Exit Light, Enter Night- The Depths of Tartarus

Chapters

Crossroads of Sorrow
Boom
Gateway

Crossroads of Sorrow

[I won’t do any other Author’s Notes until the very end of the story for immersion’s sake. This will be the only one, no exceptions. I will post in a Blog if I absolutely must say something.]

A/N

Note: this has a ‘good ending’. I hate Sweet Apple Massacre, and want the author to gouge out their own eyes as well as brain for thinking up something so foul. But, that story exists. So... I decided to write a sequel to it, in the form of the story Soul Harvest. But, it was rendered obsolete by the alternate ending to Rocket to Insanity, sequel to Cupcakes. I was still left with the conundrum- what way could I fanfic the bad away from Sweet Apple Massacre? Then, I realized... Tartarus is Canon.

You’ll notice a dash of inspiration from My Little Mages. Without any further ado, the story.

End A/N

/x/x/x/

Murder in Ponyville. The very idea was unthinkable. A small town, where everypony knew each other’s names. Sweet Apple Acres, Sugarcube Corner, Carousel Botique, and the famous DJ P0n-3 resided in this small village just south of Canterlot. There are other landmarks, sure, but none as big as this one.

You see, a murder had not been committed in quite some time in Ponyville- forever. Ever since Granny Smith’s family settled in, there hadn’t been one single murder case. Sure, there were accidents in the Everfree Forest. Manticores and Hydras and Cockatrices were abound in those woods. And, ponies die of old age, like all living creatures. But, never at another’s hand.

In fact, in all of Equestria, there had hardly ever been murders. Of course, many were Changelings or various other creatures, so those were discounted as murders. Murder is legally defined as a pony killing another pony. The only murders in all Celestia’s rule were between zero and... well, one.

In the time of hardship, when the pony tribes fought during the Windigo blizzards, of course there had been fights over food that ended with blood spilling. It’s a hard fact to face, but when faced with extremes, ponies have the capability to kill.

But still, it was shocking nonetheless, to hear that one such murder has occurred. And, of three young fillies, nonetheless. But, what made it worse, was the fact that the culprit was the older brother of one of the victims. Worst of all was the way the murder was carried out...

/x/x/x/

“We’re dealin’ with one sadistic motherbucker here, Princess.”

The regal white alicorn surveyed the scene. Three mangled piles of flesh lied at the edge of the wall. They smelt of blood and feces. Putrid liquid soaked into the hay scattered on the floor, intensifying the scent. It was an acrid smell, sour, one that makes your eyes water. Celestia’s eyes were watering anyways, out of sadness, for she knew these ponies. Two were related to current Elements of Harmony; of Honesty and Generosity.

She turned to her forensic assistant, Goldenrod Blaze. Gold had been a doctor for palace guards for the past twenty seven years. He’d been so devoted to his job that he didn’t have a special somepony to go home to, no young fillies or colts waiting for him to open the front door so they could tackle him, shouting ‘Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home!’. That wasn’t life that he’d chosen. As the aging stallion put it, he’d already married his job.

Celestia noticed the streaks of gray in his otherwise jet black mane. She recalled all the years he’d worked under her. Running the numbers, he was there for about one fortieth of Celestia’s lone rule, without her sister Luna. It was merely a blink to the Princess, but it was most of his life. Funny how perspectives changed that way.

“Buckin’ nasty’s what this is.” he still had a thick Manehattan accent from the Bronx-co region, despite living in Canterlot for the past quarter century. For the latter half of those years, Gold had seen his fair share of pony’s insides. Guards had a long history of sacrificing themselves for the good of Canterlot, if it meant keeping horrible monsters outside the city walls.

‘Goldenrod, please.’ he looked to his Princess. ‘These are the remains of,’ her voice broke. ‘Of three innocent fillies.’ She coughed, both to clear her throat, and to keep the horrid stench of the air from her lungs. ‘Whom I will have to shepherd to the afterlife later this evening. I’ll be breaking the news to them, and many tears will be shed from this tragedy. Myself included.’

“I’m sorry, Princess. I meant no disrespect.” his eyes clouded over, as he turned back to the corpses. “I’m just... Buckin’ ticked, is all.” he stomped the floor with his hoof. “I ain’t got kids of my own, but I sure as buck don’t wanna see none of ‘em killed. ‘specially like this...” His fetlocks wrapped around a pair of tweezers. “That bastard’s gonna pay for what he did.”

He was referring to Big Macintosh, who lay collapsed near the back wall of the barn’s underground area. His sister Applejack had discovered the scene first, and after a brief confrontation, she bucked him in the face- hard- and he had been knocked out cold. She had immediately run to Ponyville’s library, where she’d sent the urgent letter to Celestia. That was not even an hour ago.

