Bone Collector cast out their light lime wings and took into the sky. They carried the boxes under Cloudsdale, moving slowly and silently until they were on the other side and in sight of the Celestial Ocean. Increasing their speed, ever so slowly, remembering another from their past with far greater speed and control than they could compare. Not wanting to see her ghost join the orange one of their shoulder, they closed their eyes at the right moment and let off a soft green, blue and white rainboom that pushed them toward their destination.
As they crossed the ocean, the Bone Collector could feel the emptiness of the waters, matching their heart and soul. Hearing the young orange mare's laughter and the cyan mare that was always faster than them. This place used to be filled with so much life and joy but now it was just faded waters with nothing but the dead inside. However, it was a lone place of peace from the hellish mission they had been cursed with. It felt as though something had been taken out of them, and these fleeting moments of silence were their only chance to reach back if they weren't too scared
The pegasus turned away at the sight of the painfully quiet waves. Training their sight on the bleak shadow of a metal fortress floating in the sky just ahead of them. Getting closer they narrowed their eyes at the thousands of chained up ornithians. Each one of them stood guard and drew their crystal limbs at the sight of Bone Collector.
Dropping their wings, the pegasus landed and lowered their eyes at the dull nails and torn flesh. They dare not look at the hundreds of lashes on each ornithian's back. Instead, the pegasus opened the door and took the boxes inside the fortress. More and more enslaved souls lined within the walls.
Some were shining the walls, others were working on machinery that seemed far more advanced than Bone Collector had ever seen. All of them had the same broken expression as the ones standing guard. Rushing ahead, Bone Collector reached a throne room was several ornithian females were massaging the body of a giant hippogriff in the finest business suit, sitting on a throne of their crystal bones.
Bone Collector placed the boxes down and bowed their head to the floor. "Sir Night. Your delivery as my king promised."
"Oh, good..." Sir Night clapped softly and the ornithian females pulled away. "Ladies, put up my offerings. I shall feast on the lingerie souls later."
The females did as they were told. Bone Collector sneered at the sight of each of them. Only to freeze at one in particular, leaving their eyes widened as if they were seeing another ghost. Reaching out, they grabbed the arm of a white ornithian with green feathers as if pleading for it to be fake or real. "Celaeno-" Bone Collector called out the female's name, only to stop their whispering as Sir Night stomped his foot.
The hippogriff stood and walked over to them, placing his hand over the white ornithian. He was so much taller than them that his hand covered her entire head. "What? Do you want this one?" Sir Night lowered down to their height. His raspy breath echoed into both their ears. Looking at the full stock that Bone Collector brought him, Sir Night smiled. "You could stay the night and rut this one in for my brother, my brother prefers them to be completely broken in both mind, body and soul." He picked up Calaena and threw her across the floor, sneering as she pulled out a knife. "Still so feisty."
"I... I..." Bone Collector's eyes widened at the implications. "Don't hurt her!"
"Don't look at me like that. They were slaves long before I stole them away from my hippogriff kind. Soldiers, dying on the front lines for kingdoms to defeat that cold Storm King." Sir Night turned to the windows. "At least under my command they can stay alive much longer and see all these beautiful sights." He held out his talons to the images playing over the room. All visages from the memories of the bones they brought him. "I used them only to pamper me. I cannot control what my brother does..." He admired the empty oceans and grey skies out the window.
Bone Collector narrowed their eyes on the orange shadow drifting in their view between the memories of everypony they killed in the King's name. Breaking the strain of their heart, they pulled their hand away from Celaeno. "No, I can't. I have more bones to collect." They pulled away, shivering the whole time.
Celaeno growled back at them and rushed forward with their knife. Before Bone Collector could stop her, she raced back around and tried to stab Sir Night. The giant hippogriff gave no care, jumping clear over her swipes and crashing both her and Bone Collector into the ground with his giant claws.
"See, if my brother doesn't break her soon, I'll be forced to rip her soul out!" Sir Night yelled at both of them.
"What?" Bone Collector turned to Celaeno. "You have so many bones already."
"The souls of those bones pale in comparison to living souls... So fresh and tasty!" Sir Night growled at both of them and squeezed them tighter, his eyes traced over the other ornithian females as well as all the ornithian throughout the fortress. "I refused to feast on them out of mercy. Your King provides me with the souls I need to stay alive and bring back-" Sir Night stopped his words and pulled back as he realized his rage was scratching up his fine floor.
The giant hippogriff composed himself and let go of Bone Collector. He stood up and kept a tight grip on Celaeno. Combing her like a toy doll, he dragged his fingers over each feather until he reached her crystal leg. "My brother tortured this one for twelve nights straight and she refused his advances at every turn. She even sawed off her own leg in one attempt to fight him." His eyes softened and lowered to Bone Collector. "He truly hates un-submissive souls. Yet I also hate to waste such prideful wills..." He stroked her chin, bringing out a tear from her eye. He squeezed her until she lost consciousness.
Bone Collector walked over and picked up their knife, putting it back in their strap. "Whatever... I need to get back to work."
"Hold on." Sir Night turned Bone Collector around and placed Celaeno in their arms. He placed his finger on the pegasus' mouth. "No, no, take her as a bonus." He pinched Bone Collector's cheek. "For working so hard killing all those ponies."
Bone Collector gritted their teeth but hid their rage. Their eyes wandered over the other ornithian females, seeing them so broken and used made things even more obvious. Spot the orange ghost that always followed the Bone Collector, their eyes narrowed until they got their answer. They knew the young orange mares emotions about this whole thing, even without them need to say a single word to each other. Instead, they simply glanced at each other before giving the final comment. "As you wish." Bone Collector took Celaeno into their arms and turned toward the exit.
