Synthesis of the Atheist

by BlackRoseRaven

All Merely Players Upon The Stage

Chapter Forty Seven: All Merely Players Upon The Stage
~BlackRoseRaven

It was a normal, calm day: Nightmare Night was only a few days away, and the guards around Canterlot were relaxing a little. It had become an annual tradition that on Nightmare Night, the streets would be flooded with creatures from Subterra, turning the whole city into a haunted playground: some ponies were still less than comfortable with this, but the foals loved it, and some of the soldiers had found it was actually one of the more relaxing times of the year. There was a lot more yelling, and a lot of pranks and fooling around, but crime rates actually dropped around Nightmare Night. No dumb kids wanted to risk vandalizing tombstones or stirring up any trouble when there were real ghosts and monsters lurking around, after all.

One of the guards was sitting back beside the city gates, calmly eating a sandwich, while another soldier was absently paging through a copy of the latest issue of Rogues And Studs. The Pegasus paused in his skimming, then called over to his compatriot: “Hey, there's another article in here about that crap author guy. It says here he and Luna regularly use the barony's money to buy stuff.”

“You know that magazine's for mares, right? And personally, I had to work under Commander Scutum before, who reports to Baroness Celestia and works with her crazy family. That guy wouldn't let his own mother so much as look at the flag wrong, let alone steal from the barony.” muttered the other soldier, and then he took another bite out of his sandwich before frowning down the road, chewing slowly as his eyes caught something.

He finished off the last of his lunch, then leapt into the air and flew a little higher to get a better look at the rooster tail of dust rapidly approaching up the slope, before shouting over his shoulder: “Uh, sir? There's something approaching fast, I don't know what it is...”

Sitting above at the top of one tower to the side of the gates, a sergeant looked up curiously from the book he was reading, then he tossed it aside as he pulled out a spyglass, leaning forwards and zooming in before gaping incredulously. Both guards looked up at him curiously, but the sergeant only shook his head dumbly, mouthing wordlessly. “It... it can't be... that looks like Lady Luna, but... no, she's on some kind of...”

“Are... what do we do?” asked one of the guards awkwardly, and the sergeant simply shrugged, and both Pegasi winced before readying themselves, the soldier with the magazine hurriedly tossing it away as all three stared at the shape hurtling towards them at breakneck speed.

The shape drew in close, then suddenly skidded to a halt with a screech of studded rubber tires as the machine half-turned, and Luna winked teasingly from behind a pair of wraparound sunglasses, asking cheerfully as she leaned over the handlebars of the motorcycle. “Hail, friends! 'Tis a wonderful day, is it not?”

The guards could only gape, and Luna grinned at the looks they gave her motorcycle: it was a mix of blacks and dark sapphires, the saddle-seat designed for her to comfortably half-lay in or sit up on, while her rear legs straddled the machine with ease. The tinted windshield extending up from the front of the motorcycle was short and curved to maximize aerodynamics... while the silver demon's skull locked into place over the head of the motorcycle was there just to be intimidating as possible.

Built into one side of the motorcycle was a large, steel holder in which Sting Mk. II rested, and not just an exhaust pipe, but two large, ominous-looking boosters stood out of the back of the rumbling metal steed. And strangest of all was the addition attached on the other side of the motorcycle: a little oval-shaped black sidecar on four little wheels, with a recessed seat that Scrivener Blooms sat in, currently hyperventilating as he clung tightly to the single support bar in front of him, goggles over his face and his head jammed into a too-small helmet.

The guards could only stare, and then Luna nodded cheerfully once before turning the handle of the motorcycle and twisting the throttle, and they rolled forwards through the gates and into the streets of Canterlot. Ponies parted like a wave for them as Luna drove down the road at a thankfully-slow pace, but even that made Scrivener's teeth chatter before the mare scoffed at him, saying disapprovingly: “I shall have thee know that thou art nothing but a great coward.”

“Luna, first of all, when Cowlick tells you you're going too fast... you're not just tempting death. You're putting on a parade for him with cheerleaders and fireworks and those giant ugly floats.” Scrivener mumbled, shaking his head out and looking back and forth. “Secondly, on that first horrible... horrible... horrible ride you went on, you almost killed half of Ponyville, ran into Applejack's apple cart, launched me through a window of the library and then hit Tender Trust and crashed into that poor pony's house. And that took you all of ten minutes to do. Thank the Horses of Heaven Tender Trust is half-Phooka or you would have the blood of an innocent kid on your hooves.”

“Oh shush, Scrivy.” Luna huffed, and then she added blandly: “And the damage was not that severe, to either of us or Ponyville. And I am now very good at this! Epona loves me, does thou not, Epona? Oh yes, my sweet! My battle-mare! My pride and joy!”

Scrivener sighed tiredly, and then he muttered: “This is creepy. Your old self and new self mixing together I'm used to, Luna, but when you start talking about saddles and tack and riding horses and all this, I start getting a little creeped out. I mean, how would you like it if... no, I'm not finishing that sentence, nevermind.”

“If by some chance, my old self and new self could meet, then Luna would be proud to have Brynhild as her rider, and Brynhild would give Luna honor and glory times a thousandfold!” Luna said staunchly, and then she paused before looking ahead with a small smile, adding quietly as her eyes locked on the gleaming, silver inscription of the motorcycle's name along one side of the front: “Besides, Scrivy... rider and ridden were one. I direly miss my mare, Hex... 'twas a mighty horse, I will have thee know. Bravest and fastest, next to Freya's... as I have always been.”

Scrivener looked up with surprise: that wasn't bitterness in Luna's voice he heard, or felt emanating from her... that was pride. He looked over at her curiously, but she only smiled again and shook her head slowly, murmuring: “Nay. 'Tis just... 'tis the old sensations coming back, Scrivener, that is all. The old pride... when the most we could ever hope to be was next to Freya, and Scrivener, I was. I was, no matter what they said. I, the Night Maiden, was... aye. Good days.”

She sighed in soft nostalgia, then shook her head slowly before looking up as the motorcycle rumbled onwards, gazing back and forth with pride and enjoying the looks of amazement and shock they received here and there. “This feels good. 'Tis a machine, but it growls and purrs and roars like a beast. It feels warm to me, Scrivy... I suppose 'tis only the heat from the engine or whatever the infernal, mechanical heart of this creature is called, but... Epona feels alive to me all the same. She brings back good memories.”

“And that's why you were determined to master this damn thing over the last couple of days, huh?” Scrivener asked softly, and Luna grunted and nodded. The stallion sighed after a moment, looking ahead moodily: he could feel her warmth and happiness through the soul link, but at the same time... “Well, I still think you're crazy. And I do not like this little stupid sidecar.”

