling across the square, crashing and skidding on her back with a gargle before Princess Luna shot in, shouting silently, desperately, and Thesis turned and hammered his hoof across her face as he snapped: “Enough fun and games! Get out of my way, you worthless, stupid little ponies! Stop making me hurt you!”
Princess Luna crashed to the ground, and Celestia cried out in misery as her sister flopped bonelessly a few times, trembling weakly, as Thesis leaned back in surprise, then reached up and touched his own features, whispering: “No... no, I... I thought that was the other Luna... my... my emotions got the better of me, I... was a victim of adrenaline and anger. You must believe me when I say I didn't mean to hurt a noncombatant... that I would have preferred a peaceful solution...”
Thesis shook his head uneasily, distracted, before he frowned at the sound of hooves... and when he turned around, it was right into a punch from Luna Brynhild, sending him flying away from the Crystal Heart with a curse. He managed to catch himself, looking disgusted as the starry-maned mare and Scrivener Blooms set themselves across from him, both of them injured and bleeding, but determined to continue the fight.
There were no words: Luna and Scrivener simply charged forwards, and Thesis met them: and from the beginning, it was clear who the victor would be. Thesis was too fast, too powerful, too unstoppable, countering every attack, outthinking every strategy, even as others charged in to lend any help they could to the two desperate warriors.
Princess Celestia only lay on her side, trembling and staring towards her sister, as Princess Luna trembled weakly, shivering and curled up. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she shook with her unheard sobs, and the Princess of the Sun closed her eyes tightly for a moment before she forced herself to roll onto her stomach and crawl slowly over to her sibling. She hurt: she wasn't used to battle like these ponies, and she'd put too much power into the blast that Thesis had simply knocked back into her own face like she was a foal novice trying to outclass an archmage.
She reached her sibling, then reached out and pulled her close, not watching as Thesis slammed Scrivener to the ground and then flung Luna like a toy, or as Spike tried to ram into Thesis, only for his shield to be smashed almost in half by a blow from the Clockwork Pony and the dragon knocked sprawling. She only hugged her little sister tightly into her body, trembling, tears running down her cheeks before she whispered: “I love you, Luna. I'll always love you.”
Then Celestia's horn glowed, and Princess Luna looked up at her, tears running down her own face before she reached up as the iron ring was surrounded by a golden aura, slowly beginning to rise... and then trembling, and simply shattering halfway off Princess Luna's horn.
The sapphire mare gasped, shivering and staring up at her sibling, and Celestia smiled weakly before she embraced her younger sibling again. And her sister hugged her tightly back, even as her horn began to glow... not pale this time, but with a deep, black aura. With a darkness that bled slowly down over her body, even as Luna shook silently and clutched her sister as fiercely as she could, and her eyes began to glow like ivory lanterns...
And a few moments later, it wasn't Luna that calmly pulled herself away from Princess Celestia. It was a smiling, black-coated mare with eldritch green eyes, her reptilian pupils calmly surveying the Princess of the Sun as her star-filled mane and tail twisted leisurely back and forth. The two surveyed each other, and then Nightmare Moon leaned down and asked softly: “Do you love me even now?”
Thesis frowned, feeling the change in the air, and the combat halted as Luna Brynhild and Scrivener Blooms both stared with shock. Both Twilights gazed with disbelief, and Shining Armor trembled, mouthing wordlessly, as Nightmare Moon smiled calmly around at the gathered ponies. “This is not the return I had in mind, but I suppose that it will do. As a matter of fact, it will do wonderfully... and in such a beautiful place, a place we have not seen for more than a thousand years, with such an incredible source of power...”
Nightmare Moon turned, calmly surveying the Crystal Heart, and she licked her lips slowly before looking slowly over her shoulder at Thesis. “You want this, don't you? Well, I will give it to you, if you like... but it's not as powerful as it could be, you know.”
Discord looked up in disbelief as Luna Brynhild snarled, and Princess Celestia asked in a whisper: “Do... do you really hate me that much?”
“No. I love you, Celestia. All I want is what is rightfully mine, and I have had the most wonderful idea. I will rule the Crystal Kingdom, and you will rule Equestria. I will rule the heart and soul, and you will rule the body. It's perfect.” Nightmare Moon said tenderly, and then she gave a soft, sultry smile even as her eyes locked with chilling cold on Thesis. “Trust me. We clearly cannot defeat this interloper, after all. But he has given us a peaceful offer... let us send him on his way with the Heart. I will watch over this place, and whether he returns it or not, there is a greater source of energy available.”
