//------------------------------// // Secrets // Story: Deepest Desires // by RuinQueenofOblivion //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle's POV. I didn't know what to think right now, I was looking at an Alicorn, while I had heard the name Morning Star in reference to Tartarus, I had always assumed she was a Unicorn. In fact, all the information we had on the subject said that she was a Unicorn, why would that be wrong? "Uh, I'm Twilight Sparkle, I'm here to try and get information from one of the, inhabitants of Tartarus," I said, trying not to be intimidated, I mean she was just an Alicorn right? Even if she was the ruler of Tartarus "Sorry, Ponies expect a certain level of, theatricality from the Queen of Tartarus," Morning Star said in a normal voice with a Trottingham accent. "And well, I don't believe in disappointing them." Okay, I hadn't expected that. "So who do you want to talk to?" Morning Star asked, folding her wings against her side. "Lord Tirek," I said, getting a strange look from the Alicorn. "I know that I sealed him away, but its possible that he's the only one who knows what I need to know." "I see, well, before you can see him, I want to know why," Morning Star said and looked at the dark Pegasus briefly. "If your answer satisfies me, then Windswept will ready the prisoner." "A few months ago, a friend of mine and her daughter were attacked by a, creature," I said and I told her everything that I knew about the creature that had attacked Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. Morning Star looked thoughtful for a moment before turning to look at the Pegasus. "Windswept, go to Tirek's cell and prepare him for guests." "Yes ma'am," Windswept said as she went back through the gates. "I'm guessing that my old teacher hasn't exactly been forthcoming with information," Morning Star said, she saw the confused look on my face so she clarified. "Over a thousand years ago, like yourself I was Celestia's student until I was made the Queen of Tartarus." Right, Morning Star's rebellion, she had tried to overthrow Celestia, but something had happened that stopped it and she became the ruler of Tartarus. Though, that's really all I knew, not a lot of information was known about her. "Do you know anything about it?" I asked. "I've been trying to find out any information, but other than a few things, I haven't found any real information on what it was that was sealed under the Castle of the Two Sisters." "I cannot tell you more than you already know," Morning Star said. "I encountered a few Eldritch Horrors in my day, but not that one in particular." "Then maybe you can tell me what you do know about the Horrors," I said. "If one is threatening Equestria, then we need to know everything we can." "Very well, come with me and I'll tell you," Morning Star said as she walked through the gate, I paused a moment and then followed her. 00000 Rainbow Dash's POV. "Hey Rainbow, what brings you here today?" Pinkie Pie asked as I came into Sugarcube Corner. "I'm looking for a Pegasus Stallion named Stratosphere," I said and looked around the place for him. "Have you seen anypony new around?" "A few Ponies got off that train yesterday, but no Pegasus Stallions that I saw at least," Pinkie Pie said with a shrug. "Wait, isn't that the name of..." "Yeah," I said, frowning a little bit, I had hoped that Pinkie Pie had seen him. "He came into town recently, and I had hoped that you seen him." "Hey is that him there?" Pinkie asked and I turned to see a Pegasus Stallion with an orange coat walk inside. "Rainbow Dash, is that you?" He asked, I really wished that I could turn invisible right now. "Yeah, that's me," I said, I recognized him alright, Stratosphere, the stallion I had honestly never wanted to see again after he abandoned me and Scootaloo. "Look... she wants to meet you, but you owe me some answers first." "I know, I know," Stratosphere said as he shook his head. "Look, Dashie..." "Don't call me that, its Rainbow Dash," I said angrily. "Fine, Rainbow Dash," Stratosphere said. "I know there's nothing that will excuse my actions 10 years ago. Ever since I left, I regretted that I wasn't in our child's life, I just want to meet her, just once." "I've moved on with my life," I said. "But Scootaloo... she wants to give you a chance and at least meet you. Consider this your last chance, am I clear?" "Crystal clear," Stratosphere said nervously. "Good," I said. "I'll go get her." I took a deep breath and got to my hooves. I had managed to stay restrained, but I was worried, and a little bit angry. I couldn't believe he had just come back in my life like this, at least he wasn't trying to get back together with me. I took a deep breath, I had to do this for Scootaloo. 