Decretum

by BlackRoseRaven

Insecurities And Aspirations

Chapter Forty Six: Insecurities And Aspirations
~BlackRoseRaven

Pinkamena was surprised when Luna and company arrived at Sugar Cube Corners, but she quickly became eager when she found out what the winged unicorn was carrying. She let them in, and they found Sleipnir gobbling down baked goods and making a nuisance of himself as Pinkie Pie worked with Rarity and Spike on the licensing papers and forms to get their business back up and running.

Atrus appearing out of thin air startled the dragon and unicorn a little, but Pinkie Pie barely looked up, still engrossed with the facts and figures as numbers and forms. But no one here was scared of the demons: if anything, Sleipnir cheerfully greeted Atrus and then came over to leer at Hevatica while Luna quietly discussed what she had brought with Pinkamena, and why they were here.

Then Sleipnir surprised them by looking up as he played a hoof through Hevatica's mane and made the Kelpie blush, while his other hoof rested on Antares' head as the foal sat happily by his uncle, saying in an easy, positive voice: “Oh, worry not! I have already begun the warding process on the upstairs rooms... perhaps this sweet siren can come with me and double-check the wards, however...”

He grinned widely at her, and Pinkamena looked at Sleipnir for a moment before she said distastefully, apparently not caring about the other ponies or foal in the room: “Just remember the rules. No banging anyone in our room or our bed without my say-so.”

Sleipnir cleared his throat awkwardly as Antares looked up curiously and Luna glared horribly at Pinkamena, and then the foal turned his eyes towards Pinkamena and asked finally: “What's 'banging?'”

“When you knock two things together real hard and loud.” Pinkamena replied immediately, glaring at Sleipnir, and the vine-maned stallion giggled stupidly as he reached up and covered his lips with one hoof. “Sometimes you get a good sound out of it. Other times, well-”

“Enough, enough! Antares, uh... Pinkie Pie looks as if she could use a break, go and play with her.” Luna instructed quickly. At this, Pinkie looked up from the papers and rubbed at her eyes as if tired, but then she brightened when Pinkamena grunted and jerked her head towards the foal, smiling happily and bouncing out of her seat.

Sleipnir and Hevatica slipped quickly off as Pinkie Pie and Antares busied themselves playing, and Rarity and Spike were glad to stay and work a little more on helping with the paperwork while Atrus loitered nearby as Pinkamena, Scrivener, and Luna made their way into the kitchen for some privacy. As Luna began to unpack the satchel, Scrivener couldn't help but look over the half-demon, then ask finally: “So Sleipnir's uh... promiscuity... really doesn't bother you?”

“I guess I'm taking a page from your guys' book. Besides... he's honest, never lies to me, always asks like a good little stud, and...” Pinkamena smiled a little, reaching up and silently rubbing at her tattooed breast as she softened and glanced embarrassedly away. “He always comes back to me at the end of the day. And that makes me feel even more special: it doesn't matter what else is going on, or that he's a giant stallion-whore. He's also always there for me. And I'm also on the road to becoming a full demon now so...”

She shook her head, then scowled at them and grumbled: “None of your goddamn business anyway, Nightmare Moon. Now how does this work, do I just drink all these?”

“Drink one a day, try and keep your time consistent. You're going to be in a lot of pain after the first few days and you'll probably need to stay in bed. You may get... mood swings, and urges, and... well...” Scrivener smiled a bit, studying her quietly. “You'll start to change. Are you ready for that?”

“Yeah.” Pinkamena said in a softer voice, looking down silently before she sighed and asked after a moment: “Do I need to be in restraints?”

“No. At least... not at first. But everything's going to intensify as the process goes on, until you're a full demon. It's going to hurt.” Scrivener replied quietly, as Luna finished laying out of the eleven jars before the earth pony added softly: “You're primal hunger and a lot of fury and anger wrapped up in one package, Pinkamena. It's going to be hard to handle those feelings.”

“I'm ready for it all the same.” the half-demon replied calmly, and she shook herself briskly out before saying coldly: “And you two ain't gonna scare me out of this last second, either. So don't insult me by trying to.”

Scrivener smiled after a moment at her, and Pinkamena only gave him a grumpy look in return before saying grouchily: “Keep leering at me and I'll make you into a gelding.”

“Oh, thou would not.” Luna grumbled, and Pinkamena glared at them at this challenge, making Scrivener wince and draw nervously back before the winged unicorn shook her head and said quietly, glancing at the eleven jars: “Store these in a safe place. And heat up the blood before thou drinks it.”

Pinkamena grumbled a bit, but then she nodded with a sigh. For a few moments, there was silence... and then the half-demon finally looked up and asked quietly: “Will I be... more useful, as a demon?”

“If it will soothe thee, thou shall be stronger, aye. But... thou has friendships already, and based upon need or want or not, they shall not change because of thy decisions. We are still here to support thee... always.” Luna said empathetically, and the half-demon grumbled, then winced when the winged unicorn stepped forwards and hugged her firmly. “Besides, thou art married to my beloved brother. And I know his love for thee shall never falter, so neither can mine.”

