"It's so quiet around here." Asmund said to no one in particular. Tirek had long since fallen asleep along with all of the other creature's within Tartarus' walls. Asmund hated it here, the magic of this place made to bring forth punishment to those who took residence. Every thing in this place, no matter how evil or vile, had the same air of hopelessness around them.
He looked over at Tirek, fast asleep on the floor. Everything was so quiet, so lonely. Asmund feared isolation, it made him feel as though he was losing his mind. He found silence deafening, making him feel as though everything around him had suddenly died. The doctor's called it autophobia.
After five years in Tartarus, one would assume he would've become numb to such things, but he always had Tirek. Even during the previous nights, there was always Tirek's soft breathing to bring him peace. Tonight, he fell silent, only the rise and fall of his chest to assure him that he had not suddenly passed.
I wish I still had my music box.
Asmund looked down at his compass, shown to a sheen with bright brass casing. He had brought many things with him to Equestria, but only the compass accompanied him to his prison. It served no purpose though, especially not now. It was far to dark in the cave to see properly, and even if he could, it's not like he could go anywhere.
How he longed for the freedom that was stolen from him. This was meant to be a fresh start in a new land, and eventually he would send a letter and his family who wasn't infected could follow him here. The plague was certainly moving quicker than anyone thought.
Is anyone still alive? Am I... alone?
The thought sent unease shooting through his being. Such a thought scared him beyond belief.
"Tirek? Are you awake?" There was only silence.
"Tirek?" Asmund looked over to the spot Tirek once was, where nothing now sat.
"Tirek? Tirek?!" Asmund began to panic, his eyes darting everywhere. Cages once stacked upon each other had simply vanished. Not even Cerberus could be spotted anywhere in the cavern. Tartarus was the void of life. He shook the bars of his cage in desparation.
"Someone?! Anyone?!" Asmund screamed. "Please! Don't leave me!"
Asmund gasped as he woke up, his yellow pupils small specks in his dark sclera. His heart pounded in his chest, shaking his ribs just as he shook his cage. His hand clenched over his chest in a futile attempt to control his emotions. He had never experienced such fear in all his life. He had felt so helpless.
"What's wrong?" He looked over his shoulder see Tirek with his arms crossed and an expression of annoyance on his face and an orb of magic between his horns to illuminate the dark cave. Asmund quickly rose to his hooves, dusting himself off.
"Nothing, it was just a nightmare."
"Then it wasn't nothing was it?"
"Nothing important." He corrected. Tirek looked over Asmund, noting the bags under his eyes. He had noticed the blue centaur was avoiding sleep like the plague. Yes, there was a very real threat that they could be found and captured in their sleep, but Tirek and Discord had made sure to get enough when they could, so why hadn't he?
"We're ready to launch our attack and capture the princesses." Tirek turned around and began heading towards a larger part of the cave to meet Discord. "I hope your lack of sleep is not a major obstacle."
"I am fine Tirek." Asmund trotted beside the larger centaur.
"In any case, our plan will stay the same. We will first go after the guards, then the residence, then the princesses."
"Then?"
"Once I steal all the alicorn magic, I will give you enough so that you can personally send them to Tartarus yourself."
"Really? You'd do that?"
"Yes, but I'd probably have you wait outside the door to make it a dramatic reveal. They would expect something like that from me, but just imagine the looks on their face when that innocent little centaur they wrongfully imprisoned so very long ago shows up to give them a taste of their own snake oil." Tirek rubbed his hands together, picturing the image in his head. Asmund also imagined the scene. Expressions of shock then fear, they plead for mercy as he opens the portal, all so they could feel the same feeling of helplessness he felt.
Tirek didn't notice the sinister smile on Asmund's face as he walked ahead. Still Asmund had something he wished to speak about.
"Tirek?"
"Hmm?"
"I know our agreement states that I'll go out on my own after the princesses are dealt with, but I want to get an opinion on something?" Asmund said as he caught back up with Tirek.
"Oh? What is it?" Tirek said, making no attempt to hide the suspicion in his voice.
"Would you perhaps be apposed to me staying by your side?" Tirek certainly didn't expect that, though it admittedly wasn't an unwelcome surprise. While Tirek's opinions on friendships with ponies hadn't changed, Asmund wasn't a pony. He had the same motivation as Tirek's own, and all his pestering had all been for Tirek's best interest in the long run. Perhaps this was something he would be willing to invest his time.
"If that is what you wish, then I wouldn't push you away."
"I'd like that."
The sun and moon moved shakily through the sky, as two unicorn guards were lifted into the air.
"Shining Armor, why whatever are you doing here?" Discord said as he took Shining's helmet for himself.
