Luna and Gorgus looked at each other, puzzled by what had just happened.
“We must have hit another memory jump”, Luna said, “Where are we?”
“See for yourself”, Gorgus said as he showed Luna the map.
Luna examined the map as her eyes widened. Insomnia quickly joined them.
“Wow”, he exclaimed as he saw the level of consciousness they were on, “This is quite recent!”
“Yeah”, Gorgus responded, “There must’ve been enough of a release to send us here.”
“Well considering the amount we destroyed in one blast, I would certainly hope so”, Luna replied.
As the three looked around they could easily see a deserted area. It was like nothing lived in this secluded area.
The gates of Tartarus and its three headed powerhouse of a guardian, Cerberus, were just a few feet away from them and Darkrim was slowly approaching it.
As soon as Darkrim came into view, Cerberus rushed towards him and began licking his coat.
“Hey, big guy!” Darkrim said as he petted his monstrous dog.
The beast began to roll on its stomach as Darkrim scratched it with a smile.
Luna couldn’t help herself, but smile.
As they watched on, Insomnia tapped Luna on her shoulders.
“What is it?” Luna asked.
Insomnia just pointed to the gates.
As they watched on a beautiful Pegasus, descended from the skies and entered right into Tartarus.
Her marvelous white coat and feathers clashed highly with her surrounding and she seemed to have been emitting a bright glow, like the Sun itself bathed her.
Her mane was luscious, curly and tainted in gold which seem to sparkle even in a cold dark place like this. She had a very familiar physique as well as a muzzle, but Luna waved it off as nothing more than just a coincidence. On her flank was clearly visible a bloody red shield with a laurel behind it.
As the pegasus entered, she smiled at the display of affection in front of her.
“So that’s what you do when I am not around?” the pegasus spoke in a voice that actually made Luna do a double take.
Darkrim grinned at her.
“Looks like you caught me”, Darkrim said as he pulled the pegasus into his embrace, “Now the question is; what are you going to do with me?”
She smiled back at Darkrim and bit her lip.
“Why don’t I show you?” the pegasus said as she pulled Darkrim towards her.
As they kissed Luna turned her attention to Gorgus.
“Who is that pony?” she asked.
“That pony is none other than Beatrice Palghieri”, a mysterious female voice said behind them.
As the group turned around they could see a unicorn standing behind them.
Her mane seemed to be split into two parts; one was completely golden, similar to Beatrice’s, while the other part was painted crimson red. Her body was as elegant as Persephone’s and it shone in a light blue color with shining stars scattered on it. Her tail was quite luscious as it was painted in an array of bright rainbow colors. The horn of this unicorn was made of pure gold with gems of every color covering it and a rose pendant hung from her neck.
Everybody was in awe of this pony, except for Insomnia. He looked at her with incredible spite.
“Hello Hatite he said coldly, “Fancy meeting your flank in these parts.”
“Oh Insomnia”, Hatite said with a smile, “I am so flattered that your rage continues to grow.”
Insomnia growled at her, while Hatite just blew him a kiss.
Luna just looked at this display of passive aggression with slight amusement.
“Pardon the intrusion”, Luna interrupted them, “but you were talking about that pony over there”, she said, referring to Hatite.
“Oh yes”, Hatite exclaimed, “That pony over there is Beatrice Palghieri or as I know her the ‘pure beauty that shines through the Tartarus night”, Hatite explained.
“I see”, Luna continued, “And I guess your duty is to keep track of Darkrim’s love life?”
“Well that would be the overly simplified explanation of mine duties”, Hatite clarified, “I am, what you would call, his Love Guardian.”
“And an annoying one”, Insomnia commented rudely.
Luna shot him a glare.
Hatite averted her eyes back to the loving duo. Beatrice and Darkrim were happily playing with Cerberus, making Luna’s smile grow even larger.
“They look so happy together, don’t they?” Luna said to Hatite. Hatite gave off a vacant smile.
“They sure do”, she replied unenthused.
Luna found this a bit odd, but nevertheless she looked on.