“Get off me.” Pinkamena mumbled, then she dropped her head back and sighed when instead, Scrivener stepped forwards and hugged her as well, the half-demon trying to repress a faint smile as she looked up at the ceiling and said tiredly: “You both suck. Can we please just move on to warding the goddamn house or whatever?”

It took a few hours to attend to insulating and warding Sugar Cube Corners, but it was secured from top-to-bottom to ensure that no demon could enter the home without permission, and precious little magic would be able to pierce the walls and spy on what was going on inside. It wasn't a particularly-difficult task, all-in-all: the biggest difficulty was finding out-of-the-way places to scratch runes into the walls or floor or lay enchantments where they wouldn't be noticed.

Since they had helped with forging the enchantments, Hevatica and Atrus would be able to enter and leave as they pleased, just as Pinkamena would even as a full demon, since it was her home. The Kelpie had giggled about this for a little while until Pinkamena had yanked her aside and threatened to cut her into a fish fillet if she started showing up on a regular basis just to flirt with Sleipnir, and the glare in the half-demon's eye had been enough to make Hevatica agree awkwardly that she would only show up if properly invited. Luna, meanwhile, had been very amused by the display of protectiveness and jealousy: but then again, every time Pinkamena showed she had a heart and emotions, it always made her feel a little fuzzy inside, for whatever odd reason.

When they were done with the process of securing the household, the demons both left: Atrus with a polite bow of his head, Hevatica with loud goodbyes, a smile for Antares, and a leer at Sleipnir, who grinned and waved at her until Pinkamena elbowed him in the throat. As Scrivener had watched the enormous, vine-maned stallion flopping around weakly, he couldn't help but reflect how he now felt very fortunate about his relationship with Luna, as he realized he could be enduring far-worse pummeling from far-meaner ponies.

Scrivener, Luna, and Antares left after only a short visit once the warding was done, Luna feeling an odd twinge of her instincts telling her to move on with the day. The Pink Twins were both thankful in their own way, however, and Sleipnir decided to tag along with them after he managed to crawl back to his hooves.

The four headed back to the library, Sleipnir hopping along and imitating Pinkie Pie's bouncing gait with Antares on his back, and Luna and Scrivener couldn't help but smile as their child laughed: with how he behaved, the enormous stallion fit in far too well with the Pink Twins and their eccentricities. He was masochistic enough to take pleasure in Pinkamena's games and silly enough to keep up with Pinkie Pie even at her most manic.

When they made it back to the library, they found Odin had arrived, sitting calmly at the table with Kvasir at one side of him, the polymorphed god looking moody. Celestia and Twilight were both at the table as well, but Discord was grumbling and pacing apprehensively around the room; his anxiety only worsened when Scrivener, Luna and Sleipnir entered the room, Antares still seated happily on his uncle's back before the enormous stallion bucked easily forwards and tossed him over his head.

The foal laughed as Sleipnir caught him and set him quickly down on his hooves, grinning warmly down at the colt... and then he wheezed when Luna punched him in the side, wincing and stumbling as the sapphire mare said flatly: “How many times must I tell thou not to toss my child?”

“Oh come now, sister, he is growing up and would have landed upon his hooves anyway! Do not be such a wicked creature.” Sleipnir scoffed, shaking his head quickly before he smiled warmly. “Hello, Father! I am glad to see thee!”

“Father? Doesn't that count as bestiality?” Discord asked moodily, and when Odin gave him a sour look, the Draconequus grumbled and held up his hands. “Well, excuse me all to hell. But I suppose looking like that, you have to take what you can get...”

“The only reason I haven't had you either gagged or beheaded yet is because I understand all too well what it's like when you find out most of your powers are gone.” Odin paused, leaning back moodily. “Although I suppose in your case it's worse than just being sapped of your powers. A strong punch to your stomach could upset that bracelet, couldn't it?”

Discord grumbled, crossing his arms as he glowered over at the once-god, saying pointedly: “I could get this out any time I wanted to. I just don't want to, that's all.”

Kvasir, however, snorted in amusement, replying dryly: “How? The bracelet is interrupting the natural flow of chaotic energy in your body, and reacts the moment it begins to spike. The only way it's going to come out is to cut you open... but you seem to get a little ill every time we suggest that.”

“Well, we don't all like to think about being disemboweled. For some of us that's a rather disgusting thought.” Discord muttered, looking away sourly as he rubbed nervously at his stomach. “Not all of us are reverse-vampires, after all, trying to share our blood with each and every little thing we meet.”

The polymorphed god glowered as Odin sighed a little, and Luna looked up with a thoughtful frown on her face towards Celestia and Twilight, saying finally: “I do not know whose side I am on in this debate. There are merits to both. 'Tis annoying.”

Odin shook his head slowly, and Celestia gave a small smile before she said quietly: “Then maybe instead we should step away from continuing to pointlessly argue... I think we'd all be interested in hearing how things have gone with Pinkamena, after all.”

“Making the half-demon into a full-demon...” Odin rubbed at his beak, but then he sighed a bit, glancing towards Kvasir as the beetroot unicorn looked embarrassedly away. “Well, we'll have to judge this decision by its outcome. I only wish, Brynhild, that you would remember that everything has rules for a reason.”

