Rider from Tartarus: Retribution

by Wild Riot

Resolve

Silver Hoof's POV Present Day

The march to Tartarus was a long and difficult journey. I lost my nerve several times and considered the possibility of forsaking my duty, and returning to Canterlot in absolute shame.

"Twenty-four cups of cider on the wall, twenty-four cups of cider. Take one down and pass it around, twenty-three cups-" finally snapping after nearly two days of ear-butchering singing, I pulled the wailing corporal within striking distance.

"Corporal Sentry, I swear if you so much as speak another world I'll make sure to leave somepony in Tartarus!"

"Sir, why would you leave somepony behind? Did you forgot to bring enough water for the trip back?" he asks me with a honestly confused face.

"No, you motherless son of -"

"Lieutenant, the gates are within view," one of the vanguard stopped me before I could choke the young corporal to death.

'Thank Celestia' I returned the corporal to his place with the care he deserved. "Okay gentlecolts, we must report to her majesty before the sun sets. Double time!"

"Yes, sir!"

No matter how much of an experienced warrior you are the black gates of Tartarus is an unnerving sight, but this time the tension didn't come from the doors themselves. No, it was the lack of the red armored guards besides said doors that unnerved us enough to draw our weapons.

Fortunately the outpost was still standing and restored my hope of delivering a satisfactory report to the princess, only to step inside and watch my hopes getting squished right in front of me. In a word, the place was a mess; flipped tables, broken glass and tear down walls greeted us.

"Perhaps there's nopony home?" 'I swear, when this is over I'll recommend Corporal Sentry to the Frozen North Watch.'

"Okay...," I say tired from resisting my murderous impulses, "let's secure the tower."

"Is *cough* somepony in there?" we heard a weak voice coming from upstairs.

There we found an injured gatekeeper sitting in the corner, holding a lance pointing at us.

"Where those the light born?" he managed to say between gasps.

I recognized this as the code for guards to identify one another, but just in case the corporal said something stupid I put my hoof in his mouth and say the password, "beyond the darkness in pony's hearts."

"Thank the sisters, you sure took your time," he lowers his weapon in the middle of doing his best effort to stand on all fours.

"What happened gatekeeper?" I say helping him in his endeavor. "Corporal bring the first aid-kit!"

"The black swarm happened. Changelings, they drew Cerberus off the gate and engaged us from above...," he starts to faint right as the corporal arrives with the first-aid.

'Changelings? This is getting way above our heads.' "We have to send word to Canterlot immediately! Swift Spell, prepare to send the full report to her majesty!"

"Wait," the gatekeeper struggles to stay awake as he deliver the only news I didn't want to hear, "I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up because I heard screaming from bellow. I barely dragged down the stairs, th-then I saw him tearing down the kitchen."

'Him? Please don't be him, please don't be him.' "Who did you saw?"

" It was-...

---

Beel's POV Present Day

The following days went by like a dream, albeit a weird dream.

I made myself a home in the ruins of Celestia's palace. At first I found it uncomfortable with the bad memories the place brought me, however the roof over my head and the amount of fruit near it, quickly won me over. But without a doubt, the best thing about it was the silence, the sweet silence. 'No shouting ponies nor giant centaurs. Beautiful.'

I seriously found myself living there till the end of my days, that's until I read Star Swirl's diary.

"What?! They're immortal?!" the one responsible for all my woes still lived, but could they be killed? 'They feared death, of that much I'm sure.'

Even for my dislike of reading I used all of my daylight hours to finish the diary. Most of it was ramblings; harmony, trees, weaken states and balance, filled the pages of the old book. Nonetheless there was some useful information in there. Turns out Celestia was planing to build a new castle in the mountains of the north. Further reading of the castle archives revealed a map to said castle and a name.

"Canterlot," 'a lame horse pun. Of course.'

I didn't know what to do at this point. Challenging them again seemed to be the only thing in my mind all those years in Tartarus, however now that I had a makeshift home and a little bit of peace and quiet, I didn't want to leave. 'But how long can it last? How long can I last without my weapons... My weapons!' It finally hit me, 'where were my things?'

~#~

I always thought that Celestia was the kind of prick that liked to see their trophies everyday, all the time. So, when your trophies are massive statues there is only one place they could be.

"The royal gardens."

Much like the rest of this place the gardens were a mess. It had an air of isolation, but it wasn't as savage as the rest of the forest. Despite that, finding proof that the place was once the garden of royalty was hard to do. It took some time but after what felt like hours, I found a base in the center of the would-be garden.

'It's too small,' in the front there was a small word engraved. "Discord."

'They probably broke it the moment they tossed me into Tartarus,' in my frustration I kicked the nearby bushes with all my strength. Using violence to deal with frustration was a bad habit of mine, one that from time to time came in handy. Instead of overgrown plantlife my feet met solid stone.

It was a massive base, big enough for it. I looked for a inscription just like the last one. It was in the left side.

