//------------------------------// // Act 3 Verse 1 // Story: Dragon's Descent // by Compendium of Steve //------------------------------// Act 3 Verse 1 When The World Comes The crimson above roils and pulsates with each earth-shaking stomp of the grotesque behemoth. It's a steady march, but each movement of Tartarus’ gigantic limbs clears miles of open land, smashing through any hill or small mountain in his way. In under ten minutes the Titan clears the Badlands and steps onto verdant plains, which instantly wither and mutate from his very touch. I'm watching his single-minded progression while holding onto a broken pillar. The altar that held his heart was among the many things that got pushed out onto his skin, which luckily gave me a lift up to the top. Has the look of a destroyed temple set atop the bristly rind of some hairy fruit. Down below far ahead, I can make out the cluster of houses that make up Ponyville. From the look of it, the Titan will overstep it completely (thankfully). I look around and see more creatures leaping off in different directions, looking to plunder and/or destroy. Hopefully everyone below has taken cover… Or at least will pick their battles wisely (I know Zecora will). My attention snaps to the distant mountain and the city embedded at its halfway point. Should be minutes before we’re over it, and I need to find some way off of here by that time. I let go of the pillar and start running off; no time for further sightseeing. Hop and maneuver over the jutted flesh and masonry, thinking up the options. Don’t have wings like some of the former inmates, and jumping off would only give me a far messier state I doubt even chaos can fix (neatly, anyway). Probably could hitch a ride, but I have to find someone/thing first. For now I’ll make for the shoulder, possibly clamber down the head. At least lessen the fall distance if it really has to come to that. Keep running, compensating for the shakes coming from Tartarus’ steps so I don’t trip and lose my pace. I look ahead and manage to catch what looks to be a sphinx rearing back and springing up to take flight. Damn, just a little late. Legs keep me speeding along without pause. What does give me pause is the thing I come across next. Or rather, who. Sitting there on a rock, casually watching the hell breaking loose over the land. Same red and beige toga, but no torches in hand. Not bothering with the giantess look, either. I think I caught a snippet of a hum, but that could have been the harpies screeching overhead. Her ears perk up and she turns her head as I come to a stop. “The dauntless warrior Spike crosses my path once more. Ever the delight, same as before.” She looks out to the monsters touching down on the red-stained landscape. Weird time to rhyme. “It is a sight as breathtaking as the creation of the universe. To have the old rulers of the earth return and render everything to a more primal state. Back when the world was fresh and full of boundless potential, unfettered and wild.” “Kinda goes against the whole order thing you guys were working for,” I point out, which only gets a hum out of her. “In due time balance will be restored; there is always great upheaval at the advent of any new change. Undoubtedly many lives will be lost in the process, but tis the way of evolution. I am rather excited what world order will arise from this particular event, if I am to be perfectly sincere.” “You knew this was gonna happen. That’s why you let me go ahead.” “Hmhm. Precisely, oh perceptive one. After all, tis the dream of every prisoner to experience freedom, be it from imprisonment or a tortured existence. And I for one lean toward the optimistic outcome.” “That might not last too long.” “Then at least I will have had a chance to breathe the air I once walked over.” She goes back to doing so. “Right. Well, enjoy that. I gotta get going.” “Be careful out there.” I nod and start up my run again. Then a thought hits me that makes me stop. It’s an idea; really absurd. But with chaos running around it may not be that crazy. I back up and catch the goddess’ attention again. “Hey, Hecate, uh… could you help me out? I have to get to ground level in a hurry.” Those canines flash me knowingly. “But of course, my liberator. And I know just the thing to help you.” I’m holding the thick leather collar tightly, keeping myself steady with my sword held out, wind whipping my frills. It really is desperate. Really dumb and dangerous. But lucky me that Hecate keeps Cerberus at her beck and call, and that he’s one obedient pup under all the fur, muscle, and nasty sets of teeth. Now I got him following my directions, and he’s not purposefully trying to buck me off this time around. Thoroughly whipped by his