“Aye, and all rules can and should be broken, too.” Luna replied impetuously, and Odin closed his eyes slowly as Sleipnir nodded agreeably, Antares cocking his head curiously as he looked up at his mother. Luna smiled as she turned her eyes to the colt, explaining softly: “In life, we must all at some point... decide for ourselves who we are, what we are going to do with what we are given... not simply bow to the rules and standards and beliefs of others. One must live one's life following one's own path... while of course always striving to help others find their own way forwards. And if thou art very lucky... thou shall find that thy path may converge with another's along the way.”

Luna gazed softly over at Scrivener, who smiled back before the winged unicorn returned her eyes to her son, saying gently: “Do not think I am saying life must be lived selfishly: the greatest life of all is a life lived for others, and for love. What I am saying is that along the way, there will be many times when thou shalt be all-but-ordered to do as all others do, and I want thou to know, my sweet Antares Mīrus... thou does not have to do anything other than what thou thinks and knows in thy heart to be right.”

“Heavy lessons for one so young.” Odin said softly, but he was smiling a little before he added with quiet amusement: “Your philosophies always made you difficult, Night Maiden. Honorable, yes: but difficult, all the same.”

The sapphire mare only smiled a little as Antares looked back and forth, then gazed up at Discord when the Draconequus looked grumpily down at the foal and asked dryly: “So does it do any tricks?”

“I'm Antares. Is your name Discord?” The foal looked up curiously, and the Draconequus winced back a bit, looking oddly unnerved before Antares smiled a little. “You don't have to be scared. I know everyone's nervous right now but... no one wants to hurt anyone, either.”

Discord looked unconvinced, studying the foal curiously before he snorted moodily, shaking his head out and dropping back against a library shelf as he sighed tiredly, muttering: “Not that I can do anything now, anyway. I suppose I could throw these books at you annoying ponies or hurt you with words, but... I like action. Not words. Can we just get the torture over and done with?”

“Oh shush, creature.” Sleipnir said gently, smiling over at the Draconequus before he approached the table, asking: “Father, Kvasir, Celestia... do not all of thee agree, there is no reason to harm this odd being? For he meant well in his own way, did he not? Now the wretch is powerless, and there is no need to torment him further: let us show him mercy, so that he may know and begin to understand that we can be allies, we can perhaps help him... for he has already witnessed in our strength that we shall stand boldly up to Clockwork World and its wretched inhabitants.”

“Yes, and you'll all die horribly.” Discord muttered, shaking his head and rubbing at his jaw, looking distastefully over them all. “I don't know whether to call you stupid or arrogant. Or maybe I'll just save time and call you both. Which one of you can I slap without having to worry about being hit back?”

But the fear in his eyes and his body language was clear, and Twilight only shook her head slowly before she said quietly: “Maybe, maybe not. But either way, we are going to take a stand. We're not going to let them just roll over this world and destroy it.”

“Count me out.” Discord rose his hands with a snort, shaking his head and shivering once. “Look, ponies. If you're smart, you'll all just run away, as fast as your little hooves can carry you. You'll run as far and as fast as you can, to get out of this world, to get out of this damned universe... and even then, that might only buy you some time, but a little more time alive is still a little more time to live, isn't it? Or at least close enough.

“Let's look at it this way, in simple terms.” Discord began to raise a talon, then paled and grabbed at his stomach with a wheeze. “Oh, that was close. I... oh, this is so much less fun. Here. Like this.”

Discord turned around with a grumble, yanking a book out of the shelf and dropping it on the floor, and all present winced at the bang it made, the Draconequus pointing at this. “That's you. Now, I beat all of you. I even would have beaten the little puppy you call Discombobulation had I not been so confident and ruined my own chances.”

With that, Discord yanked another book out of the shelves and dropped it on top, then he pulled out a third and dropped this on top of that. “See that? That's the Skin Walkers, above me. Annoyingly-impervious to most of what I could do. That lack of panic, that lack of reaction to the most spectacular shows of chaos I could put on... I can't begin to describe how disheartening it was when I tried to stop them from dragging me off to that damned lonely cell.

“And here's the problem.” Discord removed a last book from the shelves, dropping it on top of the stack, saying distastefully: “Clockwork World, as you call it. The metal and lightning, backing themselves up with false chaos... artificial-made entities with no purpose except to destroy. Chaos-enders, I should call them, really... nothing's more still and silent than ultimate order, after all. And you ponies think you've got something good going on here...”

Discord looked moodily over at Celestia, shaking his head slowly before he threw a bad-tempered kick into the pile of tomes, knocking them scattering and making Twilight wince before she hurried forwards to quickly reorganize the books and put them back into the shelf. The Draconequus glowered at her, then he simply rolled his eyes before saying moodily: “You won't be able to win against them, ponies. Not if you're four or five rungs down the ladder from them. Not if the Skin Walkers were blown to paste by them and they were, let me tell you, they were: it was no contest.”

“The Strange Ones are guardians, not destroyers... and your ambush in the center of town was backed by chaos energy flooding the area. Enough to attract curious eyes from Asgard, as a matter of fact.” Odin said calmly, looking mildly over at Discord. “Do you really think that these ponies would have failed to have found some way to beat you?”

