From One Villain to Another

One Villain to Another

By Platinum Shift

As the flash receded from the unimaginable power from the magic that gave the mane six the ability to defeat him. Tirek found himself in his cage once more in Tartarus. He looked at himself and studied the thin, weak form that he was for too long. As he looked out of his cage, he saw nothing but steep mountains, all having platforms with cages in them, that went as far as the eye could see. Where the paths joined and the gate to Equestria was, stood Cerberus the guardian of the gates to Tartarus.

"How was that possible?" Tirek thought to himself. "I had the magic of all the alicorn princesses and somehow ponies find a mass amount of magic hidden away and defeat me!" Tirek held the thick bars of the cage with his thin hands. "In retrospect, I should of consumed this reserve pool of magic for myself and become unbeatable," he smacked his head against the cage several times before he heard the familiar sound of wings flapping in the distance.

"How did I know that you would of shown up?" Tirek groaned as a pair of red eyes glowed in the dark and a grin soon accompanied it.

"Oh Tirek, how could you? You left without saying a single goodbye, or a note," The voice was dark and was full of malice. "I would say goodbye if I left Tartarus".

"That's because you are not bound to the cage with chains and a three headed dog guarding the entrance that can defeat you without even trying!" Tirek shouted back, raising his fist.

"Well, that does make it easy doesn't it?" The voice chuckled mockingly. "I would like to know how you managed to get out of the cage, I know how you got past Cerberus".

"A magician never reveals his tricks to anyone," Tirek said as he turned away from the spectre.

"Understandable," The voice gave up. "Wouldn't bother trying now, the cages are enchanted to teleport you back to Tartarus if you do escape from them".

"Of course".

Ponyville, Equestria

As the mane six stared in wonder at the new crystal tree towering above the village, they began to discuss what the future had in store for the group. Each sat in their respective thrones, save Discord who appeared behind Twilight and looked around in thought.

"I still don't know why I don't get a throne," Discord sulked.

"Well, this is the castle for the Elements of Harmony," Twilight explained.

"Ah yes, of course it is," Discord rolled his eyes.

"Well we best get started girls, if you want to leave say the word. These duties are meant for me but I really appreciate the help," Twilight smiled at the five before her.

"No problem at all dear, it's the least we could do," Rarity waved a hoof of dismissal.

"I know, it's just I don't want these new tasks to take over your lives. This is what I do and you all have your own places of work".

"You don't need to worry about us Twi, y'all just worrying to much," Applejack reassured Twilight.

"Maybe I am, who knows what the future has in store for us?"

"Well I'm sure whatever happens, we can pull through it!" Rainbow Dash rallied as she began to do a small aerobatic sequence around the room.

After a few hours of bureaucratic work and paperwork, the five ponies left, leaving Discord and Twilight alone in the room while Spike began to sort out the several piles of scrolls and paper.

"Well if this is what the future has in store, it's going to be a very boring future indeed," Discord commented as he stretched out his arms.

"It's what Princess Celestia wants us to do," Twilight said.

"Of course, but I think more pressing matters are ahead," Discord rubbed his chin as he began to walk around the room.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when Cerberus left his post at Tartarus I don't think Tirek was the only one to escape".

"Is Cerberus the only guard at Tartarus?"

"Of course not," Discord chuckled to himself. "That would be preposterous! Not only do you have Cerberus but you have The Warden patrolling Tartarus' cells".

"So how did Tirek escape?"

"Tartarus is a big place and The Warden cannot leave, instead he relies on other mortals to banish them to Tartarus, however this is the first time in forever that anything escaped Tartarus!"

"This warden, what's he like?"

"How should I know, I was put into stone not cast into prison!"

"What will happen if anything else comes to attack Equestria?" Twilight asked in panic as she stood up and walked around in circles with Discord

"Well, we have the contents of the box of harmony at our side now so it won't be difficult to send them back," Discord reassured. "All I'm saying Twilight is that don't let your guard down". The draconequus soon left using his revitalised chaos magic and with the snap of a finger, disappeared.