00000 Twilight's POV. I glanced at the prisoner areas as we went past for a moment, but I couldn't focus on them for too long. Honestly this whole place gave me the creeps, I just had to focus on the towering Alicorn ahead of me. "This place is... interesting," I said, trying not to think about what was going on. "Tartarus is the realm of the damned, you don't have to lie on my account," Morning Star said. "The Eldritch Horrors plagued Equestria for centuries, when I was still in Celestia's service I came into conflict with one called Ivas the Reaper of Souls. While I managed to stop him, fighting a Horror enacts a heavy toll on you." That worried me, if one was coming to Ponyville and was threatening Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash would want to get involved. If fighting an Eldritch Horror was so dangerous, then what would happen to her? Would she still be the same old Rainbow Dash? "Are all Ponies affected like, this?" I asked, glancing around, I had to wonder if she was always like this. "It depends on the Horror, when Sombra beat the Silent Killer... well, you know what happened with him," Morning Star replied. "Some descend into madness, others depression... they usually don't last long. The Horror often gets the last laugh." That figured, I was now really worried and I didn't even know about the creature we were up against yet. "How many are there?" I asked, I was afraid of the answer. "Honestly, I don't know, nopony does," Morning Star answered. "I fought a few and Celestia and Luna fought more but, the truth is that we don't know if there are any more out there." We finally stopped in front of a cell, I glanced at Morning Star as her horn glowed red and the door slid open. "Do not worry, he is contained," the Queen of Tartarus said and I moved forward. Contained within the room was Lord Tirek, but he was withered, he looked almost elderly compared to the terrifying monster I had fought before. He looked at me with hatred in his eyes. "Princess Twilight Sparkle," he said in a raspy voice that dripped with sarcasm. "How kind of you to grace me with your presence." "Lord Tirek, I'm not really in the mood for this, but you may have some information that could be of use to Equestria," I said, I was trying not to sound nervous. "There was a creature under the Castle of Two Sisters and..." To my surprise he actually listened intently as I told him about the creature, when I finished he looked at me for a long moment before speaking up. "I know of the being you speak of," he said. "You seek the Mother, a being of great and terrible power. You are in grave danger." That sent a chill running along my spine. 00000 Scootaloo's POV. I was suddenly very nervous, mom had said she'd come to get me from home when everything was ready. I had never even known my father, I mean mom I had known for a few years ever since I had first moved to Ponyville, but I had never even met Dad. What if he didn't like me? What if he was embarrassed? What if he was really mean? I honestly had no idea what to do, was I really ready to meet my Dad after all these years? "Scootaloo, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked as she came inside, I guessed that mom had sent her to check on me. "Yeah, I'm just thinking about, you know..." I said sheepishly, Fluttershy nodded. "What should I do?" "Well, what are you worried about?" Fluttershy asked. "What if he doesn't like me? I mean, I've never met him before and..." I said, trailing off nervously. "I'm scared, Fluttershy." "Scootaloo, you have nothing to be worried about," Fluttershy said reassuringly. "Your father reached out because he wants to get to know you, you've got nothing to worry about I promise." I smiled a little at that, Fluttershy really did know how to help you cheer up. "Thanks Fluttershy, I can do this," I said with a nod. "I just have to wait for mom to get back I guess." "You're a great filly, he'd be crazy not to like you," she said with a smile, I nodded and went back to waiting. I just hoped that everything would be okay. "Hey squirt!" Mom said as she trotted into the room with a weak smile. "Are you ready to meet your dad?" "I, guess," I said, I admitted I wasn't sure about it yet, but I smiled. "Lets go." I climbed on her back and we took off, flying towards Sugarcube Corner.