Author's Note

Proofread and Edited by Timeless Lord Slayer

Just a momentary break from the Pit. We'll be back on Black Friday.

CH3 - Glimpse from the Outside

“Twilight? May I come in?”

The now crowned Queen of Equestria stood outside The Element of Magic’s room, waiting quietly for the response. A glow of magenta magic pulled the door open, but she wasn’t waiting at the door. “Come in, Luna,.” a croaky voice called out.
Luna took the somber invitation, and gently shut the door behind her. Since her last visit, the room had become a distraught mess. Books lined the walls, many of them sagging with torn pages. A pile of ash sat in a blackened cauldron, with glittering gold seals barely peeking from it. A stone crown rested on the desk. Amongst all this, tissues piled up beside the lump on the bed. A striped tail barely hung out from under the blanket. “Why are you here today Luna?...” Twilight’s voice was sore, definitely from crying again this morning.

“I came to talk to you. Have you figured anything out?” Luna gently nudged Twilight, taking a seat by her bedside, her magic gathering up tissues and pushing them into the tiny bin. Concern lined the immortal’s features.

The lavender alicorn pushed herself up, revealing her disheveled form. Her mane was matted with snot and tears. Eyes were puffy and red, and her nose was chapped from the constant blowing. “Somewhat.” She slipped out of the bed, walking to the desk amongst the clutter, to an overly marked tome.

“Never in the years that I had spent with the girls fighting many of the villains had I ever seen such a gruesome scene. Blood absolutely everywhere, fragments of bone embedded into just about everything, and for that being to be completely untouched by any of it… There’s only one reason that could happen.” Flipping to the pages with the evidence, she pointed out the imagery taken by the cameras with a hoof. “She had to have been forcefully teleported with a spell that had no safety features in its formula. She’s lucky she wasn’t teleported inside of something... “ Her eyes watered a bit more, only to take a deep, shuddering breath, closing the book.

“It’s going to get better Twilight.” Luna put her wing around the younger alicorn, only to hear the sudden hiss of pain. “Right. Stitches. Sorry.”

“It’s fine... It still hurts, but I’ll eventually learn to use these wings. I have to learn for Rainbow, or else she’ll push me off the edge of Wonderbolt Academy again.” A soft chuckle escaped her. “Did your wings ever just decide to explode from your back?”

Luna shook her head. “Normally, an Alicorn’s wings would be there since birth, or be magically grafted on as a result of an ascension, such as what should have happened with you… But that’s not why I came here today Twilight.”

“Oh.”

“I came to ask if you were alright, regarding Celestia.”

Twilight’s face turned away. “I’m not, and I won’t be for a while. Especially since I will be taking her place alongside you.” A slight shudder went down her spine, agitating her stitches once again. “You know the history with her, and what she said as Daybreaker still hurts.”

“I know, my most beloved star.” Luna rested her head just above Twilight’s horn, allowing her to nuzzle in. “Pain, jealousy, fear. These things make you do many things you will regret in your life. Never had I thought she would succumb as she did. But let us not speak of that for now.” A nod from Twilight was all the Night Queen needed. “Let’s go get cleaned up and ready for the day. We’ll be visiting Fluttershy and Cerberus today, and I would like for you to join me.”

“Okay. It’ll be nice to see her after these last few months.” Twilight wiped her eyes with a back of her hoof, the thought of seeing an old friend settling her tremulous emotions.

“Are you ever going to.. You know..…” Luna looked over the room, before giving Twilight a quizzical look.

“I will be cleaning up the room later, I just... Haven’t yet.”

A tender nuzzle along Twilight’s ear earned her an earnest chuckle, and a playful push. “Very well, my star. Now to the bath with you, we need to see if we can get that tangle out without a pair of shears.”

With a pair of freshly brushed coats and manes, the royal pair soon arrived by teleportation at the cottage of Fluttershy. The tree had grown several new branches in the last time they visited, decorated with even more bird houses. More animals gathered in her clearing out back, as the butter yellow pegasus softly spoke to her friends, both big and small.

“Here you are Harry. I know your snout isn’t as good as it used to be, but I wanted to make sure you still had tasty food.” The tremulous tone of nature’s caretaker was barely audible amongst the various nibbles, crunches, squeaks and tweets. To one side, a massive bowl sat, with the house sized guard dog, Cerberus, eating from it.

A soft rapping on the side of her house brought her attention to the purple and blue couple. “Oh, Hello Twilight, Luna. It’s quite nice to see you here. You didn’t startle the animals this time. Have you been practicing?”