When Celestia and Goldenrod had arrived with two guards, they found her student Twilight Sparkle had been continuing the state of unconsciousness with her magic. The Princess freed her beloved pupil from the need to stay in the room for any longer- Twilight had grown to love these three as her own sisters over the past few years of her stay in Ponyville. For her to have stood down here for twenty minutes, alone with the bodies... the smell in the air, flies beginning to gather, and... the bizarre mixture of blood and feces oozing out of the red stallion’s mouth was sure to give Twilight nightmares for a long while now.

Celestia had come down to continue the spell, so Big Macintosh didn’t wake up before the crime scene analysis was finished. Not that there needed to be any analysis done- Mac was the only pony down there, as he’d locked the door from the inside. The evidence would be hard to dispute. Even if they did resort to a jury, personal bias would no doubt reach a definite verdict of guilty.

So, for the past five minutes, Goldenrod was merely finding out the how’s and when’s of the ordeal. He’d seen bodies more mangled than this- hard as it is to imagine- working at the palace. However, Celestia was not used to seeing gore. She’d never seen insides before! Her only experience was medical dictionaries from Ponyardo Da Vinci, and those had been neat, clean, organized. This was a... pardon the pun, but, a bloody mess.

She resisted the urge to throw up for the fourth time.

/x/x/x/

I can’t believe this. Oh Celestia, why? Why did something so horrible have to happen, and to the girls, no less? And... I thought I knew Big Mac. Dear Celestia, why...?

‘Twilight Sparkle.’

I gasped. She’s here!

“Princess-” I began to say, before she leaned her head over mine.

‘My precious student, please exit this area.’ she was whispering. ‘I shall assume your magical duties. I know you just need somepony’s shoulder to break down and cry on; that’s why I brought...’

A second voice crept behind me.

“Twily...” My brother. “Come on, little sis. Let’s... let’s get outta here. It’s no good here.”

“Okay...” I whispered, so as not to break the silence, this foreboding blanket that seemed to dampen all ambience. That blanket, however, blew away once we climbed the ladder to the surface. I rested my head on Shining Armor’s shoulder, letting the tears roll out. The deathly silence continued to settle, until the inevitable happened.

Rarity just arrived.

/x/ 5 Minutes Earlier /x/

“YOU’RE A BUCKING LIAR!” she was hysterical. “YOU’RE LYING! She’s just, just playing. SHE’S ONLY PLAYING! IT’S A JOKE!”

‘Rarity...’

“THIS IS A SICK JOKE! Rainbow Dash, you’ve gone too far.” she hiccuped. “This is beyond simple pranking! It’s horrible, you’re horrible! TELL ME YOU’RE LYING!” she yelled, now gasping for air. This had been going on for the past few minutes now; her mascara was running halfway down her face, eyeshadow smudging. She was a wreck.

‘Rarity.’

“I’LL CHECK MYSELF!”

“Sugarcube.” Applejack interrupted her. “Ah saw it with mah own eyes. It was Sweetie Belle alright. Applebloom, too, and Scootaloo. It was them. Ah’m... sorry.”

“Sorry? SORRY!? YOU’LL BE SORRY! How can such a horrible thing possibly be true?” she gasped. “I’m going over there myself.” She stormed off in the direction of the barn. Rainbow Dash tried to step in her path, but Applejack stopped her.

“She won’t listen, R.D. Ah wouldn’t believe it either, if ah were her. It’s... just too terrible to be true, like she said.” Her hat, previously tipped forward to obscure her face, had now fallen behind, to reveal the puffy red eyes of one who’d spent the last twenty minutes crying them out. “Ah know the same pain she’s feelin’ right now. Losin’ a sister’s one a’ the worst things that can happen to somepony. And ah... Ah lost a brother, too.”

/x/x/x/

“Twilight? Shining Armor?”

Twilight looked up at the mention of her name.

“Rarity.”

“Oh, so she put you two up to this? Playing me for a foal, is that it? WELL IT WON’T WORK, TWILIGHT! IT WON’T WORK!” her screaming caused the siblings to flinch. “I EXPECTED YOU TO BE ABOVE THIS BEHAVIOR-”

“Rarity.”

Celestia ascended the ladder, and joined the others on the floor.

“I’m so sorry, my little pony. But, ‘tis no joke.” she looked Rarity in the eyes. “Your sister, I fear... is dead.”

The white unicorn’s eye twitched, causing a tear caught on an eyelash to dislodge and fall to the ground. It seemed to fall in slow motion before splattering on the ground. Her lip quivered as she realized that it wasn’t a joke. It was real. And that meant...

