Hecate's Orphanage

by BlackRoseRaven

The Search For Clarity

Chapter Fifty Four: The Search For Clarity
~BlackRoseRaven

Cadence wandered through the halls of the beautiful mansion, studying the pictures she came across, but mostly lost in her own mind more than these endless, twisting corridors.

She had slept for only an hour, but it was so hard to adjust to the lack of 'days' and 'nights:' there was always the same effervescence in the air, like the light was coming from nowhere and everywhere all at once. The change was felt, more than seen, when night fell in Helheim: otherwise, demons toiled on as they always had, and as they always would, Cadence supposed.

They had been training her constantly for these last three days, and she felt sharper and stronger than she ever had. Much of this training, however, hadn't been sparring or studying combat: it had been communicating with the Swan, learning to... to trust, she supposed. And Gods, it was so hard to trust the Swan. To acknowledge it as more than just the unfortunate other she shared this body with. The part of her that had been asleep so long, that had been dormant until she had died at the hands of Pain.

“Pain...” Cadence murmured, as she stopped beside a window and gazed out over the beautiful, snowy fields that surrounded the estate. “Are you out there somewhere, too? Wandering Hell, or being punished for your crimes, or... did you just dissolve? Will I see you again someday?”

Cadence wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer to that, as she shivered a little before shaking her head and rubbing slowly at her small horn. She scowled a little, but then pushed away from the window and turned to continue down the hallway, letting her mind wander.

It was hard being here. And not just because this was Helheim and she was learning a lot of tough truths about the universe: it was hard to be here because it was like getting a glimpse into a world she would never be a part of. And that was stupid, considering the fact she had once been a Swan, she had been a protector, a defender, a destroyer for the Gods of Asgard in Valhalla, and Helheim was supposed to be nothing but an icy pit for the cowards and the cruel...

But it wasn't that at all, was it? Any more than the Gods had been supreme and untouchable, any more than the Mothers and Fathers had been perfect...

The Swan shifted inside her, but didn't argue, and Cadence appreciated that. Then again, it felt like the Swan had been doing some soul-searching too, so to speak, and Cadence smiled wryly as she looked down for a moment before she took a breath and shook herself out, mumbling: “I guess it's... a good thing, though, if we're on the same page. I have to accept you and you... have to accept me.”

I accept you. I love you. the Swan said in her mind, and Cadence grimaced as she shifted uncomfortably, resisting the instinct to block the Swan out. I do not desire to fight you. I desire to mix with you. To be you, as you shall be me.

“Goddammit, you be you and I'll be me, how about that? It was working just fine before!” Cadence grumbled, shivering a little as she walked forwards, and hating, hating how she felt the Swan's presence all around her, how this body no longer felt like her own, how stupid and tiny her little stupid horn was. “I want my body back.”

I do not care about the body. the Swan almost scoffed, and Cadence stopped, blinking in surprise before she gasped as the Swan easily shoved her away and took control of her form, moving with sinuous grace as she strutted down the corridor, saying derisively: “Do you see, Cadence? If I desired this body, you could not stop me. Even before, when I needed to act through you, you could not truly resist against what I decided, because I am not a physical being. You are like the little sibling who wins arguments and thinks it is because she is strong and she is smart, but it is because of my love for you and my knowledge of the consequences, that I have never simply taken control.

“Cadence, I am not your enemy!” And was that frustration? Cadence thought it was, and she didn't know if she was glad to hear it, or frightened of how much the Swan was changing from the emotionless being it had once been. “If you desire this body, then take it, make it yours. But I do not shape your body when your body dies. It is the power that enters you that shapes you, as your emotions change me. And yes, I know you feel the changes. Why are you afraid? Why does me becoming like you make you afraid? Why did you fear me less when I was what you called 'golem' and 'monster?'”

Cadence shivered, then her head snapped to the side as she shouted angrily: “Because you're not supposed to be a person! Because what if... what if...”

Cadence trembled, lowering her head and closing her eyes as she felt the Swan recede inside her, and she whispered: “Because if you become a person, then I'll be useless to everyone. Because the only reason Hecate and Thorn needed me, and not you, in the first place, is because I was the one in control, and the one with all the emotions. I was more than a puppet. We all thought you were just going to be some kind of... of killing machine, forever, that happened to be stuck inside me and it made me really good at killing things, but now...”

The ivory mare clenched her eyes shut, trying to hold back the tears that wanted to come as she asked almost desperately: “But if you come to life, if you can take over, if they like you more than they like me... that's not even it, no. I'm not even scared of being forced to be the one inside you, but Swan, what if... what if I'm the one who wants to kill, not you? What if I'm the one who wants to hurt people? I feel you in there, inside me, and god it scares me so much, but what scares me even more is that the more you wake up the more angry I feel, the more I hate, the more I want to... to...”

She didn't finish: she couldn't finish, as she breathed hard in and out before lowering her head and shaking it briefly. There was silence for a few moments, before the Swan asked quietly: Is that all I am to you, Cadence? A doll for you to blame for your urges, for your violence? Do not forget that I was dormant, and you-

“Yes. I know. I pretend sometimes, but I know that even while you were still asleep inside me, even when I was just a little girl...” Cadence strode slowly to the end of the hall, then she looked silently out through the window, gazing up at the swirling skies of Helheim, the sky that was really nothing more than miasma below a layer of impenetrable rock. “I fought. I hurt. I... killed. After those slave hoof twins attacked me, do you know what I thought, Swan? I was upset. And I was scared. And I was angry. I was so angry. I knew Daddy was trying to make a point to me, by taking them alive, by trying to help them, but every time we saw those two again, I just thought about...”

