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// Chapter 28 - Tartarus 
// Story: Fear Within 
// by VirtualCipher 
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Eeerie, ancient and gothic, this section of Tartarus was like a coliseum and burrowed into the walls were cells; containers with disturbing, aggressive creatures locked behind, banging their head against the bars repeatedly. Some were laughing maniacally and sticking their ominous hands through the bars, trying to reach the one who cursed them to rot in this hell. The cells were endlessly ascending all the way up to the top where the devilish laughs continued to echo, there were thousands of them in here, all restricted behind bars. All around were monsters, creatures, demons that hungered for revenge and freedom, soon to be set free.

Through the prison bars, there were many repulsive creatures. Some contained three eyes, some looked like wolves and spiders while others looked like abhorrent messes, creatures that lingered in nightmares. Within the prison, an insane amount of changelings patrolled the area. Changelings within the pit were hovering, some were hanging from the walls, waiting.

Oddly enough, Tartarus had been described as hell, but the air that poisoned the confinement space was cold. Tartarus as a prison lacked any feeling but fear, which is why Fright took a liking to the hellhole. Burrowed into the wall at the far end of the prison, opposite the entrance lied a platform that controlled the prison's structure that united its walls. Before him, an orb that acted as Tartarus' controls. It glowed dark blue and within this sphere contained the magic that secured Tartarus' bars. This sphere acted as a control system that would allow the cells to be shifted around, open and closed, allowing the user to gain control over the prison's structure. However, due to the prison's security being run by magic, this breakout would take longer than expected.

Gently, his skeletal fingers began to press and sway on the control system, the surface of the sphere feeling smooth and cold. With ease, he began to slowly decay the walls of Tartarus' security, accessing the heart of the prison.

"Fright!" A strident and vicious voice called to him.

Despite hearing well of the voice, Fright's focus remained on the sphere, operating the prison's break, erasing the defences.

Ascending up the platform, Chrysalis scowled behind the demented scientist, seeing that his attention was still focused on his plan. Her eyes narrowed in frustration, locking onto him with impatience.

Standing tall, she growled, sounding impatient, "Do not ignore me, Fright!" Her row of teeth sharpened. "We need to talk!"

Resuming to tinker with the prison's command centre, Fright continued with his back faced to the queen, however, this time acknowledging her presence.

"I'm listening."

As Queen of the Changelings, Chrysalis always expected those she spoke with to face her. However, for Fright, she could make an exception. His face wasn't pleasant to look at. With her anger fading, her impatience remained.

"During our meeting, when you approached me along with those other foolish villains around your table, you said if we followed this little plan of yours, we would have our desires become a reality," Chrysalis reminded.

"Are you not gaining satisfaction from seeing your foes scared?" Fright questioned, finally turning away from the sphere, facing the queen.

"My desire isn't seeing them scared, my desire is seeing them defeated!" She hissed.

"Fear will offer that soon."

Snapping like a twig, Chrysalis grew irritated with his confusing path to victory. She began to yell with annoyance, "Fear this, fear that! Do you ever shut up about fear?"

"Without fear, we wouldn't have gotten this far," Fright stated, his attention fully aimed at the changeling queen.

"You mean without my assistance, you wouldn't have gotten this far?!" Chrysalis interjected, sounding irritated. "My army has aided you in this quest for retribution and provided you protection."

"And I have provided you guidance towards victory," Fright told. "You will see your most hated enemies defeated, but first, patience is crucial."

"I've just about had it with your obsession with fear and complicated planning, listening to you is leading us down an arduous path, there have been many opportunities to beat our enemies and yet we are wasting them with more plans! What good will this breakout do?" Chrysalis questioned with a snarl.

"These monsters are locked up for a reason," Fright surveyed the prison, looking around the cells. "They frighten the world, they are recognised as demons to Equestria. When they roam, they create chaos. Chaos leads to panic, panic leads to fear, fear leads to terror." Barely visible through the stitches, he smirked. "Rapt by the madness; distracted by the havoc, there's too much for them to handle. With this breakout, we will have the advantage."

"As long as the princesses are secured behind their walls, protected in their strongholds then all that terror will be useless," Chrysalis frowned. However, in her mind, something clicked. Her eyes began to sparkle as the corners of her mouth slid upwards, indicating she had something satisfying brewing in her mind. She continued with a merry tone, "Unless..."

Fright turned to the queen, noticing her wide grin.

"...We were to take Canterlot," Chrysalis finished, looking at Fright with bliss, eager to see his reaction.

Merely tilting his head, Fright looked at Chrysalis with his empty eyes, not smiling or sulking. Through the stitches that imprisoned his mouth, he spoke, "You want to take the capital of Equestria for your own? How ambitious."

"This is just the advantage I need to get a piece of what I desire. Taking Canterlot will rightfully humiliate Celestia!" Chrysalis exclaimed, trying to make Fright share her vision. "Like you said, Fright, chaos leads to panic. When this breakout happens, the princesses will be preoccupied with too many distractions, threatened by the horrific monsters that plague Equestria, then... Then they're more than likely to become overwhelmed!" With a grin and for once she felt like she was on the same page with Fright, "All it will take is an attack and then we can take their home while they watch helplessly."

Intrigued by the way Chrysalis was going with her plan, Fright didn't fear of questioning the queen. His toneless voice reached to her, "Canterlot is certainly a different door of difficulties, unlike Manehatten. It won't take a threat to scare them off."

"My army will do more than just scare them off," Chrysalis spat. "I'm aware of the complications, I brought down Celestia and invaded that city before!"

"But you failed to succeed," Fright interjected.