"Rage," I almost snort reading it. 'Fitting. Considering the last time I saw them.'

'The last time I saw them...,' memories from that day invaded me along with the promise I made to one of the few ponies I called 'friend'.

I felt a deep regret remembering all this time I've been slacking in the forest, forsaking my oath to the only one who gave a shit about me. Not wasting anymore time, I went to the tower I made my room to gather what few supplies I collected during my stay, and the map to Canterlot. Setting out once more into the forest with my memories of the last day fresh in my mind.

---

Beel's POV 1428 years ago

I knew it was trap; the sudden rain, the lack of people in the streets, no guards at the door, and a lonely Celestia in the empty throne room. What was left of my common sense screamed to turn back at full speed.

It didn't mattered anymore.

I don't know what Celestia was thinking by preparing this whole scenario, but I didn't came here to talk. The moment I had her in range I started shooting. Her surprise was short lived, before I realized Celestia was in the air answering in kind. I understood the gravity of my mistake after trying in vain to dodge the incoming barrage.

The wet tires made it impossible to control the bike in the already narrow area. Her shots were precise, the only reason I was still conscious was for the deep fire boiling within my stomach. Pressing her advantage, she forced me off the bike with a well placed shot to my left side.

'Big mistake.'

Through the years I learned that the bike and I shared a link. It took a lot of time and practice, but if I focus I can call it to my side. With that in mind, I allowed myself to retreat to the nearby corner. It gave Celestia confidence enough to land in front of me.

'Perfect.'

Celestia was telling me something I didn't hear over the strain of the mind link. I barely looked at her face I was concentrating on the incoming bike behind her. My plan worked, she was so busy declaring my defeat that by the time she saw the bike it was too late. She was on the floor, most likely with a few broken ribs. I drew my gun and aimed it directly to her head.

"Say goodbye," I say with a conviction that I lacked in reality.

In my mind I couldn't help to have doubts; 'Was I ready to prove all those ponies they were right calling me a monster? Was I ready to take a life? Was I ready to be just like her?'

'Yes.'

I fired too late, a bright light moved Celestia from the ground to the other side of the room. It was Luna with six gems in tow.

"Just like I told you sister, a heartless monster who pays no heed to reason!"

"... Yes, you were right," by now I was fuming at the mention of being a monster, "you leave us no choice, Beelzemon!"

I was about to lash out, when the six gems began to spin followed by a blinding light. Seconds after a rainbow shot from the gems.

'A rainbow? Do you think I fear a damn rainbow?' "Double Impact"

This time there was no collision instead the rainbow merely passed through the bullets leaving only stone in its wake.

In the last possible second I managed to jump out of the way, but not without a price. A quick glance back confirmed my curiosity, both of my guns and my bike had become garden accessories. I was so taken back by the sight that only the sound of the sisters falling of exhaustion managed to break my astonishment.

"Celestia!" I was back on my feet and approaching the downed alicorns. I was ready, no more doubts, I pulled my arm back and... the hit never came. A golden chain held my arm. 'It was him.'

"I will never forgive you, Beelzemon! You stole the life of my only friend, and I will see that you rot in Tartarus for it!

"Star Swirl!" I couldn't say anything else before more chains appeared from thin air pulling me to the floor. A sense of dread came over me. I felt my own end near, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of showing fear, "I'll get out, it doesn't matter the time it takes, I'll get out and you'll regret not killing me like yo-"

I never finished my warning. A final chain went for my head and the next time I opened my eyes, I was in Hell.

Author's Note:

As always M Specter turned terrible grammar into a coherent chapter.
Just a heads up, last chapter I incorrectly named Star Swirl, Star Scroll... I have no words to say. By the time you're reading this I already fixed it. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Thanks for reading.

Comments

[giz]

interesting
but should be able to create new weapons.
also, the digimon by positive or negative human emotions are affected

and also he was fighting in the tartaro ought to be even stronger and resistant clear if you decide to stick to the canon digimon
and finally would like to see this

[Zaralann]

Awesome chapter!

[Wild Riot]

4036244
Yes I'll follow the digimon cannon and blast mode is probably the single most requested thing, and yes I'll get eventually to it.
Thanks for the feedback.

[InOpperable]

the rainbow merely passed through the bullets leaving only stone in his wake.

I didn't know rainbows had genders

[Ponyzerker]

You are going good, only fault is shortness of chapters and some writing errors.

[Wild Riot]

4038250 Thanks, I already fixed it.

[GuyverAlpha]

I could not let these slide:
I knew it was a trap; the sudden rain, the lack of people in the streets, no guards at the door, and a lonely Celestia in the empty throne room. What was left of my common sense screamed to turn back at full speed.
It didn't matter anymore.

[Hekkar]

"Rage," I almost snort reading it. 'Fitting. Considering the last time I saw them.'

Is there some kind of connection between some authors that I am not getting? Like how there is a reference here to MineLittleDashie's story called Enraged? Or is it a coincidence?