//------------------------------// // Only through Love is there Hate // Story: The Frozen gate of Tartarus // by Optimistic Pessimist //------------------------------// The ice closed over the dying body of Cyroxim, the Frozen Gate of Tartarus. Twilight stood there wide-eyed. Their only hope of defeating Cronus was frozen in a coffin of ice. Twilight couldn't stop shuddering. Her tears flowed as her disbelief slowly broke down. "HA! He is DONE! Now my Army of Demons can CONQUER THIS LAND AND THE NEXT!" Cronus turned back to Tartarus. "COME, MY MINIONS! IT IS TIME TO TAKE WHAT IS OURS!" Seconds became minutes as nothing happened. No demons came out of the cave. Not even the smallest imp. Cronus was angered. "DID YOU NOT HEAR ME? COME OUT! AND CONQUER THIS LAND!" shrieking from the demon army echoed. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S TOO COLD?" Cronus did not realize the Windigoes had returned from where ever they went. And it was true, there was more snow and ice on the ground than when Cyroxim had been fighting. Cronus turned back around. "Maybe I'll have to kill you all before I can get my army out. Prepare for your death!" Cronus raised his claw. He was struck in the face with a large chunk of ice. "What!? Who dares-" His eyes fell upon Twilight. She had turned to face him. Her horn was glowing a sharp, frosty blue. The Windigoes circled high above her head, colder than ever before. When Twilight looked up, Cronus himself flinched in fear. Her eyes had turned from a deep purple to a cold blue-black. The anger on her face was just a mask for what she truly felt. Twilight snarled as ice began to crawl up her hooves. Her voice stuttered. "How dare you..." Cronus watched as the ground behind her began to crack. Twilight screamed in rage. "HOW DARE YOU!?" The ground exploded behind Twilight. Cronus watched as it rebuilt itself into a great frost golem, made of pure ice and hail. It looked up at Cronus. Its' eyes had the same frosted blue eyes as Twilight, filled and fueled with the same hatred that Twilight had. Cronus was too stunned to react as the golem quickly drew a blade out of the ground and severed his legs. Twilight smiled as cries of agony rang in her ears. She reached out with a hoof frozen over. The golem mimicked the movement, grabbing Cronus. She tossed him into the air, and butchered his body into several pieces. But she wasn't done. No, she wasn't through. She flipped her hoof. The golem flicked his hand out, sending a freezing wind, turning each piece of Cronus into a humongous ice cube. She let them fall to the floor, each of them shattering into a million pieces. With that, Twilight fell, her magic wearing out. The golem fell apart, icy remains of a great power. "TWILIGHT!" Pinkie Pie quickly rushed over, followed by Fluttershy and the rest. Berry Punch had been revived by Fluttershy. Sober, most of all. Twilight slowly got to her feet. She staggered, and Pinkie Pie reached forward to catch Twilight. The unicorn smiled, but it quickly turned back into a frown as her eyes fell back to Cyroxim. The others watched as she fell over the frozen pony and cried.