“What? What are you talking about? Will you please consider sharing this with me? We could become allies, you and I...” Thesis said quickly, turning away and striding towards her, and Nightmare Moon looked thoughtful as the Clockwork Pony approached, asking quietly: “Can't you see reason? Unlike them, understand that I only want to be complete? You look like you must understand what it's like to... to be stripped of what you truly deserve... to have to struggle for what's rightfully yours...”
“I do. Let me show you.” Nightmare Moon smiled softly, and Princess Celestia trembled as Luna Brynhild cursed and the Twilight Sparkle of this layer whimpered in her throat, but the dark entity's eyes only gleamed with cunning as her horn began to glow. “Here. Look up.”
In the sky above, the moon slowly rolled through the darkness until it was above the tower, a great, staring ivory eye that lowered itself towards the tip of the spire. And then Nightmare Moon closed her eyes and arched her back, sighing loudly in relief as she murmured: “Oh, all these years without being able to do any magic at all, locked away in that little body, with a foal's mind... it feels so good to be free...”
Above, the moon began to glow as stars twinkle, more coming into being and forming a strange network around the moon, before Nightmare Moon's gaze lowered to lock on the Crystal Heart. Her horn glowed brighter as she poured magic into it, and the heart thrummed, pulsing brighter with power as the power rods around it all began to hum louder, before there was a surge of energy: not along the artifact, but along the tower itself, electricity running up and down the walls of the spire before a thin streak of white light shot up towards the moon above.
The ivory sphere gleamed, and then the stars all glowed in concert, a spiderweb of lines appearing between them and forming one immense, alien constellation for a moment before a tremendous blast of white light shot down from above, hammering through the spire. It trembled violently, and the shockwave that burst out from the Crystal Heart shattered the power rods around it and made the podium beneath it crack, knocking several ponies sprawling as Thesis looked eagerly towards the Crystal Heart, then shot a glance to Nightmare Moon.
The dark entity nodded with a calm smile, and Thesis stepped quickly forwards, reaching wonderingly up to touch it, taking the Crystal Heart between his hooves as it thrummed with energy... and then Nightmare Moon smiled and said gently: “Goodbye.”
Thesis frowned over his shoulder, started to open his mouth... and then the Crystal Heart flashed brightly, blinding all present. There was a clink... and when the ponies were next able to see, Thesis was simply gone, and the Crystal Heart was laying on the ground. For a few long moments, only silence filled the air around them, even as the barrier of energy that surrounded the Crystal Kingdom began to flicker in and out in the distance, and then Nightmare Moon laughed quietly before her horn glowed, lifting the Heart and slipping it back onto place in the podium.
The Heart pulsed once, and the feeling of energy filled the air again as Nightmare Moon rolled her head on her shoulders, then smiled almost tenderly over at Celestia, saying quietly: “Really, sister. Thinking that I would just hand over the keys to the kingdom to a thug. Especially when I've been introduced to such... generous friends.”
Nightmare Moon's eyes turned to Luna Brynhild, studying her for a few moments before she smiled softly as the sapphire mare and her husband both dragged themselves closer, looking up incredulously. No one seemed to know what to say, as they looked back and forth between themselves, before Princess Celestia slowly sat up and smiled faintly, whispering: “It seems that I have some explaining to do... but... Nightmare Moon, I... thank you for... saving us.”
“I have no desire to kill anyone, sister... you should know that by now. But I'm glad to see you trusting me a little more...” Nightmare Moon paused, then shook her head firmly, tossing off the black tiara that had been lodged in her starry mane before her eyes gazed down at Luna Brynhild knowingly, as the mare looked back up at her with disbelief. “You understand though, don't you? Of course you do, Brynhild... and I must thank you for taking such good care of me while I was... repressed. You were kinder and gentler than others have been...”
“Princess Luna...” the Twilight Sparkle of this layer asked disbelievingly, trembling as she came forwards, but Nightmare Moon only gazed at her softly as the violet mare sat down and looked up at her, swallowing thickly. “But... n-no...”
“I'll explain... everything in time.” Princess Celestia promised quietly, then she sighed softly and looked silently over the fallen and the wounded, closing her eyes tightly and murmuring: “But first we should clean up. And then we'll have to... figure out what our next step will be from here. That Clockwork Pony... I've never seen-”
“And you may never see him again. I took a page from your book, after all, sister... but I'm sure that he'll find his stay on the moon enjoyable.” Nightmare Moon replied calmly, and when Luna Brynhild grinned wryly, the black-coated winged unicorn smiled down at her thoughtfully. “Yes. You and I do understand each other well.”
