Author's Note: Generic warning... blah blah blah... This is dark for my story... yada yada yada. Do I even need to say this anymore? Okay, with that out out of the way, on with the story.
Grim sits as his throne impatiently, tapping a hoof on oe of the chair arms. "Where is that idiot Tombstone with my wine?"
Graze smirks. "Getting a bit mad, bro?"
A vein pops out on Grim's head in anger. He glares at Graze. "Shut up, maggot! You'd best watch your tongue before I cut it out!" Grim looks over at a plate of food with a knife. "In fact..." he grabs it and gets up. He walks over to Graze, sick intentions in his mind.
Graze notices Grim approaching and starts shaking in fear. "What are you doing?"
Grim smirks at his prey. "Why so serious?" he goes over and forces Graze's mouth open before sticking in the blade. "Let's put a smile on that face." Grim chuckles before taking the blade out. "Look at you. So weak. Never forget that this is my domai. I could kill you over a thousand times and you would never truly be dea."
Before Grim can continue to monolouge, thank Celestia, Tombstone steps through the door with a tray with a bottle of wine and an empty glass on his back.
"I brough the wine, sir." he says nervously.
"Well, it's about dang time! What took you so long." Grim goes over to him and hits him upside the head.
Tobstone rubs the back of his heaf. "Well, we were all out of wine, so I had to make more. And since I'm just an earth pony, I had to find a unicorn to do the fermentation spell on some grapes and-"
"Enough! Just pour me a glass." Grim goes back up to his throne and takes a seat.
Tombstone pops the cork off of the bottle and pours it into the empty glass. He hoofs it to Grim. "Also, that wasn't all that took me so long."
"Hmm?" Grim says. He starts drinking from his glass.
"I was told those ponies just passed Gluttony and are on their way to Greed."
Grim does a spittake, making all of his wine land on Tombstone. "What?!"
Tombstone wipes some of the spat out wine off. "The ponies, they defeated Alala and are descending into the fourth circle as we speak."
"They even got passed the kraken?"
"Yes, sir."
Grim rubs his chin. "How can this be? Alright, no more just lying back. I plan to see these ponies in action. " he chants the same spell as he did earlier, making a portal showing all of us appear. "Not only are they still going, but they're all still alive as well? What kind of power do these ponies hold?"
Going back to us
We all rapidly descend the hole leading down to the next circle: Greed. For this circle, those who spend all of their lives chasing after money and riches are sent here. Now that I actually consider something that's bad. Not just chasing after money, but those who don't share any of their money either. Knowing this place, the punishments are bound to have irony in them.
As we descend, I look over to see Rhino using his Res top slide and hop around giant chains. "You doing all right there, Rhino?" I ask.
"Yeah, this is actually pretty fun." he says before hopping to the next chain.
"Agreed." Ice says, sliding down with him.
I shake my head and smile. "Nice to see you guys can still have fun during this whole thing."
"Well, don't be having too much fun, because we're nearing the bottom right now." Vine says.
I look down to see we are indeed about to reach solid ground.
"Phew, about time." Zeph says. "That fall felt like it was taking forever."
"Yeah, no kidding. I was begining to think it was bottomless." Orion says.
After another second of decsending, the pegasi touch down and Rhino and Ice hop off from the chains to come join us.
"Gentlecolts, welcome to thr fourth circle of Taurtarus, the circle of greed." Vine says.
"Greed you say?" Dark says. Before he continues, he sees a huge pile of gold up against a wall. "Gold!" he rushes over to itand starts rolling around in it. "So much gold. I'd never have to work another day in my life."
"Another? I think you'd have to work one day first." I say.
"Dark, get out of there!" Vine shouts.
"Why?" she quickly has a vine pop out and pull Dark out by a leg. "Hey! What's the big idea?!"
"Look, you idiot." she points him to the pile he was in to see a huge pile of gold coins fall on it. "One of Greed's punishments is to bury its inhabitants in mounds of solid gold coins, burying and crushing them."
Dark's pupils shrink in realization. "Woah, thanks, Vine. I owe you one."
"You actually owe me a lot more than that, but we can discuss that later."
"Hey, guys. Look over there." Rhino says.
We look to where he's pointing to see a giant machine covered in gears. The machine has a vat filled with ponies. A bunch of molten, liquid gold pours down on them, burning them as they scream in pain. Also on the machine, there's a conveyor belt taking ponies on it into a giant spinning gear where they are crushed into a bloody mess.
