//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: The Depths of Tartarus // Story: Daring Do and the Legend of the Kirinstone // by TheLegendaryBillCipher //------------------------------// “And that’s the story so far, your majesty,” Yearling said, seated next to Celestia as the pegasi guards pulled the chariot through the skies. It sure as heck beat flying on her own. “I see. Well, Miss Yearling, I’ll be sure to keep your little secret safe from my sister,” Celestia said with a smile. “Oh? Princess Luna reads Daring Do?” Yearling blinked in surprise, looking up at the alicorn. “Yes, but I think she’s more interested in the temples you visit.” Celestia cleared her throat. “Now, on the topic at hoof: if things are as you say they are, then I will help you get into Tartarus. The depths, if need be.” “That’s where the letter said to take the Kirinstone, but… I don’t get it, your majesty. I know Tartarus is where you keep monsters and Tirek locked away, but what’s in its depths?” Celestia sighed, her gaze shifting to look out over the horizon. “Seeing as they contacted you, I think it only fair to let you in on the truth about Tartarus.” She glanced at her sideways. “Provided you can keep it secret.” “On my word, Princess Celestia,” Yearling said, placing a hoof on her chest. “Good.” Celestia’s focus returned to the clouded skies. “Neither I, nor any other pony, made Tartarus. It was here in Equestria when the first ponies arrived.” “Well… who made it then?” Yearling swallowed, remembering the horned pony back in Klugetown. “Demons. That’s what they call themselves. Usually, they take the form of ponies or other Equestrian creatures, but they can shapeshift. When we ponies encountered the monsters of Equestria, we turned to Tartarus to lock them away. The Queen of Tartarus permitted it, as long as we only used the upper levels. The lower levels were meant for worse,” Celestia continued. “I guess it’s this Queen that wanted me to find the Kirinstone,” Yearling remarked. Celestia nodded. “Most likely. She herself never leaves Tartarus unless it is absolutely necessary. Her subjects, those who serve under her, however, are a different story. They are permitted in Equestria as long as they don’t cause trouble.” “Back in Klugetown, I saw this pony-like creature with horns, bat wings, and a strange tail. I think I saw a statue of it at the temple,” Yearling said. “You said they usually take the form of ponies… is that what they normally look like?” “When they wish to appear threatening. From what little I know of them, that is as close to their true forms as they will allow,” Celestia replied. “You don’t know much about them? But you’ve been to Tartarus many times,” Yearling remarked. “I rarely interacted with the demons, for they inhabit the lowest levels. The only time I even met the Queen was when my sister and I imprisoned Tirek,” Celestia said with a sigh. Yearling hummed, frowning as she stared over the side of the chariot. Celestia took notice, setting a gentle hoof on her shoulder. “Something troubling you?” she asked. “I don’t get it. I mean, I get why she couldn’t make it—whatever ‘bringing hell to Equestria’ means anyway—but why did she send me after the Kirinstone? Especially if she has other demons,” Yearling said. “Well, I cannot speak for her, but…” Celestia smiled. “In my opinion, I think you were the best pony for the job, if your books are anything to go by.” Yearling nodded, then blinked with realization and looked back up to the princess. Celestia just gave a knowing smile and a wink before turning back to their flight path. A range of mountains loomed in the distance. At first, Yearling thought a thick fog had descended upon them. As they grew closer, however, the air became thick with the smell of sulfur and ash. A great many smaller vents around the mountains breathed smoke into the air. As they began to touch down at the base of what seemed to be the tallest of the mountains, Yearling was surprised to find someone waiting for them. Rain Shine stood before the Gates of Tartarus, wearing her own pair of saddlebags. She looked up at the sound of approaching wingbeats and smiled. She watched the royal chariot land a short distance away. “Chief Rain Shine?” Yearling asked as she and Princess Celestia disembarked. Celestia waved