Synthesis of the Atheist

by BlackRoseRaven


The Leviathan's Bones

Chapter Forty Three: The Leviathan's Bones
~BlackRoseRaven

Antares Mīrus strode out of the Canterlot Hospital after another two days of rest and observation: Meadowlark spent almost all that time sitting at his bedside, and he had regular visits from  his other friends and family, including Morning Glory. The Destroyer had seemed... incredibly disheartened to him, disappointed not in him but in herself, and it had hurt Antares a lot to see her that way... even if at the same time, he thought it proved she really did care about them.
The stallion rolled his shoulders slowly as he walked, breathing quietly before he reached up and touched his necklace as he paused to look around after so long stuck in a hospital bed: he'd made a small modification to the onyx star, and with Sleipnir and Pinkamena's help, added the lightning-bolt-shaped shard of silver sword to the necklace. The materials old and new seemed to resonate together, and helped all the more guide his way and give him a sense of... of purpose. Of having something that could help show him the way through the darkness when he needed a little bit of guiding light.
After a moment of gathering his thoughts, he looked over with a small smile at Sleipnir, who was waiting for him in the middle of the wide stone walk leading into the front of the hospital. The enormous earth pony was cheerfully chatting away to some of the patients, making them smile no matter what they were suffering from, and Antares shook his head slowly as he felt almost a tinge of envy. Now if any talent was truly special, that was: you just couldn't be sad for long around Sleipnir.
Antares checked the bandaging over his body one last time, absently rubbing at the thick material: he still had one large suture over his already-scarred chest, and he'd need to leave the packing over his back on for another day or so. There were now large, crescent-shaped scars there, and he didn't want to guess how many stitches were responsible for holding his body together. It did give him a whole new appreciation for what Twilight went through, though, and he shook his head as he strode towards his uncle, calling: “You're not scaring any of these ponies, right?”
“Oh shush now, Antares, be not so much like wicked Celestia! Always judging me and accusing me of prattling on, bah.” Sleipnir replied cheerfully, waving a hoof easily through the air before he smiled and winked down at a mare beside her who was without a mane or much hair over her body. “Now look at the smile upon this pretty filly's face! Is this the expression of a pony who has not been enjoying my stories? And I shall have thee know that if thou hast enjoyed my company now, thou may find letting me whisk thee off thy hooves for a night may be an even greater pleasure.”
The mare only blushed and smiled radiantly up at him, shifting a little before replying finally: “Well thank you, sir, but I am married...”
“And look at what we already have in common, so am I!” declared Sleipnir jovially, winking at her, and the mare laughed as Antares rolled his eyes but smiled in spite of himself. And it felt good to smile: he hadn't been doing a lot of that over the last two days, but now... now it was coming on a little more readily, and didn't feel nearly as forced as it had used to. “But I fear that I must beg the leave of thee. I must return to the Castle with my nephew, for there is work yet for us to attend to before we may return to that from whence we sprung forth. May Midgard nourish thee always and Asgard's blessings hail down upon thee, well-met friends!”
The ponies all called their own goodbyes as Sleipnir turned and strode calmly away, and Antares followed with a quiet laugh, shaking his head slowly as he paced easily after the enormous earth pony. Then the young stallion looked up curiously as Sleipnir sighed a little, and the glossy-black unicorn asked quietly: “What is it?”
“I am sure thou already knows, Antares. I am worried for thee.” Sleipnir replied gently, and Antares Mīrus laughed a little again and smiled despite himself up at the enormous earth pony, who gazed tenderly back down at him. “Thou hast lost thy wings, and my phoenix and I both fear for how thou must feel. I know that many fears prey on thee, after all... that thou art afraid not just of losing the skies, but thy agility on hoof.”
“I did... I did use them for a lot. I realize that now. And my balance has kind of gone funny and...” Antares shook his head a little, before the unicorn smiled faintly as he looked up. “But it's okay. They were extra anyway, right? Nothing I was born with. What we come into this world with is all that we own, and all that we leave with, right?”
“Aye, very good, Antares, thou art a thousand times wiser than I ever was.” Sleipnir smiled back at the young stallion, nodding firmly once before he added quietly: “But I am not so dense to miss thy clever sidestep either, young nephew. Thou may be practicing thy Celestianess but thou art not yet any Celestia, which I am most glad for, I must admit.”
Antares laughed a little again, and Sleipnir paused thoughtfully before he simply shrugged and smiled a little, looking a bit looser. “But... perhaps I am also picking at an itch that is already healing, and I should halt before I foolishly open a wound that is trying to close. I shan't pester thee, nephew. Just know that I am here for thee, and so is thy aunt and big sister. Although I must also admit that even in the old days, having thy aunt also as thy big sister would have been rather frowned upon... but then again, as 'tis my beautiful phoenix, I can all the same understand the impulse.”
The glossy-black unicorn smiled despite himself, and then he tilted his head curiously as Sleipnir turned down a side road. He followed, only questioning with his eyes, but Sleipnir simply winked over his shoulder at him and said easily: “Midgard told me to walk this way, Antares, that is all. Mother Nature knows best in all things.”
“We're not walking on nature, though, Sleipnir, we're kind of walking on concrete here.” Antares replied mildly, glancing awkwardly down at the street, and Sleipnir only shrugged amiably as they headed down the narrower road and between rows of houses all squashed uncomfortably together. “Okay, but... uh...”
“Oh fear not, Antares, all are anxious to see thee back at Canterlot, but thou must not worry so much about forfeiting thine own adventures for the pleasure of others.” Sleipnir replied easily, and he looked back and forth before turning and stepping onto a grassy, narrow path running between two fences. Antares winced at this, awkwardly following: the path was so narrow and Sleipnir was so broad that he was grinding against either wall of the fencing as he passed, although he barely seemed to notice even when he knocked boards out of place or cracked the wood, continuing jovially: “Sometimes, Antares, when Nature calls to thee, then thou must answer her. Oh, aye, sometimes she is only playing a silly game, and sometimes the call leads to nothing at all, but oft, Antares, she only calls when a moment of destiny is at hoof.”
Antares winced a bit as he strode along after the enormous stallion, before sighing in relief as they emerged into a grassy field, and Sleipnir nodded thoughtfully to himself as he halted a few feet away, gazing over this. Antares halted as well, then frowned a little: it was just an empty field, with... “What's that? Is that a shed?”