master, but still a rampaging ball of mythological strength if I slip up. My three-headed mount has covered the distance from the back of Tartarus down to the right shoulder in practically no time. Which is just perfect, because the mountain holding Canterlot is now coming beneath us. And luck would further have it that the arm we’re riding down to will be the one nearest it. I tug his collar, signalling to stop at the edge of the shoulder. Two of his heads grunt back at me, but I wait for the right timing. I feel the bone and muscle below lift us up, indicating movement. Ahead and below I see the immensely thick, dark length of the Titan’s arm lifting and stretching forward toward the side of the mountain before and below his head. I kick at Cerberus’ sides, and immediately he leaps forward into a run. We're practically plunging ahead along the wide surface of the arm, Cerberus clearing the upper half in under a minute. I look ahead to see the stump of a hand slam into the side of the mountain, giving us a hard jolt that the dread hound overcomes easily. I kick his sides, urging him to go faster as we pass the elbow. More monsters have taken flight, undoubtedly looking to plunder the jewel of civilization down below. I ignore them; focus on getting into town first, and then deal with whatever chumps decide to get in the way. Though from the look of smoke and fire rising from around the city, there’s bound to be plenty of opposition. We’re down to (what I think is) the wrist, about to get down the hand. Suddenly, several flame bursts erupt around us, casting smoke and heat. I dig in my heels and pull against the collar, prompting Cerby (yeah, my nickname) to spring off, clearing the remainder of the hand on a straight shot for the ground. We cover over fifty yards airborne before his meaty paws smack into the dirt. I’m jolted and jumbled as he stumbles to steady himself, which he manages to do despite the rough landing. Getting myself straightened up, I see that we landed within the city limits. Just some tightly packed buildings, some warehouses, the pedestrian gate a ways back. All looking deserted. Probably evacuated before Tartarus came stomping by, but what could be safer around here is anybody’s guess. Cerberus starts barking and growling as I catch the sound of flapping flesh. I look around, spotting a swift shadow circling overhead. It flaps to a stop, allowing me to see it as… Oh you're kidding me. Him, seriously?? “Howdy, shitbag!” He's still wearing that ragged orange tunic and that punchable grin, but the rest of him is… different. Most noticeably he has a right arm again, yet the rest of his body has buffed out considerably. His legs legitimately look like too headless pythons curling up where the feet are. Even his soul patch has upgraded to a formidable scaly beard. A pair of green bat wings flap him aloft, though they look to be made of soaked snake skin. “Can you just imagine my surprise: not only do I find you still alive and kicking, but you also snagged the Head Bitch’s lap dog! You’ve been doing well for yourself, slick.” Cerberus growls viciously at the flying douche, who only chuckles back. “I’ve been doing pretty fantastic myself. That seal placed on me by those crusty assholes went away the moment Tartarus woke up, meaning I got all my powers back.” He flexes his right arm, marveling his shimmery bicep. “Was able to regrow my arm, so now I’m back at full strength.” He holds out his arms and legs, which grow out into very long, thick tendrils the size of tree trunks, before retracting them back to their former size and shape as though finishing a morning stretch. A bit freaky, the way they morphed so fast to and fro. “Plus I got my little buddies back. Check it.” Suddenly over a dozen snakeheads spring up along his shoulders and atop his head, all hissing and some of them letting off streams of flame. Okay, now that is definitely freaky. “Heheh, and let me tell ya: they’re way more reliable than those dumb bitches and assholes that made up my last posse.” The snakes all retract back into his body with a “slurp” (ew). “I have to say, I’ve never been so pumped in a very very long time! Everyone else is out there wrecking havoc and destruction and all that good shit, and I’m just hankering to get in on the action. Cut loose and show these surface dwellers who the deadliest badass around is.” “Yeah, so go have fun with that. I’ve got somewhere to be.” Before I can move Cerby’s collar, Ty holds out a clawed hand. “I would, but there’s priorities I need to take care of first. I recall saying that if I found your purple ass still alive I’d slit your throat. You know, for cutting off my arm and stomping my face. That deal?” “Later, I promise—” “No not