When in hell, bring friends, not coworkers.
As if they were falling upwards onto a waterfall, wisps showered them from below as they descended. Like flakes of snow that lit the dark, like lifeless fireflies, the lights danced around them, as they fell and fell.
Gravity slowed down– It slowed down enough that they didn’t worry anymore. There was a listlessness that was entrenched in each of their hearts as soon as they landed– A forlorn feeling.
One thing they could feel, without even speaking, without even discussing, without a shadow of doubt…
…They were not in a place meant for living things.
There was no living vegetation, and yet, the ones present were eternalized. Dead branches, crooked sticks, all pointing in the same direction, as if a big gust pushed them all.
And the strangest of things, they looked amongst each other, and all around…
…It was a march of souls.
Hundreds, maybe thousands, as far as they could see, all marching in the same direction. Their forms barely tangible, all with the same cold shade of blue, most seeming like strange amorphic glows, all eternally, slowly moving.
Trixie was the first to speak. “...Are they…?”
“...Souls.” Her girlfriend noted, speaking almost with a whisper. “...Let’s not disturb them.”
Maud glanced behind her. “...They’re not all ponies. And where are they going…?”
Tempest stepped forward, focussed on the leader. “And where are we going from here? I don’t see any specific path– It’s just these… Fields.”
“Woooo!” Hopping up into the air, Trixie twisted her body around– The low gravity allowed her to jump several meters up, as she celebrated. “Ack, my hat–” She hurriedly grabbed it before it flew away.
“See any path down?” Starlight asked as she went down.
“Nope! Black and blue is a bit grim, but the glowing sure is pretty!” Trixie affirmed, trying to remain light. “Heck, if I could replicate these lights, I could make some sick effects for my–”
Silencing her swiftly, Maud raised a cautious hoof. “...I feel wind again. It’s weak, but I feel it.”
Nodding in agreement, Starlight once again cast a flame spell with her horn, no brighter than a candle.
They all followed its movement– And the wind followed the souls eternally, on the same dead march.
It was an open area, like a field– It didn't even seem like they were underground anymore, but the darkness was only lit by the souls and their wisps. Above them was complete darkness.
“...Are we following the wind again?” Tempest narrowed her eyes, as she surveyed the horizon. “...Or do we finally have a proper heading?”
“Sorry, Tempest, but… As usual, the right way is down.” Starlight exhaled. “We might as well follow the souls.
“Um…” Standing atop a slightly more elevated rock, Maud looked around. “...This place is flat. The whole thing is, I think?”
“Sure seems that way when I hopped up!” Trixie grinned, doing another hop.
“Wonderful.” The broken unicorn groaned. “Shall we follow the souls, then?”
“Just keep an eye out for any way down.” Starlight murmured, conserving her annoyance. “Let’s not linger– This place doesn’t feel safe...”
They began their own dead march, sticking close to each other, and trying not to bump into the souls as they passed by at a much slower pace.
It was a while before anyone dared speak again.
“...Can’t they see us?” Trixie wondered, briefly waving a hoof over a soul’s would-be eyes. “Are they like… Alive?”
“I think by definition, souls aren’t alive, Trixie.” Maud shrugged. “I wonder if we'll recognize one…”
“I doubt it.” Starlight focussed on scanning the environment. “...Unless any of you have dead relatives– Recent ones, I mean. A-actually, judging by the speed of these souls, semi-recent is fine too.”
“Can’t say that I do!” Trixie shrugged.
“Me neither.” Added Maud.
“Negative.” Tempest grumbled and nodded. “And the next layer?”
With another mildly frustrated sigh, Starlight did not make eye contact. “...Next layer must be where Cozy is. There’s no more charted layers of Tartarus– And we already passed by the only other layer with cages.”
“And funny enough, only one prisoner!” Trixie snickered.
“A-again– It’s only a matter of finding Cozy, and then getting back up!” Starlight assured with a semi-confident smile.
“Hm.” Nodding shortly, Tempest looked up. “Any plans on how to get us back up from here?”
Starlight had to pause to let a soul pass, before continuing her path– A soul or two actually turned to look at them, as they moved. “...W-well, I have a theory…!” She looked up. “Gravity here seems… Very light. Meaning if I cast a proper, well aimed propulsion spell with some safeguards, I could jettison us back to that layer, so to speak.”
“We’ll be rockets!” Trixie snickered. “Niiiice.”
“Hm. And the child can fly, can’t she?” The broken unicorn murmured, looking up.
“She can! She’s a pegasus.”