“Well thou art never driving my sweet Epona, she is for my hooves only. I may never let either thee or Twilight sit astride her, I warn thee now.” Luna said huffily, and Scrivener gave the mare a flat look as she sniffed loudly, then turned her eyes back ahead. “Now tell me, where are we headed again? All I remember is thou said today we travel to Canterlot.”

“I have a meeting with Doctrine and Tops today. Underbrush might be there too, but I get the feeling that he's not going to show up. Then we have to find Ersatz Major...” Scrivener grimaced and rubbed slowly at his face, and Luna nodded a few times as memories and faint concerns tickled through her mind. “How the hell she got the information she did, I still don't know... it's like she has access to our private lives or something.”

“'Tis beginning to disturb me as well, Scrivy. I still say we should have allowed Morning Glory to hunt her down, 'twould have been a grand diversion at least, if nothing else.” Luna muttered, and Scrivener grumbled but couldn't really form a coherent argument right now: somehow, Ersatz had not just managed to listen in on several private conversations, she had also gotten a picture of Scrivener Blooms handing a cashier's check over to Cowlick outside the bank. Her latest article had reported that he was 'paying for the development of weapons' and 'assisting the arms and murder industry.'

She worked fast, that was for sure. He was pretty sure next to nopony believed he was some evil mastermind building terrible weapons in his spare time though, especially since Luna was showing off her motorcycle everywhere, so it probably looked instead like he had bought his insane wife an equally-insane gift. But if Ersatz kept digging up more and more of his personal life, Scrivener was afraid she might finally publish something that would actually send him into a stress spiral, and when he got too stressed...

The stallion shook his head slowly: sure, Valthrudnir was at least pretending to get along with them right now, but now his mind kept flashing back to what he – and Luna, as he felt her gentle mental reminder – had become during the fight with then-Hollow Star. He thought about how when the corruption boiled in his veins, his emotions became unstable, wrong and right blurred together... he wondered silently what he would become if his mind snapped, and Valthrudnir didn't take over, and instead simply left things to... play out.

Luna tossed him a quiet look, and the stallion shook his head quickly again, clearing it as he muttered: “Don't worry about it, just thinking too much. And a little scared out of my mind, still. You might be confident and all, Luna, but I still remember how many times you've flung me out of this thing, and that doesn't reassure me so much.”

“Oh shut up, Scrivener Blooms, thou great idiot.” Luna grumbled in response, and the stallion smiled in spite of himself before they both traded another look, and then the winged unicorn returned her eyes to the road as she added: “Besides, thou art more likely to damage whatever thou art flung into than it is to damage thee. I fling thee all the time at enemies, and rarely does it backfire.”

“Yeah, we've talked about that, Luna. I'm not a living cannonball.” Scrivener replied dryly, but Luna only shrugged easily with a slight smile, her eyes focused forwards as they rumbled onwards down the street, before she smiled and turned at an intersection, weaving around several foals and waving a hoof to them cheerfully as she passed.

Scrivener smiled a bit as Luna culled the directions from his mind, closing his eyes and relaxing back a little. Now that his heart was finally slowing down a little after the terrifying journey here from Ponyville – Luna had been going so fast the world was just a blur around them – the stallion found himself enjoying the ride. Maybe even the attention a little, if only because Luna was clearly taking pleasure in the way ponies were staring at her as she rode through their ranks upon her monstrous metal machine.

And he did admire her: she had been determined to learn how to ride this thing, and so that was what she had gone and done. Now, she handled it as naturally as she handled herself, rumbling slowly down the road, easily avoiding the pedestrians too stunned to get out of the way, passing smoothly beside carriages and keeping the Iron Horse at a lazy speed. While when she'd first gotten on this horrible thing, she'd zigzagged wildly in every direction while trying to understand how the brakes and throttle worked until she'd... well.. they'd already gone over that.

He shook his head with a quiet laugh, then looked up and smiled as Luna pulled up to the side of the street, sitting up a bit and gesturing with her head towards the looming, tombstone-shaped building they now sat in the shadow of. She cocked her head curiously, but Scrivener only shook his own, answering her unasked question as he reached up and pushed his goggles onto his forehead: “Doctrine apparently runs a theater troupe or something. That's what Barry told me, anyway... maybe he just owns the building or something, though. It looks kind of run down, doesn't it?”

Luna grunted, looking curiously over the decaying front: some of the large, metal letters that made up the sign over the marquee had fallen loose, leaving it to read “EQUIN X THEA R” in rusted iron, and the paint was peeling here and there over the walls. All the same, it also still looked regal and imposing enough, and there were enough fresh posters over the front walls to make it clear they were still in business, one way or another.

The ticket booth was empty, but one of the doors was open, so the two ponies traded looks before Luna shrugged. She pulled Sting Mk. II out of the holder and slipped the holstered gun onto her back, then turned the motorcycle off and yanked the keys out of the ignition as Scrivener muttered: “Still don't see why you had to bring the gun.”

“Well, I did not mean to. But the gun simply fits so nicely with Epona that it seems the logical place to leave it.” Luna reasoned, and then she smiled slightly as she flicked her sunglasses down her muzzle so she could look overtop them, as her keys floated up to tuck themselves neatly into her starry locks. “Besides, Scrivy. Am I not quite the 'bad-ass' like this, as I hear thee keep chirping so sweetly into my mind?”

Scrivener only rolled his eyes as he finally wiggled his way out of the sidecar, then he winced when Luna bopped him with her horn, before sighing in relief as she only banged on the shell helmet protecting his head. “Now let us go and face down this Doctrine. 'Tis about some... fundraiser, is it not? I do not desire to go to a fundraiser. I shall tell him this myself if thou does not.”

“We'll figure it out, Luna. If we do go, it won't be for long and it'll just be to keep Underbrush happy, so we can give Cowlick more money for the White Matter work.” Scrivener replied reasonably, turning around... and then wincing when Luna punched him in the rump, making him stumble forwards and then glare over his shoulder at her as his goggles half fell over his face

She glared back... then giggled for a moment before hurriedly making herself look serious again, retorting: “Thou art not allowed to be either a voice of logic or sanity, Scrivener Blooms. 'Tis annoying and a little frustrating, because I do not like to be the whiny one. I am the tough one. The strong one. The talented one. Thou art the whiny sidekick.”