Cadence gritted her teeth, bringing her front hooves up and grinding them together. “Ripping out their hearts with my own bare hooves... only wishing I could make them both watch me kill their brother or do it at the same goddamn time...”

Cadence took a slow breath, before she flinched as a voice said softly: “Careful, Cadence. I thought I was warning enough about the consequences of wrath.”

The ivory mare spun around with a deep blush to see Tormentas standing a few paces away, the demoness smiling at her before she said gently: “You'll excuse me for sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong, but I am a Luna. And I've been told that I and many of my parallels are all too nosy for our own good.”

“Yeah. Pranksters, too. I bet Brynhild is, too.” Cadence said after a moment, blushing and lowering her head in shame before she cleared her throat and shook her head, mumbling: “I'm okay. Honest. Just... having a tantrum, I guess. Not very dignified of me.”

“Poise, dignity, grace.” Tormentas said, and Cadence laughed in spite of herself, nodding ruefully.

“Poise, dignity, grace. I guess some things you never really escape.” Cadence murmured, shaking her head briefly, and Tormentas nodded in agreement.

“Come along, Cadence. If you aren't going to sleep, then we might as well get back to training. I'll teach you another old Valkyrie technique.” invited Tormentas, and Cadence smiled despite herself.

“I thought you were just telling me not to be bitter.” she said, and Tormentas favored her with an amused look.

“I told you to watch your wrath. Bitterness, however, can lead to very great things.” Tormentas answered with a wink, and then she turned, saying softly: “Come, I'll show you something, while we're at it. You'll appreciate this, Cadence.”

Cadence only grunted noncommittally, knowing by now what Vextus thought was 'interesting...' but she had to admit that the training room that the Inquisitor led her to was actually pretty neat. It was almost a full gymnasium by itself, with several sets of poles, vaults, and rings lining one side of the hall, a sparring area in another corner, and the last dominated by a massive weight center.

Tormentas was sitting on a bench in the last area, smiling at Cadence, and Cadence tilted her head curiously before she asked: “Why have we just been training in that crappy little area upstairs?”

“Because that is what Thorn is used to, I suppose... and while this room is impressive, it's not suited for a lot of our training. But I thought you'd like to see something.” Tormentas winked at her before she gestured towards the line of vaults and rings. “Do you understand?”

Cadence frowned slightly, studying the line of equipment before she smiled slightly as she looked over at Tormentas. “Yes. You can travel from one end of the line to the other. What, do you want me to run the course?”

Tormentas nodded,and Cadence couldn't help but raise her head a little, saying proudly: “You know, I have the fastest time in-”

“Second-fastest, the way I heard it.” Tormentas said glibly, and Cadence couldn't help but scowl immediately, which made the demon smile in amusement. “It's interesting how much that bothers you. Pride is quite a devastating sin too, you know.”

“I'm sure I've asked Thorn this before, but... why the hell is it that Helheim uses the seven sins?” Cadence asked, and Tormentas chuckled and shrugged with a smile.

“Because they make for an easy way to classify demons, that's all. And our culture has always been made up of the scraps and fragments of others, hasn't it?” Tormentas asked, and Cadence cocked her head curiously. “Well, the Aesir took much from the Jötnar. Do not forget that Odin himself was the grandchild of Ymir, Patriach and overlord of the Jötnar, and he used an imitation of their culture to rule the Aesir.”

“I never knew that. How do you know that?” Cadence asked, cocking her head, but Tormentas only smiled, and Cadence sighed a little before she said dryly: “Right. Chief Inquisitor or something under Hel herself. I guess you two get along, huh?”

“Grand Inquisitor. And I've only been fortunate to earn her trust.” replied Tormentas with a shrug, and then she gestured towards the line of vaults and rings, saying pleasantly: “Take a practice run.”

Cadence didn't have to be asked twice: to finally be doing something more physical, to just let her body go and do one of the things it did best.

She hit the vaults at a run, jackknifing the first before using the second to jump across to the third. Fourth and fifth she moved over like liquid before she met the sixth with her front hooves, kicking her rear legs out and springing off with her forelegs as she flipped gracefully forwards before she caught what she had first taken for a chin-up pole and now realized was instead a transition point, swinging her body forwards and backflipping gracefully once before she caught the first of the rings.

She swung herself back and forth as she passed between the rings, flipping and twisting her body: they were all set at different heights, each designed for different levels of acrobatics, but all together forming a swinging maze: if she chose the wrong set of rings, she wouldn't be able to keep her momentum during the transition, which would slow her down. But she moved with supernatural grace, and she felt the Swan's powers coursing through her, letting her see things, as if she was catching glimpses of the future as she twisted her way forwards.

She caught the last ring and swung out, then swore under her breath as she launched herself too high, coming in too hard towards the first of the line of horizontal poles. But in a moment, her body adjusted itself even as she hit with her rear legs, twisting herself backwards as she clung stubbornly to the pole with her hind limbs and flipping upside down before launching herself to the next in line, narrowly catching it with her front hooves to swing and leap smoothly between the poles.