“Gravity will hinder her even less, then. Worst case scenario, she’ll be able to get far without our help.” She shrugged. “At least we’ll–”
She stopped. Her entire body froze.
“...Shadow…”
“...Did you hear that?” Her nerves tensed, as her eyes glanced behind her.
“Hear what?” Trixie looked around.
Maud stepped forward, eyes focussed on the horizon. “I think I see a way down… Maybe? Or a way up…?”
“Good work, Maud! What is it?” Starlight came closer to her.
Both of them squinted, and the Earth Pony pointed at the distance. “...See that? It looks like light reflecting on metal– A tower, maybe?”
“Hmmm…” The unicorn studied the distance as well, trying to make it out. “...We should get closer! It's as good of a place to start looking for a way down as any–”
“...Shadow…!”
Again, Tempest turned around, her heart beating faster. “Did none of you hear that??” She looked around frantically. “It’s faint, but–”
“What are you hearing? Breathe, Temp–”
“...Tempest… Shadow…!”
A few souls began turning. Turning in the direction of the broken unicorn. The more that turned, the more that gathered.
“They're saying my name…!” She took a battle stance, looking around nervously. “Can you all not hear it??”
“I don’t hear anything, Tempest…!” Trying to come closer, Starlight observed the souls. “...Are they…?”
Trixie nodded. “Look at that! The souls recognize one of us after all!”
“...Tempest… Shadow…”
It was a grim sight. More and more souls began surrounding the broken unicorn, their faces malformed, their bodies barely visible, all looking at her with despair, with tragedy. They began piling onto each other. Gathering around her on a barely see through circle, forming a wall of the dead.
And the air was getting colder. Condensation erupted from their muzzles as they breathed.
“T-Tempest… Tempest, let’s go– Why are you–” Starlight tried, but it was no use.
“...Murderer…”
“I-I think they’re…” She spoke, barely with a whisper. “I think…”
“...Killer…”
“T-they’re creatures I…” She was sweating, despite the bitter cold. “They were creatures I…”
“...Killed us…”
“Tempest, stop playing around with the souls and let’s go.” Rubbing her muzzles with her hooves, Trixie shivered. “G-gosh, it’s getting cold…!”
“Tempest, what’s going on?” Starlight’s teeth were trembling. “What’s happening?”
“...Butcher…”
“I-I’m sorry, I-I…!” The broken unicorn was frozen in place, horrified, eyes fixed on the dozens upon dozens of souls around her. “I-I was following orders, I…!”
“...MURDERER…”
“I-I didn’t have a choice…!” She pleaded pointlessly to her surroundings. “I-I didn’t know what I was doing, I-I was being manipulated–”
“...KILLER…”
“I think now I’m hearing it.” Maud’s eyes widened, watching the dozens upon dozens of souls surround Tempest. “Do you hear it too?”
To the others, it was only wailing. Only desperate, cold, lifeless wailing.
But to tempest…
“...KILLED US… ALL OF US…”
“T-the Storm King, i-it was him, I-I–” Tempest shuddered, forcing herself to turn around, nervously watching all the souls approach her. “I-I can’t undo it– I can’t undo it– I can’t take it back– I can’t go back–”
“MONSTER… MONSTER…!”
Starlight tried finding a way through the barrier of souls, but the cold was unbearable– She frantically ran around it. “T-Tempest, Tempest get out of there!!”
“I can’t… I can’t…!” The broken unicorn closed her eyes, shivering, a single tear streaming down her cheek, freezing on its tracks. “I can’t…!”
The wailing slowed down. The souls all watched her, an audience of the dead.
She was freezing.
“I-I can’t…” Until, raising her head with a manic grin, the broken unicorn chuckled. “...And I’m not going to.”
And Tempest didn’t care. She stomped a hoof on the ground. “If you were killed by me, it means you weren’t strong enough to beat me. If you were in my way, you were an obstacle.” She sputtered out hatefully, a manic smile embedded on her face. “You think I’m going to cry for you? You think I’m going to weep at the shit I’ve done– The shit that can’t be undone?!”
“KILLER. KILLER. KILLER.”
“AND I’M ALIVE, AND YOU’RE NOT!” She bellowed into the air with rage. “I’M LIVING. I’M STILL ALIVE. I’M STILL ALIVE AND I’M BETTER EVERY DAY. YOU CAN ALL GO RIGHT TO HELL IF YOU THINK YOU’LL DRAG ME DOWN– THE STORM KING TOLD ME TO DO IT AND I DID IT. I’M NOT GOING TO WASTE MY TIME FEELING SORRY FOR–”
The souls charged. All of them surrounded her, engulfed her…
And her horn, crackling with a clap of thunder, blasted them all away.