later you retard! I can’t enjoy myself knowing you’re running around unpunished, and now that I’m refreshed we’re settling this here and now! Unless you’d rather I chase you down like the scrawny lizard that you are.” Hoo boy… Probably should’ve taken Discord’s advice for this one. And I’ve wasted enough time just listening to this jackass as it is. Only one recourse to be had in this situation. “Let’s go with B.” I kick Cerby’s sides, pull at his collar, and off he sprints down the road leading into the city. “Then the hunt’s on, bitch!” My head starts thumping as Cerberus gallops along the empty road, deeper into the outer residential district. Get myself surrounded with cover, I should be able to lose him. Or at least avoid him long enough to get to the inner city and get myself an even better advantage. That hope gets tossed out quick when I spot Ty flapping up to us high on the left. He smiles before a snakehead pops from his shoulder and spits out a fireball. I veer Cerby right to dodge the ensuing blast, but through the smoke I see Ty flap over to the right before another fireball comes down. It blasts a few yards in front of us, which Cerberus side leaps on his own. Three more fireballs rain down from the flying snake man, all narrowly avoided as the road space narrows and the houses come in closer. Ty then takes position ahead of us, and as he rises a row of snakeheads spring up along his shoulders and spew a stream of fireballs. “DadadadadadadaDA!” The road is immediately blasted into mulch and ash before the barrage, and I have a split second to turn Cerby off-road before we're obliterated. He does so without hesitation, tearing through a burning house followed by another and yet another. Rather than put up with ramming through more buildings he leaps us up onto the rooftops, never slowing down as he bounds from roof to roof into the inner residential area. Ty is close behind, loosing another devastating fire stream that blows up the houses we leave behind. Cerby leaps over across the road to a row of taller roofs to try to shake him, but that snake bastard just follows along. Unfortunately he uses his brain and fires at the buildings further ahead of us. Cerberus starts running and stumbling over collapsing buildings, which makes him do an unsteady leap back to the other side of the road. Ty decides to swoop in to snatch me, but I slash at his arm and get us some breathing room for a hard landing onto a balcony. The fixture shatters from the weight of impact, so Cerby leaps downward and takes to the road again. There are storefronts now, most of which are on fire. There are diverging lanes, both paved and cobblestone, and the buildings are taller, more slick and modern. The inner city. Man this dog can run fast (another fine quality for a guard dog). There are ponies running around as well, who luckily are not so panic-stricken they remember to step out of the way of the stampeding hell hound. Also some escaped convicts and monsters marauding in the streets, who luckily don’t have the right mind to avoid being trampled. A great shadow envelops the city as Tartarus begins moving overhead. That, combined with the taller, tighter building layouts should help out in losing that snakey nutjob. “Peekaboo!” And like that he’s flying in from the side ahead of us (really need to shut my metaphoric mouth). He rears back and has his snake array belch out a wide stream of fire that we barely manage to sprint under, but Cerby lets out a yip over having his backside toasted. We speed further into the city along the winding road, and I look back to see if Ty is keeping on our tail. Then I immediately duck my head to avoid the churro cart flying by and smashing apart on the pavement before us. A mailbox and some lampposts come flying in as well, so I have Cerberus turn and charge into a gutted out storefront. Knock past some minotaurs and take to a set of crumbling stairs, which Cerby climbs up higher and higher. A huge section of wall blows open on an upper landing, but rather than stopping or redirecting, Cerby charges upward and then leaps out, mouths open wide and snarling. Some good instincts on him, cuz through the smoke and ash his rightmost set of jaws snaps down on one of Ty’s legs as he’s floating before his handiwork. I swing around my sword arm and wrap it around the collar as we dangle from under the scaly freak as he flaps about the skyline (really thick sinews he has there, jeez). Amid the highrises, smoke and fire whirling around me, I catch the sight of some harpies going after a pair of panicking pegasi. With alliteration to guide my claw I snatch one of the passing harpies by the neck, then toss the smelly bird upwards, succeeding in bopping Ty’s stupid