She was smooth until the last pole, misjudging the swing again and hitting it stomach first as she wheezed a little, but quickly caught on and revolved her body around the pole before she ended up in a sitting position on top of it, blinking and grimacing a little. She rubbed absently at her belly before she glanced down as Tormentas laughed, grinning widely up at her and saying easily: “Impressive, Cadence! I see that perhaps our training with you has been paying off after all... although you have to watch that mouth of yours.”

Cadence lamely rubbed at her muzzle, before Tormentas clicked her tongue as she looked over the obstacle course before saying easily: “Not bad at all. You came in eleventh.”

“What the hell are you talking about, eleventh? How the goddamn hell could I have the eleventh goddamn time!” shouted Cadence as one of her eyes twitched, before she winced as she nearly fell off the pole as Tormentas only grinned up at her.

“There's that mouth of yours again.” Was Tormentas enjoying this? Cadence thought she was. No wonder she was the Grand Inquisitor. “Yes, eleventh. But this was also a practice run... and I won't be satisfied until we get you all the way up to fifth place.”

“How many seconds do I have to shave off?” Cadence asked, and Tormentas smiled a smile that told Cadence she wasn't going to like the answer.

“Seven.”

Cadence flinched at this, looking back through the forest of rings and poles before she gritted her teeth. The vaults had taken her maybe six, seven seconds, the rings she would wager had been maybe, maybe ten, and the poles had been the bulk of her errors, but that was maybe another ten seconds of time...

Well, if she worked on her transitions, if she could smooth that out, that would be at least a second or two... and... “Wait, is that seven seconds to get to fifth, or seven seconds to get to first?”

“To get to first you'll need to shave off nine and a half.” Tormentas replied, and Cadence frowned before Tormentas added, as she stretched her wings out. “And you also aren't allowed to use these. The stallion who completed this course the fastest did not have wings. And as much an asset as they can be, they will actually slow you down during your transitions in a course like this.”

Cadence grumbled a bit, before she glanced down as Vextus Lux entered the room, the High Priestess looking curious as she asked: “What are you doing here? Don't tell me you've been keeping this poor dear busy with your shenanigans when she should be resting.”

“Cadence is almost as restless as Thorn Blackfeather. So I thought this might be a better diversion for her. And look at her, all fired up and eager to prove herself.” Tormentas smiled slightly, glancing over at the bulky mare as she approached with a thoughtful look. “Her time was just over twenty-five seconds.”

“She has quite a way to go if she wants to compete with Thorn's time.” Vextus Lux said, and Cadence fell sideways off the pole, landing on the ground with a loud smack as she gaped at Vextus.

“What the hell do you mean, 'Thorn's time?' He can't be... he's... he's an administrator!” Cadence burst out, shambling over to the two, and Tormentas and Vextus traded amused looks as Cadence winced and added awkwardly: “I mean, I.... he's my friend and I respect him and all that but he's also...”

“Thorn Blackfeather was never trained as a combatant. But every single day, under the observation and instruction of Empress Hecate, he ran an obstacle course.” Vextus smiled in amusement, shaking her head. “It's one of his favorite stories, you know. When he was a colt, Hecate would make him run the course until he was exhausted... or injured, whatever came first. Then she would have him healed, and then she would put him to work.

“Any time the course started to get easy, Hecate would increase the difficulty. And when that was no longer enough to slow Thorn down, Hecate began short combat drills at the end of each course. I know that Thorn may not be as strong as the warriors who serve your Mistress, and quite honestly, nor is he as courageous. But do not forget he is still very young, and he knows that while courage and bravery and perhaps even recklessness are valuable in a soldier...” Vextus smiled slightly. “You wouldn't want to serve a reckless, brash regent, would you?”

“I feel like there's... so much I still don't know about him. I wonder how much Moonflower even knows about him, some days.” Cadence said after a moment, smiling a bit before she shook her head and looked over at the short acrobatic course, before she hesitated, then asked: “So... any time Thorn visits Helheim...”

“I make time to see him, of course. Which, yes, does frustrate the young prince at times. He has his mother's obsession with schedules.” answered Vextus, before she smiled after a moment and invited: “Just go ahead and ask the question you really want to, Cadence, I won't bite.”

Cadence looked lame at this, lowering her head slightly before she finally stumbled: “You... why doesn't Thorn ever... I mean...”

“Because I suppose in a way, it is very painful for Thorn to be here.” Vextus replied softly, and Cadence frowned slightly as she rose her head, but Vextus only chuckled quietly and gestured around, saying gently: “This is a world that Thorn was born into. This is the world Thorn wants to be part of. His parents and... us, too, I suppose... these are all the things that Thorn follows. But he feels he can never catch up and that he can never be part of this world. He was always sealed away here. This is both his prison and his palace. And we are both his guardians and his keepers.”

Tormentas smiled in amusement, adding softly: “We aren't here just to help you, after all. We are here to keep Thorn Blackfeather in line.”

Cadence slowly rose an eyebrow at this, finding that rather hard to believe, but the Inquisitor shrugged before she said mildly: “Perhaps it is just Hel's paranoia. But don't forget that the silly colt lost his leg for a reason, too, and that reason was wandering where he should not have been.”

