Exit Light, Enter Night- The Depths of Tartarus

/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/