Chapters “Entering!”
“Permission Granted, Captain. All hooves on deck, Captain escorting new prisoner.”
Chains rattled as the changeling queen shuffled through the stone barrier making up the new entrance to Tartarus. What was once a traditional jail guarded by the eternal Cerberus, had become a maximum security prison. Guards lined the walls, stationed between the various jail cells, carved into the walls and engraved with rune arrays so complex, not even the prodigies of the magic colleges could decipher them without months of work.
“Oh dear, am I to be thrown into one of these cells?” The skittering of her chitinous hooves echoed faintly in the dreary cavern, each guard keeping careful eye on the bound queen. A prodding of a halberd gave the answer. “Fine. Don’t tell me what’s going on. It’s not like it is one of your pony laws.”
“Color me surprised you actually studied our laws at all, considering how many you broke over the last few years.” The captain’s clipped tone annoyed Chrysalis. “You will be entering the Pit.”
“The what? There was no mention of this ‘pit’ you speak of in your laws.”
“You’re right. There isn’t. High threat prisoners are thrown into the Pit until either they are repentant enough to escape through its enchantments, or they are dead.” He prodded her again, drawing a thin line of green blood. “Keep moving.”
Chrysalis almost purred. “So you’re letting me be released into this Pit, until either I succumb to old age, die by the hooves of another, or I become so genuinely sorry that I can actually escape the pit myself? Sounds like this place is a joke I can thrive in.”
“We’ll see.”
The sound of crunching bone and meat plunging down onto cave floors was the first sign of something deeply, deeply wrong. “Excuse me, Captain.. What is that awful noise?”
“The other criminals you will be with.”
“Do.. you have names for any of them?”
“Grogar. Tirek. Ahgg. The remnants of Lavan. Cozy Glow, although I’ve heard nothing of her recently.”
Chrysalis practically purred. “So I will be housed with only the best. I see.”
The narrow hall soon opened up into a vault, a thin, blue shield forming a seal over the dark abyss below. “Prisoner to be dropped into the Pit. Prepare access!” The captain called out.
“Aren’t you going to remove these from me first?” A coy smile and a lift of her hoof brought attention to the shackles once more. The Captain shook his head and pushed her. “Fine. I get the point.” She looked to the depths once again, her eyes having slowly adjusted to see the faint specks of light amongst the gloom. Taking her first steps down, the mages closed the shield behind her. The shackles and horn-binder fell off almost immediately. “Hm. Interesting.” A burst of green flame erupted from her horn, slamming into the shield. The ponies did not flinch.
“I suggest you get down there and find a corner, before someone else beats you to it. I hope you rot.” The captain spun on a heel. “Exiting the Pit. Prisoner escorted. Engage authentication spells.” The clicking of his golden shoes signaled his exit.
Looking around the edge of the pit, unicorns could be seen lifting crates of mixed staple foods, from the fruits and vegetables that ponies prefer, to large cuts of meat needed for some with a carnivorous diet. All of them were being placed on a rope and cage elevator over the center of the Pit, as if being prepared for a feeding time. Huh. They actually take care of their prisoners to some degree. However, I will need to strike to find my own source of food sooner rather than later. This will do for now.
Chrysalis’ descent was a slow one. The Pit itself was divided into layers with ledges upon them, similar to a diamond mine. Enormous doesn’t justify its size, nor the complexity. The number of dug halls branching off the main staircase led to personalized caverns housing other convicts, many of them glaring as she passed. All of them gave off the scent of disgust, anger, and defensiveness. The gloom was not as dark as she had expected, since the amount of torchlight kept it just bright enough for the mammalian convicts to see, but just dark enough to hide. A brilliant solution, coming from the ponies. It’s like my old hive’s nursery. Deep and wide, and filled with condemned life.
A new scent mingled with the aroma of selfishness and decay. One unlike any creature she’d ever met, but it gave off an aura of something… sweet? Chrysalis shook her head. All of these individuals would be here for one reason or another. It may be a trap.
Arriving at the deepest layer, and assumed hub, eyes glimmered in the darkness, all upturned at the nearly full cage. The familiar mug of Tirek stood by the entrance of a large cave, bulky and massive. I thought he was stripped of magic… Did he perhaps steal another’s here? A portion of his left horn had been broken off, perhaps from fighting another.
The actual Grogar was pallid compared to the mockery that Discord had been, but he still held that authoritarian confidence. He and Tirek stood alongside one another, but their eyes drifted between the cage, and some foreign form in the corner. Tirek set his jaw, and Grogar shook his head at the creature. Grogar had a portion of his horns missing too. Strangely, the right one, mirroring Tirek.
The creature in question had long, thin hair. It was pink, a strange color in this darkness. Its skin was a pale hue, and quite hairless. It held itself in an almost feline pose, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. It’s torso was decorated in a sheaf of fur, most definitely made from another prisoner. However, the second most striking thing about it was it’s clear, young, pure eyes, wide and eager. The first was the fact it held a set of weapons in its claws, made from a pair of red and blue horns.
A trumpet blew suddenly, echoing in the chamber. Most eyes suddenly locked on the elevator. “Feeding time convicts!” As the cage descended, Grogar and Tirek stepped forward, directly towards Chrysalis.
They look to start a fight… but with what? She quietly thought. The other creatures in the walls retreated from those two, as they stood beside the Changeling Queen. “Hello boys.”
“Hello once again, Chrysalis. I see they captured you as well.” Tirek mused, his voice a strangely polite timber.
“Ah. This is the one known as Chrysalis. Finally good to see a friendly face.” The ancient goat sounded young and spry, despite his faded coat. He was surprisingly friendly, considering the stories of the ancestral tyrant. “I hope you’re willing to listen to an old goat like me, because we will need your help this time.”
“Excuse me? When did I ever agree to help you at all?”
“I’m calling your honor as a queen to help your ally in this manner. The oath that we made to each other when Discord deceived us?”
The cage had reached half way, and the growls of the crowd rose in volume.
“So then what happened to Co-” Chrysalis started, before Grogar put his hoof over her mouth.
“Chrysalis. This isn’t a matter of pride and power. This is food for the day. We need to think about what we want from the crates, and grab it.” The goat took his hoof off her muzzle, and looked to the strange creature with a worried glance. “Grogar and I can defend you long enough to grab your share. After that, you need to run to the cave that was behind Tirek and I. Innocence will go after you otherwise. We can explain more afterwards.”
Chrysalis raised her eyebrow at the muffler, her slit eyes practically glaring. Grogar motioned for her to look at their companion. Tirek lowered his torso, raising his arms slightly. Scars from strange bites lined his ribs, where chunks of flesh had been torn from him. “On three.”
The food cage landed. No one dared approached. “One.”
The harsh clanking of metal echoed as magic latches gave out along the bottom of the elevator. “Two.”
The iron cage rose once more, releasing the crates lids to reveal the supplies. “THREE!”
Hunger. She thought. I am hungry. Her eyes looked up at the cage being loaded. Feeding time.
Her eyes traced the crowd, looking at her possible prey for today. A new one had arrived. Her black, shiny coat caught her attention. Protection. She poised to lunge, only to frown as the red centaur and blue goat went to her side. Food. She looked back to her little cave she had carved out, her tiny fire continuing to burn. Need fuel.
“One.” Tirek said, and she smiled. He always helped her time her hunt.
“Two.” She tensed up, clutching the hooked daggers made from the two horns.
“Three!” She lunged at the boxes, quickly diving in. She hooked a pair of dragons by their soft throats as they landed before her, ripping them open and tossing them back. Their choking cries for help would be ignored. They had become Food. Food didn’t talk. Food tasted good. New food looked hard, but tasty. Like crab. She jumped for the new Food.
Tirek slammed into her from the side, spreading his arms and keeping himself low. She rolled to her feet, frowning, her eyes watering. “Food….”
“No, Innocence. You can’t have her.” Tirek replied.
“But.. I’m hungry.”
“No. You can have the elevator food, or those two foods you threw towards your cave. You can’t have the new one.”
Innocence frowned, but listened. She wasn’t going to win today.
Grogar bashed off two eager gargoyles, grunting at the impacts. “Quickly now Chrysalis, we don’t know how long Tirek will be able to handle her. Innocence is always an agent of chaos when it comes to feeding time.”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes, grabbed roughly a dozen apples and flitted to the cave belonging to the two tyrants.
“Tirek, Get the grub and go! I’ll take your place!” Grogar Slid between Tirek and Innocence, brandishing his battered horns. Innocence frowned, but she stepped forward, lowering her weapons. “You gonna behave this time?”
“I’m hungry.”
“I know. Are you going to behave?”
“Yes.”
Grogar growled at her, making her flinch a bit. “Okay. Wait your turn.” Tirek, meanwhile, had gathered up his and Grogar’s share amongst the chaos of the other prisoners, and had already escaped to the cave. Once he had waved to the old goat, did Grogar step aside. “Go.” The old goat walked backwards away from the chaos, watching the strange, pink haired being. The crowd parted away from her, not wishing to join her as victims.
Innocence always grabbed vegetables and fruits. Apples, oranges, pears. Broccoli, Asparagus, tomato. This time, she did not take meat. Instead, she took a pair of the crate lids, put her supplies on them, and pushed them back to her cave, stopping only to grab the now dead dragons from the entrance.
Chrysalis watched in shock from the cave. The anger, anguish, despair, and sorrow were all so prevalent across every prisoner except Innocence. She only had two or three emotions she displayed, compared to the kaleidoscope within the fighting. “What in the Equestrian World is she?”
“Human, from a future after the Great Exodus.” Grogar matter-of-factly stated, crunching down on a carrot. “Humans used to walk the lands before the time of Celestia and Luna, foiling the plans of my allies and I. However, after some time, all humans and most life related to them just vanished, in a term I dubbed the Great Exodus. Ever since, humans just haven’t been here.”
Tirek stoked the flame of his little clay fireplace, and put some meat on a stone slab, setting it into the coals. “Anri Thorpe was her name. She was genuinely a kind soul before she arrived here. The guards said she killed a pregnant mare and painted walls with the unborn child.”