/x/x/x/

Applejack and Rainbow Dash waited for the inevitable outside of Carousel Botique. Finally, it came; Rarity’s scream. It was muted, from the distance, but still chilling to the bone, and curdling to the blood. It wasn’t high-pitched; it sounded like the throat-ripping groaning of despair that it surely was. It lasted only seconds, but felt like minutes. When your spirit is crushed, sense of time ceases to exist.

“So...” Rainbow started. “I guess she knows.”

They continued to stand in silence. Though Dash didn’t know Scootaloo as well as Applejack and Rarity knew their sisters, she still knew that the orange filly was a huge fan of her. This fact started to fill Rainbow with guilt. Scoot had asked the cyan pegasus on several occasions to show her some of her moves she’d use to try out for the Wonderbolts, but more often than not, she always came up with some excuse as to why she couldn’t. Now, she regretted each and every time that had happened, even the times she had a legitimate reason. Even though Scootaloo wasn’t her sister, it still left a hole in her heart- and that wound was thrice the normal size, as Rainbow considered the Crusaders to be a package deal for quite a while.

Now that they were gone...

‘Hey.’

Rainbow looked towards the voice. It was- no, it couldn’t be!

“Spitfire?”

Wait... what the buck is she doing here?

/x/x/x/

A zebra was sprinting through the Everfree Forest.

“Please do not let it be so! Why did that filly’s little light go!?”

“Perhaps I am just overreacting. I mean, putting all my faith into that thing?”

“But still, it really troubles me. What other explanations could there be?”

‘Swee-hee-heetie Be-he-helle! No!’

Zecora’s sprint full-out stopped. She recognized that voice; Rarity. She was right at the border of Everfree Forest, somewhere between Sweet Apple Acres and Fluttershy’s cottage. The zebra had heard Rarity scream before, on several occasions. Most of them were for ridiculous reasons- like, for example, not being able to find a diamond-encrusted ribbon. But this... this sounded serious.

Zecora half-heartedly attempted to sprint, but she knew that regardless the speed she was going, it was too late anyways.

“Either that yell was serious, or I am merely going delirious...”

“My heart, it pounds. This revelation, it will astound. Though not in a positive manner...” Zecora searched for something to finish, but could think of nothing. “Oh no... it’s more serious than I thought.”

Zecora had a small array of potion essences of ponies. They glowed with light as long as the pony was healthy, and it would dim if they were sick. But, the ones for Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo... turned black.

Death.

/x/x/x/

‘Sister...’ Luna said, looking up from the note Celestia had left her. ‘Thou art dead wrong.’

/x/x/x/

“Spitfire?” Rainbow asked, confusedly. “Why are you-”

‘Look, there’s a couple things you don’t know about the Wonderbolts, Dash. But right now, we’ve gotta go to the barn, and I mean now. Grab your friends here, and let’s go.’

Applejack felt two pegasi on either side, airlifting her to the barn. Normally, she’d object to this treatment, demand she could walk and complain the whole way, but... she felt no passion to do so. Almost as if the spirit was drained out of her...

/x/x/x/

“The barn is now within my sights. I must investigate this dying of the lights!”

Zecora rounded the corner, to the open barn doors. Twilight and Rarity were holding each other- eyeliner and shadow was smudged on Twilight’s shoulder- and a stallion Zecora had never seen before was standing slightly back from them.

“Twilight Sparkle, and Rarity too, what sadness has afflicted you?”

Rarity lifted her face from Twilight’s shoulder, as she turned to face Zecora.

‘She’s gone...’ The mare managed to slip out, before she started sobbing.

“Zecora, the girls-”

The zebra turned around to see a peculiar sight- two pegasi carrying an earth pony between them. She recognized Rainbow Dash, one pegasus, and Applejack, the earth pony, but this second pegasus was a stranger to her.

Twilight continued. “The Crusaders... are dead.”

Zecora fell to her knees. “It is truly as I feared... Their lives’ end has too quickly neared.”

The yellow pegasus stepped forward.

“Everypony, there’s something I have to tell you. The girls aren’t permanently-”

She couldn’t finish that sentence.

/x/x/x/

“Well, Princess,” Goldenrod said as he got back up. “I’m going to give the ‘suspect’ a once-over. Would you mind lowering the barrier, please?”

Celestia complied. The spell was powerful enough to not wear off for well over twenty minutes. Gold approached the body.

“Say, Princess?” he asked. “What’s the personality profile on the guy? I wanna get a clue on his motivation.”

‘I’d rather not talk, Goldenrod. I’m having enough trouble not breaking down and crying, or vomiting, or both. But, I do know that he never seemed capable of this.’

“Really? Well... you’re usually a great judge of character. So, if you don’t think he coulda done this, then what in Tartarus coulda possessed the guy to snap like that?”

