Chapter Eight: What Dreams May Come
~BlackRoseRaven
Luna hummed pleasantly to herself as she poured coffee for everyone around the campfire: even though River Styx hadn't agreed and Marina had tried to politely decline, Luna had insisted on giving everyone a full cup from the tall black kettle she had likely stolen from some of the soldiers in the camp.
Twilight Sparkle and Scrivener were sitting back-to-back, both of them sipping at their coffee as Twilight absently read from a book in her lap and Scrivener went over a map in his hooves. They looked comfortable together, like they had spent hundred of nights together like this, while Luna – for once – didn't seem like she was trying to be the center of attention, instead sitting back and keeping herself busy polishing her sword, as her mug of coffee floated beside her.
River Styx shook his head slowly, then he picked up one of the apples Luna had returned with as well: he drew one of his knives with telekinesis and cut a small slice off the apple to pass to his genet, who took it with a grateful chirp and immediately buried his face into it.
Styx glanced moodily over the knife, then he asked, without bothering to look up: “When we get out of here, will we leave with our actual belongings? Or do you think those are gone forever?”
“I don't even know if these... 'props,' for a lack of a better word, are really real or not.” Twilight said after a moment as she looked up from her book, absently grasping her cloak and pulling it out. “I mean, we are supposed to just be actors in a play, and these are our costumes... and of course, there's the whole metaphysical question of whether or not we're really here, or if this is some kind of shared dream or-”
Luna grumbled and poked at Twilight and Scrivener with her sword, making them both wince quickly away from her as she complained: “'Tis neither the time nor the place for such nonsense. Instead, we must focus simply on pressing forth through this fantasy or play or whatever it is.”
“I feel like it should be relatively straightforward from here.” Scrivener said softly, before he gave a wry smile when both Twilight and Luna gave him looks. “I know. But I think we were already jinxed from the start. Besides, I have the feeling that before this play ends... it's going to get very complicated, very fast.”
The others were quiet for a few moments, and then Marina asked: “How do we prepare for that, though? I mean... the point of chaos is that it's unpredictable, so...”
“So we can't, really.” Scrivener shrugged a bit as Twilight smiled a little, and Luna grunted in agreement as she went back to polishing her sword. “It is difficult, yeah. And it is stressful, but... we got through this play when it was just a random collection of scenes, right? I'm sure that now we can get through to the end and... hopefully get the answers I know we all want.”
“I just want to get out of here before someone reports me as AWOL.” Styx said with a shake of his head, and then he sighed a little before glancing over himself as he sheathed his knife. “Although I know that it's possible we might all still be in our beds, too... or...”
“I doubt we're dead. We know a lot about being dead.” Scrivener said mildly as he gestured around at Twilight and Luna, and Twilight gave him a mild look as Luna only nodded agreeably. “Let's just try to keep our focus on the here and now. This play has suddenly become a lot more...”
“Serious.” Twilight said softly, closing the book and looking up with a small smile, and Scrivener nodded as Marina and River Styx both looked at the violet unicorn curiously. “These books are full of coherent information, these aren't the same actors wearing different hats against some absurd backdrop, we're not leaping blindly from sequence-to-sequence... all of this is clearly adding up to something much more. It's not like it was before.”
“And the Draconequus...” Marina hesitated for a moment as she chewed on her lip nervously, before she asked uncomfortably: “Do you think they really have anything to do with this?”
The trio shared looks as River Styx frowned a little at the chocolate mare, but before Marina could even figure out a way to better express her thoughts, their conversation was interrupted by the approach of several soldiers. Luna scowled a little as she looked up, narrowing her eyes moodily as she continued to slowly clean her sword.
The soldiers stood for a moment at the edge of their little safe haven, studying them coldly. They were all officers, Luna noted, from the modified pauldrons they wore, and one of them had a mark of valor engraved on one side of his breastplate: Luna wasn't sure if that spoke more of his heroism or his ego, but she would do her best to reserve judgment for now.
Finally, the marked officer said, as his eyes looked over them suspiciously: “Lord Ignominious has requested your presence, Champion Brynhild. He has asked that your unit join his personal guard. Princess Novella, a carriage has been prepared for you.”
Scrivener Blooms scowled despite himself, shifting a little and awkwardly brushing down his dress before he said finally: “I think I would prefer to just walk with these... brave adventurers, thank you.”
“Either way, Lord Ignominious requires your presence.” replied the stallion, preemptively steamrolling any further excuses or refusal as he looked over the ponies moodily, before he gestured to them irritably. “We don't have the luxury of time.”
“Then 'tis too bad we are not on thy schedule, now isn't it?” Luna replied equably, glaring up at the stallion, and the two looked at each other darkly for a few moments before the sapphire mare snorted and pointedly lifted her mug of coffee with telekinesis. “When I am done my coffee, then I shall join thee and thine. I would recommend thou returns to thy master in the meantime. I assume he shan't be too difficult to find.”
The officer scowled at them for a few more moments, and then he shrugged moodily before turning around and leaving, his soldiers falling in tow behind him. Luna took a sip of her coffee, smacking her lips thoughtfully before Marina asked nervously: “Shouldn't we be playing along?”
“Oh, I am playing along, fear not. 'Tis not the play I aim to disrupt, but Ignominious, that is all.” Luna replied crankily, shaking her head. “I would never deign to be commanded by him, and he must be kept aware that, friend or foe, I will not simply sit back and allow him to order me around. That is important for all of us to ensure he recognizes.”
River Styx grunted, and Marina nodded hesitantly after a moment. Luna returned to calmly polishing her sword, clearly refusing to be rushed even as Twilight and Scrivener picked themselves up to start packing up their equipment.
