High Seas of the Underworld

Rotted timbers creaked and groaned as Moonstone paced back and forth in the dank, damp cabin room. All around, her friends lounged and did various things to keep themselves preoccupied while Moonstone ranted and wailed at her predicament.

“I can’t believe this! I’m stuck in another world on a rotting hunk of moldy timber!”

Lightning Blaze sat reclining in a broken down recliner, reading something she had found on the termite-infested bookcase. Turning the page of ‘Places to see While you’re Dead, Volume 1’, Lightning glanced at Moonstone.

“It’s not another world, it’s the Underworld. Pretty sure we’re drifting on the waves of the Sea of Souls, off the coasts of Tartarus and Mammon’s Palace. See?”

Lightning turned the book around to show a map of the Underworld and pointed to an area labeled ‘Sea of Souls. Moonstone shouted at her.

“Are you not worried about that? Why is us being in the Underworld a good thing?”

In a corner of the room, by the rotted porthole, Lunar Moth watched a line of spectral ants crawling along and giggled.

“This place is amazing! I’ve never seen such cute little critters.”

Shitake Mushroom meanwhile was inspecting the mold and mildew on a nearby rafter, calling loftily down to Moonstone.

“I think you are being too negative, Moon.”

Moonstone shouted in frustration.

“Too negative? Are you insane? We are in the Land of the Dead, Shitake!”

Shitake, however, just continued her analysis of the decrepit timbers, remarking offhandedly.

“This environment is perfect for growing mushrooms! Lunar found some, uh, interesting, creepy-crawlies and Lightning seems to be enjoying the-”

Pausing to glance sideways at Lightning Blaze, who was hanging partway off a nearby rafter; her head buried deep in another book: “Seven Deadly Sins: Lord Mammon, the Ruler of Avarice”.

Lightning muttered in annoyance.

“I’m reading a book, it’s not global news. Leave me alone.”

Shitake continued.

“-Fine literature from the bookcase over there. Besides, Twilight is discussing the situation with her family, I’m sure everything is going to be okay. Relax, before you work yourself up into another fainting spell.”

“Mother, are you out of your mind?”

Nyx growled at her daughter in frustration.

“I did not bring them here! How many times do I have to say it? I. Did. Not. Bring. Them. Here!”

A bolt of magic sizzled through the air, causing Nyx, in a sudden rage, to leap at Velvet; the two rolling on the ground fighting hoof and fang.

“How dare you attack your mother!”

“Some mother you are!”

Twilight sat at the stone table of the Underworld’s Royal Family, placing a fork ladened with Devil’s Food Cake, stuffed with a decadent pudding, into her mouth. In silence and complete awe, she watched Velvet slam Nyx into the ground. Nyx retaliated by slamming her hooves into Velvet’s midriff. Neither seemed injured by the monumental force behind the blows, because neither of them were mortal.

Unlike Twilight who was a half-blood, Velvet was the daughter of the rulers of the Underworld, the fiery-tempered Nyx, and Hades. Nyx was the daughter of the literal night, the Celestial referred to as Luna. Nyx was marveled by all in the Underworld for both her beauty and her terribly destructive nature.

Hades on the other hoof, was an enigma. Aside from the one time he let slip to Nyx mention of a sister who devoured love magic. He never really spoke of his family; however, he was well known by all denizens of the Underworld as amiable, and very easy going. It was hard to get under his skin, that is, unless you were his wife and daughter.

Twilight watched as a large coal black Stallion with feathery wings entered the room and looked around. His mane and tail were a gently burning ice blue flame. Until he saw Nyx and Velvet fighting. His flames suddenly ignited in a raging orange and red firestorm. He stretched out his hooves and the flames shot forth, effortlessly separating and pinning the two struggling mares on opposite sides of the room.

His voice was like thunder as it echoed throughout the ship’s cabin.

“What in Me is going on here?”

Velvet, struggling against her father’s flames, shouted out in an accusatory voice.

“Mom brought living mortals to our realm!”