Celestia pondered this herself. In a thousand years, she had picked up quite a few skills at reading ponies. How could she have been so off? It’s as if he was- wait...

“Goldenrod?” she asked, still looking off to the side. “What was that you just said?”

‘Uh... what in Tartarus coulda made him snap like that?’

What in Tartarus... well... it could be- no, but that’s impossible. The only way it could- well, if Cerberus were to- wait, what’s that noise?

‘PRINCESS, LOOK OUT!’

“Wha-”

/x/x/x/

Luna was speeding towards Ponyville as fast as she could. She hadn’t bothered with preparing, as she knew she had a limited amount of time. It was straight out the castle doors, not bothering with royal regalia.

“Sister, please be okay. I would be absolutely crushed if-”

A strange buzzing sound rang in the navy blue alicorn’s ears. The sound of netherworldly magic that only members of the alicorn race could hear- back at Canterlot, Princess Cadence was experiencing some less-than-pleasant sensations in her mind’s ear. It could only mean one thing.

“No, I can’t be too l-”

A large BOOOM! resounded through the air.

“-ate, CELESTIA, NO!!!”

A barn had just exploded into cinders.

/x/x/x/

Boom

/x/x/x/

“Say, Princess?” I asked. “What’s the personality profile on this guy? I wanna get a clue on his motivation.”

I can’t bring those fillies back to life, and I’ve got no access to what happens to this perp, and since I handled their bodies, the least I can do to honor them is know why this happened. It’s not that big a request, really. Plus, I need to keep the conversation going to keep from seeing breakfast for the second time today. Scratch that- so I don’t buck his face in.

“I’d rather not talk, Goldenrod.” Well, it was worth a try. “I’m having enough trouble not breaking down and crying, or vomiting, or both.” You and me both. “But, I do know that he never seemed capable of this.” Huh.

“Really? Well... you’re usually a great judge of character.” And if that’s the case... “So, if you don’t think he coulda done this, then what in Tartarus coulda possessed the guy to snap like that?”

She didn’t answer. Probably a good thing; I’ve been seeing this stuff for a while now. Frankly, she hasn’t. I can feel the tension from here- my thing I do, my mark, the special talent. I’m not calling it that. So, I got back to studying. Strange... what are these markings on his neck-

“Goldenrod? What was that you just said?”

No... no, it couldn’t be. These- these aren’t... wait, she asked me a question. Uhh... “What in Tartarus coulda made him snap like that?” Okay. I’ve seen these symbols before, but on one of the royal guards after an attack from that demon wyvern. Yes... these are exactly the same. As burned in my mind’s eye as they were in the guard’s coat.

Wait, what the- they’re glowing now. I should probably back up now... Oh shit, he’s awake!

The red stallion just stood up by himself, and he looked me in the eyes. They’re glowing purple, like the markings. Wait, the markings are moving, in swirls around his neck, forelegs, and flank. They’re- they’re actually lifting off of the skin, and they’re floating.

What the buck am I seeing? This isn’t normal!

Oh holy- his jaws are unhinging like a snake’s! Princess, what the buck are you doing!? Wait- shit, she’s turned the other way- what the hell is...?

“PRINCESS, LOOK OUT!”

Something’s crawling out of his mouth now- looks like liquid shadows; but with colored streaks. There’s some yellow twisted with red, white with lavender, and orange with magenta- dammit he’s rushing the Princess- JUMP!

“Wha-” She didn’t even say the T, I cut her off. The shadows, they just pounced towards her lightning-quick. Something in my mind triggered, and everything moved in slow motion.

The Princess was turning her head, eyes widening. I put myself in between the shadows and Celestia, just in time to watch the blackness go beneath my skin. The pain started off at first feeling like a vague ticklish sensation, before slowly ramping up in intensity.

The shadows split off into two strands- one was pure shade, focusing on me, and the other had both darkness and the colors I saw, and started filling up the room down here. The Princess tried to step towards me, but the shadows pushed her back. What power is this?

Ooh, it’s starting to sting a little. A chill passed through my blood, starting at the point of entry. It spread through my torso, before hitting the joints of my legs. Suddenly, the shadow fully split off from the rest, and the last of it slithered into the invisible hole in my body.

My mind pulled away from my body, as if watching from a mountaintop. I was vaguely aware of what felt like lightning shooting down to my hooves. I could see the tips of them turn black, tendrils of fur on my coat losing its yellowish gold tone, instead turning a muted gray. This happened simultaneously, on all four.

My body twisted around on itself, so my head met my flank. My tail and eyesight were now parallel, and I could see the once-black hair turn from black with grey streaks, to total grey. I felt myself growing weaker, and less receptive to the pain.

