Chapters It was a wonderful in Canterlot. There were few clouds in the sky, the sun was high in the sky, and ponies went about their business. But the busiest pony in Canterlot, by far, was Twilight Sparkle, visiting Celestia and Luna and helping to plan the family reunion for the two diarchs.
"Twilight, calm down," Celestia, wearing a flowing, sleeveless white dress that went to the floor. "You are a part of the reunion too." Yeah, Twilight would be there too, due to the fact most ponies, given how close the two are, considering them mother and daughter. "We have other planners. This is meant to be a time of rest."
"But Princess," Twilight, wearing the gown she had worn for her coronation, said, "it has to be perfect. This is the first time Cadence and I will be meeting your family." Cadence, given her status as Celestia's adoptive niece, would be there as well. "When are they supposed to arrive, anyway?"
Celestia flinched a little. "Later today is when they said they'd be here."
Twilight smiled. "Well, I can't wait to meet them."
"I'm sure," Celestia said as Luna, wearing a dress similar to her sister's, but the color being dark blue with silver accents.
"Hello, Sister. Twilight Sparkle."
"Hello, Princess Luna," Twilight said. "How are you?"
Luna sighed. "Truth be told? I could be doing better. I never liked our parents, or most of our relatives, for that matter, but especially our parents."
"Luna," Celestia said, moving to put a wing over her sister, as well as an arm on her shoulder, "it's only for a week. We've lasted longer."
Luna looked at Celestia in a dead pan. "That was before they got, what is it called, ammunition from my time as Nightmare to use against me."
"Luna, everypony's forgiven you. And besides, you didn't harm anypony."
"But I brought about eternal night!"
Celestia sighed. "Twilight, I'm beginning to see your point of the fact ponies seeing a bunny stampede as the apocalypse much more plausible." She turned to face her sister. "Luna, there many things that ponies see as frightening today they didn't see then. I suppose that's partly because of me, seeing as how I've given a practical utopia to live in."
Luna chuckled. "Yes, I suppose so," she said, a smile on her face now. "Come, we need to make sure the food is ready. Goddess knows that Auntie Aphro likes peaches."
"Right," Celestia said as she herself chuckled at the memory of the one time they didn't have enough peaches. Probably good that societal norms were different back then. "Twilight, go find Cadence. I'm certain she'll be happy to spend time with you for today before meeting our parents." Especially Mother, Celestia thought with a small shudder. Best not to think about that encounter.
"You got it, Princess," Twilight said as Celestia and Luna made their way to the royal kitchens.
"So, Lulu," Celestia said, both able to drop into how the two spoke when ever they were with friends, "who are looking foreward to seeing the most?"
"Probably our twin cousins," she said. "They always were enjoyable. Though I think I'm safe i saying neither of us, nor anypony else, for that matter, in the family, want him there."
"That is true," Celestia said. "Even with our strained bonds with them, I've been in contact with Father to make sure he doesn't leave Tartarus."
"I'd still like to know how he's there when he's alive."
"Because the entire world thinks he's dead," Celestia said. "Thought that will change this evening."
The two sisters continued talking about their upcoming family reunion until they got to the kitchens, which were working over time to get all the food ready.
The head chef, an earth pony with tan skin and brown hair, wearing a cook's outfit, rushed over to them. "Your Highnesses," he said, bowing. "Are you here to check on the preparations for your family reunion?"
"Indeed we are," Luna said. "How is it coming along?"
"Quite well, your highness. Most of the ingredients for the dishes you requested were already here in the castle, and those that weren't, we asked the local gardeners, as well as some farmers from across Equestria, for them. Though, a few chefs were somewhat, for lack of a better word, princess, disgusted that a few of the meals required meat."
"That was to be expected," Celestia said. "Most of our family have tastes most would find strange."
"Well, your highness, regardless, most of the dishes are done. The only one left is that cake you asked for. We have all tge ingredients, it is simply taking a long time to bake."
"It's not going to be needed until the final day, anyway," Luna said. "Its long bake time is why we wanted it started today."
"I had figured so, highness," the chef said. "Is there anything else you two need?"
"Not at the moment," Celestia said, and with that, the two alicorns left the kitchens.
"So, what's next for the reunion that you didn't give Twilight Sparkle so she'd have less to worry about?" Luna asked.
"Well," Celestia said, bringing a hand to her chin, "bedding is already taken care of, I made sure of that this morning."
"I had the royal pool uncovered so it could warm up before the others arrived," Luna said. "I'm sure Uncle Poseidon will be glad for that."
"He always did like water," Celestia said. "Shame we don't bring the pool out more, though, especially during the summer. I may have control over the sun, but not the temperature. Not even pegasai can do that."
"I actually think you-know-who does that just to see mares in bikinis, honestly," Luna said. "He does act like a teenager sometimes."
Both of the sisters chuckled. "Yeah, probably," Celestia said. "But back to the preparations, I actually think most of them are done. Just the cake needs to be finished, and the shield spells are needed to be put in place, as I'm certain Twilight and Cadence are going to blow when they meet our parents."
"Definitely," Luna said. "Cadence especially."
"Now come on, we need to get the spells in place, and change," Celestia said.
"Of course, sister," Luna said, and the two went their separate ways.
A few hours later
Celestia and Luna, the both of them now wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt that matched their skin tone, stood in the Gala room.
"Twilight, there is no need to be so formal," Celestia told her student, who still wore her coronation dress. "This is meant to be a reunion, after all."
"But Princess," Twilight said, "this is the first time I'm meeting your family."
"Twilight, it's that way with me, too," Cadence, wearing a knee length skirt with a short sleeved, white shirt with blue accent the the edge of the sleeves. "But i'm still dressed this way. Can't you relax for just a week?"
"Sorry," Twilight said, rubbing the back of her neck and blushing in embarrassment. "Guess it's a force of habit to make sure everything's as perfect as possible."
"Perfectly forgivable, Twilight," Celestia said. "Though our brother would just make those obsolete. In fact, the both of you've already met him."
"Really," Cadence asked. "When did we meet?"
"Well, Twilight met him before you, Cadence," Luna aid, "but there is one time when the three of you were together."
"When," Twilight asked.
"Why, when we went to the edge of Equestria, of course," a familiar voice said before there was a flash of light, and, when it faded, Discord, wearing a blue tuxedo, stood next to Celestia and Luna.
Twilight's eye twitched. "He's your brother?" she asked. "I thought he'd be somepony regal, not Discord!"
"I can't be regal," Discord asked. "Twilight, I am the god of chaos. By that definition, I am the King of chaos, so, for that, regal can mean what I want it to be."
"He's right, Twilight," Celestia said. "Everyone in our family has their own version of the word 'regal'. Ours just align more with Equestrian definitions of the word. So, how have you been, Discord?"
"Same old, same old," he replied, shrugging, as Twilight's brain still tried to process his relation to her mentor. "Really, the only thing of note is that there are some wierd fluctuations in space time. Which I haven't caused, by the way. Wonder what it means?"
"Are they harmful," Luna asked.
"Not as far as I can tell. Not yet anyway. Oh, and mom and dad will be arriving next."
"This is going to be interesting," Celestia said with a sigh. "When?"
"In the next few minutes," Discord said. "Sure you want Cadence here?"
"I can hear you, Discord," Cadence said.
"I know. It's just that, as much as I love chaos, I don't want you and mother to destroy Canterlot."
"Why would we do that," she asked as the doors opened, and twp ponies walked in.
One was a stallion with ashen gray skin. He wore what was, in essence, a guards dress uniform, but the colors, instead of red and white, were, black and silver. On his back was a red cape, with white, lining at the bottom that contained specks of black. But his most interesting feature of the stallion was his curved horn with a red tip.