“Aye.” Luna agreed after a moment, and then she shook her head slowly before softening as she looked back and forth, seeing the hurt, the maimed, the... worse. “But now is not the time for laughter. Let us tend to the others, and then... we shall see how well we understand one-another in full.”

By morning, most of the ponies had been tended to, and many of them were now asleep. But just before dawn, those who had yet to rest gathered in the throne room for a story: Princess Celestia, Freya, Brynhild, Scrivener, Cadence, and both Twilight Sparkles... and of course, Nightmare Moon.
The dark, enormous pony had found herself a blue, swirling cape, and seemed to almost be wearing it in imitation of Celestia: for Brynhild, this was all the reassurance she needed that things were going to be okay, and she thought she had already begun to put things together as Nightmare Moon smiled at her, the two sitting silently across from one-another before the Twilight Sparkle of this layer asked almost desperately from beside drained-looking Cadence: “But I thought... we... the Elements of Harmony...”
“The Elements of Harmony flushed my system, yes. I was healed... but...” Nightmare Moon reached up and touched her chest silently. “Luna was who I was when I was young. Much younger... Nightmare Moon is who I became, and who I am now. Look at us, like twins...”
Nightmare Moon laughed quietly, gazing tenderly over at Princess Celestia, bumping gently against her, and Celestia flushed and looked down almost as if ashamed, even as the dark winged unicorn continued: “But I do not blame you. The ring suppressed not only my magic, but hid my nature. My sister did not believe at first that I was sane... that I was not Nightmare Moon, seeking to take over by deceit and trickery. But I am Luna, and I am Nightmare Moon. There was only ever one of us... it was just that... I lost control of myself before. I won't again. You don't have to be afraid of me, no matter what I look like, Twilight Sparkle... I am still the same Luna. But I think... you have learned this, haven't you?”
Twilight Sparkle was silent, and then she quietly looked over at the version of herself from Looking Glass World... drew her eyes silently over the stitching across her bare chest, used to help hold shut awful-looking wounds... and then the purple unicorn closed her eyes, swallowed thickly, and simply nodded once.
Nightmare Moon smiled softly in visible relief, closing her eyes as well, and Princess Celestia said quietly: “Sister... sister, I'm sorry. I... I thought... I was so afraid. I thought that... and... I never just let myself trust...”
“It's not like you to be unable to find the right words, Celestia. But I think that maybe reassures me most of all.” Nightmare Moon said softly, smiling over at her sibling, and the Princess of the Sun laughed a little despite herself, shifting a bit. Then Nightmare Moon paused before looking towards Freya, who was smiling softly at her. “And you. What a strange Celestia you are. So quiet, not judging me, happy for me... but I imagine I must seem like a very soft Nightmare Moon compared to what I imagine Brynhild must have become.”
“Hold now, monster! I am far fiercer than Nightmare Moon, I shall have thee know.” Luna Brynhild retorted imperiously, holding her head high, and Nightmare Moon laughed and shook her head before smiling in warm relief, and Luna gazed back with something almost like affection in her eyes before she asked hesitantly: “So thou art... thou art truly alright? No megalomania, thy mind neither too childlike nor too cruel and ancient? There are no wicked voices, there is only... thou, in body Nightmare Moon, in mind Luna?”
For a few moments, Nightmare Moon looked down thoughtfully, and then she reached up a hoof and rubbed at her features in a meditative gesture, and Luna smiled knowingly before winking over at the Lich Twilight. “Now, sweet Twilight... or Morgan, rather... thou knows that look, does thou not? For I certainly do... 'twas when I discovered I was not merely Luna, but Brynhild. Now, if I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, Nightmare Luna is an awful name, as are any other wild combinations thou might try to make from them both. But even though thou art two of old mixed into one of new... 'tis the new that is important. Thou deserves a new name.”
Nightmare Moon looked up at this, thoughtful, as her mane swirled slowly over her features. Then she smiled over at her sister, studying the Princess of the Sun before asking softly: “What would you suggest, big sister? And Cadence, and Twilight... and all of you here. You are all important to me. I think you have all played a role in freeing me...”
“Oh, I am no good at names. 'Twas always Freya who came up with the names, from her silly Yamato to the Starlit Knights.” Luna said absently, and Nightmare Moon looked up with interest at this, brightening visibly.