No soldiers returned to hurry them along, which Luna wasn't sure was a good sign or a bad one. It did tell her that either way, this Ignominious was more patient than the one she had known... although 'tis not saying much. “Do we prepare for the ambush, or hope that it lays further on?”
“I'm not saying we should trust Iggy, since I trust him a lot less further than you could punch him. But let's give him the benefit of the doubt for now, and if he betrays us, you can punch him into the sun.” Scrivener said mildly, and Luna nodded thoughtfully.
“Aye, and if only my dear sister sun were actually here with us. For then I could also punch the sun into him.” Luna answered, and Scrivener rolled his eyes as Twilight smiled a little despite herself. “But I suppose we shall see, then. Marina, Styx, I will ask the two of thee to stay close, but I trust that as both of thee have handled thyselves well so far, thou shall continue to show strength in the face of whatever adversity we may yet see.”
Marina smiled a little as Styx glanced up to ask dryly: “Was that actually a compliment?”
“Oh, River of Sticks, thou art so adorable. But keep thy adorableness to a minimum for now, we must be serious here... uh... what did I name thee again?”
“Loki.” Marina supplied after a moment, and then she blushed and smiled lamely when Styx shot her a sour look.
“Right! Loki, and Hild, and Morgan, and Novella. And I, of course, am Brynhild.” Luna declared, and Scrivener and Twilight traded looks before the sapphire mare finally tossed the rag into the cooling fire, then sheathed her sword as she stood up. “Alright. To seriousness, friends. When 'tis hard to play pretend like this, I remember that how much I make believe will have very real consequences.”
The others nodded slowly, before Luna cocked her head as Marina asked hesitantly: “So, you've... done this sort of thing before? As an actress, or...”
“Well, I suppose all politics are theater, but as anypony could tell thee, I was never very good on such a stage.” Luna smiled and shook her head as the group naturally fell in behind her. “Nay, when I traveled across Equestria with my sister and brother, we each excelled in a different field. Celestia, she was always the ruler, the battle-queen, and the confident commander. My brother was compassion, the diplomat, and the shield. And I?”
Luna chuckled quietly, smiling slightly over her shoulder. “I was the sword, the assassin, and the spy. Much like thou art playing the role of now, Loki. And even though I fancy myself as champion and conqueror now, I know that I still embody the ferocity and the powers of the night. My powers are poison and darkness, in spite of how oft I strike with but raw fury to back my blows.”
“Don't worry, Luna. Anger suits you pretty well too.” Scrivener remarked, and the sapphire mare gave him an amused look before she turned her eyes back ahead.
“Do not flatter me, Princess Novella, for even as desirable as I am, sadly, we are separated forever by status and position!” Luna sighed dramatically as she tilted her head back, and Scrivener only looked at her mildly as a smile quirked at Twilight's mouth. “Why, yes, I am a handsome, potent, virile, powerful stallion, but all the same, I fear that some things simply can never be!”
“Yes, do keep that in mind, both of you.” interjected a distasteful voice, and Luna scowled as she led her group to a halt as Ignominious strode out from between the tents with his bodyguards on either side of him, his eyes locked distastefully on the sapphire mare. “Well, Champion Brynhild, I'm glad that you could join us in spite of your busy schedule. Do you need some more time to primp and preen, or are you ready to bring the princess back home to her worried parents?”
Luna snorted disdainfully before she glanced moodily around at the encampment, noting... “Thou and thine seem to be in no rush thyselves. Half the camp still stands.”
“That is because only half the camp is leaving. We'll make better time as a smaller group, and we received word that there are bandits on your trail, Champion Brynhild. You didn't make any foolish wagers, now did you?” asked Ignominious as he narrowed his eyes towards the mare, and Luna scowled in return before she looked almost searchingly over her shoulder at the group of ponies behind her.
Then she abruptly turned back towards Ignominious, retorting: “I trust these ponies-”
“So much that you had to see who was guilty, yes.” Ignominous countered immediately, stepping towards her and glaring balefully at her, which almost impressed the mare... right up until he declared: “I am the hoof of the King and my authority is his, and-”
“Oh, thou art the same as thou always wert!” Luna snapped, and Ignominious flinched ever so slightly away from her as she scolded: “Like a foal, always like a foal, falling back on the omnipresent authority of 'kings' and 'gods' and 'the Order' and whatever else thou can hide behind like a shield, so thou can lecture and boss without ever having to face responsibility. But I shan't allow thee to pass the buck here, Ignominious. Look into mine eye, and speak to me with thy own mind and under thine own authority, or our conversation is over.”
Ignominious managed to meet her eyes for a few moments, and then he dropped his gaze and gestured grumpily at her, muttering: “The princess has a private carriage at the center of the convoy. I have arranged for us-”
“I will walk beside the carriage with my companions, so we can ensure the safety of our charge. I will not leave a job half-finished.” Luna retorted, and Ignominious grumbled under his breath, but didn't bother to argue with her as he only pawed childishly at the ground. “Good. Keep the formation as the wolves move.”
“My soldiers know their job, Champion Brynhild. You just keep your own in line.” retorted the stallion with a quick glare up at her, before he flinched slightly and lowered his head hurriedly when Luna gave him a moody look in return.
She rolled her eyes, then turned and gestured quickly at the others, heading towards the line of carriages past the rows of tents. Her group fell in naturally behind her, Marina looking uncertainly over her shoulder at Ignominious, who wasn't bothering to hide his hateful glare as he watched them leave. “What was that about?”
“I suspect 'tis foreshadowing. That is the term, correct?” Luna smiled wryly, shaking her head briefly. “Of course this journey will not be an easy one. But what I dislike most of all is being unsure of whom our enemy is.”
