3 months later…
I made my way into Tartarus through a portal that Twilight had opened up for me, carrying the heavy statue of Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow with my magic. Enough time had passed that I’d been able to confirm that any magic that might’ve been used to free someone from Tartarus no longer existed and therefore posed no threat to these criminals ever being set free again. The statue itself was quite heavy, even when using my magic to carry it. Finally, after I’d made it far enough into this dark prison that I was satisfied with where these villains now were, I set the statue down.
This was my first time ever being in Tartarus and I was incredibly surprised by how cold it was there. Gripping my leather jacket tightly around me, I shivered as my surroundings that reeked of frost and death brought to mind when I’d gone out into that blizzard to save Fluttershy only several short months prior. Tartarus, though, was absolutely bone-chilling, making that blizzard I’d been in seem like a calm summer breeze by comparison.
Not long after my ponderings, I remembered my purpose for being in this literal hell-space. Calling upon some new magic that I’d learned in that time, I targeted the statue that held these villains encased in stone, a bright rainbow of color striking it with full force. Cracks formed in the statue itself, growing larger and longer before finally shattering, releasing the terrible trio from their triple solitary confinement. Before any of them even had a chance to react to what happened, I snapped my fingers and they were immediately locked up in separate cages from each other. Tirek was the first to speak up upon release, his voice like a snake hissing.
“Who’re you supposed to be?”
“Ah’m Prince David,” I replied. “Savior ‘n protector of Equestria.”
“Wait a minute,” Cozy Glow followed up, “you’re the same David that Twilight and her friends talked about at the School Of Friendship?!?”
“Exactly tha same. Of course, over 20 years have now passed between when all 3 of ya were first imprisoned ‘n now.”
They seemed to be greatly shocked by this latest revelation aside from Chrysalis who spoke up next.
“You think that those 20 years mean anything to me? As soon as I break out of here, I’ll have my revenge on every creature who calls this land their home.”
“Actually, no. Ya won’t,” I bluntly stated. “Ah’ve made sure that that will never happen.”
“And what makes you soo sure about that?”
“Because tha magic that allows that ta happen no longer exists in this land. Ah destroyed it.”
“But that would mean,” Cozy Glow began, “that Discord no longer has his magic anymore.”
“Ding ding ding! Give tha filly a prize.”
“But why would you destroy such powerful magic?” Tirek puzzled.
“Because Ah couldn’t very well let Discord hold onta his magic ‘n risk anymore life-threatenin’ bullshit ta come about as a result o’ that. So, when a certain other villain from ma past stole said magic, Ah destroyed it along with him. Ah have friends whose safety is far too important fer me ta risk that kind o’ magic still bein’ ‘round. Not ta mention Ah also have a future ta think of.”
Tirek looked at me for quite a while before a certain spark of realization came to his eyes and he spoke up once again in his whispery, haunting tone.
“There’s more to it than just that… isn’t there? You’ve mated with one of these friends of yours and she now carries your seeeeeed.”
I have no idea how he could’ve possibly read that off of me soo easily, but I wasn’t about to allow him to get inside my head like that.
“Regardless,” I continued, “all o’ y’all should consider this an act o’ mercy on ma part. Ah’ve only brought ya guys ta Tartarus because Ah firmly believe that Discord had no place in passin' down judgement on y’all when he’s tha ‘xact reason why ya were united against ma friends in tha first place ‘n, without his magic, ya’ll never escape here again.”
“There’s no way that Discord would ever approve of his magic being destroyed,” Chrysalis protested.
“He took it hard at first,” I admitted, “but Ah’d only destroyed his magic, not his immortality. Consider that his punishment fer tha bullshit he’d pulled off. He’ll get used ta it, eventually.”
“We don’t need his magic to break out of here. I’ll scrape my way out of here with my own hooves if I have to and I’ll have my revenge on everypony you care about, especially your little marefriend whose love I can sense from you, strong and delicious.”
It was in that moment when I was glad that I’d put enough distance between me and Chrysalis so that she couldn’t possibly feed off of my love. Instead, I replied to her hollow threat immediately.
“Ya know, as an Author, one o’ tha powers Ah have at ma disposal is tha ‘bility ta completely erase someone from reality with tha simple stroke of a pen. Normally, Ah wouldn’t hesitate ta use that same power on ya right now, but that same recklessness could’ve possibly gotten me erased from reality, which it didn’t by some miracle even Ah don’ fully understand. As it turns out, Ah have quite a few friends who are Changelin's ‘n, if Ah were ta just eliminate ya that way, Ah’d possibly risk those friends o’ mine bein’ erased from history also. So, fer that reason, ‘n that reason only, yer still alive.”
“Ha! You think those kind of threats scare me? You have no idea who you’re dealing with. I’ll take everything you love from you easily. You won’t know true revenge until you suffer the wra-”
Getting quite annoyed with her pompous attitude, I snapped my fingers immediately, which took away her tongue, resulting in her threats turning into nothing more than unintelligible gurgling. A look of absolute horror came to her face at this realization as I continued my statement.
“But that don’t mean that Ah have ta put up with yer endless blather. Ah’ve been merciful ta let ya guys not remain trapped in stone. Don’t make me regret that.”
“What if I were to just steal your magic right now?” Tirek posed the question, an evil smile on his face.
“Ah’d like ta see ya try,” I scoffed with confidence, resulting in Tirek looking less sure of himself. “Ah’ve got pure Alicorn blood runnin’ through ma veins. Yer not powerful enough ta even attempt ta take it from me. Ah could destroy ya long before ya even got tha chance.”
It was then when I finally turned my attention towards Cozy Glow before continuing.
“Do you have any objections ya’d like ta make?”
“N-N-No sir,” she stammered, nervously.
“Good. Now, Ah believe ma time is up here. See ya never.”
Turning to leave, I was suddenly struck with one final statement to make as I turned towards Chrysalis.
“Oh. ‘N she’s not ma marefriend anymore. She’s ma wife, soon ta be a mother, ‘n Ah’d take on all o’ y’all 1,000 times over ta protec those Ah care most about from any evil. Suck on that while ya rot away in here!”
With those parting words, I made my way over towards the portal that would take me back to Canterlot. As I was leaving, I took account of the inhabitants who were in Tartarus aside from the Mean 3. I couldn’t help but feel like there was someone missing from the lineup. Who that individual was I couldn’t quite figure out. What I didn’t know at the time was that this particular individual would come back to haunt me when I least expected it.
To be continued…