“Even without the Elements of Harmony, they would have found a way to combat you and the chaos you were spreading, Discord.” Celestia said softly, gazing over at Twilight and making her smile faintly as she blushed a little. “Because they are the embodiment of the Elements themselves, and purer than that; they are friendship, and the best friendships, as I've learned, are never without a little conflict and a little chaos.”

Luna laughed quietly as Celestia's eyes turned towards her, and Discord only blew a raspberry in response, looking irritable as he turned his head moodily away. “Wonderful. I'm going to die next to a bunch of lunatics who really honestly believe in all this fairy tale, happy nonsense.”

Scrivener Blooms smiled slightly, tilting his head forwards and asking mildly: “And you don't? Then what do you believe in, Discord? And how was it that Discombobulation beat you with his self-proclaimed power of friendship?”

Discord glowered at the charcoal pony for a few moments, then he finally simply snorted and turned his back on them childishly. He refused to speak for the remainder of the small meeting, as Luna and Scrivener joined the table to go over recent events in a little more detail with Odin, while Antares wandered around the library, as familiar to him as his own home.

Eventually, the foal walked over to Discord and sat beside him, looking up at him. Discord pointedly ignored him, and then Antares suddenly gave a wide, bright smile, showing off all his sharp teeth, and Discord let out a yelp of shock and flailed his arms wildly before toppling over sideways, making Antares giggle before the colt said warmly: “That's how Pinkamena said I should greet new friends!”

“What in Loki's name is wrong with this child?” Discord shoved himself back up to a sitting position, glowering down at the foal and studying it pointedly as Luna only laughed. “Nasty little pony. And... what is this?”

Discord reached down, pulling one of Antares' wings wide, and the foal winced a little and fidgeted as the Draconequus studied this and muttered: “A subtle hint of dark magic... but what was once enchantment has long faded into natural existence. Oh, you ponies, if you do things like this...”

“'Tis a nerve I would implore thee not to poke.” Luna said moodily, and Discord only grunted and waved irritably at her before he dropped the wing, leaning back and forth and studying Antares as the foal shifted nervously. “Creature...”

“The foal wandered over to me, not the other way around!” Discord whined, glaring over his shoulder, then he huffed and turned his eyes back forwards, poking at Antares' nose and making the colt wince a little. “Just what are you, Antares Mīrus?”

“I a colt.” Antares said firmly after a moment, nervousness seeping into his voice and making him stumble a little, and then he looked up and asked finally: “What are you?”

Discord fell silent at this, looking down at his eagle talon... and then he sighed softly and replied in a quiet voice: “I don't know anymore.”

Scrivener and Luna headed home in awkward quiet, Twilight Sparkle at Scrivener's other side with Antares riding on her back. It was late afternoon, and Luna could feel a distinct nibbling at her nerves, like something was trying to warn her instincts about... well... something. She wasn't sure what... she just felt like something, somewhere, was wrong.

It didn't help how things had ended up going at the library: a brooding Discord was worse than an obnoxious or insulting Discord, and he had quickly dragged Antares down into a fit of depression with him. Scrivener had taken Antares off to take a nap in Celestia's room, but instead had ended up sitting with him and reading quietly to the colt for more than an hour, helping him cheer up a little, but mostly just being there for his son. His poor, pained son, who seemed to feel the emotions of others so clearly, whose understanding could be a sword that cut both ways at times like this.

Near the end of the discussion, Odin had turned to Twilight, surprising the violet mare before he said quietly: “Some time ago, you asked me about my thoughts on Gymbr... on what the doll could be. I've thought it over for a long time, and have come to a strange conclusion, my trusted friends...

“I have taken much into consideration: Gymbr's protectiveness of Antares Mīrus, his ability to influence the world around him...” Odin's eyes flicked to Twilight's collar, which neither he nor Celestia had mentioned, and it made the violet mare blush fiercely when she realized they had clearly figured out what it was and perhaps even how she had gotten it. “His appearance and indestructibility... and of course the fact that the Norns hate him. Hate him so violently and vehemently that I believe they must fear him. And the only thing the Norns truly fear are things that should not exist, that their powers cannot see or affect.”

Scrivener grimaced a little at this, shifting nervously before Odin shook his head slowly and said softly: “Brynhild and Scrivener Blooms... how often have you had your dark dreams? You are powerful souls, with powerful imaginations, bound and wrapped up tightly together, giving vent in the dark and deep and uncanny places to... things that others would hide and repress. Brynhild, you yourself know that if given enough voice, treated long enough as something on its own, something apart... even the most frail of passions may grow its own sentience, take on its own life.

“I have heard Discombobulation's story, told to you all by Gymbr. Freya was kind enough to share the meat of it with me in letters and dialogues.” Odin gestured to her calmly, closing his eyes. “I believe that this fortified the creature's power and existence. I believe he was helped along by other forces in some way or another that will only come to light when Gymbr desires to reveal its true nature.

