“Go home Samantha, don’t worry about coming to work tomorrow you can have the day off.” Samantha’s manager asks gently. He put his right hand on her right shoulder with a sad smile. “You’ve been through alot, how long has it been? Five years?” The manager lifted his hand and comfortably put it in his pocket.
She looked down and gave a tired sigh. “Yeah..five years, five long years it seems that I lost him.” A woman named Samantha who was fifty two, working as a janitor at target. She loved the people there, no one gave her trouble and she lived a good quiet life there.
“ I can’t tell you how many times I’m sorry Sam, just please take a day off or give me a call if you need more time alright?”
“Thanks Ronnie, you’re really kind to me.” Samantha walked up to him and hugged up.
Ronnie hugged back and let go “I’ll try to be, now if you excuse me…” Ronnie let that thought linger.
“Yeah I understand, I’ll see you soon” Samantha chuckled softly and turned around to head home. She looks at her phone to see what’s going on in today’s news. She looked through some weather and today’s politics and nothing really changed what’s happening in 2021. But what caught her eye was the increase of people around the world missing. Not the type of kidnapping but a rumor of a man called “The Merchant”.
“I don’t believe it, how can a single man be in two places at once or in this case around the world grabbing people. Disgusting.” She continues to walk towards home while she turns her phone in sleep mode for the rest of the way.
“Thirty minute walk is what I need to get out of this funk. After that a nice bowl of strawberry ice cream for dinner.” Not even five minutes after she left work a few kids showed up out of breath.
“Lady! Please help us, his brother he’s not breathing and our parents don’t won’t let us have phones! Please, you got to do something!” A small little girl who looks like the age of 13 grabbed the little kid’s hand and left into an alleyway.
“Wait! Please just wait a minute! God Damn it!” With good conscience she left after them with phone in hand. She has been through this alley a good measure of times next to her job. It was just a straightforward shot. She saw them running in a straight line then turned right mid way of the alley. “The hell?” At mid point she looked at the spot where they turned. “I’ve been through this place but never noticed this path, did I miss this spot when those times I was too deep in thought?” The turn the kids took was kind of dark even though it was still day time. She saw the two kids next to an unconscious body. “Oh no, that must be the brother. I’m coming!” She ran towards the kids despite her aging skinny body to save that little boy’s brother’s life. As soon as she entered that lightly dark alley it began to grow darker. Almost as if she was in an ocean in broad daylight but as soon she dipped her head in it was the abyss. “W-what..hello.” She said that last part quietly. She took a second if there was any response but heard nothing. With those kids in her mind she gathered the courage and shouted “Hello!” She waited for a few more seconds. “What’s going on here, how can it be total black, I don’t understand. Kids!! Please follow my voice so I can-”
“Sorry ma’am, but there was never kids to began with”
Sam turns around quickly only to see a taco stand with instead of a menu is accessories and other products that have been overwritten over them. Sam stood there with wide eyes. She looked back only to see blackness. Blackness was all around her. The only light she now knows of is this busted looking taco stand.
She has no way of defending herself who ever said inside of that stand but if she is going to get attacked then she won’t go down easily. “First off, who the hell are you and what do you mean by that?” Sam was looking around for anything to use for a weapon but came with no results.
“Well just your friendly neighborhood sp-whoops wrong line. I meant your Merchant.” The voice inside the stand said. There were sounds of clanking, objects being moved and dropped. “And I made those kids and yes I said made because there were holograms to get your attention. Now what’re you buying? Heh heh.”
Sam’s mouth was like a goldfish, opening and closing to comprehend the understanding of what she is seeing. She tried to speak, to get answers from him but she was also terrified because if this was the Merchant then she’s dead right?
The Merchant just looked at her and the funny faces that were displaying. “I’m on a tight schedule so I’m going to make this brief. I’m The Merchant, yes the one of the few Merchants. They’re are many like me across the universe and we sell anything you can think of.” The Merchant grew bored of his woman’s expression while he was talking. When he was giving the small details he was drumming his fingers on stand.