Taken by complete surprise, Hade's flames sputtered momentarily. His bright yellow eyes blinked repeatedly in confusion.

“What?”

He lowered his flames, and Nyx fell to the ground, panting heavily and gasping out.

“It. Wasn’t. My. Fault!”

Hade’s flames returned to normal as he took a deep breath. He looked at his wife and spoke in a quiet, measured way as Velvet crashed to the floor.

“Honey, what happened?”

Nyx looked down helplessly, and her golden pocket watch materialized in her hoof.

“I really don’t know. My magic was tuned to bring only our Granddaughter for our agreement. Well her and Velvet’s mortal husband. But he doesn’t matter.”

Velvet growled at her.

“How dare-”

Hade’s flames erupted in orange from fury as he roared at Velvet.

“Shut it, Velvet! Nyx, continue.”

Nyx began talking once more.

“The spell went off without issue but somebody else's magic interfered, though for what purpose I don’t know. And the result is that Twilight’s four friends are here with her. And they are living mortals.”

Hades placed a hoof under his chin, he seemed pensive and gave his thoughts out loud for all to hear.

“For somepony’s magic to actively interfere with yours, my Queen; there aren’t many that can make that claim. Are you sure Nyx, that this happened?”

Nyx angrily tossed up her pocket watch, which Hades caught in a levitation spell. Flipping it open, he stared at the analog display, clearly seeing something in the whirling, clicking gears with no clock face. He frowned at what he saw.

“Where are they?”

Nyx waved her hoof and a portal opened up, revealing the storeroom Twilight’s friends were being held in, as well as a peculiar sight. Lightning had made a strange discovery in a book.

“It says here that Nyx is not only the Daughter of the Celestial Luna, but is also the wife of Hades, Lord of the Underworld.”

Lunar Moth sat on the floor by a tiny fire encompassed by her magic to prevent spreading. Around the little fire, no bigger than a thimble, several spectral ants sat toasting conjured marshmallows that Moth had made. Meanwhile, Moth had started telling them ghost stories of the overworld, while they listened in fascination. With tiny screams from the ants, her story came to an end. She grinned happily, pausing to raise an eyebrow before calling out.

“Isn’t the Goddess Nyx supposed to be Twi’s Grandmare?”

Moonstone had busted open a crate and upon finding metal, began to forge it into chainlinks, intent on making some jewelry. She raised her head as she brought down the conjured forging hammer with a loud thunk on the strange glowing metal.

“Hold on, if Twilight’s mom is the daughter of Lord Hades and Lady Nyx then Twilight would be-”

Shitake placed a hoof on the mold, injecting it with her magic and watching in delight as rather lethal-looking mushroom varieties she had never seen began to sprout forth. She chuckled as she cut off Moonstone.

“A Princess?”

The way she said it though was almost too casual for Moonstone, so she replied to Shitake with an inquiry.

“Did you know about this, Shi?”

Shitake just laughed.

“Nah, Twi has just always been my Princess.”

Moonstone chuckled at this.

“Well, you’ve known her the longest of any of us. Tell me, did she tell you? Was there any indication she might be royalty?”

“No. There was never any indication from her about this-”

Shitake paused and poked gingerly at one of the mushrooms, deep in thought for just a moment before continuing.

“I don’t think she was hiding it either. Twilight’s never lied to me before, it’s like she wasn’t aware of it, herself.”

Moonstone slammed down the conjured hammer onto the rapidly forming chain links. She stopped for a moment to admire her handiwork. Wiping her brow of sweat, Moonstone nodded.

“True, she seemed panicked by it as well.”

Lunar Moth tickled a little ant’s chin, smiling as it cooed in delight.

“Twilight may be a thief but she most certainly is not a liar.”

Lightning chuckled as she closed the book she was reading, ‘Wanting What Isn’t Yours, Leviathan’s Desire’.

“I can confirm she’s a thief, alright. She stole my wallet when we arrived.”

Moth raised an eyebrow, before frowning.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she returns it.”

