> Tales from Tartarus: The Return of the Old Gods
>  by Brian Core
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> And so our story begins...
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Tales from Tartarus: The return of the Old Gods

Before a roaring campfire, little fillies and colts laughed and told jokes to one another while an older silver furred pegasus stallion watched over them with a smile. Watching such youth made him smile then called out, "Please everyone. You wanted a campfire story and a campfire story is about to told." Ears flicked as each of the fillies and colts soon sat around the campfire. With a small smile, the stallion cleared his throat, "Now, what story did you all wish to hear again?" The colts murmured amongst themselves, some conversing with the fillies as well while the fillies did the same. Soon they came to a consensus and one of the fillies asked, "Umm, Silver Quill sir? Could you tell us a story about Tartarus?" The stallion cocked an eyebrow, the young ponies wanting to hear of a story where supposedly evil creatures were imprisoned and the gates of Tartarus guarded by the great three headed canine, Cerberus.

"Aren't you all a little bit young to be hearing a story like this?" Silver Quill asked, getting up then walking over to his saddlebags to unclip then pull out a battered book from his saddlebag which bore a silver feathered quill and a half-written book. He walked back to the campfire and laid it before him to unclasps the lock keeping the book closed. The colts and fillies nodded eagerly, smiling widely and couldn't wait to hear the story. Silver Quill smiled then flipped open the book with his hoof while he got comfortable laying on his belly, "Well alright then. I can't exactly tell you about Tartarus considering nopony has ever seen inside of Tartarus and returned... However though, there is plenty of stories of those who supposedly came from Tartarus." The young ponies squealed in excitement and clapped their hooves together. Looking down at the book after making sure it was far away from the fire and clearing his throat, the stallion smiled then began to read from the book, "Our tale begins after the ascension and crowning of Princess Twilight Sparkle..."

In the Southern Badlands, on the outskirts of changling country, the great three headed dog Cerberus stood at ever vigilant attention for anyone who dared to approach the great gates of Tartarus. Behind this gate of Tartarus, a vast ocean of lava surrounded somehow a fertile and green mass of land thrives. Ornate buildings stood tall and proud whilst ponies went about their business, running stores, pulling carts, maintaining their buildings and clouds. These ponies went about as if this was normal, being on an isolated mass of land but surrounded by a lava. Upon a great hill was a palace of ancient architecture, built from marble pillars, polished stone while it was decorated with heartwood furniture and dyed wool tapestries depicting a platinum colored alicorn with a blazing orange mane sitting regally above a shield with two swords crossing behind it. Wording was stiched within the tapestries that read "Pax Æterna."

The hoofservants worked to and fro, keeping the floors shiny and polished while others dusted the shelves containing scrolls and tomes riddled with wax seals and ancient words respectively. Upon a marble dais, the platinum colored alicorn sat upon a grand bench made of the heartwood atop the dais covered with a large feather pillow that was dyed a royal purple while being fed grapes from a unicorn mare hoofservant. The alicorn held herself with the air of a Princess and when she was finished with the grapes, the alicorn looked at the unicorn mare that fed her the grapes then smiled. The unicorn smiled back and bowed, setting the rest of the grapes in a bowl when a pegasus stallion approached the bottom of the dais and bowed before the alicorn, "My goddess, he has arrived."

The female alicorn nodded toward the messenger pegasus, grining, "Everyone, please leave me and send him in on your way out." The alicorn commanded gently as she watched the numerous hoofservants courteously before all the stood in the room after the doors had shut was the alicorn goddess and a lone alicorn stallion. The male alicorn slowly approached the dais and as the alicorn upon the dais smiled wider as he approached before standing up from the bench and slowly walking down the dais to meet the alicorn stallion at halfway. Once they reached each other, the alicorn goddess crooned her head to the smaller alicorn before him with her horn glowing softly. The alicorn stallion's horn glowed in return while a smile was plastered across his face then their horns touched, sparks parting between the gaps of their horns before starting to nuzzle each other. After a moment of silence, the alicorn stallion spoke up, "Greetings, mother." The goddess smiled softly wider to herself as she spoken to and replied, "Welcome home, my son. Did you complete your training?" Her voice went from sweet and warm to strict and stern but still bearing that motherly tone. Slowly the male nodded, "Yes mother, I have done my training for the day."

The elder alicorn smiled softly, draping a wing over her child to indulge his old memories. The male alicorn smiled and closed his eyes, feeling his mother's feathers running over him before looking up at her, "I recall you mentioning this morning that we were going to see dad." She flicked her ears before nodding, "That is correct. Let us leave to see your father. I have something to tell you after we see him, Indomitable Bulwark." He raised his eyebrows upon hearing his name but soon nodded, "Alright."

The pair of alicorns left the ornate palace interior to the gardens that fews ponies tended to the flowers, several of the flowers were bluebells, sunflowers, daffodils, snapdragons, and various other flower species. Approaching a hill with a lone weeping willow tree and a lone tombstone atop the hill. The alicorns laid on their bellies before the tombstone, the engraving was worn but still clear in its message. 


Here Lies Nimbus Cloud
Caring Husband
Loving Father
Honorable Stallion
May His Life Transcend Death And Teach Us His Virtues


Bulwark was the first to start speaking, "Hey father... How are you today? Enjoying the nice day? Oh I can't complain. Mother makes sure I continue my training and you would've been proud to see how I've grown. Many of our ponies say that I am your spitting image but I always tell them that is taking it just a litte far. You were an amazing stallion in your own right and time." The mother alicorn gently smiled and held back tears as her son spoke to her deceased husband as if he were still living and responding to his words. After Bulwark had finished speaking, she began, "Yes, I'm here, my dear Nimbus. I've missed you too. It is true what your son says. He keeps up with his training but today is a really big day. There is grim tidings that have been encroaching on the edges of the land we've made hospitable here in Tartarus. The evils that kept to their own are encroaching on our lands, not to take them but to reach the gate. They can sense it. The seals are weakening. In my name, Pax Æterna, I must send our son out from Tartarus to bring a warning. How did we do this? We've been rationing the focusing crystals and our best unicorns and myself. Our combined magic will open the gate long enough for Indomitable Bulwark to slip through. He must do this. The overworld may have forgotten about us but we have not forgotten them. We can bring them their salvation from what evils once plagued the overworld and send them back if they get loose. I'm sorry, my sweet Nimbus Cloud... there is no other alternative and he is the only one capable of doing this."

A silence fell over the grave then the two slowly rose to their hooves and after bowing their heads in silent prayer, they made their way back to the palace but more specifically to a part of the palace constructed of basalt. As they passed through iron doors, they were greeted by a sharp increase of temperature and the sound of a hammer banging against metal on an anvil. An dark coated earth pony toiled in front of a grand forge, hammering away at a helmet he was working upon before his eyes caught the platinum colors of Pax Æterna and Indomitable Bulwark. "Aaaaah! You have arrived right on time!" The pony welcomed with a deep voice, "Your order is complete, Goddess. After many months, I have completed it." The pony quickly trotted over to a mahogany wood box and pulled it out before putting it on a side table before the two alicorns whom promptly moved over to see what was within the box.

