Chapter 14 - Through the Gates of Hell
Early the next morning Arc, Ember, Derpy and Twilight who is clad in her Mithril Armor, all inspect the new Command Center still under construction.
Twilight looks at the building’s skeleton in awe! “This is really impressive!”
Ember nods to her. “Agreed! The princesses certainly didn't spare any expense on this!
Arc chuckles as he folds his arms over his chest. “To tell the truth, I really am looking forward to its completion. I took a peek at the blueprints yesterday, and they really did think of everything!”
“Dinky and I can't wait to see it, Arc”
Twilight points a hoof in the opposite direction. “I really hate to be ‘that pony’ but, shouldn't we get going?”
Arc turns away from the site. “Yes, you’re right Twilight. Let's move out!”
They make their way down the road toward their destination. Derpy walks next to Arc. “What about your squad? Aren’t they coming with us?!”
“Yes. I told them to meet us at the Gates.”
The party makes the walk to the Vile Tribe's new village. Upon entering they are greeted by Mythic Honor.
“Ember! Arc! Good to see you again! What brings you here today?!”
Arc approaches Mythic Honor and shakes his hoof. “Well, to tell you the truth I was hoping you could give me some advice.”
“Sure I can! How about never wear stripes with plaid?!”
“Um... not quite the advice I was looking for. My party and I are heading back into Tartarus to rescue a friend. Any advice you can give us on the state of affairs in there?”
Mythic Honor points a hoof in the direction of the cave mouth. “We've kept a close eye on the gates ever since settling here. From what we can gather, the demons seem to have all but given up breaking out of Tartarus.”
Ember looks inside. “What? But why?”
“The only thing we can come up with is they figure what's the point of breaking out of Tartarus if they will just be hunted down by strong heroes like you and Arc!”
“I guess the demons have more sense than I gave them credit for. This might actually go as planned!”
Ember rolls her eyes. “Unlikely, but I suppose stranger things have happened.”
“Do you need the Vile Tribe to guard the gate while you enter, Arc?”
“Oh, okay! Say, as long as you're heading in anyways, would you do me a favor? When we left the base, I had to leave behind many of our tribe’s tomes! They’ve been passed down from leader to leader since the first settlers. I would hate to see the demons sink their claws into them! If you could would you bring back as many as you can carry... and burn the rest?!”
Arc nods. “If there is time, I will do so yes.”
“Thank you Arc! Oh, and congratulations on becoming the Hero of Light! I know you won't let Equestria down! Well, back to my projects!”
Arc turns to Ember as they approach the cave. “How much you want to bet the Town Hall here looks about as disorganized as the one he left behind?”
“I guarantee it!”
The sentries guarding the cave to the Gate of Tartarus move aside at Arc's advance and salute him.
“Sir! Several warriors recently passed this way. They claimed to be under your orders.”
“Are the still here?”
“Yes. They are inside.”
“Thank you. I’ll take it from here.”
They enter the cave together. “Wow! All the ponies here seem to really respect you Arc! You're becoming quite famous!”
Arc sighs. “Fame comes at a cost. I just pray it's not too high...”
The party approaches the barrier, his squad silently walks toward them and salutes.
Ember looks to the barrier. “Arc, I do hope you have given some thought to how WE are supposed to enter Tartarus.”
“I have indeed! Twilight, would you and Derpy stand on either side of me please?”
The pair do so.
Derpy looks up at him. “Okay Arc. Now what?”
“Stay close!”
“Come again?”
“Just trust me!”
Twilight looks at him confused. “Well, all right.”
Derpy and Twilight walk near to Arc as he crouches down and covers them with his cape. “Start walking forward.”
The three do so and pass effortlessly though the barrier. Arc returns for his squad and Ember. He does the same for them.
As Arc enters Tartarus again… “Alright, now we just have to... um Ember... you can let go now.”
Ember continues to hug Arc. “Just a few moments longer.”
Arc rolls his eyes and looks to Derpy. “Better get your armor on Derpy. We need to be ready for anything!”
“Right!”
She holds the Spear of Hope up and in a moment is clad in her signature gold armor!
Twilight looks around nervously. “I hope no demons saw that!”
Max looks to Arc. “Demons?”
Meanwhile, from Vengeance, a sentry keeps a lookout. He calls for his commander! “Sir! That human is back! And it looks like he's not alone!”
