High Seas of the Underworld

“Hold still.”

Nyx gritted her fangs in annoyance as she sewed an outfit onto Lightning’s body, making sure to fit each and every stitch to the form of the Batpony. Lightning however, squirmed and wiggled as Nyx ran her hooves across her body. Once again, Nyx grumbled.

“Hold still or I’ll stab you!”

“You’re just gonna stab me anyway!”

Nyx muttered in increasing frustration.

“Believe me, mortal, I would love nothing more-”

Nyx tightened a girdle around the midriff of Lightning causing her to gasp for breath.

“But my husband wouldn’t approve, so-”

She grabbed Lightning’s muzzle and forced her to look into the Goddess’s eyes.

“I’ll play nice, but don’t push me…got it, mortal?”

Lightning, normally stand-offish in nature, felt very meek looking into those merciless orbs. She squeaked out.

“Got it.”

“Good.”

Nyx released the batpony’s muzzle and continued stitching onto the girdle. With magic, needle, and some kind of ethereal thread, Nyx wove an intricate design in sparkling cyan blue. What appeared to be a spiderwebbing pattern covered the lacey body of the outfit, accompanied by what could only be described of as a pair of twinkling dark cyan horseshoes and a pair of matching crystalline Tourmaline earrings.

Nyx stepped back to admire her work, all of it having been completed in less than a minute after her warning. Lightning stared at her, terrified to even move let alone breathe. Nyx smiled.

“Perfect.”

The smile vanished, and Nyx glared at Lightning, her horn glowing.

“You’re done, go on, get out.”

“Huh?-Ungh”

Lightning was thrown bodily from behind the changing curtain, stopping in mid-air just before crashing into the wooden deck. Nyx’s magic levitated the confused Bat Pony, allowing her to land gently on her hooves. Nyx called out from behind the curtain in a sing-song voice.

“Next~”

Standing outside the curtain, Shitake watched in surprise as Lightning came hurtling out, and Nyx’s voice could be heard, calling out in a cheerful voice.

“Next~”

Shitake looked at Moonstone and nervously gestured to the curtain.

“You heard her, Moon, guess you’re up.”

Moonstone shook her head, pointing a hoof at Lunar Moth.

“No, no, Moth can go first. I insist, Darling”

Lunar Moth eyed the curtain pensively, stamping her hoof.

“No, it’s your-eep!”

Moth was suddenly grabbed up in a levitation spell and pulled behind the curtain, as a frustrated mare’s voice spoke coldly.

“I said, next. Get in here.”

An hour later, standing on the shore of Mammon’s Kingdom, the five friends stared at the massive palace on the cliff above them. The scene was beyond words with how grossly exuberant the structure was. Diamonds composed the massive arched minarets on which sat three rubies each, all of them the size of wagons. The walls were carved out of pure Benitoite, a very rare gemstone with a dark sapphire color that shone brilliantly. Even the steps leading up the hill to the palace were made entirely of the purest Sapphire. Railings along the steps were cast of gold, platinum and inlaid with black opal.

Standing there in an elegant Tuxedo, Shitake Mushroom wore a bowtie reflecting the starry night in the sky. On her hind hooves, she wore Midnight Blue dress shoes, while her right ear contained a single matching earring. She gave a low whistle at the sight.

“I’ve never seen such wealth.”

All the others agreed, including Lunar Moth, who unlike her friends, came from a family of great wealth and influence; the only reason her friends and her were able to cut class was due to the immense amount of donations and bribes she had issued to the staff and school board. Wealth was one thing, but this-this was an opulence the likes Moth had never seen.

Standing there in her crimson red leather corset ensemble, Moth wore a rather revealing outfit. Around her neck, a choker of ruby red lace matching the undergarments that peeked out beneath the lower barrel of her outfit. From her ears dangled a pair of crystalline black bat motif earrings. Nyx had insisted her outside, “resemble her inner self”, so from her side hung a coiled whip of twisted metal attached to a strange handle that sparked occasionally. She muttered incredulously at the sight of the palace.

“That’s just ridiculous.”

Next to her, Moonstone stood in a Tuxedo, much like Shitake’s, the difference being the ensemble was a beautiful pitched-black in color. She wore two matching Aquamarine hoops, to go with a shining Aquamarine amulet around her neck. She gently nuzzled Moth lovingly.

“It really is quite spectacular, isn’t it, Darling?”

Just then, before Moth could respond, a haunting, slow melody drifted down from the cliffs. Nyx, having come along to be a chaperone standing behind everypony commented on the elegant song.

“Just in time for the opening waltz, it seems.”

Shitake looked surprised.

“Waltz?”

“A minuet to be exact, the slow timing allows for more elaborate and elegantly flourishing movements.”

All present turned to stared at Lightning in surprise. She shrugged averting her eyes as her face flushed in embarrassment, muttering.

“I read it in a book, stop staring at me!”

Twilight spoke up, gesturing to Shitake, extending her hoof.

“Shall we, mushroom of my heart?”