Then, it all stopped. Everything stopped moving. Except for myself. My body started to uncoil; surprisingly, none of the bones were broken. I’m sure they’re fractured and cracked, but not penetrating to the surface. Celestia, I could see, was forced back to the wall on one side. On the other, the red stallion had collapsed. But, the corpses of the fillies were gone.

All of a sudden, all of the shadows funneled out of the room within a second. For another brief second, there was silence. Then, a deafening BOOM. I was thrown in the direction of the Princess, as the ceiling collapsed down on top of me.

I could see the sun.

/x/x/x/

“Everypony, there’s something I have to tell you. The girls aren’t permanently-”

The barn exploded before I could finish. The roof split in four pieces, falling down each wall. The walls themselves collapsed, as well as the floor. Shining Armor had grabbed Twilight and Rarity, and jumped out of the barn before it fell. Rainbow Dash pulled Applejack back, while the Zebra and I stepped back ourselves.

What looked like flowplasm shot up into the sky, then turned directly into Tartarus’ direction. Just great. This makes my job ten times harder.

In the rubble, I could see Celestia spreading her wings, the loose rocks tumbling down. She started moving rocks with her horn, frantically shouting “Goldenrod! Where are you!?”

Then, Princess Luna landed on the ground next to me, and rushed to her sister.

...Now I have to go into Tartarus. Without backup. All nine circles. Flowplasm.

Buck. My. Life.

/x/x/x/

My sister was digging through the rubble. “Goldenrod!” she yelled. “Where are you!?”

‘Tis no use. He’ll be dead within the minute regardless the healing arts you apply. Even with our help, we could only prolong his life for another thirty seconds or so. I approached her as she dug up the mute-colored stallion buried but a few feet from her. He wheezed. Celestia tried to lower her horn to him, but I put my hoof in the way.

“Sister.”

She looked up at me, shock still present in her eyes. Then, realization, then resignation, then a tear. She closed her eyes and looked back towards the pony now lying on the ground beside her. Shadow flowed out his nostrils, and up into the air.

“Princess,” he whispered. “Did you make it out okay?”

“Yes,” she answered. “I did, Gold.”

“Good...” the shadows stopped flowing out, instead gathering above our heads. Suddenly, it zipped off towards Tartarus. I shall be making my next stop in that direction. Hopefully, I may be able to salvage this stallion’s life. But... ‘tis merely a false hope.

“Princess...?”

Celestia leaned towards him. “Yes?”

“I...” he seemingly attempted to cough, but hadn’t the strength to do so. “I think we pegged the wrong stallion for the crime.” He seemingly attempted to inhale, but was again met with failure. “I blame the dark stuff.”

A single tear fell from my sister’s eye. It landed in the pony’s mane, and slid down one of its white hairs. I remember this stallion- he was head of the health ward for the royal guard. He used to have a black mane... the flowplasm steals and steals, and never returns what is taken.

“The fillies are gone.” he said. “It took them.” he said, this time with his final breath. He said no more.

For a few moments, nopony moved. Then, I felt the presence of the others around us. Captain Shining, Commander Spitfire, Twilight Sparkle and three other Elements of Harmony, and a Zebra who seems vaguely familiar. The element of Honesty, Applejack- I remember from my first Nightmare Night- took her hat off. She, and element of Generosity Rarity, looked incredibly depressed. I suppose I can make a guess as to which fillies were killed.

Then, Celestia stood up. She moved the now dead stallion’s eyes closed, before turning around to address us. She thought about saying something, but changed her mind and approached me.

“Tartarus’ gate key is on the Cerberus’ collar. I would recommend taking somepony in with you in case the ancient security measures are still in effect. I will stay here and resolve things with Mayor Mare, and hold a funeral service for Goldenrod. I shall also keep watch over Big Macintosh’s body. In the meantime, you have twenty-four hours until they’re gone permanently. I love you, sister. Please return safely.”

She walked towards Town Hall. I see that ponies are clamoring around in the town, presumably from the explosion and the flowplasm heading overhead.

Twenty-four hours. That leaves me just over thirty-six days days to navigate the nine circles. Four days per circle will leave me with plenty of time, even with the security measures still in place. Of course, I would need to leave now. I can explain to the others later, but right now-

“Princess Luna!” Commander Spitfire. “I don’t suppose you think you’re leaving without me, are you?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

/x/x/x/

The fillies are gone, he said. It took them, he said. Does this mean that they’re still alive? I simply must make absolute sure that there’s even an infinitesimal chance that I could get my Sweetie Belle back. If there is a chance, however small, I will rip her from the cold, dead claws of whomever took her.

/x/x/x/

The fillies are gone, he said. It took them, he said. Ah’ve never been much fer false hope, but I sure don’t think a dyin’ stallion’s gonna lie to Princess Celestia ‘bout nothin’ that important. Applebloom... I’mma comin’ fer ya!