Chrysalis looked almost mortified. Almost. “Now hold on, that’s not what happened though, Chrysalis. She was teleported here to Equestria, from a place known as Earth.” Grogar interceded, looking at Tirek. “Earth is the new homeland of humans. I have visited there once. They don’t have much magic, if at all, so sending someone from there takes far more power than one would need to go there. But continue Tirek.”
Nodding, the crimson centaur continued, flipping his meat over. “When she arrived, the cruel mage who teleported her put her on top of the poor mare, instantly obliterating her and her child in an explosion of blood.” A soft sigh escaped the massive myth. “She cried the first week she was here, declaring her innocence, whilst the guards called her a monster. She watched the fighting here, and scavenged what she could. Glow tried to cheer her up, if only to get another pawn.” he flipped the meat again. Crushing an onion between his hands, he laid the remnants over the meat to cook more.
The sounds of ripping flesh across the way rolled the former queen’s stomach. Thankfully, the lids Innocence had put up blocked any sights. “So… what happened? She doesn’t seem to have many emotions rolling off of her like most of the inmates here.”
Grogar scowled. “The little shit got what she deserved.” Tirek sighed again.
“Okay, you two have gotten soft. You are both sighing and quiet, and even defending and acting like we were not plotting to betray each other at a moment’s notice. Grogar, you are the ancient tyrant who has stories told to young ones about how not to be a monster! Tirek, you almost conquered Equestria, and held the power of three Alicorns! What has changed?”
Grogar cracked a hoof across Chrysalis’ face. “This place happened, Chrysalis. The worst of the world rots here. The only way to get out is to actually reflect upon yourself and what you did, and find the good in yourself. I am still the tyrant. I am still the leader of this shithole. I control the pecking order, with Tirek here. I cannot ever leave. I am still a monster.” Chrysalis ran a hoof over her cheek, and found it stained green. “Tirek can’t leave either. We both have done too much to ever leave without genuine forgiveness from the world itself. But there was one line not even I wouldn’t cross.”
Chrysalis glared, looking at the goat. “Oh tell me, this should be a riot.”
“Chrysalis…. What is one thing that you wouldn’t even do to one of your victims?” Tirek asked. “What is the one thing that you, of all people, could easily exploit and do, but don't, just because it's the one speck of decency you have as a pony-like creature?”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to attain my goal.”
Grogar growled. “Chrysalis. An innocent creature was thrown down here due to a cruel fate dealt to her. Surrounded by murderers, thieves, would be conquerors, and near-irredeemable psychopaths, what is the one crime no redeemable creature thinks of committing?”
“... No. No, I--”
“Chrysalis.”
“NO. I refuse to believe that such… violation would ever happen. Not even I would do that. That breaks ponies. That destroys the emotions I so covet. That just destroys a pony completely. Don’t even--”
Tirek put his hand over her muzzle, and looked deep into the emerald eyes of the queen. “Anri was the kindest soul to ever be put down here. She gave me and Grogar the value of friendship, for the month we knew her.” Tirek got real close to her.
“The sweet girl we knew became the Innocent Monster, because Cozy Glow began eating her soul.”
Author's Note
Proofread and edited by Timeless Lord Slayer
CH2 - Story of a Fallen Angel
The soft crackle of her tiny fire accented the sound of her primitive knife crunching through the joints of her food. Metallic scales chimed as they fell off their previous bearers. Bone utensils rested on her table, and bowls made from skulls and clay sat drying in the orange dyed room. The bits of metal she couldn’t use lay in a scrap heap in the corner.
“Cozy look. I brought food again today!” She says gleefully, to the decaying head. It’s bright blue locks remained intact, but the once pink skin had begun to turn a sickly green, bloody tear stains marking the empty eye sockets.
A gasp could be heard, catching her attention. The other Food wasn’t food yet. Her eyes turned to the not-food. It’s claw was around it’s throat, holding closed the surprisingly shallow wound. “Oh. Mr. Food. You can’t leave. I haven’t eaten yet. I wonder what a bronze dragon tastes like.”
She picked up the heavier, red horn dagger, and walked over to it. “Do you want to eat with me?” She offered a piece of the other dragon, still dripping hot, fresh blood. A shake of the head as it scurried back from her was the only answer she received. “Oh. I guess Cozy and I have more to eat!” She lunged, her dagger raised high.
Another scream was heard from her domain, followed by the sounds of ripping flesh and crunching bones once more.
Chrysalis jumped at the sudden, prematurely ended scream. Grogar and Tirek both looked at her, shaking their heads. “Innocence got those two.” Tirek transferred his food to a carved wooden plate, and scraped the stone. “Many avoid her for that very reason.”
“You’re telling me she eats other sentient beings now?” Chrysalis scrunched up her snout, flashing her white fangs. “Let me ask this. Those weapons of hers. They look like your broken horns. Tirek has scars on him that look like something bit him and ripped. Cozy Glow isn’t here. Explain.”
The elder goat looked to the centaur, who just waved him onward. “Very well. Get comfortable, if you can.” The changeling queen curled her legs underneath her, eyes locked to the two ancients.
“Innocence, as we had said, was once Anri, the sweetheart who offered us friendship. Somehow, Cozy Glow had figured out the spells behind Tirek’s ability to take strength from others. However, her mind is- was a machine. As a result, she figured she could pull even more strength from someone, and needed a guinea pig, if you will.” Grogar took one of his radishes, and began to scribble on the wall, making simple figures. One in the shape of a human, and the other in the shape of a pony. A flash of the eyes, and the improvised markings sprung to life.
“Anri had many issues down here. She physically was the weakest down here. No claws, hooves, wings, or proper fangs. No magic either, so she couldn’t fight for any food. Many times, The two of us would give her portions of our food. In exchange, she would trade stories of her world. How the world had changed since our time with humans.” Two more figures joined the play, a goat and a centaur, all around a crude fire. Music notes and lines denoted the friendly atmosphere amongst the dank caverns.
“So you really have gone soft in the last decade or so.” Chrysalis smirked, earning a snort from the eating centaur.
“You tend to think about what’s best for you down here. Pay attention.” Tirek pointed back to the stone wall, where Grogar had been adding additional figures to animate.
“Cozy, however, took advantage of her. Using her cute looks, she lulled Anri into a false sense of security. Cuddling, giving hugs, showing affection as ponies tend to.” The play turned away from Grogar and Tirek, showcasing the two in question. “At night, when Anri would sleep, Cozy Glow would be practicing on her. Changing this symbol or that, until she finally began pulling something from her.” The animated scribblings showed the struggle of the young filly, and the sleeping human.
Tirek at this point looked away, his face set in a firm grimace, his food barely even cut. Chrysalis raised her eyebrow, but continued to watch as Grogar added more scribbles to the dancing story. “Anri woke up tired. Too tired to even leave her cave at that point. She could barely call for help.” The play showed the human trying to drag itself, a very tiny note escaping its open mouth. “Cozy on the other hand, had grown a couple of centimeters. Her magic could push the gargoyles you saw earlier, and she was able to carry her own food for once.” The added gargoyle swooped in, but was deflected by the slightly larger pegasus.
“Hold on, a pegasus with magic? That’s nigh imp--” Chrysalis had started, before the two ancients looked upon her. “You two are special exceptions.”
“Only a fool would believe that only some species have magic. All do. Primarily, Pegasi with weather, Earth Ponies and plants, Unicorns and their spells. The Yak’s have a special dominion over music, and the Dragons with the riches of the earth and fire. To say that a Pegasus could not have spells is to say that magic doesn’t exist.”
The insectoid sighed, resting her sore cheek on her hoof. “Continue.”
Grogar picked up a carrot, and rubbed it’s tip into the wall, creating a tiny little fire with the improvised pigment. “That night, Cozy did the spell once more. Once again, Anri was tired. I checked on her, and she seemed fine, if just weak.” Grogar sighed as the puppet performance continued further. “Even I should have realized what was happening, having taught Sombra… But that last night was the worst.”
The animated lines showed Cozy becoming an intense pink color, as she performed the spell once more. Anri’s were becoming slowly grey. “Anri stopped breathing. As her soul was consumed, so was her knowledge. Her personality. Her emotions. And then Anri was no more.” The drawing of Anri sat up, its stick arms suddenly around Cozy’s throat. “Innocence, the remnant of her soul that Cozy hadn’t absorbed, became the survival instinct, and retaliated.”
Innocence’s scribble began slamming the pony over and over, frantic scribbles emitting from the tiny pegasus. She was screaming. Strangely, the once simplistic play started to evolve, to expand, to illustrate itself in painstaking detail. Grogar and Tirek ran into the cave. Innocence was pallid, and covered in blood. Cozy glow was still screaming. Innocence had one of her leg in her hand, and was beating her to death with the dismembered limb.
Grogar went to slam into her, to push her off Cozy, but was caught off guard. Innocence stabbed him with the exposed bone, and swung Cozy glow like a weapon, silencing her upon his horns and breaking one. As the goat staggered, Tirek grabbed her, but she bared her teeth. She bit him repeatedly, pulling at flesh as she went. Tirek cringed back as his hands became covered in bleeding bite wounds, releasing the feral human. Innocence picked up Grogar’s broken horn like a sword, and swung into Tirek’s general direction. The magic centaur barely shifted his head in time to avoid his skull being smashed, but his horn was broken as well.
Innocence, now armed, looked at them with frenzied eyes, violet and violent. Her face now dripped with gore. The play stopped.
Chrysalis gasped as her focus was broken, lungs sucking in air that had left long before. The emotions just from the story felt like a sharp rock in her stomach, causing her to heave between ragged breaths. “Ever since, she stopped responding to Anri. Innocent or Innocence is the only thing she recognizes as her name now. In the last two years, we have learned her desire to eat flesh. Strangely, it does help her learn, but…”
“... But she's no longer the joyful spirit she was in the dark.” Chrysalis finished, her own feelings being overwhelmed by her companions' heavy auras.