"Yep, I knew this place's punishmrnts would be ironic." I say.
"Grave Ponies have a very sick sense of humor." Vine says with a bit of disgust.
Aside from the giant machine and vats of molten gold, the rest of the area just looks like an ordianry cave with rocks, stalagmites, stalagtites, and small cliffs.
Orion looks around, a bit suspicious. "Hmm..."
"What is it, Orion?" I ask.
"Well, don't things seem a bit quiet?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, every time we've entered a circle there's been some kind monster just waiting to attack us. We've been here for a few good minutes and haven't encountered anything."
We all look around, seeing nothing very threatening. "Hmm, now that you mention it, yeah, it is a bit weird how quiet it is." Zeph says.
"I recommend we bail before something decides to come out then." I suggest.
"Oh, you're not going anywhere." a menacing voice says from up above.
Orion facehoofs. "Why'd I have to open my big mouth?"
We all look up on top of the machine to see... oh no bucking way!
Up at the top of the machine stands a figure none of us ever thought we'd see again. A... not even a pony, a monster we thought we'd taken cover a long time ago, stands at the top, peering down upon us with his hungry, vengeful, and angry eyes.
"ALLOY?!" we all shout in shock and fear.
(Image for anyone who hasn't seen it. I actually up a cutie mark: broken chains.)
He chuckles. "Oh, I'm SO happy you all remembered me. I never forgot any of you... Well, except my new little meals you brought." he says, referring to to Rhino and Orion.
He flies down, making a thud as he lands. We all slowly back up, all of us knowing just how dangerous he really is.
Grim watches this all from the portal he had summoned. "Hmm, it seems Alloy knows these ponies. Oh, this is too good." he starts laughing to himself.
"What the buck are you doing here?!" Dark shouts at Alloy.
The draconic pony snickers. "Well, after you and my worthless brother Steel Hoof defeated me in Las Pegasus, Celestia had found me. Rather than putting me in a dungeon, she sent me here. Smart of her really. She knew some puny dungeon could never hold me." he starts circling around us. "I should thank you all really. Ever since I came down here, I've been having a HELL of a time."
Sheesh, and thought my puns were bad.
I growl. "We took you down once, we can do it again!"
He smirks. "You got lucky. Do you honestly expect to beat me without my brother?"
"Steel Hoof may not be here, but we are." Rhino says.
"Yeah, and you best watch your step, dragon boy!" Orion says.
He looks at them. "Oh, I am going to enjoy tearing you apart and devouring you all!" he licks his lips.
I notice something. "Hey, I thought we shattered your teeth! Where'd you get more?!"
"Ha! Fool! Dragons can infinitely regrow their teeth, making them perfect for eating prey."
"Then stop talking and bring it on!" Dark shouts.
"As you wish!"
(Boss Battle 4: Alloy. BEGIN!)
He flies forward at us as we all jump out in seperate directions. As I remembered, he has quite the speed for a pony so large. He turns around and goes for Drax.
Despite knowing he can't match Alloy's strength, Drax stands on his back legs and gets ready to catch him. As expected, Alloy's strength forces Drax back as his hooves slide against the ground.
Using his Res again, Rhino is able to slow down Drax, making pushing him difficult even for Alloy.
"What's this?" Alloy says.
Seeing an opportunity, I go in with a Hurricane Hoof, but Alloy catches it, not even flinching. "That the best you got?"
"Nope!" I say, smirking. I take my free hoof and slam it between his eyes, but he doesn't move. "What?!"
He grins. He takes me and slams me over Drax, taking us both down.
Trying to go in for a hit on Alloy's vulnerable stoach, Ice stomps his hooves, trying to hit him with a flattened pillar. Alloy stands up on his back legs just in time though to dodge it.
"Oh? A gift for me? You shouldn't have." he grabs the pillar and rips it off. He holds it up like a club.
Trying to get a hit in, Orion flies in for him. But Allloy takes his new club and bats him away like a baseball.
Orion goes flying toward one of the vats of liquid gold, but Vine uses some vines to catch him.
Now frustrated, Ice stomps his hooves repeatedly, making a row of pillars that shoot after Alloy. Alloy repeatedly jumps back to avoid him. Seeing his chance, Zephyr flies down low and gets behind Alloy as he jumps back, tripping him up.