Cadence grunted, before she looked up almost embarrassedly as the doors opened and Thorn himself strode into the room, the stallion frowning slightly at the three before Vextus said kindly: “We were just talking about you. Cadence is very interested in learning more about you. Now why haven't you opened up to her more, dear? You clearly care about her.”

“Yes, well...” Thorn shrugged awkwardly, and was that a bit of a blush creeping up his collar? Either way, Cadence was surprised he didn't just brush the topic aside, like she'd expected him to.

He joined them, nodding to Cadence before he turned his eyes back to Vextus, and instead said: “A messenger is waiting for you-”

“Then he can sit and wait, dear. I am here on orders from Queen Hel herself, and even my loyalty to my covenant cannot override my duties and responsibilities to Helheim. And to you, of course.” Vextus replied with a smile, and Thorn looked awkwardly at the mare until she finally laughed and shook her head. “Fine. I'll go see him. I expect he's from Ruska, isn't he?”

“He has that air about him, yes.” Thorn admitted, and Vextus laughed again as if this was some kind of joke, which for all Cadence knew, it was. At least Tormentas looked a little confused, too.

“Very well. I'll be a few minutes. Cadence, I expect you to have shaved at least two seconds off your time by the time I return.” Vextus said with a smile, and Cadence shifted awkwardly before she watched the High Priestess turn to leave.

Thorn quirked an eyebrow at Tormentas, and the Inquisitor simply shrugged, explaining: “I found her wandering. So I decided her time was better spent here. Isn't that right, Cadence?”

“Yeah, and... how the hell do you have the best time on this? Are you the person ahead of me at the obstacle course in Decretum, too?” Cadence almost accused, and Thorn leaned back from her slightly with a wince before he shot Tormentas a look as the Inquisitor innocently looked away.

“I am.” he admitted finally, and then he shook his head and said simply: “Practice.”

“Practice.” Cadence repeated dryly, and Thorn only nodded once before she sighed a little and asked moodily: “Why don't you ever talk about these things?”

Thorn only shrugged and smiled awkwardly, and Cadence grumbled as she began to head back to the start of the course before the sapphire stallion said quietly: “I would rather... show you, and let you make decisions for yourself, than just talk about myself, Cadence.”

Cadence looked back over her shoulder at him, and then she smiled after a moment before she asked, in spite of the fact that it admittedly hurt her pride a little to do so: “Then can you maybe show me how you run the course?”

“I'm a little rusty...” Thorn started, and there he was, almost blushing again. But all it took was Cadence looking at him pointedly for a few moments for him to finally nod and turn towards the obstacle course, grumbling: “Alright. I suppose that... I can at least demonstrate.”

Thorn walked to the start of the course, and Cadence studied him intently: the stallion barely gave the course a glance as he removed his cape and neatly folded it off to one side. He self-consciously rubbed at his mechanical limb before checking the shoulder cusp, before he looked up and muttered: “Alright. Tormentas, signal, please.”

Tormentas smiled slightly, then flicked her horn, creating a loud bang, and Cadence's eyes widened as Thorn sprung forwards before the sound even faded completely from the air.

He hit the first vault and threw himself all the way to the second, springing off that and hitting the tops of the vaults like they were stepping stones. He hit the pole, and used it to spring off of instead of swinging under it, launching himself into the rings with enough force that he was able to hoof-over-hoof through the maze before he simply flung himself past the last set of rings and straight into the horizontal poles.

He moved through the steel poles like liquid, swinging under the first but then leaping over the rest to the last pole in line. He caught this and smoothly rotated his body as he swung himself under it, landing almost silently on a mat at the far end of the course before he grimaced and brushed at his chest, muttering: “18.7 seconds. Displeasing.”

“Hey, screw you!” Cadence snapped, and Tormentas snorted laughter as Thorn looked up blankly, before the ivory mare grinned awkwardly as she smacked the side of her head, adding in a much humbler voice: “I mean... that's amazing, Thorn, that's... far better than I managed. How can you move like that, especially with... I mean...”

“I'm not handicapped, Cadence.” Thorn said dryly, and Cadence dropped her head, feeling a little ashamed of herself before the sapphire stallion looked up at the poles, saying after a moment: “The rings are the hardest part. The rest is just a matter of... believing in yourself.”

“Believing in yourself.” Cadence repeated, and Thorn nodded, which made the ivory mare sigh before she moodily looked back towards the vaults, thinking about how easily Thorn had leapt along all of them... even though some of those jumps looked impossible. But he fully extended each jump, and I guess once he made contact... “You pulled yourself forwards, right?”

“Correct.” Thorn smiled slightly as he strode towards her, glancing at the course. “Momentum is crucial. Keep yourself moving and allow your body to find the way from point-to-point.”

He paused, then turned his eyes towards Tormentas, adding: “Perhaps this isn't such a bad idea. How was Cadence's observation?”

“I am right here, Thorn. I can tell you myself.” Cadence said dryly, but Thorn only gave her one of his small smiles in return.

“I know that. But I need data on your performance from another source as much as from you. You can tell me what you're feeling and how it's begun to affect you, but I need an outside source to confirm how you're handling your abilities. Unlocking the Swan's powers is pointless if it doesn't increase your overall performance.” Thorn explained, and Cadence wasn't quite sure how to take that.