“Nay, 'tis not.” Sleipnir gave Antares an amused look, then he reached up and slapped him on the back... and winced when Antares gave a long, low moan of pain as he curled his hooves into the ground and slowly bowed his legs, the enormous earth pony hurriedly bringing his hoof up by his muzzle. “Oh, nephew! I apologize, damnation, but my need to express my ardor for thee... it manifested in a most terrible way!”
Antares only mumbled a little, shivering weakly before he shook his head slowly and managed after a moment. “It's... it's okay... I'm just going to die for a minute and then I'll get right back up...”
Sleipnir looked lamely down at his nephew as Antares wheezed in and out for breath... and then looked up in dumb surprise as a familiar voice said sourly: “Wonderful. Out of the hospital, and you look like you already have to be dragged back there. What are you even doing here?”
“What are you even doing here?” Antares repeated lamely in return, looking up at the glinting, metallic shape of Morning Glory, which he'd apparently mistook for a shed. And after a moment, he frowned and asked finally: “And how the hell do you move so quietly when you're made of metal?”
“I'm not a clumsy little colt trying to wear his father's armor without even bothering to do up the straps, that's how.” Morning Glory retorted, and Antares glowered at her as Sleipnir only shrugged amiably, and the Destroyer rolled her eyes moodily before she hesitated, then asked in a hesitant, awkward voice: “Are you alright, Antares Mīrus? I understand that the loss of your wings would be... painful. When I first fell to Helheim...”
She stopped, and Antares looked up curiously before the mare shook her head moodily. “It's of no consequence, and no comparison. You have not suffered nearly as much as I have, do not fear, little mortal unicorn.”
Antares sighed tiredly, and Sleipnir said kindly, winking over at the enormous mare: “Aye, perhaps he has not, but think of how he and countless others must suffer every day in jealousy of thy untamed spirit and strength beyond measure, shieldmaiden.”
“You know, most demons would find it offensive to be called by the title they earned as a mortal, instead of their proper name.” Morning Glory remarked, but she was trying to hide a smile as Sleipnir only gave her a grin, and she finally sighed and shook her head with a look of entertainment. “But I suppose I am not most demons.”
She paused, then turned her eyes to the unicorn as he finally straightened, adding thoughtfully: “And you are not most ponies, either... you have a mastery over purification, and use an... interesting interpretation of dark magic. I think, Antares... I would like to teach you some demonic magic. When my brother attempted to learn this kind of art as a mortal, he failed miserably at it, but... you are different, like I already said. I doubt you can ever learn our more powerful spells but... perhaps I can teach you other powers.”
“'Tis a funny thought, but I shall tell thee now thou speaks with great intuition.” Sleipnir said meditatively, rubbing thoughtfully at the underside of his muzzle. “Celestia, even with her clear tilt towards the schooling of light and the so-proclaimed holy forces, is capable of performing some dark, demonic arts. Not much, no... but Luna, she was always much more adept at such. Celestia always did her best to stop Luna from pursuing those arts, out of fear it would corrupt her... 'tis ironic how things work out, is it not? Now such so-called 'evil' is perhaps our greatest ally.”
“Good and evil are determined by conquerors, like history.” The Destroyer smiled calmly, then she looked down at Antares as he looked awkwardly up, not at all knowing what to say. “You are still my apprentice, Antares. The only reason I am not pushing you to train here and now is because I do recognize the necessity to grant you a little special privilege, as I owe your mother my loyalty.”
The glossy black unicorn made a face at this before he could stop himself, and Morning Glory leaned forwards with a slight grin as she caught this. “What, you don't like that, young 'prince?' Knowing that I'm stuck under your mother's hoof, or knowing that you're getting the dull edge of the sword instead of the sharp side?”
Antares grimaced, trying to bite back any reply before the enormous mare straightened and smiled calmly: he didn't say anything, but his body language still told her more than enough. “Very well, Antares Mīrus. Since you seem so insistent on being treated the same as I would treat any other apprentice... I shall honor you with the same.”
She began to lean forwards, then glowered when Sleipnir stepped forwards and suggested carefully: “Perhaps though, we should wait until we return back to our own layer. Not simply because there is much healing for Antares to do, but because... we still have business to complete upon this layer. And all of us must be in top form for this, must we not?”
Morning Glory nodded grudgingly after a moment, then she sighed quietly and lowered her head moodily. “Of course. I suppose my instincts merely took over for a moment... and if you must know, Antares, I envy you. You are strong, strong enough to let not even this hinder you... and you face the world with a bravery that I would not. And I regret my decision to stay behind: things would have been... different.”
“Aye, but perhaps in a bad way, Morning Glory. The Dullahan and Drones were no match for us, especially with my phoenix in such a rage, but I do not know how well we would have fared if the Clockwork Pony had turned thee against us, or even us upon one-another. We were fortunate, in a sense... and I am sorry to say that, Antares, for what was fortunate for us, became such grave misfortune for thee.” Sleipnir said gently, looking down at the stallion softly, and Antares only smiled faintly and shrugged a little.
“I'd prefer this over anything happening to you. Any of you.” Antares replied finally, and the enormous earth pony smiled at him kindly as Morning Glory shifted with a grunt, before he shook his head and asked finally: “So... should we go to the castle, then?”
“Nay, nature says we are here for a reason still, that a piece of destiny awaits thee here, Antares. And I do believe it has to do with thee, Morning Glory, but nature cannot tell me thy motives... only that thou art in some way... important.” Sleipnir paused thoughtfully, then smiled slightly over at the behemoth demon. “Nay, I phrased that badly. Thou art important for a specific reason... not just because of thy strength, boldness, and bravery. And beauty,  of course.”
“You're going to get in trouble with Pinkamena again.” Morning Glory remarked, and Sleipnir only chuckled at this, before the enormous mare turned her eyes to Antares. Antares looked back up at her, their eyes locking for a few moments before the Destroyer nodded calmly once and said quietly: “Antares, it's within your rights to disband me or punish me, do you understand this? I recognize you as a leader. You may be young and inexperienced, but you're a leader all the same. I am not a leader: like your mother, I am a champion, a warrior, but I prefer to be deep in the battle instead of ruling from the sidelines or behind. I can take authority and control, but I must always... be in the battle.”
