> Alligatum Custode
>  by RainingDashReborn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Enter the Warden (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




Alligatum Custode


Enter the Warden

Princess Luna gazed out at the setting sun. She had always loved it when day and night would meet for one glorious moment. She smiled at the purple as it streaked across the horizon, ending the sky with a deep azure blue. She felt her sister’s power tug away from the sky as she took it with hers. 

“Now...” she tensed as she drew power from the moon, molding the sky with her very hooves. Many ponies had the idea that the Royal Sisters controlled the moon and the sun, but it was rather the opposite. The celestial bodies in a way had more control over them. The Princesses were bound to their respective spheres and drew power from them like solar panels draw energy from the sun. The metaphor was quite literal in Celestia’s case. 

“Perfection,” Luna smiled tiredly. The Princess of the Night was indeed a nocturnal pony, but she had decided to go all out on this one. She was becoming more loved and loved by the subjects of Equestria as of late, and she had decided they deserved something special. The constellations were pricked out with particular distinction, and the stray wisps of cloud seemed to frame the crescent moon as though hoof-crafted for the job.

With a sigh of content, Luna trotted away from the balcony, closed the door behind her, and hit her bed with a soft thump. Her job was half done, and as her breathing came to a slow, she entered the Realm of Dreams. 



∞∞∞∞∞∞



The Shadow Isles… where it all began and were it would all end. Lucian the Purifier dashed through the mud as he continued his relentless crusade against Thresh, the Chain Warden. The relics he wielded fired off twin bursts of energy, striking the ghostly figure leading a few meters ahead. 

“GIVE UP MONSTER! YOUR TIME IS AT AN END!” Lucian shouted in rage.  Memories of times past flooded his mind; his stolen love and times lost. With a burst of speed, Lucian launched himself forward, striking Thresh in the back with a kick that sent him sprawling.

With a grunt, the specter rolled over to face his attacker. The unearthly green flame that served him for eyes narrowed to slits, mouth twisting into a smirk. As he spoke the Isles themselves became deathly quiet. 

“If it is a confrontation you want, then a confrontation you will get.” Thresh said as he lashed out his chain in arc, sickle embedding the ground where Lucian had stood a fraction of a second before. It would have found its mark if the gunslinger hadn't closed the gap between the two. He fired a few blasts at point blank, knocking the Warden back. 

Thresh skillfully retaliated with a quick jab to the chest, knocking the air out of his assailant. Spinning around, he brought his sickle to Lucian’s leg, ripping into flesh as he pulled him to the ground. 

Lucian grimaced in pain as he tried to crawl away. Thresh cackled, “Oh old friend, I thought you would put up more of a challenge! Now time to have some… fun.” Thresh started to whirl his sickle as he strode closer the downed form of Lucian.

“It ends here.” Lucian muttered, steeling himself against the pain. He turned suddenly, bringing both relics to face the Warden. Thresh, realizing the set up, recoiled and threw down his lantern. A small bubble shield formed around the specter as Lucian fired a barrage of purifying energy.  He could only hold up his arms in defense as his barrier shattered. 

It was only seconds, but it seemed as if Lucian’s bombardment lasted hours. The whole of the Isles looked on to see the victor of the momentous battle, for whosoever it was would shape the future of Runeterra for years to come; for either better or worse.  

The deluge of light ended, and all was quiet. Lucian slowly struggled to his feet, leaning on his good leg. All that remained of his nemesis was a thick cloud of dust gradually drifting away. The battle he had raged with the Chain Warden was over, and with it closed one bloody chapter in his tragic life. The Purifier breathed deeply and slowly turned to hobble away, sheathing his guns as he did so. Just as he turned his back, a low cackle froze the blood in his veins.

“My house…” a raspy voice said out of the shadows. Lucian’s pupils dilated as he quickly glanced back, only for a sickle blade to rip into his shoulder. “…my rules!” 


The ground in front of the battered Thresh gave way to walls of ghostly energy. With a massive tug, the gunslinger was hauled backward and into one of the walls. Lucian screamed in pain as his body became numb from sheer overload of agony. He had felt this before, Thresh’s sadistic Box, but the experience while on the League’s Fields of Justice was a much different story.