“I don't like that he's splitting this army in half.” River Styx paused, looking moodily over the line of wagons they were walking along before he added in a quieter voice: “This convoy is still going to be large enough that it's not going to reduce our travel time significantly, anyway.”
Luna nodded slowly, before Twilight added, as they passed a gaggle of soldiers who were simply gawking at them: “I'm not seeing too many officers, either. A lot of them look like young recruits...”
“Aye. 'Tis hard to say if that is good or bad, however: the real question is whether or not he was speaking the truth about whatever is following us. If there is indeed a force of enemies that he wishes to blockade and intercept, then 'tis likely better that he leaves behind the veteran soldiers to rout them, especially as we will be traveling in towards the heart of the kingdom.” Luna paused, then reflected: “But then again... 'tis not like old Equestria was ever all that safe, even in its heart. In fact, 'twas the heart that took Celestia the greatest time and care to repair, after the destruction of the Wyrms.”
Luna paused, then frowned as they reached the carriage that Ignominious had so generously assigned them. It was heavily armored and towed by no less than four enormous, scarred earth ponies... slaves, Luna thought, and Marina shuddered a bit at the sight of the wretched, somehow primal ponies.
There were several Dervishes standing guard by the carriage, their ornate, heavy armor gleaming as they glared at them through the grilles in their helms. Luna scowled back at them, before she looked back at Scrivener and said calmly: “Princess Novella, would you prefer to ride alone, or with a pony of your choosing for company?”
“We'll take it from here. Just leave the princess to us.” said one of the Dervishes coldly, and he stepped forwards to shove Luna aside before reaching for Scrivener-
In a flash, the Dervish was slammed down on his back, gasping weakly through his helm as his armor rattled with the shivering of his body. Luna pinned him by the foreleg, which she had bent in the wrong direction and was now creaking dangerously as his armor dug into his own body.
The other Dervishes snarled, but Luna only looked up at them coldly for a moment before she said slowly and calmly: “We will take care of our own, and Princess Novella is one of our own. Thou and thine can return to thy shame. 'Twas not I who allowed the princess to be stolen away in the first place, after all.”
One of the Dervishes began to step forwards, but he halted when Luna twisted the foreleg of his compatriot, making the pinned soldier give almost a squeak of pain. They were trapped in stalemate for a few moments, before Luna finally released the Dervish, and the other soldiers shifted moodily before one of them finally grumbled: “We'll report back to Lord Ignominious.”
Luna only grunted as the injured soldier picked himself up, and the two groups glared at each other for a few moments before the armored ponies began to leave. The last in line brushed Marina aside as he passed.
The Dervish had only a moment to enjoy his bullying before he tripped and ended up sprawled on his face. He shoved himself to his hooves, glaring back at the group as the other soldiers halted, but the ponies only looked steadily back at him until he turned with a snort.
There was silence for a few moments, and then Luna turned a slight smile towards River Styx, saying mildly: “Thou plays thy role even better than I had expected thou to, Loki.”
River Styx grunted, then he shook his head before he muttered: “I'm neutral on everyone else in this camp, but those brutes make me nervous. They don't act like soldiers.”
“In the old days, many of the Dervishes were selected from the largest, most brutal of prisoners, and in particular those who were easily manipulated or brainwashed. 'Twas always very popular before ponies allowed such things like morality and law to get in their way.” Luna remarked, and then she shook her head slowly. “Aye, I do not believe they are soldiers either. And they clearly serve Ignominious and his interests, so we will treat them with such caution as they have earned.”
There was silence for a few moments, and then Luna glanced towards the large, brutal-looking slave ponies before she asked clearly: “Debts or crimes?”
None of the slaves responded, looking pointedly ahead, and Luna smiled wryly before Marina asked hesitantly: “Is that... I mean, I've seen... some awful things, but are they-”
“Their role has been cast in this play, as has ours. There is little we can do for them at this juncture, sadly, so let us instead focus on ourselves.” Luna said gently but firmly, before she shook her head and looked at Scrivener Blooms, although the stallion was studying the earth ponies meditatively as well. “Princess Novella, who does thou want to ride with thee?”
“You're giving me a choice?” Scrivener asked mildly, and Luna looked back at him pointedly. The stallion rolled his eyes, and then he sighed tiredly as he smoothed out his dress before he continued: “Well, Champion Brynhild, it's just that you haven't exactly given me a choice so far. If I had my choice, I wouldn't be going back to the castle in the first place.”
“Why don't you want to return to the castle?” Marina asked curiously, and because, strangely enough, it felt perfectly natural to ask.
And even Scrivener seemed a bit surprised with himself when he answered naturally: “Because as I've told you a thousand times, someone from the noble family wants me out of the way. I was kidnapped from my own bed!”
“All the same, we must return thee safely to the King and Queen. But thou hast my word, Princess Novella Morebucks, we shall ensure that-”
“Not good enough!” Scrivener gestured sharply, huffing loudly as he rose his head high. “I want to be safe, do you understand? You promised to take me somewhere I would be safe, and so far, all you've done is drag me across the country with your ragtag friends and back into the clutches of the very people who might want to hurt me!”
Luna scowled horribly at Scrivener, who glared back until Marina suggested hesitantly: “Maybe it's for the best if we face this together, though, Princess. We'll escort you back to the castle personally, and we'll stay by your side. We should be able to find out who wants to hurt you... and what would you do otherwise? You can't spend your life, always on the run, or always living in fear, can you?”
