The Great Tartarus Heist!

by DapperLilArts

If you're going up, you're going the right way.

“...You have got to be kidding me.” Neighsay let out a sigh of exhaustion– The late hour didn’t help, either. “...All this, and it was not the Princess that came to save the child?”

“IF SHE HAD COME, WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, YOU FOOL!!” Tirek shook the bars of his cage in impotence– The sound and image of the arcane window he was being contacted through shuddered. “YOUR BLASTED IDIOTIC PLAN DID NOT–”

“--Do not take that tone with me, monster.” The Chancellor did not even dignify him with eye contact, as he looked out at his open window, moon in sight. “I did my part. You did yours, and the child did hers.”

“AND YET HERE WE ARE!!” He snarled, slamming his forehead against the cage once, snarling at the pain. “THIS ABYSMAL FAILURE–”

“--Who came to rescue the child in the Princess’s stead?” Tapping his desk, he leaned closer, being pragmatic. “She would have sent ponies she trusts for this. Was it the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?”

The magic eater had to swallow so much anger and resentment before answering– It took him several seconds to center himself. “It was a fucking school counselor.”

There wasn’t shock on his expression– Not exactly. His eyebrows shot up for a moment, then he resumed his stoicness, opening a file cabinet on the corner of his office, taking a few files to search through, until he found what he was looking for. “...Starlight Glimmer. Checkered past, criminal rap sheet quite high. She’s one of the Princess’s ‘rescues’. I wondered if she was truly loyal to the Princess… Braving Tartarus is certainly a statement of loyalty. Or a test from the Princess… “

“She made it all the way down here. Had some mushy sentiments to blabber on about– Then the child left with her– Just now.” Tirek snarled.

“And who else was with her? Certainly she wasn’t alone.” He feigned disinterest.

“The child and I saw four ponies approaching our residence here– But only the counselor came closer.” He let out a grumble of frustration. “And the child barely hesitated to deviate from the plan. As soon as the counselor offered it, she left! Playing her own game. Wretched traitor.”

With a light, amused chuckle, Neighsay leaned back on his chair. “The child is not nearly as intelligent as she boasts to be– But still, this is amusing– Did you honestly expect her to free you without the Princess present?”

The ancient centaur sat down, letting out a frustrated groan. “Don’t tell me you gave her secondary orders in case the plan failed.”

“Of course I didn’t. Did you honestly think I expected this plan to work at all?” Neighsay grinned, shaking his head. “No, I eliminated a witness, an accomplice, and a nuisance– All in one fell swoop, while shutting down an institution that opposes Canterlot’s interests. Frankly, I couldn’t care less if Princess Twilight actually made it to you. It would have been ideal, but–”

“--Ideal?? IDEAL?? NONE OF THIS IS IDEAL!!” He shouted out viciously. “I AM STILL TRAPPED, THE CHILD IS GETTING AWAY, AND YOU–”

“--I am doing perfectly fine, thank you.” He grinned maliciously, shrugging. “The child wouldn’t confess to our crimes– Least of all hers. Even if she makes it out of Tartarus, which is tremendously unlikely, all I have to do is intercept her. The Princess has no evidence against me– And I managed to shut down her blasted school. Everything is going as it should.”

“As it should?? Y-you–” Baring his fangs, the ancient centaur glared at him. “You were playing your own angle, this entire time. Through all of this–”

“--And weren’t you?” The Chancellor raised a defiant eyebrow. “You used me, just as I used you, just as we used the child. Don’t tell me you would pause your conquest at Canterlot’s borders– Would you?”

“You’re right.” He grinned without any joy– With pure malice. “I wouldn’t. And I wouldn’t stop at you, either. I wouldn’t stop, period. Your entire precious world is food, and whenever I escape again, I’m finding you, and I will–”

He stopped. The image shuddered. Turning around frightened, the Centaur looked behind him, as if he could see something, and then covered his ears– An enormous, titanic sound erupting from the communication portal they had.

“What’s happening down there?” Neighsay leaned forward, covering his ears. “Tirek, whats–”

Amidst the screams of fear of the Centaur, the portal fizzled out like static, and dissipated.

The night’s quiet echoed once more. There was a cricket somewhere in the gardens below.

The Chancellor blinked several times in confusion, and then tapped the runestone for good measure– Seeing if it was a simple connection issue.