Thresh laughed madly, only now warming to his fun. He twirled Lucian at the end of his chain like an angler with a worm on his hook. He made sure the Purifier hit the four other walls individually, finishing by slamming him onto the ground. Lucian’s arm was completely torn, blood soaking into his formerly white attire. His whole body was numb, no energy to run or even crawl from his nemesis. 

Thresh leisurely approached his nemesis, planting the heel of one boot onto his chest before leaning down to look him in the eyes. He held his lantern to Lucians face. The same lantern that held the soul of his wife, and so many others that came and fell before her. 

“Ever seen your soul?” The Warden chuckled with irony, “Would you like to?”

Before the Warden could reap his prize, Lucian mustered enough strength to lift up his gun; her gun, the last piece his beloved left behind. Threshes lantern exploded with unearthly light as the bolt of energy struck true. The captive souls poured out from all sides, the binding curse broken at last.

What Lucian did not expect was Thresh to scream in horror as the lantern began to suck him in. He stared in wonder as the specter disappeared completely, his new prison winking out of existence. 

Thresh, the Chain Warden of the Shadow Isles, was no more.

“Defeated by the very thing he prized most… that caused so much grief… what a fitting end.” Lucian smiled sadly as he watched the sun dip down, blazing the sky with a beautiful purple, until it came alive with dozens upon dozens of stars. Lucian had played this game long enough, and he was done. 
“Rest Senna, you've earned it at last…” he said, and smiled still. He smiled until he too had faded from the world.

Lucian the Purifier was dead.



∞∞∞∞∞∞



Luna rarely dreamed for herself. The task of playing warden to the dreams of others weighed too heavily for that. Even when she did, it was rather peaceful. However, tonight was not as expected. Luna stared in confusion, unable to move, at the darkness that engulfed her vision. This was not the usual course. Something should have taken shape by now. Despite this, everything was quiet. That is, until the voices began.

“…cling clang go the chains, someone’s out to find you…”

The darkness returned the sound in echoes as the shades of the void rippled around the alicorn.

“…cling clang oh the chains, the Warden’s right behind you…”

The Princess’ curiosity grew, as did a slight pang of dread. ‘Where have I heard this before...?’ She pondered in thought, as the echoes continued to weave in the blackness all around her.

“…quick now, the seeking chains, approach with their shrill scrape… don’t stop, flee the chains, your last chance to escape…”

'Oh by the stars, make it stop!’ Luna internally cried as she tried with growing desperation to back away further into the endless darkness. Try as she may, the sound of the voices now began to grow far louder

“Drag the chains, drag the chains, with all the strength you may! Drag the chains, drag the chains, ‘ere they drag you away!”

The dreadful cacophony seemed to fill all her hearing, becoming less an indistinct suggestion of words and now all too real; far more real than sound should be. It seemed to the Princess, as her mind rapidly clouded in panic, that the words came from a chorus of foal no older than those she had met on her first Nightmare Night. 

They held none of the charm of foalhood, however; the voices were as bleak as the medium which carried them. Just as she could take little more, the din hushed once more to a whisper, though still retaining the crisp distinction.

“…cling clang go the chains, there’s no more time for fear…”

The Princess was not frightened so easily, but this entire nursery rhyme had sent chills up her spine. As much as she detested to leave her duty undone, this was not truly her realm; she only protected her fellow denizens. Something was here that was a bit beyond her ken this night. She was about to wake up until something caressed her cheek. The foal’s voices twisted into something infinitely more horrible.

“Cling clang go the chains, the last sound that you’ll hear…” The voice of Thresh cooed.

And then she remembered.

No pony in Canterlot Castle forgot the screams they heard that night.
> Old Memories (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Alligatum Custode



Old Memories

Cerberus stood vigilant in front of the Gates of Tartarus as he had done since the beginning of creation. Few creatures had ever lived as long as the Royal Sisters had, but Cerberus was one of those few. Another little-known fact not privy to most of the populace of Equis was that Cerberus was in fact split into three individual personalities, and not merely a dumb beast with three slavering heads.

There was Mercy, the left head. Like a beacon of hope to all that passed by, Mercy had always turned a blind eye to all who drew to his sight. For many those who would ever cross the path of Cerberus, the road ended in tragic strife.