Her friends fell over with the shockwave– And all looked at her in fearful confusion.
Many of them turned to wisps, many fizzled out– But more came.
“I KNOW WHO I AM. AND I DON’T NEED PITY, I DON’T NEED SORROW, I DON’T NEED WEAKNESS!!! I’M RIGHT HERE!! I KNOW WHO I AM, AND I’M RIGHT FUCKING HERE!” She shouted out into the darkness, shivering, electricity channeling wildly from her broken horn. “I WILL NOT BE DRAGGED DOWN INTO HELL BY YOU PITIFUL–”
The souls charged again.
And she blasted them away again.
“I’M BETTER, I’M STRONGER, I’M TEMPEST SHADOW– AND I DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP, YOU CAN’T HAVE ME–”
More and more souls. She coughed and frost gathered on her mane and hide.
And blasted them away all the same.
“I DO NOT NEED YOUR PAIN, YOUR GUILT, AND I WILL NOT–”
Again, she was engulfed. The blast she countered them with reverberated and echoed, many of the souls that walked by shuddered.
“I KNOW WHO I AM! AND I DON’T NEED YOU! I DON’T NEED YOU– I DON’T NEED–”
Another tidal wave of souls. Her friends were helpless as she blasted the surroundings into oblivion.
But this time, all was quiet afterwards.
The same deadening silence, after their ears stopped ringing.
Starlight stood and shook herself, as she saw Tempest running away, not following the souls, not going against the path they took– Simply taking a random direction and bolting.
Not many souls were following her. And the ones that were weren’t fast enough– She left a trail of sparks in her wake.
“C’mon– C’mon we have to go after her!” The leader stood, and helped her friends up. Maud’s mane was electrified, blown away and messy– While Trixie’s cape and hat had gotten singed at parts, and she was even more dazed.
“I think she might have some baggage she needs to work through–” Maud muttered through coughs. “What was that…?”
“I don’t know– Let’s just go, c’mon!!” Starlight charged forward, following the trail of lightning. In the distance, Tempest let out another blast.
It was less cold now, at least. The souls around them didn’t care for their presence as they charged forward and through them.
They reached a more rocky terrain– Still not well elevated, but one with less souls traversing it.
“She must have come through here– W-WOAH–” They all flinched as an enormous blast of lighting went up into the air, illuminating the cavern, for only a second…
…Then all was quiet.
“Found her, then…” Trixie whistled, pointing at the source of the lighting.
Together, they climbed the incredibly light rocky hill, being careful where they stepped, once again illuminated by Starlight’s horn.
Until they heard the very distinct sound of… Sobbing.
They found Tempest on a crater. Curled into herself, face in the dirt– Weeping like she had just vomited, breathing unsteadily and quickly.
Starlight made incredibly silent motions to the two mares following her, telling them to stay put as she walked slowly down the crater, coming closer to the broken unicorn.
As soon as she stepped closer, Tempest, still cloudy with tears in her eyes, entered a battle stance, gritting her teeth and sending static through the air.
“I-it’s me! It’s me, it’s okay…!” Starlight raised her hooves as if surrendering.
Breathing haggardly like a wild animal, unable to contain her tears, her expression did not stop depicting rage. “...How… How much of that did you hear…?”
The trio hesitated. Maud was the first to speak. “...All of it. You were shouting pretty loudly.”
“Soooo…” Trixie grimaced, smiling awkwardly. “...War crimes, huh? Twilight didn’t go into detail, but–”
Starlight shushed her, then turned to Tempest, speaking as gently as she could. “...You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. We can find a way around the souls, too…!”
Her expression softened in response, but not much, as she looked away. “...I could use some water.”
Without saying a word, Starlight dug into their little supplies, and handed the broken unicorn a canteen. One she drank from, and handed back.
The tears stopped, but her face was still damped with them, and she didn’t make eye contact.
“...This isn’t who I’m supposed to be.” She murmured painfully, bitterly.
Starlight tilted her head, but didn’t dare respond.
“...Back there.” The broken unicorn did not look up. “I’m not supposed to be that anymore. I’m not… I’m not supposed to be Tempest Shadow. I’m supposed to be better.”
“...Oh…” The leader murmured quietly, but didn’t speak otherwise.