The earth pony opened the box and revealed a platinum silver medallion, adorned with a shield and two swords crossing behind it from the tops, "Making the armor was easy, Goddess. The magic needed to condense it down to this size was the tricky part. But it is done." He then sealed the box and nudged it over to the two alicorns. Pax Æterna lifted the box with her magic and nodded at the blacksmith, "Thank you Shatter Steel for doing this immense task." Shatter Steel bowed, "It was my pleasure to work with such an art that hasn't been performed in almost a millenia. It took the better part of the year to finish it, with the armor design to condesne down and the magic to do it in the first place." Indomitable Bulwark remained quiet, questions in the back of his head wondering why such armor was ordered to be made by his mother but decided to save it until they were in private again.

Pax Æterna nodded then started to leave the smithy with Indomitable Bulwark in tow, heading back to the throne room. Taking her spot upon the heartwood bench, she looked upon her son, "My son, there is grave tidings from the borderlands. Scout reports indicate that malevolent spirits are amassing in number to follow under a single banner. What is even more grave is the motive for these isolationist spirits to fall under one banner is unthinkable..." Indomitable sat on his haunches as he listened to his mother, taking her pause to ask questions, "What is it that motivates them? Do they move to attack us? Are they seeking to take our 'heavenly' slice of Tartarus?" Pax Æterna waved her hoof to silence her son, "My son, do you recall how our ponies were brought here?" Indomitable nodded, "Through a gate of Tartarus that was magically sealed over a millenia ago." A silence fell over then eventually his eyes went wide, "Mother... do you mean to say that the seals that keep the gates closed are weakening?"

Pax Æterna slowly nodded, "Yes. Even now I can sense its magic fading. It's not weak to the point where brute force could force the gate open but with a high concentration of magic at this point, some could escape. This is why I summoned you my son. For you see, it is not just our gate that is losing its protective power... Reaching out as far as I can with my senses, I can tell that other gates that lead from Tartarus to the overworld are weakening. A message must be sent to the overworld's leaders." Pax Æterna rose from her bench, looking upon her son with disheartened gaze and her heart was heavy, "It is with great reluctance I have chosen to send you, Indomitable Bulwark, first born son of Nimbus Cloud and Pax Æterna, to bear this message and do everything in your power to rally the forces of the overworld against the evil denizens that gather to burst forth from their respective gates. I'll do what I can to stall for time here but..." Pax Æterna shook her head, looking up at Indomitable Bulwark, "My son, don the medalion."

Indomitable looked down upon the wooden box and opened the box then stared upon the medalion. Lifting it up with his magic, he slipped it over his head and looked up at his mother as he was confused of what was going to happen. "Repeat after me, Bulwark: My shield, unmoving. My sword, unforgiving. My armor, unbreakable. My morale, unshakable. I am at the speartip, moving to end strife. I am the shield that defends the weak, who cannot defend themselves. For eternal peace, I march for war to end war. I fight war so nopony else has to, for peace and harmony may reign once more so I can lay my sword to rest!" Indomitable Bulwark cleared his throat, repeating his mother, "My shield, unmoving. My sword, unforgiving. My armor, unbreakable. My morale, unshakable. I am at the speartip, moving to end strife. I am the shield that defends the weak, who cannot defend themselves. For eternal peace, I march for war to end war. I fight war so nopony else has to, for peace and harmony may reign once more so I can lay my sword to rest!"

The medalion hummed and glowed with magic before condensed plates of armor surged forth from the medalion. Indomitable Bulwark was startled as his body was sudden armored, taking several steps back as his armor was covered in somewhat reflective platinum armor which covered him from his flank to his head. The armor formed around his wings and horn and left him armored from head to hoof save for the wings and horn. Across his back rested a shield and a broadsword similar to what he trained with. Pax Æterna smiled just slightly seeing the armored alicorn before her and slowly came down from the dais, "My son," She started which grabbed Indomitable Bulwark's attention, "You are ready."
> Through the Gate
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((Author's Note: It is my intention that with particular sequences and such, I will put in links to music that I felt fit the situation at the time. It will mostly happen to sequences that you will see below.))

Hoofservants went to and fro, scrambling in hurry to collect supplies that Indomitable Bulwark after a stir that Pax Æterna made last night. Pax Æterna made it a point to show to her little ponies that she was approachable and no pony should fear her so once a month, she took from the palace the first ponies that arrived with her in Tartarus and held a great feast for all. Every year since the First Feast was marked for the ponies to play, celebrate, and enjoy themselves to improve spirits and morale. The aim was to show, despite their predictament of being trapped in Tartarus, they were all still alive to this day since the gate that she and her little ponies' ancestors was sealed shut behind them almost a millenia ago. Happy, thriving and bliss in the air, the ponies celebrated their good fortunes and that their goddess made these public appearances for it pleased the ponies to no end.

However the news she delivered changed that tune.

Everypony in their little slice of Tartarus from young foals to elder stallions and mares had filled their bellies with the finest food and drink they could gather for the yearly celebration of their survival since banishment. Pax Æterna rose from her seat at the head of the long table while the ponies, out of respect, quickly quieted as they eagerly awaited to hear an inspirational speech from their goddess and the plan for this year. Pax Æterna remained quiet for the longest time even though all the ponies present at the feast had long fell to silence as she mentally debated in her mind if the news of encroaching evil along their borders should be told. With a sigh and a quick swig of her drink to wet her mouth and throat, she began, "My little ponies. Another year has passed since the banishment of myself and your ancestors almost a millenia ago. I wish to congratulate you all for helping us survive to see another year come to pass in our piece of Tartarus that your ancestors staked a claim on and turned what was once a barren wasteland into fields of green, a task that took many years to perfect but successfully performed." The ponies audibly voiced their agreement, thankful that their ancestors found a way for them to grow food in the hellish place that is Tartarus. Soon she briefly continued, "Everypony, please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance of your ancestors that made it possible for food to be grown and in their honor." Following her words, each of the families present at the tables bowed their heads in a silent prayer to each respective family's ancestors which the exception of a rebellious teenage colt or filly here and there.

After their silence, they all looked upon Pax Æterna for her to continue her speech and somewhat droning on about the state of things in their piece of Tartarus but focusing mostly on the good to keep spirits high. A lump had formed in Pax's throat as her mind was switching back and forth between telling her little ponies about what had to be done as she went on with her speech. On one hoof, she could send Indomitable Bulwark through on her own power alone but would leave her very weakened. On top of that, the sudden disappearance of her son would cause a stir and they would demand answers of her to allay their fears which she would address but they would see her in such a weak state. On the opposing hoof, if she told them then she could recruit help from all of the magically gifted unicorns for her plan. The more magic fueling her plan meant the more energy she could go ahead and use to protect her little ponies from the dangers that lurked in Tartarus she delegated to her son.