“We have. Have you enjoyed taking care of Cerbie here?” Luna asked, her hoofsteps silent amongst the animals as she approached her old pet. He had definitely greyed around the muzzle, but his ears were still sharp and his tail still wagged at her approach.

“Oh, of course. He’s been an absolute angel. He’s even helped me take care of a few of the creatures too shy to leave the forest, like Mr. Tito, the manticore.” She said, fluttering over and scratching behind one of the head’s ears. “What about you two? How has it been? Has Rarity stopped by?”

“It’s getting better. Not as quickly as I would like, but it is. Rarity did stop by the other day, and we talked about the court and nobility. She did mention that Blueblood approached her a few months ago. He definitely has changed since the Gala all those years ago. He’s apparently such a sweetheart now, although we know who Rarity decided to marry.” A familiar looking owl perched on the lavender princess’ horn, with an ever mysterious ‘hoo.’ “Why ‘hoo’ to you too, Owlowiscious.”

“He’s missed you. I know it really hasn’t been that long, but...” Fluttershy trailed off, looking away.

“There has been quite a bit of stress lately, Fluttershy, since the nobility has taken offense to our rise to the throne.” The elder alicorn cleared her throat, turning to look at the massive canine. “Either way, has Cerberus here told you of anything recently happening over at Tartarus?”

“Oh, yes. He said that your task force had brought in a strange bug pony. I’m quite positive it’s Chrysalis, but Cerbie here wasn’t sure. I was going to take him back after he finished eating.” Fluttershy landed beside Twilight, giving her a gentle yet affectionate hug. “Would you like to escort us?”

“Sure, It will be a great opportunity to catch up.” Twilight replied, a slight smile on her face.

“So you two are here to visit Tartarus? Whatever for?” Fluttershy asked with a furrowed brow.

“Twilight and I are going to do an examination of the premises, and get the guards there familiarized with Twilight as my fellow Queen.” Luna quipped, gently gliding on the warm summer winds besides the excitable three-headed dog.

“You really haven’t told me much either. Why would I need to be familiarized?” Twilight’s curiosity, now piqued, had her mind running. “I thought Tartarus was protected by guards in the event Cerberus was asleep or being fed, like now?”

“Twilight, you know as well as I that many security issues had to be addressed due to the changelings, and Tartarus was no exception. Combined with Discord impersonating Grogar and other quite intelligent and powerful entities being housed there, new protections had to be implemented.” Luna looked over at Fluttershy, a slight grin on her face. “I’m pretty sure you appreciate Cerberus coming by more often as a result though.”

“It’s very nice, and he likes coming over and having playtime with Harry and Mr. Tito. Even the smaller animals seem to relax around him too.” The yellow pegasus ran her hoof over a pair of the dog’s ears, receiving a happy huff from the head in question. However, the trip was short lived, as they arrived at the gateway to that dour cavern, guarded by bat-winged thestrals and grim faced unicorns from Celestia’s original guard. “Well Cerberus, you be good for the Captain, and I’ll make sure you have an extra special treat for next time, okay bubby?” She fluttered down before the dog’s face, receiving licks as she said her goodbye.

The guards bowed before Twilight and Luna, earning an uncomfortable blush from the younger royal. “Greetings, Queen Luna and Queen Twilight. This will be the only bowing you will be receiving, we must apologize.” The thestral on the left said, the unicorn to the right grunting in agreeance.

“This is where we part ways, dear Fluttershy. We’ll come by if we have time afterwards.” Luna commented, before walking to the door.

“Oh okay. Be safe you two. Tell the Captain to come say hi to me once in a while, I usually have cookies ready for him.” Fluttershy waved her last goodbye, and started her flight back home.

“Queen Twilight, before you may enter, we need to do some preliminary checks. We will then escort you to the Captain for further testing and attunement.” The unicorn spoke, rising to his hooves once again.

“A-Alright. Whatever needs to happen.” Twilight said, a bit nervous all the same.

The guards nodded, the thestral ringing a bell. “Entering, Two royals! Everyone on alert!” The Unicorn, his horn alight, stepped before them. “Shine Spear here will guide you through the process before you reach the captain. Don’t stand too close to the bars.”

Twilight frowned at the captain, who sat in the chair, only a desk between him and the two queens. “Your guards are very… effective.” She said, taking slow, deep breaths before releasing her professional words.

“It gladdens me to see the measures I asked be implemented be executed above and beyond my expectations, Captain Ligios.” Luna chuckled, sitting beside the grumpy purple alicorn. The office, while it had comfortable seating, was surprisingly spartan. All it had was a desk, some chairs for seating, a cabinet, and a decanter set of water.