With great vexation, Chrysalis' eyes flared with rage, staring at the scientist who brought up her past downfall. It seemed impossible for someone to hold such anger within their eyes, but despite this, Fright didn't feel threatened, he didn't flinch nor back down from his statement, he simply continued.

"Your confidence is not armour." He told. "Canterlot is fortified after Manehatten's ruin, they are barricaded behind that barrier produced by magic."

"You don't think I know that?!" Chrysalis snapped. "I just need to find a way to bring that barrier down or deal with the one holding up that force field. Cutting off the main source of their defence will allow my army to strike, but how?" She asked herself, turning away from Fright in seek of answers.

There were many options for Chrysalis that deemed fit for her invasion, but something was nagging at her. In the deepest pit of her mind, whatever approach she thought of were backed up with doubts. She wanted her attack to be perfect, she feared of it being ruined. Defeating her ideas and concepts were the haunting memories of past failures, flooding her mind that led the queen to uncertainty. Annoyance hit her body, she felt the lifeless eyes of Fright taunting behind her, quietly laughing at her while she failed to scheme. Between the two, it was just silence, that was until Fright chose to goad the queen.

"Are those thoughts brewing in your mind frightening? Are you prepared to right your wrong and take Canterlot, or will you be humiliated again?" He interjected, his voice creeping into Chrysalis' bubble of thoughts. 

Growing furious, she turned back to Fright, throwing her frustration at him by shouting, "Silence!" 

"There is no such need for anger," Fright eased. "I am sure your solutions towards Canterlot's invasion are sound and disastrous, but your impressive army cannot strain themselves against their defence. You need to rely on someone else to infiltrate past that shield. Consider using our instrument of fear."

It took Chrysalis a few seconds to realise who Fright was talking about, but after finally connecting with who he was talking about, she presented a dubious look, "The Hunter?" She questioned with doubt. "That animal of yours may have secured us this prison and outplayed those guards, but having him infiltrate Canterlot, a city populated by ponies? He'd stick out like a wound."

"His stealth benefits the task, his abilities allow him to make his own way through the barrier. After he locates the target; the one who's holding the barrier together, then their defence will fall and that is when you are able to strike." He explained. "He is your key to taking Canterlot."

Continuing, Fright placed his fingers together, steepling, "Attack that city with all of your strength until the barrier breaks, or use the element of surprise. I know you fear failure, I know another loss will make you crack. I will not get in your way Chrysalis, if taking Canterlot is a piece of your desire, then pursue it."

Chrysalis glowered, her answer remains unknown to him. Just when she was about to leave, she turned only to see the commander of her army waiting patiently behind her. 

"My queen," The commander greeted.

"What is it?" Chrysalis asked, drained by boredom.

"We have prisoners."

Lowering her head in exhaustion and gently closing her eyes, she exhaled deeply, speaking in an annoyed tone, "Of course we have prisoners, we're in a prison, you moron."

"Oh," The commander responded with a nervous laugh. "Forgive me, my queen, perhaps I should have been more specific." Clearing his throat, he announced proudly, "It is an honour to inform you, my most beautiful and powerful queen, that we have successfully caught the two alicorns: Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight."

At first, hearing that title impaled her heart, she brimmed with shock to hear that she had been caught. "What?!" She blared. "Celestia! Twilight! Here?! Are you sure?" 

The commander responded with a nod, "We are certain, your highness. They were backed up by the bearers of the elements."

What the commander was saying caught Fright's attention, he turned from prison's central controls and stared at the changeling. His burning grey eyes widened in disbelief, the fact that they somehow managed to pass the fog astonished him. However, the shock Chrysalis felt didn't last long, it was soon consumed by joy, the fact that her enemies were foolish enough to come here and get themselves captured brought the queen delight. 

Suddenly, laughter began to erupt from her mouth, "Is it Hearth's Warming Eve already? What were those fools hoping to accomplish by barging in here?!" She laughed. 

"They're trying to stop the breakout. Despite all that fear, there is still a flame of defiance flickering deep inside them," Fright approached the commander, breaking away from the core's controls. "How they passed the fog astounds me, but for now, we must confine them."

"Actually, Fright," Chrysalis turned towards with a smug look. "I think they deserve some form of punishment for trying to interfere with our plans, and I'm not talking about using your wicked fear spells, despite how devastating they are, but, I think it's time I had some fun..." Her tone of delight quickly trailed off into a voice of hate. "...With the wretched vermin that have fueled my world with despair and displeasure." Her eyes erupting with resentment.

Continuing, she dropped the hateful tone and decorated her voice with normality, "Let me tend to our guests and I promise to keep them in one piece." She smiled. "Then again, I don't really need your permission, do I?"

What emotions Fright conveyed behind that mask of a face was unknown, however, it appeared that he allowed the queen to have her fun. 

"You may have your fun. But remember, we want them broken," Fright reminded. "Once fear dissects their minds, then they are yours to deal with. Stick to your word and keep them in one piece. There is much more for them to fear."

"Of course," Chrysalis agreed, smiling and finally, departing from the platform. Walking with ease, gliding down the old, damaged stairs along side her commander. 

Her smile dropped, "Talking to him injects me with aggravation. Oh, well! Soon this alliance with him and those other fools will be over!"

"My queen?" The commander spoke. "What will become of us when this breakout happens?"

"Do not fret, my loyal commander," Chrysalis cooed. "We will be safe in our new home."

There were many thoughts brewing in Chrysalis' mind about the punishments she was going to bring on her enemies, but knowing they were all restricted due to Fright's plan slightly irked her. Quickly, the thought of taking Canerlot wrapped around her mind like a present. The sophisticated and beautiful city soon to be her's and now that she had both princesses captured, she might even have a different approach to taking the capital of Equestria.