Then with a shrug, he simply safekept the stone into its secret drawer again. “...Saves me the trouble of ceasing connection to his face. Blasted fool.”

He leaned back on his chair, and considered his options thoroughly.

There was only one possible threat to his current circumstances, and it was if the child actually escaped hell, and besides that improbability, decided to tell the truth about her circumstances to the wider public. All of which would incriminate her… But him, as well.

He was a cautious stallion. No stone left unturned, no chances left untaken.

After all, maybe after everything, the child would have nothing left to lose.

With an annoyed grumble, he opened the compartment, and took the Tartarian key.

---

Teeth, claws, blood and viscera.

All with pitch-black ichor dripping off them– Either no eyes, or too many.

The monstrosities that crawled towards the four ponies were heterogeneous. None were the same as the other, they all differed in build and twisted anatomy, even if some resembled on the number of teeth or eyes.

Their one unanimous similarity was fairly simple– They all looked like they had crawled out of flesh. Viscera and pitch black liquid dripping off them, sticking to their peeled-like skin in an unnerving manner.

And now they were all crawling out of the abyss– Crawling on one of the chains that the ponies that had braved into Tartarus were desperately trying to climb faster… To questionable, dangerous results. Snarls and roars resounding endlessly from below.

The wind was picking up– And it was cold, eerily cold. With it, came the smell of mold.

“W-what the heck are these things??” Cozy didn’t take much time to look down– Gaining altitude, even with her clumsy flaps, was profoundly more important than gawking.

“WATCH OUT, EYES UP!!” Tempest bellowed, before unleashing another thunderbolt down towards the lower levels of the chain– The electricity bounced off the Tartarian steel, and igniting some of the monsters– Many tossed aside, falling back into the lower levels– But many more holding on, and even more climbing from below.

“TRIXIE, TAKE COZY AND KEEP GOING!!” Starlight yelled out, before unleashing a burst of kinetic blasts at a creature made of arms– Nothing else. “DON’T WAIT FOR US–”

A beast with one enormous arm with a single claw struck at where they stood– Starlight teleported away, and Tempest dodged skillfully, retaliating with lightning.

The leader had to grasp to hold onto the chains, as the broken unicorn quickly helped her back up. “TRIXIE, I MEAN IT!!”

“B-but Glimms–” The magician stuck close to the foal.

“GO, GO!!” She cried out, before blocking with a magical barrier the violent strike from a creature with a mace-like head.

The chain shuddered– Gravity was unstable, and this was a terrible place to fight.

Trixie shuddered, getting her footing, turning to Cozy. “O-okay kid, stick close to me, okay?”

“S-screw this!!” The foal whimpered, frowning. “I-I’m out!! Worst rescuers ever!!” With clumsy flaps, she simply began flying up, without bothering to wait.

“K-kid, WAIT!!” Trixie shouted, before immediately leaping up and climbing the chains as fast as she could– Not nearly as fast as a pegasus could fly, foal or otherwise.

Starlight and Tempest were holding the creatures off, while trying to continue their ascent– It was a dangerous game of running and striking.

Lucky for them, these malformed monstrosities seemed to be very bad at holding their grip onto the chain, sometimes a simple kinetic blast was all it took.

A creature with a face full of spikes roared– Dangerously charging at them, and Tempest readied herself. “Hey– Maybe we should break this chain? Cut their way of getting to us!!” She cried out before unleashing a lightning strike down there– Smoke emitting from her horn.

“Let’s not!” Starlight gritted her teeth before lashing out with an arcane whip at the enemies. “I think we messed with Tartarus enough by dropping that whale body in the abyss-- I don’t want to know what these chains are for, and much less what happens if we break one!”

“Suit yourself!” The broken unicorn bucked a monster– It’s head was sent flying, tumbling into more creatures below.

Starlight had to jump clumsily to dodge and then teleport again– Narrowly sliced– Even using her magic to pull Tempest away from a vicious strike.

“Any theories as to what these things are?!” Standing her ground, Tempest unleashed lightning again.

“Um, well–” Starlight had to block and counter by igniting and exploding her magical barriers as they were struck– Blowing a huge worm-like monster away. “They’re not friendly!”

“I could have told you that!” With agile spins, the broken unicorn struck several monsters with her hooves, the metal of her armor getting bloodied up. “But what are they?!”