Luna grumbled a little as Scrivener muttered and shifted awkwardly, until Twilight Sparkle said quietly, in a low, deep voice: “Your majesty, you know that I will never betray you, and Champion Brynhild wants only the very best for you and is simply... concerned that you are giving too deeply in to your anxieties. If there is truly a conspiracy against you, we will root it out; if there is not, or the villains have fled, then you will be safer in the embrace of your family than anywhere else.”
Scrivener and Luna both cocked their heads towards Twilight Sparkle, who lamely smiled back as she rubbed at her mouth before muttering: “I'm trying to get into character, okay? It's hard.”
“No, you're just trying too hard.” Scrivener replied mildly, and Twilight gave him a grumpy look before the stallion straightened and added grudgingly: “And I do trust you, Morgan, and your judgment. If you truly think that it would be best for me to return to the castle, then so be it, I will... but I certainly don't like it.”
Twilight Sparkle smiled briefly, and there was silence for a few moments before Scrivener sighed and said finally, as he moodily glanced over the group: “Morgan, and... Hild, perhaps you two would accompany me in the carriage. Let's leave Champion Brynhild and her friend Loki to talk about whatever it is such stallions enjoy discussing, shall we?”
River Styx only looked dryly at Scrivener Blooms, as Luna snorted in amusement and rolled her eyes, waving a hoof moodily at the black stallion. “Aye, yes. That sounds about right, Princess Novella, take both of my magicians to guard thyself and leave us 'dirty stallions' to keep thy noble carriage safe.”
The two glared at each other for a few moments, and then Scrivener huffed before heading to the carriage. He reached up and ineffectually attempted to yank open the door a few times before Twilight hurried forwards and flicked her horn to open the door for him... or rather, the princess, as Scrivener was all-too in-character as.
Luna Brynhild grinned wryly as Scrivener and the mares piled into the room, and then she shook her head as the door slammed closed before the sapphire mare looked knowingly over at River Styx. “Dirty stallions.”
River Styx only shrugged moodily as his genet hopped up on his head with a chirp, and Luna snorted in amusement before she turned her eyes forwards, saying mildly: “Scrivener has always been the best liar out of all of us, but that is purely because all writers are naught but wretched liars. 'Tis amusing to see him in his element, though.”
River Styx only shrugged again, before he frowned a little as his genet suddenly tugged wildly at his ear with a worried chirp. The stallion glanced back over his shoulder before he gestured shortly with his head, and Luna frowned as she turned as well before her eyes locked on the sight of Ignominious, who was prowling slowly towards them.
Luna caught the faintest gleam of his horn before he straightened and approached with his head high, as if he hadn't just been skulking his way towards them: so that was why she hadn't sensed him. She shook her head in distaste at the sight before she rose her head and said loudly: “So that is why I did not smell thee right away. I see thou has some memory of my magic, even now.”
“Shut up.” Ignominious grumbled, but he blushed ever so slightly as he stalked towards them. They glared at each other, and then the stallion sniffed loudly before he turned his eyes towards River Styx, scanning up and down him measuringly. “You. Loki, you call yourself, correct?”
River Styx only scowled and kept his mouth shut, and Ignominious drew his eyes slowly over the stallion before he asked distastefully, as he raised one eyebrow: “Would you happen to be the very same Loki accused of raiding Lord Ebon's estates, as well as the School of Wizardry?”
“And Witchcraft.” River Styx said before he could stop himself, before the stallion added dryly: “Although in my defense, I was told to steal the philosopher's stone from Hogscab's by the headmaster himself..”
“Oh shut up.” Ignominious said disgustedly, and then he asked moodily: “And what about the rumors of Baron Il-Drehk's statues and gardens being vandalized?”
“As we've just established, I'm a thief, not a vandal. I have no idea why anyone would want to write all those awful things all over his statue, or why the garden he walks through with his family every morning would suddenly become a haven for poison ivy, poison oak, and poison joke.” River Styx replied blandly, before he tilted his head ever so slightly forwards and added: “Or so I've heard.”
“Or so you've heard. Ha-ha.” Ignominious replied moodily, and Styx nodded seriously, before he grimaced when the taller officer seized him by the lapels of his coat and hauled him forwards so their faces almost pressed together and Styx's front hooves were left dangling off the ground. “Now you listen to me, you-”
Luna cleared her throat loudly, and Ignominious scowled over at her before the sapphire mare said mildly: “I would request that thou keeps thy hooves to thyself, Ignominious. Or I will not stop Loki from showing thee his slight of hoof and making thee... disappear.”
Ignominious scowled... then tilted his head slightly upwards with a flinch as he felt something poking against his throat. River Styx only remained impassive, but his leg was flexed and ready, dagger gleaming in his hoof... but when Ignominious finally dropped him and stepped away, he flushed and snarled in fury as he realized that it had been the pommel pressing into his neck, and not the blade.
River Styx gave the slightest of smiles, spinning the knife once around his hoof before he sheathed it, meeting the commander's eyes fearlessly as he said: “Don't worry. Killing seems to be your business more than mine.”
Ignominious snorted, and then Luna asked calmly: “Ignominious, I need to know something: why did thou choose this mission? Why art thou here?”
Ignominious looked at her, and she looked back at him evenly, before the stallion finally snorted and looked away, his eyes flicking like they always did whenever he lied: “I was chosen for this mission by the King and Queen, that is all. Now, I have things to do, Champion Brynhild. I assume you don't, but maybe you'll leave me pleasantly surprised and at least keep yourself busy instead of annoying my troops while I marshal the rest of my soldiers.”
“In spite of all thy great big words, all I hear from thee is nonsense and excuses.” Luna retorted, and Ignominious scowled at her before the mare gestured shortly with her head. “Get thee gone, then. And fear not, I shall not pester thy soldiers. I do not have any interest in bullying children.”