Tartarus

"Well, I can tell you one thing Tirek," The Warden teased as Tirek's head shot up to face the red eyes in the darkness. "You got absolutely thrashed by ponies!" The Warden laughed as Tirek grabbed the bars once more.

"How was I to know that they would have that sort of magic?" Tirek said.

"Hmm, how about not charging head first like a bull in a china shop?" The Warden suggested mockingly.

"Even if I did it in the shadows, I would of met the same demise".

"True, I was expecting one pony to beat you down with magic but I did not expect those six to go full on super-charged!"

"I don't think anyone could of expected powers that strong".

"I could, I have seen powers that change the entire fabric of reality on a scale unimaginable by anything".

"What do you mean," Tirek asked in confusion.

"I mean, creating stars, destroying them, making planets and the list goes on and on".

"What kind of creature wields that sort of power?"

"Naughty, I ask the questions," The Warden tutted. Tirek rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I have stuff to do. Don't you go anywhere, not like you can". The Warden chuckled as the red eyes in the darkness faded.

A large spire in the middle of Tartarus, guarded by many spirits that could only be conjured in pony's nightmare, protruded out of the landscape. As a gust of wind flew opened the door, a cloud of darkness began to form near the door. Red eyes glowed in the cloud but soon began to take the form of something physical. Two long, stick like legs began to form on the ground which protruded up from the floor. Then a torso which looked similar to a Minotaur began to form on top of the legs. Then two arms began to sprout of the torso and five very thin appendages stuck out of the arm. Then a round shaped head grew on the torso. As the darkness began to clear, a black mane on the top of the round head formed. The being began to have crimson coloured skin, similar to Tirek. The legs and torso were the same as everything else on the body, completely clad in crimson skin with few minor features on the torso. The being stretched out the two long arms and two large, bat like wings and yawned.

"Home sweet home," The Warden said as he began to walk into the abode and closing the large, black steel door.

The house was expansive and large, most of the walls were just the standard brown rocks of Tartarus decorated with banners and the odd large window. As The Warden walked up to a desk, he lit a candle with a gout of flame that ejected from his hand. He picked up a quill and dipped it into the ink and began to write.

"Now, another profile for a new arrival and then I got to check out those three alicorns that came in and finally do a report on Tirek escaping," The Warden sighed. "Who knew running hell was such hard work!" The Warden began to spin on the chair which he lifted with his telekinesis. "Not forgetting assigning those scouts to find the four horseman which escaped as well!" He rested the chair down facing the large window looking out onto the field of mountains that contained the captives of Tartarus. "This is all I do every minute of every day, check them in, freak them out, eat, sleep, repeat!" The Warden gave a heavy sigh as he floated back to his desk and began to write some more. "Sometimes I get some free time and look at Equestria when the planets align on a blue moon!" he growled in frustration. "Oh what I would give to go there once more, I screwed it up last time but everyone makes mistakes".

The Warden stood up and flew up the stairs to his bedroom. He walked up to a red ball that was floating over a stone sculpture of The Warden's hand. He put his two hands over the ball and closed his eyes. "That's interesting, looks like purple is having some late night research on..." The Warden muttered to himself but suddenly stopped. "Me? Purple is researching me? Well this is interesting, if I am to go to Equestria it's best go to her first". He grinned as he began to fly around in circles. "Who will take over, someone who has a god complex would be the best," he rubbed his long chin in though with his thin fingers and small palm. His face lighted up in realisation. "Tirek, not a bad candidate I would say". Raising his hand in the air, a scroll flew into his hand and he then opened it. "Let's see, lust for power, pure evil and has a god complex? Too much," he dismissed the idea. "He could also unleash Tartarus upon Equestria knowing him!" He began to study the profile on Tirek in greater detail. "However, I could just seal Tartarus forever with my magic," deep in thought, The Warden transformed into his shadow form once more and floated towards Tirek's cell.

"So Tirek, how about we do what you do best. Strike a deal?" The Warden grinned and chuckled maliciously.