Pax Æterna took a breath then slowly started again after the moment of silence, "My little ponies... I am afraid that our time in our home here is drawing to a close..." The mention of time running out made many of the ponies look up at Pax Æterna, both with half confused, half concerned looks while others thought she was trying to pull some sick joke. Seeing the sorrowful look on their Alicorn goddess' face, however, convinced them she was being serious. "Many of the guardponies here can testify as well as the farmers that tend the farms on the bordermost edge of our lands, the demons and malevolent entities that have been stayed by our vigilence and shows of force are starting to grow bolder, more organized. You may have heard rumors that our guard is having difficulty chasing off such forces without my son's assistance. These rumors are unfortunately true and I can sense something more sinister at work than evil simply wanting to take what is our's." She stopped and gazed upon the forlorn and gloomy gate south of town, the marroon wooden gate adorned with fel green diamonds trimmed with gold along with the symbol of Tartarus repesenting nine descending circles along with ebony chains wrapping around the gate and forming numerous X patterns.

Many ponies turned their gaze to the gate and regarded with a sense of dread, the gate that long sealed their ancestors' and their fates to Tartarus forever but some of the magically adept of unicorns could sense something off about the gate. The diamonds radiating with energy were not as powerful as they once were, the symbol appeared faded and the chains seemed to be rusting at an alarming rate. Pax continued, "My little ponies, I do not understand if it's just the seal weakening after so long or something is weakening the seal itself. However with the powers that are setting amongst our borders, I feel that the time is coming that we must flee from Tartarus. However in the gate's current state, and with enough magical power, only one can escape Tartarus at this point. I have already chosen who shall go through." Stepping up from his spot, Indomitable Bulwark stood beside his mother and began to speak, "Our goddess has asked of me to go forth from home to the Overworld, to seek help to bring everpony here from this hellish land straight to the Overworld, to safety. To execute this plan, I need the assistance of every magically adept unicorn to step forth and help our goddess in cracking the gate open wide enough for me to venture forth and bring us salvation."

The unicorns looked amongst one another, all of them looking worried as they weighed the pros and cons for themselves. Their knew their goddess' power alone was potentially enough to open the gate but if it was just her doing it, then would she have enough power to defend them in Bulwark's place? Then it dawned on them with the guards having problems trying to fend off demons on their own without an alicorn's power could be disasterous if they didn't help. Eagerly, many of the unicorns stood and each filly and stallion offering what power they had to help. Pax smiled at the volunteers, grateful that they were willing to help and she turned to two servants standing behind her, "Go. Fetch the chest that was prepared before we came to town." With a nod, the two servants galloped away with haste to fulfill their orders.

"Everypony, please finish your meal. We have a lot of work to do and only a short time to do it. After I leave through the gate, everypony must focus on being prepared to evacuate as soon as I return." Bulwark urged everypony then sat down to finish his own food, having a feeling it was going to be the last full meal he's going to be eating for a long while. OVer the course of finishing his meal, Bulwark silently looked up and over at several ponies to see how they were taking the news. Looking over a family whose parents worked as guards, Bulwark could discern the look in their eyes as fear. Bulwark could understand why the guards would feel as such for Bulwark was an integral part of the guard in defending their lands which made Bulwark sigh at their dependency on him to maintain safety and security. It disappoints me that these ponies feel a need for me to help protect them... Bulwark quietly thought to himself and turned his gaze to other families.

A much cheerier sight his gaze met as it seemed that all the families at one table were excited for what the future may hold. A future out of the hellhole that they and their ancestors have endured for well over one thousand years. He could see their excitment and it quickly became infectious to the neighboring tables. Mugs being lifted in the air for toasts either by hoof or magic, these ponies were eager to escape from an existence forced upon them by choices of others in the long forgotten past. They are merry and share their revelrie with others so quick. I do not believe the reality that the gate is only weak enough now for one pony to escape has truely sank in. Bulwark shook his head to chase away the dark thoughts, refusing to let his mind dwell on the negatives that his disciplined mind saw and as many guardponies saw too.

As with all good things, their joyous merrymaking and companionship had to come to end as Pax Æterna commanded the attention of her ponies with the arrival of the hoofservants she sent to the palace temple to retrieve a chest. The hoofservants came galloping in with the chest Pax asked for in tow and set it on the ground just as she grabbed the attention of everypony. Once attention was fixated upon her, she rose from her seat at the table and slowly strided over to the chest where once she was beside it, she simply set her hoof on the top of it and looked at her ponies, "As the hour grows late, I must ask that we set to work on sending Indomitable Bulwark forth to bring back aid. I ask that every magically adept unicorn to come forth and claim a focusing crystal. Once you have claimed a crystal, please gather together and we shall approach the Gate." As she finished, the lock on the chest unlatched and promptly fell off and Pax opened the lid of the chest to reveal amthymyst colored crystals of relative shape and size in the shape of a tall hexagonical diamond cut. Soon, one by one, a unicorn rose from their seat from their families and stepped forth to claim a crystal. Soon a moderate group of unicorns were gathered, each holding a crystal in their magical grasp while Pax pulled out a somewhat larger crystal near the bottom of the chest then asked the group to follow her and any pony that wished to witness this event is welcome to join.

During this, Bulwark was donning his armor that he stored away in a nearby building, securing piece and tightening the straps so it held fast to his form. He had only slipped on his helmet when he heard a small voice call to him and he looked over his shoulder, "Bulwark. They are leaving." The voice belonging to a dark red coated and ashen mane hoofservant mare, Cinder Blossom as he recalled her name, stood in the doorway leading outside. Bulwark looked over his body, checking to make sure each piece was secure then reached out with his magical grasp to the sword and shield and shouldered them over his back. He took in a sharp breath as he slowly made his way outside and keeping his eyes forward then galloping off to catch up with the herd that was making its way to the gate.

Some of the unicorns slowly became skittish as they entered the shadow of the gate, fearful of the towering and forlorn gate and what could possibly lurk in just it's shadow. However nothing was actually there and Pax signaled for the unicorns to stop. Some let out a breath that they didn't even know they were holding as they were glad they stopped moving closer to the gate and looked to Pax. She looked at the gate, the long standing symbol of their imprisonment in Tartarus. Quietly regarding the past for fleeting movements, she then flared her wings out and commanded proudly, "Unicorns, take your crystal now and focus your magic  then release the energy out of it and to the gate. Everypony must help for the more of us attempt to open the door, the less exhausted we shall be after opening this gate." Pax's crystal rose above her head, just out of reach of her horn, as she began to channel her brilliant orange magic into the crystal.

The crystal resonated with with her magic and then sent the infused energy out at the gate in a beam and slowly started to cover the gate from where it made contact with it. The unicorns, following Pax's example, rose their respective crystals in their magical grasp and channeled their magic into their crystals then shot out at seemingly randoms spots upon the gate. The points of contact spread and connected with the others before spreading over the gate in a visual myriad of colors covering the gate, Pax's own magic covering a majority of the gate already to shoulder some of the magically weaker ponies.