Lightning just grinned.

“I’ll get it back eventually, I always do. She never keeps it, almost like she is unaware she is taking it in the moment. Anyway, she always gives it back.”

Moonstone sighed as she rummaged through another box she had opened. Leaning into the box, she grunted out.

“Make sure she returns my amulet too, alright?”

Twilight sat at the table, watching in confusion. I didn’t take their- Looking at her hooves, the Batpony froze and her cheeks flushed white. Moonstone’s amulet and Lightning’s wallet were clenched within them. Oh no, not again. I hope they aren’t too upset.

To Twilight’s surprise, she heard her friends laughing.

Shitake smiled.

“That’s my Twi, a bit klepto at times, but she has a good heart.”

Moth chimed in.

“Yeah, it’s always fun to have her return things.”

Lightning rolled her eyes.

“You just like controlling others, that’s all, Moth, you sadist.”

Lunar Moth giggled lightly, as she tickled one of the spectral ants.

“Maybe I do. But to be fair, she loves being told what to do.”

Moonstone, having found a gem of unknown type, let out a squeal of delight and Shitake laughed.

“You’re not wrong Moth, not to mention she also does that alot for me, Moonstone.”

Moonstone glared at her.

“Oh, hush, you.”

Nyx waved her hoof and the portal closed, the Queen of Lost Souls watched her husband closely. Hades stayed silent, before looking at the pocket watch again, Nyx noticed the blue flames on his body flickered with just a hint of orange, just for the slightest second. Hades glanced over at Twilight, who had resumed eating the cake Nyx had conjured in silence. Tossing the pocket watch to his wife, Hades walked over to Twilight and clapped his hooves together.

“Alright, so our little Demi has mortal friends and even an interest. Living mortals no less, in my domain. Alright, alright, this is not so bad but I don’t like you or your friends being so cooped up on our ship.”

Twilight gasped in surprise as a portal opened before her, conjured by Hades. The portal showed scenes of macabre outfits complete with masks of various styles. Haunting music could be heard coming from the ballroom floor, while seven larger-than-life beings mingled with the others.

“This is the Hallowed Gala. Once every thousand years, beings from the Underworld and the Celestials above, gather to celebrate the treaty with the Celestials. It is there, that one can meet the Seven Sins, as well as the Seven Virtues. All are welcome for one night of festivities. Tonight is that magical night, and you, Twilight, are going with your friends.”

Twilight let out a squeal of joy.

“Really?”

Hades nodded, with a pearly white smile, and the Alicorn gestured to Nyx.

“And I’ll bet if you ask your grandmare nicely, she’ll be happy to provide you, and your friends, proper couture for the event.”

Upon hearing the emphasis her husband placed on the friends of Twilight, she opened her mouth to object; in no realm would she ever be giving mortals such things. However, the deadpan look from her husband caused her to freeze. Something was up. Something big. Still, the thought of helping mortals made her want to retch.

“Please Grandmare?”

Looking down, Nyx suddenly found herself under fire by one of the most terrifying weapons her eyes had ever beheld. Her Grandfilly’s pleading eyes. Those big, soft eyes turned her heart of frozen darkness into liquified mush. Nyx sighed and surrendered.

“Alright, alright already.”

Smiling gently at Twilight, Nyx spoke to her.

“Why don’t you go talk to your friends, I promise I’ll be giving you and…them… some attire for the Gala. Your Grandsire and I need to discuss something with Velvet.”

Twilight grinned happily and took off for the cabin her friends were being held in, only to be stopped by Nyx’s levitation magic. The Goddess of the Night leaned down and whispered in her ear coldly.

“My watch. Now.”

Twilight blinked in embarrassment, slowly placing the pocket watch in her hooves, into Nyx’s outstretched hoof. She thought Nyx might be angry, but before she could apologize, Nyx gestured out the door.

“Go see your friends.”

Twilight took off again, with Nyx smiling and shaking her head, glancing at Velvet.

“She really does take after you.”