to her guards to stand down as she and Yearling approached the kirin. “Hello again, Daring Do,” Rain said with a bow, before turning to Celestia and bowing again. “I am Chief Rain Shine of the kirin.” Celestia did her own bow in return. “Princess Celestia of Equestria. A pleasure to meet you.” “Chief, how did you get here?” Yearling remarked, looking around at the desolate landscape. The mountains seemed devoid of life, save for the occasional barren tree or dead shrub. “A funny story,” Rain admitted with a chuckle. “It would seem you didn’t check the back of the tablet you found.” “What?” Yearling exclaimed. “There was something on the back?” Rain nodded. “A map. And it appears my daughter was correct.” She turned towards the gate. “It does indeed lead to Tartarus.” “So the Queen left a map for the kirin too…” Yearling muttered to herself, rubbing her chin. “From what Miss Yearling has told me, the Queen of Tartarus quite favors the kirin,” Celestia remarked. “Yearling?” Rain Shine raised an eyebrow at the Pegasus. Yearling let out a nervous chuckle. “’Daring Do’ is my on-the-job, undercover name. My real name is A.K. Yearling,” she explained. “I didn’t mean to deceive you.” “No apologies necessary,” Rain said with a smile. “Shall we enter Tartarus?” “Let’s,” Celestia agreed. Her horn flared with golden magic. The diamond-like seal on the gates glowed golden, the four smaller diamonds turning in unison until there was a click and the gates rumbled open. An air of dank decay fell over the trio, and Yearling grimaced. Celestia stepped in first, followed by Rain Shine. Yearling swallowed and bravely followed after them. The second they set hoof inside, there came a terrible racket of barking. A golden shield of magic was all that stopped a towering, three-headed bulldog from snapping at them. Rain Shine’s eyes widened and Yearling nearly jumped a foot in the air. “Down, Cerberus,” Celestia said in a soothing tone. “They’re with me.” Cerberus let out a snort from each of its noses as Celestia lowered the shield. She reached up and gave each head a light pat before continuing on. Celestia’s reassurance didn’t stop the three-headed dog from giving the other two visitors curious sniffs. “Heh heh, h-hey there, big guy?” Yearling said nervously, forcing a smile. Cerberus replied with one big lick that knocked Yearling off her hooves and some happy panting and tail wagging. Rain Shine giggled at the antics. Celestia, meanwhile, walked over to an inconspicuous gap between the raised platforms that held the caged creatures of Tartarus. A flicker of golden magic was cast from her horn, a series of stone steps formed, leading into the abyss below. An abyss that was now glowing a faint red. “This way,” she said to the others. Rain Shine followed after her while Yearling wiped herself clean. She shot a frown at the giant guard dog before quickly hurrying after the two leaders. The air quickly grew hotter the further they descended. Yearling briefly paused to reach up and wipe her brow before continuing on, while Rain Shine seemed indifferent to the heat. If anything, she looked around and seemed to marvel at it. Soon, a rocky path appeared at the base of the steps, winding its way into the red, hazy abyss around them. Faintly, below them, Yearling could hear the bubbling of lava… and what seemed like the occasional scream. But she prayed she was hearing things. Celestia’s magic flared up, creating a golden aura around her and her companions. Rain Shine looked at it quizzically. “I am fine against this heat, Princess Celestia,” she remarked. “Just a precaution. I can’t say I’ve ever been down here before,” Celestia replied, scowling as she studied her surroundings. “But you said you’ve met the Queen before,” Yearling said. “She met me,” Celestia said grimly. They walked along the stony path, much like the ones high up above that led to the various cages where the worst offenders—like Tirek—were stored. The path soon reached a craggy stone wall, with a more gothic version of the Gates of Tartarus set into it. And before that, of all things, was a desk. It was carved into the stone. It had a name plate set on top of it that read “Pandemonica,” and another placard beside it read “On break.” “That… is not what I was expecting,” Yearling remarked, before freezing. A