“Precisely. Cozy is dead… and it's her own damn fault..” Grogar rubbed his shoulder, a star shaped scar from the old wound. “Despite all this, she seemingly understands when someone is a threat to her, and when they want to help her. It’s why she backed down today. She might not have, if she was hungry enough.”
Chrysalis’ eyes widened slightly, as her grimace held back her vomit with a hard swallow.. “Wait, you stopped her from..”
Tirek tossed his food into the fire. “Yes. We stopped her from eating you today. I’m going to go for a few laps. I’ll be back.” Heavy thuds of his hooves was the only sign of his anger.
Grogar sighed once more, rubbing his horns. “I suggest you get some sleep. I’ll keep first watch.”
“Watch? Why would you need to keep watch?” Chrysalis queried, leering at the senior villain.
“Because there are others in this pit who have lost their mind in this bleak domain. Be thankful that Innocence got meat today.” The old goat rest his hooves over his eyes, an annoyed breath escaping his tightening jaw.
“So there are other cannibals here?” a smirk splayed across her fangs, savoring the flavor of his aggravations.
“Chrysalis, just go to sleep. I’m tired from explaining. Tirek will be back in a little while, and he can explain to you.” He groaned, turning to glare at her directly as he rose to his hooves.
“Oh, so you really are an old goat.”
“For all that Faust created and damned… Go to sleep or I will make you.” Grogar had turned to the front of their quarters, beginning to walk away.
“Fine. Make me.”
A quick buck to the head and Chrysalis was knocked out. “Told you. Arrogant bug.”
Author's Note
Proofread and Edited by Timeless Lord Slayer
CH3 - Glimpse from the Outside
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.
“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?”
The old sting of defeat flared up once more upon laying his dark eyes on his old foe. Frail wings wreathed in stitches, a decorative ring around her horn. She had grown significantly in just two years. Just how much has changed on the surface then?
“Good evening, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Tirek bowed slightly, refusing to break eye contact, carefully enunciating his words to maintain the appearance of calm. “How might I assist you?” Careful steps up the entry stairway, and a pair of spears were pointed at him. His advance stopped, but it was close enough. Enough to see the Night Princess alongside her. “It must be a fateful encounter that I should cross paths with two of my old foes.”
Luna’s eyes held nothing but disdain for the centaur. “Tirek, do you have some time to answer some questions?” Twilight asked, receiving a snort from said giant.
“I won’t be leaving anytime soon, so I have plenty of time. Ask.” Anger was building behind calm words. Past failures leapt to the front of his mind, and their conflict and subsequent defeat began to burn in the back. Deep breaths. This can be beneficial.
Luna stepped forward alongside Twilight, putting her wing over her. “Can we assume you will tell us the truth?” Her teal eyes glared down at him.
Tirek glared back with his own golden eyes. “You can.”
“What do you know of bipedal creatures? Most species are quadrupeds, with few exceptions, and those are very well documented.” Twilight asked, earning a hearty, hateful laugh from Tirek. “What? What seems so funny?”
“You won’t be getting any information about those from me.” His nostrils flared as his teeth ground and clenched. “Maybe you should join us down here instead. I might be more inclined to talk then.” Tirek turned and began down the stairs.
“So you do know something, but refuse to tell your queens? Shameful and selfish.” Luna called out, before Tirek turned and charged, slamming the shield with his fists. Twilight screamed and fell back, as spears pressed against The centaur’s shoulders. “Angry we are correct?”
Tirek locked eyes with the lunar queen. “I deserve to be down here.” He retreated from the shield, staring Luna down. “But she didn’t. Now she’s a monster, like us.”
“Then how is it down there, surrounded by others like you? Monsters who deserve this fate?” Luna interrogated, flaring her wings and shielding Twilight from his sight. A cruel smile formed on her lips, as she got close enough to whisper. “Do you still think Scorpan was wrong?”
“So it seems we are at an impasse then.” Luna mused, her magic gently placing Twilight back on her hooves. She pulled back, her wing once more covering Twilight.
“No. We aren’t. You have nothing I want.” Tirek turned and galloped off, harder and faster than before. If they want to know about her, they will have to come into the hell they created. He silently thought, continuing his laps once more.
Groans of the inmates below his track groaned at the noise, but he did not care. His thunderous hooves pounded the earth and his indignant anger in kind, pushing him ever onward. I can’t let them take her.
Luna sighed as Tirek left, folding her wings in. “I believe it is time to go. Twilight?”
Twilight echoed her lover, her head low. “Is it wrong I was hopeful that he’d be at least somewhat helpful?”
Luna set her jaw slightly, thinking. “I don’t think you were wrong love. However, I can tell he’s still bitter.”
“Is there a way we can try and reach out to him? Maybe one of the other prisoners?”
“Twilight, what are you seeking from them?”
“Considering how ancient some of them are, I wanted to see if they might have answers to what the creature from the trial was. Most of the records from that entire trial and investigation are destroyed or irreparably altered.” Twilight groaned, sitting momentarily to rest her face in her hooves.
“You know as well as I that the only ones that had any hoof in those investigations were Celestia and those she could intrinsically trust. Unfortunately, the two of us were left outside of that.” Twilight leaned on Luna, her tears threatening to blind her in the dark. Luna put her wing around her once more, nestling Twilight’s head underneath hers.“When we get back, do you want to recompile the reports, and see if we can find anything?”
“That sounds good. It will keep me busy.” Twilight replied, her tone low and quiet, threatening to break.
“Spears at the ready, a dragon is approaching the shield! Possible false repentant!” one of the spotters shouted from the peak of the dome. All the guards currently patrolling congregated into five pony squads, holding their spears in alternating angles to catch the aforementioned dragon.
“My queens, I suggest you take a step back. Or perhaps 6.” Ligios said calmly, His own halberds manifesting beside him.
A strange bronze shape leapt from the main stairway, over Ligios and before the two queens. However, it wasn’t a dragon. It wore a bloody skin of a dragon over its emaciated form, with a stained leather shirt. A pair of mismatched horns were clutched in its hands. Pink strands of hair escaped from under its dragon skull hood, with dull, purple eyes staring into the eyes of the lavender queen. It’s flat face tilted, knocking its hood off proper. “... Pony?”
Innocence’s head snapped up at the sound of the scream. The tail in her hands oozed grease and blood, pooling in the gaps left behind from her consumption. Her eyes were wide, flicking back and forth between the makeshift doorway to her domain, and the skull of Cozy Glow. “Did you hear that...?” She said, curiosity running rampant in her shattered mind.
She hung the tail by the bone over the fire, just as Tirek had taught her, keeping it warm. She took an old bronzy dragon pelt, and slipped into it like a pair of pajamas, tucking her hair back into the skin suit. Hair gets me caught. No hair, no caught. Oh.. I have claws now… Her mind drifted as she flexed her fingers inside the dead dragon’s, admiring the black instruments of death. Flipping the hood up, she growled playfully to the skull of her tasty friend. “I’ll be back later, Cozy Glow.”
She carefully slid the crate lid to the side and slipped into the darkness. Her eyes adjusted quickly, bringing definition to the shadows that crawled the lowest layer. She counted only a scarce few. No Ahgg. Her fingers gripped the long horns, and kept listening. The sounds of eating were the only noses she could make out from the forced commune. Everyone’s eating. What screamed?
Choosing to climb the stairs, her eyes watched as a pair of silhouettes spoke. One she recognized. Tirek, not-food. Help make good foods. The other looked strange with wings and horn. Angry. Angry. Hate. Hunt.
Innocence watched the guards path carefully. The guards didn’t like her, so they always put their long claws pointed at her. Her eyes looked over the faint blue barrier, and pouted. Run? Jump? Run-Jump.
Tirek stomped off, his heavy hooves always making the dirt shake slightly. Innocence smiled, before running up the stairs, taking almost two steps at a time. One of the guards yelled. The other guards grouped up.
She pushed hard at the last moment. Sailing through the tickly blue bubble, she landed before the strange winged and horned beings. Her eyes locked with a lavender one, with dark purple hair. She was wide eyed, flinching. Scared… ”...pony?” Innocence’s soft voice asked, tilting her head, the heavy bone in the hood falling off her head and revealing her tender features.
The halberds belonging to Ligios slammed into the center of her back, splaying out the human. “Bucking creature, you never learn, do you?”
Innocence coughed and pushed back up, her once curious eyes turned hateful. “Hunt.”
Luna’s horn flared for only a moment. A wisp of magic caressed her mind, lulling the suddenly hostile Innocence to sleep. Her eyes carried disgust and fury as her eyes drifted from the human to the head guard. “Captain Ligios. What is this?” Luna carefully enunciated, eyes locked on the object of her annoyance. Twilight carefully approached the soundly sleeping human.
“This creature is Celestia’s last prisoner, and our biggest security challenge.” Ligios lifted her up, horns and all, and casually tossed her back down the stairs into the abyss. “Tirek will more than likely pick her up and return her to her den.”
“When can I expect the report from you about this creature and her time here?” Luna queried. Her eyes refused to break away from Ligios.
“I can get it to you by the end of the day, my Queen.”
“Good. Twilight, we need to return to the castle. I think we may have discovered a loose thread in the tale of Daybreaker.”
It’s dark. Where am I? Hello?
The landscape was darker than the caverns she lived in, but the sun rose over the horizon, fiery wings and a wickedly pointed horn. With it, a sinister gaze bore down on her. “Monster.” The figure spoke, echoing across the landscape. Pink wings and strips of flesh were scattered around her, bones embedded into the ground and pointed towards her. Yellow, purple, and magenta hair intertwined with it all.
A weak voice, below her, cried out. “N-No. It wasn’t me. I’m not a monster.” It looked like a young girl, just like her, but she was bleeding, broken, and chopped into pieces, but still curled in a fetal position. Blood pooled around her, both hers and the victims.
“Murderer.” A masculine voice called from the opposite side, a bulky shadow who’s blue eyes burned with hatred. Menacingly advancing on the young girl below Innocence, smoke could be seen coming from the two silhouettes’ forms. The smoke swirled around the broken girl, sucking Innocence towards her.