Alloy scowls at Zeph as he gives him a smug look. "You worm!"
"Not as weak as the last time we fough, am I?" he says smugly. "NOW, BLUE!"
With Alloy still on his back, Drax holds me like a javelin in the air, aiming me down at Alloy. He throws me before I start spinning and charging my hooves. Before Alloy can get up, I give an Auger right to his unarmored gut.
I jump back as the dust clears from having the ground get crushed in.
The others walk up behind me. "Is it over?" Dark asks.
"Yeah, I think-"
Alloy gets up, roaring. His eyes are now just pure white in anger. "I'LL MURDER ALL OF YOU!"
"Um... never mind."
Alloy comes sailing towards us, not really going for anypony in particular. He ends up going for Dark, the only pony not to get involved so far.
He goes flailing his limbs for punches and kicks, but Dark's speed allows him to avoid them. "You'll have to do better than that to-OOF!" he stops talking as he's backed against a wall.
Alloy goes in for a reeled back punch, Dark only barely jumping to the ground and out of the way. Alloy's hoof goes straight into the wall, creating an indent much larger than his hoof.
"Take this!" Dark shouts. He shoots a bolt of lightning at Alloy, blasting him back. Down but not out, Alloy quickly gets back up.
Orion goes in for another for body tackle and lands it, smashing Alloy against the wall. Not even dfeeling it, Alloy grabs Orion by the mane and tail and brings him over to a vat of hot gold.
"Time for you to melt!"
"NO! I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!" Orion shouts.
Before Alloy can throw him in, Drax and Zeph both tackle Alloy, making him drop Orion. Now madder than ever, Alloy goes after his new opposers. He quickly goes in and grabs Drax by is neck. He pickshim up and slams him back down in a choke slam.
With Drax out of the way, he looks at Zeph. Zeph gives a nervous smile before dashing off with Alloy after him.
Ice tries to put up a wall inbetween them, but Alloy smashes through it with ease, still gaining on Zeph.
Rhino uses his Res to start dashing around the field, trying to get after Alloy. Finally catching up, he jumps on his back and stomps his hooves on the back of his head, forcing him to the ground.
Alloy quickly grabs Rhino and forces him off. Before he can anymore harm to him, I come in and start slashing at him with my wings, but do no damage.
He grabs me and throws me off into a pile of coins. I quickly get up, not waiting to be buried.
"Okay! I've had enough of this!" Dark shouts fro the air. He charges up two grenades and throws them down at Alloy. "Eat grenades, metal head!"
*BOOM*
As the smoke from the explosions clear, Alloy still stands there, roaring.
Vine looks on the scene, trying to think of a plan. "It's like there's no hurting this guy. Even a direct hit to his weak spot couldn't take him down."
I start thinking myself. "Maybe taking him out is the wrong way to go about it." I look at the piles of coins and the ponies trapped inside. I get an idea. "IDEA!"
"Really? What?" Vine asks. I go whisper into her ear. "Do I have to?"
"Yes, you do."
She sighs. "Fine." she looks over at the raging Alloy. "Hey, dragon boy!" he looks over at her. "What's the matter, too afriad to hit a mare?" she turns around and shakes her rump at him tauntingly.
Alloy screams again. He flies at her as fast as he can, intent to kill. At the last second, Vine jumps out of the way, making Alloy fly into a pile of coins.
As he tries to get up, the souls inside the pile cling onto him. He tries forcing them off. "LET GO OF ME, YOU VERMAN!"
But before he can get out, another batch of coins falls down on top of him, completely burying him in gold
(End battle music)
We all gather around, smiling in victory. "Yes! I wasn't the first knowcked out this time!" Zeph cheers.
"Actually, none of us were knocked out." I point out.
"I'm just glad I didn't get my wing stabbed again." Dark says.
"So, should we keep going?" Rhino asks.
I breathe heavily as I lean against a rock. "I don't know. Four circles, plus the beginning, all without a break. Im feeling pooped."
"You know, other than Alloy, there doesn't seem to be any hostiles down here. Maybe we should rest." Vine says.
"I'm up for that." Dark says.
"Me too. All this flying is muder." Zeph says.
"Tell me about it." Orion says.
Feeling fatigued and tired, we decide it's best to take a well deserved wait before carrying on.
Not even half way done yet. I dread what else is up ahead.
Author's Note: Hmm, what do you guys think of that fight? I really think I'm getting better at this.