There was also Malice, the right head. With all the hatred and spite that Tartarus could offer, Malice always aimed to kill all those who failed to evade the beast of hell. Be it the crushing blow of a paw or reduction to ribbons by razor teeth, it was always a grizzly pain-filled end.

And then there was the temperament of the three heads, the middle head of Judgment. Judgment was the wisest, accountable of judging all those who wished to enter the lands of the afterlife. Out of the hundreds of thousands of years he stood guard, only two beings had gotten through the gates without struggle.

Needless to say of course that they were the only ones to enter. Such beings as Discord or Sombra always managed to fight past the hulking beast. And it did not always fair well for Cerberus either; for he had more than his share of scars.

Cerberus suddenly hunched down and growled. The sound would pale a manticore’s roar in comparison. The guard hound sensed something was off, and within moments it was proven very much correct. The skies around him grew suddenly and preternaturally dark, and more so than usual the air smelt of burning flesh.

Before its eyes, a tear appeared in the firmament of reality. Energy trickled and danced from the growing size of a hole in the fabric of existence, burning the grass to ash and dust. It became nearly blinding as it opened wide, orbs of energy shooting in all directions.  

And then as quickly as it came it vanished into nothingness.

Yet Cerberus attention was diverted to something else.  The gears in his ancient mind started to grind as he stared at what lay before him, and the faces lit up in sudden realization. By instinct, one of the most powerful being in creation knelt. Not out of respect for the object in front of him, but out of fear of reprimand. Judgment’s glossy eyes were filled with memory of death and pain; so much pain that should have been forgotten eons ago.

Land bathed in bloodshed and destruction, and he feared it were to happen again. Yes, he thought, of course it will happen again. Tartarus had long kept order under the shadow of death; however, even a fine machine would not last forever without care. Cerberus knelt closer to the lantern and retrieved it.

For he was loyal to one deity and one deity alone, and Equis would have its Warden back.


∞∞∞∞∞∞


“Luna!” The Sun Bearer hollered from across the outer side of her sister’s chambers. “Little sister, I beseech you, tell me what has caused you such strife to scream into your night?” Celestia said in a firm yet soft tone. In all honestly, she was frightened for Luna’s safety. In a more hushed whisper she spoke,“the last time you behaved like this was the nights before Nightmare Mo-“

“GO AWAY!" Celestia was cut off harshly."WE WISH TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF NOPONY THIS NIGHT!” Luna choked through the Royal Canterlot voice between sobs. Celestia’s features became filled with not only concern, but curiosity. What could cause Luna so much pain was beyond her. What could harm her beloved sister?

Celestia then turned to face the many staff ponies that stood behind her. Guards, maids, butlers, gardeners, and scholars all stood in attendance to see what would unfold through this series of events. Every one held a look of concern to match the Princess’, and a few even showed signs of apprehension broaching on fear. Holding her head up high, she addressed her company with the grace of a seasoned ruler.

“My little ponies," she addressed the night staff, "be as you were. I will find out what it is that plagues my sister. If I have any need I will send for you.”

The castle staff dispersed without another word from or for their kind ruler. After a few moments past, Celestia’s horn began to glow a soft yellow which illuminated the rather dark corridor. And with merely a suggestion of sound, Celestia disappeared.

In a burst of light, the Princess of the Day reappeared next to her sister beyond the door. No words were shared as Luna gladly fell within her older sister’s warm embrace. Celestia and Luna had sat there for a very long time, entwined in a loving embrace. While Celestia and sought to comfort her loving sister, Luna had clung to Celestia as if she would never have the chance to do so again.

“Was it her again?” Celestia asked in a very motherly tone. She referred to Nightmare Moon, the shadow of whom Luna had been troubled with for some time. Her history as figure of darkness continued to cause her pain, the scars slow to heal despite the abilities of the Elements of Harmony. Even the Bearer of Kindness was not too warm towards the Princess on her first appearance back in Ponyville,

The younger of the two shook her head. “N... No…” Princess Luna had the most stalwart personalities at the worst of times, Celestia knew this well. Even when she had hurt the most on the night just before Nightmare Moon, she had not given the slightest hint of her torment.