“What Thorn is trying to say is that adjusting to these abilities may take time. That's all.” Tormentas reassured, before she glanced back towards the sapphire stallion and added: “She seems to be adjusting very naturally so far, though. I haven't seen any diminished ability. I think it's rather the air of Helheim that's making her a little... snappier than usual.”

Cadence smiled lamely, and Thorn shrugged a bit before he said softly: “It's understandable. The corruption can't affect your deeply inside here, but the trace amounts will still rile up your emotions, and... you have been going through quite a lot lately, Cadence. Are you okay?”

It was blunt, but coming from Thorn, it was also touching, Cadence smiling over at him and nodding after a moment as she answered: “Yeah. I am, I... I keep having to remind myself that there's the whole time difference thing, and I get really angry sometimes, but... having stuff to focus on keeps me stable. And...”

Cadence shifted uncertainly for a moment, and Tormentas and Thorn both tilted their heads towards her, the Inquisitor frowning slightly before Cadence admitted quietly: “It's... easier to block out my emotions. Not... not the anger, the anger is always there, but everything else. I just don't feel... panicked or upset, even if it's always in the back of my mind, that Daddy's in trouble right now and I can't do anything to help until we do whatever it is Hel wants us to do. I think that's a good thing though, right? At least, that's what I keep telling myself, because... otherwise, it means...”

“You're not the Swan, Cadence.” Thorn said gently, and Cadence smiled awkwardly over at him before she lowered her head a little, and there was silence until the sapphire stallion finally nudged gently: “Why don't you run the course again? I'd be interested in seeing how you do now that you have a better idea of the layout.”

“Yeah. Alright.” Cadence nodded after a moment in return, rubbing at her head before she shook herself briskly out. She paused for a moment, however, then smiled a bit as she asked: “Do you uh... want to spar, sometime?”

“You know that I'm dating Moonflower, Cadence.” Thorn said politely, and Cadence couldn't help but laugh: partly in surprise, admittedly. She forgot that Thorn was actually capable of telling jokes.

But after a moment, he smiled briefly and nodded once, saying quietly: “Of course. I've been asked by Hel to do a full assessment of you anyway: if you're alright with it, I'll use the sparring session to assess all your abilities.”

Cadence nodded, before she tilted her head and asked, even as she headed towards the starting position: “So you were able to talk to Hel recently, then? Did she say anything about what the hell we're waiting for?”

“Not in so many words.” Thorn said carefully, which made Cadence feel apprehensive for some reason; then again, pretty much everything about Hel makes me nervous. Especially these days. “Clear your mind and concentrate on the task at hoof, though, Cadence.”

Cadence grunted after a moment, then she sighed as she turned towards the course, mumbling: “Like a dumb dog. Do your trick, Cadence, get your treat, Cadence. Except when's the last time I got any kind of treat? I just get told to do another trick.”

She grumbled to herself for a little while, but Thorn only held up a hoof when Tormentas opened her mouth, the Inquisitor looking at him curiously as the sapphire stallion said mildly: “Cadence was always an excellent leader, and she takes orders well... most of the time. But she has her... eccentricities, like all of the Orphans do. Just let her work it out of her system.”

“Very well. I'll trust your judgment.” Tormentas smiled slightly, before she bowed her head towards him and asked in a quieter voice, using a much-older language: “Will Vextus and I be traveling with her?”

Thorn hesitated for a moment, and then he nodded slowly before answering: “Yes. And even if I said no, I know you'd insist. I think this way is for the best, though.”

Tormentas smiled, then spoke again in the guttural, rumbling tongue of the demons: “And are you sure that you can handle this duty by yourself? Excited as I am to leave Helheim, even if only for a short time, I would be happy to stay as a protector.”

“I will have the Lady of the Moon with me.” Thorn smiled, and that was all the answer Tormentas really needed, before the sapphire stallion asked: “Is it ever hard to assist me, Tormentas, when your duty was to punish my Móðer?”

Tormentas, however, smiled again at this, her eyes almost soft as she replied gently: “No, my dear. Because when I was with Brynhild, I always did my best to help her, too.”

Thorn nodded thoughtfully at this, lowering his own head slightly, and then he glanced up as Cadence finally stopped grumbling and set herself at the start line, visibly clearer. She dug her hooves in, then nodded quickly once, and Thorn rose a hoof as he called: “Ready!”

Cadence visibly tensed up, and Thorn gave her a moment before he snapped his hoof down as his horn gave a boom of magic, and Cadence sprung into action, leaping across the vaults-

She misjudged the jump at the last vault and slammed down, chin-first, into the matted top of the mount, and Thorn winced a bit as the ivory mare toppled to the ground to twitch a bit before he called calmly: “The clock is still ticking.”

Cadence replied with a string of swears, and Tormentas cocked an eyebrow before she said mildly: “She might be even worse than dear Brynhild.”

“She has her... outbursts. But Cadence is normally much more...” Thorn paused to try and think of a word as Cadence groggily picked herself up before she grumbled and shook herself out, trudging moodily back to the starting line. “Well, she's not usually this... exuberant.”

“That is an interesting word to use.” Tormentas remarked with a slight smile, before they watched as Cadence set herself again at the start before she leapt forwards. “Should I tell her?”

“Let her finish this run.” Thorn replied, before he grimaced as Cadence missed grabbing one of the rings, the mare falling out of the air and flailing wildly before she hit the ground hard on all fours with a distinct crack: either the floor or one of her legs had just broken. After a moment, Thorn was admittedly relieved when Cadence straightened and rubbed at a limb, looking down with embarrassment at the large fracture she had made in the concrete. “Finish the run, Cadence.”