Antares laughed a little, shaking his head a bit as he murmured: “And I hate being a leader, Morning Glory, I do. Besides, I mean... haven't I continually been in the middle of the fight myself? I'm... I'm more like Mom and Dad than a lot of ponies think. I don't want to be in the background, just giving orders... I want to be... doing something on the battlefield. I don't want to be a hero, but I still want to be there...”
“But you give orders and organize us more readily, among other things.” Morning Glory replied pointedly, and Antares shifted and nodded, knowing what she meant, and with his acuity, seeing how she could see him as both apprentice and almost... well, she did see him like a prince, uncomfortable as that made him.
He was quiet for a moment, then realized what she was really looking for, actually asking, and he frowned a little at her before shaking his head quickly and murmuring: “Hey, don't be ridiculous. I'm not going to lay a hoof on you, Morning Glory. You did the right thing by staying behind, and if you hadn't, I would have had you right in front of us the whole time. Psukhikos probably would have recognized the level of threat you were but also remembered what she did to you last time and... maybe none of us would be here right now.
“And my Mom isn't going to punish you or throw you away, either. You need to stop thinking like a Destroyer, because... you're not... just a Destroyer, you get that, right? You're Burning Desire's big sister, and a friend, and... well... my mentor.” Antares said finally, looking up at her with a small smile, and Morning Glory looked down at him with surprise before he reached up and touched her necklace gently. “You're a person. Not a weapon or a tool.”
The stallion smiled a little after a moment, looking up at her awkwardly as Morning Glory looked silently down at him, shifting uneasily as her golden fire mane swayed slowly backwards... then she grumbled and dropped her head forwards, and it washed down in a curtain that hid her features as she muttered: “I... I do not require your sympathy, Antares Mīrus, do not insult me. But very well... I am not stupid enough to turn down your... generosity... either.”
“So what... what was it like in Helheim? I know it's kind of a rude question to ask, and that a lot of demons just won't talk about it, but...” Antares shrugged after a moment as he looked up at her, and Morning Glory laughed quietly as she looked away with what seemed like bitter entertainment, making him wince a bit. “Sorry, I... uh...”
“No, it's not that. It's that you seem to be under impression that the worst part of Helheim is Helheim itself... and oh yes, the tortures are terrible, Antares. You can survive things being done to you in Hell that would kill you even in Heaven.” Morning Glory replied quietly, shaking her head slowly before she smiled faintly as she returned her eyes to him. “The worst part was not the physical torture. After a while, pain becomes a friend. The worst part is feeling like you belong in this pit of tortured souls and spirits, that you belong... that you are becoming nothing more than what you always were at your core. That all of us are just toys, and gears, and playthings, all part of someone else's games and endless machinery.”
Antares shivered a little at this thought, looking up awkwardly as Morning Glory looked almost solemnly back down at him, and then the mare shook her head slowly before she said softly: “But you don't have to worry, Antares Mīrus. I may have fallen to Helheim because of a demon's tampering and my little brother's idiocy, but it's not as if I wasn't on my way there already. From what I can see, though, for all you have in common with demons... you have little in common with Helheim.”
The unicorn smiled a little after a moment at this, and then Morning Glory simply shook her head and asked moodily: “So are we done sharing our feelings? Shall we leave then, before the little ponies waiting for us begin to get scared? I do not want to put up with whimpering about how they were worried about us, three of the only ponies on this entire world who can take care of themselves.”
The glossy-black stallion looked up with a wider smile, but then it turned into a grumble when Morning Glory corrected: “Well, two ponies who can take care of themselves and one who simply seems capable of surviving the trouble he constantly gets himself into.”
Antares dropped his head, but Sleipnir only smiled at the Destroyer, tilting his head towards her as responded positively: “Fear not, my friends. They may worry for us, but we have given them much reason to worry, have we not? Much of our time here has been spent tending to injury and misfortune, after all, and I fear that we may have given our good new friends the impression that we are not so good at taking care of ourselves as we once claimed.”
The younger stallion smiled wryly at this, while Morning Glory only grumbled to herself, then said grumpily: “And if they were forced to so much as face the evils that have invaded their layer without our help, they would be reduced to crying little foals, the cowards.”
“Now, shieldmaiden, thou knows as well as I do that a lack of warrior's instinct or knowledge of the dangerous game is neither cowardice or weakness of heart.” Sleipnir winked. “And besides, where would we warriors be were it not for the innocent and the unskilled and the gentle to protect?”
The Destroyer sighed tiredly, but nodded after a moment, looking across at Sleipnir almost resentfully as she  reached up to play absently with her necklace. “I suppose you may have a point, Sleipnir. Then come, let us not keep these... unskilled ponies waiting any longer. I dislike when they ask me how I am feeling. It is rude.”
“How is showing a little concern rude?” Antares asked with a glance to her, and Morning Glory favored him with an ill look before she brushed past.
“It's rude in the same way questioning your superiors is rude.” she retorted, flicking her mane of golden flames to the side as it flared up. “Let us not dally.”
Sleipnir smiled as he turned to follow, and Antares sighed as he came last, flexing a bit and rolling his shoulders as his back gave a twinge. But he ignored it for the most part as he shook his head slowly, striding after his uncle and lowering his head a little. After two days spent mostly in bed, it felt great to walk around... but the feeling of the breeze whispering over his body made him all the more aware of his lack of wings, and that made everything else in his life feel... secondary.
They made it back to Canterlot Castle with only a little delay: ponies all throughout the city marveled at the sight of Sleipnir and Morning Glory, treating them like saviors. It was strange, because Sleipnir only smiled as he always did, letting them know in his warm, charming way that they were just other ponies here to help, and Morning Glory looked uncomfortable at the treatment, and didn't seem to like the fact she couldn't just trample her way through the ponies that came up to them on occasion to thank them or just marvel at them.
At the castle, they were quickly escorted to a large dining hall, where Antares was welcomed warmly back and asked all kinds of questions and given all kinds of sympathies by all the ponies there. Rainbow Dash and Avalon both still looked particularly-heartbroken for him, but... Antares knew if any of the ponies here would understand a little of what he was feeling, it was them.
Twilight and all her friends were here, and so were the Princesses: Luna, Celestia, and Cadence. Shining Armor was sitting with Silvergrim, and the rest of the table was filled by the ponies from Looking Glass World... and Antares couldn't help but notice the way they were all sitting together, despite everything that was going on. The Princesses were at the head of the table, but then the rest occupied the seats in no particular order: ponies from different worlds sat side-by-side, sharing food and drink like old friends, acting like it was the most natural thing in the world. And seeing this... for some reason, it made him feel better than any sympathy or reassurance he got from the others.