Ignominious rolled his eyes, but he lingered for a moment longer as they two looked at each other before he suddenly said abruptly: “I don't know what you're thinking, Brynhild, but I know that look on your face. And even though I direly wish I could say otherwise, today I am not your enemy. You don't like me and I certainly don't like you, but for once, we both want the same thing.”
Luna grunted, and then she retorted moodily: “Well, thou shall excuse me if I do not take thy words at face, Ignominious. But...” Luna shifted slowly, the two studying each other uncomfortably before she said finally: “I will give thee a chance, on the condition that thou does not interfere with my business with Princess Novella. 'Tis important to me that I return her safely.”
“So long as you don't try to stir up any trouble, then fine.” Ignominious replied moodily, and then he looked ahead before saying finally: “The march home is ten hours, but within six we should be back on regulated roads as we head towards the capital. We'll be safe.”
“Safety is never guaranteed, Ignominious.” Luna replied quietly, and the commander smiled at her briefly as they studied each other, before the sapphire mare shook her head and muttered: “Get out of my sight. Wretch.”
Ignominious grunted at her, then he tossed one last look at Loki before striding quickly up the column of wagons, shouting orders to several soldiers as he passed. Luna watched him leave, shifting uncomfortably as she breathed quietly through her mouth, before she suddenly said, not knowing if she was speaking as herself or the character she was playing: “I had forgotten. I had forgotten why I cared so dearly for him in the past. I had forgotten those looks and those eyes and how he had the potential to be a good stallion, a strong stallion, dearer to me for overcoming his flaws, but... he made mistakes. He made errors. And still, I would have forgiven him, and all his crimes against others... had he not committed sin against me.”
River Styx only looked at her moodily, before he asked: “And what's the point of telling me all that?”
“Well, Loki, 'tis because I like to hear myself talk, and I like to work out my thoughts, and I thought for damned once thou could perhaps listen instead of whine.” retorted Luna crankily, and River Styx shrugged.
“All that makes me worry about is that you two pretty boys are going to end up spending your time combing each other's tails instead of focusing on getting the job done. I'm here for my money, so I can leave and live happily ever after. It doesn't bother me either way if your happily-ever-after is with him or the princess, Brynhild, but I don't want your emotions getting in the way of my paycheck.” River Styx replied, before he winced slightly as the genet on his head chirped disapprovingly and patted roughly on his head.
Luna snorted, then she gave a wry smile to the stallion before she asked pointedly: “And the reward is all thou desires, correct? There is absolutely nothing else compelling thee to travel with us, nothing else thou art looking forwards to in the future?”
“Well, I won't deny it's been interesting so far. You and your lot have kept me busy, well-fed, and I've only gotten a small amount of dragon-related burns for the trouble.” River Styx admitted with a shrug: Luna couldn't help but reflect that for such a sober stallion, he certainly played his part quite well. “But as enriched as these experiences have made me, and invaluable as these intangible treasures are... I'll take the fortune of gemstones and an estate filled with servants any day over the wealth of knowledge.”
“Well, at least thou knows thy priorities.” Luna remarked mildly, and then she shrugged before turning forwards and saying softly: “Keep thy secrets. We all fight for something, though, and that something is never trinkets or baubles or material gain. Those who lust for such see it as but a means to an end.”
“I'm glad you know everything, Champion Brynhild. It makes me wonder why you weren't made Lorekeeper instead of Champion.” River Styx replied with a dryness that even Scrivener Blooms couldn't match, and a smile quirked at Luna's mouth before the stallion turned his eyes ahead, saying in a more serious voice as his genet nervously looked around: “Maybe we should focus on the here and now, though. It's starting to feel a little... cramped.”
Luna grunted moodily, nodding briefly as she took a quick look around: the soldiers were starting to fall in on either side of the caravan. She couldn't help but note that the Dervishes were setting themselves up both in front and directly behind their carriage, and it looked like they were moving up military wagons to flank them from either side as well: they would be nicely caged in between the heavy armored infantry at this rate.
Well, they would just have to make the best of it, Luna figured, as she moodily looked ahead. And in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder just what Ignominious was doing, where he stood... and how cruel this play had yet to become.
For the most part, their travel was uneventful: they remained in-character with an uncomfortable ease, as if something else was influencing them. But then again, this play seemed to be performing some strange symbiosis with them, too: Luna kept feeling like she was passing old landmarks and things that had almost been lost in the depths of memory, surfacing here and there as if pulled along by the tides of dreams.
They traveled down an unkempt and uncared-for path, fallen leaves crackling beneath hoof and wheel alike as they carefully made their way over bumps and ruts in the soft earth. Many of the tracks they passed over were fresh, Luna noted: so Ignominious had at least been telling the truth when he said he had come looking for them. She also noted that they passed a few small camps here and there along the road, including a rundown tavern, ponies watching them suspiciously from the decaying veranda.
Inside the carriage, Scrivener chatted with Marina and Twilight: sometimes in character, sometimes out of character, the three shifting back and forth with uncomfortable ease between the two states. Luna and River Styx were the same, although Luna found much more enjoyment in the strange duality than the others did: after all, she always took pleasure in trading banter, and all the more so when it was with a stallion who was usually so stodgy and serious.
They passed into what Ignominious had likely meant by 'civilized country' without incident: the road beneath their hooves gradually became well-trodden highways, and they began to pass other ponies, many pulling their own carriages, and a few wandering the roads in safe groups. Buildings appeared alongside the highway: they started small and ramshackle, like weeds, but soon bloomed into full structures: farms, towers, taverns and outbuildings, sometimes appearing like lone sentinels, others in clustered groves.