"Hello, Father," Luna and Celestia said in a deadpan to Sombra. "Mother."
Their mother had a dark skin, nearly entirely black. Her hair and tail were a bright, lime green, as were her eyes, which had a reptile like pupil. She wore a dark green, almost olive, shirt that went to her waist, with the sleeves that went to her elbows, as well as a pair of knee length shorts that were the same color as her skin. Her horn was jagged, and her insect like wings were furled.
"Hello, girls," Chrysalis, her arms crossed, said before she looked at Cadence and Twilight, smirking. "Hello, Cadenza. Did you miss me?"
"Twilight, calm down!" Celestia yelled, as he held Twilight back from assaulting, and trying to kill, her parents, Luna doing the same with Cadence. Discord was just sitting in a lawn chair in the air with a bag of popcorn watching television. "Any time now, Discord!"
"Why?" he asked. "I figured you two would be able to explain it best. They still don't trust me, after all. Even after all Fluttershy and I have done with them."
"That might have to do with how you're acting, Discord," Chrysalis said.
"That, we can agree on, mother," Luna said, barely holding Cadence back. "Cadenza, calm down and let us explain."
"Bu they're controlling you!" both Twilight and Cadence yelled.
"What makes you think that?" Celestia said.
"Because-well, because those two tried to destroy Equestria. Chrysalis even imprisoned Cadence!" Twilight yelled.
"Did you not wonder why we still had the title of Princess, Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked. "It is because they still lived. Why do you think I wasn't at Cadence's wedding?"
"But how is Sombra here?" Cadence said. "I saw him explode!"
"If you calm down, we will tell you," Luna said. "Now, both of you, stop acting like foals!"
Grudgingly, Twilight and Cadence stopped trying, that being the keyword, to murder Chrysalis and Sombra, and sat on the floor.
"I imagine you want to know why you saw father die?" Ceestia asked, to which the other two mares nodded. "It was all a ploy. He was actually a kind ruler-"
"Can't say the same for being a father," Luna mumbled.
"-but, when we learned of a seal the entire family had placed on. . . someone we would rather not name, he decided one of us had to be officially dead to the world to keep an eye on Tartarus, where the force was imprisoned. He cast a spell over the ponies there to make them believe him to be a cruel ruler after he had volunteered to do so."
"So he sacrificed himself," Cadence asked.
"I don't buy it," Twilight said, crossing her arms.
Chrysalis chuckled. "I can see why you took Twilight as your student, Celestia. She's just like you when you were her age."
"I was not," Celestia said with a small blush, which got a few chuckles out of all present, even Twilight and Cadence, which helped to lighten the mood, if only slightly.
"Well, if you all are done," Discord, still on his seat, said, "the rest of the family should start arriving soon, so, Cadence, Twilight, please try not to kill mom and dad. For this week, at least."
"I suppose we can at least try," Cadence said. "Doesn't mean we're going to like.
"All we're asking," Luna said. "So, who's going to arrive next?"
Discord put his taloned hand to his chin. "Hm, if I remember correctly, it'll be Aphrodite, Artemis, and Apollo."(1)
Luna nearly sequeled with happiness as she began to jump up and down. "Oh, I can't wait to see Artemis and Apollo. I missed seeing them!"
"Her favorite cousins," Celestia informed Cadence and Twilight. "Really, the only two who gave her attention, much to my sadness that I didn't, before her banishment. Artemis actually visited her from time to time on the moon, if Luna's telling the truth."
"They actually had Celestia's and Luna's jobs before they came of age," Chrysalis said.
"So, when are they going to get here?" Sombra asked Discord.
"A few minutes," he said before the door opened. "Or, right now, I really don't care."
At the door stood three ponies. The one in the center of the three had a vibrant pink skin, much like Cadence, but her hair and tail were a light brown, and she wore a white gown that went to the floor, her wings furled on her back. On her shoulder was her cutie mark, a simple heart.
The mare to her right had white skin, and silver hair and tail. The edges of her wings could barely be seen. On her back was a quiver and bow, no arrows in the quiver. Along with those two accessories, she had on a pair of faded camouflage pants and a short sleeved, white tank top on.
Her brother, standing on the opposite side of Aphrodite, had a bright, yellow skin and orange hair and tail. He had a sleeveless shirt, which showed his cutie mark that resembled an ancient drawing of the sun, as well as shorts that went to his knees. He had a lyre in his hands.
Before the three of them could say anything, Luna rushed over and hugged Artemis.
"Hey, Lulu," she said. "Been a while, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has been," Luna said as she released Artemis and hugged Apollo. "Hey, Apollo."
"Hey, Luna," the yellow alicorn said. "Good to see that you're off the moon. Shame, I liked the scenery. Quiet and beautiful"
Luna chuckled. "It has been a while, hasn't it, Apollo?" Luna then released him and have Aphrodite a small hug, to which the pink alicorn gave Luna a small peck on her cheek.
"Hello, Luna," she said, compassion in her voice. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, auntie," Luna said with a smile. "You are my favorite aunt, after all."
"I know, Luna," Aphrodite said as she pushed a lock of Luna's hair out of the lunar alicorn's face. She then looked at her other niece. "Hello, Celestia. How have you been?"
Celestia smiled a little and joined her sister in hugging their aunt. "Just fine, Auntie. How have the three of you been?"
"Good, Celly," Apollo said. "How's the sun?"
"Temperamental as always, Apollo, just like when you gave me the responsibility of raising and lowering it."
"But I thought you always raised the sun," Twilight said, getting the attention of the three arrivals.
"I guess that's your student, Celestia?" Artemis said as she walked over to Twilight, sizing her up. "I can see her magic potential."
"What do you mean?" Twilight said.
"Ah, a lesson I had planned for you for just after the reunion, Twilight," Celestia said. "Alicorns, with training, can see latent magical auras of other ponies, or any being for that matter. That's why she is such a good hunter."
Both Twilight and Cadence put on a look of disgust on their faces. "She hunts?"
"I am the alicorn of archery, and archery is a skill for hunting," she said. "What did you think this was for?" She pulled the tip of her bow, making it snap back with a twang
"Recreation," Cadence said sheepishly.
Artemis just stared at the two of them, and then chuckled. "I like you two. I can see why Celly made you two a part of the family."
"Th-thanks," Twilight said nervously, to which Apollo chuckled.
"It's alright," he said. "She tends to be a little hostile to anyone she meets, family or not." He promptly ducked under a magic arrow Artemis fired from her bow.
"Please shut up, Apollo," she said. "There's a reason I try to hit you every time we go out hunting together, and that would be your big mouth."
"Would you two please stop," Aphrodite asked. "Your father asked me to look after you two until he could get here, and I don't want to explain to him why Apollo has an arrow through his chest."
"Fine, auntie," Artemis said as she put her bow back on. "Don't want the others to get here and Apollo to have an arrow brought on by his stupidity."
"Thank you, Artemis," Aphrodite said as she released her nieces and walked over to Cadence, who shrunk a little. "Hello, Cadence," she said.
"Hi," was all Cadence could say. "Um, if I can ask, why is your cutie mark a heart like mine?"
Aphrodite chuckled. "Because I was the alicorn of love before you," she said. "I stepped down a few years after you met Celestia, knowing you'd be able to handle the responsibilities."
"What," Cadence asked. "I'm your replacement?"
"No, my dear," Aphrodite said. "You are my successor. I watched you before Celestia had met you, and it was I who gave Celestia the spell that allows you to control love, as well as other skills you have yet to learn." She chuckled. "But that can wait. For now, we have fun!"