Scrivener grumbled as he pushed his goggles back up before starting towards the doors, and Luna trotted after him with a grin cresting her muzzle at his crankiness. He awkwardly pushed the door open, then glanced back and forth curiously for a moment before his attention was drawn towards the sound of voices coming out of an open doorway at the other end of the foyer they had stepped into.

They crossed the dusty, worn carpet, Luna tossing a half-yearning look at the snack counter, which was filled with all kinds of delights in easy access... but then she only grumbled and turned her eyes back forwards as Scrivener poked his head through the doorway and into a dim auditorium beyond. The seats were old and worn-down, while the wooden stage was dented and stained... but it still all had a sense of life to it, of having been host to countless plays both good and bad, and having retained some memory and emotion from each and every one of them.

To Scrivener's surprise, it looked like Barry had been right for once, even if he'd missed one little detail... and then he smiled slightly as he began to stride quietly down the aisle, and Luna softened and felt warmth run through her own system. Doctrine was on stage, the Pegasus easy to identify with his round glasses, his scruffy little beard and the cheap gray suit he was wearing... and the fact that only a few other ponies around him were adults, while the rest were all young ponies, most of them foals, only a few a little older. “-try your best, alright? We've still got a few weeks left, but we're gonna have to pour everything we have into this if we want it to turn out right.”

“What play art thou doing?” Luna called clearly, and Scrivener half-felt like laughing and half-felt like kicking her, preferably in the head. Doctrine and most of the cast looked towards them with surprise, before the Pegasus smiled at them.

“Pegasus.” he replied calmly, and Scrivener and Luna both nodded as they approached the stage, before Doctrine cleared his throat and gestured towards them. “Everyone, this is Sir Scrivener Blooms and his wife, Lady Luna Brynhild. I'm sure some of you have heard of them both. Mr. Blooms, Lady Luna, these are the Fairweather Players... they're one of the younger groups I give theater space to. But I'm sure you're here for business, so uh... Cal, take point for me while I talk to Mr. Blooms and Lady Luna.”

“Scrivener is fine, just Scrivener and Luna is fine.” the stallion said, and Luna nodded firmly with a slight smile as she looked over the foals. Younger and a little older, from the ones that stared with adoration, to the ones that were talking amongst themselves... even the disinterested loners that stood a little part, they were all bright visions to her. “And we're more than happy to just sit in the audience and wait, I you want to finish up here, Doctrine...”

“No, no. Cal can handle this, right?” Doctrine looked pointedly over at a unicorn wearing a headset, who nodded vigorously, and Scrivener smiled despite himself: the unicorn was handsome, with curly blonde locks, expressive features, and those big emotional eyes. Clearly an actor from his looks, but also one who gave the sense that he couldn't handle remembering more than one or two lines for a thirty second commercial spot. “Start with act two, scene three, and just go from there until I get back. I shouldn't be very long. Scrivener, Luna, let's go up to my office.”

The two ponies nodded, turning to follow Doctrine as he strode to the side of the stage and hurried down the steps, and then the Pegasus headed over to a side door, pushing this open. Luna couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder as they approached, looking wistfully back at the foals as the older ponies got the young players into position... but then the mare turned her eyes back forwards, forcing herself to follow even as Scrivener shared the moment of soft almost-bitterness. She'd never trade her soul link with Scrivener for anything... but at the same time, it did have disadvantages that sometimes... ached.

Doctrine waited for them to step into the hall, then turned around and gestured for them to follow him down the narrow concrete corridor, explaining quietly as they walked: “I want to apologize for calling you out here on such short notice... and of course that Topsy Curvy isn't here. But you've probably already come to realize that in spite of his money and resources, good Mr. Tops is more of a puppet of Underbrush than anything else. Very powerful, old unicorn family, but Topsy himself, well...”

“I don't think I can entirely blame him. Underbrush seems to have intimidation down to a science and all.” Scrivener said mildly, and Doctrine chuckled at that as they started up a steep wooden staircase. For a few moments the only sound was their trudging hooves, and then Scrivener couldn't help but ask: “So why am I here, Doctrine? I mean, we haven't really... talked much since you showed up at that meeting forever ago...”

“It wasn't that long ago, Scrivener Blooms... but I suppose things might have been busier for you than they were for me.” Doctrine replied calmly as they reached the top of the steps, and then he turned and pushed a door open before bowing them through. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

It was a strange little office that they stepped into: big, posh chairs in front of an old oak desk, a little table between them with a dirty ashtray on it. There were a few degrees and pictures and honorary certificates on the wall behind Doctrine's simpler, likely-more-comfortable chair, and Scrivener noted the ones that seemed to be treated with a lot more care were framed articles and pictures regarding the Equinox Theater and what looked like different plays and drama groups.

Doctrine strode in after them to sit down and rest his hooves on top of the desk: it was somewhere between messy and ordered with its uneven piles of paper and small boxes, and Scrivener smiled a little. Somehow that made him like the Pegasus a little more, as Doctrine looked at him for a few moments before saying quietly: “I called you here because I'd like to ask you to do something for me, Scrivener Blooms. I'm not in much of a position to impose on you, of course... if Underbrush is backing you still despite this Ersatz Major scandal, then that makes you almost untouchable. Especially because I Am, You Are is still selling.”

“Yeah, but I'm a one-trick pony. I doubt that anything further I write will ever go... anywhere.” Scrivener said after a moment, shaking his head with a small smile, and then he winced when Luna punched him firmly in the shoulder.

“Well, Underbrush is pushing it hard. Call it whatever you want, Scrivener Blooms, but it's selling. You're heading towards the top of several bestsellers lists and Underbrush has decided to milk this for all its worth, so we're all getting told to treat you properly and push the book.” Doctrine replied calmly, smiling a little after a moment before he shook his head and continued quietly: “Part of that is why I called you here, but the other part is selfishness.

“I run this theater. It's falling apart little-by-little, but it's special to me, and more than because of how much money I've invested into it.” Doctrine continued, leaning forwards a bit as he met Scrivener's eyes. “In an hour, most of my different theater groups will be arriving here for our bi-annual meeting. It would mean a lot to me and say a lot about you to the public if you would step in and say a few words to these kids about not giving up. Few things boost the perception of a pony in the public eye more than when a celebrity does an unscheduled, unrehearsed stop to talk to the younger generation about hope.”

“Except you have planned and scheduled it.” Scrivener said mildly, and Doctrine shrugged a bit before the charcoal stallion turned a pointed look to Luna. “See that? This is why you're never, ever allowed to call me paranoid ever again. Everything I said is true.”

