//------------------------------// // From North to Ponyville then to Tartarus // Story: The Keeper of the keys // by Moonghost //------------------------------// “...I’ll need a moment..” Elwood said as he started thinking throughout the ancient language. Taking a nervous breath and focusing on a thought, Elwood speaks a sentence that will command his magic to do as he says. “Se iet líkami kausta ut nosu.” Elwood said. There is a moment of silence before a pair of bodies materialize in front of them. Elwood lets out a relieved sigh, glad that the spell worked. Not wasting any time, Elwood quickly enters his body, while Kaiserin studied hers for a moment, then did the same. “Each new world never ceases to surprise me with their indifference.” Kaiserin commented.  “That is an observation I made myself as well. And Chrysalis, please don’t try to be creepy. I already know you’re there.” Dodge said looking at the base with the throne. “Even as a cat, you can still detect when someone’s trying to sneak up on you, still the same old Dodge, hmm?” Chrysalis said as she stepped out from behind one of the many holes starting the base of the throne. “Anthropomorphic. That’s a new one in my book.” Elwood whispered to himself. “Dodge who is this?” Chrysalis questioned. “Just someone I had come to help me find you. So, Chrysalis, are you going to give me back my key or am I going to have to take it forcefully?” Dodge said. “Dodge, I’m really disappointed in you of course, I’m going to make it difficult.” Chrysalis said as millions of drones began to fill the throne room. Elwood looked toward Dodge, then pointed his thumb toward her. “Her first time meeting another Displaced?” Elwood asked with a chuckle to Dodge. “No, but she never seems to learn that it’s foolish to try and fight.” Dodge said as she grabbed a key out of her locket. “Would you mind holding this key while I activated it?” Dodge asked. “What are you about to do?” Elwood asked as he took the key from Dodge. ”Quibble,Theus, Septimus, get out here, and no large dramatic entrances, I’m talking to you Theus.” Dodge yelled at the key.  Three giant creatures leapt out of the key, the first one vaguely resembling a Timberwolf,the second Enormous  bat with four wings, third and final a jade obsidian snake skeleton with dark green smoke poured from the eye-sockets. “Elwood, I would like you to meet, Quibble, Theus, and Septimus.” Dodge said first pointing to the wolf then the bat and then the snake. “these are the three inhabitants of that particular key you’re holding.” Dodge explained. “Well, it isss certainly good to be around.” Septimus said. “I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOU THERE.” Theus booms. “Hhmmm.” Quibble growls with nod. “...Odd time for introductions considering we’re surrounded.” Elwood said more out of confusion than worry. “Theus if you would?” Dodge said. “Got it boss.” Theus said as he sliced through half of chrysalis’s army. “As you can see, you were more than covered, let’s go get my key.” Dodge said. “When did she take your key?” Elwood asked Dodge.. “I gave it to her when we were still friends, she got addicted to using it, I tried to take it back, it’s actually the reason why we are not friends anymore.” Dodge said. “Ah, make senses. Let’s go find your key while the Queen is distracted…” Elwood said, glancing toward the roof. Elwood once again expanded his mind; seen only parts of the underground maze created by the queen’s drones. It didn’t take long till he managed to find a hidden key under the throne.  “Sharjalvi!” Elwood spoke out, causing Dodge’s key and Elwood’s hand to be coated in orange. Quickly, it zips out from under the throne and into Elwood’s hand.  “No, not my key!” One rather clearly non-buzzing voice came from the crystals in the walls. “Immutationis, I thought you may have been behind this, did you use your usual gamut of if you make me a shrine in the coldest part of the world I will give you unlimited power?” Dodge snarled, “Elwood, I would like you to meet Immutationis The identity demon and prisoner of the key you are holding.” Dodge said. “How many keys do you have?” Elwood asked curiously as he looked over at Dodge.  “fourteen-fifteen keys at the very most, why do you ask?” Dodge said. “Created or Displaced with you?” Elwood asked as he took a wary glance behind him. “Twelve keys that I was originally displaced with, and I made four more. One to help discord control his powers when he was a bit younger. One that I made for a friend of mine in the sparkle family that I designed to go down through the generations into it found a worthy holder and that pony I would train myself in the art of making keys, one I made was to make my own house. And the last one I made allows me to make a forge wherever the heck I want.” Dodge said. “So in a way, your key forging is alot like the ancient language. Highly versatile.” Elwood said with a nod as he handed the key of Immutationis to Dodge. “Let’s get out of here before the queen notices.” Elwood said as he stretched his hand out. “Sé iet gatharí ládrin.” Elwood spoke, causing an orange transparental magical door to materialize out of thin air. Elwood opens it up, revealing the area above ground. “Let me just get back into my bipedal form real quick.” Dodge said as a small keyhole appeared below her chin that she put the key into and turned. “Oh that’s much better.” Dodge said as she grew back into her six for five foot female self. With a silent nod, Elwood walked on through while the door grew to allow Kaiserin through. “Well let’s get me back to ponyville.  Do you consider my offer for helping me break into tartarus.” Dodge asked as she walked out of the door. With the trio through, the door vanished in a sparkle of energy. “What will you do if the princesses found out?” Elwood asked out of concern.  “Trust me, the princesses know that even if they tried, I would still be able to beat them.” Dodge said cryptically. “If we do break in, do you have a way to reapply the seal?” Elwood asked. “I made the seal, I can remake it.” Dodge said. Elwood blinked in disbelief. “You made it, yet you need my help to break in?” Elwood asked in confusion. “Tirek has the only key that can deactivate the seal without breaking in. But Tirek doesn’t know that.” Dodge said. “...Then it’d be best if we get in before Tirek learns about it.” Elwood said as he had made up his mind.  “Well, even if he did figure it out, he wouldn’t be able to get past the lumen ex mortuis. The only way to get past is with the Mors key, which is also known as the Ghost Key.” Dodge said. “Alright.” Elwood began as he rubbed his head. “Where exactly is Tartarus?” Elwood asked as he climbed up onto Kaiserin’s back. “You know this version of Equestria more than I do.” Elwood said as he glanced around. “The top of Mt. Everhoof, but, watch out for Cadaverinus.” Dodge said. “I’m guessing that’s the guardian?” Elwood asked curiously.  “One of them.” Dodge said. “You see anyone who dies on the road to Tartarus, becomes one of its guardians.” “By force, brainwashed, or choice?” Elwood asked curiously. “It’s a Choice.” Dodge said. “Alright, I have no further questions. If you’re ready, just Kaiserin’s back.” Elwood explained to Dodge. “There is a reason why I said road and not air, there’s an enchantment on Mt. everhoof that makes it nothing can approach by air.” Dodge said. “Oh, alright. Riding is still an option though.” Elwood said with a nodd. “But first we need to go check up on Twilight, I don’t want my apprentice to get killed while I was gone now would I?” Dodge said with a slight smile. “Get on and we’ll head on over.” Elwood said as he patted the back of the saddle.     “Ok, but you must stay at least a mile away from even the start of a trail,” Dodge said. ‘Although I won’t be mentioning that to try to approach from the air would mean instantly death’ Dodge thought to herself. “Alright, fair enough..” Elwood said with a nod, although his tone of voice sounded unsure after he heard Dodge’s mental thoughts, as they fly towards Ponyville.