“I believe it is a Tulpa. A thought-form manifested into physical reality by... some means or another. I believe that since it first entered this reality, it has been growing steadily in power, as more belief is poured into it, as more and more, it has expanded its influence. Why it first appeared to Freya? I do not know, but if I had to guess, I would say to subtly slip itself closer into our ranks, making it feel like only coincidence that all of us here recognized it, reacted it, felt... something, when we touched it. Why it takes the form of a child's doll? An easier question to guess at the answer of: it desires to be close to us, and most of all, close to Antares. Because even if it is the darkness, not just of Brynhild, not just of Scrivener Blooms, but perhaps the evils that we have all committed, given life and form and shape and substance... it desires to protect first what is most important to it.”

There had been silence... and so many implications. And all of it based on whether or not Odin was right... something impossible to know at this junction in time. All they could do was keep pressing forwards for now, and hope for the best. Hope that even if this thing was... darkness, deeper and heavier than even Nightmare Moon... it would continue to serve a purpose. To help them... and as they walked along, Luna and Scrivener found themselves almost praying that it would help them, that it would continue to work to protect their family... that it wasn't working some hidden agenda or evil angle against them.

Yet as they strode quickly down the path back to the cottage, Antares began to fidget on Twilight's back, and Luna felt that strange instinct again, that whisper of something in her mind, that something was wrong. Even Twilight seemed to feel it, looking nervously at Luna as the starry-maned mare grimaced before Antares whispered: “No, Gymbr... that's not right...”

Luna and Scrivener traded sharp looks, and Twilight looked up worriedly before the sapphire-coated mare said quickly over her shoulder: “Twilight, Scrivy and I are going to run ahead. If it is but a bad dream, then we shall feel like fools... but I do not want to dally if... if...”

“Go!” Twilight whispered it, and yet the word sounded like a gunshot in the still forest, and Luna and Scrivener both broke immediately into a sprint down the path, feeling rollicking worries, anxieties, fears running rampant through their minds as they pushed forwards, hoping against hope that nothing was wrong...

It took them less than ten minutes, Luna charging for the front door before flicking her horn to tear it open and bolting into the hallway, Scrivener close on her heels before both ponies skidded to a halt. They almost fell over each other, something that would have been comical any other day as Luna moaned low in her throat, staring in shock at the sight of Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom both sprawled out, unconscious, on the floor... and overturned near Scarlet Sage was the pot containing the blood elixir, next to a shattered porcelain bowl.

A second bowl, full of the cold, now-sludgy mixture, sat in front of Apple Bloom, a spoon buried in the mess but the mare rasping with as much difficulty as Scarlet Sage. Scrivener cursed under his breath as he stepped towards the earth pony mare as Luna hurried to their daughter, inspecting her quickly and trembling as she touched over her body, brushing drying foam away from her jaws as she whispered: “Why? This... Scarlet Sage would never do such... such madness!”

Scrivener looked up towards her... and his eyes locked on the sight of Gymbr, sitting past Luna on the countertop. He paled a bit, and Luna's eyes widened before she snarled as her head whipped around, electricity sparking through her mane as she stepped forwards and shouted furiously: “Wretched thing! What did thou have to do with this!”

She swung a hoof out, knocking the toy from the counter to the kitchen floor, and a note fluttered down from beneath it. It caught Luna's attention even through her rage for some reason, as she snagged it out of the air and glanced over it... then stared in disbelief as she whispered: “'We left a pot of tomato soup for...' Oh wretched abomination! Oh damned and unwelcome fiend!”

Luna snarled and leapt around the divider, throwing the note away and smashing both her hooves down into the Gymbr toy hard enough to crack the floor tiles beneath it as she shouted furiously at the doll: “What madness is this? That could have killed her! Does thou want to see her die, is that it, does thou-”

“Mom...” whispered a weak voice, and Scrivener hurriedly stepped around Apple Bloom's still-unconscious form to his daughter, as Scarlet Sage opened her eyes and coughed weakly a few times. Luna trembled, looking at the Pegasus, and then she cursed and picked up Gymbr, flinging it hard into the back door before turning and hurrying to her daughter's other side, as Scrivener gently helped her sit up.

Scarlet Sage coughed a few times, then rubbed slowly at her throat, trembling weakly before closing her eyes and grasping at her skull, whimpering a little. Luna and Scrivener embraced her tightly from either side, and then the Pegasus looked up suddenly, sharply, rasping through her pain: “Red! Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she's still unconscious, though.” Scrivener said quietly, and when Scarlet Sage trembled, the charcoal stallion carefully slipped to the side, letting her see past to where Apple Bloom was laying on her side. “She's breathing regularly, though, it's okay. It doesn't look like she ate as much as you must have...”

“It's my fault...” the Pegasus whispered, trembling and closing her eyes tightly, and both her parents looked at her before she looked up with teary eyes and said weakly: “We... did a blood vow last night... she... she didn't have any, but I insisted that we should and... oh god, it wasn't... it wasn't tomato soup was it?”

“She... thou and she connected thyselves...” Luna stared at her daughter for a moment, and then she swallowed and shook her head hurriedly when Scarlet Sage nodded miserably. “'Tis... 'tis not important for now, we shall discuss it when thou art ready and feeling better. No, that was a mixture of demonic blood, Ambrosia, and... and Kvasir's blood. And thou, as a Blood Seer, must have...”

“The... the memories. The images...” Scarlet Sage reached up, trembling hard and gritting her teeth as she touched her forehead, shivering violently. “Gymbr... I should have known something was wrong because Gymbr was sitting right there but... I was too elated, I was... I thought... and so hungry, it smelled so good... Mom, Dad, I'm sorry...”