“Oh shut up, great cynic.” Luna replied grumpily, and then she bopped him with her horn, and Scrivener winced a bit at the sound it made against the shell helmet before she turned a moody look towards Doctrine, studying him grouchily. “Thou art not winning us over by promising us victory over the feeble-minded through conspiracy. I do not desire to play such games. It has the reek of politics about it, and 'tis like something my wicked sister would think of with the logical terror of her mind.”

Doctrine sighed a little, and then he asked plaintively: “Then will you do it for me, and for these foals? It would mean a lot to me. It would be good not just for the theater, but for them, to feel like... someone more important is watching over them.”

The charcoal stallion hesitated, and then he said finally: “You know, the reason I write... it's for myself first of all. I'm rarely looking to impress anyone else... I don't need to. You teach them that, right? That the greatest reason of all to do something is to do it for yourself, not for the recognition of people who will love you for a little while, but... fade away, faster than you think.”

“They're kids, Scrivener. Most kids know that without being told... but they forget it, growing up, until they have the chance to learn it all over again. Usually as adults who haven't found life as... fulfilling as once hoped.” Doctrine said softly, and Scrivener grunted after a moment in agreement with a slow nod, before the Pegasus added quietly: “You could always make that the subject of your speech, too. The floor's open to you.”

Scrivener gave Doctrine an amused look for a moment, and then the charcoal stallion traded a look with Luna, who grimaced... then grumbled and nodded with a sigh, muttering: “Oh very well. Thou wins this round, unpleasant Doctrine... tell me, thou has a certain... something about thee. Former military, art thou?”

“Not so much. I was a cadet, and then an academy brat. Went through officer's training but never saw the field.” Doctrine replied calmly, and Luna grinned wryly at him. “I'll ask you to refrain from the countless names I have the feeling you want to call me, Lady Luna.”

“Then cease calling me lady, I am no lady.” Luna said huffily, reaching up and pushing her sunglasses back up over her eyes, and then she added moodily: “But do know this. If thou ever attempts to pull a stunt like this on us again, I shall shoot thee.”

Doctrine only held up his hooves with a small smile, and Scrivener hesitated before he asked curiously: “So what about Tops, then? There's some... fundraiser or something I'm supposed to make nice at for Underbrush, right?”

The Pegasus nodded after a moment, but both ponies caught the slight grimace he made and the way he shifted. “Sort of. It's one of Topsy's personal projects... well, rather, Mr. Tops is completely in charge of it, but it started out as something Underbrush pushed him into doing about five years ago now, when Underbrush was still... well...”

“Less evil?” Scrivener asked dryly, and Doctrine shrugged a little before the charcoal stallion traded a look with Luna. “I want to call him insane but I still don't think he is. He's too damn smart. But that doesn't change the fact he's crazy all the same.”

“He's passionate.” Doctrine said carefully, and then he shook his head. “Anyway, it's a fundraiser for better educational centers. Topsy throws a party, raises money, has some speakers talk about how important literacy and education are, and then everyone writes a check out to the organization. Underbrush often pays for the party, or coerces Topsy into paying for it, so all the money raised goes to the schools in the area that are most in need of it. And even if he no longer gets involved that much and Topsy runs the charity, Underbrush watches the money like a hawk. The last time someone tried to use it to give himself a nice little bonus, Underbrush had officers knocking on his door that same night.”

Scrivener nodded after a moment at this as Luna tilted her head back and forth indecisively, unable to decide whether or not this made her like Underbrush more or less. Doctrine studied their reactions for a moment, then he said quietly: “If I had to guess, I'd say Underbrush probably suggested this to Topsy, but Topsy's a little afraid of you, Scrivener Blooms. He probably hopes that Underbrush or I will deal with this for him... and while normally I wouldn't want to encourage Mr. Tops' bad habits of pawning off his responsibilities on others, I think that you might actually be able to help out a good cause if you do a little show and tell at that fundraiser, and that's more important than one pony's pride. It's not for another few weeks, as well...”

“I... well... I suppose we have the time.” Luna grumbled after a moment, looking moody as she shifted a little on the spot before glancing over at Scrivener Blooms, and the stallion hesitated before nodding slowly in agreement. “Grand. And on top of all this, there are the worries over the Replicants and Thesis' plans and... damnation. Why must so much happen at once?”

“Because that's the way life is.” Doctrine said mildly, and when Luna glowered at him, the Pegasus winced and leaned back a bit, holding his hooves up. For a few moments there was only awkward silence, and then the stallion said finally: “I'm sure that Underbrush would be more than happy to reimburse you for your time...”

“Yeah, getting paid to go to a charity event. That would be great.” Scrivener muttered, and Luna snorted in amusement before the stallion shook his head slowly. “No, we'll be glad to go, we just... need to make sure we get a few things in line first, that's all.”

The Pegasus nodded, and then Scrivener paused before asking softly: “So Pegasus, huh? That's a pretty big play for some foals to put on.”

Doctrine smiled at this, sitting up a little before he gestured to them and said easily: “Well, since our business is done here, why don't you go and take a look for yourselves? Instead of just bragging about my kids, I'd rather you see what they can do with your own eyes.”

Luna and Scrivener both smiled... and ten minutes later, they were seated comfortably in the second row, gazing quietly up at the stage as the foals performed remarkably well. Doctrine and his small crew all kept to the sides, watching closely, but never imposing: they were encouraging and patient... but that wasn't to say he just let them do what they wanted, either. He had his eyes on everything at all times, and was quick to point out corrections or motion for other actors to quiet down or get back into position when they started to list or wander.

Pegasus: it was about the legendary hero, Pegasus himself. That was why they were taught to capitalize the name as a proper noun from birth, in honor of the winged pony who it was said had saved the world by standing up to the gods themselves. It was a folk story that no one really knew was true or lies, whether Pegasus had really saved this whole world before Equestria had been founded or even just his own fellows, or if it was just an ancient story of a proud race. Scrivener didn't think a lot of ponies even knew the story anymore, even if they were taught to write 'Pegasus' in most schools as naturally as they were taught to write 'unicorn' and 'earth pony.'

Scrivener wondered if it was a quirk of this layer, or if it was true in other worlds: he wondered how far back history mirrored itself in all these realms, and how far in the future events would continue to repeat, if the layers were left untouched or unhindered by outside forces. The stallion smiled after a moment, then he reached up and rubbed slowly at his face. He liked the story of Pegasus, of a single pony brave enough to say 'no' to creatures far stronger than him, who had originally kept the world under lock and key, doing strictly as they pleased. It was a story of freedom. It was a story of standing up when everyone else told you that you were wrong. It was a story of keeping faith to your beliefs, even when they began to cost you... and having your faith rewarded.