He runs toward the King’s Audience Chamber. I shall report this to the king personally!”
The commander approaches the throne and bows. “My liege! The human has returned!”
“What?! Is he alone?!”
“No, your majesty! He is accompanied by his dragon companion, the Templar pegasus, as well as the purple pony from last time! What reason could they have for coming back here?!”
“He must be trying to release Equestria's last hydra!”
“What are your orders sire! Shall we send the army after them?!”
“No, you fool! You remember how well that went last time?! We must use a... different approach entirely. And I think I have just the bait!”
Meanwhile Arc and his party make their way toward the Vile Tribe's former headquarters.
Derpy looks around the abandoned compound. “What an awful looking place!”
Arc turns to Derpy. “It's really not so bad when you get used to it...Aw who am I kidding! This place sucked!”
Twilight looks around the yard. “What did you eat? I don't see vegetation of any kind here?”
Ember points to a nearby herd of beetles just outside the gate. “You see those large beetles over there?”
“Yes. What about them?”
Ember looks at Twilight for a long moment.
“Gross.”
Arc laughs! “It was either that or starve. They actually taste kinda like chicken!”
“Twilight makes a face. “Gross!”
Arc closes the gate before walking over to his squad. “We should have a little privacy now.”
“Sir! Where... are we exactly?!”, asked Xenos.
Arc points to the outer wall. “Look over the walls and tell me what you see.”
They quickly do so.
Max looks in all directions. “I see... nothing sir. Just barren ground!”
“Lads… welcome to Hell!”
“Where?”, Viktor askes.
“Tartarus.”
All four Lunar Protectors’ jaws drop in astonishment!
“This is where I lived for a few months with the Vile Tribe.”
Hugh looks over in disbelief. “Sir? You LIVED here?! In Tartarus?!”
“It wasn't the greatest time I've ever had, but yes!”
Max straightens up along with the others. “What would you have us do, sir?”
“We’re here on a mission to rescue a friend of mine who aided in our escape from this land originally. You four will stay here and guard this base. We may need it as a fallback point if things get... messy with the demons. Xenos and Hugh will keep watch from the wall, stealthily. Max and Viktor will go to the Town Hall and prepare to evacuate any and all tomes from the building. Stack and bundle them together. Twilight will take it from there when we return. Ember, Derpy and Twilight, pick a house and get some rest!”
All assembled carry out Arc's orders. A few hours later they reassemble in the center of town.
“Ember, Derpy, Twilight... are you ready?”
The three nod soberly.
Arc turns toward the gate. “Then let's go save a friend!”
The trek to the Hydra Marshes is thankfully largely uneventful.
Twilight looks around at the marsh. “This place is trashed! Do you suppose the demons did this?!
“Worse, much worse. I did this in my battle against the Marquis. It was the only way to get him to help me! Fortunately, we parted on good terms. Alright, spears in the ground!”
Arc and Ember plunge their spears into the ground and hold them tightly. Derpy follows suit as her and Twilight hold the Spear of Hope together.
Arc shouts out as loudly as he can! “Marquis! It's me, Arc! I've come back for you!”
The ground shakes violently and the hydra emerges from his subterranean home. “AH ARC! IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE WELL! AND I SEE YOU HAVE BROUGHT A FEW MORE FRIENDS THIS TIME!”
“It’s good to see you as well Marquis. Have you recovered from the previous battle?”
“YES! IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK! I HAVE ENDURED MUCH WORSE! BUT ENOUGH SMALL TALK! YOU HAVE NOT INTRODUCED ME TO YOUR FRIENDS!”
“I’m sorry. Where are my manners? Ember you know!”
“Sup!”
“The purple unicorn is Twilight Sparkle. She’s the one who originally brought me to Equestria. And the one who mistakenly sent me to Tartarus.”
She waves a hoof in his direction. “Please just call me Twilight.”
“And the golden clad pegasus is Derpy. She is the one whose foal I told you about previously.”
“IT IS AN HONOR TO FINALLY MEET YOU ALL! ANY FRIEND OF ARC IS A FRIEND OF MINE! TO WHAT DO I OWE THIS VISIT?!”
“I have a plan on how we shall free you from Tartarus, my friend! Today you shall see the outside world once more!”
“I KNEW YOU WOULD NOT LET ME DOWN ARC! WHAT MUST I DO?!”