“Starlit Night... yes. I like it, and if it pays honor to something from your world, then it's all the better.” the dark-coated equine said thoughtfully, and Luna grinned brightly as Scrivener and Twilight Morgan shared dry looks. Freya shrugged, and newly-christened Starlit Night smiled over at Princess Celestia, who was trying to force a supportive smile on her face. “What do you think?”
“If... if it makes you happy. I'm... I'm not going to try and force your hoof any longer, Luna... I mean, Starlit Night.” Celestia said finally, and the black-coated winged unicorn smiled warmly as the Princess of the Sun sighed a little, then softened and added quietly: “You've proven you know better than I do, after all. And you saved us, all of us, from... that monster.”
“Aye, 'twas... well done, I must admit. Although that is not to say I would not have mastered Thesis, given time.” Luna added hurriedly, and then she shifted a little and became more serious, glancing over at Freya even as the ponies of this layer smiled at her. “But on the matter of Thesis...”
“I'm not sure. First we have to heal, either way... we were lucky to have been able to drive Cheshire off. I owe my life to Discombobulation.” Celestia Freya said softly, reaching up and slowly rubbing at the bandages that covered her chest, and Twilight Morgan couldn't help but smile faintly: Celestia was covered in bruises and cuts and bandages and reeked of peppermint from the salve they had slathered her heavily with, and yet she was holding herself up as well as any of them.
Slowly, the Lich looked around, taking in the state of the others: she herself had all kinds of extra stitching, but she was healing remarkably fast in spite of still feeling a little sore, and a little... strange. It was probably because of the positive energies in the air... but Luna and Scrivener were both covered in wounds, and Scrivener's newly-shattered hoof was wrapped in heavy bandaging, and neither of them could heal as quickly as she did or pull in energy from the air. Cadence had been completely sapped from getting thrown into the barrier, and Princess Celestia had several large magic burns over her face and neck, and her body had been battered. And even the Twilight of this layer had her own share of bandaging, and one particularly-nasty wound on her leg had required some heavy suturing.
She knew the others were in varying states of health, too: the worst hurt was Rainbow Dash, with a broken skull. She was unconscious but not comatose, and until she woke up they couldn't be sure of the extent of the damage. The hope was that it was only the broken skull...
The Lich forced these thoughts away. It wasn't helpful right now, as she instead focused on Celestia Freya, as the mare continued in a quiet voice: “Running in to try and attack Thesis in his own territory won't do anything but put ourselves in danger right now. Even at full strength, I'm not sure that we could secure a victory... and furthermore, there's no guarantee we could even find where Thesis has been operating out of.”
“I also sent him to the moon.” Starlit Night said helpfully, and Luna Brynhild looked thoughtfully at this version of herself as Freya smiled a little despite her best efforts not to.
“Unfortunately, we don't know what Thesis himself is capable of, but we do know that he has very powerful allies. One of these is a death entity that's bound to serve him. It will be able to locate him and likely bring him out of exile with little difficulty. I wouldn't be surprised if Thesis has already returned to his base of operations...” Celestia Freya halted, looking down thoughtfully. “But that makes me question why he hasn't attacked again already, or used Kismet to steal souls.”
Luna frowned at this, then she said thoughtfully: “Well, Freya... remember Appleloosa? Kismet defended Thesis, but there too he did not do any of his... dirty work, so to speak. He even spoke out against what Thesis is doing...”
Freya nodded slowly, and Princess Celestia frowned a little, asking uncertainly: “But a death entity... this death entity in particular is the enemy, isn't he? He works for your opponent...” She stopped, then sighed a little at the look Starlit Night gave her, even as the unicorn Twilight looked up attentively and Cadence tilted her own head with interest. “Of course. Of course, I understand. It's just a strange concept... it's not that I don't believe in giving second chances...”
She shifted, as if expecting some barb or jibe, but Starlit Night only smiled at her gently, and the Princess of the Sun laughed a little as she murmured: “I'm sorry. I guess... I'm more self-conscious than you are right now, little sister, even if I know that doesn't even make any sense.”
“Oh well, if thou requires someone to make mockery of thee for thy choices, I am glad to fill in. 'Tis incredibly stupid that thou would give Discord a second chance but cling to the babyfication of thy sister so tightly, after all, unless thou has some freakish, terrifying fetish that would have been better left never to see the light of day.” Luna Brynhild said mildly, and Princess Celestia closed her eyes slowly as both Twilights stared, Scrivener dropped his face in his hooves, and Cadence – surprisingly – turned to try and hide her giggles.