When the early dinner ended, Antares excused himself, and no one stopped him. But Meadowlark was quick to follow after him, although they remained silent as they walked slowly through the halls of the castle, until they reached some mostly-forgotten upper gallery, decorated with dusty suits of armor and old portraits hanging on the walls, ponies neither of them recognized looking down at them with regal silence from many of these frames.
They eventually came to a set of double doors, held tightly shut by a chain and an old iron lock, but Antares only smiled a little before he leaned forwards, horn glowing quietly. The lock glowed and the tumblers inside clicked, before the old padlock popped open and the chains fell looser, the stallion flicking his horn to the side to remove them as Meadowlark asked softly: “Why is it that you get so much more mischievous when you're not feeling your best, Mir?”
“It's not mischief. I just want a quiet place to hide out for a little while, that's all.” Antares replied softly, and he smiled a little as he added: “It's... harder to be concerned with the consequences of my actions at times like now. I dunno, maybe that's just my Mom coming out or something, though.. you know how she is.”
Meadowlark only smiled a little and shook her head slowly as Antares pushed the door open, and they both gazed in at a long-abandoned study. It was dusty, and all the furnishings were covered in sheets like forgotten ghosts. There was an ornate, dust-filled fireplace with several old logs still sitting in the grate, and Antares smiled as they strode inside before he flicked his horn to the side... then both he and Meadowlark coughed at the explosion of dust kicked up from pulling a sheet off the object in front of them.
When it finally cleared and settled, they were able to see what Antares had unveiled was a large couch. He poked at it a few times, and the cushions were still soft, and it smelled faintly of... not just age, but cinnamon, he thought. He wondered when this place had been sealed off, and why, but then only shrugged a little as he closed the doors behind them with a flick of his horn, then made his way around to sit on the couch.
Meadowlark joined him and pressed up against his side, and they rested in quiet comfort together for a little while before the Pegasus asked softly: “So no one's really talked about it to me, but... you're going back to that fortress, aren't you?”
Antares nodded and smiled faintly over at her, and Meadowlark closed her eyes and sighed a little, closing her eyes and murmuring: “You're an idiot, Antares Mīrus. You're a proud, brave, wonderful idiot. I... I don't understand how you can even think of going back in there, though...”
“I have to. Not just because that's what we came here to do, find out what's going on in there, but...” Antares looked down silently, reaching up and rubbing his shoulder slowly, before he quietly touched the onyx star hanging around his neck. “Because I need to face down Psukhikos. I need to prove to myself that even against someone so strong, who's done such awful things to me... I... I can still face her down. And I can do it the right way... not like how I screwed up with Cancer, and almost cost us everything.”
“But you beat Cancer, too. You did face him down, finished things off... right. You even let go of... everything he did.” Meadowlark said quietly, and Antares laughed a little as he leaned against her, smiling faintly over at the mare.
“I don't know if I said that just to piss him off or because I honestly meant it, Meadow. I still think about everything he did, and I'm still scared of him.” Antares confessed after some thought, lowering his head before he shook it slowly. “I don't think I hate him anymore, because that's pointless and it's what he'd want. I'm not going to forget him, though... much as I'm trying to let go. But I'm gonna use everything I learned then to... remind myself, what I have to do now.”
He halted, then looked over at Meadowlark, hesitated for a moment, then said simply: “I love you.”
Meadowlark looked back at him, smiling faintly as she trembled a little before hugging him tightly, and he returned the embrace, closing his eyes and pulling her close against his body. She buried her face into his neck, breathing slowly in and out as they held tightly onto one-another, and then the Pegasus whispered: “I love you too. I always have. I always will.”
Antares smiled faintly, kissing her forehead quietly, and after a moment Meadowlark drew back and looked up into his eyes silently. Their gazes locked, and he quietly brushed back her mane before their lips met in a soft kiss, and then Antares leaned forwards and Meadowlark welcomed him, falling back with a soft gasp as he pressed down against her, their lips parting but bodies pushing closer, closer...
It was short, but sweet, and Antares breathed quietly as he held Meadowlark against his chest as she smiled quietly, listening to the thud of his heart, her wings shivering a little as she stroked silently along his breast. She kissed the side of his neck gently, and her gazed at her with a quiet smile, closing his eyes after a moment as he let out a long sigh of relief. The faint aches of his body mixed with the pleasure, and made the experience... strangely better, more real to him, as he cradled her against his form and felt... good. Relaxed. Maybe even happy.
They were quiet as they snuggled together in comfort, but there was no need for words. They were close, and happy, and everything felt right at that moment. They trusted and had shared in one-another, they could feel one another's warmth and love and affection, and even if the timing had been weird... Antares felt that it had been right, too. And he renewed his promise, both to himself, and to the crimson mare... “I'm going to be here with you, every step of the way, Meadow. No matter what happens... I'm here.”
And Meadowlark smiled radiantly up at him, trusting in him as she nodded once and murmured softly: “I know you will, Antares... I know it. And I'll be there for you, too. We're in this until the end together, side-by-side... always.”

Early the next morning – after a long night Meadowlark and Antares both spent being heckled and teased by Aphrodisia, Sleipnir, and Avalon – Antares suited up in his armor, before pausing and silently reaching back to touch the holes where his wings would... had... normally fit through. He looked at these for a few long moments, rubbing his hoof along the edges and seeing the white bandaging beneath, before glancing up in surprising as Morning Glory said quietly from the doorway: “You don't have to do this if you don't want to. I can lead the team.”
“No, no. I have to do this. I have to.” Antares said after a moment, and Meadowlark glanced up softly as well from where she was just finishing locking her Hornet Needle into place over her foreleg, the Pegasus giving her own small smile. “Besides, I... I got a feeling again.”
“Wonderful. You are not a fortune teller, or a seer, Antares, so I honestly wish you'd stop acting like one.” Morning Glory said irritably, and the stallion gave her a flat look before the behemoth Destroyer sighed and rolled her eyes, asking after a moment: “But what do you predict now, Antares Mīrus? What new wonders will await us?”