As the two finished their game with Cerberus, they sat down and looked at the bleak Tartarus sky. Beatrice was nestled nicely in Darkrim’s hooves and he was gently caressing her mane.
“I wish this moment could last forever”, Darkrim spoke softly to his beloved pegasus.
“Me too”, Beatrice sighed as she cuddled closer to Darkrim.
Luna watched as tears of joy filled her eyes.
However, Hatite looked more sorrowful than joyous.
Gorgus was in a similar mood, while Insomnia remained just as cold and angered as before.
“What’s wrong?” Luna asked, confused by the grim expressions of her guides “they seem very happy together”.
“That’s just it”, Gorgus replied, “Their happiness is quite unbearable to witness once you know how the story ends”, Gorgus ended somberly.
“I don’t understand", Luna responded.
“Just watch!” Insomnia interrupted.
As Luna watched she saw Beatrice looking at her wings.
They seemed much bleaker then they were when she first made her appearance.
Darkrim seemed to have noticed that as well, as his expression moved from cheerful and smitten to sorrowful and contemplative.
“I wish that you could stay a bit longer. You know we only have today”, Darkrim said grimly to his beloved.
“I wish so too, my love”, Beatrice spoke elegantly, “but this is not our final goodbye. It is only a farewell until next time”, Beatrice said, with a kind smile and barely holding in her tears.
Before she took off to the skies, Darkrim stopped her.
“Wait”, he said and pulled a necklace from his back.
The necklace seemed to be made from irantium and it showed a unicorns horn on a shield surrounded by a laurel.
Beatrice was speechless as Darkrim placed the necklace around her beautiful head.
“How did”, Beatrice tried to ask between gasps.
“Hephaestus made it. I combined my magic and your cutie mark so you will always have a small reminder of me”, Darkrim said with an embarrassed smile.
Beatrice hugged him as hard as she could, showering him in kisses and letting her tears flow freely.
After saying their tearful goodbyes for the second time, Beatrice flew up and left Tartarus. Luna could feel her eyes watering up.
“As a light pegasus Beatrice cannot stay too long or the dark magic that flows through Tartarus could kill her”, Hatite explained sorrowfully.
“So she risks, on every Hearts and Hooves Day, her life just to see Darkrim”, Gorgus added on to their explanation.
“I never knew that”, Luna said sorrowfully, “but she’ll still get to see him next year”.
Suddenly Insomnia scoffed. His scoffs of annoyance soon turned into a maniacal laughter of pure insanity.
“Ha ha! That’s rich!” he yelled maniacally “Don’t you see, princess dearest? There will not be a next year. Isn’t that right, Hatite?”
Hatite averted her eyes.
Luna was confused.
“Why are you treating her so cruelly?” the night regal confronted Insomnia.
Hatite was hiding her face away from the others as tears began to slowly roll down her cheeks.
“Why am I being cruel?!” Insomnia yelled “Perhaps after you see a bit more, you will understand”.
As Luna watched on she saw three gargoyle guards led by an unidentifiable creature approaching poor Darkrim.
This beast seemed to be at least half a foot taller than the gargoyles. It had a grayish blue face with boar like tusks peering out of his lion like skull. It was rather muscular in its built and wore a dark red armor.
It had two, horse-like, hooves and long arms ending in sharp claws.
As Darkrim noticed this beast and his cohorts approaching, he became more nervous.
“Cerberus stop them!” Darkrim commanded at the three headed beast.
Just as the hellhound began to bark at the oncoming barrage, the tusked monstrosity ushered a different command.
“Cease, you hellish beast in the name of general Ares!” the monster commanded in a snarling voice.
The three headed dog cowered back to Darkrim.
“It’s okay boy. At least we tried”, Darkrim spoke as he petted the three headed beast.
Luna watched at the edge of her seat as the horrors unfolded before her eyes. She could almost hear Insomnia snickering and speaking under his voice, “Are you proud, Hatite?”
She watched as the general apprehended Darkrim.
“Prince Darkrim, I, general Ares Iracundia, accuse you for treacherous rendezvous with the light winged enemy! Your judgment shall be passed immediately! Now, take him away!” he commanded his minions, as Luna watched in horror.