//------------------------------//
// Canto I 
// Story: The Divine Comedy: Twilight's Inferno 
// by Mint Tea 
//------------------------------//

Canto I

I found myself in the Everfree Forest at the midpoint of my life
The correct path lost, I pushed through the trees
To remember how I came brings only fog

Off the true path. But when I came to stop
Below a hill marked one end of the valley
That had pierced my heart with terror, I looked up

The tree line began to thin out ahead slowly,
but surely the terror I felt began to ease at the sight
The road to everyone, whatever our journey

I looked back at the forest I had escaped, my thoughts
Relieved to finally escape such a horrid place
I rested to regain my strength from this nightmare

And suddenly-a cockatrice jumped out from brush
Blocking my path ahead, she stayed before my face
Quick of foot I threw myself down the steep valley

Back into the Everfree Forest I ran
More than once she made me turn about
Down, forward, back, the sun finally rising

This early morning finally smiled upon me
The time of day and season, the fowl
discontinued its chase for reasons unaware

My heart filled with hope that the beast-
But not so much the next sight wasn't fearful:
A manticore roared, head high as he ran

I lost myself in gloom and weeps, crying out
for anypony to come to my aid.
The manticore only responded with roars of hunger

I continued to run through the forest, now far from
any sun in sight. I jumped through a bush to evade
the manticore's menacing chase

While I was ruining myself hiding in the bush,
Somepony appeared-one who seemed nearly to fade
As though from long silence. I cried to his pony shape

"Hello? I'm lost and could really use some help!"
"That is true indeed Twilight Sparkle," the shape replied.
"How do you know my name?" I pulled myself from the brush.

"As half of the all seeing royal family,
as keeper of the moon,
as a princess to all of Equestria,

I should know well at least Twilight Sparkle," 
the shape giggled at the small joke.
Of all ponies to meet in this accursed place, Luna?

But you-why are you here in such misery?
Why is she here in the depths of the Everfree Forest?
Should she not be in Canterlot with her daily duties?

"Luna," I finally responded, "is that really you Luna?"
I rushed over to embrace her, tears streaming
"Thank goodness you are here!" 

After a few seconds of comfort Luna asked,
"Perhaps a different path would be best
For you to find a way out of this feral place?"

"But the manticore princess," my voice trailed off
into a whisper. "This beast," she said, "The cause
of you struggle, lets no one pass Her way.

Her nature is to kill and nothing more. I don't
believe even I could appease such a vicious creature.
Only the Hyrda comes to give this creature a painful death.

And at that moment, we will have an even larger issue,"
Luna spoke with a stern voice that sent a shiver
down my spine. "So what do we do Princess?"

Luna took a step away from me and pointed west
"You'd best follow me, I will be your guide
Away from here and through an eternal place"

I stared in confusion at the Princess of the Night
An eternal place? What could she possibly mean?
"I SPEAK OF PONY HELL DEAR TWILIGHT SPARKLE

TO HEAR THE CRIES OF DESPAIR, AND TO BEHOLD
ANCIENT TORMENTED SPIRITS AS THEY LAMENT
IN CHORUS THE SECOND DEATH THEY MUST ABIDE!"

The Princess's Royal Canterlot voice rung through the air
Though it was not Luna's intensity that scared me
Surely she must be joking!

"I assure you Twilight, I will protect you to the
best of my abilities," She said returning to her normal
voice; again, her protection was not the pressing matter on my mind.

"Luna you cannot be serious! There is no such thing as-"
"Very well, if you feel the manticore is an easier feat,"
Luna looked down with a smile, irritating me.

I exercised the thought and despised my conclusion
again and again. "Fine," I said, "We will take this
"Pony Hell" as long as it is safe."

"Oh I assure you, for those alive in the waking world
Pony Hell is no more than a casual stroll," Luna giggled again
"For those already dead is another story."

Then she set out, and I followed where she lead.