“Are our subjects not treating you well?” Celestia asked, a frown taking hold on her features. Luna was a grown mare, and had been for many centuries. However, being stuck on the moon for a thousand years and the culture shock of modern day Equestria is enough to send anyone into the heart of chaos and madness. But, until now, Luna had trudged through the hardship with a winning smile.

Luna shook her head again, tears once threatening to burst again. Celestia was beyond concerned at this point, but nonetheless held up her regal posture. “Then dear sister, I beg of you, what is it that bothers you so?” Celestia said, nuzzling her sister’s shoulder.

"I.. It's.. It's the Warden sister." Luna said, reveling the reason of her grief with unaccountable hesitance.

It had been long since Celestia’s mind had wandered back to the foundations of Equestria. Back before the pony tribes had ever touched the land. Back to the times of the Alicorns of old.

Back to the times of so much bloodshed.

Celestia's frown turned into a full scale scowl as held her sister tighter. "I understand how you feel, Luna. The monster who had robbed so much from us so long ago is gone though. He will never hurt you, I, or our subjects again."

Celestia's confidence in their triumph of old did nothing to stop Luna's tears, rather the opposite. The elder sister knew that something was amiss as a chill crept up her spine, and she withdrew her grasp. What are you not telling me She thought.

"It's just that!" Luna was nearly screaming at this point. "He is back! I have seen it my self! I..." her outburst dissolved into sobbing as she fell onto the floor, crying in her fetlocks. "I felt his touch... It was so cold.."

Celestia gasped, her scowl falling as swift as her confidence. But, with it came a bit of skepticism and at length a small smile." You know there is no way he can return Luna. He was slain long ago, and we have his instrument of horror as a trophy to prove our victory." Celestia nuzzled Luna up to her hooves, wiping away the tears that stained her azure coat.

"Let's go see it then? We... I... need some reassurance..."

If anyone saw the smile Celestia had given Luna that day, some may have called it pure wickedness.
> Scavanger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




Alligatum Custode



Scavanger

Thresh's mind drifted in and out of consciousness. Where he was, he did not know; all he perceived was inky darkness. He couldn’t say how long he had been in this place either, time seemed to be moot or nonexistent. Suddenly, the world was filled with color. Drab, grey toned color, but color all the same. For a moment, the Warden did not know what he was observing until he focused, and truly saw the scene.

It was his own death.

Not, mind you, his most recent death, at the hands of Lucian the Purifier. It was his original demise, when he was one with flesh and mortality. He looked on as the scene played out, as though he were standing off the side as a mild-mannered witness.

First he heard the laughing of more than a few voices and surprised and outraged cries, of furniture being broken against stone walls, and of the heavy smack of fist on flesh. He heard and then saw as men coated in grime and clad in tattered rags, men he had jeered at centuries ago through iron bars, dragged yet another familiar body in their midst; one still thrashing and fighting against them. He looked on while they dragged him to the cell at the end of the corridor, where Thresh had liked to have his ‘fun’, and saw the ex-prisoners bind his hands behind him and throw a loop of his finest chain about his neck. He watched as he slowly suffocated, hoisted aloft by the men who now laughed in his bloated face and danced jigs of freedom and revenge.

He watched all of it and chuckled to himself. Those were both the worst and best moments of his afterlife, being the beginning of so much more. A sudden pain rocked his consciousness, cutting short the fond reminiscing. He felt an odd sense of loss and void, a growing emptiness in his mind.

He stared at the scene once more, and realized he couldn't recall such events!

"I must be losing my memory," Thresh deducted coolly, grimacing at what this entailed. Even an ethereal presence could hold onto the past, and he doubted he even had that left. "No matter," Thresh said as he let the flashback fade away permanently. He connected his being with his lantern, using the last of his mana to reinforce the link. "You will be my vessel, and my savior. I am bound to find you after all," the Warden crooned to the lantern as he poured his essence into its damaged frame.

The Warden's body released the glowing cage, and the two lonely objects drifted apart through the blackness of the void.  What remained of the terror that had stalked Runeterra for hundreds of years nestled safely in the glow of the lantern, his insanity locked away and saved in his ghostly prison. He cared little for his former shell. Though it had been faithful, it was a proverbial leaking lifeboat. There had to be more seaworthy vessels adrift, he thought with his fading mind. 
For the Warden always reaps his just due.


Three days later...