“You will be the destruction of the Equestrian Empire, and I shall revel in it’s chaos.” a booming voice said, bringing the two as one.
Pain. Fear. Hurt. Sadness. Stop. Stop… STOP! Innocence cried out, becoming a passenger in a body torn apart. She reached out, but her arm fell off, rotting away into maggots and shards. Pushing up with her legs resulted in the same maggoty disintegration.
The ethereal voices started soft.
Malice. Hatred. The shadowy shapes' voices grew louder, as they advanced upon her.
Anguish. Innocence tried to curl up as the sensation of blood coated her skin, her eyes looking at the torn stumps laying just out of reach. Nerves, sinew and muscle twitched as she began to panic, her eyes dancing frantically looking for any possibility of escape.
The echoing accusations boomed in her ears, all the while a fanged maw opened up in the sky, pulling her into the rows of razor sharp teeth, the wind carrying her up.
No.. No! NOO--
Crunch.
“NO!” The scream ripped from her throat, as she sprang up, retreating into the corner, wide eyes streaked with tears, white knuckles gripping her horn weapons. Tirek jumped up and immediately pulled her into a tight embrace, binding her to his chest. She began biting at his chest, screaming and squirming, futilely trying to escape the embrace. Run. Run. Run. Fear. Scared. Dying.
Chrysalis, having been woken by the scream, looked around to see Innocence in Tirek’s grasp. Chrysalis whirled on Grogar, her eyes glowing with annoyance. “Grogar, you were keeping watch!”
“Dammit, eat her emotions you useless changeling! This is not the time!” Grogar yelled. His hooves were quickly stirring something in a stone carved bowl, his frantic mixing occupying his focus. “Now!”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes and approached the struggling human, her eyes faintly glittering with her horn, pulling the emotional peaks from the human. Chrysalis’ eyes went wide. It’s so bitter. Acrid. Never have I tasted such.. intense fear. Chrysalis hacked at the taste, almost retching up the emotion as slime. However, Chrysalis continued to consume the overwhelming emotions, slowly calming the frantic Innocence. Her rapid gasps were slowing down as she broke down crying, quivering in Tirek’s arms as she nuzzled into the fresh marks she gave him.
“.... I think that’s the fastest we’ve ever broken her fear response.” Tirek gently stroked her hair as she wailed, propping her up in his other arm. Chrysalis rolled her eyes.
“Of course it is, I was here. Now, what do I get in return?” Chrysalis received a pair of glares from the older villains.
“You can get fed to her, that’s what you can get in return you ungrateful bug.” Grogar hobbled over to Tirek with the bowl, and coaxed Innocence to take a hold of the bowl. “C’mon girly, drink up… Thatagirl.” Grogar stroked the dirty pink mess on her head, humming gently to the distraught human. Innocence through the involuntary sniffles forced the drink down, before curling up into Tirek’s arm, her wails descending to quiet cries.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought she was a huge threat to life here in the Pit!” Chrysalis hissed at Grogar. “But, from what I see, she’s just a child!” Chrysalis launched an orb of black swirled with rust onto the floor, grimacing. "She has nothing of value within her! Just fear and hunger!"
“Chrysalis, I told you, she’s broken. Mentally, spiritually, broken. The only reason we even put ourselves at stake is we can deal with her. Otherwise, she may have killed you just out of fear just now.” Grogar growled back, his stare boring into her skull. "Clean that up. Toss it into the fire if you have to."
“I do appreciate you acting as quickly as you did though.” Tirek whispered as to not rile Innocence again. Despite her newfound silence, her eyes were wide open, constantly flicking to invisible movement. “She’s still too scared to sleep. Chrysalis, can you take more of her fear?”
“What can you provide me besides this intensely bitter vomit, hm? As it stands, I’m already quite nauseous from the first time.” Despite queasiness still plaguing her, her eyes were slit with confidence as a sneering grin crept onto her face.
Grogar’s eyes narrowed further, his scowl deepening before Tirek raised a hand. “I will help Innocence identify you as a friend if you can help with this.” Tirek proposed.
The smile fell from the changeling queens face. “Are you assuming that ‘being my friend’ will work this time, Tirek?” Her eyes glazed over with disinterest near immediately. “I would rather face Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon simultaneously than fall into that trap once more.”
The cantankerous goat growled. “Fine. We’ll take care of this ourselves. Leave our den.” Grogar snarled, lowering his horns.
“Oh, really? You just love to resort to violence, don’t you?” Chrysalis’ horn flickered to life for a bare moment, before going dull once more. “What?” Tirek’s own horns framed a orb of red flame, becoming tinged with green from the fragment he siphoned from her. “How dare you take my magic!”
The centaur looked over at the smaller goat, who simply nodded with trained understanding. Grogar moved over to the thick bedding, made from a foreign silk and leathers, nestling down. Tirek followed suit, and gently set Innocence down beside the blue goat. Immediately, she latched onto him, allowing Tirek to turn and face Chrysalis.
“Last warning, Chrysalis. Leave.”
Author's Note
Edited and Proofread by Timeless Lord Slayer. Without his help, I would not have gotten this chapter published today.
For those curious, I do offer a challenge for you all, if you're interested.
The Reward?"The Daybreaker Incident" as a self contained chapter, with the next chapter upload after the correct guess.
This will be ongoing until completed. Good Luck, and thank you for reading.
Author's Note
I have struggled to write the entirety of the Daybreaker Report, as well as my other two stories for months now. However, thanks once again to Timeless Lord Slayer, I am once again able to get something pushed out.
I will be alternating These reports with normal chapters for the next few chapters. Please, keep an eye out.
Daybreaker Report - 1
Compiler’s note: This report is a compilation of interviews, events, and personal accounts of the last years of Celestia leading up to what is called “The Daybreaker Incident.” These will be documented in sections, to prevent the entirety from being destroyed.
Dusty Tome, Former Royal Archivist and Compiler.
Celestia had just introduced The Dawn Guard today. An elite force completely dedicated to Celestia alone, who carried enchanted arms and armaments to take care of any military situation? To some, proper protectors in the event the Elements could not act fast enough. But to many of us in the guard? It’s.. concerning.
Why is she introducing this now? Especially after her last argument with Lady Sparkle? It feels odd. I’m pretty sure most of the guards can tell that Lady Sparkle isn’t interested in the Solar princess in that manner, but... It still feels strange.
I overheard the first of the conflicts between Lady Sparkle and Celestia 2 years ago, having been guarding the door at that time. Lady Sparkle apparently refused princesshood, choosing to stay with her friends. It was touching to hear, but Celestia had a way to be displeased without it being known.
Celestia had become colder with each argument. Twilight grew more distant. It’s rough to listen to, especially when both were so close only a few short years ago.
[These first two sections were found wedged between two lockers, singed at the edges, in the old barracks. Melted metal encased the two scraps, requiring roughly 2 hours of careful separation and an additional hour of slow reversal magic.]
“Comet Jester, can I ask you a few things?” an innocent question honestly, but coming from Lady Sparkle, it concerns me.
“Yes, Lady Sparkle?” We kept our voices low as to not interrupt the court held by Princess Luna today.
“You can call me Twilight, Comet, you’ve watched over me with Celestia for over ten years. You’re one of my friends too.”
“Very well, Twilight. What can I do for you?”
“Celestia.. Is she alright? She hasn’t responded to me for almost two weeks, and I’m not sure how to approach her anymore.”
I raised a brow at this, looking over at her. “Seems a bit unusual, but has something happened recently between you and Luna?”
“Luna and I, ..uhm..” The purple student turned bright red.
I smiled knowingly, resting a hoof on her shoulder. “I understand, I’m a father of two mares myself.”
Princess Luna and Twilight were dating, and that was wondrous news.
Considering the downward spiral Celestia had been in, I should have been more wary. Celestia was falling into the very darkness that Luna once held. Nothing could be done though.
[Found amongst collapsed bookshelves, between the pages of a soot covered “Courtly Etiquette.” Last paragraph was hastily added later with scribbling penmanship. Found intact.]
Empress Cadence has been seemingly murdered. Celestia has become a cold, calculating ruler finally. She does her daily duties, and keeps that eternal mask of motherly affection. However, the Dawn Guard now has begun to replace the guards, who have been faithfully guarding the castle through the years, and I have been an unwilling accomplice.
The creature we captured is fully intelligent, but unaware of what happened around or to it. I’m assuming it’s a she from it’s feminine voice, but she seems genuinely horrified from the crime scene was found in. It breaks my heart, but I have to keep my stoic facade today.
If either of my daughters were like this… Is she telling us the truth..?
Celestia’s not been eating much lately, considering her mourning with Shining Armor has been lingering for the last month or two. Between the muttering, incantations, and crying, I would be given orders to relay to Captain Ligios, who would then disperse them amongst the Dawn Guard.
The first I peeked at filled me with dread. ‘Capture the filly Cozy Glow, on September 15th, Year 1006. She should be surrounded by brainwashed individuals. In--” I couldn’t read further on that set of orders, as one of the Dawn Guard approached me for the scroll.
Others I read over the last few months included: Inform Skitherix to propose an attack on Ponyville to Chrysalis, Prevent funding and building permits for Twilight’s Friendship Academy, Plant the Old Pillar Artifacts, Send inflammatory letters and false attacks on the Storm-Laden Kingdom, and finally ‘Tell Discord to engage Operation: Imposter’.
Today I approach Celestia. I need to know what’s going on.[These two were found hidden in a lockbox, behind a false brick in the Servant’s quarter, alongside a locket with a picture of an elder mare and two fillies.]
I regret my decisions.
Celestia has lost her damn mind. She has been using the power to scry the future to manipulate the people… and especially Twilight. Anything to drive Twilight to ascend, so she won’t be alone with just her sister for eternity. Shining Armor has been possessed by the Nightmare. Through Shining Armor, Celestia is being corrupted, and I watched it first hoof.
The Dawn Guard need to know.