The captain chuckled, his hooves dancing through a file cabinet beside him. “All for the safety of the kingdom. Most cells are full of ponies and immigrants that wish to repent and seek pardon, with a few exceptions obviously, like our resident security... ‘Advisor.’” Ligios shook his head and pulled out a pair of files in his dusky blue magic. “I still don’t quite understand why you assigned Discord of all beings to work with us here.”

Twilight snickered. Luna gave her a sidelong glance, before shaking her own smiling head. “With how cunning he can be, it’s fitting that he has a place to work his mind. How long has it been since his recent attempt?”

“He’s been in a cell for two weeks straight. I think we have finally defeated him outside of his chaos magic specifically.” Ligios grinned, a smile of a victory long overdue.

“And the Pit?” Luna probed, stealing the smile from the captain’s face.

“Uh, aren’t we already in the pits of Tartarus?” Twilight quipped in, looking between the two.

Ligios groaned, rubbing his face with a hoof. “You haven’t told her yet?”

“No, Ligios. I intend to show her.”

Narrow corridors and dark halls snaked across chasms and rifts, torchlight and enchanted gems embedded in the walls and ceilings acting as the only light there. Ponies that had made the newspapers and radio broadcasts sat in many of these cells, shackled and bound. A few of them seemed quite happy, considering they had better accommodations. “So this place actually rehabilitates ponies and others to rejoin society? It’s not just a place to rot away?”

Captain Ligios chuckled. “Precisely, Twilight. If the inmate in question truly wants to become better, our detection spells will relay that to us, and we will begin providing additional privileges and resources to allow them to reintegrate as seamlessly as possible.” Ligios took a hard left, leading the ladies down a set of stairs, where a pair of Thestrals stood guard, spears at the ready.“Anything after this point is highly confidential, and is not to be shared with anyone without express permission and clearance from myself or Princess Cel- Excuse me. Queen Luna.”

Luna cleared her throat slightly. “Apologies, Queen Luna. I know she is your wife, but until I become more acquainted with her personally, I do not wish to allow her that same responsibility.” Ligios held firm, looking over at the lighter queen. “Do you understand?”

Twilight nodded. “It wouldn’t be the first time, and it won't be the last.”

“Considering the few times she has worked with the Crown before wearing her own, Twilight is one of only six I could confidently ensure confidentiality from.” Luna replied, her words edged with a steel warning. I trust them more than I trust you.

“Good. Welcome to The Pit then.”

As the two exited the cramped stairway, Twilight gasped at the enormity of the cavernous Pit. “This… This is almost as big as Ponyville. What exactly is this place?” Twilight’s eyes bounced from the large runestones that encircled the edge, to the dark crystal embedded in the ceiling. Battlemages patrolled the edges of some opaque, blue shield. A small detachment of guards wearing green crosses walked over the surface of the shield, their horns alight with some intricate spell. The barracks for these guards sat to one side, while a freight elevator rested on the other. “It looks almost like a forgotten mining operation.”

“Not quite, Sparkle. This is the prison we devised, using a combination of magics from our neighboring countries after the Accord of the Lights. As such, Tartarus is the primary prison for Equestria and our allied neighbors. Any further questions before we go through the tour?” Ligios questioned.

Luna’s gaze turned to Twilight, who’s eyes were flitting back and forth, like gears in a machine, ready to release numerous questions. “Let us take our tour first, then we shall see.” She replied for Twilight, allowing her to process everything.

“So, Captain Ligios, if this is where the supposed worst is kept, why is the shield opaque, as opposed to translucent? Wouldn’t that interfere in observation and maintaining order?” Her interrogation had started shortly after the visits to the barracks, elevator operations, and the administrative office, but they mostly skirted the edges of the central feature. However, Ligios now led them to the edge of the shield.

Twilight kept scanning the room, where an iron cage was being loaded with crates of food, dangling by a rope. Some guards moved as if they could see past the magic barrier, be it what appeared to be counting with a clipboard, or the occasional spear bearer kneeling down and speaking to some entity beyond it. “Wait.. Am I the only one who can’t actually see through it at the moment?”

“Hm? Oh. That. First timers have an enchantment cast upon them to prevent them seeing into or hearing anything from below. You were no exception, as it can be very… gruesome. Do you think you can look into the abyss and not have it peer back?” Ligios asked, quoting the classic line of Star Swirl.