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
Sam took out her phone and entered her password to see the background picture. “What kind of things are you selling?”
The Merchant brought his hand to her forehead and flicked her with one finger. There were few memories that raced through her mind. One of them was immortality. Sam dropped to her knees and sobbed. She believed him now. He has that power that may bring him back. She got up and wiped her eyes and nose to dry herself off trying to regain her composure. “Ok...ok, I’m sorry for wasting your time. Anything I want? Is there a way I can bring back my son? You see I los-”
The Merchant cut her off because he didn’t want to hear another sob story so he got right into business. “Ohh you got a dark side on you huh? The power to bring back the dead or take away their souls by touching or looking at them. I think I have the right thing you are looking for. Now fair warning, everyone we contact with are sometimes overpowered to a new world. Some don’t know how to use their powers right off the bat and some others take time to build up their strength. I know your age just by looking at you so I will help you out.” He walked away to go search for what he was looking for. Glass breaking can be heard, metal objects are shuffling around and car alarms are setting off. Which it shouldn’t be physically possible. The Merchant slowly walked back with a small bottle in hand. He placed it gently on the counter to presented to her. The small bottle was just a tiny potion. But the color was faded dark green with it appearing to have tiny horrified screaming faces swirling inside of it. “Now this little beauty tastes like shit but gives you the powers of like Hades and Hel. You might be old but getting hit in the head by Thor’s hammer won’t slow you down, hurt like hell but won’t kill ya. You’re able to do a lot of cool things, able to teleport, whatever souls you take will have their memories and powers inside of you and it just keeps adding up infinitely. You’ll also be able to create portals if you have that kind of power and knowledge. Who knows..you might be able to come back here on earth if you can achieve that godhood. Anyways, that’s enough, go away now.” He grabs the bottle and opens it.
“Waitwaitwait! Don’t I get a say all this! This is crazy! You’re crazy!”
“Calling me crazy! Then how about you make like a tree and fuck off!”
“Fuck you! You aint shit, you uncle aint shit and your granny aint shit!”
“Mother fucker!” He was going to give it to her and let her drink it. Yeah it’s going to taste like a lion’s ass hole but if you rub that mystery liquid on your skin then you might as well say “I guess I should just kill my self.’’ because that stuff will slowly rip your skin and bones to the next dimension...literally. So he threw it. The tiny liquid of death shattered as it made contact on Sam’s chest.
“ Great, nice going moron.” Samatha shook her head in embarrassment.
“Oops.”
“What do you mean o-” Then the screaming started as her body became like a final fantasy 7 boss after you defeated it. It shook and then faded out of existence.
“I guess a letter to her of apologies and her new name to hide her true identity is in order.” With a sigh he began. “Dear Tartarus…”
Time takes place 2 years after Twilight is an adult alicorn
Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Cadence and her teenage daughter Flurry Heart sat in front of the door to Tartarus. “Everypony ready? Discord is counting on us to save me.” Celestia looked at them, all of them nodded their heads ready for a battle that may be too much for them. As Celestia powers up her magic against the door it slowly opens. As they walk in silence in the dark hallway they finally reach the first room. Few memories pop up from the team.
“You know, a few years back it was kind of empty. Sure there were a few monsters here and there. Also three main villains that tried to not only destroy the planet but take over it too. But still kind of empty. But now..” Twilight looks around the room while reminiscing, nothing but empty cages “But now, nothing. Still don’t understand how discord got taken away during tonight’s event of the Gala. I looked at where he was. He was talking to Fluttershy but as soon as I blinked he was gone.” Twilight sat down and put her hooves on her head in frustration.
“I overheard them talking, Discord was talking about some creature that was after him. But he didn’t sound frightened. He talked like he always does, full of himself.” Flurry shrugged.