Bulwark had just entered the shadow of the gate as it was completely covered in the multitude of colors from each of the unicorns' and Pax's magic. Bulwark could only stare breifly then heard a groan from Pax. He snapped his attention at the Alicorn goddess started to rear as she pulled her crystal back which earned a deep shudder from the gate. Some of the unicorns were startled at the sound and almost lost their focus until Bulwark called out, "Stand fast, my friends! Remain focused and help our goddess! She cannot do this alone!" The startled unicorns regained their nerve as quickly as they lost, all of them rearing back and kicking out their forehooves which caused the gate's hinges to groan in protest as if they were rusted. The chains rattled, dust falling off followed a resonanting crack. The gate was failing to hold closed against the combined magical might of alicorn and unicorns as it slowly cracked open to show a bright light shining through the slowly opening gate. Bulwark watched with bated breath as his mother and the unicorns forced the gate open, an event he never thought he would ever witness but his disciplined mind berated him for doubting his mother, a goddess the ponies called her, and the teamwork of numerous magically competant unicorns.

The hinges continued to groan then eventually ceased, the maroon colored gate refusing to open any further and provided enough space for only one pony at a time but only one could make it through. Bulwark looked to his mother one last time, seeing her straining to hold it open as sweat beaded her brown and she was flapping her wings while clenching her teeth and her eyes shut. He could tell by looking at her that she couldn't keep it open for much longer and faced the doorway, furrowing his brow and took off at a galloping pace while unfurowling his wings and started flapping. He kicked off of the ground and took flight as he flapped his wings quickly to try and make it through the gate as fast as he could and as he neared the narrow passage, he turned himself sideways and flew through opening. Flying out of Tartarus... and into the Overworld. He was free from that place. He was free from Tartarus.

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It was the same-old, same-old for a black furred, four legged, three head giant of a dog. The wasteland showcasing tumble weeds going across the space in front of it. The sun's rays beating down upon it's coat but never overheating the beast. To it, the sun's rays was the gentle caress of it's master when it was a pup. It had just returned from a nearby lake to sate it's thirst and gnawing hunger from wild animals that went to the lake and now it was quite content to nap in front of the gate, each of the heads resting on either side of it's front paws. Just the same, Cerberus remarked silently, nothing changing and forever to stay guarding the gate.

The silence was shattered, a deep groan was heard and Cerberus perked it's heads up, ears at attention, a new sound it heard. But where was that sound? Cerberus slowly scanned the horizon in front of it, the three pairs of eyes unable to discern anything that could be capable of making such a sound from what it has hunted before and has seen while it guarded the gate. Cerberus scrambled onto it's paws as the groan sounded out again, starting to growl and bare it's teeth as it knew something was out there again. It wasn't until a crack and the chains rattling when the realization dawned upon Cerberus.

The gate was opening.

Turning around and widening it's stance, growling and barking as it saw the gate opening inward and revealing the darkness beyond it, swirling and twisiting with the dark magiks that were hidden away along with the wicked, the heretics, and the unjust, Cerberus' charges to stop from getting out. Growling deeply, the heads focused upon the lowest point of the gate and expected whatever was about to come through to just come walking out. It's ears twitched as something slipped through above of where it was watching followed by the flapping of wings. Looking up quickly it could discern that a pegasus had escaped from Tartarus! No, not a pegasus, Cerberus thought as it looked closer at what escaped, It's... an... Alicorn!? The shock of seeing an alicorn coming through Tartarus, however, was quickly worn out as the other two heads quickly reminded the surprised head that it escaped from the gate and it must be returned or killed. Raising it's three heads, Cerberus howled loudly into the sky and the sky darkened followed by lightning arcing downward, cutting off the alicorn's pathway in the sky.

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Bulwark had barely enough time to veer around for a U-turn, eyes still wide in shock as the lightning was came crashing down and denying him free flight. Looking up he could see dark clouds forming in a circle with the gate at the epicenter and it was then he actually noticed a great, black furred, three headed dog down there howling to the sky. Finishing it's howl it glared at Bulwark, it's eyes showing fury at simply seeing Bulwark then barking furiously. Bulwark scoffed, knowing that so long as he was up in the sky that beast couldn't reach him but then he felt a tingling sensation in his wings. He looked up to see the dark clouds crackling with lightning starting to descend at a rapid rate. His eyes shrank to pinpricks and he dove for the ground, landing less than gracefully but on his four hooves.

Bulwark looked up at the giant dog in front of him, scowling as he drew his sword and shield while his mind mentally identified that this dog was the cause of the lightning blocking passage from his mission. Holding his shield in front of him and his sword at the ready, Bulwark took charge at the dog.

Cerberus looked on in shock at the alicorn rushing at it, used to everything cowering on the spot in it's presence but the alicorn not only stood his ground but actually took the initiative and started to attack. Quickly recovering from the surprise, it reached with it's head to snap at the alicorn only for him to jump with wings flared and flapping followed by a sharp pain across it's nose as metal met flesh. Cerberus yipped at the unexpected stinging pain and stared at the airbourne alicorn again but not going to high to risk being struck by lightning from the clouds. Cerberus growled and jumped to try and pluck the alicorn out of the air but despite being armored, the alicorn was agile enough to just fly wide away from the danger.

Cerberus growled as it was denied once again then rose it's heads to howl once more, the cloud crackling with anger as lightning once again arced out from the clouds and trying to strike at Bulwark. Bulwark's heart skipped a beat as a lightning bolt nearly made contact with him, flying lower than Cerberus while lightning arced to the top of the gate. The wards upon the gate hummed with magic as it was charged with lightning but went unknown to both of the combatants.

Trying to crush Bulwark under paw, Cerberus slammed his paws down upon where the grounded alicorn was and tried to predict his next location as the lightning raged above them, continuing to strike the gate which made the wards hum louder and louder as it absolved the charges. Cerberus lunged forward with maws agape, snaping at all of the possible spots of where Bulwark could go to and when it was pulled back, the alicorn was nowhere to be seen. Two of Cerberus' heads looked around in annoyance while the third drew the attention of the others by growling and moving it's head around. Inbetween the teeth was Bulwark with his hooves on the bottom row of teeth and his shield pushing against the top row of teeth. Bulwark strained at the teeth trying to crush him while the other two heads laughed at Bulwark's misfortune. No, no no no, NO! It can't end like this already! Bulwark thought to himself, his eyes shut as he reinforced his shield with magic to push harder but was barely getting an inch and very gradually losing, Somepony... anypony! Mother! Please help me! I do not wish to be this beast's lunch! Bulwark internally despaired, his magic slowly flickering away...

But then there was a thundering boom.

The two unoccupied heads of Cerberus went, "Aroo?" in confusion as they looked over to the source of the sound that made them fold their ears back in agitation. Turning it's body to the gate, the humming of overcharged magic was incredibly apparent as lightning continued to channel into the wards of the gate. Even the head trying to make a chew toy out of Bulwark went slack-jawed with increasing realization that the wards were about to discharge.

And nothing else except the gate was standing taller other than itself.

One more arc of lightning made contact with the top of the gate, the humming turning into a thundering boom fit to pop the ears of anything in a five mile radius which made both Bulwark and Cerberus cringe and cover their ears from the boom followed by a tingling sensation in their respective coats as lightning arced from the wards down towards Cerberus, the black furred guardian howling in a chorus of pain as the lightning discharged throughout it's body, twitching violently as the wards quickly emptied the charge and once the lightning had ceased, Cerberus fell over unceremoniously onto it's side. Involuntarily twitching and spasming and breathing erratically while unable to form coherent thought, Cerberus just laid there unable to act.