Velvet just stood there, blinking in embarrassment. But she didn’t have a chance to speak, before Nyx turned to Hades.

“She’s gone. Tell me what is going on.”

The flames in Hade’s mane and tail flickered violently between orange and blue, as though he was desperately trying to control his rage. His eyes narrowed darkly.

“Venomous Sun has awakened.”

Nyx’s jaw fell open. She began to stammer, a look of absolute terror on her face.

“Ve-ve-Venomous? But she was sealed! Velvet and her friends-”

“If you don’t believe me, look at your watch.”

Nyx looked down at her golden pocket watch. The gears of the faceless watch clicked and whirled away. Staring at it, she noticed the strand of tarnished golden light wiggling amidst them. Her eyes went wide.

“Hades, that’s- that’s her magic.”

Hades nodded grimly. Venomous Sun had once been the beloved sister of the Celestial of the Moon, Luna. And Nyx’s Aunt. Luna and Celestia had been celebrated by all for raising the sun and moon. Never fighting, the sister’s had worked together to defeat many a foe.

That was until the battle against the Changeling Sorceress, Queen Chrysalis, something happened. Celestia changed. For the worse.

Nyx looked at her husband.

“She’s still sealed within Tartarus. Right?”

Hades was silent. This wasn’t good, Venomous’s magic had been sealed by his daughter. If she had actually reawakened-

Hade’s inner thoughts were interrupted by Nyx shaking him, shouting at him.

“Right?”

In the deepest part of the Underworld, a lone armored bat stallion walked the stone steps of Tartarus. His nightly patrol was always so boring and he muttered.

“She’s always unconscious. I don’t even get why we have to check on her anyway. Whatever, at least it’s an easy shift.”

At the bottom of the stairs the guard stared into the bars of the only cell on that floor. A large white Alicorn mare with feathery wings lay on her side perfectly still, her mane was a dark magenta, with obsidian black. It too was perfectly still.

The guard sighed and rolled his eyes. Nothing new, just an unconscious prisoner. And it wasn’t like she was going anywhere anyway, considering she was bound by two tons of chains. The guard suddenly raised an eyebrow. Maybe he was wrong but were those chains discolored, particularly the ones by her muzzle?

The guard shrugged, probably the torchlight playing tricks on his eyes. Not his problem anyway. Turning away and placing his back to the bars, he began to muse what his wife was making for dinner.

Caught up in his musings, with his mouth watering, he didn’t notice the long tongue snake out of the mare’s fanged muzzle, and slowly lick the chain. A soft sizzling began to issue from the metal.

The guard sighed.

“This is so lame. Hey, what's that?”

Behind him, the metal chain broke apart with a tiny cracking sound from corrosion, causing the guard to notice. Turning around, he observed the mare still on her side, in the same position as always. He chuckled lightly, before turning back around, failing to see the golden snake eyes of the mare snap open.

“Look at me, jumping at shadows over some old chains-”

Silently the mare rose up behind him, her mouth opening wide to reveal wickedly sharp fangs, and a long serpentine tongue slithering forth.

“-How foolish I am.”

“Yes, how very foolish, you are!.”

Whirling around at the silkily malicious voice, the guard had one moment to lock eyes with the Alicorn mare and let out a horrified scream before the mare sank her fangs, dripping with acid, deep into his throat, silencing him, forever.

Twilight stood sheepishly in front of her friends, as Moonstone swiftly placed her amulet back around her neck.

“Darling, I’m not mad, but if you want a necklace so bad just ask for it. Speaking of which, I made this lovely one for you.”

Lightning laughed as she placed her wallet back in her purse; taking a moment to make a playful jab at Twilight while Moonstone bestowed the amulet, she had forged in the ships hold, to Twilight.

“Yeah, and I know I’m just too awesome, but if you want something of mine that much, I’d be willing to autograph a selfie just for you.”

Twilight chuckled at that, before noticing Lunar Moth’s icy glare.