“I-I have no idea!! T-they don’t look sapient!!” She yelled out in response, before lashing out with several blasts of her magic– The chains shuddering slightly beneath her. “I-I don’t think they–”

A larger beast roared– It crawled with several hands towards them, lashing out with its tail, its mouth perpetually open.

And the wind howled stronger.

“Are they undead?!” Tempest snarled, charging the electricity within her horn, preparing to unleash it fiercely.

“I-I don’t know. Maybe? Maybe something close to it??” She winced, preparing to cast magic as well. “T-that’s a lot of blood and guts for creatures that aren’t alive, though–”

A clap of thunder echoed dully in the darkness, as Tempest unleashed her lightning blast, sending dozens of monstrosities tumbling into the darkness, the larger one imploding.

“Well, it doesn’t matter– We need to find stable footing!!” She bellowed, leaping upwards, and Starlight quickly followed.

“A-agreed! This is a terrible place to fight– AAGH–”

She felt a slice on her side, a monster had thrown itself at her, narrowly missing, and immediately falling in the depths below.

“These freaks are brainless!” Tempest declared, before grabbing the leader and helping her stand. “I'll cover our six, keep climbing!!”

Starlight’s side burned, she could feel blood slowly dripping onto her belly, but she forced herself to keep going– Her nerves were at an all time high, as she kept hearing more and more creatures behind them. Tempest would leap forward, so the unicorn would take a chance to cast another spell at the creatures, then she would leap upwards, and Tempest would cast another lightning bolt.

“I don’t think there will be an end to them!” The broken unicorn snarled, as she unleashed another strike. “We have to make a stand!”

“I’m out of ideas!!” Starlight cried out in a panic, lashing out with her magic as best she could.

“You already had one!” Tempest charged her horn, standing her ground. “You be my lens, I’ll be the sun, let’s go!”

“RIGHT!” They united horns once more.

The ensuing blast was heard two layers above them, knocking at least fifty monstrosities off the chain, those that weren’t obliterated entirely… And sent the two unicorns falling into the dark together.

---

“K-kid, slow down!! O-oh, gosh–” Trixie shuddered, looking down briefly– The sound of thunder echoing in the distance did not set her at ease, and the wind was making it harder to control her jumps. “D-don’t fly off!!”

“As if!!” Cozy Glow stuck her tongue out, gaining altitude easily with the lower gravity. “You chumps made it all the way down here no problem, how hard could it be to go back? As long as I’m heading up, I’m going the right way, right?”

“C-can you fight big scary monsters?? Neither can I! Let’s not stray far from our great and powerful allies!!” Trixie pleaded, hopping as fast as she could, clumsily slipping at times.

An enormous magical blast resounded below them– The shockwave knocked Trixie out of the chain, and sent the foal into an unstable downward spiral of flight, both falling down screeching.

Cozy struggled to regain control of her flight– But in only a few seconds, she and Trixie landed atop stable ground– Some sort of temple roof.

Trixie shook herself, getting her bearings. “Oof… I-I hated climbing that chain, anyway!” She frowned at the darkness above her, where a chain still reflected the remaining light of the lightning blast, where she could still see the dark shapes climbing it from below. “Let’s just wait for them, okay? We don’t need to–”

“W-wait for them? Are you serious? You saw how many monsters were coming at us, I’m not giving them time to catch up!!” She blew raspberries, then looked around. “...Where are we now…?”

“...A-almost there– At least I think so!” The magician walked closer to the edge, looking around– Wisps were below and above, they had ascended an entire layer– And above them, lit by the cold light of the fragments of souls, were dozens upon dozens of floating shrines and temples. “There’s one more labyrinth layer after this one– But this one is a doozy to get through.”

“Hah! Maybe if you can’t fly!” She stuck her tongue out and took flight, going upwards, towards one of the nearest temples above. “See you, sucker!” She announced before disappearing in the dark.

“K-kid, wait!!! A-ah, crud!!” Trixie frantically looked around herself, lighting the way with her horn, searching for a way up. “Dangnabbit, oh gosh–” She sputtered out in exhaustion– This kid was a spitting image of her at a young age.

She could see it, the same entitlement, the same boasting, the same… Pretending.

Pretending that she’s smarter, pretending that she’s better.

Pretending that she isn’t lonely.

