//------------------------------// // Relighting Hades // Story: The Life of Death // by Nightmare Darkness //------------------------------// I looked at Spike unsure of what to really say but if he could get the job done. A shout echoed. "Look out!" All of them looked just to see a ball of flame lobbing combersomly fast at them. Lucifer's horn glowed and the ball shattered on a field of magic energy protecting them. "You best go now, I don't have time to wait for you the fires must burn again. Take Fire Pleasure with you as a guide." I looked at Discord then Spike. "Let's go." I said and Fire Pleasure walked beside me giving me a curt smile as the world erupted in flame around us. They now stood in a barren area with scorched earth and stones made charcoal black from intense heat. I followed Fire to a plateau that overlooked a large basin where what looked to be boilers formed into rows upon rows. Spike knelt beside him with a worried look on his face. "You expect me to light all of them while fighting off enemies?" Spike said in disbelief. I shared his feelings of uncertainty. Fire Pleasure shook his armored head not removing his eyes from the gates that were being guarded by a large contingent of warped souls. "There is a central burner you have to light, we light that and it will jump start everything." He said then adding. "and get rid of all this infernal snow." He said scornfully then turned his gaze at all of them. "Once we get in and we light it...we need to get out quickly. You and Discord wouldn't stand the heat. Spike and I would be fine but all the same you don't want to be in it when it starts up. Plus...we can't teleport out only banishment can work in there and trust me you don't want to be banished to Tartarus." He explained. "Why can't we teleport?" Discord asked with a raised eyebrow. "It's a safety measure to make sure nopony can get in quickly and sabatoge and get out." He explained. I had a feeling of dread wash over me, last thing I wanted to be was burnt to a crisp. "Great... Now all we need is to get past the group down by the gate." I said as I looked down at the group. A pop sound rang in my ear and Discord suddenly was gone and was now in the middle of the group acting as if it was normal before they all turned on him and descended upon him like Timberwolves attacking a helpless pony. Discord pulled out a bubble wand and swiped in all different directions as they attacked and groups of three even four were getting trapped within bubble prisons. We galloped down to him as he was just finishing capturing the last warped soul. "You never cease to amaze me." I said and he smiled. "I am the best at being awesome." He said as he made his bubble wand disappear and in its place he made a hat with a rainbow mane and cyan blue color then placed it on his head. The decal on the front in sparkly letters said 20% cooler. I didn't get it but then who would? We moved through the gates and into the complex the large cylinders towered above us like large trees everything did have a peaceful feel to it, snow had that effect on me. We walked for several minutes before I became unsure. "You know where your going right Fire?" I asked as we kept walking. Fire was quiet a moment. "I'm pretty sure..." He said looking from left to right and back again. Spike looked at him with half lidded eyes. "You can't be serious..." He said shaking his head. They walked for what seemed like and hour before they finally found a clearing that opened up to what looked like a large tourch burner. "There." Fire said going into a trot towards the unlit torch. "Don't you think it odd?" Discord said as he stopped and I stopped looking at him Spike took three more steps before stopping. "What?" Spike said. "Oh it just seems this is all too easy...if this were a videogame this is where I would put a" He said before a loud thunderclap of a sound cut him off and a large mass slammed into the ground before Fire sending him sprawling into a boiler and landing unconscious. "...Boss." Discord finished and his ears drooped unhappily. "Why...why did you have to say anything." I said frustrated. The smoke of the dust began to clear as the dark mass stood up to its full height and stepped out of the dust cloud to reveal a large horse like body that transformed into a solid chest. A centaur as I recognized him. His horse body was brown as his upper body was red, his horns were long and sharp and his eyes cruel. "Tirik..." Was all Discord said. The name brought back a memory of a feared name from the beginning of Celestia and Luna's reign a centaur that stole almost all of the powers in Equestria. It took his brother to defeat him last time and well we didn't have his brother. I wondered if he could steal my magic. "Discord?" He said slightly surprised and finished with a smile. "Last I heard you were encased in stone." He said putting his hand on his hips. "Last I heard you were locked away in Tartarus. How are you in Hades? You're not dead you're immortal." Discord said accusingly. Tirik waved his hand as if waving off a bad memory. "I was given an opportunity to exact revenge on Celestia and Luna so I took it and so thousands of souls later I'm bigger and badder than ever." he laughed pointing at Discord. "You should have taken the offer he gave you." He said and I looked at Discord shocked. Discord knew who the enemy was and didn't