Exit Light, Enter Night- The Depths of Tartarus

/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/