As the autumn sun began its rapid descent towards the horizon, the convoy began to slow. Luna frowned a little at this, trading looks with River Styx before her body tensed as the line of carriages rolled to a halt, confused shouting coming down the line, punctuated by angry baritone orders. Luna swore under her breath, then she gestured quickly at Styx to stand guard before she hurried up the line to the front of the convoy to see what had happened.
To her surprise, Ignominious was arguing with a turbaned merchant pony who had several carts blocking the road. He seemed to be pleading for assistance, although it only took Luna one quick glance over his wagons for her to see that there was clearly nothing wrong with any of the carriages.
“Now come, our destination is the same! And I can't move all of these by myself! It's not my fault my ungrateful servants abandoned me!” whined the merchant pony, although Ignominious only rolled his eyes at this.
“Oh, and I suppose before they left, they were the ones who just happened to drag your wagons across the road?” he asked distastefully, and when the merchant dropped his eyes and weakly mumbled something in defense, the stallion snorted. “I'll tell you what. I'll let you choose which side of the road you want your wagons placed on, and I'll even have my soldiers move them there for you. But there's settlements in every direction: if you want safety or help, go find it yourself.”
“Aren't you a Paladin of the Order? How can you treat me this way!” the merchant whined loudly, before he turned around and flailed as a soldier began to approach one of the wagons. “No, no, stay away from there, you ruffian! The... the spokes are broken on my wagon! You'll just get it stuck worse!”
“No they are not. The spokes are fine.” Luna huffed, although her eyes narrowed slightly as she drew her eyes along the carriages. Five... no, six, arranged very precisely, blocking each other in a zigzagging line across the road...
Her eyes flicked sharply towards Ignominious, and the stallion gave the slightest of nods to her as the merchant rambled pleadingly: “All I'm asking is a little bit of help to the nearest settlement, all I want is for you to give me a bit of a helping hoof!”
“Very well.” Luna said abruptly, and the merchant blinked in dumb surprise before she looked squarely at Ignominious. “Call thy soldiers. Have them secure the wagons with chain and rope.”
“Wait... what? Why?” the merchant asked, before he gestured angrily at the carriage behind him. “Look at the craft, how ornate the gilding is! You can't seriously-”
“Precisely, sir. Your carriages have no locks on their doors. I'm surprised bandits or acrobats haven't already taken advantage of that to slip into your wagons while you move.” Ignominious replied calmly, meeting the merchant's eyes with a silent challenge.
There was silence for a few moments, and then the merchant's features suddenly went cold before the stallion said in a disgusted voice: “You just couldn't make this easy, could you?”
The merchant snapped his head forwards, the thick turban around his head explosively unraveling as a blast of lighting hammered towards Ignominious. But on reflex, Luna lunged forwards and deflected the attack with her own horn, before her eyes widened as coiling cloth of the turban lashed towards her like a serpent-
Ignominious blasted the living cloth into oblivion with a missile of black flame, disintegrating it as he roared: “To arms! Ambush!”
As he shouted the warning, the carriages all-but-exploded, doors and windows and hidden panels bursting open and bandits of every shape and size leaping out, roaring and howling with bloodthirst. Officers of the Order and soldiers of the kingdom both came charging forwards to meet the onslaught, as Ignominious and Luna moved in never-forgotten rhythm, their horns slashing back and forth to repel the powerful flurry of spells from the snarling mage driving forwards against them.
Both Ignominious and Luna suddenly slashed their horns down at once, sending a twinned blast of flame into the mage, and he howled as he was sent crashing and rolling backwards. The two grinned before trading looks, and then Luna flushed slightly as she stepped forwards and said hurriedly: “Shut up and rally thy troops against these dogs!”
“You heard her, soldiers! Raise your heads and weapons and fight like you have honor!” Ignominious shouted, as he slung his sword and shield off his back, bringing the latter up just in time to block a blast of magic from the mage.
“Honors means nothing in the face of the Aggiornamento!” snarled the mage as he lashed his horn back and forth, slinging savage spells at Ignominious. The Paladin weathered the onslaught beneath his shield, grimacing as his horn glowed before his sword lit up with magic, and he slashed suddenly, savagely forwards into a black blast of magic, slicing the missile of energy in twain.
Luna, meanwhile, had been flanked by two bandits who were slashing and swinging away at her with maces, the mare parrying their attacks clumsily with her sword as she circled quickly to avoid another bandit from sneaking up behind her. Then she cursed as a powerful blow slammed the sword out of her telekinetic grip, the mare snarling before a mace came swinging down at her face.
Instead of dodging, however, Luna swung a hoof up and caught the weapon by the handle before she twisted and slung it backwards as hard as she could, driving it into the face of the bandit wielding the weapon to knock him sprawling with a howl of misery.
The other bandit leapt forwards and swung wildly out at Luna, but she ducked quickly under the attack before lunging forwards and ramming her horn through the stallion's chest. He had just enough time to give a single, choking cry before he was blasted backwards like a meteor by a telekinetic charge.
As Luna and Ignominious did their best to hold back the cutthroat onslaught from the front, soldiers of every rank rose shield, sword, and hoof against the thieves and raiders that tore out of every nook and cranny, hole and hollow, to strike at them from both sides and behind. The soldiers were fearless in their duty to King and Order, but the plunderers came like a swarm of rats: countless in number and incredibly agile, harrying the defenders and slipping past them to leap towards the wagons they sought to protect.