“The plan is quite simple. Twilight here knows a Matter Compacting spell. We’re going to shrink you down to size and carry you out of Tartarus in her saddlebag.”
The Marquis turns to Twilight. “A BOLD PLAN! I AM READY WHEN YOU ARE, LITTLE UNICORN!”
Twilight’s horn begins to glow. “Here goes nothing…”
She concentrates as a strange light envelopes the Marquis. He slowly shrinks in size until he is about a foot tall.
“There! How do you feel, Marquis?”
“I admit, it is a rather odd sensation. You all look gigantic now! Perhaps this is how I appear to all others?”
“Pretty much! But let us not dawdle! We need to get back to the Vile Tribe's old hideout, grab the books and get out of this hell hole!”
Derpy looks around. Her spear at the ready. “I agree. This place is not somewhere I want to be any longer than I have to.”
Arc picks up the Marquis and places him in Twilight's saddlebag, then the party returns to the hideout. He immediately walks over to his Lunar Protectors on the wall. “Anything to report?”
Xenos looks over to Arc. “Yes sir! A large demon now stands in front of the Gates of Tartarus along with three soldier looking demons! The three seem to be guarding something, but I can make out what.”
Ember clutches her spear tightly. “We can take them!”
Arc nods. “Has there been any other movement from the capital city? I don't want any surprises!”
Hugh speaks as he continues to look through his spyglass. “No sir! Unless they can burrow underground, there do not seem to be any demonic reinforcement anywhere near the brute!”
Twilight appears nervous. “Arc! This has to be a trap!”
The Marquis pokes his head out of the saddlebag. “Indeed! The King most certainly does not want to let us leave!”
Ember picks up a spyglass and takes a look herself. “It's strange. Considering the thrashing we gave him last time you would think he would be glad get rid of us!”
Arc paces for a moment. “The king is no fool! He's planning something... but what?”
The Marquis sighs. “Sadly, I think there is but one way to find out!”
Arc looks to Twilight. “Right! Twilight, go to Town Hall, shrink down those books and load them in your saddlebags. Victor, can you cobble together some kind of explosive device?
“I think so. What’s my target?
“As soon as Twilight leaves with the books you will rig the Town Hall to explode. I don't want anything left of it!”
Thirty minutes later the books are loaded and Viktor is planting the makeshift bomb. They pair make their way back to Arc.
Twilight pats her saddlebag. “That’s all of them!”
Viktor salutes. “The charges are placed. How long of a delay would you like?”
“Set the timer for 20 minutes, but don’t activate it until we’re about to leave!”
Arc motions for everyone to come to him. “Alright, here's the plan. Hugh, Max, and Viktor will sneak up behind the three demon soldiers and attack them at the same time when the signal is given. While they are down Xenos will grab whatever it is they are guarding and get it beyond the portal as fast as possible! As soon as the packages are clear the other three will see to it the Twilight is escorted safely through the portal. Derpy, Ember and I will handle the Demon King when the signal is given. Everyone remember, flight over fight here. I want out of this place just as much as you do!”
Ember nods. “Sounds good, but what is the signal?”
“Viktor's bombs going off. It will help us catch them by surprise! The four of you start the timers now and get into position near the demons. We’ll give you a 5-minute head start before we head for the gate. I estimate we will take about 10 minutes to get there, leaving 5 minutes or so for me to talk to the king and see what he wants.”
They salute. “Yes sir!” The four quickly start the timers and rush to get into position.
Arc looks over the wall. “Okay. We move out in 5 minutes...”
Ember runs up to Arc and kisses him on the cheek. “Arc... I... just in case we don't make it... I don't want to die with regrets!”
Arc nods and looks to his friends. “Ember, thanks. Derpy... Twilight... thanks for being such good friends.”
The four embrace for what feels like but a moment before Arc announces it’s time to move.
“Time to go. The three of you stay behind me.”
The four walk to the gate where King Malevolence and his three guards are waiting. “That is far enough, human!”
Arc grimaces at the sight of the king. “Ah, King Malevolence! You're looking awful as usual!”
The king laughs! “Flattery will get you nowhere, runt!”
Arc pulls his spear. “How about a good thrashing them?!”
King Malevolence looks at him and shakes his head. “Believe it or not, I didn't come here to fight!”
Arc looks over at the king’s guards. “Then what did you come here for? That's quite a small group you have there to try and stop us!”