It's been two days since the reunion for the royal family started, and most of those present were having a good time. Really, it was just Twilight and Cadence who weren't, and that was mostly due to Sombra and chrysalis.
Right now, the two alicorns mares were near the main door to the gala room, talking with one of Celestia's and Luna's uncles, Hephaestus, who was, actually, an Earth pony, with a dark, almost dirt, gray skin and black hair, and they asked him about why he was an earth pony.
"Well, you see," he said in a baritone voice, "the entire family are alicorns, if they were born into it, like Chrysalis, or turned into one upon marriage of one who was born into the family, like Sombra upon marrying Chrysalis. We can use our magic to decide what we look like. For example, I admire the earth ponies, and how hard they work, so I decided to change my appearance to that of one. I still have my horn and wings, yes, but my magic simply, for lack of a better term, shrunk them to the point where they are invisible to the naked eye."
"And what exactly did you do, anyway," Twilight asked.
"I was the alicorn of blacksmiths and the like," Hephaestus said. "I always liked making stuff, and that's how I was seen by earth ponies, who did most of the manual labor back before Celestia and Luna were born, a little over five thousand years ago."
"They're that old?" Cadence asked, to which she received a laugh.
"No, they're that young! " the stallion replied. "Most of us are ten thousand years old." Twilight and Cadence promptly let their jaws fall to the floor.
"You're kidding, right," Twilight said. "Pony civilization hasn't been around that long."
"In that, you'd be correct," Hephaestus said. "But I ask this: what came before the ponies? Surely you've found relics you know didn't come from ponies."
"Yeah," Cadence said.
"Well, those would be from that civilization, and keep in mind the legends that alicorns were the first ponies."
"Fair enough," Twilight said. "But I am a little curious as to something."
"And what might that be?" Hephaestus asked.
"Over the last two days, I keep hearing you and the others say you all have a surprise in store for Celestia, Luna, and the other two. What is it?"
"Oh, just something that should, with a little luck, help the four of them mend the rift in the family, no matter how well they hide it," he said. "I hope that the two of you won't try to stop it."
"Much as I hate Chrysalis and Sombra," Cadence said, "if it'll help Celestia and Luna, I'll try."
"Same here," Twilight said.
"Ha ha, excellent," Hephaestus said. "Should only be a little while longer until it happens."
"Actually, Festus," Discord said, using his uncle's nickname as he floated by as if he was laying on his back in a pool, "a little over half an hour."
"Then have you told the others?"
"I'm the god of chaos, not a moron," Discord said. "Yes, they are aware of it, while Celestia, Luna, and our parents are not."
"What are you talking about, Discord?" Twilight asked, her arms crossed.
"You'll see, Twily." With that cryptic statement, Discord went to talk with Apollo and Artemis.
"Gah, I hate it when I get a cryptic answer," Twilight grumbled.
"Don't we all," Hephaestus said.
Anyway, thirty minutes later, the family was close to the doors, with quite a few conversations going on, most having to do with the surprise for, with Twilight and Cadence, to their credit, were making sure the four the surprise was for didn't pay attention to the conversations.
"So, how do you two like the rest of our family?" Luna asked.
"They're. . . interesting," Cadence said. "I didn't think you two had any family that were in Equestria."
"Yes, well, most do keep a low profile," Celestia said.
"And most just like being lazy," Luna said.
"That is something we can agree on," Sombra said, taking a sip of his drink.
"So, is everypony here?" Cadence asked.
"Yes," the four said at once, with Discord, a mischievous grin on his face and three talons pointed up.
He lowered them, one a second, before a voice said, "Oh, am I forgotten already?" from the other side of the door. Sombra, Chrysalis, Celestia, and Luna tensed up, while Discord snickered.
"I thought you said the seals were still strong, father," Luna said.
"They were," Sombra said as the doors opened, and, in walked a gray stallion, an earth pony, to be precise, with blue hair and tail, a devilishly smile that just couldn't be anything but charming the way the stallion did it, wearing a black shirt and shorts. On the shirt was a skull and crossbones.
"Miss me?" the stallion said.
"Hades," Celestia said, glaring. "What are you doing here? You were banished to Tartarus."
"I had some help," Hades said, chuckling as the others formed a semi-circle around him. "And, honestly, I wanted to do a little something in return," he said, snapping hi fingers, which caused a portal to open beneath the four in front of him. "Enjoy your vacation," he said as they fell, and the portal closed, leaving a shocked Cadence and Twilight.
Twilight was the first to break out of her shock, screaming in anger, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM!?"
"Simply sent them to Tartarus," Hades said. "How long until they should return, Discord?"
"Decade," Discord said. "Hopefully the family issues will be fixed by then."
"Wait," Cadence said, glaring at the rest of the family. "This was your plan? To banish the two rulers of the country?"
"Yep," Apollo said, high-fiving Artemis. "Much as we don't like Uncle Hades, all of us agreed that the four of them needed to make up."
"You see," Discord said, "It was father and I who were in charge, when I wasn't stoned, of making sure what kept Hades in Tartarus. One day, when it was my turn, a letter showed up, and I read it. It was Hades telling me he had seen the error of his ways, which none of us believe, by the way," he said as he and the others glared at Hades, who, to his credit, didn't shrink, "and it had his plan to get the four of them back to actual family status relationship, which involved sending them through Tartarus that would lead to them going through challenges hat only the four of them together can complete. So, I distributed it to the others, who grudgingly agreed, and here we are."
"Discord, I'll explain it to them later," Hades said. "For now, let's get to having fun."
Celestia, Sombra, Luna, and Chrysalis were falling, the portal having disoriented them for some time. On the ground were rock spires sharpened to a point, the ground colored like blood. It wasn't until about two hundred feet off the ground were the three with wings able to unfurl them.
Luna and Celestia flew off to an outcropping that didn't have rock skewers pointing from it, while Chrysalis decided to save her husband, narrowly avoiding the spires, before going to the outcropping. "What is with you two?" she yelled once she and Sombra set down.
"What do you mean," Celestia said.
"You left your father to die," Chrysalis snarled. "If I hadn't been able to fly, than both of us would be dead!"
"We knew you were able to fly, mother," Luna said.
"Don't mother me, Luna," Chrysalis said. "You wanted us to die. Why, to protect your ponies?"
"They'd certainly be safer," Celestia said. She wasn't in sight of her subjects, so she let the guise of an ever calm ruler drop entirely. "You did try to take over Canterlot."
"To feed the changelings," Chrysalis said. "I had thought Sombra and I had risen both of you better."
"Maybe you should have tried to negotiate, first," Luna said.
"Oh, I did, but one of your incompetent Guards changed it simply because I put my symbol on it. The original said, "Celestia, I know we don't see eye to eye, but I need help. My subjects are starving, and we can only feed on love, so, much to my shame, I must ask you to allow my citizens to gather enough love so that we can feed. Mother." Honestly, you did not even attempt to ask for a meeting on neutral ground."
"Maybe because we were trying to stay away from you, or did you forget what you did to us?" Celestia yelled.
"I did so so that you and Luna would be able to actually rule. What you two are doing is nothing but appeasement. You send your own student to do the dangerous work!" Chrysalis yelled. "There's a reason why Your father and I have had no threats to our rule, and that's because we show our own strength when our kingdom is threatened, while you two simply hide like the cowards you are!"
Slap
Chrysalis' head snapped to the side, her cheek red. "We can argue and try to kill each other over this later," Sombra said. "Right now, we need to get back to Canterlot and send Hades back here, where he belongs." He looked to his daughters. "That goes for everypony here. Both of you are right, and we can argue as to who was more justified later. Now, we need to determine where in Tartarus we are, quite literally."