River Styx clashed with a scarred, grinning Pegasus stallion, their daggers sending up sparks as they slashed back and forth, blocking and parrying each other's strikes in a wild dance of death. The blades gnashed together like metal fangs before they locked against each other, both stallions grinding forwards-
Bandits charged past on either side of them, but the moment Styx let himself be distracted, the agile cutthroat in front of him immediately shoved him backwards before slicing a blade towards his face. Styx barely managed to yank his head out of the way before he deflected several more attacks with his knives, as the nimble attacker mocked: “Not so good with the blades, are you, boy?”
River Styx gritted his teeth, then he readied himself as the trickster in front of him juggled his knives back and forth like magic between his hooves, spinning them expertly and making them dance around his forelegs before he twirled the weapons up to ready positions with a sharp 'ha!'
The stallion began to raise his own knives, before his genet hammered firmly on his head, and River Styx blinked before he scowled, more at himself than at the cutthroat across from him. The Pegasus grinned widely, his eyes gleaming as he mocked: “What's wrong, boy, you trying to think about how-”
River Styx snapped his horn forwards, blasting the cutthroat completely off the road with a focused thunder of wind, and then he spun his daggers once moodily before he turned around. But no sooner had he moved than two more vagabonds leapt at him with their own weapons at the ready.
The door to the carriage was torn open by a grinning bandit... and he was immediately blasted in a high arc through the air by a spell with a squeal. The carriage bounced with the force of the second spell that erupted out of it, the shockwave of lightning hammering across the raiders and making Styx flinch even as it washed past him.
Twilight Sparkle leapt out of the carriage, her horn raised high as she shouted: “In the name of King and country, I shall defend Princess Novella to the death! Come at me if you dare, but with thunder and hellfire I shall strike down all who threaten her noble majesty!”
Several bandits leapt forwards, but they were buffeted backwards by a powerful spell: yet still, the raiders pressed on, roaring challenges and threats back at Twilight and Styx as the stallion leapt back to stand with her.
Some of the slier bandits slid around to the other side of the carriage, but the moment one of them yanked open the door, a cat-like mare leapt down on top of the first, crushing him down into the ground before she swatted the next backwards with a hoof that had sprouted claws. Marina roared, her body leonine now with the Druidic magic she had channeled through herself, her strength and speed trebled as she smashed bandits away like toys.
Yet all the same, agile, acrobatic bandits found a way past, leaping over the tops of wagons and escorts to land on top of the noble carriage. Raiders on both sides of the carriage swung themselves down by the top of the doorframe to land on the sets on either side of Scrivener Blooms.
The stallion yelped, then he swore as he was seized from either side, struggling wildly before he managed to bring his hind legs up and slam both rear hooves hard into the stomach of the stallion in front of him. He hit with enough force to not only knock the bandit out of the carriage, but he sent himself and the stupefied raider behind him sliding out of the other open door, the heavy stallion princess squashing the vagabond beneath him against the hard ground.
Scrivener rolled awkwardly to his hooves in his dress, then he swore and slugged the bandit he had landed on when the thief tried to get up, knocking the raider sprawling brokenly. The earth pony grimaced, then he yelped when a trio of bandits leapt down from the roof of the carriage. “Behind us! Help me!”
River Styx was immediately beside Scrivener, the stallion slashing his horn out to pin one of the bandits to the carriage with a blast of wind, as he slammed the pommel of his dagger into the side of the other's neck, knocking it sprawling with a gasp. The last raider leapt for Scrivener Blooms, but was caught in midair by a savage double-kick, which sent him crashing headfirst into one of the carriage wheels.
Twilight slashed her horn out, sending out a wave of force that knocked more bandits sprawled, some of them breaking rank and fleeing. Even as those who remained tried to swarm forwards, they were met from resistance at every angle, and any bandit that managed to close in on the princess ended up being punched or kicked through the air by the stallion, his strength certainly far from hindered by the dress he was wearing.
At the head of the caravan, Ignominious and Luna had driven off most of the bandits, again focused on the sorcerer slinging spells at them with savage ferocity, seemingly tireless. Ignominious kept his shield high, while Luna deflected arcs of lightning and fireballs with her horn, countering when she could with short bursts of magic as she and the Paladin slowly closed in.
The mage snarled as they drew close before he suddenly leaned forwards, his horn sizzling with magic before a forcefield of electricity erupted into reality around him, the dark magician hissing as he prepared another spell: “Let's see you get past that!”
“Sword!” Luna shouted, and without hesitation, Ignominious flung his weapon to her, the mare's horn lighting up as she charged the weapon with her own lightning magic before stabbing it into the barrier. The mage howled in surprise at the eruption of static and energy that tore through the air, losing his concentration as Luna cursed in pain from the shocks that ripped along her own body.
But the conflicting arcs of energy tore the forcefield to ribbons, all the same, and allowed Ignominious to charge forwards, head lowered behind his shield as he rammed through the zigzagging arcs of energy that remained to slam into the mage.
The sorcerer was knocked sprawling with a snarl before Ignominious almost leapt on top of him, slamming his shield down to pin the mage against the ground. “Now!”
Luna roared as she leapt forwards, tearing through the electricity still sizzling over her as she stabbed the sword savagely down, and the mage howled as the weapon bit deep through his breast. He spasmed, mouth working open and shut as he shivered on the ground... before he suddenly gave a twisted, savage grin as his eyes blazed with hellfire and hatred, growling: “You stupid fools! The power I have been given by the Aggiornamento is too great for your mortal weapons to slay me!”
The mage roared, and before Luna or Ignominious could react, they were both blown backwards, sent skidding through the field as they barely maintained their grip on their respective gear. Ignominious cursed and stumbled to a stop, looking almost fearfully up, while Luna gritted her teeth and dropped to a ready position as she saw the sorcerer standing tall with his head raised high, his horn burning with malicious magic as he snarled: “Soon, the Holy Order will worship our divinity, and we will be the ones to rule this kingdom of fools!”