Luna squeezed his hoof gently, and the two shared a soft look: not even she knew whether or not the story was true, though, and likely even Celestia didn't. There had been heroes long before Celestia, Sleipnir, and Luna had strode across the world, after all... there would be heroes long, long afterwards, too. There would always be heroes... like there would always be villains. But it was comforting to think of how good and evil were eternal: that no matter what happened, the cycle was going to continue, whether they were around or not.

They turned their eyes back forwards, watching as the youth playing Pegasus himself stepped forwards, raising his head proudly as he shouted with such fervor, such strength: “I stand alone, but I am proud and I am strong! I will save my people, even if my people will not save me... I am Pegasus, and I will not be afraid!”

The foal breathed hard in and out, looking exhilarated, and Doctrine chuckled quietly from the side of the stage before he stomped a hoof and said calmly: “Excellent. You've finally learned to put yourself into the character's horseshoes, Solo, and do you see how much more naturally you began to project yourself and play your role? Excellent... and that's a wrap for today. Tomorrow we'll do a dress rehearsal of one-four... that's the scene that needs the most work, and I want to see if having you guys in full costume helps you all to understand better the roles you're supposed to be playing. Okay everyone, let's clean up before everyone else gets here for the biannual meeting.”

Scrivener and Luna traded smiles, and then the winged unicorn reached out and took the shell helmet now sitting in Scrivener's lap before she pulled his goggles out of the bowl-shaped helmet, then said mildly: “Perhaps thou should wear these if thou art so afraid at getting fruit thrown at thee.”

“No, I'll endure the hail, thank you.” Scrivener said mildly, and Luna laughed before the stallion shoved her gently, smiling a little despite himself. “Alright, I get your 'gentle nudge,' I'm going.”

Scrivener slipped out of the seat, then gave Luna a soft look when she leaned up and kissed his cheek gently, saying softly: “Thou shall do fine. Then we shall see Ersatz, and then we shall pick up a gift for Twilight Sparkle, and then we shall return to our beloved mare and the rest of our wonderful family. 'Twill be a good day, Scrivener Blooms.”

“Now you just ruined it. Something horrible's definitely going to happen now.” Scrivener remarked, and Luna huffed at him and flailed a hoof in his direction as the stallion strode quickly away, smiling despite himself as he headed towards the stage steps. “But I guess I can always hope.”

Doctrine's crew worked fast and efficiently, and the kids seemed to all know where everything went and worked well together. As he stood there awkwardly, he was impressed, admittedly: he thought Doctrine had adapted some of the things he'd learned in his time spent in officer's training to the stage. He had no idea why that thought came to mind, but it was just a whisper from his instincts... and after all his time spent with Luna, he'd learned to trust them, no matter what weird things they said.

When Scrivener glanced back towards the seats, was he was surprised to see that ponies had begun to filter in from outside. And within a few minutes, the front half of the little theater was almost completely filled with foals, their parents, and more than a few young ponies.

Doctrine finished pushing a podium into place at the front of the stage with Cal's help, then he straightened and cleared his throat loudly, leaning forwards as the audience when quiet. Cal half-fell off the stage, but this only got a few laughs, and Doctrine simply shook his head like this was a regular occurrence before he turned his eyes back over the group, calling: “Okay, okay, guys, looks like you're all here, so let's get this under way.

“First off, our budget this year is looking spectacular, thanks to some generous donations and the great success our plays have been having lately. And all that money is going to you guys, Fairweather Junior and Senior groups. We'll be doing another fundraiser later in the year to see about getting repairs done on this theater, but...” Doctrine shook his head head with a smile. “I promised you the only people who would profit from our plays is the Fairweather Players themselves, and I'm keeping that promise. Besides, it's not that bad, right? Right?”

There were a few laughs at this, and then Doctrine continued: “Next order of business. We've got a month or so to get down Pegasus. We're still looking for volunteers to help on crew, and one of the actors had to pull out for medical reasons. All of you send your best wishes to Shortstop, and a speedy recovery for his wing after that nasty break he suffered. The role isn't a major one, the hardest part is the flight sequence we staged out, only... three lines to remember, too, if I recall right. If none of you can fill in, then send out word to your friends, we can't leave Pegasus without a Black Knight to fight, after all, and we've worked too hard on this to have to change things now.

“Fairweather Senior, when your group meets tomorrow, we'll be voting on what play you guys want to do this season. Let's try and pull it together even better than we did last time, and earn ourselves another shot at the Canterlot Fair.” Doctrine continued with a smile, and then he knocked once on the podium before glancing over at Scrivener Blooms and gesturing towards him. “But I'm pleased to say we have a guest speaker here today, too. A few of you might recognize him, as-”

“Scrivener Blooms, author of I Am, You Are.” interrupted a clear voice from near the front of the audience, and Scrivener looked out in shock to see Ersatz Major sitting calmly in the front row. Her eyes were almost warm as they looked up at him, despite the sense she also gave off of a predator ready to deliver a killing blow to prey it had now toyed with for more than long enough. “Such a pleasure...”

“How the hell did you get in here? I... Cal, Kingly, get her out of here.” Doctrine said sharply, pointing at the unicorn, but she only smiled pleasantly from beneath her wide-brim black hat: it matched her black shawl, her black, long skirt, her black, fishnet stockings.

“Now, come, I just want to sit and listen to my cousin's speech.” Ersatz said gently, and Scrivener closed his eyes as Doctrine looked at the stallion with surprise. “Oh, didn't you know? We're family, he and I... and Doctrine, sir, you've done such a fantastic work with this place. You're teaching the children so well, so fast... I suppose you could say that even for a foal's play, it strikes me as being... review-worthy.”

Doctrine shivered even as Cal and a large, frowning earth pony approached Ersatz, before Doctrine looked almost desperately at Scrivener Blooms. But when the charcoal stallion simply nodded, the Pegasus sighed and muttered: “Wait. Wait.”

Kingly and Cal both looked up uneasily, and Doctrine hesitated before he said finally: “You may stay, Miss Major. But please keep your comments to yourself. And civil: I don't want the younger generation to get the... the wrong idea.”

“I would never dream of it.” Ersatz Major said softly, and Luna glared furiously at the unicorn, but at the same time wondered how the hell Ersatz had so easily slipped in with the group and gone unnoticed in plain sight. “Please, Scrivener. Go right ahead.”