“I guess he didn’t want to cause a scene. But I am glad you went to your dear friend and found a clue that he left behind only you know about.” Luna wanders around looking at the empty cages wondering if there are any kind of sighs of scratch marks or slightly open cages. There were none.
Cadence shook her head, thinking they were wasting time playing detective. “We should keep looking. Hey Celestia, have you ever gone deeper in Tartarus?” Cadence walks towards the path that leads to another door.
“To be completely honest. No I haven’t, neither has Luna. Father has told us a few stories when we were just foals.” Celestia followed Cadence to look at the door. “He told us he actually met the one who ruled this place.” Celestia places her hoove on the door while smiling at the old memory.
“What!” The three younger alicorns shouted in usion.
“It’s true, he told a story before he met our mother he fell in love with Tartarus.”
“Guy or girl?” Candace asks straight away. This story is getting juicy and on the plus side no pony or creature in existence knows about this.
“Girl we believe.” Luna looked up in thought.
“What’s her name?” Cadence asks without missing a beat.
“Can we please save discord and get out of here. It’s only the first floor and it feels like I’m being watched.” Twilight rubbed her temple trying to calm her over added frustration.
“Oops, sorry about that and you’re right. We can chat on the way. Heh heh..” Cadence chuckled nervously.
Celestia and Luna use their magic to open the door but they rolled a 1. “Completely forgot you can’t use magic down here.” Celestia sigh mentaly kicking herself.
Luna giggle at the display “Seems you are going senial dear sister.”
“Perhaps woona, perhaps.” Celestia knows her sister hated that name.
“Tsk, let’s get on with it.”
The group walk down the spiral wall path with torches lighting their way in silence.
“Never said her name.” Finally what seemed like hours walking the silence was broken.
“Kind of curious about myself actually.” Flurry Heart finally spoke up. She’s been real quiet ever since they entered because of what Twilight said earlier. Felt like she was being watched.
“Do you remember her name or how father describes her Luna?”
“Bits and pieces. All I can remember is that she wasn’t as tall. Skin was paler than snow and her hair was like the color of a raging blizzard. Her eyes are the color of souls but never said her name. Father has a real bad taste in words.”
Finally they reach the door at the end.
“Well girls, this might be our toughest battle. We don’t know what’s on the other side. Daemon spawns that we can’t fathom what they look like or how many. Let’s stick together and watch each other’s backs.” Twilight was in her hero mode hyping them and making them alert. Even if they don’t have magic they fight with everything they got.
“Let’s do this!” Twilight pushes the door open with Flurry and her mother coming up front protecting Twilight only to find a very long narrow down pathway heading towards a humongous dome palace. The rest of the place is empty. No cages or anything hanging. Just a dome and a bottomless pit of faded green glow that lights up the place.
“Celestia, Luna what is this place?” Twilight looks back at them only to find out they’re gone. “Celestia?” She said quietly. “Luna?” Again quietly. She looked at the spot where they were standing. Trying to comprehend what’s happening. “Cadence! What’s happ-” Twilight turned around and they were gone. Cadence and Flurry Heart disappear as well.
“W-what happened? I can’t do this alone here, I can-snap out of it!” Twilight shakes her head reassuring herself not having her panic attacks. “They’re safe, I know they are. Just need to go there and I will find them.” Twilight has witnessed a lot of strange things. But that one caught her unguard. “Don’t worry, I’ll come save you and put an end to all this nonsense.” With her bravado back in action she’s going to save her friends.
The distance where Twilight where once was and to the middle dome seem close at first glance but it was a long effort to reach there. Thanks to being an alicorn she never once broke a sweat running at full speed. Finally reaching the dome she opened the door only for it to open by itself slightly
“Right..Tartarus, supposed to be creepy. Alright let’s go.” She pushed the door open and by surprise, what she saw was a beautiful place.