“I'll just start over.” Cadence said after a moment, and Thorn and Tormentas shared a look that Cadence pointedly ignored as she headed back to the starting line again.

Thorn began to open his mouth, but Tormentas reached up and grasped his shoulder with a slight smile, saying mildly: “You're the one who said to let her finish. So let her finish, Thorn Blackfeather. Somehow, I feel like she won't learn her lessons any other way.”

Thorn sighed a little, but then he nodded after a moment, watching as Cadence set herself before the mare leapt forwards. The sapphire stallion couldn't help but rear back slightly at the way she simply stampeded over the vaults before barreling through the transition to the rings, muttering: “This is her greatest weakness.”

“Yes. It is a common failing for those with too much pride.” Tormentas said meditatively, as she studied the way Cadence hit the poles with brute force more than grace, simply flinging herself from one to the next before she landed with a grunt and a sigh of relief. “Perhaps we should alter our training plans to account for this...”

“Just don't cross Section Six.” Thorn said softly, and Tormentas gave him an amused look.

“I'm not suggesting anything like that, don't worry. Just... counseling. Tutoring. Helping.” Tormentas replied, before she smiled when Cadence approached, adding quickly to Thorn. “Allow me to take over.”

Thorn nodded, and Tormentas turned her attention towards Cadence as the ivory mare approached with an awkward smile, but she did look proud of herself as Tormentas asked: “That confident, are you?”

“Yeah. So uh... how was my time?” Cadence asked after a moment, looking inquisitively at Thorn, but Tormentas quickly reached up and firmly turned her by the muzzle back towards her, Cadence's eyes widening slightly.

“You were quite fast.” she agreed, and Cadence began to smile- “Three minutes and forty seconds.”

“What?” Cadence burst out, looking at the mare with disbelief, and Tormentas chuckled.

“Yes, I know. But I was kind to you, Cadence, and I didn't add the thirty seconds that Hel normally has us add to every task we perform.” Tormentas replied glibly, and Cadence spluttered before the sapphire mare leaned forwards and said in a quieter, more-serious voice: “The clock did not stop running after you first failure, because you never reached the end.”

Cadence blinked, then she blurted, before she could stop herself: “That doesn't make sense! That's... that's not fair!”

“It is both, Cadence, and if you didn't know or understand, then you only have yourself to blame.” Tormentas replied calmly, and Cadence looked dumbly at the Inquisitor. “Thorn Blackfeather even told you to complete the course, and you did not. When you are told to do something, Cadence, it is expected that you complete the task: you are both a guest and a visitor, and Thorn is your host, regent, and a member of Hel's Archives. Do you know what would happen to you if you had said 'no' outside of this household, Cadence, let alone ignored him?”

Cadence stared at Tormentas, and Tormentas smiled as she leaned in before whispering into Cadence's ear: “Pride is punished by taking away all power from the victim, and making them wallow in who they truly are. Do you want me to put who you are on display for the whole world?”

Cadence shoved Tormentas backwards, baring her fangs at the Inquisitor before she snapped: “Look, I am here to... I don't even know why the hell I'm here, but-”

“You are here to learn from us, Cadence.” Tormentas sat back and smiled again, suddenly gentle once more as she bowed her head towards the mare politely, and Cadence frowned before Tormentas said softly: “But you are not here just to learn how to kill, however it might seem. You are here to learn how to live.”

The ivory mare shifted backwards a little at this, frowning a little before Tormentas shook her head and gestured at herself, saying quietly: “When I lived, Cadence, I felled dragons. Dragons, when I was mortal. I fought armies, and I won. There were none who could match me. And that made me stupid, Cadence, and in the end, I was poisoned while I slept, and then tortured in bizarre and horrific ways before I was finally killed. It was because I never learned humility, because I depended upon fear to keep me safe... but it was fear of me that eventually led them to kill me, Cadence. Fear has two edges, and the back always ends up sharper than the front.”

Cadence lowered her head, and then she shook it after a moment, muttering: “I... I'm not like that, though. I always have my friends to fall back on and I work really hard to be... to not give in to all that. I'm fine.”

“You are far from 'fine,' Cadence.” Tormentas smiled, looking at Cadence with kindness and what was almost sympathy. “No one who thinks of themselves first and foremost as a weapon is 'fine,' my poor dear. And while we certainly can't fix you in a week, we can hopefully at least give you a bit of... insight to yourself.”

“I didn't sign up for counseling, you know.” Cadence muttered, looking awkwardly away, and Tormentas chuckled.

“As far as I was aware, you didn't sign up for this at all. But here we are, all the same.” the Inquisitor replied, continuing to smile, and Cadence glowered at her before Tormentas gestured towards the course. “You are physically capable of completing the course faster than Thorn Blackfeather. But you never will, unless you learn to make your mind and emotions work in tandem with your body. You are physically capable of mastering me. But you never will until you learn to master yourself.”

Cadence muttered something under her breath about demons and their bondage fantasies, and Tormentas rolled her eyes before Thorn cut in gently: “Run the course again.”

Cadence sighed, looking moodily at Thorn for a few moments before Tormentas said softly: “You cannot use anger to hide from panic and despair.”