"He's right," Luna said. "Much as I hate to admit it." The lunar alicorn crossed her arms. "We must get back and send Hades back, as well as ant other members of our family that helped him, as he couldn't have gotten out alone."
"Thank you, Luna," Sombra said before he put a hand on his chin and observed the landscape. "Given the spires and the coloration of the ground and sky, not to mention the slight smell of sulfur, I would have to guess we're in Pain, which would mean we're deep in Tartarus."
"How far down?" Chrysalis asked.
"Very," Sombra said. "At best speed, which is you three flying while one of you carries me, it would take at least a month to get out, and that's barring any complications."
"Then what are we waiting for," Celestia said, spreading her wings.
"Because if we don't know where we are relative to the others portions of Tartarus, we may very well end up going deeper instead of getting out," Sombra said. "And it will take me some time to ascertain that, as there are no landmarks visible right now, and that will take who knows how long to change."
"What do you mean," Chrysalis said.
"The landscape changes near the borders," Sombra said, "and the landmarks that appear are unique to that area. If the one that shows up is the one I hope it is, we can move towards it. If not, the opposite way. I spent quite some time here, even before the plan to fake my death, and have learned its rules well."
"So it's a waiting game right now," Luna asked.
"Yes, indeed it is."
Canterlot
In the Gala room,the reunion was still going, though there was not a lot of talking. Well, next to Hades, anyway. He was at one end of the room, and all the others near he main doors.
Hades was leaning on one of the windowsills, looking at the gardens, a sad look on his face. "To be expected, I suppose," he said to himself. "No one ever did try to get to know me, even as a kid."
"Why?" he heard a voice behind him.
He turned around, and saw the newest Princess. "I figured you hated me, Princess Sparkle," he said, turning back around to face the gardens. "So, why are you here?"
"You're right, I do hate you for what you did to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, but still, I'm curious as to why the others are avoiding you when you're the one who planned it."
He sighed. "Suppose you might as well know, so that you're well informed enough to fear me," he said. "Who's your favorite family member who's died?"
"My grandmother, Starburst," she said. "Why?"
"Because," Hades said, snapping his fingers, "I am the alicorn of the dead."
Once the last syllable left his mouth, a small vortex appeared, light purple in color. It didn't spin that fast, but it did make enough of a breeze to make the skirt of Twilight's dress up a little.
When the vortex faded, a purple unicorn mare slightly taller than Twilight, with gray hair with a light blue streak in her hair, wearing a purple shirt and a knee length skirt. Her face was slightly wrinkled, but had a caring look.
Twilight's eyes widened as her brain processed the mare in front of her. "G-grandma?"
Starburst smiled as she walked to and hugged her granddaughter. "Hello, Twily," she said, care in her voice. "I missed you."
Twilight could only look in space as she said, "B-but how?"
"Lord Hades summoned me," she said, pulling back and putting her hands on Twilight's shoulders, a smile on her visage. "I had always wanted to see you and Shiny again, but I was stuck in Tartarus."
"But Tartarus is only for evil ponies!" Twilight yelled.
"Who said that," Hades said. "Celestia? She's wrong, like with so many other things she doesn't control. Yes, Tartarus is where evil doers go, but it has a place for those who have done equal good and bad, a place I call "The fields", and where ponies like Starburst, who are exceptionally good in their lives, go, which I call "Elysium". I should know, I watch over all of them."
"And sometimes, Lord Hades allows us out to see our loved ones in dreams," Starburst said, "but that was before Luna came back, and began policing dreams. She and her predecessor, Hypnos, did not allow him to do so, thinking Lord Hades would do so to control them."
"But Luna wouldn't do that," Twilight said.
"Again, who said so?" Hades said, sighing. "The others always feared me because of my ability, even when I had no control of it. If anything, I was feared more than Luna was before, well, you know. Starburst, you can stay as long as you want. I know you want to spend time with your family, and you'll be able to until I'm inevitably sent back."
"Thank you, Lord Hades," Starburst said, bowing a little.
"Of course," Hades said. "Though I would suggest you take the back door, as the others will probably try to send you back the hard way, given I brought you back."
"Of course," Starburst said. "Come on, Twily. We have some catching up to do."
Whatever was said next, Hades tuned out, but he did hear the door open a few seconds later, and he saw, a few seconds after that, the two mares walking across the garden. A small smile touched Hades' face as he saw this, and he took a small sip of the tea he had in the cup, a normal one, in his left hand. At least I was able to reunite one family, he thought before sighing. Unlike mine.
In Tartarus, there was not a day and night cycle, not as ponies knew of it, anyway, for there was no sun there, nor any moon. As such, it was a literal work of magic that any could see in the forsaken place. Those unlucky enough to be sent here, such as Luna, Celestia, Sombra, and Chrysalis, adjusted their days on how tired they were, because, and Sombra had said this himself, if you tried to keep track of time here, you would go mad. This meant the only measurements of time that worked here were 'later', 'earlier', 'now', and 'soon'. Of course, there was slight time dilation, which meant, in this case, time passed slight faster in Tartarus. Not to the point ten years there would be just five, more like eight and a half to nine years.
This did not help Luna or Celestia, as both were worried about their subjects.
"You two must stop caring for your subjects while we are here," Sombra said once everyone had awoken from their previous sleep, which had begun not long after they arrived. "This place will use that against you, and make you go insane, becoming a demon of this infernal place." He looked back at his daughters and wife. "It nearly happened to me when I was here."
"Why's that, father," Luna said. "I didn't think you cared for anypony."
"I nearly became one," he said, "because of you three." This got a look of shock from Celestia and Luna. "I know you think I am a terrible father, and I will admit that I was, but what I did, I did so that you two would become great rulers. Of course, the fact you have to keep dealing with threats shows that I failed to teach you, or you failed to listen. Given how stubborn the two of you are, I would say the latter."
"I would have said you are a terrible teacher," Celestia said. "But I admit that we can save the argument until after Hades is returned here."
"One of the first sensible things you've said, Celly," Chrysalis said, getting a glare.
"I told you not to use that nickname, mother," Celestia said.
"It's not a nickname, and you know it," the changeling queen said. "What is a nickname, though, is what you call yourself."
"Here we go again," Luna mumbled, to which Sombra nodded.
"Because you can not be a respectable ruler with the name you gave me," Celestia said. "Ponies would simply laugh," she said, to which her mother scoffed.
"Only if you let them," she said. "You earn respect for what you do, not your name. If you knew that, then maybe we wouldn't be here."
"How so?" Celestia asked. "Because last time I checked, it was Father who was in charge of ensuring he didn't escape!"
"If you had the respect of your brother, whom we both know you hate, he may have helped Sombra keep him here."
"Both of you, stop!" Luna yelled getting between the two. "If there should be any here arguing, it should be between father and I," she said. "As it stands, the two of you are acting like foals. I would have thought you, Celestia, would be at least mature enough to avoid that, but it would seem that I was wrong. Now, we are going to stop arguing, get out of Tartarus, send Hades back here, and then we can argue. Does that seem good enough to you two?"
Both were silent, glaring at each other before Chrysalis said, "It's a wonder you were corrupted, Lulu, when you seem to be the more mature of you and your sister. I can agree with it."
"As can I," Celestia said.
"Then lets get moving," Sombra said, looking at a spire that appeared in the west of their camp during their sleep. "That's the way we need to go to get out of here."
"And how are you going to get there," Luna asked. "You don't have wings."
"You forget that I am here," Chrysalis said. "As long as you two help me, we may be able to get there before it disappears."
