//------------------------------//
// Canto III 
// Story: Twilight's Inferno 
// by Crazy_Iron 
//------------------------------//

As the judgement of hell left their view,
Twilight wondered what could be next.
Little time later, a castle in sight grew.

“I suppose you wonder who are its subjects,”
Inferna voiced the unicorns thought.
“These beings ever did laughter vex.”

I wonder what hell for them could wrought,
Twilight wondered as they came near.
To her surprise, the door had polka-dots.

She crossed the threshold with little fear.
After all, it was only the first layer.
When she entered, she was surprised by a cheer.

Before she could tap her inner surveyor,
she was blasted with bits of color,
and in the land of thought she dropped as a player.

Sometime later she awoke with a holler.
“It seems someone was surprised by confetti.”
As she looked to the voice, she noticed no squalor.

Although she did notice some ponies were sweaty,
as red bat ponies played and danced all around.
One came up to her and said loudly “Hi! I’m Betty!”

At this point Twilight’s jaw hit the ground.
How could hell be such a place?
For what hit her eyes did her astound.

The red bat ponies danced with quite a quick pace,
to a music almost too filled with cheer,
and with sweets was a nearby table laced.

Yet there were being whose faces yelled loudly “Stay Clear!”
Granted, they clashed with their vibrant attire,
but their faces still showed no fear.

“Inferna, where are these beings life fire?
This puts a Pinkie party to shame,
yet all who dwell here look so dire.”

“In life to them laughter never came.
So here they are forced to hold it in,
until they join the joyous flame.”

At these words, Twilight saw someone grin.
he started to chortle,
and soon joined the din.

“Joy be to you, ye who was mortal.
Of  your souls transformation there is no doubt!
Come, paradise waits through this portal!”

Twilight was startled by the sudden shout.
However, seeing the smile on his face,
she knew she couldn’t pout.

“You have witness the greatest moment in this place,
when a being finally lets himself laugh.
In that moment he found grace.”

Indeed, the smile split his face in half.
Yet none but the red bats did party with him,
though he did not stop on their behalf.

In the crowd Twilight saw a face extra grim.
His cutie mark was a rock,
and his coat was quite dim.

Over to him she went to talk.
“Hello, how are you?”
At her greeting he did balk.

Twilight wanted to shoo,
but she wanted to know,
what in his past life did this pony do?

“Missy, you cause me nothing but woe.
Fine, I will share with you my life.
I was a farmer and rocks I did grow.

The work was much toil, trouble, and strife.
‘You ought to lighten up dear,’
always nagged my wife.

But from my goal of success I never did veer.
I achieved what I wanted, but my soul was dead.
All work and no play is how I ended up here.

Twilight indeed a few tears did shed.
But with this story many things were the same,
and a yarn on of her friends did thread.

“Sir, would you please tell me your name?
A friend of mine shared a similar tale,
but her struggle she indeed overcame.”

Prolong and with annoyance was his exhale.
My name is Rock Pie,
now why for you did I lift that veil?”

At this Twilight gave a cheerful cry.
“With your descendant I am a good friend.
I assure you, she won’t go here when she’ll die.

In fact to her parties I attend.
Rare is she without a smile
and all frowns she does bend.”

After that Twilight though her eyes did beguile,
for as she looked at his eyes,
his face lost some of its vile.

The farmer let out a tired sigh.
“Thank you for telling me.
If you’ll excuse me, that cake I may try.”

Inferna’s smile was filled with glee.
“That was a good deed you did.
His soul is closer to being free.”

The previous pony’s dance stopped with a skid.
The red bat ponies carried him to a door,
and with fond feeling did they farewell bid.

“Come Twilight, we must go to a new floor.
You must see all of this place
and with hell build a raport.

Twilight put on a straight face.
She knew that down below
for joy there was no space.