Bulwark rose to his hooves and saw the heap of the black fur where at several spots was singed and it's body spasming as the electrical impulses were causing it to do so. Deciding that the beast would most likely remained incapciated for a time, Bulwark let out a sigh of relief and shouldered his shield while sheathing his sword then looked upon the gate.

It looked the same on the outside. The maroon wood, great ebony chains, burnished gold trimming, nine descending circles from top to bottom. What was different was the swirling darkness through the crack in contrast to the light when he saw it through Tartarus. Bulwark's ears folded back as he knew his mother and everypony he knew was on the other side of that gate and his heart sank as the gate slid closed shut. He cringed as the gate closed with a thud and could only watch but then turned his attention outward toward the horizon of where the gate faced. Nothingness was on the horizon, but the words of his mother rang in her head and soothed him, Remember Indomitable Bulwark, my loving son, the Overworld is as simple to navigate as our own world. The sun sets in the west and rises in the east, just like in our home. When night falls, seek out the brightest star, just like in our home, and follow it. You shall know that you are on the right trail.

Bulwark gently smiled and lightly set a hoof on the medallion resting against his barrel chest, "Thank you mother, for your wisdom." Looking to the sky, he noted that the sun was hanging low, soon to give the its dull, burning orange glow of the descending sun while to the east, the moon was rising over the horizon. "The hour of twilight shall soon be upon me," Bulwark said as he turned his attention to what could reasonably be percieved as north, "I must make haste. Makers know when that beast shall be on it's paws again." Bulwark briefly shot a glance at Cerberus' paralyzed form, still twitching but it's breathing had seemed to returned to normal. Without looking back, Bulwark began to gallop away and take to the sky, wings flapping with a southern tailwind spurring him forward north. He was free in the sky. He was free of Tartarus.
> The Overworld
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Indomitable Bulwark could not believe it. Here he was, soaring high in the blue sky with the sun on his back amongst the clouds. Flying among blue skies, not the cracked black sky in Tartarus that reminded him of stagnant lava floes that are slowly hardening. Real clouds, to him that he perceived as real, that we're not made explicitly for rain only and even then the clouds were uncomfortable and unnatural. Oh for Bulwark to even begin describing the sun would be the equivalent of describing color to a blind pony. It felt warm, comforting, amazing. It was just right as here soared through the sky, his wildfire mane just soaking in the sunlight and making it more vibrant and full of energy.

Slowly out on the horizon he could make out the silhouette of a town which filled Bulwark's heart with both cheer and trepidation. It would be the first town he would have visited in the Overworld but at the same time it made him inwardly nervous of what he would encounter. Too many a time when he went out to answer distress calls from neighboring villages in Tartarus would he find them filled with nothing but evil. The ponies that carved out that home would be eviscerated, slaughtered, or their remains possessed by malevolent spirits. Such machinations made his gut twist and churn, he could not stand the undead and any that withheld spirits of peaceful ponies from eternal rest without reason.

Bulwark shook his head and slapped himself across the face. This is neither here nor there, Bulwark thought to himself as he tried to convince himself, This is not Tartarus. This is not an answer to ponies in need of help. This is me going to a town and gain my bearings before I proceed even further in this world. I need to know where I am and a town full of ponies is the best place for information. It was decided that he needed to stop anyway. He has been flying for several hours and he was starting to feel the fight with Cerberus take it's toll on his body. A rest was required.

Before Bulwark took to the ground, he observed the town from the skies from the cover of a cloud just to better allay his fears, that he was not about to walk into a death trap. Much to his relief he observed ponies trotting around and going about their business, going to to fro from building to building and nothing eventful could be discerned. What got Bulwark's attention was two things: one, his attire compared to the ponies he was observing was vastly different to a fault. He would stick out like a sore hoof. Casting his gaze onto the crest on his chest, he tentatively tapped it then the armor covering his body was sucked in into the medal all save for his sword. I can easily hide the sword and sheath, no problem, Bulwark thought as he returned his attention back to the town.

The second thing that caught his attention was the building alongside what appeared to be long girders of iron going across numerous long lengths of wood. What is that for? Bulwark mentally asked himself. He kept watching for roughly half an hour longer without anything happening and at that point, he decided that he wasn't going to find out anymore until he hit the ground. Just as he was about to take off to glide down, he realized another crucial element of the ponies he observed. If he were to glide down as his body physically was, a alicorn appearing out of the blue, was certain to cause a commotion when Bulwark desired no attention to be cast upon him.

Quickly prepping an illusionary spell, he cast it on himself which made him appear no different in size to another pegasus stallion and his horn was hidden by the spell as well while his mane and tail had adopted just a blazing red with yellow streaks in contrast to his silver coat. Bulwark repositioned his sword and sheath in a way that would be covered by his saddlebags and wing when it was tucked in and with that, he stepped off the cloud with his wings spread wide and glided down to the ground and gently landed in front of building with the iron tracks running by it. Down on the ground, Bulwark observed the buildings much closer and for the most part, he was unimpressed. The majority of the buildings lacked color other than brown, nothing set them aside from one another except for the clock tower which Bulwark could tell had paint covering lines from resulting cracks but didn't give much thought into what caused it... Much less what the state the tower was in after the cracks.

Turning his attention back to the building he had invested an interest into, he found it wasn't much of a building except for several windows where ponies were stationed behind and who knows what else. The roofs he saw were supported by wooden pillars and wood benches were underneath in the shade from the sun back to back with one another with a couple of ponies sitting and minding their own business either by reading something big and and made of paper, taking a nap, or talking with a nearby pony.

Bulwark didn't pay much mind to the idle ponies as he did when his eyes where caught by a map. Briskly trotting up to the map, he observed the map and soaked in the information displayed. According to the map, and a red and yellow arrow pointing, "YOU ARE HERE," Bulwark was in the town of Appleloosa and to the north-northwest, was a depiction of a city in the side of a mountain with a star nearby it with the name, "Canterlot." There's my destination, Bulwark thought to himself, You'd have to be an ignorant foal to think that the leaders would be anywhere else but where a star on the map standing for the national capital. Bulwark sighed as it was a sad mental statement that things would be as such in the world, and something Bulwark came to accept but it was still agitating dealing with such.

Recollecting himself, he looked at the map then tried opening his bag to pull out a compass so he could get his direction. He pulled the compass out and opened it up only to stare in disbelief as the red arrow was spinning wildly about without him moving at all. North, south, west, southeast, northeast, the compass couldn't get a direction to north and then it hit Bulwark, It was attuned in Tartarus. It is used to track magic signatures in Tartarus for north, not here in the Overworld. Bulwark scowled and stuffed the compass away before turning to look up at the sky, hoping that the sun would give any indication of direction. From his position, the sun was slowly but steadily going left across the sky from his right which made him smile. Some things thankfully never changed from Tartarus to the Overworld. Glancing back at the map momentarily he took note of the name of the land. "Equestria..." Bulwark quietly mumbled and replayed it over in his head to memorize the name.