“No, don't apologize. Don't apologize.” Scrivener said empathetically, reaching up and squeezing her shoulder slowly. “Here, come on, let's lay you down...”

Scarlet Sage trembled, leaning on her parents heavily as they guided her over to their bedding, then Scrivener gently shook Apple Bloom awake as Luna hurried towards the kitchen to check on Gymbr. But the doll has vanished for now... and Luna cursed under her breath before looking down as a bolt of irrational, wild fear ran through her and she looked back and forth, almost expecting an attack...

But there was nothing: the toy was gone, likely fleeing for some safer place until things had cooled down. Luna cursed under her breath as she turned to head back into the den room, and found Apple Bloom was awake and groggy... but she was now curled up with Scarlet Sage, and Scrivener was cleaning up the mess from the late lunch the two mares had tried to share. By all of Asgard, I shan't let this go unpunished though, Gymbr...

Yes... we will teach the creature not to intrude upon our domain... Nightmare Moon whispered in her mind, and for once it wasn't unwelcome as Luna shivered and gritted her teeth, then turned around to fetch a bucket and cloth to help Scrivener clean up.

When Twilight arrived with Antares, the first thing the foal did was bolt down the corridor and all-but-plow into Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom. They both winced, and then Antares threw himself against his big sister, she hugged him fiercely back as he looked tearfully up at Apple Bloom, trying to form words but not quite managing it until the earth pony mare finally hugged both him and Scarlet Sage, bowing her head forwards silently.

Luna explained quietly what had happened as Scrivener finished cleaning up, then the starry-maned mare slipped past to head to her room. She checked on Discombobulation – sleeping, shivering a little pale, but he had also managed to make himself a mountain of blankets and pillows she didn't remember being in his apartment before, so he wasn't in as awful a shape as she had feared – and then took a moment just to breathe before leaving.

Scrivener had already fetched a blanket for the young mares, and Twilight was writing a short letter to Applejack, letting her know that her younger sibling would be staying over another night because of a small accident. Luna smiled wryly at how quickly everyone was responding to what had happened, glad they were working well together but a little disheartened by how many times they had gone through this dance to be so good at it now.

Luna quietly strode over to sit by the bedding, and Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom both looked up at her as Antares dozed between them, the foal tuckered out from the travels, the ups and downs of the day, and his emotional outburst. She gazed at them and smiled faintly, then leaned down, asking softly: “Art thou sure thou art alright? I am glad to fetch thee anything either of thee may desire.”

“No, we're fine... ain't we?” Apple Bloom couldn't help but smile, clearly trying to reassure herself as much as Scarlet Sage, and then she sighed and dropped her head, mumbling: “I'm gonna catch hell for this one from big sister for sure, though... and even worse, Cowlick, when I don't show up for work. Don't think that either of them will ever let me live this down...”

“Oh, worry not about Cowlick. Twilight, will thou pen a letter to her as well? Tell her that I am enlisting Apple Bloom's aid for a special project or some-such.” Luna nodded with a smile, and then she glared when Twilight looked at her disbelievingly. “What? 'Tis not as if it is not true, I consider my daughter very special and her relationship is a project I wish to nurture as best I can. And furthermore, there is no need to tell nosy, gossipy Cowlick every little detail of every little thing. The girls may tell her when they are ready to, that is all.”

“Thanks, Luna. I think.” Apple Bloom said gratefully, blushing deep red all the same as Scarlet Sage smiled and looked up, and at this, Twilight sighed and nodded, smiling faintly as she turned back to write another letter.

The next hour or so passed in quiet, simply allowing the young mares to recover their strength... and then, finally Scarlet Sage sat up a little as Antares stirred, then quietly clambered to his hooves and made his way off the bedding to stumble over to his father and plow gently into him. Scrivener smiled despite himself as his son looked blearily up at him, then gave a small smile in return before the stallion said softly: “Come on then. I'll give you a shower, Antares, clean you up.”

The colt nodded and smiled a little, and Scrivener gently led the child off to the bathroom. Luna gazed after them, then she shook her head before turning her eyes over the mares in the room, smiling a little. “'Tis funny how Scrivener Blooms does so much of the mare's work, is it not? But I am glad he is so wonderful with Antares, to say the very least. I begin to understand more and more that raising a young child... 'tis a difficult, daunting task.”

She gazed softly at Scarlet Sage, who smiled a little and shook her head, replying quietly. “You're far too hard on yourself, Mom. You really are... you and Dad are great parents.”

“Aye, great parents who have half-encouraged thee into making a blood vow with Apple Bloom. I am sure in some way we are to blame for helping influence thee towards this end.” Luna replied softly, and the two mares both blushed a little as Twilight looked over them, studying them curiously. “But 'tis... not as important as how thou art both doing right now. Has the pain faded? The nausea passed?”

“Yeah. I feel better. I think... that actually scares me more than feeling sick, though.” Scarlet Sage smiled faintly, glancing up and rubbing at her face slowly with a hoof. “I know my powers... everything's centered around blood. And if that was a mixture of... all those things, meant to help turn Pinkamena into a demon...”