The Everfree forest was certainly a daunting region of Equestria. Filled with untamed monsters and unknown perils, it was indeed a dangerous place to be. That was, however, unless you were of a more capable sort, someone well suited to the dangers of the wild. This was the mentality of the three young fillies currently roaming there, pursuing their ever evasive cutie marks.

"Remind me again why we’re here, Sweetie," Apple Bloom said a bit apprehensively, observing her surroundings as they further progressed into the forest.

"Yeah!" Scootaloo remarked, taking in a sharp breath as she almost tripped over an outgrown vine. "You just hauled us over here without telling us what we’re doing. Don't get me wrong, I want to find my Cutie Mark and all, but the forest still kinda gives me the creeps."

The snow white filly in front of them slowed down her pace from a trot as she explained. "Rarity told me that she and the girls are going to a wedding in a few weeks, so I thought we could find something we could sell for tickets."

Scootaloo sighed aloud, not very content with the fact that she was doing something as dangerous as braving the Everfree just to go to a stupid wedding. In her view, not exactly worth the trouble.

"And, uh, maybe we could find our Cutie Marks along the way?" Sweetie Belle grinned sheepishly, the other two eventually breaking into smiles as well.

"Well if it means that much to ya, ah don't see why not. Ah personally think Scoots would make a great flower-filly," Apple Bloom said. Both she and Sweetie chuckled lightheartedly as they walked further on.

Before Scootaloo could put in her two bits, Sweetie Belle shrieked with delight. Galloping ahead, she suddenly stopped by a low shrub, turning around to her friends grinning like a mad mare. As her two companions caught up, they saw what had caused so much excitement.

A rather old looking boot.

"SCORE!" The young filly shouted, leaning down to grab the boot with her mouth. Although it proved to be fruitless as it would not budge from its resting place. The pegasus and earth pony only glanced at each other, then to their friend.

"Come on girls, I think it's stuck," Sweetie Belle said, as her friends also took the hint to find a hold on the garment, pulling on it with all the force their little bodies could muster.

With an audible pop, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had gained their prize. While Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were busy overlooking the boot, the former a bit dubiously, Scootaloo just stared where the boot had once rested.

"Hey Scootaloo, how much do ya..." Apple Bloom trailed off as she saw what Scootaloo had been staring at.
A fleshy appendage lay in front of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, protruding from the bushes.

"What in tarnation do ya'll think it is?" Apple Bloom said as she and the other crusaders approached the now bootless appendage.

Scootaloo leaned forward to it, taking a curious examination and sniff. To this effect, she cringed with an exaggerated recoil. "I believe it's a foot," Scootaloo concluded, raising her head up proudly at her investigative triumph.

"A what now?" Apple Bloom said as she looked at her friend with the tilt of her head.

"A foot. You know, Spike has them," Scootaloo said, gesturing to her hind hooves. “Kind of a weird looking one though…”

The realization hit the fillies simultaneously as they turned around and slowly moved backwards from the limb. Their eyes would have told it all; curiosity and fear. Somehow, they had failed to realize that a foot is usually attached to a body.

An audible groan arose from the shrubs as the foliage shook and shifted. Parting the brush, a lengthy creature staggered to an upright stance, one completely unlike any the Crusaders had ever seen before. It might have matched Celestia herself in height, although it looked couldn’t have looked less like the benevolent diarch. It was bipedal, and had flesh instead of coat. Its color was ghastly pale, although a shade darker than Sweetie Belle's coat. It had a mane; long and white, that branched off into four separate locks of sorts, each ending in dark black hooks braided in place.

This image frightened the Crusaders to no end. They were too scared to run, to make a sound or even to breathe.

The creature’s eyes, unfocused and glassy, suddenly looked alive as it took in its surroundings. It was not long before they came to find the cowering trio of fillies in front of it. Although it looked like it was about to speak, one hand moved seemingly on its own to rest on its waist. The Crusaders saw on its tattered belt hung a large, rusty looking sickle.

This last proved too much, and the three young ponies screamed in pure terror, running deeper into the forest, heedless of the direction they ran towards.

Thresh blinked for a few moments, not at all sure where he was, or in fact who he was. But his curiosity was piqued, and lacking a better option trailed after the sound of screaming, already a bit hushed by distance.