say. "Are you two friends?!" I said livid. "Hardly, more like in the same club of mischief, I'm president he's like a lackey." Discord said unenthusiastically. It didn't sway my anger one bit. "Enough of these pleasantries. Death Ive been expecting you and well there is no way you are getting that...lizard near the torch." He said turning his attention to me making my insides feel like a gale force hurricane twisting my insides. "You can try and stop us." I said evenly. I swear the cloak was the only thing that made me in control and threatening. Spike took another step forward. "Lizard..." Spike said in a low aggressive tone. Discord hit his forehead and dragged his claw down his face, I looked at him still angry. "What?!" I asked looking at him. He frowned and walked over to me saying. "The only thing more prideful than Tirik himself is an adolescent Dragon." He said stopping beside me. My eyes widened and I turned just in time to see Spike springing up in the air swinging his fist and cracking Tirik on the jaw making him take two steps back. My jaw dropped and without missing a beat Tirik returned the favor sending Spike rocketing into a boiler creating a large dent. I lowered my scythe and Discord had taken up the guise of a character clad in black with a cape and chest piece that had several buttons. He raised a sword made of red light. "*inhale* Tirik *exhale* I am not your father." He then lifted his hand and an invisible force slammed into Tirik making him slide backward making crevices of his hooves in the dirt. Spike stood up and shook his head and a look of explosive rage overtook him as he reared his head and yelled out a large spout of emerald green flame and then dashed at Tirik slamming into him rocking him onto his hind legs. My bone wings ripped out if my back as I thought of them and I sped towards him with my scythe raised yelling dispite myself. I lashed out at Tirik and sent him reeling. Spike landed and I landed next to him. "Do you think?" Spike asked breathing heavily as small spout of green flame left his mouth. To answer him a angry yellow and orange beam of energy slammed into me. The world went black for a moment and I woke up looking at Fire Pleasure who was holding me in his red magic coat. "You ok?" He asked. "Ya...peachy." I said as he released me. Spike was engaged trying his best to subdue Tirik as Discord was deflecting beams of energy with his red light sword. "Tirik." Fire said unhappily. "Everypony seems to know him." I said picking up my scythe. "He's a well known baddy. But the fact he's so strong means he absorbed souls." He guessed. "He mentioned it. But how do we defeat him?" I asked bitterly. "You have to remove his power." Fire said simply. "Beat the tar out of him then?" I said. "We can try. But it will be up to you to pull out the souls, you since your job is to retrieve souls." He said as I looked at him. "How exactly do I do that?!" I said frustrated and a beam of energy lanced toward me and placing my scythe in it path it dissipated. "Figure it out, after all you are Death." He said as he charged at Tirik and slammed his body into the centaur. I cursed frustrated and charged into the fray. We attacked and dodged before long we felt like it was hopeless. Tirik yelled out in anger. "Enough!" He spread his hands out and a circular beam of energy pushed us all away from him and held us in place. I looked for my scythe and it too was being held down. "No..." I said struggling as Tirik approached me. I looked up at him afraid. "Don't struggle it just makes it hurt more." He said smiling. "On second thought go ahead and struggle all you want." He said as the power holding me in place disappeared and I felt weightless and I was face to face with him. He opened his mouth and I could feel my very fibers being ripped from me. I wanted to cry out but my screams were deafening. My screams became muffled as a darkness overtook me and I could see a large light and it took a moment to realize that it was all of the souls Tirik had taken. I reached out with my hoof and it was a small ball full of souls angry and terrified. All of their feeling rushed through me. I pulled the orb into my chest and the world became light again as I looked at Tirik his face surprised and terrified. I could see myself in the reflection of his eyes. My black cloak was now white my face was white and featureless except for the two white eyes that stared at Tirik. I opened my mouth but it was not my voice. "Tirik, you have defiled us with your evil. Prepare to be punished." I lifted my arms up and the area behind me became alight with a blinding light as Tirik screamed in surprise and terror. When it was all said and done I landed softly on the ground and the once mighty Tirik was now a withered husk. My body was no longer the vessel for the soul's fury as I blinked not really sure what I had done. Discord, Spike, and Fire all approached me and Discord had reverted back to his normal self. "That, that was cool." He said smiling giving me two thumbs up. I shook my head as I lifted up my scythe and planted it into the ground. I lifted Tirik up so I could see his eyes that were full of utter crushing defeat. "You belong in Tartarus." I said and a black ooze sprang from the ground and enveloped as he screamed getting pulled downward. Spike looked at me scared but I shrugged it off. "Let's relight the