“Eavesdropper, thou hast been listening in on my conversations with Scrivy and Twilight!” Luna huffed, and Scarlet Sage blushed as she and Apple Bloom traded embarrassed looks, but then the winged unicorn sighed and mumbled: “Well, 'tis not as if I ever lied about my plans, anyway. And thou art... thou art both old enough to be treated as adults, and to understand these things, aye.”

She quieted, looking down for a moment before glancing back up and continuing quietly: “But it will not have the same effect on thee as it will on Pinkamena. Not just because thou art a Blood Seer, but because she is a half-demon. Does thou understand?”

“At least a little, anyway.” The Pegasus nodded after a moment, giving a small laugh, and then she traded a look with Apple Bloom again, and Luna couldn't help but smile faintly as she understood what they were doing: communicating silently. Perhaps not as clearly as she and Scrivener could, but still, they were sharing something back and forth... and admittedly, Luna was impressed by it. She wasn't entirely sure if she could approve yet – partly because she still worried that she and Scrivener were somehow responsible for pushing Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage into doing this – but at the same time, it reassured her that there was more than a blood vow empowered by Scarlet Sage's abilities connecting them. “About... about me and Red...”

“I'll... let me, Scarlet. I was the one who suggested it. Who pushed for it.” Apple Bloom said quietly, sitting up a bit, and Luna cocked her head curiously as she looked across at the two young mares. They both sat up straighter... and then the young earth pony took a breath before she looked across at Luna and murmured: “I don't know a lot about magic and stuff. I know about... apples, I know about putting things together, and I know about getting stuff to work properly, whether it's growing things or making stuff move. And I wanna say that I was the one who pushed for this, really wanted this.

“I just... don't want anypony blaming Scarlet Sage for this. We wanna be together, and... none of this is her fault.” Apple Bloom blushed awkwardly, looking down and mumbling: “This is a lot harder than I thought.”

Scarlet Sage laughed a little, reaching a hoof up and wrapping it around Apple Bloom's shoulders before she smiled over at her mother. “I think what Apple Bloom is trying to say is that... if we made a mistake, we made a good one together, and we're right beside each other, just like you said we should be, Mom. And if we didn't make a mistake, well... we're together. We're going to be together, through thick and thin, even though... you know, we both know we still have time before...”

“Oh, thou art both boring.” Luna huffed, but she smiled a little all the same, looking back and forth between them. “Why aren't thou both demanding that... thou art allowed to move into Ponyville together or... I know not, something less boring than this. Something I can argue with, we are supposed to shout and argue, are we not?”

The Pegasus sighed tiredly as Twilight laughed despite her best efforts not to, and Apple Bloom grinned a little before she said finally: “Well, can we move in together somewhere?”

“Neither of thee could afford it, so 'tis a moot argument, in any event.” Luna replied cheerfully, and Scarlet Sage rolled her eyes before blushing furiously as the winged unicorn added mildly: “But thou art welcome to live here as long as thou likes, provided thou do not awaken Antares with thy grinding and bumping.”

“Mom! We haven't even... I... mom!” Scarlet Sage shook her head out violently as Apple Bloom looked torn between horror and withholding giggles. “Oh, come on, don't encourage her!”

“Hey, it could be a lot worse. Cowlick is way worse than Luna, and I gotta work with her most days.” Apple Bloom said pointedly, and Luna looked insulted by this before the earth pony mare added hurriedly: “Not that you ain't uh... plenty... offensive? Creative? Uh... scary?”

“Scary works.” Twilight remarked, and Luna glared at her before the violet mare added softly: “Just do me a favor... remember what we talked about before, and remember that... you're both growing up. It's not that I doubt in you or your love... it's not that I think you rushed into this, either. You've both had a lot of time to think about things and... no offense or anything, but it wasn't really hard to tell you two were kind of seeing each other on and off for a while before this.”

“Told you so.” Apple Bloom mumbled, and Scarlet Sage shouldered her lightly. It reminded Luna almost of herself and Scrivener, and she found this thought oddly reassuring despite the pitfalls it could potentially have, too: Luna was the first to admit her relationships often were a little weird, after all.

Then Apple Bloom looked up, asking finally: “I hope this... ain't too strange to ask then, though, but since you're okay with me and you're okay with... us and I think you're okay with... what we did and... you know... could you... maybe... train me, like you been training Scarlet Sage?”

Luna perked at this, leaning forwards curiously as she cocked her head, and Apple Bloom blushed as she glanced down awkwardly. “Well, I mean. I picked up a little stuff here and there, but I ain't ever really been... taught how to defend myself or anything. But Scarlet Sage, well... it used to be me protecting her from the bullies but now she's the one stepping up when things go south. Sure, I mean, I know how to use some of Cowlick's scary toys, but... you know.”

“'Tis nothing like the assurance of knowing thy hoof can do plenty of damage when 'tis the only weapon thou has at thy disposal, aye.” Luna nodded thoughtfully, rubbing at the underside of her chin before she said meditatively: “Thou art an adult but I need thou to speak to Applejack about it, or Big Mac. Preferably Big Mac, now that I think about it... I would rather have Applejack angry at me than thy handsome brother whom I am so very tempted to-”

“Luna.” Twilight said flatly, and Luna sighed and rolled her eyes, glowering over at her as Apple Bloom made a face and Scarlet Sage only sighed tiredly.