head. He just shakes it off and jerks his buffed leg forward, breaking Cerby’s grip and sending us tumbling onto the roof of a hotel. Lucky enough for me the hound goes skidding along his side, so it’s just an abrasion on my bare arm instead of my whole body getting smeared in an unflattering coat of red. My resilient mount gets back up on all fours, right as Ty flutters down with arms held open and sporting that self-satisfied sneer. I get a look around, and it kinda looks like the same general neighborhood that my apartment is in. Meaning the castle should be… I can see it. Still a ways away, but I can make out the tallest point, and—was that just an energy beam? Orange and fiery, nothing like Twilight’s. Gotta get over there, now. I glare back at my pursuer, then direct Cerby to jump off to the left in the direction of the castle. “Oh not this time!” Cerberus had just taken off when we’re jolted to a stop, his heads giving off some sharp whines and gasps over the two muscular lengths of scales now wrapped around his middle head. I heft myself up the collar and slash at the tentacles, but it’s like chopping at marble. That seems to be more than enough to have Ty take drastic action, which translates to the twin tentacles tightening their grips before twisting in opposite directions, tearing through the thick neck and popping off the center head like a cork. I yank the collar through open space and go tumbling off Cerberus. My back slams against the side of a building, then my front gets pinballed off another as I plummet downward before my back hits the street. I skid along the pavement, the smell of burnt cloth reaching my nose when I come to a stop. Spring back up, shake off the disorientation, see that I'm standing in some alleyway. I'm still holding my sword and the blood-dripping collar. Ahead I see Cerby make a messy landing on the street, stumbling over its legs as he runs off with a bleeding gap between his two frothing heads. So much for my ride. Not that it matters, since Ty has come down to block the alley opening. He brings up a dripping tentacle and licks off the crimson before smacking his lips. “Nowhere to run now, cockstain.” I think a moment, then toss aside the collar so I can grip the sword hilt with both claws, leveling it before me. Seems I really have no choice. Ty cracks a sneer before lunging at me like a sprung coil. My sword goes up to catch his sharpened nails, clanging with each rapid swipe I deflect. After he attempts a spin slash I go at him with my own swipes, which he swivels and flaps away from before he sends a roundhouse kick to my face. I lose my footing and bang against a trash can before I steady myself, getting miffed by this dumbass being this much a nuisance. I charge at him and bring down my blade, which he catches with his fingertips… which have turned into several tiny snakes, all off them biting onto the blade. I pull it back, then get to dodging fistfuls of hissing, snapping snakes. They come at me so fast; I feel my frills getting nicked whenever they go for the side of my head. Eventually I go on the offense and cut at his arms, which he doesn't bother pulling back. Probably because I'm only making small cuts despite putting my full strength behind each blow. He slaps me away, chuckling with that smug look that seriously needs to die. “You need to hit harder than that. I'm just too buff!” And still an ignoramus. But new tactic. I step back a bit, then grab the trash can I bumped into before and toss it at the flying pain. He bats it away, but it’s enough distraction to allow me to leap to the wall, spring off and kick at his head. It connects and knocks him down a notch, and once on ground level again I charge and stab at him full force. Unfortunately he’s recovered enough to grab my sword in his bare scaly mitts, and with a hard jerk he flings me through the brick wall to my left. There's a breaking of wood when I come to a stop. Getting up, I see I'm in some kind of bar or tavern. There's some unicorns huddled nearby looking scared (how bout helping me out or something, you louts?). Across the wrecked dining area I see Ty hover into the hole he made. I scowl, then shove a claw into the wrist of my sword arm and tear out a decent gash. After letting the blood run a bit I give a flick and it goes aflame without fuss. You want me to hit harder, huh? Well how about hotter. “Ooh, turning up the heat, little guy? Bring it on!” Oh just shut up will ya!? I dash from the wrecked bar, clear the floor space and engage. He tries to grab my sword as I swing it, but surprise surprise, asshole, it's too hot to touch! That unpleasant realization is apparent on his idiot face, as he flaps out into the alley like a coward. I hop out the