Antares sighed tiredly himself, and then he shook his head quickly before saying finally: “I think Psukhikos will have fled. No matter how strong she is, she's a coward... and since she hasn't reacted with 'fight,' I think she must have chosen 'flight.' After all, there haven't been any disappearances, not even from the military encampment... and the last time the soldiers investigated the fortress, they found the remains of several Thunderbirds that had shut down.”
“These Replicants irk me. They hide behind puppets... and for everything I've been told Thesis has claimed to be, all I see are petty tyrants and monsters. I doubt that Thesis is anything but a coward himself...” Morning Glory shifted moodily, then added quietly: “But all the same I look forwards to meeting these foes in combat. No matter what else, they have vast powers I wish to pit myself against. I feel that I'm going to enjoy the challenges the future has yet to present to me.”
The stallion smiled a little at this, shaking his head slowly before he murmured: “Well, I hope you do then, Morning Glory, because if this keeps up we're really going to need your help. I just...” He halted, glancing away before shaking his head slowly as he felt a faint hint of worry run through his mind, before looking at her and saying quietly: “Just try to remember you have more purpose than simply killing things, okay?”
“You talk like I have a problem with my purpose being 'simply killing things,' Antares.” Morning Glory replied calmly, and the stallion sighed as Meadowlark glanced up with amusement, before the Destroyer rolled her head on her shoulders as liquid metal bled out over her face, then became a solid, gleaming mask. “Now hurry up. I'm eager to get under way.”
“Alright, alright.” Antares grumbled, nodding and turning to pick up the equipment bag before cracking his back with a grimace, but his body had healed fast: his stitching was still in over the large, crescent-shaped scars, but only for safety's sake more than anything else. It itched, but he wasn't afraid it was going to tear: for some reason, he really did feel almost completely sure that when they went to investigate the ruins again, they wouldn't find Psukhikos there. In fact, he thought they might not see any enemies at all.
But they were going in prepared: Shining Armor and Little Luna were both coming with them, and this time Twilight Sparkle had agreed to stay behind, as long as she got to help them prepare beforehoof. And she had outdone herself, Antares was surprised to find: the violet mare had delved through the ancient archives, digging up every legend and old incantation she could with the help of Princess Celestia, and put together three helms with bands of runes around their crowns, designed to block out mental attacks and psychic signals.
Shining Armor and Little Luna would both be wearing one, and she gifted Antares with one of the strange, purple-steel full helms as well when they met in the large front hall of Canterlot Castle. The stallion had shrugged and switched out his coronet for it, and frowned in surprise at the faint static that entered his head before Morning Glory leaned down and studied it meticulously, murmuring: “How interesting.”
“It's... it's a combination of what we always considered myth and research done by Starswirl the Bearded.” Twilight explained with a faint smile, blushing a little, and Antares softened as he studied her: she felt ashamed of herself, blamed herself for what had happened in the ruins... but it wasn't her fault in the slightest. “It took a lot of time, but Princess Celestia helped me...”
“All I did was provide my knowledge of runes and... old magic. Things I am usually hesitant to share with others but in this case... was glad to make an exception for.” Celestia said softly, and she smiled a little as she looked over the group in front of her, flanked by Silvergrim and Cadence. “We're all wishing you the very best, my friends. If I can be of any help at all...”
Antares only laughed a little, glancing over his shoulder: Sleipnir and Pinkamena both stood at the ready, Aphrodisia had her head proudly raised, Avalon was hovering in the air and Meadowlark, as always, was close at his side. Morning Glory lingered at the other, still studying his helm with interest, but Antares tried to ignore the Destroyer looming over him as he said softly: “It's really appreciated... from all of you.”
He drew his eyes over Twilight, and her friends in the background, as they all smiled supportively at him, but none of them spoke. He didn't think any of them knew what to say, and he felt a moment of self-consciousness, but he swallowed it back as he turned his eyes to Princess Celestia, saying quietly: “We'll be back, don't worry. Thank you for looking after Tender Trust while we do this, I don't want to see her hurt.”
The half-Phooka herself smiled awkwardly from beside the Fluttershy of this layer, and the golden Pegasus was the one who spoke up, murmuring: “It's my pleasure... it's an honor, really. Just please... come back without... well...”
“I know. And I'm going to do my best to. I promise.” Antares smiled back, bowing his head silently before he turned around and said quietly: “Alright, everyone. Let's move out.”
The group nodded to him, and Antares led the procession out of the castle and through the streets of Canterlot, on the route he felt like he had walked too many times now, back towards the ruins of the fallen island. Ponies stared at them as they passed, some waved, some even cheered them on, but Antares was barely even aware of them even when he managed to smile back or nod in the direction of those who greeted them. All he could think about was the fallen fortress, what might await inside, and... Psukhikos, and what she had done to him.
His back ached, but not in a physical sense: it felt like his wings were trying to shiver, except... he didn't have wings anymore. There was a ghostly sensation there, and something like fear made a physical tickling through his system as he breathed slowly in and out, trying to reassure himself that everything was going to be okay. He tried to focus on that feeling, that Psukhikos was gone, that they were just going to investigate, and then allow Princess Celestia and General Silvergrim to take over completely and begin demolishing the floating island, but this wasn't a rational fear any more than it was physical pain.
They walked in silence for most of the journey, and Antares felt like the fortress was mocking him when they reached it, inviting him in, the structure curling towards him in contempt. He barely heard the guard when he explained that there had been no further signs of life, and that stable routes had been clearly marked, the unicorn only nodding his way through the conversation.
He was anxious to go inside, and at the same time, terrified of it: he wanted to bulldoze through his fear, and also give in to it. It made his legs quake, and his no-longer-there wings flap and try to furl and tense up. He felt malice coming from the floating island, but he also felt hollowness, and he wasn't sure which one he was imagining: either this was still a place with evil lurking inside, or it was nothing but an abandoned shell.
It was Little Luna, surprisingly, who flew in front of Antares and dropped down to look into his eyes, and the stallion gazed back at her dumbly before she said quietly: “Listen to me, Antares Mīrus. None of us will blame you for staying here, and waiting for us. But since I know you will not... let me take the lead. If there's an ambush or attack on us, it will give you more time to think.”
“Princess Luna, wait a minute, you're-” Shining Armor began, but then he winced when the mare glared past Antares at him. “I... Little Luna, look, I promised to keep you safe. This is the opposite of keeping you safe. Let me take the lead instead.”