“Aye, that makes sense. Thou art all idiots, so I demand thee make me thy king.” Luna muttered, and Ignominious snorted. The mare glanced towards him, meeting his eyes for a moment as she gave him a distinct look, and he shifted ever so slightly before Luna remarked: “I suppose he is half-right, though, considering the state of thy 'Order.' They are not so concerned with the 'goodness of god' anymore, but rather how deep they can plunder the coffers of the rich and how hard they can make the poor work, with all their lies and false promises.”
“Oh, are you really going to start this now Brynhild?” Ignominious asked grouchily, turning towards her and glaring at her as he lowered his shield slightly, snapping: “The Order has protected this kingdom and the Morebucks lineage for centuries, all at the cost of-”
“The lives of countless innocents, but most of them already well-abused by the church, and moreover, the church's tyrants!” Luna retorted, and she and the Paladin turned to glare at each other as the mare continued nastily: “But I suppose 'tis all well and good when-”
The mage snapped his horn forwards, unleashing a powerful torrent of black magic, but both Ignominious and Luna leapt over the wave of dark hellfire and retaliated by snapping their own horns forwards at the same time, twin bolts of magic slamming into the face of the deathless sorcerer. He was knocked rearing back with a hurk of surprise, his eyes bulging in shock before Ignominious slung his shield forwards.
The heavy steel shield slammed into the mage's skull, his head snapping back as he flailed for balance. And then there was a flash of steel, and the shrill cry of a sword slicing through air and flesh before Luna landed on the other side of the mage, a cold smile on her face as the sorcerer's body toppled backwards, and his head uselessly fell forwards.
His corpse twitched a few times as his head mouthed uselessly and wordlessly, and then he gave a single, weak sigh before his body burst into ill green flames. Luna straightened, then smiled grimly as she looked away from the burning remains to watch as the remaining bandits scattered, their forces breaking into a full retreat with the death of the sorcerer.
Ignominious swept up his own shield, striding up beside Luna before he said mildly: “As I recall, when you were part of the Holy Order, you had a much better opinion of it, Champion Brynhild.”
“Aye, and then I left, and now my opinion is much worse, Paladin Ignominious.” Luna replied with a glance towards him a slight smile, before she quickly looked away and added quietly: “Thou would have been a much better stallion if thou had never girded thyself with their noose, methinks. They make thee love the Order as a parent by naming thee for sin when thou art just a babe, and whispering sweet lies of kindness to thee between the whippings. Look at thine own life, Ignominious. Cursed with that name, of unknown nature and heritage, and bred to know and love only what the Holy Order told thee... how could thou have become anything but what thou did? And I... I know I made my own mistakes. I know that we...”
She quieted, then shook her head slowly: but even if she knew it wasn't really Ignominious she was talking to, all the same, it felt... it felt good, to have that moment, to be able to speak all these thoughts. Better than she wanted to admit, because, she supposed, first loves... “I know, Brynhild. And perhaps things were not meant to be. But you are still... important to me, and you will always have a place in my heart. We went different ways, but if I could be a better stallion, I would have been, and still, I strive to be... and perhaps, one day, you and I will cross paths in better times, and we shall finally...”
He stopped, then chuckled quietly and shook his head as Luna looked over at him silently, and Ignominious smiled at her in that old way he had always used to. Before the madness, before even the fear and desperation of the journey had begun to cut away at that handsome young Paladin he had been, so energetic, so warm, so full of life and curious and able to understand her and put up with her, able to coax smiles out of her even after she had spent hours arguing with Celestia...
She looked at him for a few moments, then smiled faintly as she studied him. She should be angry. Hateful. She should be promising revenge and retribution for this insult, for this mockery, for this false mirror of the past, this story that could have been... and yet instead, she found herself... thankful. Perhaps it was because of everything she had already been through with her family: perhaps it was because part of her heart would always be tainted by that sad love for Ignominious, and everything he could have been, and she was seeing, really seeing, what he could have been. She had always hated him, and always been so enraged by him, because of that love, after all...
Finally, she shook her head again, then cleared her throat and said softly: “I do not have time to put up with your flirting today, Ignominious. Come. Back to Princess Novella and the others. We must ensure they are safe, too.”
To her surprise, Ignominious gave a smile to her, raising his head as he picked up his shield and lightly yanked his sword back from her with telekinesis, as he replied easily: “Of course. And perhaps after we return Princess Novella and your companions go on their way, you'll join me for a celebratory drink at the tavern?”
“What a turnaround, Ignominious. Bold and almost brazen. 'Tis a pleasant change of pace.” Luna said with a slight smile, and then she hesitated for a moment before saying finally: “Aye. I suppose that if thou can be enough of a gentlecolt and stallion to invite me to drink, I can come with thee. Not to drink, but rather to laugh at thee and thy inability to hold thy liquor. Although perhaps the wenches will serve me coffee. I enjoy coffee-wenches.”
“You might be surprised at how I've changed, Brynhild. While I admit a few too many bad habits are still there, and I give in too easily to my old urges and those ill habits of mine...” Ignominious stopped, then he shook his head and chuckled quietly. “No, you're right. Let's go. There will be time later. There is always time later.”
“Aye, until there is no more time left to be had.” Luna said softly, watching with curiosity as this version of Ignominious took the lead, away from the charred remains of the mage's corpse. She smiled as he shouted orders, raising his head high and proud, the stallion he had always wanted to be... the stallion she had always wanted him to be, she reflected, with both dreamlike joy and faint bitterness.
And behind them, the burnt remains of the mage shifted once before a sick black ooze slipped out of the charred remains, slithering quickly away into the darkening twilight.