This journal will be broken down into multiple pieces, to protect it’s sanctity from Celestia. She’s been working to censure as much as she can from all of us. The Dawn Guard are following me. Please, remember this old pony as a defender of the populace. - Comet Jester
[Found in Comet Jester’s saddle bags in the original journal, alongside waterskins, canned goods, and camping supplies. Most were burned and melted together, requiring a weeks worth of careful extraction and piecing together to acquire correct sequencing.]
When these scattered journal fragments were compared to other documents about Celestia at the time, her spiral into darkness was slow but irreversible. Theoretically, one could say it was due to Twilight’s choices, but free will should not be snuffed for the sake of one Pony, even if it was one as powerful and well beloved as the Solar Princess.
However, Most seem to point to the death of Cadenza Mi Amore as the true culprit, finally breaking her due to a lack of ability to protect and keep close the ones she loved. Perhaps due to a combination of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Paranoia drove her to this brink, no doubt without the presence of the Nightmare.
Captain Ligios is mentioned in these documents, and we asked him for a short interview.
Interviewer: Shadow Seeker, Compiler adept in the Royal Archive - Interviewee: Captain Ligios, formerly of the Dawn Guard, now full time commander of Tartarus.
SS: Thank you for coming today, Captain.
CL: You’re welcome. How can I be of service?
SS: We recently discovered some documentation regarding the lead up to Daybreaker’s rise to power, in a personal account.
CL: I see. Elaborate for me, if you will.
SS: Did you ever know a Comet Jester?
CL: I did. He was my mentor, and a sort of father figure to me at one point. SS: So you two were quite personal with each other one could say?
CL: Yes.
SS: Then, might I inquire as to what the Dawn Guard was doing at that time? His personal journal clearly states you and the Dawn Guard were actively supporting Celestia at the time, and assisting her in inciting what could be regarded as treason against the populace.
CL: I see. Well, before I continue, you do realize discussions of this nature need authorization from one of the two Princesses?
[SS presents the letter of authorization, getting an affirmative nod from CL after a few moments of reading.]
CL: Very well. Yes, I was actively ordering our spies in foriegn nations to actively incite war with Equestria, or at least, attacks. Many of the orders seemed nonsensical at first, but it did result in reforged peace treaties that actively benefitted Equestria, or the downfall of escaped villains. SS: No doubt, there was good that came from your actions, Captain. But what of Comet Jester? We found these documents burned. With some help from Starlight Glimmer and Star Swirl, we were able to reverse the burning to read these fragments he had hidden around the castle.
CL: [sighs] In the last week of his life, he tried raising the alarm about what was happening, in hopes to resolve what he could. He told myself and Princess Luna alone about what was happening, but it was unfortunately too late. When Daybreaker finally revealed herself, alongside Blackguard, He took the first hit meant for Twilight, and was instantly incinerated.
SS: And of the creature he mentioned?
CL: I escorted it originally to Tartarus and was established as the Commander upon completion. I was informed of most events after the fact.
SS: So have you been back to the castle since?
CL: Since before this interview? No. Anything else?
SS: Not right this instant. Thank you for your time, Captain.
CL: Good Day.
Since this interview, Captain Ligios has refused further questioning. Further attempts to investigate his past in the Dawn Guard have been met with opposition.
Chrysalis landed hard outside the den, the faint glow of the day crystals illuminating the floor. She stood quickly, as the red titan stomped out of the dimly lit entrance. “You’re exactly how you were last time we fought, half-breed.”
Tirek looked down upon her, not with disdain, but pity. “You’re right. I’m still a fractured being. I’m still a harbinger of death and destruction with a penchant for violence.” His hand whipped out suddenly and grabbed the fallen queen’s horn. Tirek’s grip tightened, the sound of bone creaking in his grip, as thin streams of dark blood welled up from between his fingers. The insectoid queen’s eyes widened as she struggled to escape his grip, pain shooting down to her chitinous hooves as the crimson centaur began to pull.
“You have remained a selfish, over ambitious and arrogant bug who cannot see the folly of her ways and plans before they happen.” His hand went to her throat, and slammed her muzzle into the packed dirt, onlookers peeking out from their self-dug caverns. Neon mixed with crimson in the gloom, as his repeated bashing drew more. “You failed to account for the Elements each and every time you encountered them. You were given more chances at redemption than any other here, and you spat in the face of the ponies who saved your entire species from the curse they bore.” Tirek threw her into the far wall, a sickening crunch of shell, bone and wing.
“But I will give you mercy. I will let you suffer your wounds, and find your own group in this hell.” The centaur turned away, only for a bolt of lime magic to strike him in the back, harmlessly dissipating. The bloodied changeling stood on cracked hooves and torn wings, with hate in her teal eyes. “Do you really think you can continue this fight, Chrysalis?”
“I will fight until you kill me, Tirek. There’s nothing left.” She snarled, the other convicts shying away or losing interest in the oncoming massacre.
Tirek slowly closed the gap between them once more. Slow, methodical breaths left him as his steely gaze locked onto her. “Chrysalis, your pride will kill you. Welcome to the pit.” His hands latched around her throat and horn once more, and snapped the jagged horn off her forehead, to the screams of intense pain. “Now. Survive.” He stomped back to his shared den and sealed it off with a makeshift door, leaving the bug to writhe in her own worthlessness.
“Was that really necessary Tirek?” Grogar peeked from one eye, his chin resting over the sleeping Innocence. Her shivering had stilled, and light snores could be heard from the pale human.
“Perhaps not, but it will be a valuable lesson.” The tired centar settled in next to the two, as the glow of the daylight crystal began to fade, the deeper shadows inviting the nocturnal residents out to play. “I’ll go check on her in a few hours. I’m positive Ahgg will take care of her, and hopefully humble her a bit.”
“Well, she won’t be able to brainwash anyone there without her horn, so it should be a very humbling experience.” Grogar snorted, closing his eyes once more. “The heavens know we all need that once in a while.”
Hoof held to the bleeding stump, the cracked ponykin limped along the edge of the ring, refusing the few invitations for shelter by softer residents, while stone and wood walls were placed up with the coming ‘night.’ I don’t need their friendship, I need a hive. I need willing subjects, not some friendly acquaintance. Her thoughts ran parallel to the shooting pains of her fractured carapace. Chrysalis leaned against the wall as more of her precious lifeblood dripped in a bright trail behind her. “Fucking Tirek, I will find a way to end him.” Pushing against the wall, she continued to hobble away from her former ally.
“And what will you do when you accomplish that, hm?” She first heard the skittering, whirling around to face the voice from behind her. Fur and chitin mixed in asynchronous chaos, held aloft by a multitude of appendages, while the near constant chittering of mandibles and teeth forced her attention up to the single, baleful red eye. It’s gaze was fixed on her, glowing red in the gloom of the artificial night. “Will you continue to seek vengeance for the sake of filling that void you feel?” It’s rough, clipped speech punctuated by the clashing of lip, tusk and shell, as it slowly descended from the upper wall.
Chrysalis shuddered “W-What in the world are you?” She reeled back away from it, wincing as the fissures in her own shell widened.
“Ah, I am but a remnant of the humans of old, my name no longer means much to the surface world. One may even call me a spider.” A soft chuckle escaped the ‘spider’. It’s voice was strangely comforting. A husky, even smoky tone, not unlike a parent’s. “However, little kinfolk, I know your kind quite well from my own time in the tunnels beneath the land.”Kindness? What kind of trap is this..
Her thoughts would be interrupted once more, as it beckoned to her. “If you’d follow me, we can see about getting you all fixed up.” The 8-limbed monstrosity strode into the nearest cave, watching her as she carefully descended the steep slope. “I can at least help you make a little den of your own while you recover.”
Chrysalis grimaced. “What’s the catch?” It’s aura’s still tasting of kindness, and even hospitality. There has to be something.
“Oh, it’s quite simple. I help you make a den and recover, and you retrieve food at feeding time for me, like the others do. Corpses do wonders for my diet, but I do dabble in a bit of cooking for those entangled in my web.” Another chuckle.
The injured queen rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll be your little drone while I recover.” Pulling her hoof away, she sighed. The bleeding finally stopped, and the lack of adrenaline finally set in. “However, I want to be clear. I want to make a hive of my own.”
“Of course, as a queen of a species should desire. But, first thing is first, you need to be taken care of. I have plenty of silk I’ve spun for the residents here, that we use for clothing, bedding, and most importantly for you now, medical binding. I’ll have a good friend of mine get you settled in. All I ask is you keep your word once you’ve recovered some, and we can get you fed proper afterwards.” Using a leg, it pushed back a sticky curtain, leading her deeper into the steep tunnel before it opened up into a warm burrow, where dragon, pony, gryphon, and even a stray kirin gathered, chuckling and laughing amongst each other.
The light, airy emotions washed over her weary mind, drawing her in like a breath of fresh air. “Very well, I accept your proposal. Who, then, am I working with?”
“Oh, I am Ahgg, one may call me a fixer in this little hole, trading food and information alike. Sometimes, I even play a bit of matchmaker for some of the lonely hearts down here. I’m also a bit of a den-father to the softer souls, or those who need more help.” Ahgg waved to the little collective, and they hailed back in return. A crimson dragon approached Ahgg and began gesturing quickly, before pointing out a pair of bulging bundles. “Thank you, Taji. I’ll be sure to get Raien awake before dinner.”
Chrysalis’ gaze traced over the coming and goings of nearly a dozen moving bodies as they moved about the burrow, with tunnels marked with faintly colored strands of spider silk. “This is almost hive-like.” And the emotions here are delectable, and free flowing. Especially compared to that insufferable child.
“Indeed. You changelings had some very impressive architecture, so I simply replicated it for efficiency. Although my charges tended to get lost at first, so I made a few guides for them.” Ahgg turned down a tunnel with a green guide line, leading to a quieter quadrant of the burrow. “You will stay here in the verdant quarters, where our new arrivals and injured guests stay, at least until you’ve healed. Viri, can you lead our new guest here to a den?”