"Back off traitor." Shining shoved Discord off him, his horn pointed at the Draconequus' chest, who had his paw and claw up in surrender.
"The only one Discord betrayed is himself." The ground shook as Tirek drained the magic of a unicorn guard and let him go.
"Abandoning his true nature to make friends with weak-minded equines who offer him nothing." Shining had had enough, shooting a laser straight at Tirek's heart. Tirek simply caught the pitiful blast, Shining had always been more defensive than offensive. He squeezed the magic into a ball before tossing it into his mouth, eating it before grabbing Shining by his muzzle. His maw opened as magic streamed from the ivory horn into Tirek's mouth.
Tirek dropped Shining onto the ground, leaving him weak and vulnerable. With the little strength he had left, he turned towards Discord.
"How c-could you do this?" Shining asked as his head fell back to the floor.
Tirek threw his arm around Discord. "Asmund and I have plans, so why don't you go out and have a little fun? I won't stand in your way." Discord laughed as Tirek left him to his own devices.
"Come along Asmund, it is rude to leave royalty waiting." Shining eyes opened to see a (now) large blue centaur approaching, already in possession of the magic he needed for his plans.
"W-who are you?"
"That's none of your concern." The mysterious Centaur passed by the unicorn, leaving him to wonder.
Tirek noticed the look on Asmund's face. "What's wrong, I figured you would be more excited."
Asmund didn't respond right away, thinking over what Shining had asked him. Was his identity really kept hidden from the public, or was he simply forgotten.
"That unicorn asked me who I was. Do you know what that means?" Asmund said, looking Tirek straight in the eyes.
"Of course I do. Not only did the princesses wrongfully imprison you, they knew it was wrong. They didn't tell anyone because then the kingdom would see how heartless they truly are. Did you honestly expect anything else?" Tirek raised an eyebrow.
"No, your right. For all the things the princesses are willing to do, lying isn't the worst thing they've done."
"If it brings you any peace of mind, our bond isn't something I would so easily forget."
"Thank you Tirek."
"Of course, what are friends for?"
"We are friends?" Asmund turned to look at Tirek, who had stopped.
"Well... after fifteen hundred years together, I wouldn't exactly call us acquaintances." Tirek said as he scratched the back of his head. "Now do you remember the signal?"
"Three stomps of your hoof, then I reveal myself."
"Good, because we're here." Tirek said as he gestured to the large door.
"Getting rid of your magic so that I can not take it from you? That was your plan?" Tirek said from atop the throne, looking down at the once powerful alicorns. The royals refused to dignify him with an answer as he stood up from the throne.
"How does it feel knowing that soon every pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony will bow to my will, and THAT THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP IT?!?!" Tirek said as he summoned forth three orbs only to smash them between his palms.
"You will not prevail Tirek." Celestia said wearily.
"Perhaps not on my own, but I have more allies than you know. One of them would actually like a word with you." Tirek said as he slammed his hoof down three times.
Another set of hoof steps were heard behind the trio of royals, prompting them to turn their head. Their eyes widened as they saw a large blue and black centaur with ram horns entering the throne room. They turned their whole bodies toward the new threat.
Cadance was appalled, she had never seen such raw unbridled hatred before.
"Wha- but how..." Luna started.
"It's you..." Celestia said silently.
Cadance looked at her aunts. "You know him?"
The centaur snorted in disdain. "Figures you two wouldn't tell anyone of your darkest deed. Not even one of your own blood." Tirek reclined in the throne, thoroughly enjoying the show.
"Who are you?" Cadance asked.
"Who am I?" The centaur began to circle the small ponies in smooth motions, head lowered like a predator ready to pounce. "I'm what your aunts are most ashamed of, I'm what haunts the darkest part of their memories, I'm the truth that these princesses wished stayed locked away in Tartarus."
"Tartarus?"
"Cadance, please stop." Celestia begged. A ball of green magic manifested between the tips of the centaur's horns and the three princesses were wrapped in and aura of green.
"If you want your answers child, feel free to ask your beloved aunts. You lot will have plenty of time to discuss, especially where your going." A beam of magic was shot from the ball, opening a green portal with black bolts of lightning coursing around the edges. The two sisters' eyes widened as the familiar sight if cages came from beyond the portal.
"You two princesses wronged me." The centaur said, forcing the royal sisters to look at him as Cadance was set down in a cage beyond the portal. "I'm merely returning the favor." The centaur threw the royal pair through the portal, causing them to slam into a rocky wall with a sickening crack of stone and groans of pain. They slid down the wall and onto the ground as a cage fell from above and trapped the two together. Cadance had her hoof up to her mouth in shock as she looked at Celestia and Luna before turning back to the expression of hatred on the mysterious centaur's face as the portal closed.