hole, and facing him he begins whipping with those stretchy arms. I take a quick lash or two, but it doesn't slow me down as I rush him and bring around my flaming sword. I catch a look of panic as he flaps back from my wrath, only to fly up and over me, trying to pull a fast one. I'm on top of that shit, as I spring and go into a fiery backwards somersault that ends with me slamming my sword in a scorching blast upon landing. He manages to avoid it by zipping forward, but that's no worry. His back’s to the wall… unless he flakes out and runs. And looky there, he's too stupid to consider that. “Think you're hot stuff, lizard boy? No one's hotter than me!” That line of snakes pop up along his shoulders and hiss at me, their disjointed mouths filling with fire. I step forward and hiss back at them. Show them what proper fangs look like. They actually whimper before retracting into their master's body. His reaction is hilarious. “W-what are you guys doing? Get back out here!” He looks down at me and starts grinding his teeth. Not feeling so cocky now, huh? “You damned freak; what is your problem?!” You are, ya frickin’ scrub. I begin walking towards him with my sword held out, still blazing. He rears back and fires off a massive stream of black flame. It's impressively hot, but it only fuels the fire of my upraised sword. I spring forward through the inferno, and catch the look of surprise right before my blade connects with his waist. No resistance as it goes through his scales and muscles like they were cardboard. His lower half goes spinning before me, blood trailing through the air. Much of it falls onto my sword, seemingly gravitating toward it, sizzling in the fire. My knees become weak as a sudden warmth fills me, starting in my right arm and spreading to every part of my being. It’s electrifying; I go light-headed. But in a moment the rush is gone and my head becomes clear. I look down and see the fire has gone out on the blade. The wound in my wrist is gone as well. Turning around, I see the upper half of Ty leaning against the alley wall, his waist cauterized as he huffs in pain and frustration. “The-the hell, why can’t I grow my legs back? What did you do to me?” I begin walking up to him slowly, sword still out. He sticks out his hand which has morphed into a snakehead, and his shoulder snakes have sprung up as well (got their courage back, I see). “Don’t think you’ve won you lousy dragon punkass: I’ll flambe you just as easily as I can tear off those pretty scales of yours! I won’t get to dance in your blood, but you’ll make a good snack to help me get my legs back. So come on and try me. That luck of yours won’t work a third time, I guarantee you th—” There’s a massive thump that shakes up the both of us, and looking around I see something large has landed at the mouth of the alley. Haunched on two powerful legs, towering at nearly twenty feet, with hideously elongated arms ending in some just as frighteningly long claws. Its whole back is matted in sharp silvery quills, while the rest of its body is obscenely pale baggy flesh. Red eyes with black pinpoint pupils scan the skies as it snarls with a mouth that I can only guess is a cross between that of an anteater and a crocodile. It flexes its claws before screeching out to the city at large in a tone that could barely be distinguished as female. “The day of prophecy has finally arrived! When sky adorns the dread hue of blood and the land is ravaged by the spawn of chaos, my long exile finally comes to an end. So sayest fell Echidna, Mother of Monsters, who shall maim and devour all who have opposed her. Tremble and whimper prayers to your false gods, for cruel reckoning is steadfast appro—” Her doom speech is halted once her beady eyes catch sight of us. Or specifically, the half snakeman leaning against the wall. Then something weird happens: her face brightens up, and she claps her claws together with eyes lit up in joy and her voice losing much of its menace (not all of it). “Typhy~!” “Huh?” is Ty’s immediate response. The hideous she-thing stomps herself into the alley, her bulk tearing away some building in the process. “What vast relief and elation it is to find you after so long! When I lost trace of you all those millennia ago I feared the worst, but of course no mortal could slay the ruthless, indomitable Typhon.” “Who’re you?” “There is no need to feign ignorance now that you are free, my love! Surely you recognize your beloved mate Echidna? How I long yearned deep in my cramped cavern for the chance to see you, to hear your strong voice once more. And my most heartfelt wish has come true, on this most glorious day when the damned inherit the earth.” “Look, I don’t know what you’re going on