Twilight stepped up to the edge, closed her eyes, and slowly took a deep breath of the musty air above it. Turning her head downward, she opened her eyes as she released the steadying breath. “Yes. Show me.”

“Feeding time, convicts!”

From the surface, it was as if gulls and sharks were competing for the dropped food. Griffons, dragons, ponies. All dove to the crates, except for three distinct examples who stood out from the pack.

A strangely familiar creature gouged out the throats of two dragons, her pink hair fluttering with her sudden motions. Despite her size, she tossed the dragons like they were ragdolls, leaving them to thrash in the dirt as blood flowed like deadly water. She was intercepted by a familiar centaur.

Tirek had grown to the size he once held when he attacked Ponyville, but he looked battered, and worn. He was blocking the crates from this slender being, who looked as if she was about to cry. Her eyes drifted back to the supply cache, and watched as gossamer wings connected to black chitin slipped away into one of the caves carved into the sides. Chrysalis. She thought with a healthy dose of venom, but her eyes continued to scan the chaos.

Tirek had another step between him and the pink maned creature, another familiar, if aged, face. “Is that… Grogar?” Twilight asked, pointing with a hoof, her eyes watching him with strange fascination.

“Yes. He’s been here since the creation of the Pit. He used to be a resident of one of the other cells, and wrapped under lock, key and very expensive bindings.” Luna mused, her eyes looking down with a mixture of pity and joy. “From some of the reports I’ve collected, he's not only enjoyed this new freedom, but has used it to push some of these criminals to be better.”

Twilight, confused, turned to face her starlit lover. “He’s… better? I thought...”

“Discord imitated Grogar as he used to be. An absolute tyrant who sought the realm of Alicorns as his own, and the downfall of the ponies for their previous injustices. It was a very different time when I was growing up.” Luna, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “Mother used to handle things with a good friend of hers, but many of those memories have been lost amongst the seas of time. Maybe we can go sailing one day.” A soft chuckle escaped her.

The lavender alicorn nodded and chuckled, before her eyes returned to the chaos. The slender being’s body language had calmed, and was actively pushing supplies back to what she surmised was her personal cage. “Uhm.. So..”

“The prisoners have devised their own society down there, with very little interaction from us. Only a few of them actively approach us, and it is usually those who tend to be moved to the upper cells for reintegration.” Ligios nodded. “That includes the resolution of the dead and injured. Very rarely do we intervene, and only under absolute necessity.”

Twilight turned a verdant shade of green, before stepping back. “C-Can we take a break for a few minutes?”

“As you wish, Queen.”

Luna carefully rubbed Twilight’s back, her hair held back in a starry grip.

“Guagh… This is a horrible place, Luna! Wh-Why would we let this happen?!”

“Twilight, this is surprisingly more merciful than you might initially think.”

“How? They fight for food like animals in a jungle, and I’m pretty sure those two dragons are dead by that slender thing.”

“Just as we can express ourselves, so can they. The difference between we, the free citizens of Equestria, and them, the prisoners of Tartarus, is that they are all with little to no doubt horrific criminals. As such, the society they have cultivated will be one of chaos and lawlessness, and full of anguish.” Luna put her wings around Twilight as the mare wiped her muzzle, cleared her nose, and flushed. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”

“Luna, I’m going back to watch for a bit more. I feel as if I will be needed here. I will have to numb myself some to it.” Twilight pushed back affectionately, but stood up regardless.

“Is this your personal decision or perhaps guidance from the Elements?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but it’s just a feeling I can’t seem to shake.”

“Very well, dear. We will go back for a while longer, before we return to the castle.”

Tirek pushed himself, galloping with his heavy hooves around the uppermost ring of the pit. The shield was close enough that he could see the guards patrolling as they usually did, but that didn’t matter. He needed to clear his mind. Memories came unbidden of things he once took revelry in, which now only disgusted him. It’d been only a few years here in the Pit, after his attack on Ponyville and Canterlot, his theft of the Alicorn power, his betrayal of Discord. He galloped faster. He didn’t want to think of how he threw the idea of friends at Discord, only for him to genuinely crave that same gift from a dead girl.

“Are you going to be well enough to continue?”

The Captain. Probably another tour for another set of rookies. Perhaps I should give them a fright. He smiled, slowing down slightly.

“I’ll be fine, I just needed a moment.”

…. That’s a familiar voice. His gallop slowed to a trot, only to stop right beside the staircase, looking up at his violet vanquisher, and the Dreamwalker next to her. He couldn’t turn away.

“Tirek?”