"Then let's get this over with," Celestia said, wanting to get back to her subjects as soon as possible. You see, something she kept secret, even from Luna, is that she had, in her mind, unfortunately inherited their mother's metabolism, which is to say she needed love to feed on to survive. That's to say she found it unfortunate, even with all the ponies loving her to some degree, she had it, not that she thought she had it. And what she would have hated to tell herself is that, though sisterly love was delectable, she absolutely craved the love her subjects gave her, Twilight and the Elements especially. She'd never try to manipulate them to get more, she simply found it a pleasure that was extremely shameful, but needed for survival at the same time.
"Sister, I think Twilight Sparkle and the Elements will be able to at least hold Hades off until they arrive," Luna said. "I wish to get out of here as soon as possible as well, but still, you must have faith in Twilight Sparkle. She is your student, after all."
"She did defeat me," Sombra said.
"No, it was just pure luck, honey," Chrysalis said with a sweet smile. "Like it was with me."
Celestia rolled her eyes. Or the fact both of you are incompetent, she thought before she said. "Then you two must have had a very hard day."
"Oh ha, ha, Celly," Chrysalis said.
"Would you stop calling me that?" Celestia yelled. "You two were drunk when you gave me that name! It's Celestia!"
As those two began to get back at it, Luna leaned away from the two. "For you readers, the authors going to edit out the argument."
That we can agree on, Luna.
So, after that argument, Luna said, "Are you two done yet? We need to get a move on."
"For now, yes, we are finished," Celestia said.
"Then lets go," Sombra said. "Those mountains won't be there for long."
With that, the two alicorns and one changeling spread their wings. Chrysalis grabbed her husband by his chest, wrapping her arms around him, and took flight, with their daughters just under them to catch Sombra if needed.
"So what is the zone we're going to?"
"If I remember correctly, the zone is fear, so prepare yourselves," Sombra said. "That is where I nearly fell to myself."
Chrysalis, carrying her husband, Celestia, and Luna touched down. It had been a while for them since they took flight, and their wings were aching. Where they had landed resembled the Everfree, the trees covered with vines, and the surrounding dark. "So, where are we, again," Luna asked.
"Fear," Sombra said. "I think it's self explanatory what this part of Tartarus does."
"Obviously," Celestia said. "But, um, can you explain anyway?"
"Of course," Sombra said, a small grin on his face. "It turns your own worst fears against you, and tries to make you go insane, if not kill yourself. Of course, if you've conquered your fears or been here before, like me, it is easier than before, but it still tries to do so."
"Then I suppose it is a good thing my time as Nightmare made me face my fears time and time again," Luna said.
"And just what were your fears?" Chrysalis asked.
"That ponies would always fear me, and I would be an outcast," Luna said. "Of course, I still fear that, but not as much as before."
Sombra chuckled. "Luna, we may not get along, but we are family."
"Yes," Chrysalis said. "Do you not remember that I kept visiting you so you would have somepony to listen to you."
"Wait, what?" Celestia said. "I don't remember you visiting!"
"Because I disguised myself as one of Luna's servants," Chrysalis said.
"She's right, sister," Luna said. "As much as I hate to admit it, it's because of mother that I did not become Nightmare sooner."
"Then that is something I have to thank you for, mother," Celestia said.
"No need to thank me, Celly," Chrysalis said. "I was simply looking after my daughter."
"I thought I said to stop calling me that," Celestia said.
"I don't need to do what you say," Chrysalis said with a devious smile. "I am your mother after all."
"I thought you two agreed you would hold off on the argument until after we got out of here," Luna said.
"Yes, I thought that, too," Sombra said. "Still, I think it best to set up camp."
"What about fear illusions?" Chrysalis asked.
"They are less effective when in groups," Sombra said. "Because of that, I think it best if we split into groups of two. Me and Luna as one due to us having faced our fears already, and you two because you need to talk stuff out. Please try not to kill each other while Luna and I are out gathering supplies."
Before either the changeling queen or solar alicorn could respond, the dark unicorn and lunar alicorn walked off to gather supplies. "Doesn't look like we have a say in this argument," Celestia said, sitting down.
"Oh, really," Chrysalis said, also sitting down, but a few feet away from Celestia. "What gave you that idea?"
"You know, maybe we wouldn't argue as much of you simply stayed quiet, mother," Celestia said.
"It doesn't help that you continue to antagonize your father and I," Chrysalis retorted. "Why is that, anyway? Why do insist on antagonizing us?"
"Because the both of you were terrible a sparents while Luna and I were growing up," Celestia said in a growl. "I thought I made that obvious already."
"We were not terrible parents," Chrysalis said. "You simply were rebellious children, even when you were young. We tried to teach you both what it meant to be actually good rulers that protect their citizens, not be appeasing rulers to other nations, and you simply ignored us and did your own things."
"The reason we ignored you both is because doing what you did would make us terrible rulers in the eyes of our subjects."
"So?" Chrysalis asked. "There are dissenters in my hive, yes, but I give them a choice at being in the hive or not. I have few actual problems to my rule, unlike you and Luna, because I am willing to show my power. You and Lulu keep having those issues because you are too gentle. If somepony was to kill one another, you'd simply put them in jail, which you'd probably make comfortable as possible, which would only encourage them to kill again and again. You need to actually punish ponies for less then threatening your rule, otherwise you'll just keep having to deal with threats."
"Because we don't want our subjects to fear us!" Celestia yelled, getting up.
"I think they'd rather have actual gods protecting them that are willing to do hard stuff rather than you and Luna, Celestia, seeing as how they wouldn't have to be afraid of large threats as much as now," Chrysalis said, getting up to look her daughter in the eyes. "And besides, the Elements barely get any recognition for what they do, and your student wasn't even recognized as an alicorn until afterwards because alicorns do nothing but let others role right over them."
"I don't need this," Celestia said. "I'm going for a walk." She began to turn, but was held by her mother's lime green magic.
"No you aren't," Chrysalis said. "Sombra said to stay in a group."
"To hell with what he said," Celestia said, using her magic to remove Chrysalis' magic, and strode further into the forest.
"Celestia, get back here!" the solar alicron heard her mother yelled, but she simply cast an invisibility spell, and began to run.
She kept running until she just couldn't, and made herself visible again. When she did, if any were around, they would have seen her crying. "Why?" she asked herself through chocked sobs. She lay down on the ground into the fetal position, constantly saying to herself "Why?", "What's wrong with me?", and various other things through sobs, eventually crying herself to sleep.
Celestia woke up suddenly, and looked around, to discover she lay in her bedroom. "Must have been a bad dream," she said, getting up, t find she already wore her gown. "I guess yesterday was busy," she said before going to the door. She expected to find her guards outside the door, but didn't, and she assumed they were doing something else. She had ordered them to help other guards if she had yet to awaken.
She made her way to the throne room, the few castle staff she saw on the way ducking away from her sight. Must be planning a surprise for me, she thought.
She eventually reached the throne room doors, and opened them with her magic. Upon stepping into the room, her legs and arms were bound tight with chains. "Wh-what's going on," Celestia asked in terror.
"Looks like it's here, Princess," she heard a voice from behind say, but she was even more terrified upon hearing the second voice.
"Indeed it is, Captain," Luna said, walking into Celestia's view. "It appears Twilight Sparkle's report was true: changelings are stupid."
"Luna, what do you mean," Celestia asked. "I'm not a changeling. If I was, you'd be one too."
"Stop lying, filth," a guard said from behind, jabbing Celestia in the side with his spear, drawing, to Celestia's terror, green blood.
"Now, tell us where our sister is," Luna said, glaring at Celestia.
"I am your sister, Lulu," Celestia said, panicked. "Don't you remember when we were kids? Mother caught you with that stallion, and I said I pressured you into it!"
"A simple memory spell would let you know that," Luna said. "Besides, only changelings eat love."