“Um, Moth I swear I didn’t mean to-”

Lunar Moth held up a hoof, and Twilight stopped talking. Moth’s response was cold yet firm.

“We will talk about this later, Twilight.”

Twilight stammered.

“But-but I didn’t-”

Moth however wasn’t having it, emphasizing each word as she repeated.

“We. Will. Talk. About. This. Later. Understand?”

Twilight lowered her head.

“Yes, Moth.”

In the silence that followed, the smile on Moth’s face faded from the glare Shitake gave her. Lunar Moth was known by her friend for her sadistic nature, but seeing the wrathful glare on Shitake’s face, caused her to do the unthinkable.

Her eyes softened, as though she realized she went too far. Moth used her hoof and lifted Twilight’s chin, until the mare was forced to stare into her normally icy blue eyes.

“Well, be that as it may, you did return the items without my guidance for once. So, I guess I can let it go. This time.”

Twilight blinked in surprise; those same eyes though were suddenly as gentle as a warm bubbling spring. Even her voice was as soft as silk.

“You did good, Twilight. I’m proud of you.”

Happiness filled Twilight’s eyes, when at that moment Lightning called out.

“Hey Twi, can I ask you something?”

Twilight turned around to speak to Lightning and Shitake, while Moonstone whispered in Moth’s ear.

“That was lovely, Darling. Though I’ve never seen this soft side of you.”

Lunar Moth muttered in annoyance.

“I am not going soft.”

Moonstone chuckled and gave Moth a gentle nuzzle on her neck.

“Good. Still, I think it is wonderful you are willing to help them with Twilight’s kleptomania.”

Moth shook her head as she watched Shitake and Lightning laughing and joking with Twilight who looked excited explaining about the Gala.

“It’s…Strange, Moon. I don’t feel like it’s a desire of hers at all.”

Moonstone nodded and whispered.

“I’m not even sure how she does it. Far as I can tell, it just sort of happens. No magic is being cast, nor is she actively stealing it, well most of the time. I mean she never even touched my amulet when we arrived.”

Moth sighed and held up a hoof as if to say ‘whatever’.

“Regardless, I’ll whip it out of her yet.”

Moonstone grinned.

“Sounds fun, Darling.”

Moth looked at her in silence for a moment before chuckling.

“Maybe later, Moon. For now, what was that she just said about a Gala?”

Both stared at each other, before walking over to join the others.

The Alicorn mare sat on her haunches licking her fangs. In delight, she leaned back and gave a loud belch of satisfaction. She moaned happily as she rose to her hooves.

Tossing the rib bone to the side, the mare walked out of her cell. A thousand years had passed since her imprisonment. She chuckled. At least she wasn’t hungry anymore. Looking back at the bony remains of what had been the nightguard, she smiled coldly.

“Thank you for the meal.”

She smiled at her dark joke, before turning her attention towards the spiral staircase that led up to the rest of Tartarus. She knew very well that she couldn’t just saunter up those stairs; hundreds of roaming guards armed to the teeth patrolled the halls. And while she managed to dispose of one lone guard, she wasn’t recovered enough to take on any group of them. Placing a hoof on her horn, she could feel the seal on her magic was still, mostly intact. She muttered in growing annoyance.

“What to do, what to do?”

Suddenly she had an idea, the seal of those wretched mares had weakened if only slightly. Perhaps she could utilize a fraction of her magic. She closed her eyes and focused. It was hard to channel the magic through the crack in the seal, but slowly she did just that, managing to cast a single spell, causing the seal to weaken ever so slightly more.

Her body began to change, shifting and twisting with her wings vanishing; her frame becoming smaller and muscular taking on the guise of a Batpony stallion in full tarnished armor. She cleared her throat and began to speak, her words slowly changing from her natural tone to that of a gruff guardpony.

“Now then, time for a little reunion, little brother.”

Slowly she started up the spiral stone staircase, grinning wolfishly in the torchlight.

“Venomous is coming-”

Her eyes narrowed in sheer hatred.

“And I’m sure you are just dying to see me, Hades.”