cacophony of barks and yips filled the air and grew in intensity as it approached. The gates opened, and a trio of dogs barreled out towards the group. They were stopped short by another shield from Celestia, but it didn’t diminish their enthusiasm. They were each a little bigger than a pony, with snow white fur and crimson eyes. They seemed to be nearly more wolf than dog in appearance. Each wore a spiked collar around their necks, but all Yearling could focus on was the razor sharp fangs in their mouths. It took her a moment to realize the dogs weren’t aggressive. If anything, they seemed excited to see them, with fluffy tails wagging. No, not them—they seemed to have their attention focused on Rain Shine. And Rain Shine, in return, didn’t seem scared by their presence. “Down, Cerberus,” came a casual command from the gates. The three dogs each let out a huff and backed away, sitting on their haunches at attention. Celestia cautiously lowered the shield as her focus turned towards the source of the voice. The sound of hoofsteps on stone seemed deafening. A figure appeared through the doorway. Yearling wasn’t sure who she was expecting to be living down here, but this certainly wasn’t them. The figure was a pony, a unicorn to be precise. Her horn curved forward rather than straight. Her coat was a pristine white, unblemished save for a mole under her left eye. Her mane and tail matched, both white and long save for a row of evenly cut bangs over her piercing crimson eyes, with a hairband atop her head lined with black spikes like a tiara. She was dressed formally: a red collared shirt, a black tie, and black suit jacket. But what struck Yearling was her lapel pin, and, as she approached, she realized her cutie mark. It was that same angular mark from the temple, and the one that had signed off on the tablet. “The Queen of Tartarus, I presume?” she asked, swallowing a lump in her throat. The unicorn smiled, a cool, knowing smile that made Yearling shudder. It seemed she was looking right through her. “You presume correctly. Please, call me Lucifer,” she purred. “Allow me to welcome you all to the depths of Tartarus.” “Your majesty,” Rain Shine said, giving a bow. Celestia and Yearling glanced at one another before following. “Malina tells me your quest has been successful, barring some… bumps in the road,” Lucifer continued, focusing on Yearling. “The demon from Klugetown?” Yearling asked as she stood up along with the others. “Once you had the Kirinstone, I wanted to make sure you and your cargo stayed safe. It would seem my concerns were well founded,” Lucifer said. “You can see now why I asked you for this task I’m sure.” Yearling slowly nodded. “But still, why me? You have demons down here, don’t you?” Lucifer sighed. “They’re useful for many things, but I wouldn’t call them accomplished… ‘relic divers,’ we’ll say.” She let out a bemused chuckle. “Your other friend, Ahuizotl, actually offered to help find the stone, but I turned him down.” “What did he want with it?” Yearling growled. “I would hope, for his sake, to bring it back to me, but I couldn’t trust him. You know how cats are, always knocking things over for one reason or another,” Lucifer stepped forward and held out her hoof. “Now, the Kirinstone, if you please?” Yearling slowly reached into her saddlebags and pulled the stone out. Holding it in her hoof, she realized the stone really did resemble that around her. She ran a hoof over the golden symbol one more time before offering it to Lucifer. Crimson magic sparked along Lucifer’s horn as she gently picked it up and floated it over to herself. She held it next to her, so that the golden symbol stood alongside her lapel pin. She let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, truly.” Some sincerity slipped into her voice as it softened. “I don’t have much of a reward to offer, but I’m sure the book will be worth it.” She flashed a knowing smile. Yearling chuckled nervously. “Yeah. Heck of a story.” Lucifer turned towards Celestia, her expression turning neutral as she stood a little taller. “Good to see you’re doing well, princess,” she said. “Though I still think you should’ve given me Tirek.” “If his brother could be redeemed, there is still a chance he may be reformed. That is my ruling,” Celestia said. The firmness in