If it could, Celestia's face would have paled. "I don't feed on love," she said. "I swear, I don't!"
Luna slapped Celestia. "Stop lying," she said, lighting her horn before firing off a spell that enveloped Celestia, which, to Celestia's eyes, did nothing.
"You see," she said in a hurry before she saw her arms. They were as black as a changeling's, and her hair fell into her face, and they wee the same color as Chrysalis'. "No, no, no, no no nononononononononononono," she yelled.
"I don't think she knows where your sister is, Princess."
"Agreed," Luna said. "Kill it." Before Celestia could say anything, she felt something cold pierce her chest. She looked down, and saw a green stained spear head jutting from her left breast. Before she could fully comprehend the sight, it was pulled out, and she blacked out.
Celestia was in a black void, unable to see anything but herself and what she wore. "Hello," she asked, looking around, also noticing her skin was its natural white, and her hair was back to its aurora look. There was nothing in the void with her, and nothing replied.
At least, not for a while.
"FREAK!"
"GET AWAY, WE DON'T WANT YOUR KIND!"
"CHANGELING FREAK!"
These were only a portion of what Celestia heard, but one thing was common in each, and that they were shouted by the voices of her subjects.
"GO BACK TO TARTARUS!"
"ANIMAL!"
"MONSTER!"
The yells just kept getting worse. Celestia kept saying, "No, stop. I'm not a changeling," crying as she did so, but to no avail. But the worse were three voices. One was expected, but the others hurt her more than she thought. The fact they weren't shouts made them hurt even more.
"You should know better than to keep secrets, sister. To think you fed on me without telling me. How can you live with yourself?"
"Not even I would feed on family with out them being aware, daughter. And you call me a monster."
"A shame, Celestia. I thought we had taught you better than that."
The last three then spoke at the same time.
"Now, you will die from starvation."
"Ah!" Celestia screamed as she woke up, jolting up right. She looked around, and saw she was still in the forest.
"You're finally awake." Celestia looked behind her to find her mother sitting on a rock. "And in case your wondering, this is more uncomfortable and more comfortable at the same time."
"I. . . didn't need to know that," Celestia said. "Why'd you come after me? I figured you'd like to leave me here."
"Have you seen your father mad?" Chrysalis asked, getting up. "I would rather not bring that on myself. And besides, you are my daughter, and, contrary to what you think, I do care for you."
"Thanks, I guess," Celestia said. "How long has it been since I ran off?"
"An hour for my internal clock," Chrysalis said. "Or at least since I found you." There was a moment silence between the two before Chrysalis spoke up. "You were tossing a lot, Celestia. Yelling, too. Nightmares?"
"Y-yeah," Celestia said. "Father described this place perfectly. It made me face my worst fear, but doing that didn't help me get over it."
"Maybe talking could help with that," Chrysalis said. "I did disguise myself as a therapist, once."
Celestia sighed. "Before I say anything, promise you won't say anything to the others."
"If you want that, Celestia," the queen said.
"My fear's because of something I got from you, mom, something I didn't know about until after Luna was born," Celestia said. "I kept is secret, but it was just hard to keep it from Luna, and you and father, especially. I was afraid I'd be cast out."
"What'd you inherit?"
"Your metabolism," the solar alicorn said. "I need to feed on love to survive, and have been doing so with my subjects without them knowing, and I was afraid they'd reject me, Luna would reject me, even you and father, and I'd die."
Celestia expected her mother to laugh, ridicule her, even, but was surprised when she felt her mother's arms wrap around her from behind, something, she realized, she had missed deeply. "You don't need to worry about that, Celestia," the queen said as she moved to look Celestia in the face. "You and Luna are my daughters, and I would do anything to help you, regardless of our relationship. All you need to do is ask me for help."
Both smiled a little. "Thanks, mother," Celestia said. "I needed to hear that. And I'm sorry for what I did during the wedding."
"So am I," Chrysalis said. "I should have sent a physical messenger with the scroll instead of just that scroll."
"That reminds me, I need to find that guard and demote him, maybe discharge him," Celestia said. "The one who altered the letter."
"I'll help with that," Chrysalis said before getting up. "Now come on, we should get back to where Sombra and Luna left us. If you think Luna has anger flares, you haven't seen your father's."
Celestia chuckled a little, and got up. "Then let's go." With that, mother and daughter, having reached some level of understanding each other, began to make their way back. Before they realized they had no idea where they were, or where they were going.
"Buck," Chrysalis said. "Guess I'll cast a signal spell." With that, the changeling queen lit her horn, and a small flare was sent skyward. "We'll be here a while," she said. "What do you think we should do to pass the time?"
"Well, you know my fear," Celestia said. "What's your, mother?"
"Being alone," she said. "I don't mean nopony with me, but being alone, separated from the family. Sombra and the others are the only ones who accepted me, even with my abilities. If they all left me, or I needed them and they couldn't help, I don't know what I'd do."
"I don't think you need to worry about that, mom," Celestia said, getting her mother's attention. "From now on, once we get out, if you need a room, they'll be one for you at the castle."
"Thanks, Celestia."
"Mom, you can call me Celly, if you want."
"You sure?" Chrysalis asked.
"Yeah," Celestia said. "You don't have to if you don't want to."
"I think I will, Celly."
It had been an. . . interesting week in Canterlot, to say the least. When the Nobles had learned of Celestia and Luna literally being sent to Tartarus, they had rioted, something Twilight thought the Nobles thought to be "too much of a commoner thing" to do, but with Twilight reassuring them that all of Luna and Celestia's duties, including the sun and moon, were going to be taken care of as if nothing had happened, they calmed down. Except Blueblood, who Hades had thrown in the dungeons. That was probably the only thing he and the rest of his family agreed upon.
After that was the other five Elements coming to save Twilight, along with Shining, because they thought she was either being mind controlled, or threatened. This took a little more on Twilight's part, as well as a lot of bribing in a few cases form the rest of Celestia and Luna's family, but they eventually let up, and, though they had pestered Twilight to come with them, she said it was probably best for her ot stay in Canterlot and help the others.
Well, that, and the fact that, beyond a certain distance from Hades, given his relatively low power, her grandmother would crumble to dust, and Ponyville was beyond that range.
Speaking of Starburst, she and Twilight had been catching up on what the other had done. When Starburst had heard her granddaughter was an Element, she nearly fainted form the excitement. Right now, though, Twilight was in the Royal Archives, studying ancient history. More specifically, form when Hades and the others were the well known gods, and she had found quite a bit.
Just about everything from that time that she found praised most of them, but condemned Hades as a monster, who would take a ponies soul for fun, and turn it into a soldier in his army, and that he ate foals and fillies. Yeah, they all had strange eating habits, that was to be expected with their age, but even they said Hades didn't do that, much as they hate him.
Another thing was that Hades liked to rape mares. Twilight had questioned Hades, and he himself, with a bit of sadness in his eyes, said, "No, those are only fear-born rumors started from a taste my mare friend had. One of the ponies who worshiped my siblings thought I was raping her, that no mare would willingly have sex with me. The news spread like wildfire, and before I knew it, ponies called me rapists, and even petitioned, yes, those existed back then, my siblings to remove me form my throne. I was able to convince them it was simply because of a taste my mare friend had, and somepony saw us accidentally, and I kept my throne. Though, it was barely."
This is what had made Twilight skeptical about research, a first in her life. It was clear that just about everything written about Hades was biased, so she went for the next best thing. Her grandmother.
Starburst was staying in a guest room next to Twilight's, which was away from the other rooms. She nervously knocked on the door, and waited. "Coming," Starburst said, and the door opened. "Oh, Twily, I didn't expect to see you again. Come in, come in," she said, ushering her granddaughter in.