Frantically, desperately, she leapt up towards another floating rock, and propelled herself upwards– Clumsily making it to a larger platform above them. “KID, WAIT! DON’T GO INTO THE TEMPLES, THEY’RE–”

She let out a yelp, startled by Cozy Glow flying right back, and mounting her, hiding behind her mane, shivering.

Blinking in surprise, she checked on the pegasus– No wounds yet. And mounting the magician wasn’t the worst idea in this situation– But she looked terrified.

“U-um, kid, you–”

The foal pointed up, with a quivering hoof.

Red eyes glowed above them– Unwavering, threatening.

Trixie slowly, but surely, took a step back… As descending from above, landing directly in front of them with a heavy, ground-shaking thud, was an alicorn statue.

But it was not a mere statue– It was an automaton, with glowing red eyes, its joints creaking, its internal components emitting hollow clanks.

Trixie stood as still as she could, attempting to smile confidently. “...Greetings! Um! We are merely visitors! We’ll be on our way–”

“PRISONER.” A strange, cold, robotic voice echoed from inside the machine– Ancient, garbled, with a nearly unintelligible old Ponish accent.

“Um…?” Cold sweat ran down the magician’s forehead, as she reached under her cape as stealthily as she could. “...There must be a mistake. We are not… Prisoners…?”

The red eyes were fixed on Cozy Glow. It took one heavy step forward, its metallic wings unsheathing with violent intent, addressing the foal. “PRISONER. RETURN TO YOUR CELL.”

Cozy Glow whimpered fearfully, but didn’t make another move.

More red eyes glowed in the darkness from above– They could hear metallic sounds resonating, as if more and more automatons were activated.

“Cozy.” Trixie whispered behind her, as sneakily as she could, trying to hide the fear in her voice. “...H-hang tight…!”

“O-okay…!!.”

Trixie brandished a smoke bomb, and did not spare time for theatrics. She threw it on the floor below the automaton, and immediately leapt off the platform she was in– Hoping for a better way up, preparing her next pocket explosive as best she could, and yelling out her girlfriend’s name.

---

Starlight struggled to stand– She had fallen near one of the temples, after the blast. She could barely make out her surroundings with her blurry, dizzy vision.

Her flank burned, and she hissed in pain as she stood, wiping blood from a fresh wound on her forehead.

“Ready for more?” Tempest grunted near her, dusting herself off as well. “...You’re not looking so good.”

“I-I’m fine.” Starlight’s horn crackled, as she gritted her teeth. “Where are those things? I hear them.”

“On their way.” Tempest murmured stoically, as she beheld the chain above them. “Our night is far from over…”

Despite the enormous blast they had delivered, and how many monsters they had slain– They could still hear them.

The wind howled. And the many cries of the beasts of the abyss could be heard, brought by the seemingly storm that was being raised around them.

“...You okay too?” Starlight groaned as she stood, ensuring nothing was broken.

Tempest’s armor seemed bent in some places. There was a gash in one of her front legs, and claw marks in her chestplate. “Never better. But this can’t go on like this.” She took a brief glance upwards, seeing potential platforms to propel themselves upwards. “...Can you move? Can you jump? If you need me to carry you, I can–”

“I-I can do it. I can do this.” Starlight nodded fiercely, wiping blood from her nostrils, looking upwards, lighting the way. “...let’s find a good place to funnel these fucking things.”

“Read my mind.” Tempest grinned. “After you.”

Time was of the essence. They couldn’t allow the monsters to gain significant altitude compared to them– And it was imperative that the creatures were drawn to them, and not Cozy and Trixie, wherever they were.

Together, they leapt up to other shrines and temples– Their ears twitched as they kept track of the monsters and their distance.

Despite the enormous blast they had unleashed, they had only slowed down the progress of the vicious army.

They made their way to something that seemed like an acropolis– Open, and seemingly not as dark within, with lots of rubble as cover. And what's more, they had a perfect view of the enormous chain near this layer– The same one that monsters were climbing to reach them.

Tempest surveyed the environment quickly. “...Yes, this will do nicely. Plenty of cover, plenty of ways to divert them… We can hold our ground here.”

Starlight did her best to focus on her breathing– Taking a few seconds to try and mend her wounds with magic. Given her circumstances, she managed to stop the bleeding on her flank cut, but not much else.

A firework popped above them– In between the many temples and shrines and floating pathways, they could see distinctively, one of Trixie’s fireworks lighting the darkness.