Bulwark turned away from the station and got into the street before spreading his wings and taking flight, flying away from Appleloosa to get away from prying eyes before shedding his illusion spell. Deeming it safe enough from the top of a mesa, he removed the illusion spell from himself, his body visually returning to full size along with his wing span and horn. His mane and tail reignited into that living flame with the medallion resting on his chest. Quietly regarding the medallion, There should be no need for putting the armor back on. I can move faster and maneuver better without it on. Bulwark stared up at the vast blue sky and looked up at the sun before closing his eyes with his horn glowing with his magic signature, he began to magically attune himself to where north was. The pull on his horn turned his head a little bit left and when he opened his eyes, his course was set before him. Getting up and spreading his wings he stepped off the edge of the Mesa and plummeted downward before pulling himself up and up high into the sky. The magic continued from his horn but he could not have been aware of constantly channeling a spell.

*******************

Meanwhile on a plateau where a runway spanned the width of the plateau and pegasi in uniform flew to where they needed to be, a detachment of unicorns were at work as a listening post and tracking any powerful magical signatures. What better place to have a listening post then at one of the homes of some of the fastest flyers of Equestria resided? Two unicorn ponies stood-by and quietly operated with their horns softly glowing, they tracked any and all that came in sight or was felt within their magic. Most common of these signatures came from dragons whom were innately magical and for the most part were passing through airspace to get to their destination and were usually ignored. If a large enough signature or a group of smaller ones altogether lingered around.

The unicorns shot up as they picked up a large signature, starting to work frantically to locate the signature. "Where is it coming from!?" The female unicorn asked, working together with her counter-part, "From the south, along the borderlands heading north by northwest. The signature indicates a strong magical presence, similar to the Princess' own signatures in terms of strength." The male unicorn replied. "The Princesses don't have anything scheduled do they? Do we have anything on schedule in that sector?" The male unicorn flipped through several sheets of paper, trying to determine if anything friendly was in that area, "Nothing that the papers say. What is this signature's trajectory?" The female unicorn focused, the aura surrounding her horn intensifying as she made predicted courses of where the signature was going.

"Ponyville, Dodge Junction, Canterlot, the Crystal Empire, Everfree Forest..." The female named off a few, "it is definitely going to cross Canterlot airspace and at the rate it's flying, it will reach there in a few hours." The male was already starting to write up a report to be passed on, "Consider it a potential threat then. We must pass this on to the Captain. She will see most definitely see to it especially after being cooped up with recruits for the past few months." After the male finished writing the report, the female took hold of it in her magical aura and teleported to the desk of the captain. The rolled up piece of paper bearing the Wonderbolts insignia poofed out of thin air and landed next to a nameplate on the desk belonging to one Captain Spitfire.

The captain sighed as the piece of parchment appeared on her desk, "Those unicorns better have something good..." She opened it up and quickly read the report, "A lone contact flying north by northwest bound toward Canterlot airspace. Current location is near the borderlands following along the railroad tracks. Magic signature suggests aerial contact discovered and tracked by 1347. Equipment is unknown, suggests magic blockers for magical observation are in play. Assessment of the target is unknown and visual contact is requested..." Spitfire's wings rustled in excitement as a smile slowly spread across her face, "Sounds like an invitation." She pressed a button to an intercom on her desk keying her to her lieutenant, Soarin, "Soarin, grab Fleetfoot and suit up. We're taking a little trip to the borderlands near Appleloosa." Soarin replied, "Any chance we can stop in Appleloosa for pie when we are done?" Spitfire scoffed and smiled, "We'll see, you big marshmallow." Soarin just rolled his eyes on the other end, "Yes ma'am, on it ma'am."

**************

Bulwark continued flying high in the sky as he observed the landscape change from desert flatland into rolling hills of green. A wonderful change of scenery, Bulwark thought to himself as he soared above the clouds dotting the scene below him. Then out of the corner of Bulwark's eye, he saw a trail of dark clouds appearing on the horizon. He raised an eye in confusion at what could be creating a trail of clouds and focusing a bit he could barely make out three pegasi in blue jumpsuits flying at high speeds in his direction. Bulwark continued along his flight path, observing the pegasi for any change in direction but also curious as to why the pegasi were out here.

***************

The three Wonderbolts scanned the sky, alert for anything that came in sight within the sky. They had reasonably ruled out the contact being a dragon for dragons did not have the ability to accurately block magic sight nor did they care to put up such blockers. Dragons wanted to be seen and feared by any and all that laid eyes upon them. Fleetfoot was actually betting with Soarin that it was something they would not expect to see in a thousand years time. Soarin was betting it was a changeling queen if the magic signature was that powerful. Spitfire, in the middle of the bickering Wonderbolts just rolled her eyes and kept her eyes forward and scanning the skies for anything sticking out.

Her vigilance paid off. Off in the distance with her refined eyes she could what appeared to be fire streaking across the sky off her left. "Contact 10 o'clock! Got eyes on the bandit!" Spitfire called out, refocusing the attention of Soarin and Fleetfoot from their guesses about what they would see and to what Spitfire pointed out. Altering their flightpath onto an intercept course, they turned to the streak of fire and started beating their wings faster which started producing the trail of clouds behind them.

*****************

Bulwark could now tell that the three pegasi he spotted were not changing course for him but were actually on an intercept course straight for him already. He had to make a choice, he could wait and see if the pegasi were friend instead of foe but taking into consideration he had no knowledge of Equestria's disposition, their armed forces, past conflicts that lead to the necessity of alertness of said forces, he was essentially thrown out into the cold with no intel. He could engage them in self-defense if needed but their survival would have to be paramount and in air combat, especially when focus would be split between maintaining a handle on his sword, the three pegasi he would be engaging, and flying would be a challenge in making sure no fatal wounds were given much less taken. Fight was out of the question. All that was left was flight.

*******************

The trio of Wonderbolts were closing within a thousand kilometers when the streak of fire suddenly veered off it's original course and turned into a dive parallel to their intercept course. Spitfire smiled as the chase was on and the thrill of such began filling her up. "Filly and gentlecolt, we got a runner. Get into V-formation and continue pursuit. Bring down the bandit and ask questions after." Fleetfoot shared in Spitfire's excitement, breaking formation and shifting left then pulling ahead of formation to her place. Soarin on the other hoof sighed in disappointment, muttering something about hoping the situation was going to be easy and really hoping to have time for Appleloosian apple pie after but regained his bearing then mirroring Fleetfoot's actions to take the right of the V-formation.

The Wonderbolts were closing in on the streak of fire, which had leveled out, to the point where they could get a rough identification on the bandit. They saw a coat of silver fur followed by long feathery wings beating as hard. They could see the presumably retreating pegasus was carrying saddlebags that blocked any view to it's cutie mark.  Preliminary guesses came in that they were dealing with a pegasus who may have been a courier of some sorts carrying a package magical in nature which could potentially answer why the pegasus' mane and tail was on fire. Coupled with the fact that the pegasus turned tail and started to get away from the Wonderbolts gave the feel that the Wonderbolts were dealing with some underground organization trying to fly under the radar for illicit activities. Pulling the V-formation closer to encircle the pegasus they were in pursuit of, they stared aghast with their mouths open as the noticed one more detail that escaped their initial profiling of the target.