“No. You don't understand what it's like to... to have to prove yourself, Shining Armor. Not in the way we have.” Little Luna turned a small smile back to Antares, and Shining Armor grimaced a little and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
“Actually, I... ever since the changeling invasion, I've been trying to make up for that. I think I know well enough what it's like to have weight on your shoulders.” Shining Armor said quietly, and Little Luna laughed quietly as the stallion frowned. “What?”
“No, Shining Armor, you do not. Because no matter what your failings, you also have always been given a chance to atone for them. Your shield spell, with Cadence's empowerment, blasted Chrysalis and all her changelings into exile for a time, didn't it?” Little Luna asked quietly, looking over at him calmly, and the Captain of the Guard shifted awkwardly. “I never conquered Nightmare Moon myself. I still am too weak to do it on my own. But I can learn to be strong here, and if you truly want to protect me, Captain Armor... then you will let me take the lead.”
“When you say that, I guess I have to, too.” Antares murmured softly, looking up with a small smile, and Little Luna gazed down at him with silent gratitude as Shining Armor sighed and slumped a little, before Antares added quietly: “Morning Glory, you and I will flank Little Luna. But she's the head of the pack. Sleipnir, Pinkamena, stay back with Meadowlark, Shining Armor, I'm assigning you to magic artillery in the middle and Apps, you bring up the rear. Ava, I probably don't have to remind you where you belong.”
Avalon grinned, taking to the air and crossing her forelegs, and Little Luna smiled silently over at the glossy-black unicorn, nodding to him slowly. He nodded back, and the two studied each other for a moment before the sapphire mare cleared her throat and faced ahead, saying quietly: “Let us both strive to conquer ourselves, Antares Mīrus. But let us do so with one-another's help.”
Antares nodded slowly at this, and when Little Luna started forwards, the rest of the group fell in pace behind her. She still listened to Antares gladly, following his instructions and letting him retain control of the group... but she walked at the head in spite of her fear, teaching herself a different kind of courage than had propelled her through the earlier battles with this floating fortress. She was teaching herself that she could do anything she put her mind to, that she could trust in those around her to step up to her side if she needed it, but she had the strength to be the first in line to face the evil that lurked in both daylight and darkness.
They explored downwards first: Antares felt a little... eager, for lack of a better word, to check out whatever was waiting for them down below. He was surprised to find that the shutter that Sleipnir had previously lifted had been pried open and locked in place by two steel support bars on either side of the plated gate, and the enormous earth pony remarked at this: “How curious. I admire the bravery and fortitude of the soldiers to have come this far, as I plainly remember dropping that shutter after we managed to stage a retreat.”
Antares didn't remember anything past collapsing after his encounter with Psukhikos, and the others hadn't told him much about it. All he was glad was that everypony had made it out alive. But his memory of every other detail was sharp as ever, and he was already frowning as they made their way out onto the metal walkway, even as Avalon muttered: “Wait a minute... wasn't the machinery running before?”
But it no longer was, and nor were any sounds coming from the freight room. The corpses lay where they had been left, as well, and Morning Glory looked with disgust at the putrefying bodies of the Necrotrophs, which were both swarming with all variety of nasty-looking insects. They passed without any problems, at least... although Antares shivered when they made their way into the room where he had fought Psukhikos, and he saw the stains left behind from his destroyed wings.
He looked at these for the longest time, and the others gave him a moment of pause, as he rubbed a hoof slowly over his breastplate. He thought about how his mother had always told him to be careful with his wings: thanks to the fact they had been created by magic and fused permanently to his body, they didn't heal the best and magic had to be used to heal any larger rips or tears that formed in the flesh. But now they were simply gone forever, and he didn't even know whether the doctors had done him a favor by removing the aching stumps, or if they had just ensured he would never have wings again...
He shook himself out of his stupor, then cleared his throat and gestured at an open archway, murmuring: “She... she fled through there. Let's take a look down that way, just... be careful.”
A shiver ran through the stallion, and he reflexively tried to furl his wings... before cursing under his breath as he only felt his back flex and pain run through his system. He had just been thinking about it, how he didn't even have wings anymore, and yet... there he had just gone and tried to... goddammit. Goddammit...
He shook his head quickly, then looked up and forced a smile to Little Luna when she looked at him uncertainly. He nodded after a moment, and she nodded hesitantly back before turning ahead and murmuring: “Alright. Then let us... keep our eyes open.”
The passage curved around and led into a large, warehouse-like area, but one section of this had collapsed and there were broken crates and other debris laying throughout the wide cement room. One passageway was completely blocked by this and fallen chunks of ceiling, but there was another open corridor marked by smears of blood, and a broken piece of silver sword that gleamed silently on the ground like a beacon.
Antares shivered a bit at the sight of this, and Little Luna halted to study the broken blade, before her eyes followed the trail of blood leading from it: the trail thickened visibly down the corridor, and the sapphire mare murmured: “Perhaps luck will favor us, and this Clockwork Pony was mortally injured after all...”
“No. No, I would have noticed that. But I might have hit her in the lung, at least... believe me, that takes the fight out of almost anyone.” Antares muttered, and Little Luna smiled faintly before they continued onwards.
There were doors on either side of the corridor, but for now they followed the blood trail, which led them to one in particular: it opened on a large, rectangular room with looming, broken towers of machinery supported on large, square bases, standing like sentinels in front of a raised platform and a shattered portal ring. The blood trail led straight to the ring, and Antares cursed before Morning Glory strode eagerly forwards, her eyes gleaming as she whispered: “Look at this...”
“It's been destroyed, though, like everything in that place outside Appleloosa...” Antares began slowly, but then he frowned as the Destroyer only laughed as she approached the portal platform, gazing back and forth over it eagerly. “What is it?”
“No, you're wrong. This overloaded and eroded, but it wasn't destroyed on purpose. It melted from being left active for a long period of time... if we were even a few hours earlier, we might have been able to follow her right to wherever she fled to lick her wounds.” Morning Glory's eyes almost glowed as she studied the portal eagerly, and now Pinkamena strode forwards as well, a slow grin spreading over her own features as she understood- “We can salvage this. Take it apart and make our own... take what the little forged god was too scared to share with us.”