“...They’re in trouble.” Tempest narrowed her eyes, glancing above, then beheld the leader. “You need to go.”

“I…” Starlight looked up to the chains, then back at Tempest. “T-then let’s go!”

“No. I’m staying. I’ll hold them back so you three can make progress.” She stated simply, horn crackling. “You should hurry. We both know they will be dead if one of these things catches up to them.”

“T-Tempest– What the hell–” Starlight snarled. “We’re not leaving you down here!”

“The mission is to rescue the child, and your girlfriend is likely in danger.” She didn’t even look back. “Get your fucking priorities straight. Worry about me later.”

“I–” She once again looked up in desperation– Another firework popped above them. And the monsters would arrive in a minute. “But you can’t just–”

“Go. Don't make me throw you up there.” The broken unicorn stated simply, with a small grin. “This is what I’m here for, Starlight. This is what I was made for.”

Huffing in frustration, the leader considered her options. “If you die, Glitter Drops is gonna kill me.”

Chuckling shortly, Tempest grinned “Hah! Yep. She probably will.”

Starlight hesitated for a few seconds, but another firework popping above them immediately made her move. “Don’t die before I come back for you!” She called out as she turned and leapt onto the next platform, determined to reach the others. "And watch out for the storm!"

"I am the storm." Tempest snarled, preparing another lightning strike, her broken horn igniting.

Soon, she would have an endless fight– One she would greet with a smile.

---

“PRISONER. RETURN TO YOUR CELL.”

“O-ON OUR LEFT ON OUR RIGHT– ABOVE US– EVERY DIRECTION–” Cozy cried out fearfully, still clinging to Trixie’s back.

The magician wasn’t exactly physically fit. She understood the art of running away well, even if she had never been agile and dexterous.

The low gravity around them was both an upside and a hindrance– Every leap she made was clumsy, and even her throws were quite weak.

She would throw the occasional smoke bomb under her when they were cornered– Which was both surprisingly effective to fool the ancient machines, but also painfully temporary.

There were very few places to hide, and she wasn’t going to risk having no way out with even one of those things.

They landed heavily, cracking stone around her, repeating the same phrase endlessly.

“PRISONER. RETURN TO YOUR CELL.”

Their strikes were heavy, forceful, and uncoordinated.

Desperately, she lit up another firework she had safekept under her cape– And tossed it carelessly behind her.

It whizzed past several alicorn automatons as they flew and sprinted after her– Exploding on the open air.

“RETURN TO YOUR CELL.”

“Y-YOU MISSED AGAIN!!” Cozy complained before shrieking again– One of the metallic creatures tried striking her out of Trixie’s back– The unicorn had to do a clumsy flip, and with the low gravity, she tumbled in between columns of a temple.

“STARLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!!!”

She yelled into the darkness as more automatons entered the temple they were on.

Trixie, backed into a corner, readied another smoke bomb, as Cozy murmured behind her. “I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die in hell, this is the worst dang place I could die, I haven’t even gotten to drink alcohol ONCE in my stupid life and I’m gonna die in hell–”

An enormous magical blast blew away the metallic beast before them, and Starlight teleported in between them– Worse for wear, her mane was a bit messy, and she had fresh blood on her flank. “Trixie!! What are these things??!”

“PRISONER. RETURN TO YOUR CELL.” There were at least ten automatons either within the temple or entering it, as they all looked directly towards the foal.

“G-Glimms!! T-they want to take Cozy– VIOLENTLY!!” The magician warned, as she took careful steps behind her girlfriend.

“Then they’ll have to go through me.” Starlight snarled, her horn crackling. “Take cover, keep her safe!!”

With a confident nod, Trixie leapt atop a rock, doing one dramatic wave of her cape. “Watch closely, you wrinkly machines! Introducing the fabulous, the wonderful, the great and powerful STARLIGHT GLIMMER!!”

Although she couldn’t help but smile, Starlight had to yell at her. “Trixie, now!”

“R-right!!” The magician took cover, dashing towards a corner of the temple.

“PRISONER.” One of the machines began walking towards their hiding spot– And Starlight quickly teleported before it.

“No no. You heard her.” The leader’s horn ignited with powerful magic, as she grinned manically. “You’re dealing with the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer now.”

The battle was fierce and vicious. Starlight did not cast fancy spells– She simply took the simplest, most destructive forces such as kinesis, teleportation, blasts and barriers, and demonstrated violent mastery of them.