“Thank you, Ersatz.” Scrivener muttered as he approached the podium, and when Doctrine gave him a questioning look, he only shrugged uneasily before the stallion cleared his throat and looked up over the audience, smiling awkwardly. “So uh... hi out there, guys. You know, Luna and I were here earlier and watched some of you working on the play Pegasus, and... I have to say that I'm impressed. Ersatz Major and I disagree on... certain things... but she's definitely right about how great a show you guys have been putting on.”

There were only awkward looks, even though Ersatz looked up at him like she was flattered: it unnerved Scrivy further, as he cleared his throat before he said softly: “I think what you're doing here is amazing. Me, I could never get on stage and act in a play or anything. I'm terrified of people. That's probably part of why I write... you know, minimal interaction and all that. And even when I read my poems, I mean... I can sit there, hide behind the paper, and read it. Pretend the audience isn't really there and all that.

“But what you guys are doing... you're bringing stories to life. You should all be proud of that... whether the house is empty or full, you should be proud of yourselves for what you're doing, working together with one another, forming these new friendships and relationships that inevitably come from working with each other like you are.” Scrivener continued, still feeling a little offbeat from the appearance of Ersatz... but gradually, he was pushing through his surprise, finding the words beginning to come a little more naturally as he continued softly: “I know what it probably sounds like coming from me, but the best reason in the world to do something like this is because it fulfills you to do it... not to impress others or... anything like that. Do it for yourselves. Be proud of yourselves.”

He halted, then smiled, beginning to relax... before Ersatz chuckled quietly, then asked curiously: “Isn't that a little hypocritical, considering how much money and influence you've gained from doing all the work you have to please Mr. Underbrush, and the adoring public in general? But then again, you also have spent much of your time intimidating others and twisting them to suit your own interests, haven't you...”

“I... have not.” Scrivener said quietly, keeping his tone level as he looked as calmly as possible down at Ersatz Major, as she continued to smile that damned, infuriating smile up at him. “Look, you know my feelings on Underbrush. Even Underbrush knows my feelings about him and what he's done. He's a scary, scary pony who I'm glad has taken an interest in my work, but the whole... pushing my work so much thing, that wasn't anything I asked him to do-”

“Oh now... there's no need to argue, Scrivener Blooms...” Ersatz Major said softly, as she calmly got up to her hooves and strode to the stage stairs, striding calmly up them as Doctrine gaped at her brazenness: but Ersatz hypnotized with the way she moved, the moment she stepped up into the presentation area becoming like a beacon, taking over the entire stage with her poise and grace. Even Scrivener was taken aback by it: but then again, Ersatz spent every day playing and practicing a role, mastering a stage that was far, far, far larger than the one in this tiny little theater. “I've seen your true face, have I not, cousin? And the way that more and more you half-agree and try not to argue, it makes me think that you want me to get this truth out in the open. That you want to be punished, like you rightly should, for the crimes you have committed.”

Scrivener stared at her, and when she smiled, for some reason, his eyes were drawn to her polished, sparkling teeth... before he thought of the smile the homeless mare had given him. The too-bright, too-white smile in the face of a... “You. You were on the street that day. You... you were following me in disguise, that mare in rags!”

Ersatz chuckled quietly, and even as she nodded, she asked kindly: “Now, do you really think it's wise to stoop to mocking me on top of everything else, Scrivener Blooms? I remember you throwing some coins to me like I was a dog, while chatting with your literary agent about his luxury apartment, and what you planned to spend your own money on... and well, we all know about how you gave that check over to the weapons firm.”

“Cowlick doesn't make weapons. Besides, have you seen Luna's motorcycle?” Scrivener asked mildly, even as he felt all eyes staring up at him... and for the sake of the Horses of Heaven, they were the eyes of parents and foals! “Ersatz, this isn't the time and place-”

“I've also seen the rifle on her back. And this is the perfect time and place, I think. Before you become the false hero of these children, before you intimidate or delude Mr. Doctrine any further, I feel it's my duty to let everyone here know that you're a fraud, and a liar. How you steal from the barony, attack others to take what is rightfully theirs, how you got another mare pregnant and sent your own child into a warzone where he suffered a serious traumatic injury... and here you are, toting guns, talking down to children, insulting ponies.” Ersatz continued calmly, twisting every word Scrivener spoke, talking with such conviction that even Doctrine looked uncertain as Scrivener shook his head wildly, beginning to hyperventilate. “What's wrong, cousin? Where's your denials?”

Scrivener trembled, looked out over the stage, mouthed wordlessly as Luna leaned almost desperately forwards. He saw foals staring up at him now, and parents covering the ears of their children, and ponies were looking at him with disbelief... disgust... contempt. He shivered, then looked at Ersatz and whispered: “Don't talk about Antares. You leave my family out of this. What happened to him is nothing to be used in a goddamn smear article.”

Ersatz Major smiled back at him, saying softly: “I'm not saying anything bad about him. I think he must be brave, and honorable, and strong. But then again, you and Luna weren't there to raise him, were you? So perhaps that explains how he turned out so well... it sounds like it was after you came back into his life that he got those nasty scars on his chest, and lost his wings, after all. Now what kind of parent sends their child to fight for them, and then doesn't stay by their side after they suffer the loss of entire appendages, hmm?

“Oh, and on that note...” Ersatz smiled as Scrivener snarled at her, the stallion beginning to open his mouth... before his throat went dry as she asked kindly: “Would you please raise a hoof, and show us those claws of yours? I must say I find it fascinating that while your son loses parts of his body, you've taken to modifying your own. Do you seek to look more like the monster you describe yourself to be in that silly book of yours? Because even if you don't look the part, I can very easily tell you that you are, indeed, a monster.”

Scrivener looked back and forth... then he shoved himself away from her, stumbling quickly across the stage towards the nearest door as his vision blurred and his head throbbed, grabbing the handle and yanking it open before he almost threw himself into the service corridor beyond. He rasped in and out for breath, shivering violently as he staggered down the hall... all those eyes, judging him, the little foals looking up at him like he was a beast, Luna's wild anger and emotions and his own mix of rage and... and despair...

He grabbed at his head, gritting his teeth as the corruption boiled in his veins and his heart thudded in his chest, hearing indistinct voices calling, shouting, yelling. Whether they were real or not didn't matter, as he drew his hoof away... and then trembled as he realized it was a claw, breathing harder before he stiffened and stared down the empty corridor as a hoof touched his shoulder, and Ersatz Major said gently, as the door swung closed behind her: “I'm sorry, cousin. But you know our games have to end sometime. Now why don't you just give in, and come with me? Just a little more pain, and one final surrender, and then we'll be a family, you and I. I'll bring you back to the bottom, but then hoof-in-hoof, we'll both abandon these masks and characters we've been forced to play, and start our brand new lives.”