“Aye, but art thou willing to pay the price to turn such a thing on, Morning Glory?” asked Sleipnir quietly, gesturing towards one of the six pillars of machinery, and Antares frowned as he looked towards it. Enormous tubes and pistons covered it as well as grim-looking runes, and the stallion opened his mouth... before shivering when Sleipnir tore one of the tubes free, and sludgy mire burst out along with a reddish, coagulated substance that could only be... oh Horses of Heaven... “Do not forget what these Clockwork abominations use to power their soulless machinations... the living, and the dead alike.”
“And in Helheim, demon prisoners were often enslaved to be used as batteries themselves. We should do the same.” Morning Glory said coldly over her shoulder, but when Antares winced and many of the others only looked up at the demon with disbelief or horror, she snorted in disgust. “Oh, and what is this? Are none of you willing to go to whatever lengths it takes to stop these monsters? Give up a few worthless lives, a few lives that have already used up all their chances at redemption and atonement, in order to hunt these Replicants down. I get my war, and you get to stop them from harming or killing the innocent. What's wrong with sacrificing the guilty to save the innocent?”
“Then if that must be done, I would offer myself, for much blood stains mine own hooves and I have already lived not once, but twice.” Sleipnir replied with a smile, and Morning Glory looked stunned by this honest, gentle response before the enormous stallion chuckled quietly at the glare he got from Pinkamena, and the worried look that came from Aphrodisia. “But nay. Let us not do what is not necessary at all. I agree though, this should be salvaged, but... if it is to be rebuilt, let it be built lesser, as something that can be powered without the need of wasting lives. For not even the lowest life is without merit or worth.”
Morning Glory muttered something about 'romantic notions,' but bowed her head in respect and deference all the same. Then Little Luna hesitated before turning her eyes to Antares, asking quietly: “Do we send message to have this retrieved now? Or do we continue to explore...”
“We know that Psukhikos is gone. We can relax a little... but only a little. There might still be Dullahan or other Clockwork creatures here, we need to be careful not to get into any fights with them.” Antares said quietly, and the others nodded before the stallion hesitated, then turned his eyes to Aphrodisia. “Go out, quick, and tell the guards that we're securing the area bit-by-bit. Lead them to this location... we'll catch up with you when we can.”
Aphrodisia nodded quickly, then leapt forwards and hugged Antares firmly for a moment, making him blush a little as he felt Shining Armor's gaze settle meditatively on him and saw Morning Glory roll her eyes. But then Aphrodisia burst backwards into black smoke that whirled quickly out of the room, and the Destroyer said moodily: “I suppose it could be worse. I much prefer dependability over professionalism... but I do also come from Hell. From what little I know of Heaven, they'd much prefer to look polished than function properly.”
Sleipnir only smiled amusedly at this, however, shaking his head and rubbing his front hooves easily together. “Now come, be fair, sweet shieldmaiden. If Valhalla was so concerned with how it looks, the great feast halls where the mighty food wars take place would not exist, and be so happily populated. Although I must sadly admit that never once has Kvasir participated in these most glorious events, no matter how I poke and plead with him to at least give it a try.”
Morning Glory sighed tiredly and rolled her eyes at this; Little Luna, meanwhile, turned her attention to Antares as she asked quietly: “So where do you suggest heading next, Antares? And how do we secure this area?”
“By checking every nook and cranny for any signs of the enemy. First, I want us all to break off into pairs, and we'll check all the rooms in this corridor. Then we're going to go back into that warehouse, do a more thorough search of it together, and see if that blocked corridor is accessible at all. If anyone sees anything at all, call out.” Antares said quietly, looking back and forth, before he smiled a little over at Meadowlark. “You're with me. Morning Glory, go with Little Luna. Sleipnir, you and... Shining Armor. Avalon, have fun with Pinkamena.”
The others all nodded, although Shining Armor only looked awkwardly up at the enormous earth pony as he strode over and slapped the Captain of the Guard cheerfully on the back, making him wince. “We have not had much time to talk have we, my friend? And yet thou holds a most prestigious position and has a most beautiful wife, does thou not, loyal sir of Canterlot?”
Shining Armor only smiled lamely, and Antares shook his head in entertainment before he turned to head towards the doorway, the others following and then breaking up into their assigned pairs. But before anyone could even begin to search the rooms they chose, Avalon called out awkwardly from the end of the corridor: “Uh, guys? I think this counts as 'something.'”
Avalon and Pinkamena had pried open a set of armored double doors to find the floor covered in wax and webbing. Bugs were still crawling here and there over walls covered in muck and smile, and the others stared in disbelief before Antares awkwardly patted Ava on the back and said lamely: “Good choice. Have fun.”
“Oh I hate you so goddamn much. Fine, I'll scout ahead, but if anything happens to me I'm blaming you.” Avalon muttered, and Pinkamena rolled her eyes before the demon followed the tiny Pegasus as she flitted nervously into the fleshy-looking hall, shivering once. “Reeks... and... even the ceiling is covered and... there's bugs everywhere...”
“But lots of them are dead.” Pinkamena muttered, before looking over her shoulder and saying distastefully: “Stop your goddamn gawking. Go do your own damn jobs, me and the midget have got this. I'll call if someone needs to change her diaper.”
“I'm going to leave you to get eaten if we come across a giant bug.” Avalon muttered moodily, and Antares sighed and shook his head before he turned around and gestured to the others, and they once more went their separate ways, even as the glossy-black unicorn looked hesitantly over his shoulder towards the fleshy, bug-infested passage behind him.
After about ten minutes, they were gathered back in the corridor together, Avalon shivering a little and wiping goo off her body as Pinkamena reported moodily: “Found two more of those Necrotroph things. Both dead and rotting, though... and there were a few dead ponies, too. Don't think the bugs did it, though... even if the bugs had been chewing on 'em for a while.”
“Gross, guys, it was just gross.” Avalon muttered, wiping at herself a few times. “Stupid goddamn... hives in there, too... goo all over... bugs everywhere, hate damn stupid bugs and I smell like piss. Cat piss.”
“Ammonia.” Meadowlark said quietly, and when Avalon glared at her, the Pegasus shook her head. “They might be producing it as waste or poison or... fertilizer, maybe.”
Avalon's glare turned slowly into a wince as she shrank her head back a bit, and Antares grimaced himself before Pinkamena continued, unperturbed: “Looks like there was a whole network of passages back there, though, and I don't wanna guess how big that hive is. Gross as hell, but it looks to me like a lot of the bigger bugs have died out. Also looked like there was some broken machinery, and more corruption.”