her tone showed this was not the first time she’d spoken on it. Lucifer gave a shrug. “Very well, figured I’d offer. You know where to find me should you change your mind.” She turned to Rain Shine, who gave another bow. “Queen of Tartarus, I was hoping I would meet you when I came here,” the kirin chief said solemnly. ‘It is an honor to meet you, a piece of our history and legends.” A faint blush tinged Lucifer’s cheeks and she cleared her throat. “Yes, it is good to see a kirin again,” she said softly. As Rain stood back to her full height, her magic reached into her saddlebags. Lucifer’s eyes widened as Rain produced a slightly battered bouquet of flowers, tied together with a teal-colored ribbon. Yearling recognized most of them as coming from the jungle around the Kirin Village, and above them all was a large cluster of foal’s breath. The kirin offered the flowers to Lucifer, who gently took them in her own magic. The queen gave them a sniff. “…Thank you,” she said quietly. “They’re lovely.” “A token of gratitude, from me and my kirin,” Rain said with a nod. Lucifer looked down to the Kirinstone, then to the ground. “You know… my spellwork has greatly improved. I can… remove the enchantment, if you want.” She looked to Rain Shine. “No more need to fear the wrath of Hellfire on your home or others, nor to fear you may turn to stone.” Rain smiled softly, and shook her head. “The kirin have come to accept your gift, your majesty. It has taken quite some time to overcome ourselves, but we have. As long as you keep the Kirinstone safe, we shall use your gift.” Lucifer gave a soft smile. Yearling cleared her throat, catching the queen’s attention, and a brief frown of annoyance. “Considering I’ve seen one recently, are you sure Hellfire is all you gave the niriks?” she asked. Lucifer gave a small chuckle. “Hellfire is more than just magic flame. It imbues the wearer with a little of my strength and… shall we say, intimidation. I meant it as a defense tool, to scare off or burn away threats.” “It’s scary alright,” Yearling said. “If it’s all the same to your majesties, chief.” She tipped her pith helmet. “I’d rather get out of here.” “Yes, of course.” Lucifer huffed, smoothing out her suit with her magic. “Usually those who visit don’t have the luxury of leaving, but seeing you are esteemed guests, you shall remain as such: guests.” “Thank you for your time, your majesty,” Celestia said tersely. “Until we meet next,” Rain Shine said with a nod. “And keep that stone safe,” Yearling pointed out. “Yes, yes. Adieu,” Lucifer said, waving them off with a hoof. She turned and stepped through the gates. The three dogs looked to the ponies and kirin and gave big fanged grins. “Come visit again soon!” they exclaimed at once, tails wagging, before they bounded off after their queen. Yearling stood there for a few seconds, blinking, as she contemplated what had happened. She shook her head and quickly followed Celestia and Rain Shine as they headed for the stairs. “The sooner I get out of here, the better…” she muttered. Lucifer hummed to herself as she walked past a row of barred rooms, like giant jail cells, admiring her new bouquet and with the Kirinstone floating at her side. Many of the creatures contained within roared or snarled at her, or shot jets of flame at the demon, only for her to brush it off like a breath of fresh air, but keeping the flowers and stone away from it. She paused in front of one cell where the creature inside was neither snarling nor shooting flames. It lay on the ground, a shadowy, spiked lump, slowly breathing but not asleep. “Well, no more harming the kirin for you,” she remarked smugly, glancing at the Kirinstone. Another creature from across the hall shot a jet of flame at Lucifer. In her bid to keep the bouquet and stone from the blast, she held them closer to the quiet creature’s cell. A single blue petal fell from one of the foal’s breath flowers and into the cell. "Rude beasts,” she muttered, brushing off the flames and continuing on her way. Behind her, the silent creature took notice of the petal. It leaned forward, sniffing at it curiously, before inhaling it into its mouth. A rumbling growl began in its throat as flames ignited, forming brows and a tuft of hair atop its head. Its eyes burned crimson with renewed rage.