/x/x/x/

I came here with Princess Celestia to be a guard. So, I must do my duty, and protect the Princesses. Luna is heading to Tartarus, and protect her is what I shall do. Regardless the reasons, it’s my duty to go- and, getting revenge on somepony who killed three innocent little fillies will be a reward in and of itself. Twilight, I’m sure, will want to go anyways. So... well, disregard everything I just said. Cadence, I swear to you, I will return. And, I will return in time to see our Shyla.

/x/x/x/

I don’t care what anypony says. I’m going with Luna and Spitfire into Tartarus whether they like it or not. I’m gonna cream whoever took the Crusaders, and nothing’s gonna stop me!

/x/x/x/

...How would Princess Luna know Spitfire?

Well, whatever the reason, they’re going into Tartarus, and so am I. That pony who killed the girls is going to pay, big-time. Plus, I’m not letting my big brother go in all by himself.

/x/x/x/

Applebloom, I must avenge. What I’ll deliver is revenge. Sweetie Belle’s bell was tolled too early. This by itself makes me quite surly. Scootaloo; I’ll rescue her, too. Into the Gates of Tartarus- I will go with the rest of us...

/x/x/x/

My name is Spitfire. I am a member of the Wonderbolts, what you know as a performance group of aerial maneuvers for the entertainment of ponies across Equestria.

Now, here’s what you don’t know... Soarin and I are the leaders of a secret society of earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi, who are tasked with keeping secret the widespread attacks of monsters from Tartarus.

The gates are old, and Cerberus is older. A lot of creatures escape from there- not just regular creatures, mind you. They make Cockatrices, Manticores, and Hydras look like Chickens, Cats, and Lizards.

Our society was instituted by Princess Luna before her banishment to the moon; we’re that old. Now, I myself am not that old- late 20’s is not old, don’t listen to Soarin- but, being the current head of the society means I have inherited the memories and experiences of every society head in history. Every strategist, tactician, and great mind, including Commander Hurricane, Ponyardo Da Vinci, Fig Newton, and Starswirl the Bearded.

A relatively new development is flowplasm. It’s a strange type of material, from spirits of Tartarus. It’s named for being flowy, like air, and for being a form of ectoplasm, a goo that drips off of the undead.

Night Mare Moon utilized it during her escape from the moon; it allowed her to create solid objects, move inanimate objects, and even create a convincing replica of ponies. Rainbow Dash encountered this in the form of the Shadowbolts before Night Mare Moon’s defeat.

Princess Luna has taught me about how to deal with the problem since she returned to Canterlot. It’s been one of my dreams to fight it alongside her. Now, that dream has come true. It’s a shame that some fillies had to die for it, but, we’re going in to rescue them.

Look out, Tartarus. We’re coming in.

/x/x/x/

Gateway

/x/x/x/

‘One minute in Equestrian Time is equivalent to 36 minutes in Tartarus Time. Also, one hour in Equestrian Time is 36 hours in Tartarus Time.’ Spitfire adjusted the Timekeeper’s Watch passed on from Starswirl, and set it to count down from one Equestrian Day, and would check it periodically.

/x/x/x/

23 hours 59 minutes left in Equestrian Time

X36 Conversion Rate

35 days 23 hours 24 minutes left in Tartarus Time

Before the crowd in Ponyville began to gather, Princess Luna led the others directly to the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. As they disappeared behind tree cover, Spitfire had glanced back towards the destroyed barn to see the Princess of the Sun leading a large group of ponies to the wreckage.

Curiously, there were no Pegasi flying above the crowd. However, this was explained soon enough when clouds began to gather from all corners of the horizon. It seemed that Celestia planned a rain. Goldenrod’s funeral would retain burial customs of ancient times.

The party of eight came upon a clearing in the forest. Luna, at the forefront, held up a hoof, signaling those behind her to stop- Spitfire was immediately behind Luna, and relayed the action down the line. In the clearing was a cottage, belonging to the element of Kindness, Fluttershy. Luna remembered her first Nightmare Night, seeking speech counseling from the timid mare living within.

If one listened hard enough, they could hear a faint sobbing sound from the cottage.

Luna led the party members around the clearing, maintaining the cover of the forest. Rainbow Dash, third in line, contemplated going in to tell her friend that there was no need to cry, as they were going in to rescue the young ones. However, Twilight, who was behind her, put a hoof on the pegasus’ shoulder. As Rainbow looked, the lavender unicorn was shaking her head; they were low on time as it was.

So, they continued on, until Luna reached the edge of the forest. Tartarus was now an hours-length trot away. However, as Twilight knew from personal experience- the weekend of her encounter with herself from the future- it was only a ten-minute sprint. Up at the front of the line, Spitfire and Luna exchanged some whispered words. After their brief exchange, Spitfire whispered to Rainbow Dash.