The automatons only seemed to attack her when she was an obstacle to get to the foal, and Starlight used that to her advantage. Their hits were violent, and she did not block them all.

Trixie and Cozy were hidden enough– But they could still hear the sounds of the battle– Explosions, betal breaking, rocks shattering.

“L-let go of me, dummy!!” Cozy complained, trying to escape Trixie’s protective hold. “She’s distracting those dumb machines, that's when we should be making our escape!!”

“It’s okay, kid…! It’s okay…!” Trixie tried assuring. “S-she’ll be fine…!”

“Gah! You’re all dummies. She’s going to get smushed into paste, and then we’re next!!” The foal covered her head with her tiny wings angrily, fearfully.

And there it was again, something the magician had noticed, again and again. The chip on her shoulder– The profoundly familiar chip on her shoulder.

This would likely be the only moment they had to talk– Trixie had to take the chance.

She tried speaking as gently, as earnestly, as calmly as she could. “...I know you get these… Instincts. These bad ideas, that… That you need to cut corners. That the world is against you, and that you need to cheat and lie to get what you want…!”

The foal stopped talking– Peeking from under her wings, suddenly paying a lot of attention to what the magician was saying– Even as they both flinched at an automaton getting blasted near them.

“...It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault…!” Trixie assured with an incredibly weary smile. “It’s not your fault, kid… It can get better from here…!”

Her soft expression changed into a pout, as she looked away. “Bah. What do you know…?”

“When I was twelve I nearly burnt down Celestia’s school for Gifted Unicorns by setting off firecrackers under the Principal’s seat.” Trixie admitted surprisingly, overwhelmingly easily, letting out a frail chuckle. “H-heck– I shouldn’t have ever been allowed into that school in the first place. The admission board thought I was casting magic, b-but… I was just doing tricks…!”

“You were…” Cozy blinked in surprise– Thinking of several things at once. “...You were expelled?”

“Oh, I was more than expelled– I was given a restraining order against the whole school!” The magician let out weary laughter. “--Back in those days, I thought my life was over. I thought that was all I would ever be, y’know…? And a month later, I had my cutiemark for magic shows…!”

“...You nearly destroyed your school, huh…” With pursed lips, Cozy’s expression softened again. “...And now…!”

“Now I’m one of the good guys! And I had plenty of time to make mistakes after that, too…!” She smiled incredibly earnestly. “L-look, what I’m trying to say is… You’re young! It’s okay that you made mistakes! Y-you can’t–”

They both yelped, and flinched, as a robot exploded way too close to them– Trixie immediately shielding Cozy from the blast with her body– Thankfully, no shrapnel or debris hit them.

And the foal was staring wide eyed– Entirely shocked at the clumsy, dumb mare that was giving it her all to save her life.

And right over there, was another mare, equally foolish, putting even more on the line.

Starlight let out a primal scream, the ground below her cracked, and a mighty blast was unleashed into the final enemy in the room– Cleavin it entwain, leaving two molten parts smoldering on the floor.

“...T-Trix…!” She muttered, looking back, breathing heavily.

“I’m here! I’m here, Glimms!” She ran over quickly– And Cozy followed behind, hesitantly.

The two unicorns were distracted. This is where she could fly away again.

But she didn’t. She stayed and studied them intently.

“T-talk to me. You doing okay…? Did Tempest–” Loud thunder echoing below them gave her an answer. “...She stayed behind, didn’t she…?”

With bruises and wounds and blood on her muzzle, Starlight had to breathe with every word, as she leaned foreheads with her love. “...I have to go get her… You two need to make it to the next layer. It has to be safer than this one…!”

“G-Glimms– W-what if you don’t–”

“You’re my kite, you know that…?” The leader smiled weakly, as she breathlessly embraced her love. “I-I couldn’t stay afloat without you…!”

Trixie embraced her, trying not to consider the worst might happen out of this, and that this might be the last time they saw each other. “...I love you too, Starlight. Knock em’ dead for us, okay…?”

With weak, frail chuckles, the leader whispered in her ear. “...If you make it up there without me… Tell Glitter Drops we’re even.”

And immediately, she left the embrace, and began walking in the opposite direction.

The only time she stopped was when Cozy spoke her name.

“S-Starlight, w-wait…!” She weakly called out.