Shitake smile and gave a elegant bow.

“Of course, Moonblossom.”

Both immediately began heading up the steps, smiling broadly; behind them, the others sought to keep up, with the star-crossed Batponies. Together the group raced up to the castle, each excited about what the night would bring.

The ancient ship rocked on the waves, as Hades made his rounds on the ship. Oddly enough though, it felt off, in some way. The lights overhead flickered as a particularly violent wave shook the vessel. Hades stumbled slightly, trying to get his bearings as he headed to his room. With Nyx and her grandfilly off on an adventure, Hades finally had time to do one thing he never could. Take a nap in peace.

Placing a hoof on his door, he couldn’t help but think of how silent the normally bustling vessel of the damned was all of a sudden. Normally everyone was screaming at one another, the sounds of breaking or moving cargo would be issuing from the top deck, but now there was just silence. Pushing the door open, Hades froze.

“Hello, little brother.”

“Nyx-y baby you made it!”

Nyx’s eye twitched in annoyance as she addressed the speaker.

“Asmodeus.”

Twilight blinked in surprise as the demon before her grabbed Nyx in a fierce hug, gently stroking her mane. A blast of magic a moment later, however, declared Nyx’s discomfort by the motion. Gesturing at the unconscious stallion, she spoke through grating teeth.

“Not interested.”

As the group rushed passed, Twilight whispered to Nyx.

“Grandmare, who was that?”

“Hmph. Asmodeus, the Demon King of Lust. That stallion is nothing but a temptress, stay away from him.”

A mare of glowing majesty with luxurious feathery wings walked up and stifled a laugh, staring at Asmodeus, commenting.

“And Lust is the first to fall. Did you really have to hit him so hard Nyx?”

Nyx just grinned.

“Well, Chastity, we both know you are just jealous you weren’t the one to do it.”

The mare’s face flushed in embarrassment for a moment, as Nyx trailed a hoof down her neck, before clearing her throat.

“Harum- Yes well, restraint is kind of my thing, you know.”

Nyx laughed, lowering her hoof.

“True, true. I want you to meet somepony special to me.”

“Oh?”

Turning around, Nyx gestured to Twilight, who just stared at Chasity in disbelief of her radiant resplendence. Nyx grinned.

“Twilight, this is Chastity, one of the Seven Virtues of the Celestials. Chastity, this is my grandfilly, Twilight.”

Chastity blinked in surprise, her sapphire blue eyes gazing down on Twilight, making the Batpony feel smaller than a grain of sand, suddenly Chastity smiled.

“Little Velvet had a foal, huh? How wonderful! Great to meet you, Twilight. And speaking of the Reaper, where is that Ferrymare anyway?”

Nyx hesitated.

“She’s…Around.”

“Ah, business as usual, huh? Don’t worry, mum’s the word, love.”

It was then Chastity’s eyes fell upon the others with Twilight. She raised an eyebrow.

“And them?”

Nyx paused, considering her words.

“They are Twilight’s friends, and are visiting, from a far away land.”

Chastity was quiet for a moment, before lowering her voice, her white feathery wings rustled in a motion of discomfort.

“Did you bring these mortals here, Nyx?”

Nyx lowered her head.

“No, this was not by my design, Chastity.”

Placing a wing on Nyx’s shoulder, Chastity whispered.

“Since you and I go way back, Nyx, I’ll restrain myself in this regard, but you really should tell Love about this.”

Nyx was about to speak, but was instantly silenced by Chastity, cutting her off.

“I know how you feel. Mortals in the ethereal realms violate the treaty, as you well know. Tell Love, and I’m sure she will work with you. You know you really don’t want to upset her.”

Nyx swallowed hard, that was not a name she wanted to hear. Of the Virtues, Love was the most dangerous. Love could be just as spiteful as she was generous, and her attitude at any given moment could be extremely damning with the power she possessed. Crossing the mightiest of the Seven Virtues, was not on Nyx’s to do list; she did not need another interdimensional war.

Turning to Twilight, she forced a smile.

“You girls go have fun, I have to go see somepony about something. Chastity, let’s go.”

“Grandmare is everything-”

Already heading off with Chastity, Nyx shouted back.

“Everything’s fine. Try the punch!”

Twilight watched her go, as Shitake and her shared a glance. Nyx's face had distress plastered all over it.

Nyx grimaced as Chastity led her to a group of three Alicorns who were chatting. Inwardly, she cursed herself a hundredfold for the fate that was to befall her. The Alicorn of Love, sat listening to the other two as she sipped a glass of punch. Her fur was a vibrant pink, with a satin pearly purple, yellow and pink mane and tail.

“We do not deserve to be in your presence.”

“I wish I could give you the world, Love! The world, I say!”

Love waved a hoof dismissively and responded in a somewhat bored manner.

“Yes, thank you, Humility, and you as well, Charity.”

It was then she noticed Nyx and her mood changed dramatically.

“Niece! Good to see you, come, come sit down! It’s been forever, Nyx-y~”

“Yes… Aunt Cadance.”