The king looks to his soldiers. “They will suffice! I come here in peace human, to offer you a trade. If you will give me and my demon brethren safe passage through the gates into Equestria, I will give you this. Show him!
The demon soldiers pull back the cloths laid on the ground to reveal a truly horrifying sight!
Twilight looks over, sickened! “You… YOU MONSTER!!!”
He laughs! “Guilty as charged!”
Lying on the ground in front of the soldiers are three very ill mares. They appear to be on the verge of death. Only the slight heaving of their chests indicates any life left in them.
Arc steps forward angrily! “YOU!!!”
The soldiers aim their spears at the mare’s necks.
“Tut, tut, human. You wouldn't want any more harm to befall these three, now would you?”
Ember looks over to the king angrily. “Where did you get them?! I thought demons didn't take prisoners!”
“Usually no. However, I decided to make an exception during your recent flight from Tartarus! A bargaining chip, if you would... All I ask is for you to release us from this place, human. After we are free my soldiers will allow you to take these three to safety. Don't you see? Everyone can win!”
Arc sighs. “…it appears I have no choice…”
Templar Derpy looks over to Arc, wide-eyed! “Arc, no!”
“I helped my friends enter here by shielding them with my cape.”
King Malevolence looks at the cape. “But I am far too large to fit under such a rag!”
“True, however my unicorn friend knows a shrinking spell which would allow you to fit.”
The king narrows his eyes. “Do it, but I warn you human. No tricks! When I am returned to normal size on the other side of the barrier, you may claim your prize!”
“Agreed. Twilight, do it!”
“Okay…”
Twilight focuses her horn on King Malevolence and he begins to shrink down to manageable size.
Arc holds his cape up. “That’s enough. Come, King Malevolence!
Arc picks up the king and carries him through the barrier. The demon looks back and sees he is indeed out of Tartarus! “I'm free! Hahahahahaha!!! After all these years! Ah! The air here is so much sweeter than...”
Arc mutters to himself. “Keep celebrating... any moment now...”
A massive explosion comes from the Vile Tribe’s headquarter! The soldiers are momentarily stunned. In that instant they are pulled backwards and pummeled by the Lunar Protectors as Xenos flies past them and grabs the injured mares, quickly taking them to safety on the other side of the barrier. Arc grabs miniature King Malevolence and dives through the barrier back into Tartarus!
The king, seeing himself back in Tartarus, screams out in distress as Arc, Ember, Twilight and Templar Derpy all surround him! “No! I was so close! HUMAN!!!”
Ember cracks her knuckles menacingly. “What should we do with this trash?”
Arc looks down at him. “The worst possible thing I can think of!
A wicked smile creeps across Ember’s face. “Torture him, like he did to those poor ponies?”
“No, worse... much, much worse!”
Templar Derpy looks over to Arc. “What could possibly be worse than torture?”
“We’re going to… turn around and walk away.”
The king looks up! “What?!”
“Let’s go!”
“Wait! You didn't reverse the spell!”
Arc looks over his shoulder as he walks away. “Goodbye, King Malevolence!”
The king screams out after him! “ARGH!!!”
Meanwhile, a mysterious being in a black cloak watches with the creature of glowing light. “Mmmmm... not once, but twice has he beaten the Demon King. Arc truly is one of a kind!”
“He has become Equestria's new Hero of Light. What have you to say about that?!”
“Only that his powers of manipulation are legendary! You just watch! Eventually, when the time is right, Arc will take control of Equestria! Not by might, but silently from the shadows! He will have the support of the public and nothing and no one will stop him!”
“So certain of this, are you?”
“You can't deny that his authority has grown to match his power! His word now carries the same weight as that of the princesses!”
As its light fades away. “You are right, I cannot. However, I still have faith in Arc's character.”
“Heh, heh, heh... we will see.”
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I love it when a plan comes together. #hadtobesaid
9661164
"I pity the fool!" :-D
It’s discord who is on arc’s side isn’t it? And Celestia is against him.
9661164
More along the lines of a plan falling apart.
10301848
On whose part? Arc's or King Malevolence?
“YES! IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK! I HAVE ENDURED MUCH WORSE! BUT ENOUGH SMALL TALK! YOU HAVE NOT INTRODUCED YOU TO YOUR FRIENDS!”
*ME
11714865
I've read this chapter over numerous times and never noticed that before.