The two pegasi took off towards Ponyville, the other 6 bar Luna watching them questioningly. The Princess cleared her throat, gathering the attention of the ground-bound ponies.

“I am sure that you all are wondering what I have sent them for. They are off to fetch supplies for our journey through Tartarus. However, they shall only get enough for a few day’s time. Provisions are stocked between the circles, we need not worry for sustenance.”

The wings of Commander Spitfire and Rainbow Dash are faster than our hooves, due to the conditioning they have undergone throughout their lives. I shall fly ahead, to the gate, and pay Kharon his dues, so we may embark as soon as the Pegasi return. We must hurry; for time is limited.”

/x/x/x/

23 hours 0 minutes left in Equestrian Time

X36 Conversion Rate

34 days 12 hours 0 minutes left in Tartarus Time

Rainbow Dash and Spitfire flew in silence for a minute. It was an uneventful minute. Rainbow Dash realized that this was the first time she’d seen Spitfire out of her uniform. The yellow pegasi’s Cutie Mark was similar to her own, in that it was a lightning bolt. However, they differed in that Spitfire’s was solid yellow, not a rainbow, and that the bolt’s base was fire, while Rainbow’s base was a cloud.

Dash then noticed that she’d been staring at Spitfire’s flank for over thirty seconds now, and snapped her attention forward. It would be best to avoid awkward situations, especially considering that in the back of her mind, Rainbow’s subconscious was thinking that this venture would be a great chance to show off her skills to join the Wonderbolts.

Little did she know that Spitfire not only inherited the memories of two dozen previous incarnations of ponies, but also inherited some magical abilities from them despite not having a unicorn’s horn. One of these abilities was limited telepathy, able to read scattered thoughts.

“Rainbow Dash,” she stated.

Snapped out of her non-focus-on-flanks, the cyan pegasus said “Y-yes, Spitfire?”

“You go to Sweet Apple Acres. You’re less conspicuous than I am, it’s better for you to go someplace away from the main town area. Get some fruits and vegetables, nuts or beans for protein if there are any. If not, then we can subsist on carbs for a few days, which I’ll get from Sugarcube Corner, the bakery in this town. Got it?”

“Yeah, I got it.” Rainbow answered, before peeling off to head in the direction of the farm. But, one thing confused her- what in Equestria are carbs?

Spitfire heard this, and facehoofed. She’d have to watch herself- Justus von Flybig’s food-related discoveries weren’t well-received, as he was a Pegasus and not a Unicorn. Of course it wouldn’t have made ‘Canterlot’s Manestream News’.

She landed near Sugarcube Corner. The overall happiness of the building’s outside appearance seemed out of place, what with the deaths and flowplasm. But, there was no time for discussing scenery, there was a mission that needed doing.

Spitfire wasted no time, buying only necessities. No cupcakes or muffins; just rice, oat, bran, corn, wheat, and hay cakes. She hadn’t even the time to recognize whom she was doing business with.

‘Will that be all?’ she asked, voice absent of cheer, tinged instead with sadness.

“Yes, thank y-” the Element of Laughter? “-ou.”

‘Okey dokie... loki.’ She looked different. Her mane was usually fluffy- Spitfire had briefly met her at the competition where Rainbow Dash did a sonic rainboom to save herself, Soarin, and Element of Generosity Rarity. But now, it had considerably less volume. In fact, it was flat. It was quite a jarring change.

‘Please come again.’ Pinkie Pie sighed, and laid her head back on the counter.

Spitfire was about to leave, before she stopped in the door.

‘Did you forget something, Miss?’

She checked the Timekeeper’s Watch- She’d taken only a minute in the bakery. Surely Rainbow Dash wouldn’t be done by now, right? In the end, Spitfire’s conscience won out. She turned around and approached Pinkie.

“Look, kid, I know you’re down because of the murders of those fillies.”

‘Gee, what ever gave you that idea?’ she responded, venom in her voice, but the same resigned, tired expression on her face.

“But, to tell you the truth, they aren’t dead.”

Spitfire was met with silence. Pinkie’s brows furrowed in confusion, as the pegasus continued.

“I’m Spitfire, of the Wonderbolts.” Pinkie’s ears perked up in recognition at this name. “I’m buying these cakes for supplies on a journey through Tartarus. I’m accompanying Princess Luna, Captain Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash,” as she continued to list off names, Pinkie slowly got up from the counter. “Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, and the zebra Zecora. The three fillies aren’t dead, and we’re going in to get them out.”

Pinkie now stood fully erect.

“I want you to go to Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness, and relay to her the information I’ve given to you. Okay?”