A small, crystalline, spider-like being approached and chittered, offering a strand attached to its thorax to the injured queen. Chrysalis only sighed and took the strand, following the dog-sized vermin. “Please, make yourself comfortable Chrysalis. I’ll bring someone to feed you soon. Do you have a preference?”
“Male, ponykin, perhaps on the gentle side considering my condition.”
Ahgg chuckled once again. “I did not mean sexually, but I do understand. I’ll see who I can rustle up for you.” Ahgg waved her off as he retreated back to the main room, his words echoing faintly in conversation with the ones outside.
What a doting fool. I’m positive now this place is designed to make you weak now. No matter, I’ll simply establish my hive and proceed from there. Her thoughts were stopped short as Viri chittered again, his multitude of eyes furrowing at her. “What?” The emerald spider pulled gently, agitating the crumbing shell more. Chrysalis growled, but followed the little creep regardless.
Viri led her to an empty den, and guided her to the bed amongst the barren room, motioning her to lay down. “Fine…” She groaned, before climbing up. It’s.. surprisingly soft, and not sticky like I expected. Viri motioned her to lay down, as he produced more silk and looped it over one of his legs. Chrysalis complied, laying on her side. “Just make it quick, will you? I wish to sleep.”
The iridescent spider saluted, and quickly spun the silk around her cracked body, binding her chitin back into place with a few careful adjustments. The searing pain the ex-royal felt returned in sharp, sudden bursts, only to immediately be dulled by the gentle pressure provided by the spider bandages. Even her wings were pieced together by the tiny surgeon, and encased in a much thinner silk to heal. Once finished, the little spiderling motioned once more at the changeling, mimicking a sleeping pony.
“Yes, yes, I know I need to heal after that beating I just took.” Viri eye’s locked on her face, before grasping her muzzle between two legs. “What are you doing, you little cretin?” She asked, before a fresh strand of silk was wrapped around her fractured stump. “Oh.”
Viri’s chittering echoed faintly, before spinning close the entrance, leaving a triangular entry way. A quick salute, and Viri was gone. Was that.. Giggling? No matter. At least I can get some actual sleep now. I wonder if I can get my new hive to spin silk like this… Her curious thoughts wandered into oblivion as exhaustion claimed her, and the plush bedding lulled her to the first true sleep she’d experienced in years.
Author's Note
Chapter at the beginning of the month! Woo!
This is not an April Fool's joke, I swear to god.
Edited by Timeless Lord Slayer, the amazing writer he is.
Compiler’s Note: The report is a compilation of interviews, events, and personal accounts of the last years of Celestia, leading up to what is called, “The Daybreaker Incident.” These will be documented in sections, to prevent the entirety from being destroyed.
Dusty Tome, Former Royal Archivist and Compiler.
Interviewer: Shadow Seeker, Compiler Adept in the Royal Archive. - Interviewee: Lunar Breeze, Thestral Maid who served Celestia during the night.
LB: Hello Shadow Seeker, I did not expect to see you this evening. How may I be of assistance?
SS: Lunar Breeze, I’m compiling information and accounts of Ponies who were in close proximity to the late Princess. Do you have some time to talk?
LB: Of course. If you would follow me.
[LB led SS to a servant’s supply room and started some tea before taking a seat.]
LB: So you wish to know of our Princess Celestia?
SS: Correct. From what I have here, you were a personal maid she had selected many years ago.
LB: Correct, Princess Celestia chose me when I was a mere filly to be personally trained in all manners of work for her.
SS: I do need to ask that you clarify that for me in full, Lunar Breeze. I will be asking about information and actions that the late Princess may have requested to keep confidential.
[SS presents a Letter of Authorization to LB]
SS: Outside of the traditionally understood roles of being a maid, what have you been trained to do at the behest of the crown?
[Lunar Breeze glanced at the Letter, and sighed.]
LB: I’m glad I’m retiring soon. I have been trained in espionage, CQC, alchemy, assasination tactics, as well as various weapons and schools of magic typically barred from public access. I have been an instrumental enforcer of the Princess’ will politically and a defender of her’s under the guise of being one of her ‘maids’.
SS: So, not only have you been trained to be a personal defender, have you been personal with her in any context?
LB: But of course. I’m positive that most ponies who decide to explore the Princess’ history at all will find her references to her role in, quote, ‘ancient fertility rites.’ [LB snickers at this underneath a hoof.]
SS: [Clearing throat.] Ahem, yes, I’m well aware. Aside from that, Did you take any actions as part of or in tandem with the Dawn Guard?
LB: Yes. In fact, I often was the point of contact for the guard when they reported at night, if I was not on active missions to eliminate certain political figures.
SS: And when you say eliminate, do you mean kill or remove from the equation?
LB: Allow me to clarify. Celestia’s definiton of ‘eliminate’ was to remove them from the situation in preferably non-violent manners. This typically involved inciting scandals or incidents that required the individual's attention more than the motion they were actively involved in. It wasn’t until after poor Cadence’s death did she directly order me to kill.
SS: And did you? And If so, who of note?
LB: I did. Notably the 5th seat War Chieftain of the Minotaur Republic, Mercurius for his involvement in barring merchants from participating in trade with Equestria, and Lord Talonstone of the Gryffin Highlands for, as Celestia put it, ‘his insatiable greed regarding debts repaid by the crown.’
SS: Are there records of these assignments in any form?
LB: I kept a series of journals detailing my thoughts and interactions with our Princesses throughout my decades long service.
SS: Would you be willing to part with the ones from the last four years?
LB: Seeker. I will speak to you later. Preferably when you have the required documentation for me. I need to go begin my nightly rounds for the Queens.
Lunar Breeze is a Maid with nearly sixty years of service to the crown, and still appears to be surprisingly young, appearing to be in her mid to late twenties despite her recorded age of 72. Shadow Seeker and I are currently awaiting approval from the Queens to acquire and make copies of Breeze’s personal journals detailing her service history.
Date: May 11th, 1004
Scene: Foreign Emissary Dormitory. A series of accommodations designed to house a plethora of Emissaries of the varied nations, tribes, and occasionally nobility. Each is sectioned from front to back as such; Entryway, Lounge and Living space, Bedroom with Balcony, Bathroom. Each ‘Dorm’ is measured to be 1200 square feet in space, and comes pre-furnished according to the visitor ahead of time.
For the Crystal Empire royalty, the furniture was consistent with a modern Canterlot style with a focus on comfort and lower than average furniture to accommodate the late Empress. Step stools were provided to assist with getting into bed and the bathtub.
First Response : The guard alerted the Investigation Corps to an incident within the castle, dispatching Ocular Skip to the scene. Upon arrival, Ocular Skip was informed of the capture of a bipedal subject of unknown species or origin, but seemingly to be hysterical before being sedated and taken to the dungeons. Emperor and former captain Shining Armor was detained as well to prevent tainting the crime scene.
Recording - Ocular Skip’s first impressions:
[Ocular skip is actively swallowing hard, mentioned later trying to suppress the urge to vomit.]
“Scene is in Lounge and Living space. Victim appears to have died instantly from whatever happened. There are pieces of fur, feather, and bone embedded into most furniture, and strips of skin hanging or stuck on any surface that stopped it’s violent travel. There’s a veritable haze of blood still lingering in the air.. Urp.”
[Another series of hard swallows, gasps, and cursing.] “I’m carefully walking around the central point of a possible localized explosion moving towards the bed and bathrooms respectively.”
[Horrified gasp, sound of something ‘fleshy’ being moved.] “Two victims confirmed. Unborn foal. Appears to have possibly been Alicorn.”
[Another sound of gagging, before the sound of a window and violent heaving is heard for a few minutes.]
“Seal the room, get me Tranquil Stream... And a towel.”
Recording - Tranquil Stream’s Experience:
“I know. Tranquil, I need you to work your magic. The only suspect we have is in constant hysterics when awake. The guards are already trying to converse with it but to no avail.”
“Fine Skip, but you know what this does to me right?”
“I know.”
[The following few minutes of recording consists of the sounds of a spell being cast, gagging and groaning, before a blood-curdling scream erupts from Tranquil Stream. Silence, heavy breathing and the occasional sob filled nearly 30 minutes of the recording before the audio resumed proper.]
“Oh god the pain she went through. It happened so fast, I can’t believe it. It was like feeling a little pain in your chest, only for it to just push out and consume everything like an instant flame on every inch of your body... “
“Tranquil, did you see anything afterwards?”
“I saw the poor thing screaming herself, while I was latching on to the remnants. I was able to see through the Empress’ eyes even after death somehow… Skippy, I don’t know what to tell you otherwise.”
“Alright. We need to report this to Celestia.”
[End of Recording]
The case file and these recordings were the last remaining pieces that had not been irreparably destroyed and/or altered by outside forces. It is currently theorized the damage and alterations to this case was done by The Dawn Guard or Celestia’s closest aides, perhaps including Lunar Breeze. Due to the mostly confidential nature of this case, Celestia alone oversaw the case as the lone jury and judge.
Note from Twilight Sparkle - “Give me some time to analyze the spellwork used to make these edits, and I’ll see if I can clear them up. I’m familiar with Celestia’s magical signature and since my ascension, I’ve begun to understand more of the inner workings of Alicorn Magic.”
As it stands, Shadow Seeker is actively seeking a Heavenly Mandate from Queen Luna, as it seems the letters of authorization are being rejected by certain interviewees, under some higher protocol they are following. Those include Captain Ligios, Lunar Breeze, and Ahgg, who remains as the Pit’s on-site Psychologist with his swarm.
Quote directly from Ahgg via a spider-drone: “While I appreciate you contacting me about the delicate subject regarding my service to the crown whilst inside the Pit of Tartarus, I wish to be left to my duty until it is an absolute requirement that I should be contacted further.”
The drone has remained within the archive of it’s own volitions, committing itself to research on new psychological techniques and approaches for the rehabilitation of the injured and mentally ill.
Author's Note
So I've been busy getting my home packed up and working long nights! It's been grand!
Combined with my Birthday this weekend, I'm excited to finally push more of my stories out.