“Okay, fine, whatever, okay. Fine.” Cadence mumbled, shaking her head grouchily as she headed back towards the start of the course, but she didn't like how deep those words had cut into her. And she liked even less how the Swan seemed to actually be considering them inside of her... “What are you even worried about? You're supposed to be a heartless killing machine. You were better that way.”

Cadence internally winced at her own words the moment they left her mouth, and the Swan seemed to shift inside of her before it asked quietly: Or do you believe that we were better that way? You can hide all you like from them, but not from me, Cadence.

“Yeah, but I can ignore you as much as I want, Danzsöngr.” Cadence muttered in reply, shaking her head shortly before she looked over the course, mumbling: “Let's just... do this, and show them that we're... we can do this. I know that time was better last time, even if they're saying that... that's stupid, that rule. I mean, I guess I get it, but come on, does that mean-”

You're stalling. You're talking so loudly to yourself because you are afraid someone else will say all the things you don't want to hear. Do you truly fear being vulnerable that much? asked the Swan, and Cadence scowled as she shut her mouth and looked away for a moment, before she turned her eyes back towards the course, forcing the Swan away and her mind to focus on what was in front of her.

She tensed as she lowered herself to a ready position, then didn't wait for Thorn or Tormentas to signal her, leaping forwards and springing over the vaults before she hit the transition bar, flinging herself into the rings. She jerked and twisted her way through them, swearing under her breath as she flung herself into the next transition and hit the poles too fast, too hard, slipping a little in her swings before she flung herself too low near the end, flying under the pole and hitting the ground painfully to roll all the way to the finish.

She skidded to a stop with a curse, shaking her head quickly before she picked herself up, and Tormentas said softly: “Twenty three seconds.”

Cadence looked up in disbelief, and Tormentas smiled as she added calmly: “Rounding down.”

Cadence swore and stomped a hoof, then looked up and snapped: “I can get it! I was faster that time, I know that-”

“You can't with your mind like that, Cadence. Go and take a breath.” Tormentas instructed, and Cadence mumbled under her breath before she turned and stormed away, continuing to swear and curse to herself even as she headed over to the weights area. Tormentas smiled slightly despite herself as she watched this, before she turned her eyes to Thorn and asked softly: “How much do you think your dear mother would mind if I took her down to the... relaxation area?”

“The Cloister is off-limits.” Thorn said quietly, and Tormentas only smiled at him, tilting her head forwards, until the sapphire stallion sighed and nodded hesitantly. “But the Cloister is off-limits.”

“As you wish.” Tormentas bowed her head, and for a few moments, she and Thorn simply sat together, watching as Cadence grouchily pushed her way through a set of quick exercises with some of the free weights.

Tormentas gave Cadence a few minutes before she stepped forwards and whistled for her attention as Cadence finished another set. She glanced up, and the Inquisitor gestured towards the doors, saying kindly: “I'd like you to come with me, Cadence. There's a part of the mansion better suited for the training we need to engage in.”

Cadence grimaced slightly at this, but then she sighed and nodded after a moment, mumbling: “I guess I'm not in any position to argue. But still, I'd like... you know-”

“I don't know. You have to tell us. But you are also right: you aren't in much of a position to say anything, either way.” Tormentas replied gently but firmly, and Cadence scowled a little, but the mare only smiled slightly. “Well, we already discussed that at the moment, the only choice you really have is how willingly you serve.”

“I don't think that's actually what we talked about.” Cadence said testily, and then she forced herself to take a breath, recognizing that Tormentas was just trying to get a rise out of her. “Why are all you Lunas such... assholes.”

“I like to think we just... push other people to be their best. Sometimes that just makes us come across as rough.” Tormentas replied kindly, before she nodded to Thorn, then headed towards Cadence and firmly steered her towards the door, not giving her a chance to so much as glance back.

Thorn was left standing for a few moments by himself, before he tilted his head slightly to the side and asked calmly: “How may I be of service, Queen Hel?”

“Showoff!” Hel crowed, as her icy puppet cheerfully leapfrogged him, giggling and hugging herself, before she suddenly became serious as she spun around on her heel, saying coldly: “I need them ready, Thorn. I need the Swan and Cadence both ready. And if they're not ready, then I need her killed.”

“Please do not make threats against Decretum personnel in my presence.” Thorn said quietly, and the two looked steadily at each other for a few moments before Hel groaned and grabbed at her face, then she dropped back on her rump, childishly letting her hands fall in her lap as she scowled at him.

“You know, you shouldn't talk to me that way. I am your Nanny.” Hel said grumpily, and Thorn gave maybe the smallest of smiles before Hel let her head roll back on her shoulders, the puppet glowering up at the ceiling as she mumbled: “At least with no one around I don't have to act all rough and tough with you, you troublesome little colt. You're lucky I actually like my daughter. And I like you too! But seriously. I will kill her if I have to. I don't need the Swan, and neither does Thokk, but she is... dangerous. She is very dangerous.”

Hel chewed on her lip as her head tilted back and forth, and Thorn frowned slightly before he tilted his head and asked: “Why is Thokk so interested in the Swan Maiden? It sounded like she was gathering as many Avatars as possible, but like Cadence has become a particular target.”