Scrivener clenched his eyes shut, grabbing at his face, before Ersatz stepped up beside him and frowned almost worriedly, reaching towards his features-

Scrivener's foreleg slammed into her in a hard slap, flinging her into the wall behind her with a gasp of shock before the stallion's other hoof lashed up... except it wasn't a hoof at all, but a claw that seized her by the throat and pinned her savagely back into the wall as he snarled at her furiously. His eyes glowed with unnatural light as she choked and grabbed uselessly at his forelimb, her staring in horror as Scrivener's whole body pulsed, his charcoal hide tearing in places to reveal the reddish flesh and muscle flexing beneath it as it bulged and flexed larger, black, excited veins of corruption pulsing visibly through the raw meat of his body. And with a ripping noise, pistons of bone pushed out of his back alongside his spine, corruption leaking around torn flesh as the spikes sparked with electricity.

He slowly began to lean towards her, growling like an animal as his eyes glowed with sapphire light, his claw crushing down on her as the other slammed into the wall beside her, and she saw nothing but hatred and primal rage and hunger...

Luna yanked the door open, leaping through with her teeth grit before she flung the shell helmet floating beside her as hard as she could at Scrivener's face, and it whacked painfully off the side of his head and knocked him stumbling as it ricocheted high into the air. He dropped Ersatz, who fell on her rump with a gasp, and she clutched at her throat before looking up as Scrivener turned with a snarl towards Luna, who shivered visibly as she stared at Scrivener: he had grown bulkier, terrifying and animal and furious and glorious with all his Clockwork characteristics revealed proudly to the world, and she felt all those raging, animal instincts twisting around inside him, drowning out all rational thought, and how it was so goddamn compelling, how it made her quiver not in fear, no, no, that wasn't fear, that was... that was...

Then the helmet landed almost comically in perfect position on Scrivener's head, and the stallion looked dumbly up at this as the light faded slightly from his eyes, and Luna snapped out of her near trance before shouting furiously and snapping her rifle off her back with telekinesis, taking aim and firing a single shot off that sounded like an explosion in the narrow hallway, knocking Scrivener flat on his back with a burst of black chunks into the air.

Ersatz shrieked in shock, but Luna only huffed as Scrivener groaned on his back, his ears ringing, head hurting, whole body aching as he felt the corruption finally settling in his veins. His coat was ragged, and several of the wounds torn through it were bleeding slightly, but those were rapidly healing already thanks to the mire, and the damage wasn't serious enough to affect Luna, he was glad to see. And he could feel the bone pistons on his back flexing painfully, but slowly, gradually beginning to recede into his back as well, which he was even more glad to feel as he slowly sat up... before the cracked helmet fell in two halves on either side of his head, bouncing off his shoulders as he whispered his gratitude silently to Luna. I... I almost lost myself completely...

Luna looked for a moment at Scrivener, nodding once... and then she turned her furious glare on Ersatz and aimed at her with the rifle, shouting furiously: “And now tell me why I should not guide a bullet into thy own skull and put thee out of thy misery, wretched little harpy! Hurting, obsessing over, attacking my husband... damn thou! Look at what thou art doing to him!”

“I... I...” Ersatz coughed a few times, whimpering and shivering as she tried to get away from gunpoint, before she winced when Doctrine yanked the door open, Cal and several of his other staff all staring in shock into the corridor, before they scattered when Luna reflexively snarled and aimed the rifle at them. But surprisingly, Ersatz rose a hoof towards Doctrine, almost pleading with a rasp: “Wait! No, it's... it's fine. Luna was just... making a point. Please give us a moment of privacy.”

Scrivener looked silently at Ersatz as he picked himself slowly up, and Doctrine looked uneasy as Luna relaxed slightly, moodily turning her dark eyes back towards the unicorn. But when her rifle spun around and holstered itself on her back, Doctrine loosened up slightly and finally gave a short nod, stepping backwards and letting the door swing closed.

There was silence for a few moments, and then Ersatz Major looked slowly over at Scrivener Blooms before she gave a small, weak smile. “So... am I revealing your true nature through punishing you, Scrivener Blooms... or is this more a cruel joke, do you think? I was never afraid you would kill yourself, after all... I know there's others to catch you on the way down. But... this...”

Scrivener looked down silently, and Luna spat to the side before the sapphire winged unicorn said with disgust: “See? Thou thinks thou art some... noble avenger, or... I do not know. Thou art unwell, Ersatz Major. Unwell and deluded and insane, bouncing and striking wildly in each and every direction that seems to chase towards Scrivener. But... Scrivener is... Scrivener and I are both... unwell too. And in a much more dangerous way than thou art.”

Luna's voice picked up the faintest tremble as she spoke, looking over her shoulder as the stallion felt a twist inside himself, his eyes clenching shut... and he saw Valthrudnir, standing in a spotlight amidst a sea of shadows and alien shapes. The Jötnar had one hand calmly extended, but it wasn't a beckoning gesture: rather, what Scrivener read from the expression and the motion was something far more ominous. You reap what you sow, Nihete. Either you will learn to control yourself... or the Clay of Prometheus will control you.

Scrivener shuddered a bit, looking down and breathing unevenly in and out before he shook his head and forced his eyes to open, not wanting to think about everything that implied. He saw Ersatz staring at him silently, and he looked back at her before he said quietly: “I'm sorry.”

He didn't know what he was apologizing for, how much those two words tried to cover, but Ersatz only gave a faint laugh before she lowered her head, replying after a moment as she rubbed slowly at her bruised throat: “Perhaps it's... it's a push, Scrivener Blooms. We both share some fault in what happened... but know that... if anything, Scrivener, this should make it more... more appealing to simply give in. Come with me, Scrivener, willingly... surrender everything. Come and start making up for Aunt Belle and my Father and everything else that you're responsible for, and I'll... we'll get you help, together, because that's what family does. Because that's all I'm trying to do anyway, can't you see that? I just want to help you...”

There was silence for a moment, and then Luna whispered: “Thou poor, pathetic, sad wretch... thou twisted and broken creature. How is it thou can speak with such zealotry in thy words? How can thou play the role of madmare as if thou art the only sane pony here, and we are the ones who are burdened by delusion and fear and guilt...”

“We do have guilt, Luna. We do...” Scrivener murmured, and Luna sighed softly but only smiled faintly over at Scrivener as he picked himself up, shaking his head out before he added quietly: “But Ersatz, in spite of that... we also aren't... I'm not guilty in the way you think I am. Or maybe it's better to say the way you want me to be.”