Then the sapphire mare shook herself out once, grumbling before meeting Apple Bloom's eyes and becoming more serious. “Aye. But I am serious. I will train thee either way but thou must tell thy siblings.”

Apple Bloom nodded hesitantly, then she asked finally: “Not that I doubt you or anything or... you know, think it's silly, but... why is it so important that I tell 'em?”

The sapphire mare smiled a little at this, her starry mane twisting quietly backwards as she said softly: “Because thou art going to be hurt in this training, physically and most likely emotionally. I shall press thee and pressure thee and temper thy mettle as I must. And this is a very serious thing thou asks for, Apple Bloom... thou art asking a Valkyrie for combat training.”

The earth pony mare winced a little and nodded awkwardly, and then Luna sniffed and added cheerfully: “And it also makes it clear 'tis not my responsibility what happens to thee whilst we train, and more importantly, that it was thine own choice, not mine. And thus thy family shan't be able to hold me accountable for anything that happens.”

“You're so generous, Mom.” Scarlet Sage said dryly, and Luna nodded agreeably before glancing down the hall when the door opened, and a soaked, grumpy-looking Scrivener and giggling Antares came out, the foal running hurriedly down the hall to smack loudly into Luna's side and make her wheeze when his head collided directly into her kidney.

She half-sprawled over, and Antares hugged her tightly, still wet from the shower. Scrivener smiled despite himself as he strode into the room, and then he sighed when the young mares both looked at him with amusement, rubbing awkwardly at his soaked mane. “Don't blame me. We really need a proper bath, Luna, especially since Antares likes to play in the water and... gets a little overexcited.”

“We have the hot tub. We can dunk him in the hot tub.” Luna sat back, picking Antares up and hugging him against her body, unmindful of how wet he was as she leaned down and nuzzled him firmly before reaching up to comb his messy mane back with a smile. “And look! 'Tis already almost time to get his mane trimmed again!”

Scrivener shook his head with amusement, and then he began to turn before Apple Bloom asked him curiously: “Scrivener Blooms, uh, how long did it take you to... you know, become... you know?”

Scrivener looked over his shoulder at her, then he turned around and reached up to brush his wet mane out of his eyes before he shrugged thoughtfully, saying finally: “Hard question, Apple Bloom, because of how I'm soulbound with Luna... sometimes, I don't even know when I'm accessing into her memories and abilities, it just happens on instinct. And even then, I'm still more of a scrambler than I am a fighter.”

He smiled a bit, and then shook his head and said thoughtfully, looking down: “But after... after a year or so of training with Luna, I was tougher, stronger than I ever remember being in my entire life. And it might sound a little funny – or, you know, evil – but I was happier than I'd ever been in my entire life, too.”

“Yeah?” Apple Bloom smiled a little, tilting her head curiously, and Scrivener shrugged awkwardly as he smiled back at the young mare.

“Yeah.” he replied finally, then his eyes roved to Luna as he continued in a softer voice: “Of course, I had a lot of reasons to be happy, but... I can say with full confidence part of it was learning what Luna taught me. I felt stronger, faster and lighter on my hooves... better about myself. And, funny as it may sound, one thing Luna likes to get across clearly is that we don't just pummel whoever annoys us. Even though that's what she always does.”

“I am permitted to, I am the mare in charge.” Luna said pompously, tilting her head upwards and looking cheerful, and then she smiled over at Apple Bloom. “But aye. 'Tis very important to remember. We save using our hooves on those who truly deserve it.”

Twilight smiled a little, adding quietly: “Just feel fortunate you're an earth pony, and I really mean that. Even more, that you're used to hard work from the years on the farm... when Luna first started to train me, I could barely keep up. And worse, she always insisted on horn fencing.”

“'Tis an art form! And furthermore, thou art a fine fencer. And one day, my son, handsome Antares Mīrus, will be a master of the craft as well.” Luna smiled warmly, gazing down into her foal's eyes as the colt giggled quietly, before Luna looked up and nodded firmly. “It may be strange, my friends, my family... but it is one of the greatest things I feel I can pass down to my son. And with it discipline, honor, respect, and courage.”

She softened, kissing the foal's forehead gently, and Scrivener smiled softly as he strode up beside her before throwing a wet foreleg around her shoulders, and Luna laughed. Twilight smiled, then rolled her eyes when Luna grinned over at her, but gladly joined them as well, collar glinting around her neck... and Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage both smiled as they sat back, feeling welcome and happy in the embrace of this odd little family they had together.

Comments

[Icthelight]

but you seem to get a little ill every time we suggest that

[Koekelbag]

Slip-ups:

Scarlet Sage coughed a few times, then rubbed slowly at her throat, trembling weakly before closing her eyes and grasping at her skull, whimpering a little. Luna and Scrivener embraced her tightly from other side,

From opposite sides? The sentence doesn't really... work... like this.

Twilight smiled then rolled her eyes when Luna grinned over at her, but gladly joined them as well, collar glinting around her neck...

...
I got nothing.

Gymbr, just what are you trying to achieve...