With that, Leave a comment, let me know what you think and are enjoying, and I'll see if I can get the next proper chapter uploaded sooner than later!
Luna and Twilight scanned page after page, trading stacks of papers between each other’s magic. Journals, guides, translation crystals, ciphers, all hovered between various documents, jumping from hoof to table, to document as each of them gazed over the various written recordings. Shadow Seeker and Dusty tome sat before their own papers, running their hooves through their manes.
“Please correct me if I’m wrong, Your Majesties. Celestia knowingly imprisoned a creature of unknown origin who was innocent?” the aged archivist asked, cleaning her lenses.
Twilight nodded, her brow furrowed in one of a series of books. “The creature, referred to as ‘False Repentant’ by the guards in Tartarus, seems to be able to pass the enchantments made as part of the Accord of the Lights detailed here.” Twilight gestured to a thick scroll sitting across from her. “The journals you acquired from Lunar Breeze have helped give us an idea of what it is, but....”
“Celestia either disregarded this information from her closest informant, or was acting in the interest of some future she wanted to acquire, as evidenced by the burned reports.” Luna’s gaze flicked back and forth over the page before her, before tossing the page back to the desk to rest her eyes in her hooves. “MY dearest sister, why dost thou fight me even now?”
“Your Majesties, I might have found something.” Shadow Seeker spoke up, running his hoof over his chin. The ashen pegasus hovered over to Twilight, his hoof circling an entry from a journal. “Lunar Breeze has a diary entry here, mentioning meeting a strange creature who stood on two feet and had little to no fur. I’m surprised it took this long to get a hold of these.”
Luna’s gaze rose from her hooves, lined with exhaustion and frustration. “Remember, she’s been in the service of the crown for a long time. Retrieving journals once hidden for years takes time.” Luna stood and moved over next to Twilight. “Depending on the information present, would you be able to review and recompile those reports for us?”
“Gladly. For now, shall I read it aloud?”
“Please, Seeker. I’ll keep looking over these reports, and see if we can fill any holes while we’re at it.” Twilight replied, flipping another page of the thin dossier.
“Ahem… Year 55 of Service, Entry 97. Celestia instructed me to speak to this creature in question. She said it would be in the dungeons, and that based on the reports, has not eaten anything since we have captured it. That was 3 days ago. Despite her grief, it is surprising she is being compassionate to the murderer of the Crystal Empire’s Empress.” Seeker paused, putting his hoof to his lip, eyes scanning ahead. “Being frank, it seems as if Lunar Breeze had already convicted this creature. There’s a section about how she comforted Celestia at this time, and it's a bit graphic.”
Twilight grimaced in unison with Luna. “Yes, we would prefer to skip the detailing of my late sister’s love life.”
“Very well… The creature is most definitely sentient, and has a very clear speech pattern and tone indicating that of a young adult mare. She prefers to be called Awnry(Anri? Ahnree?) and has made it clear she can’t eat the food we’ve been providing. While she wasn’t exactly willing to share much information, she did explain that grass and hay are inedible to her, but fruits, vegetables, and meats are. She seems willing to work with me, although that may be under the assumption that I’m nothing more than a maid.”
Luna fixed her eyes on Seeker. “So we may have a source of information that wasn’t destroyed… This is good. Continue.”
“Entry 98. Anri was in tears when I arrived with a meal for her. Apparently, one of the guards was terrorizing her with possible punishments and some uncouth suggestions that I must resolve later. Be sure to pack some hydrochloric acid and your knives for tonight, Breeze. Oh… Oh dear. That would explain that incident report…” Seeker crossed his hind legs in a sudden flinch.
Twilight groaned. “Seeker, please? Breakfast is on it's way and I'd like to be hungry, not queasy.”
"Sorry, Your Majesty, I'll refrain from further deviation. Anri explained she had encountered a strange creature made of a variety of parts, akin to a Chimera, except slender and tall, and a penchant for teleporting. She was in the middle of a jungle on some temple when she encountered the being in question. They offered a trip to civilization, escaping from creatures she described as bug horses. The being snapped their fingers, and the next thing she knew she was covered in blood.”
The two queens gaze snapped up, looking at each other before looking at Shadow Seeker. “Luna, Discord had taken a trip to the southern jungles a few years ago, shortly before Cadence’s death.” Twilight's hooves rested on either side of her head, as her mind began to go into overdrive. "Discord led the expedition to the southern jungles to establish a forward base at that time, which is how we found Chrysalis' hive, revealing not only a sprawling civilization but also how fractured it really is, which means--" Twilight groaned as her mane disheveled itself. "-- Discord now is directly involved in this case, and there's nothing to show for it!"
Luna frowned as her love's face met the desk in violent fashion. "I'm not going to assume our friendly Lord of Chaos is our perpetrator, but perhaps he can shed some light on the situation in question."
Twilight sighed. “Do you think Discord would have intentionally done something like this?” She looked up at Luna, whose wings were now around her smaller lover.
Luna hummed as she set her head atop the smaller alicorn’s. “Why don't we go ask then? We do know exactly where he is right now. Seeker, send a message to Captian Ligios, let him know we will be visiting again later today.”
Innocence yawned, nuzzling into Grogar’s side. “Mmh. Grogar.”
“Good morning, Innocence. Hungry?” Tirek asked, curled over his wide cooking stone with an improvised bone spatula. Bright oranges, deep greens, and pale red chunks sizzled on the greasy surface, filling the den with its scent. Innocence nodded eagerly, crawling onto Tirek’s back and peering over his shoulder. “Go get your plate.”
The pink haired menace nodded and slipped out silently into the brightening gloom of the Pit, her travel marked by the shrieks of surprised convicts scrambling to give her wide berth. Tirek couldn’t help but chuckle. “Even when she’s behaving, she terrorizes others.”
“So.. how’s the bug, Tirek?” Grogar peeked out from one eye, watching the crimson centaur scraping the morning stir-fry into a pair of bowls, roughly hewn from stone. A slight smile graced his muzzle as Tirek set a bowl beside him.
“She’s dead, dominated, or getting treated by Ahgg. Either way, I don’t care.” A pair of bones held in his thickly calloused fingers pinched at a spear of broccoli. “Have you spoken to the spider recently?”
Grogar swallowed hard, deep lines setting into his muzzle. “No. Last time we spoke, I chose to leave instead of diving into the subject of my family.” Another mouthful kept the two quiet as the second round of shrieks marked her return.
“Food?” Innocence peeked into the den once more, her shoulder blade plate held close to her chest.
Tirek nodded and held his hand out for her plate, which she eagerly gave and bounced in place for. The centaur scooped up the remaining medley for her, her eyes locked on the strips of seared meat. “It’s hot. Use your fork.”
Innocence nodded, pulling out her improvised fork from her scaly pajamas, taking a seat by the old goat. Her eyes widened as she watched the steam, wiggling in place as she waited for it to dissipate. “Hooooot.”
The two tyrants grinned for a moment, before they turned back to each other. “I overheard from the guards that we’re supposed to be getting more convicts today. We’ll have to establish the pecking order again.” Tirek’s jaw set with a grim frown. “The Dragon Lands and Gryphonstone have been sending more recently, so the ponies here have been getting hunted more.”
Grogar grumbled, finishing his meal and picking his bowl up, tossing it to the flame to be sanitized. “Dragons are always so stubborn. It takes too long to put them in their place.” Grogar turned to the scale-clad human. “Usually.”
Innocence had been resting on her hands, hips up in the air wiggling like a cat about to pounce as the meal had finally cooled. Her bone utensil lunged out, gripped a piece of meat, and disappeared into her mouth, eliciting a delightful squeal of joy. “Good foods.~”
Tirek looked between the two of them. “Are you implying what I think you are?” Grogar nodded. Tirek rubbed his chin, crossing his arms over his chest. “Honestly, not a terrible idea. I’m more worried about the Gryphons, in that case, since they all have some military expertise.”
“Ah, right. Gryphons have that mandatory service nonsense, don’t they? Hm. We’ll have to see how they react then. You think Ahgg’s little commune will show up, perhaps reinforce the order?” Grogar called the flame-cleaned bowl from the fireplace to the shelf beside it, his eyes glancing at the now empty plate of Innocence’s. “Full, little one?”
An affirmative nod, a wide smile smeared with sauce confirming for the cantankerous villain. A half-hearted smile escaped Grogar once more. “Need food?” Innocence asked, her head tilting back and forth.
Tirek peeked into the little closet he dug out years ago, before nodding. “Later, yes. You have food for later?” An excited nod. “You bring food, we cook again. Okay?” A squeal of joy and a hug was the giant’s reward. Her delightful reaction was cut short by the slam of the iron drop cage, the clatter of shackles, and groans of new convicts. She immediately tensed up, her eyes whipping to the source of the noise.. “It’s go time, Grogar.”
“I know, I know. Come on Innocence, we have some new people to meet.”
Captain Ligios peered over the new entries to his domain. Guards held their halberds and spears at the ready, while a pair of armored Kirin led the way. Behind them, muzzled dragons and bound gryphons were shooting daggers in various directions. His eyes flicked back down to the list of his new arrivals. Backdraft, Wave Dash, Obtuse Crevasse… Juvenile dragons and bitter, outcast ex-military. All would-be revolutionaries, branded as traitors. Disappointing. The Captain’s cold gaze locked with the kirin’s, waving them on through. “Load them up. Get them into the pit as a whole.”
One of the escorts approached Ligios with a salute, before leaning in and whispering. “Sir, we have one we can’t fit in the cage with the rest.”
“Where are they then?”
“On the freight elevator.”
“Species?”
“Black dragon. Rumored to have been in line to be an elder apprentice.”
“I see. Estimated size?”
“5 meters long at least. He’d need the entire cage for himself.”
“I’ll organize the battlemages. Get this group down, then proceed to organize the containment force. Any additional restraints on them?”
“Muzzle, wing binders, shackles, and they are currently under a drug concocted by the elders to put him to sleep. Once they’re in the pit, it will wear off, just like most external influences.”