The frost puppet looked at Thorn for a few moments, as if measuring him as she visibly mused on what to say. Finally, she sat back a little and explained, albeit grudgingly: “Oh, there's a few good reasons. I don't think it's because Thokk wants a weapon... even though, oh yes, a Swan is a fierce weapon indeed. When a Swan Maiden kills... their victims stay dead. And I don't think it's because Swans are excellent hunters: it's hard as hell to hide from something that can see anywhere and everywhere through the Astra, after all!

“But Cadence, Cadence in particular... she is oh so very full of knowledge.” Hel reached up and tapped several times on her bovine nose, nodding several times as she met Thorn's eyes. “The Swan knows all the ancient secrets of Asgard, and Cadence knows all the brand-new secrets of Decretum. And Thokk, being who she is, could very easily dig her claws into both. And what's more important in a war than having all the right information, blueberry?”

Thorn nodded slowly, lowering his head meditatively before Hel added grumpily: “But don't you or heavy metal get any ideas about digging around in her brain, you hear? You just leave that alone. Big metal momma doesn't need to know every little thing, you know.”

“I know that. And she knows that too, Hel.” Thorn paused, then hesitated for a moment before he asked: “What is happening to her?”

“I dunno.” Hel grunted and shrugged noncommittally, and Thorn only looked at her before the icy goddess threw up her arms and snapped in a consternated voice: “I don't know everything, blueberry! My name, I thought all the Swans had died until I heard about it from you and steel shortcake! I know even less how or why a Swan, a Swan of all things, was dropped out of Asgard...”

Hel sat back, looking thoughtful now as she tilted her head backwards, muttering: “A Swan, a Swan... Brynhild only survived because All Daddy pulled her soul out and chuckled it down to one of the mudballs along with Thor and Freya. Well, he always said that, but I'm guessing Freya probably followed the remaining Valkyrie of her own volition. Mothers find it very hard to let go of their daughters, you know...”

She quieted, tickling her fingers across her stomach silently, before she shook her head and muttered: “But a Swan. Swans were supposed to be automatons, beautiful, powerful... and soulless. So how did a Swan fall from the sky? What, exactly, is Cadenza Danzsöngr?”

The two looked at each other for a few moments, and then Hel smiled as she reached up and tapped her nose pointedly. “Maybe that's the answer, honeybun! Maybe that's the real reason Thokk wants that sweet little vanilla cake so much, she wants the answers too... or, much worse, she already has them.”

Thorn frowned at this, but then Hel popped up to her feet and clapped her hands together, saying cheerfully: “Okay, enough of that! Now you're no longer my grandson, you're my little bitch. Little bitch, this is the job I have for you to do.”

Hel firmly flicked her finger, and Thorn winced as he was lifted into the air, but he let his body hang limply instead of struggling before he grimaced only slightly when vertigo ripped at his senses. And a moment later, he and Hel were standing inside a massive library, demons and spirits working and reading at the countless tables around them, none of them showing the slightest bit of surprise or interest even as the goddess crowed loudly: “Here we are! Do you recognize this place?”

Thorn glanced around, and then he nodded after a moment, answering: “Dadivus University.”

“Very good!” Hel whistled before she scowled as she looked down at the ground, realizing she was standing on top of the emblem for the school. “Okay, less impressive. Still, you remember your stuff, that's good. Now let's see if you remember your demonic history. Who founded this school?”

“You did.” Thorn said, and Hel looked flattered before she pointedly rose her frosty eyebrows, and after a moment, the sapphire stallion added: “But it is originally accredited to Dadivus, a Lawkeeper.”

“Devils! Nasty things!” Hel said brightly, before she beckoned with her finger as she swung her head forward, and Thorn winced as he was yanked painfully through the air so that his face thudded into the bovine head of the puppet, Hel asking almost teasingly: “Where do the Lawkeepers worship?”

Thorn frowned, before he nodded as he understood the riddle, and Hel smiled before she simply stepped backwards and flicked a finger down, sending the sapphire stallion crashing painfully to the ground as she said softly: “You'll figure out the rest on your own, blueberry. You're smart like that. Normally I wouldn't get someone else involved in my affairs like this, but... we all have to work together on this one, now don't we?”

“Yes. I understand.” Thorn said slowly, as he picked himself up. But by the time he rose his head, the puppet of ice had simply vanished, and the sapphire stallion grimaced slightly before he shook his head and sighed. But he knew that sometimes, unfortunate things had to be done to keep order, and more than that, Hel wouldn't ask him and Cadence to get involved in something like this unless it had to do with Thokk.

His mind quickly assembled the clues Hel had given him, the stallion frowning for a moment before he shook his head and headed to the doors of the library to let himself out. At least now he had something to think about during the trip back to the mansion.

Except the moment Thorn reached the doors, he stopped and looked hesitantly back over his shoulder before he slowly turned around, striding back into the library. No, Hel wouldn't just dump him here for no reason. There had to be something else here. Some reason, that-

“Over here! Hey!” shouted a voice, and Thorn flinched in the painful silence that followed as all eyes turned towards two figures sitting at a far table, the smaller one bouncing and waving happily as the larger one tried desperately to contain the gleefulness of the peppy demon beside him. Thorn stared at the two for a moment before he recognized the mare, and then he dropped his head with a sigh, wondering moodily if this was Hel's way of showing gratitude or making it clear that no matter where his allegiances laid or who his family was, she would always have the power to make him miserable.