The floor was marble black with the cracks being green and with each square line is gold. Thick pillars made of gold. Twilight looked up to see how far they go only to see a painting on the ceiling. Good thing she knows about humans but she didn’t have the free time to look around their world. The painting that she sees was two humans having their pointed fingers almost touching. Twilight stopped looking and started to look around to find her friends. Only to find out the’re no doors. Only a straight path where she can see a desk and a figure. Twilight ran full speed at the figure.
“Tell me where my friends are, you monster!” Full of emotion and anger of losing the ones she loves came to a screeching halt to see the figure up close. Pale skin whiter than snow, hair glistering white as if her hair was made out of spider silk. Her chest was wrapped around with blazing blue fire, so was her lower part of body. Green eyes that seem void of life. The woman didn’t look up, only staring at her desk with papers.
“Did you know I created this place with the help of Celestia’s father? Also had help with all kinds of friends from different multiverses. I told them my story and they gave me blueprints and ideas to build a machine that can help me send me back in time to save my son before he got hit by a drunk driver. I have taken lives, I have taken their souls to add to my power to have enough to go back and save him. But I also know another truth..”
Twilight stood in silence and let her talk like a mad woman who lost her mind or else she’s going to get even more stronger.
“And the truth is there is a bigger problem. Way bigger than what’s happening right now. I have the power now to actually go back but I can’t save my little boy. I came to terms with that long ago. But thanks to my friends I have another goal. To kill the original Merchant. You don’t understand Twilight. There’s a bigger picture you can’t comprehend. It’s beyond understanding but I got a lead. Here, take a look. Oh by the way I’m Tartarus.” Tartarus quickly walked over to her and showed the photo at Twilight blocking the view between her and Tartarus. The photo was a human male that was completely overly obsessed with a nice suit on with a bow tie.
“That right there is the Duke. A higher Merchant. I need to talk to him and strike a deal with him. Now where was I? Oh..yes, You know why I want to kill the original Merchant?” At this point Twilight rapidly shook her head no. “Because we are in a story right now. Usually if anyone gets in contact with a Merchant they usually get sent here.” Tartarus points down. “I mean not here where we are but this planet. And it usually means they are in a story for someone else’s entertainment. You need to understand Twilight..we are never alone and always being watched. If I kill this original Merchant, we all will be sent free. If not...then you are the only one knowing this. Wonder how you live knowing everything you did at this point was useless and planned at the beginning.”
Tartarus turns around at her numerous computer screens. Numbers,digital graphs, locations of each part of the world of Equus. She moved her mouse to click start and which she did. The wall behind the computers opens up. Twilight saw a beam of ponies, griffon’s, yaks and all different types of living beings across the globe, souls screaming in agony. Twilight could only stare with her mouth agape. She had never been terrified before. Scared yes but never to the point where it became all pointless and the only way to get out was to kill oneself. Finally Twilight looked down at the desk. Tones of notes along with pins with red yarn attach to point A to point B.
“M-m-m-my friends, where are they?” Twilight said meekly. She already knew the answer but wanted to hear it from her.
“Dead, as soon Discord disappears he’s as good as dead. Same goes for your friends that you brought with you.” Tartarus said, still looking at the computer.
Twilight couldn’t muster any tears, just simply looked down with a thousand yard stare. “If it’s any consolation I didn’t even want to do this in the first place. The only thing that kept me motivated was my son. Then I came to realize I needed to stop being lazy and gain power. Didn’t have to like it but it needed to be done. Now thanks to information I gathered from other displaces I have to be extreme to get where I’m at today. I’m sorry for what I did but there is a bigger nightmare than me.” She walked over to Twilight and put her hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to teleport you to your parents alright? Also this place is open for you. Have this technology that I gathered from friends of mine.”
As soon as she let go she was gone. “Now then, see that Merchant back home and if he doesn’t talk then I make sure I swallow his soul.” Samatha looked down at the screaming souls. “Once this is over, I get my son back.” Then she jumped.