“Get moving then, we do not know the time we have currently.” The captain dismissed the escort. He turned to the train of convicts being forced into the cage, all the while the spears jabbed at scaly hide and feather alike. “Good afternoon, convicts. This is the place ubiquitously known as The Pit. Most of you will spend the remainder of your days down here, and will never again see the light of Celestia’s sun, nor your families. There is only one way to leave, and that is through genuine self reflection and personal growth.”
Ligios grinned. “I will only say this once. We will not protect you. We will not help you. Our job is to make sure you receive your punishment accordingly, not to maintain order. Your survival down there is in your hooves. The only thing we provide is food.” Ligios turned and began walking away, pausing only to look over his shoulder. “Good luck. You all will need it.” Ligios turned and walked back to the edge of the pit, leaving the convicts crying out at the injustice and lies they’d been fed.
“Drop them.” He ordered, his voice carrying over the dome.
Author's Note
Please refer to the blog for information.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Author's Note
This story really requires me to be in a dark place mentally, so it's hard for me to come back and write for it. I'll try and have another chapter up in a week or so, but it's difficult to write the story comparatively to her other one.
Happy Holidays.
New Arrival
The residents of the pits peered out from their network of tunnels and caves at the sounds of the new arrivals. Gryphons and dragons cheered as some of those arrivals were family, friends, and comrades in arms. Many rushed to show their affection, all the while Grogar and Tirek watched from their cave, with Innocence clinging to the crimson quadruped’s neck, her eyes watching the elevator retreat up.
Panic?
Tirek growled deep and loud, catching the attention of the residents, both new and old. Some looked eager to fight, while others looked about in fear. The reactions put a smile on Tirek’s face. Grogar stepped forward, a slight grin on his face. “Good Morning, scum of the world. Welcome to The Pit. You have two options today, starting now. Survive, or die. Depending on your choice, you will proceed to follow my instructions from here on out. I’m not one for orders often, but I-”
A surprisingly young dragon leapt for Grogar, snarling. “I’m not gonna follow your orders, you old goat!” The tyrant’s eyes flashed, and caught the youngling mid air. “Hey, What the hell is–” Their head snapped around 180 degrees and was pulled off, spine and the entire nervous system torn from its scaly hide. The head screamed for only a moment, before it was frozen in rigor mortis.
“Food?” Innocence asked, her eyes looking over the floating corpse.
Grogar nodded, and set the corpse by their cave, before turning to the rest of the group. “You may ask any question of me, as I am and will always be the oldest one here.”
A petite gryphon, covered in scars, stepped forward. “Who are you? I’ve never heard of a goat going to any form of prison.”
“I am the ancient tyrant, Grogar, and before you ask, this is Tirek, the Devouring Centaur.” He gestured to his companion, grinning. “He is my other half. His word and my word are one and the same.'' The gasps through the crowd made Grogar’s smile match Tirek’s. “Lastly…” He looked up to Tirek’s shoulder, before scanning the area. “Hm.. Where did she go?”
Innocence was hooking her daggers firmly into the ribcage of the dragon’s still bleeding corpse, beginning to drag it towards their den. A pitch black gryphon slunk towards the pink haired girl. Her head whipped up, locking onto the newcomer. He froze in place as her glaring eyes locked with his. “Uh, h-hi, uh..” The gryphon who was noticed far before he intended suddenly stammered, beginning to back up.
“Food.” The gryphon barely spread its wings before her claw-covered fingers ripped into them, her scale suit giving her the weight to pin the avian hybrid down as she shredded their wings, ripping out flesh, blood, and feathers to the music of the birds screams. The sound of claws scraping futilely on her stolen mail slowly died as the crowd watched in horror, all the while Innocence giggled.
Tirek and Grogar nodded to their blood-covered human in unison, who was trying to pry off the wings. “And that is Innocence. Our charge. As you have seen so vividly, she can and will identify you as food, kill you, and then will eat you. If you have any further questions, we will be in our den behind us, and will be glad to answer your questions about this place. You have until the end of the day to ask questions. After that, you will be on your own.” Tirek nodded to the new arrivals, before carefully walking over to the blood covered girl. “Innocence, take your food inside.”
The twin displays of violence cowed many of the new arrivals. “So uh.. What are your rules?” One blue tinged gryphon asked, watching his once-comrade be dragged into the den behind the twin masters of this domain.
Tirek grinned. “One, you are responsible for your own choices. If you kill someone, that’s your sin to deal with, and any consequences. Two, No one is responsible for you. If you need help, you must ask. If you give help, refer to Rule One. And Rule 3, and I swear to the creators if you break this one…” His horns crackled with energy. “If someone starts climbing those fucking stairs, leave them be.” He pointed to the stairs that reached each level of the pit, leading to the edge of the shield. “There are magics down here that will tell if you deserve to leave. You will be able to see through the shield above us. As a result, whoever breaks Rule 3 is Kill-on-Sight. If you want to be able to leave when you deserve it, leave those leaving alone.”
A flurry of questions were asked in quick succession, ranging from who’s who, creatures to avoid and things that can be done to make themself safe, to if there’s a trade system down here.
Innocence didn’t acknowledge the new bustle. Her gaze was focused on the much larger cage being carted onto the shield. “Grogar… Big cage? Big Scale?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The large cage was being rolled over to the curled up black dragon, with all hooves up and getting ready for dropping the black dragon.
“Captain Ligios, They’re on the trolley.” one of the soldiers said, as the scowling captain fixated his gaze on the large convict.
“Good. Drop them as soon as possible.”
“What about the other inhabitants? Isn’t this one larger than most of them?”
The captain turned to look at the soldier. “That depends entirely on them.” His eyebrow arched as one of the wings stretched. “Positions, Everypony, This is not a drill. Threat level Delta convict. Battle Mages, Flame Cloak spells engage.” Ligios amplified his voice with a quick spell, sending orders out as the on site soldiers began to scramble into position.
The black dragon’s amber eye opened, and the clamps screeched as the captive slowly pushed their limits. “Ponies… I hate… you oppressive little shits.”
“Good. Continue to hate us.” Ligios waved his hoof up, and the black dragon was dropped below the shield.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grogar looked up at Innocence’s comment, his brow furrowing. The pulley’s shrieked suddenly. “Scatter you fools!” his voice boomed, as the train car-sized cage landed, killing a few of the new arrivals. Clamps and shackles fell away, littering the floor with more metal. The black dragon spread his wings, arching his back as he began to flex his claws. “Welcome to the Pit.” Grogar’s glare caught the dragon’s, who began to laugh hollowly. “I’m glad you find this funny.”
“Oh, I’m not laughing at you, I’m laughing at how the Ponies think I can be contained..” The newcomer continued to chuckle, his eyes scanning the walls and seeing previous arrivals in various states of reaction.. Until his eyes fell upon Innocence, and he visibly flinched, his mirth gone. “What in the Great Dragon’s name has happened to her aura?”
Grogar grinned. “So you can see it too. Good. Glad to see the facade breaks easily." The old goat waved him to follow. "I’m Grogar. This is Tirek. She’s Innocence. Let’s talk.” Grogar turned his gaze to the rest of them. “You lot, git. Find a hole, dig one out. There’s enough spatial expansion here to accommodate everyone.”
The black dragon hesistantly followed the old goat retreating into the large den. “So uh… are you that…y’know..”
“I am, and I’ll have you know that all those legends are fairly true. Only difference between then and now is that I have an appreciation for others now. Sit boy.” Grogar turned back to the entrance. “Tirek, grab the abandoned shackles and such. We can finally repair our kettle. Now, where was I… Oh yes. You. Name. No titles.”
“I’m Calibrus.”
“Good to meet you, terrible it had to be here. What’d you do?” The sound of the pulley’s squeals signaled the cages leaving the central floor, which in turn meant scavengers could collect the corpses as they needed.
“I killed an Elder.”
“Hm. Admiral. Sparring match gone wrong?” Grogar pulled his kettle from his improvised shelf, and set it over the flame to heat. It’s large crack made him scowl, but he knew it would be fixed soon. Tirek’s hooves and the sound of rattling chains told him so.
“He stole my mate. Broke her down. Enslaved her mind.” a low growl accentuated by a lick of black flame at his fangs highlighted his anger.
“So you murdered him, rather than simply did the dragon’s dominance ritual?”
“I extinguished his entire flight’s flame.” Amber eyes glimmered in the shadow of the flames.
“Ooh, Genocide of a bloodline, delightful.”
“How are you so unfazed by this?” Calibrus asked, confusion replacing the lingering embers of vengeance.
“You must remember, I am old, and I am storied about some of the worst crimes against this world. A little bit of genocide is nothing. Besides, you’re a lot more likable when you’re not trying so hard to be scary and draconic.” Grogar shrugged. Tirek stepped back in, with the pink menace wrapped around his neck in a playful hug. “Tirek dear, you think you can stoke the flame a bit more, I’m not sure it’s quite hot enough.”
“Dear?” Calibrus asked, getting a hearty laugh from Tirek.
“Oh dragon boy, You’ll see stranger pairings and groupings here in the pit than the two of us. What was your name?”
“Calibrus….” He was stunned into silence. Two of the most storied monsters of his youth simply talking to each other as old lovers. “And uh.. .what about the soulless one on your shoulders?”
Tirek turned and looked at him in a mixture of amazement and frustration. “As Grogar had mentioned before, her name is Innocence. She’s human..” His attention turned to her. “Fire hot. Down.” His hand pointed at Calibrus. “Not-Food.”
“Not-Food…. Friend?” Innocence asked, getting a nod from Tirek. She slipped down, and approached the black dragon slowly, only to retreat to Grogar’s side.
“I’ll tell you her story another time. Just know that she’s our problem to deal with. If you keep interacting with us, You’ll be seen as friend proper by her.” Grogar nudged her. “Go nap in your den. I’ll get you when Food is ready.” Innocence gave a quick hug to Grogar, before disappearing out into the gloom once more.
“So, Calibrus. Let’s cover a few rules. The other newcomers heard them already. Rule one…”