The leader froze, looking back expectantly.

There were a lot of things Cozy could have said– But she chose here, like she had many times, to be as pragmatic as she could.

“T-those big ugly monsters– They probably count as prisoners too, just like me!!! T-try to get some of those big dumb statues to see them! Maybe they’ll help you fight…!”

And Starlight smiled– It actually was a potentially brilliant idea. She gave both of them a thankful, exhausted nod, and galloped out of there.

“O-okay. Okay.” Trixie murmured, before turning around and baking her way out of the opposite end of the temple, incredibly carefully, scanning the environment above them.

It was weak, it was faint, but she thought she could see the way into the next layer– On a steep, seemingly carved wall, a small square-like passage. “...That’s the way out…!”

“I… I…!” Cozy hesitated, trying to suppress tears, as she clinged to Trixie’s back. “...I didn’t even say thank you…! Why didn’t I say thank you…?”

“Y-you’ll get to, kid!” Trixie did her best to smile confidently. “You’ll get to. This isn’t the end of the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer.”

---

Author's Note:

Sometimes I think about how this is about colorful ponies that learn about friendship. And as a writer I'm just putting them in hell

Sooooo I did say that the pacing would get different when they're going on their way up, heh. We're leaving any comfort zone here. I can say for certain I love fusing mythology into the mlp's natural lore (Hell, the canon has greek, chinese, norse and egyptian stuff in several places already) So I've also been inspired by other pieces of media that use mythology heheh

Worth statin, about the intro: It's a safe bet to guess that Neighsay's ideal outcome for this would have been Twilight and Tirek taking each other out in the depths of Tartarus, Cozy Glow could be a causality, but he doesn't care about her either way.

He planned it while planning for failure, covering his tracks. There's no way to incriminate him... Yet. Cozy sure has testimony, since she was there.

Either way. Things are heating tf up.

Also unused joke I couldn't find a way to fit in here lmao. Safe to say, Cozy doesn't feel this way anymore lol

Also keep this in mind, but the fact that Sunset and Wallflower are sleep deprived is an actual plot point, lmao. They're going to be sleeping in. For now, no more chapters with them because they are SLEEPIN

Anyways. I do feel a biiit tired of this fic. So after I write the next Sunset Elysium chapter, I think I'm gonna write a Principal Celestia one shot!

...Also this chapter made me remove the slice of life tag. We've moved beyond that.

Comments

[TCC56]

So after I write the next Sunset Elysium chapter, I think I'm gonna write a Principal Celestia one shot!

Heck yeah.

[forkbobm]

MAUD IS DEEPER IN THAN THE LAST IMAGE SENT,,,,,,,,,,, oh no,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
also this chapter was INSANE,,,,,, dont have time to take out every little bit that i wanted to comment on but like, WOW /positive
praying those 2 or 3 girlbosses make it out alive somehow

[Box-Corner]

They're going to be sleeping in. For now,

"Sunseeet, It's time to wake up"

"Nrrrg... five more minutes..."

"Sunset, you need to free your friends from Tartarus"

"Lemme sleep... they can fight horrors beyond imagination for a little bit..."

"Sunset. If you don't wake up I'm showing Wallflower your baby photos"

"I'M UP!, I'll let the others out of the gate! pleeeeease don't destroy what little dignity I have left!"

"Pfft, don't worry, she already showed me them"

"Noooooooo!"

[thinglet247]

And then there was one.

[NueGirl]

I find it funny that Trixie kinda gave an Reverse-Saul Goodman speech to Cozy

I mean like an actual Saul Goodman speech to someone they see as a younger version of themselves and all

[FanOfMostEverything]

“You’re my kite, you know that…?” The leader smiled weakly, as she breathlessly embraced her love. “I-I couldn’t stay afloat without you…!”

This is the most adorably Starlit way of saying “I love you” that I’ve ever seen.

In any case, all caught up and eagerly awaiting future installments. I get the sense that this is going to get even messier. The question is just how big the explosions will get, and whether Neighsay will find himself in the blast radius.

[Yomanpony]

“PRISONER.” A strange, cold, robotic voice echoed from inside the machine– Ancient, garbled, with a nearly unintelligible old Ponish accent.

He boutta say,"hate, let me tell you about hate"

[ZoeyHorse]

Oh cozy glow we're really in it now

I stg I've commented that before haven't i