The others nodded, and then Morning Glory said moodily: “I didn't find anything with the Princess. Just bunkrooms.”
“Storeroom. Polishes, some simple equipment, cleaning supplies. Nothing of real interest, though.” Shining Armor added, as Sleipnir nodded in confirmation and absently patted the satchel at his side, and Antares smiled at the gesture: it immediately told him that the earth pony had helped himself to some of what they'd found.
“Meadowlark and I found a bedroom. Didn't look like Psukhikos was staying there, though, didn't find anything with a quick search, but...” Antares hesitated, looking down before he shook his head slowly. “Don't ask me why, but I think Thesis was staying there. I mean, he obviously wasn't there... probably hadn't been there for a while, but... I felt like it was his, all the same.”
“Great story, kid. Next time give it more of a point.” Pinkamena said dryly, and when the unicorn gave her a flat look, she only shrugged before asking mildly: “So are we moving on now, or what? I want to kill something.”
Antares sighed at this, shaking his head slowly. “Let's... head back into the warehouse and search it like I said, then. The soldiers should begin arriving by the time we're done.”
The others nodded, and the rest of their time in the ruins was surprisingly uneventful... almost monotonous, in fact. It now felt like nothing more than a dead shell that they were combing for answers they knew they were unlikely to find, but Antares was admittedly glad for it. With the sense of malice gone, he had little problem getting his thoughts in better order, and efficiently directing both his own team and the soldiers and engineers that arrived to help lock down the ruins and salvage what little there was to find.
Apart from the portal, and the strange, abandoned machinery, the only other thing they found of interest was several hours later, after they had broken into two smaller teams to explore a little faster. Antares, Meadowlark, Little Luna and Morning Glory discovered it on one of the upper levels they ventured carefully into, just beneath the surface of the island and where the ceiling above was covered in cracks, sections of it caved completely in here and there, leaving a dangerous maze for them to wade through.
Morning Glory and Little Luna helped make the going a little easier with their magic, but it was still difficult: pushing up and stabilizing one section of hallway sometimes caused a shift that destabilized another. But Antares had felt that the travel would be worth it, and he was proven right when they reached a small vault at the end of the corridor.
Morning Glory made short work of the door, melting the edges of it before simply ripping it off its hinges, making Antares stare and wonder stupidly if she was even stronger than Sleipnir. Antares had headed into the narrow, small vault alone, to take a quick look around... and emerged with a broken sphere of damaged crystal, very similar to the Eye of Psukhikos that they had destroyed. Unnatural power still pulsed inside it, and Morning Glory had studied this with interest, but had only said: “You've succeeded Antares. Better than I think you understand.”
They spent another hour or so searching the ruins, but there was nothing else: so finally, they had turned everything over to Silvergrim, who had come out once a messenger had reported that all enemies had apparently fled. Antares thought that was either true or very close: they hadn't encountered a single Dullahan, after all, and the most they'd seen of any other Clockwork creatures were corpses or decomposing stains on the floors.
Yet in spite of everything, Antares felt... almost disappointed as they returned to Canterlot. He and Little Luna walked side-by-side, the others following a short distance behind, as the winged unicorn asked quietly: “So I suppose you'll be returning to your home layer soon, won't you?”
“We've... we got what we came for, yeah. And we helped stop Psukhikos... so we just have to send up a signal from a safe place, and Kvasir will have a portal opened for us. We might have to sit around for a few hours, but...” Antares smiled and shook his head, murmuring: “Yeah, we did what we came here to do.”
Little Luna studied him silently, then she smiled faintly and asked quietly: “I cannot come with you, can I? I'd... I'd dearly love to see your world. I want to see Luna Brynhild again... I want to meet your world's Celestia, and Twilight Sparkle...”
“And they'd all love to see you, but... you're the Princess of the Night here, among other things.”  Antares smiled a little, even as Little Luna sighed and nodded, looking moodily down. “And I think you're ready to face her. You don't need any more help.”
Little Luna looked up sharply, and Antares shrugged a bit as he blushed a little as he gazed ahead. “Sorry. But my whole... eyes-thing. I see into people and... well, I'm not the only one who's seen this. It's not just that my Mom left such a big effect on you, although that started it... you want to conquer Nightmare Moon. And I think even Princess Celestia sees it, because I can't think of any other reason why she'd let you risk yourself so much... but... I think you can now, Little Luna. I think you've always been strong enough to, as a matter of fact...”
He looked down, nodding slowly once before he glanced towards her again, saying softly: “But stop thinking of it like a fight, because it's not. It's not about strength or weakness... overcoming her by nothing but raw force isn't going to defeat her. It's just going to make her come back, bigger and meaner. And you can't forget that she is you, and... I've never... I've never become some evil alter form of myself, but I have been forced to... to see myself at my worst. And I know I could become that again, I could... hurt people, and make stupid mistakes.”
Little Luna leaned forwards, gesturing for him to go on, and Antares blushed a little before he smiled faintly and said quietly: “I grew up learning discipline, and honor. What I forgot to learn was... accepting myself. If I push too hard to be this hero, this... this savior, I'll just snap and end up going in the other direction. But if I accept myself, accept that I have flaws... it becomes easier to handle those moments where I just wanna break and hurt someone. I can swallow the pain, because I can remember that... it's okay I feel like this sometimes. Much as it hurts... it's okay to fail.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, then shook his head and said softly: “Nightmare Moon is a part of you. Her strength comes from you trying to reject that, and make her into someone else. Accept her, Little Luna. It's okay to have a little darkness in you.”
The sapphire mare looked at him quietly, and then Antares smiled and gestured over his shoulder, adding quietly: “Besides, you got something that Nightmare Moon doesn't, too. All us as your friends, your big sister, everyone who looks up to you. You're not alone.”
There was silence for a few moments, and then Little Luna leaned over and kissed his cheek, and Antares smiled and shifted away as the sapphire mare murmured an embarrassed: “Thank you.”
And in that one moment, Antares felt more accomplished than he had over the entire time he'd spent in this layer, as he smiled over at Little Luna and nodded to her in both welcome and gratitude. They had destroyed a floating island, defeated a Replicant, and saved countless lives... but he knew all too well that sometimes it was in helping a single soul that made all the difference in the universe.