‘They aren’t dead?’

“I’ve gotta go. Spread this information at your own discretion, but don’t let it run like wildfire. Got it?”

‘Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.’ she said. Her mane still lay flat, but there was hope in the pools of blue that were her eyes, and no longer was there a defeated tone to her voice- instead, it was serious, and sounded borderline excited.

Spitfire nodded, and left the store. Soon after she took off into the sky, the doors opened again, followed by a faint ‘boing’ sound that repeated at a steady rhythm. A small smile graced the yellow pegasus’ face.

Soon, a rainbow flashed towards Spitfire, and then a second pair of wings joined the first.

“I got apples, carrots, corn, and there were some beans, so I’ve got that covered. I’m not sure if corn’s a vegetable or a fruit, so I got some carrots from Golden Harvest’s field next to the Acres just in case- why are you smiling?”

The yellow-and-orange-maned mare glanced over, then looked back forward, the small smile now gone.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Dash.” Spitfire checked the watch. “Come on, we gotta get moving.”

/x/x/x/

22 hours 45 minutes left in Equestrian Time

X36 Conversion Rate

34 days 3 hours 0 minutes left in Tartarus Time

As the pegasi landed near the gate, they noticed that Princess Luna was exiting. Twilight was standing near Cerberus, scratching one of the head’s ears with her hoof. She looked up at Luna, said something to the three-headed dog, and returned to the group. When she stepped next to her brother, Luna began speaking.

“I have secured payment to Kharon for the eight of us. We’ll cross the River Styx, and then we’ll cross a second gate into Tartarus Proper. Once inside...” she exchanged an uneasy glance with Spitfire, and the two scanned the party. Their eyes rested on Shining Armor, who was confused as to why they were looking at him.

Twilight asked, “Aren’t we going to-”

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle. We will... transform. After which, we will equip ourselves, and begin the journey. Let us not waste any time.”

Luna turned around, and entered the gate. Rainbow Dash was surprised- it looked like just two pillars connected at the top. But, when Luna crossed the invisible line between the pillars, she disappeared.

“Where’d she go!?”

Spitfire answered for her. “The gates are a portal. You can’t see them from either side, and you can only enter the gates if you’re aware that they exist. That’s how wildlife doesn’t manage to break through, because they aren’t sentient enough to be aware of Tartarus.”

To illustrate her point, a rabbit, which was near the pillar, hopped through the boundary line, but didn’t disappear.

“We’re wasting time standing around here- we’ve already lost an hour since we all arrived, let’s go in.” Spitfire stepped through the portal, and disappeared, too.

Applejack approached Rainbow Dash, and eyed the apples. Her eyes narrowed, and she looked up at the pegasus. She opened her mouth- and bit around one of the baskets. She set it down on the ground, and said ‘Sugarcube, these are pie apples. Not eatin’ apples.’

Behind her, Zecora walked through the portal, and disappeared.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Sorry Applejack. All apples look alike to me.”

Rarity took a deep breath, and charged the portal. She disappeared through.

Shining Armor walked over towards Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

‘Well, that’s understandable, Rainbow. But, fer future ref’rence, these baskets are pie apples,’ she said, tapping the darker weave. ‘And these are eatin’ apples.’ She said, tapping the lighter weave, that held the carrots. Applejack gave the orange vegetables a second glance.

‘Are these carrots?’

Shining Armor grabbed the basket of carrots.

“Yes, Applejack. They are carrots. You can’t just eat apples all day.”

‘That’s what the corn’s for!’

“Commander Spitfire had some cakes-”

Twilight interrupted him. ‘Don’t get between those two when they’re arguing. Trust me. Just grab the carrots and go.’

The stallion nodded, bit the basket, and headed toward the portal. He and Zecora met at the entrance, but Shining Armor let her go through.

As Rainbow Dash and Applejack continued bickering, Twilight but the apple basket on the orange pony’s back, and she began to push them towards the gate.

Shining Armor stepped through the gate as the last three approached. To get the arguing mare’s attention, she cleared her throat. This didn’t work. So, she whistled in their ears.

This merited more effective results. Finally, they dropped the argument that had somehow moved from whether carrots were needed in a diet to how apple pie was better than carrot cake. They entered the gates, leaving Twilight alone in the field.

After a “See you later, Cerberus!” The unicorn entered the gate, and disappeared.

/x/x/x/

For two hours, nothing of importance happened. After another two hours, it started to drizzle a little. After another two hours, it started raining more heavily. Nothing of importance happened over the next 8 hours, as it was nighttime. But, early in the morning, under cover of dawn, eight figures entered the gate. Seven hours and 59 minutes later, an unspecified number of figures left the gates.

It was less than 19.

/x/x/x/