"Thanks, Grandma," Twilight said as she walked in. "I've actually wanted to ask you something."
"What is it, Twily?"
"I've been doing research in the archives about Hades and the others, and most of what I've found on Hades is biased, and, well, I was hoping you could help me out there."
"You want an unbiased source, don't you," Starburst asked with a smile. "You always did like to research. I won't be able to help you, Twily, and I doubt most of Celestia and Luna's family would give you an unbiased point. They do hate him, after all. If anything the least biased source would be Lord Hades himself. I am aware of how that sounds, but trust me when I say he understands honesty, having been lied to many a time, and always tells the truth."
"How do you know," Twilight asked.
"Because I was one of his aides, actually," Starburst said. "I've gotten to know Lord Hades quite well."
"So if I asked him, he'd tell me?"
"No, he only answers questions like that if he trusts you not to use it against him," the elder unicorn mare said. "In fact, there is only one person he trusts more than his aides, and that was his old marefriend."
"Do you know what happened to her," Twilight asked. "I asked him that once, and he didn't answer."
"Not even his most trusted aides know the full story, Twilight," Starburst said. "Of what I know, though, he was separated from her when was sent to Tartarus, and that he was never able to see even her spirit again."
Twilight gasped a little. "His family was that cruel?"
"Of what I do know, yes," Starburst said. "As everypony know, Twily, when ponies die, their soul is sent to one of the areas of Tartarus, but Lord Hades' family cursed his marefriends soul to never leave, and to be constantly reincarnated. I don't know what happened to her, and neither does he, as he wasn't allowed to at least watch her soul."
"That's. . . sad," Twilight said.
"Yes, it is," Starburst said, sighing. "And on what I guess to be the anniversary of his separation from her, he always locks himself in his room, and when ever I walk by, all I hear is crying."
"Oh," Twilight said. "I guess that explains the crying I heard last night."
"Ah, I had forgotten that was yesterday," Starburst said. "If you want to get on his good side, Twily, I'd recommend being a friend to him."
While Celestia and Chrysalis were having their own bonding, the two ponies who were more comfortable in the shadows had their own as well.
Luna and Sombra were going through the forest, trying to find fallen wood for a camp fire to survive the night. "Father, if I may ask," Luna said, "why must we use fire? Can we not just use our magic?"
"Unfortunately, no," Sombra said. "I will keep it as simple as I can. Tartarus, this far in, anyway, disrupts all unicorn magic. We're lucky we weren't further in, or else you, Celestia, and your mother wouldn't be able to fly. The wood also has a property that protects hose around a fire that has it as firewood from the area's effects. Everything I went through to check if Hades' seal was intact, which was in vain, apparently, I memorized if I needed to guide somepony out of here. Probably a good thing I did so."
"Yes, I can imagine," Luna said. "I wonder if Celestia's broken down yet from being stuck with mother."
"Wouldn't surprise me if so," her father said. "We may not see eye to eye, but at least we can tolerate one another, unlike those two."
"Let us hope they don't kill each other before we get out of here."
Sombra chuckled. "Too true, Luna. But don't worry, none can actually die in Tartarus, only be sent further into it. So we don't ant them to have a fight to the death, however entertaining it would be."
"That's a little cruel, don't you think, father?"
"Perhaps," Sombra said, with a slight mischievous smile. "But you must admit, on equal footing, you have to be curious as to which would win."
". . .Touche," Luna said. "Actually, I think Celestia losing to mother during Cadence's wedding hurt her ego a bit."
"In my opinion, it needed to be brought down a few pegs," Sombra said, chuckling. "She did have a bit of an ego for being able to control something as large as the sun since Apollo gave they duty to her."
"Yes, she did," Luna said, also chuckling. "It doesn't help that the everyday pony strokes the ego everyday."
"Perhaps being here will help her tame it," Sombra said.
"I suppose that'll be one upside of being sent here," the lunar alicorn grumbled. "I swear, when we get out of here, I'm going to make Hades wish you and the others had killed him."
"Luna."
"What," she said. "I thought as the ones who had no qualms with killing, you'd want him to die as well."
Sombra shook his head and sighed. "Luna, you weren't there when he was cast to Tartarus, nor what his other punishments were. I do want him punished, but his anger had been simmering since his banishment. If I were him, or any of the others were in his place, we most likely would have done the same. It does not excuse his actions, but I am surprised you didn't think as to why he attacked when he did."
"Because everypony was in the same place."
Sombra looked at Luna with a deadpan stare. "Really. He would have had another reason than that, and he is not an idiot. That means he must have had help. Which begs the question-"
"Who helped him," Luna finished.
"Exactly," Sombra said. "We can only hope we find out before we return so that we are not again stabbed in the back."
"How do you propose we find that problem out," Luna asked, crossing her arms.
"We think back on how the others acted," Sombra said, "and see who was acting out of person the most. When we return, we kill them and Hades this time around."
It was what seemed to the four a few hours since they had split up, and, still, neither group had found one another. "I knew we should have brought them with us," Sombra grumbled. They had returned where the four had decided to make camp, which he and Luna marked with their magic as they left. "Now, there's no telling where they went."
"Still, we shouldn't be surprised," Luna said. "Celestia usually did run from family problems."
"That would explain why she sent you to the moon to begin with instead of cleansing you to begin with," Sombra said. "Not to mention why she had her student cleanse you instead of herself."
"Maybe not," Luna said. "The first time, at least. She was probably overcome with sorrow, and wasn't thinking clearly then, and hoped my time alone would bring me back."
"Yeah, probably," Sombra said. "Still, as far as I know, she didn't try to bring you back when ponies began to appreciate shadows and the night more."
"No, she did try," Luna said. "But she couldn't undo what the Elements did. I felt her magic about five hundred years after my banishment trying to free me."
"And there's her ego," Sombra said. "If she had asked the rest of us for help, we probably could have freed you."
"Maybe, maybe not," Luna replied. "Should we send up a signal spell flare so they can find us?"
"And risk the animals here finding us?" Sombra said. "Only as a last resort. Only a moron would cast a signal spell here."
With Celestia and Chrysalis
The changeling queen and the solar alicorn were running for their lives from animals they had never seen before. The animals seemed to be a mix of wolves, bears, tigers, and eagles. Needless to say, a combination like that would make even an alicorn fearful, especially if said combination is around ten feet tall with a hide like steel.
"How did those things sneak up on us?!" Celestia yelled. "They're larger than Cerberus!"
"I say we just attribute it to magic for now," Chrysalis said, "and run for our lives while saving the questions for later!"
"Why not fly?!"
"Because they have wings too!" Chrysalis yelled back as on of the animals opened its maw, which resembled that of a bear, and roared with enough force to shake leaves off of trees, and even tear off a few branches.
"Then how are we going to lose them?!" Celestia yelled, fear in her voice.
"In the deeper parts of the woods," Chrysalis yelled. "Turn right."
The two royals did so, and into a more forested part of the woods, and slowly but surely, lost their pursuers. Once that was done, after what had felt like an hour of running, which was quite possible with how time worked in Tartarus, the two collapsed onto the ground, their outfits, the same from when they were banished, torn and dirtied. "We need to find Luna and father," Celestia said. "Maybe the four of us would be able to fight those things."
"Assuming they're real," Chrysalis said. "They may just be apparitions created by this place. It is called 'Fear', after all."
"Tell that to the scratch marks those things gave me," Celestia said, pointing to a wound on her lower leg.
"Illusion magic can be that good, my daughter," Chrysalis said. "I should know. I'm a master at it. Perhaps once we get out of here, I can teach you."