“It’s not even my real name. I shouldn’t ever have become this, but…” she looked at her own hooves, at the armor that she wore, even now. “...But I am. I am, and I can’t undo it. I can’t undo all I've done– I can’t undo me.”
“Back on the Crystal empire, Glitter Drops called you Fizzy…” Starlight hesitated, speaking as respectfully as she could. “...Is that…?”
“Not my full name.” Tempest snarled. “And she’s the only one that gets to use it, okay? Not a single creature in the world other than her can–” But she stopped, swallowing her anger.
Silence once more. Starlight waited until she would speak again.
“She knew me before I was this.” Tempest resigned, shuddering in an inhale. “S-she’s the only one that…”
“I’ve done some pretty twisted things before, too…!” Starlight murmured. “I-I probably didn’t do things like you did, but… I know– I know that it’s hard to forgive yourself…”
“I don’t need to– And I never will.” Tempest made eye contact, her expression hardened. “I don’t need to, because she did. She forgave me. She needs me. She… She believes in me. So I don’t need anything else.”
“...All the same.” Starlight murmured, looking down.
“...Yeah.” Tempest nodded. “...And I can’t ever undo all I did.”
“Maybe…” Taking a few light steps, coming closer, Starlight placed a caring hoof on her shoulder. “...But we can always get better, can’t we…?”
“I am better. ...And I don’t like to waste my time with regrets or delusions.” She exhaled, shaking her head lightly. “I know. I know I can’t turn back the clock– I can’t balance the scales. I know I’m the worst person I’ve ever met. I know that. I’m not afraid anymore.”
“For what it’s worth… I think you’re on the right track. And I don’t think it’s about deserving forgiveness or not.” Starlight gave her the most assuring smile she could. “...And we can move forward… Can’t we?”
Several moments passed, as Tempest stabilized her breathing as efficiently as she could.
“...We can.” Inhaling, she stooped, and stepped out of the crater quickly. “I’ve slowed us down enough.”
“Sooooo I know this is a pot-to-kettle situation, buuuut…” Trixie snickered slightly nervously, knowing she was playing with fire. “Maybe you should try seeking some therapy?”
Tempest glared at her for only a few seconds, before letting out a resigned sigh. “...You’re not the first person to present that idea. Ugh.” She rubbed her temples in slight annoyance. “Dropsy, she…” But then she shook her head simply, and grinned slightly. “...Tell you what. If we make it out of here alive, I’ll think about it.”
“That’s the spirit, buddy.” Trixie nodded wisely. "Pun somewhat intended."
“Okay. No more wasting time.” Tempest stepped forward. “Let’s find our way down to the next layer already.”
“I think I just did.” Maud looked at the horizon. “...See that?”
They all followed where she was pointing.
It was incredibly hard to see, but on the horizon, there was a colossal chain, one that went from the unseen darkness above… To down, into another darkness altogether.
It reflected the pale light of the souls very little– But from below, into the pit it was leading through, they could see another light it reflected.
One with an orange hue… A light that reflected an unseen lava river, deep below.
“Jackpot!” Trixie grinned. “Good eye, Maud!”
“I was made for this kind of adventure underground.” The Earth Pony smiled quietly. “I’m so locked in.”
“Lead the way, Starlight.” Tempest pointed with her head, speaking almost… Kindly.
“Yes!” She smiled confidently, stepping forward. “Follow me, everypony! Let’s try to move away from the souls.”
“Thank you…” Tempest whispered breathlessly. “...And thank you for… Thank you for what you did back there.”
“Of course…!” Her smile went wider, prouder. “What are friends for?”
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pinkie taught her that phrase didnt she
anyways this chapter peaked again!!!!!! also im betting my soul that tars is gonna jumpscare sunset or wallflower next chapter
thank you for your service Mog Pie
12144717
Pinkie absolutely taught her that.
Yeah, multiple apocalypse scenarios as an unforeseen result of her time-meddling isn't quite the same as the hooves-on experience.
I wonder if the Storm King would even have his soul there. Some speculate it hitchhikes it's way into the Equestria Girls' universe, but all that was confirmed was that the magic from his staff was causing the storms. If it did I wonder which afterlife he would get sorted into.
But if not... I wonder if his lingering spirit might find Tempest down in Tartarus.
12144890
His soul was sent to a place of unending pain and torment... A teenage highschool vacation destination
Friedship IS magic after all
Tempest really said I am all of me I am I am all of me I am I am all of me I am
12144717
Pinkie also often asks for help of some mysterious unseen stallion named 'Chat'