The black-coated winged unicorn looked thoughtful at this as her starry mane swirled around her head, and then she looked across at Luna and asked curiously: “Did your sister ever do the same thing to you, Brynhild? You sound like you're speaking from experience.”
“Many times.” Brynhild nodded solemnly, even as her nose twitched a bit, and Freya sighed tiredly before the sapphire mare smiled slightly and glanced over at her older sibling. “But I will tell thee this, too: now that my sister and I have worked out our rough edges... we have never been closer than we are these days, even if at times we still... grind together uncomfortably.” She paused, then grinned slightly and winked. “But I have never been one to mind such grinding.”
Twilight Morgan sighed, Scrivener simply kept his head in his hooves, and Cadence tried harder not to giggle before Freya remarked calmly: “I only wish that when it came to bumping and grinding, little sister, you weren't always so desperate to end up on top.”
All eyes stared at her for a moment, and then Luna and Starlit Night both began to giggle, but it was Cadence who broke down into outright laughter first. But the other ponies shortly followed, until everyone was laughing... and much of it was with relief at the fact that everything had turned out okay after all.
When things finally calmed down, Freya looked back and forth for a few moments before saying finally: “We watch and we wait. I have a feeling that no matter what happens next, we're going to get a sign of it before it happens. Kismet, or perhaps another messenger... Thesis seems to play by a particular rulebook, even if his behavior is... strange.”
The others all nodded, Luna Brynhild looking down thoughtfully before Freya smiled a little, adding quietly: “But please excuse us. I need rest, and to be entirely honest, I'd like to spend some time with Discombobulation. In fact, if I may be so bold, I think we could all use some rest right now. It was a hard battle, and we've earned this reprieve, however long or short it may be.”
“They're right, sister. Let them go, and you sleep as well. I'll watch over the Crystal Kingdom for now, and summon you all if anything happens.” Starlit Night said softly, and the other ponies smiled after a moment at the black-coated winged-unicorn, who smiled honestly as she stood and her cape swirled around her slowly. “And all of you... thank you again. It was a long time I was trapped... but I'm free now, and happy to be free. And more importantly, it wasn't a terrible time... I have... quite a few good memories, surprisingly. I may have learned much more than I would have being free from the beginning.”
She laughed quietly, then looked back and forth as the other ponies all stood, before the Lich cursed under her breath and shifted embarrassedly when some of her stitching popped. The other Twilight looked surprised, and at first the Lich began to shift away self-consciously, before she was surprised as the unicorn asked worriedly: “Are you okay?”
Twilight Morgan hesitated, then smiled faintly and simply nodded, saying quietly: “I am, yeah. Don't worry, it's... it's nothing, really. I just need to do a few more repairs, I guess, and check my body over. I may have missed some damage.”
“Please, let me help.” Cadence said softly, and Brynhild and Scrivener both smiled at this as the Lich blushed a little, looking awkwardly over at Cadence. But Starlit Night nodded encouragingly, and after a moment, Twilight Morgan nodded hesitantly, and Cadence smiled a little. “Good. I'll share the energy with you that I can, then, and check you over from head-to-hoof.”
The Twilight of this layer nodded a few times with a blush, clearly wanting to help, and Luna laughed quietly as she stood, saying softly: “Good. I am truly happy to see this, my friends... our poor Morgan does not always get the warmest of receptions, and Helheim knows she's a better pony than I ever was. And far better than Scrivener, too.”
“That's something to be proud of.” Scrivener remarked mildly, and Luna gave him an amused look as the stallion awkwardly climbed to his own hooves, nodding a little. “Thank you,though. All of you. We couldn't have survived without your help.”
“Nor could have we. Let me walk you back to your room.” Starlit Night said softly, and then she gave her sibling a soft smile as Princess Celestia gazed over at her quietly. “And please do sleep, big sister. I know you must not have slept for years now. But you well deserve the rest.”
Celestia murmured a 'thank you,' and the ponies all stood and went their separate ways; as they half-followed Starlit Night, however, Luna couldn't help but notice that she seemed to want to take a longer route around to the rooms, even as she kept giving them almost-shy looks. She was the strangest amalgamation of her two sides that Luna had ever seen: on the one hoof, she was innocent, almost childish even now, and on the other, she clearly had all the cunning that Luna always associated with Nightmare Moon.
Luna smiled after a moment, however, and then she said abruptly: “Thou art a trickster. It fits thee well, Starlit Night. Now come, speak freely with me. I owe thee my life.”