Fleetfoot was the first to exclaim in shock, "Is that a bucking <b>alicorn</b>!?" Soarin and Spitfire only stared as they reconfirmed over and over that what they were chasing was an honest to goodness alicorn. Horn? Check. Wings? Check. Larger than the average pony? Check. They could not believe that they were flying in the presence of an alicorn and lost their bearing as each of them tried to figure out what they were supposed to do in a situation like this.

*********************

Bulwark was flying what he perceived was fast and only looked back occasionally at the pegasi who were most assuredly still in hot pursuit. He stared as they continued to gain on him and he refocused back to the front and quickly reran his options in his head. He could still chance air combat but he still did not want to cause harm or even kill one of them which is not what he wanted to do as his first big impression in Equestria. The voice of reason in the back of his head advised that he could very easily just stop flying away and attempt to talk to his pursuers. He saw no weapons of any kind on them when he last glanced back at them but time spent explaining meant less time for Equestria much less the Overworld in general had to prepare for what he knew.

"Is that a bucking <b>alicorn!?</b>" Bulwark barely heard the voice of a mare from the air rushing past his ears on his left flank. His eyes shrank to pinpricks as he realized that if he could hear their voices at the speeds they were going then they were right on his tail. Chancing to look back at them again, they had him encircled to his left, right, and rear. A quick glance at all of the revealed they were in a state of shock from realizing what they were dealing with. If there were ever a better time to get out from being circled like this, this was that time.

Bulwark pulled up and started to climb up and rapidly gain altitude in a hurry. By then the Wonderbolts realized what was going on with the alicorn they were in pursuit of and Spitfire barked out that he is still running from them then they must pursue him. At that order they started climbing after him slightly going over Bulwark's own speed in an attempt to overtake him and encircle him again to try and control his direction. Bulwark's breathing picked up as the air got thinner and the Wonderbolts behind him showed no sign of stopping any time soon. Bulwark closed his eyes in self-resignation. There was only one way he knew for certain of how to evade them.

Taking as deep of a breath as he could in the thin air, he closed his wings and performed a backwards U upward into the sky and started into a nosedive to the ground at an angle. The Wonderbolts mirrored him in to keep up pursuit and followed him in his dive, forming back up in their patrol formation to better stay in the air draft Bulwark was creating. Bulwark spread his wings and kept his eyes closed as he felt the air rush past him and magic fill every fiber of his being. His mind was clear, his focus on the compass spell long gone, he felt himself rapidly picking up speed like all those years ago back when he was a colt. No cares, no worries. Only thing that was on his mind was his goal and the need to not only meet it but utterly obliterate it. That goal was escaping his pursuers and he was going to go the distance.

He felt the pressure in his primary feathers, he could feel the barrier form in front of him trying it's hardest to prevent him from piercing through. He could feel the sparks flying, the air friction heating up his body. He dared not open his eyes to see the ground closing in on him. The heat being caused by his mane and tail made the air thinner which propelled him even faster which in turn the pegasi behind him in his draft went faster. A thin veil of flames started to form just before the barrier and Bulwark could feel the heat on his muzzle and his horn flared to life.

The next could only be described at rolling thunder in the distance.

The barrier snapped and magic released behind him, generating a ring of fire that expanded outwards and produced searing heat that threatened to scorch the sky above and the lands below. Following in the wake of this explosion was Bulwark going incredibly fast with fire being left in his trail. Following after, or rather falling, was the concussed forms of the Wonderbolts after losing all sense of balance in the wake of such a blast. A metallic aura surrounded them and followed after Bulwark in his wake. The ring of fire continued to expand but then eventually died out while Bulwark slowed his speed and looked for a place to land and eventually found a small clearing. He glided down into the clearing and set the dazed and barely conscious Wonderbolts on solid earth. Looking back on them, a wildfire colored mare was looking up at him while her two companions had given up on consciousness and blacked out. The mare was panting and barely managed to say, "Who are... you...?" before she passed out completely.

Bulwark stared at the unconscious ponies and sighed, knowing full well he could not leave them like this when he didn't know if it was safe to in the general area he was in. Picking them up with his magic he made for the nearby trees to get them out from underneath the sun and into the shade. He opened his saddlebags with his magic to pull out what were two linen rolls and rolled them out then unfolded them. He set down the two mares on the rolls, one for each of them, then pulled the covers over them. Unfortunately he did not have something to cover the unconscious stallion with so Bulwark set him down and set about creating a fire pit. He excavated into the ground a bit with his magic so that if the wind started blowing it would not easily blow an embers out of the fire. He took what stones were nearby and made a fire ring then placed kindling along with sticks and such he could find into the pit. Satisfied with his work, he set cast a spell to ignite the fire pit and it caught fire. Bulwark looked around at his present if unconscious company then turned to face out toward the woods to keep watch until the ponies he indadvertedly knocked out regained consciousness.

It wasn't until the sun was hanging low in the sky in hours of evening twilight that one of the pegasi began to stir. One of the mares with a tarnished light gray coat and a silvery mane began to stir and rubbed her head with her forehooves, "Uggggggh... I feel like I got rear kicked in the head..." complained the awakened mare. Slowly she sat up and took note of her surroundings, noticing for the first time that she was covered with a blanket. She looked over and saw Spitfire covered up in a similar manner, still out cold. On the opposite side of the fire was Soarin looking no better than Spitfire but didn't have anything covering him but did see he was closer to the fire than they were. Whoever found them certainly took the time to make sure they would be tended to as properly as they could be in an improvised setting. "Wait a minute... we weren't on the ground... we were flying..." Fleetfoot slowly started, rubbing her head as she tried in a vain attempt to recall earlier events.

"You were flying. Flying after me." Bulwark's voice responded, causing Fleetfoot to turn around and face the alicorn who was facing outward. She scrambled onto her hooves in a panic but then later regretted it as she lost her balance with her vision briefly fading out, collapsing on to her forelegs, "I wouldn't do that. You did follow in the wake of somepony who broke the sound barrier. Relax. I am not your enemy. In fact it was me that prevented you three from plummeting to your deaths," Bulwark advised Fleetfoot, knowing that she likely tried to get up upon seeing him. That is when it came back to her. She and her comrades were chasing after Bulwark then he broke through the sound barrier. They passed through the hole he made roughly milliseconds just after him but the concussive force of the barrier breaking still struck them, wrecking their flight path and losing consciousness from the force.

"I understand if you are wary of me. I did take you all for a ride and knocked you all out but understand that I am not your enemy and if I weren't there then you and your companions would have most likely perished upon impact with the ground or whatever you may have landed on. Could've crash landed into a spike pit for all I knew." Bulwark stated which made Fleetfoot a little blue in the face at the prospect that her life could've been ended on the off chance she crashed into spikes or worst. Sitting on her haunches she looked over at her friends with slight worry. "Are they going to be okay?" Fleetfoot asked, voicing her concerns. Bulwark turned his head and gazed upon the unconscious forms of the two remaining ponies, "They should be alright. In all honesty, I thought that yellow and orange mare was going to wake up first. She was the last one out." Bulwark answered then looked like a cow that stares at an oncoming train, "It just occurred to me that we haven't made proper introductions yet. My name is Indomitable Bulwark. And you are miss...?"