about…” Cold, dreaded realization drains his face like an ice bath as his eyes widen and his scaly lips quiver. “No. Nononononoohfuckno.” He snaps his gaze at me and holds out his normal hand at my sword. “Hey hey, buddy, can you do me a solid? I want you to end me here. I’m not joshin’ ya or anything like that; go ahead and finish me off. Drive that thing through my head or my heart, it doesn’t matter. Just don’t let this crazy bitch take me—” “YOU SHALL NOT LAY A FINGER ON HIM!!” Ty gets swiped up by a deadly set of claws, yet the their owner just holds him gently to her freakish face, doting over him. “My most cherished loved one, you have been wounded most grievously. But worry not, for I shall watch over you as we reclaim our place as king and queen of this world. And the proliferation of our bloodline will be a fine start, wouldn’t you agree? Our children will certainly want more siblings after all this time, teehee.” Her poor attempt at sounding girlish does nothing in calming down her… beloved. “No let me go you bag I’m going nowhere! Come on, man, throw that sword of yours at me already. Help a bro out! Help me! Help MEEEEEE!” Echidna holds her hubby close as her huge legs spring her up and through a skyscraper across the street. I walk out of the alley, looking at the gaping hole left behind as I register the immediate calm. Definitely bizarre… At this moment my jacket snaps from my left shoulder and dangles from my right. I pull it off and look it over. Yeesh: the whole back is in tatters, barely keeping together. I drop it. No sense subjecting it to more abuse. Come to think of it, I got pretty banged up as well. Yet I'm still feeling okay, not even a little tired. And the abrasion on my arm seems to have gone. Huh… No time to dwell. I have to get up to the castle. Looking up the empty road, I start running. There's overturned carts, smashed windows, random debris and fire, but no one around. I do hear a distant screech and/or cry, maybe an explosion or two. There's also a wet crunching sound that seems to be getting louder as I run. I find its source right quick. In the ruins of a small boutique-cafe-something, a large black form is nestled in it, long slender neck hunched over a pulpy bundle of blood and feathers held between a pair of red-stained but otherwise pristine claws. It takes a bite out with sharp teeth, munching on it with relish. A red slitted eye looks up and spots me, and immediately it turns its head in my direction. “Well hello there, Spike! A surprise seeing you here,” she says through the gore in her mouth. Quite smoothly, too. “Yeah, same for you, uh… Campe?” “Uh-hum!” she nods happily. “It's so weird: barely a day has gone since you got put in, and suddenly everyone's been let free! I never would have thought something like this could happen, but it goes to show to never say never. Even the irredeemable have their day.” She takes a bite out of her snack. “You cannot believe how excited I was when I felt my seal go away. Nothing was keeping me down; I was free to fly wherever I wanted to! So I figured I’d do a little flying tour of the different fashion capitals of the world I read about: Manehatten, Hoofington, Prance, and even the up-and-coming little town shops they like to mention. But I decided to check out the fashion district here, rest up, grab a snack, plot out my list of stops.” Another crunch. “Sorry if I'm rambling, but I'm just soooooo excited about being able to see all these great places! Well, at least before they get destroyed. Which is why I should hurry up with this.” She goes back to eating. “It's no problem; I’d be pretty excited, too. Say, uh, that wouldn't to be a… pegasus, per chance?” “Huh?” She looks to the meat. “Oh no no no. Just a bothersome harpy trying to wreck one of the hat stores. Can't be having that when I just got here.” “I see. Say, could you do me a favor?” “Hm?” “I'm, gonna be heading up to the castle, and don't want to be bothered. Could you possibly stick around a while and keep away anyone non-pony heading in that direction? If that's not too much to ask.” “Oh, not at all. I can spare another thirty minutes, maybe an hour. Hard to determine that with no sun or stars to go by, though. But I'll keep a lookout for you, since you asked so nicely. Only the small ones though, like this harpy. I'm nowhere as hot-blooded as I was back in the ancient days.” “Anything you can offer is greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch, sweetheart.” “Ooh hoo hoo, you're very welcome, cutie. You have fun now.” “Yeah. Enjoy your snack.” “Mmhm, that I will.” Campe goes back to her bloody meal, and I get back to running. Hope I haven't wasted too much time. Gotta step it up. Just hold on, Twilight. I'm coming.