“And I owe you mine.” Starlit Night replied softly, smiling and blushing a little. “Without you, I  feel that I'd be locked away still... and precious few ponies ever showed me such kindness while I was... repressed and regressed.”
Luna Brynhild only shrugged and smiled, as Scrivener laughed quietly and then winced a little, hobbling carefully along on three hooves, before Starlit Night asked softly: “Is there anything I can do for you? Any way I can help heal you... let me at least fetch new bandages for you and stay with you for a little while in your room.”
“'Twould be appreciated, Night. But unfortunately, there is little else thou can do apart from share with us thy cherished company, but believe me when I say that is more than enough. Thou art among the most pleasant Nightmare Moon I have ever met... mine own is... less kind, and more monstrous in shape and stature than thou art.” Luna replied after a moment, nodding to the larger mare.
“Well, as we discussed... I am not Nightmare Moon.” Starlit Night smiled after a moment, then hesitated before simply nodding in return and gesturing gently to the side. They turned down another hall, and Luna Brynhild was admittedly surprised when she realized only a few steps away from the door where they had arrived... but Starlit Night smiled again, saying quietly: “I think this might be more comfortable for you.”
They entered what had been Princess Luna's quarters: toys were scattered over the floor, a coloring book was open here, and some other texts that varied from foal's stories to light romance novels lay in an uneven pile. Starlit Night's horn glowed as she laughed quietly to herself, quickly tidying the room up as she murmured: “I forgot what a mess I left this place in. And it's funny... I feel once more like a strong, capable adult, but I still want to play with these old toys.”
“Oh, 'tis no shame in that. I color on paper almost every day.” Luna Brynhild remarked easily, winking over her shoulder at Starlit Night, who gave a smile in return before the sapphire mare turned and firmly bulled Scrivener towards the messy bed. The stallion staggered once on his bad hoof, letting out a loud groan of pain as he did so... but it wasn't the same raw, utter agony he remembered going through with his other hoof, even though it hurt stupendously.
He thought that this one was transforming faster... maybe because he'd gone through it already, or maybe because he'd forced the transformation, he didn't know. All he knew was that he was glad the pain wasn't as bad, but he would be much gladder when the pain was over, as he rubbed slowly at the gooey bandages before Starlit Night approached and said softly: “Let me take a look at it.”
“I...” Scrivener shifted uneasily, but the black-coated mare was already undoing the bandages, frowning a little as she removed them... and then winced slightly at the sight of the shattered hoof. It was broken into five distinct pieces that were slowly forming into uneven, rocky digits, caked with dark mire and black blood, and Starlit Night hesitated before she leaned slowly down as her horn glowed.
Scrivener's shattered hoof steamed, and he cursed quietly under his breath in pain as much of the excess mire was burned away, before Starlit Night murmured uneasily: “This is the same substance produced by that creature we all fought, that the beasts were made of... mire, you called it?”
“Or corruption or just... black goo. Yeah, I can produce it too. My body heals so fast because of it, and it gives me strength... it... it gives us both strength.” Scrivener glanced quietly over at Luna, and the mare smiled faintly even as she shifted almost as if ashamed, and both ponies looked down for a moment before the stallion said quietly: “We're not exactly good ponies.”
There was silence for a few moments, and then Starlit Night reached up and took his broken hoof gingerly, gazing down at the stallion as she said softly: “When I pleaded to my sister that I wasn't the pony I once was, in spite of how I had simply... woken up one night, and found myself in this body again... she did not believe me. She forgot, out of fear and perhaps a little prejudice, that what we appear to be outside is not who we are on the inside. I look to be Nightmare Moon, and I can be cunning, I can be ruthless, and I am very willing to go to any lengths necessary to protect my friends, my family, the Crystal Kingdom or Equestria or any place where ponies seek to settle and live their lives in peace and harmony.
“True harmony is balance, in all things. Not neutrality, not cold order, but some dark and some light. We are necessary... we tricksters, we darker ponies. We who safeguard the beautiful night.” Starlit Night leaned down, kissing Scrivener's claw tenderly, and the stallion blushed and smiled awkwardly up at her as Luna Brynhild nodded firmly, gazing warmly up at the mare. “Besides. I like you both. And I wonder how much of Thesis' powers you can mimic... and what you can do that he cannot.”
Scrivener frowned in thought at this, looking down as Luna Brynhild grinned in approval up at Starlit Night. The mare was wiser, stronger, and played her role better than Luna had guessed... and she thought that even after they left this layer, no matter what happened, as long as Starlit Night and Princess Celestia remembered to work together, everything was going to be fine.