Celestia scoffed. "Mother, I am skilled at illusion magic," she said, to which Chrysalis raised an eyebrow.
"Oh," she said. "Can you create an illusion of yourself sitting on your throne while you're in, say, Ponyville, and have it do your duties while having an engaging conversation with your student?"
N-no," Celestia replied.
"I thought so," Chrysalis said. "Once we're out of this damned pit, no joke or pun intended, I'll teach you what I know."
"Thanks," Celestia said, a small smile on her face as she looked at her mother.
"Of course," Chrysalis said. "Still, let's play it safe, and not use another signal spell to let them know where we are."
"Then how are we going to find them?"
"Well, when I ran after you, I put a locator spell at the edge of the area so that we could go back. That'll at least be a start, and since your father's been here, he'll most likely have done the same, so we at least have a chance."
"Should we use an invisibility spell so we don't attract the attention of those things?" Celestia asked.
"That may do nothing if they have a good sense of smell, but it's the only thing I can think of," Chrysalis agreed. "Let's cast it, and get moving." With that, mother and daughter cast an invisibility spell and, with caution and speed in each step, quickly left the area they were in, and Celestia, using her magic to keep track of her mother, followed Chrysalis back to the designated camping spot, hoping that Luna and Sombra were there, waiting for them.
Celestia and her mother walked through the forest, looking for the other two members of their family. "Not a lot to talk about," Celestia said.
"Nope," Chrysalis said. Ten seconds of awkward silence passed before she spoke again. "So, any stallions you're interested in?"
Celestia blushed. "Mom," she said, embarrassment in her voice, "you know I prefer mares."
"So?" Chrysalis asked. "I may like stallions, but even I've been with mares from time to time."
"I didn't need to know that," Celestia grumbled. "But what does that have to do with me?"
"You've never been curious was a dick in you felt like?" Chrysalis asked bluntly, making her daughter blush. "And I don't mean a dildo, I mean a real one."
A fiercer blush lit up the solar alicorn's face as she tried to hide behind her mane like Fluttershy would, but failed, as her main continued to flow in an unfeelable wind.(1) Chrysalis rolled her eyes. "I'll take that as a no," she said. "Then again, you and Luna always were prudish, relative to the rest of the family."
"Because if we were like the others," Celestia countered, "the ponies would consider us sluts."
"You didn't seem to have a problem with that before you banished your sister."
"Those were different times," Celestia snapped. "Ponies weren't as prude as they are now."
"And who became prude first?" Chrysalis asked. "You, or them, because whatever you do, the ponies follow without question."
Celestia opened her mouth to reply, but her brain stopped her voice before anything came out, and went back to those times. True, there were prudes-every era had a group outside the norms- but, for the most part, ponies were more open to sex, and even orgies with family members. She kept thinking back, trying to find when most ponies became prudes. Eventually, her memories reached back to the point where she and Luna had been drunk one night, one thing led to another, and, well, I'm sure you can guess what happened.
One thing that wasn't expected though, was that both of them had gotten pregnant, with a quick memory check from the other confirming they had impregnated each other. For fear of it happening again, the two decided to hide it, and, as a result, come out that they would no longer be having sex just to have sex.
"Us," Celestia eventually said. "It was Luna and I first, and the ponies just followed us in that."
Chrysalis sighed. "Why does that not surprise me?" she said. "Can you promise me, something?"
"What?" Celestia asked.
"When we get back, get laid by a stallion, not a mare."
Celestia glared at her mother, who shrugged. "What? I may not be Aphrodite, but even I know that sex can help relieve stress, and I know ruling a nation builds up stress."
"Mom, if I do, you need to promise to not pester me about it ever again."
"As long as you keep your end of it," Chrysalis said.
Again, the two walked in silence, this time, the silence going on for minutes, until the two exited the forest, only to see a large door, colored obsidian black and covered in spikes, pony skulls around the edges, in front of them. "You think that's the entrance to the next area?" Celestia asked.
"What else could it be?" her mother replied. "It looks hellish enough. Now, we just need to wait for the others."
"What makes you think they'll get here?" Celestia asked.
"Something your father told me," Chrysalis said. "When in an area of Tartarus, if you're able to face whatever it is that area is, you easily find the exit. Though he had only heard of that, and didn't know if it was true."
"Let's hope it is, then," Celestia said. "Luna doesn't deserve another eternity banished, even if she has her family with her."
Twilight, per usual since the. . .eventful family reunion of Celestia and Luna's family, was in the royal library, trying to find out what she could on said family members. Most of what she found was all positive for most of the family, praising them and the deeds they did. For Hades, though, it was different.
There were only a few records of him, all negative, saying he was a god of the dead-which was true enough, considering he lived in Tartarus-as well as that he would abduct a young mare to be his bride once every century. Those were the least negative ones. Yes, Twilight could have taken her grandmother's advice and ask, but, really, she didn't think it would work, as she couldn't think of what to ask first.
She had been at this for the better part of a week, and those legends were all she could find. "You know, I can see why Celestia had to order you to make friends," Hermes, one of the more annoying members of the apparent royal family, said as he appeared next to Twilight. Like the others, his form was of his own choosing, and he had opted to be a cloud white pegasus with dark blue hair and brown eyes wearing a track shirt and pants. Made sense, he was the god of just anypony who used roads and was known to be a fast flier. "You love your books way too much."
Twilight sighed. "I'm doing this so I can find out more about you all," she replied as she looked at the god-in-disguise.
"Then why not ask?"
"Because she's afraid that if she asks the wrong questions, you all will vaporize her," the librarian said, well aware of how anxious the princess could be. "Believe me, she's had worse freak outs over getting an assignment in late." Twilight blushed in embarrassment as Hermes laughed.
"Oh, that is rich," he said between laughs. "Seriously, though, that was when we were still well known. At worst, you just need to worry about us getting slightly offended, not vaporizing you."
"Oh," Twilight said. "Well, um, what about Hades?" she asked.
"Oh, him?" Hermes asked. "Yeah, it's a good thing you asked me, seeing as how most of the others haven't seen him in years," he said. "After all, I ma the messenger f the gods, and even Hades has mail. So, what do you want to know?"
"Well, honestly, I've been trying to find out about why he was sentenced to Tartarus beyond the stories saying he raised an army of the dead," Twilight said.
"Ah, that," he said. "Yeah, you see, his old wife kind of spoke out against most of us. That kind of angered them, and, as a result, they had her executed. Hades wanted to get revenge and bring her back. So, he raised that army to get said revenge, as well as get his bride back, even though he was quickly defeated, and his wife's soul was sentenced to wander the planet forever, and he wasn't allowed to use his abilities to see who was her most recent incarnation."
"Sounds like the story tellers of then were biased."
"Well, it was either biased toward the gods in a good way and alive, or impartial and dead in those days," Hermes said. "That old saying of 'history is written by the victors' definitely held true then, as well as now." He then lowered his voice to a whisper. "Twilight, what I'm about to say, you can't tell anypony."
"What?" she asked, curiosity in her voice.
"Once Celestia, Luna, Sombra, and Chrysalis get back, the others plan on putting Hades back in Tartarus and say that he imprisoned us, and instituted a reign of terror. Believe me, they're ego maniacs. Celestia and Luna in Tartarus allows them to get some lime light, and putting Hades back there will put even more lime light." He then shrugged. "Honestly, I could care less. After all, as God of Thieves, I kind of have to avoid that stuff." He then chuckled. "If you want more on Hades, ask Hades. Some stuff, only he'll tell you. And believe me, if you do so for learning purposes, he'll probably oblige. He's a scholar, believe it or not. Even met his wife at a library."
Twilight thought it over for a few seconds. "Yeah, I think I'll go do that," she said.