furnaces." I said, Spike seemed to remember why he was here. He looked up to the torch and jogged up to the top and looked at it. Discord and Fire both stood on either side of me. "Taking down Tirik. No small feat." Discord said with a side long glance. "I had help." I said solemnly and Discord simply smiled. Spike took a deep breath and let loose a jet of his green flame that ignited the torch. The ground began to rumble as the boilers began to come back to life. "Time to go!" Fire said quickly and began running as Spike hopped down the stairs and we all began to run for the exit. The boiler jets of flame were massive as the passed them. Spikes green flames began to nip at their hooves and my wings sprung from my back as I picked up Spike and began to beat my wings. His weight was cumbersome but not impossible. The gate the had entered was now in sight and we all moved with a sense of urgency. We cleared the gates and not long after a loud explosion that knocked us to the ground. Looking back we saw a large plume of steam. "One of the Boilers must have been badly damaged." Fire said. The snow was already beginning to melt and Fire gathered us as he teleported us to Lucifer's side. Lucifer was smiling fiendishly as he watched his demons fought with renewed vigor. He looked at me and then Spike. "My thanks to you both, we are driving the souls back to where they belong." He said looking out over the battle again. "What about the assistance you said you would provide?" I reminded. His smile waned and he looked at me again. "You really know how to spoil a moment don't you. But yes of course I'll assist. Just give me a day to regroup and I'll March to assist heaven." He promised as he waves his hoof. "I have your word Lucifer. Don't break it." I warned but he simply just nodded, I looked at Spike. "We need to get you home. But..." I looked at Lucifer. "What about his transformation?" I inquired. "Oh it will ware off in a few more hours. No need to worry." He said waving his hoove nonchalantly. I turned towards a door and placed my key into the lock and turned it. Discord got ready to follow me. Spike looked woefully at his claws hoping he was to stay that way butbhe knew it was going to end in a while. I opened the door and proceeded into it with the library of Twilight Sparkle to bebthe destination. The door opened on the other side and the musty smell of paper mixed with wood seemed so inviting. Twilight sat at a table with her friends, she looked up and her eyes bulged as she looked at Spike. "S-Spike?!" She said surprised as well as dumbfounded. Rarity stood up and approached him eyes wide taking him all in. Everypony seemed speechless. I looked at Discord who looked tired and just not in the mood to heckle which was a first. I made myself seen and everypony looked at me. I removed my hood and Twilight mouth opened speechless for a moment. "Y-you're just a normal pony?" She asked shocked. "No...I am far from normal but that not the point you need to hear. Spike was a great help, he showed great courage and commitment. Thanks to him Hades is back up and running again. He will change back in a matter of time..." I paused. "It will be painful. So prepare yourselves." I looked up at Spike who looked down on me. "You're a good Dragon Spike." I finished putting up my hood and turning to leave. "You sure you don't need my help again?" He asked which put a smile on my face. "No I don't think so, but if I ever need a dragon I know who to call on." I said closing the door and putting my key in it turning the lock to opening up the way to Celestia's study. Discord waved at Fluttershy and closed the door behind me as he followed. Before I opened up the door to Celestia's study I stopped. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked turning to face him. "About an offer made to me by a shady character? I didnt know anything about him truly. But that was the whole reason I decided to join you on this escapade." He said putting his hands on his hips. I wanted to believe him but a small part of me didn't. "Ok I'll take you on your word." I said and turned to open the door. Celestia sat behind her desk with her head in her hooves and suddenly looked up at them. Her face was not one of beauty and poise but of haggard and sleepless nights. "You have been busy....stopping whole armies, relighting Hades...." She sounded angry. "Did I do something wrong?" I said defensively. She shook her head and sighed. "I'm not just stressed, you're doing amazingly well for just getting the job. I feel so useless right now." She said frustrated. Discord shook his head and snapped his fingers and a cup of tea and a slice of strawberry cake appeared beside her. She looked at it and sighed taking to cup and lifting it to her lips. She perked up at the taste of the tea. "Thank you Discord." She said as he sat by the fire. "These errands you have use doing is running me ragged." He said relaxing for a moment. The quiet was a small comfort and just as it had came it was shattered by a crack of lighting and a white pegasus looking battered and bruised with scorched armor stumbled and Discord waved his claw and she collapsed into a soft pillow. "The gates of Heaven have been breached!" Angel Wings said breathlessly. The cup that Celestia held slipped from her magic and shattered on the floor. "Heaven will be lost." She said choking back tears.