He halted, then climbed to his hooves and looked silently down at one of his claws, studying it for a few moments before his eyes roved upwards, and he suddenly invited impulsively: “Come out to Ponyville with us on Nightmare Night. It's like the one holiday Luna and I pour everything into and it's... it's the one day of the year that we really relax, too. Or at least Luna does.” He glanced over to the sapphire mare, as she glowered but seemed thoughtful all the same. “And it's the best time to see us out there, together, with everything we've earned. Earned, not stolen.”

Ersatz looked uncertainly at Scrivener Blooms, but then she nodded slowly after a moment before Luna added grumpily: “But thou must come in costume, for that is the entire spirit of the night, Ersatz Major. Then again, thou art clearly so used to traveling the world in costume and disguise, and playing the role of a monster of sorts every day, that perhaps instead I should simply ask thee to take thy wretched mask off for one night. Or dress up as Scrivener Blooms if thou must obsess over him so much. Damnable actress.”

Ersatz shifted uncomfortably, and Scrivener sighed a little, giving a pointed look to Luna, but the sapphire mare only huffed before the unicorn said softly: “I shall see what I can do. But I will... I will be there. And I will try to be peaceful, as well, for that night. To see you in your element again, like I saw you in Subterra...”

She shifted uneasily, then finally picked herself up and looked quietly over at Scrivener Blooms, studying him as he gazed back at her silently. Luna sighed quietly, lowering her head a little and pawing moodily at the ground before Ersatz smiled faintly and murmured: “I'll let you earn it all back, you know. Once we're family again. We'll do it together, even.”

“Ersatz... we are family.” Scrivener said softly in return, and then he clenched his claw shut, and it locked back together into a hoof, and he looked down as the unicorn looked up at him with surprise. “And I don't think I'm the one breaking down here... well, yeah, you're hurting me. You're making me look bad. But no matter how much you take away from me or ruin for me, my family's going to be there for me, as are my friends, and you don't seem to understand that because you seem to think I'll eventually fall into this deep dark hole and land... right beside you.

“You're a mix of misery-loves-company and this sad, broken idea that... you can somehow steal everything away from me so I'm left dependent on you, and you can become my best friend and then make everything okay again. It's so insane it almost makes sense... almost.” Scrivener laughed a little, shaking his head slowly as Ersatz Major trembled, before the stallion sighed quietly and looked up. “Has your life here... really been that lonely? Has everything really been that hard on you? Can you really not just... trust me without breaking me?”

“I trust you, Scrivener Blooms. You're my family, and my family never lied to me... you've never lied to me, I believe. But everyone else always steps in, and expects me to play a certain role... coquette Ersatz, cruel Ersatz, critical Ersatz.” Ersatz Major trembled, her mask falling from her face for a moment, leaving her nothing but a scared and so-badly-hurt and betrayed filly... before she suddenly forced her plastic smile, looking up and whispering: “But excuse me. I should go. I'll see you on Nightmare Night, in Ponyville, and we'll talk more about this then.”

Ersatz turned and stumbled for the door, and didn't turn back even when Scrivener shouted for her and Luna grabbed at the mare's shoulder, as they both felt a moment of sympathy for the sad and pathetic creature Ersatz Major truly was. But Ersatz ignored them both as she almost flung herself forwards to the door and ran through it, even as her face froze like plastic, half-hiding the tears in her eyes as she hurried across the lit up stage.

Scrivener breathed slowly in and out, shivering once, before he rolled his shoulders and grimaced in pain as he felt the bone pistons sinking beneath his skin, while Luna gathered herself and closed her eyes. They felt one-another's emotions, and their minds traded arguments and appeals back and forth in an uneven flow. Neither felt coherent, or wanted to think, or wanted to try and stomach what had just happened... and Luna shivered as she couldn't help but look up at her husband, splattered with his own corruption, faint tears still visible here and there over his hide and think...

She bit her lip and swallowed thickly, and Scrivener finally looked up, their eyes meeting and emotions trading back and forth before Luna finally gave the faintest of smiles and murmured: “'Tis funny. Ever since thou became a Clockwork Pony, everything that comes out of thy body is black. Thou could be splattered with thy own blood, or thy own-”

“Don't be gross, Luna.” Scrivener said softly, but he was smiling a little all the same, shaking his head slowly as he looked across at her silently for a few moments, then he lowered his head and continued in a mumble: “But it's okay. I understand, Luna. I like you for your rough spots, after all. I just feel lucky, if anything, that you can still find me attractive for... mine.”

“We are sick, Scrivy. We are sick.” Luna said finally, and the stallion grunted and nodded before they strode towards each other and shared a tight, fierce embrace, their eyes closing, the two holding each other close for a moment before the mare added in a murmur, as she buried her face against his neck: “Now, thou art taking it remarkably well that I have shot thee in the face, Scrivy.”

“I think I'm just getting used to it by now. Besides, you were polite enough to drop the helmet on my head first this time.” Scrivener replied softly, and Luna smiled a little and nodded against him before straightening, the eyes of the two meeting before he sighed and grumbled quietly: “And I'd much prefer you to... to have done that, than to have left me... you know. I would have regretted killing Ersatz. That would have made me everything she said I was.”

“No, it would not have, and furthermore, I am regretting letting her live. And what does thou hope to accomplish by allowing the creature to come and see our wondrous celebration of Nightmare Night, furthermore? Now we will have to foalsit her the entire time to make sure no overzealous demon eats her... nice as that would be.” Luna muttered, shaking her head slowly, and Scrivener smiled despite himself before the winged unicorn sighed tiredly. “Not that... I do not completely fail to understand thy reasoning. 'Tis sometimes annoying to... understand thee, through and through, and be understood by thee. It frustrates me because... thou humbles me. Or just annoys me.”

For a few moments, there was silence, and then Scrivener reached up with his still open claw, hesitating for a moment before stroking Luna's face silently and letting his digits play into her starry locks. She smiled across at him, then leaned forwards and silently let her horn drop against his skull, making a quiet thump as she murmured quietly: “Idiot beetle. Accursed terrible poet.”

“Arrogant Nightmare Moon.” Scrivener murmured back, and then the two simply embraced again in the silence of the service corridor, holding each other close in the comforting quiet that followed, safe for the moment in this little bubble outside the rest of the world. A world that was confused about them, scared of them, maybe even hated them sometimes... but could never separate them or hurt them, as long as they always had each other, and the safe sanctuary provided by the rest of their friends and family.

Author's Note:

Chapter Theme:
Rammstein - Schtiel