Fleetfoot snorted at the suddenness of pleasantries, "Fleetfoot. My name is Fleetfoot. The stallion over there is First Lieutenant Soarin and the mare is Captain Spitfire." Bulwark looked over the two as he matched names to faces, "And you don't have a rank, miss Fleetfoot?" Fleetfoot only smirked which was followed by a chuckle, "I only care about ranks when it comes to those above me which happens to the the Ell-Tee and Capitan and other officers."

"So that must mean you are a high rank enlisted then."

"How would you know that?"

"You said you only cared about the ranks which were higher than you which I believe would put you at the equivalent of a master sergeant or higher."

Fleetfoot rolled her eyes, reaching for her goggles and pulling them down around her neck then unzipping the top part of her flight suit down to her neck so her head could be free from the stifling material. She looked at Bulwark and figured it would be safe trying to make small talk while waiting for the others to wake up and generally try to relax, "You have no clue how hot it gets in these suits. It gets tight to your body and with your coat it just gets hard for your body to breathe." Bulwark snorted, "I dunno. Armor does tend to pretty dang hot."

"At least it doesn't cling to your body."

"It does, actually. Armor that has been specifically made for a pony will do that."

"There is no way you can compare it to these flight suits! I feel like I'm sweating buckets with this thing on!"

"But aren't you up in the air with that suit on going so fast that the wind chill would cool you off just as fast as you're building up heat?"

"... Good point. But still when you're down on the ground, especially at a special event where no pony will turn down the heat? It's a nightmare in and of itself. Like the last time the Wonderbolts were at the Gala. I swear the suit was more stifling then the stuck-up nobles attending."

"The Wonderbolts, huh? Is that your organization's name?"

Fleetfoot nodded, "It is. We're famous around Equestria for our high flying stunts and generally being a coordinated team of daredevils."

"So an airshow team was sent to come after me."

"We're not just that. We also take care of problems around Equestria as well such as the occasional rampaging dragon. Man that was awfully embarrassing then."

"What exactly happened?"

"We uh... got pinned against the mountainside..."

"Got pinned by the dragon's claws? I'd hardly call that embarrassing."

"... inside of a water tower reservoir."

Bulwark just stared before letting out a hearty chuckle, "Okay, I have to admit that would be pretty embarrassing being contained like that. Hardly professional at all." Fleetfoot rubbed the back of her head with a nervous look on her face, "Yeah... thats an experience I don't wanna do ever again..." A groan sounded out and the two looked at each other as if one of them made the sound then realized they had completely forgotten about the other two Wonderbolts present. Spitfire was just regaining consciousness as she sat up, "Oh great Celestia what a migraine I've got... Where's my cup of coffee...?" Fleetfoot laughed, "I don't think coffee is good for a headache or a migraine, boss." Spitfire looked up at Fleetfoot and just shot a glare at her, "Well it helps me regardless, Fleetfoot. Oh and if you see Soarin... tell him we're not stopping in Appleloosa..." Fleetfoot giggled, "Well the big ol' marshmallow is right over there boss so I think you can tell him yourself."

Spitfire looked to where Fleetfoot is pointing at and saw Soarin sitting up with a defeated look in his eyes, sighing depressed. Spitfire facehoofed, "Ah boy..." Bulwark just shrugged, "I don't see what the big deal is about that town. It's out there on the edge of the badlands and the only thing iconic about it would be the apple fields." Soarin, not realizing who it was talking at first, started going off, "Appleloosa has amazing pie! It is so good that it brokered peace between the Appleloosians and buffalo that stampede in that land! It has to be good!" Soarin then went wide eye as he saw he went off at an alicorn, then his eyes shrank to pinpricks as he suddenly became fearful for his life of what he could and probably would do. Spitfire realized it herself as she stared at the alicorn she had originally been out in pursuit of, realizing the vulnerable position they were in until she noticed Fleetfoot actually sitting close by the alicorn...

Bulwark broke off in a laugh, "You do not need to worry. I am not going to do anything to either of you. In fact, you three owe your lives. Following me into a sound barrier breach like that. Pardon me for saying but that isn't exactly smart to do." Spitfire, now calmed down from being reassured nothing bad was going to happen, looked at Bulwark in a confused look, "Well breaking the sound barrier isn't exactly something that every pegasus can do. Much less what exactly perform what Rainbow Dash can do..." Bulwark tilted his head, "I'm sorry, who now?" Spitfire shook her head, "Never mind. It is not important but now we know you can do that sort of thing. But that was no Sonic Rainboom. What in Equestria was that?"

Bulwark cocked his head, "There is such a thing as a Sonic Rainboom?"

"Please answer my question first and I'll answer your's."

"Fair deal. No, that was not a 'Sonic Rainboom.' It was sonic at the very least but no Rainboom. What was created in my wake was what they called a, 'Sonic Firestorm.'"

"A 'Sonic Firestorm?' That's what that was?"

"I answered your question, now you answer mine." Bulwark said with a cheeky smile.

"Gah! Yes, there is a thing called a Sonic Rainboom. Take the product of your Sonic Firestorm and replace it with a prismatic explosion instead. Still a very concussive force from what I'm told."

"I see. Well my Sonic Firestorm is a very destructive force. I do not know if you noticed it but just before I broke the barrier, my horn lit up to contain the storm."

"I did notice that. What is up with that?"

Bulwark settled in and sighed, his face darkening, "The Sonic Firestorm is just that. A firestorm. Very destructive and if left uncontained, it will scorch the earth and burn the sky. You have no idea. I first performed it when I was young. Pax Æterna was observing me flying one day and when it erupted when I broke the sound barrier... I was exhilarated that I created something just by going fast but the effect of it was seen by Pax... It started to scorch the farm land and that if she had noticed it a second too late then it would've burned all of the crops, leading our home to starve..." Bulwark shook the memory, shuddering at the incident.

Fleetfoot spoke up, "I forgot to say, we still don't know where you come from and they don't know your names." Bulwark snapped his head up in surprise, "Ah yes, forgive me. I've introduced myself to Fleetfoot here but not you two. I am Indomitable Bulwark. I come from a town that ponies have somehow managed to carve a living out of." Soarin then asked a question, "Where at?" Bulwark sighed, "From Tartarus itself."

Spitfire stared at the alicorn as if more than his mane and tail had caught fire, "Wait wait wait wait... wait. You're telling me that you are an alicorn."

"Yes."

"An alicorn that came from Tartarus which the gates of are guarded by Cerberus and the gates sealed with powerful magic rivaling Princess Celestia."

"Cerberus is kind of a push over if you ask me and the seals are the reason why I am here in the first place."

"Then what is the reason then?" Spitfire asked, getting down to serious business in a right big hurry.

"The only reason I am here is because the very thing meant to keep me in Tartarus is losing strength. The seal is weakening. Through the combined efforts of Pax Æterna and other magically adept unicorns, they managed to open the gate just wide enough that it allowed me to go through and find my way to your leaders and warn them the current condition of the gates."

"Well then why are we laying around for?" Spitfire stood up, shaking out her limbs and wings, "We better get going to Canterlot. We can give you an escort there. If you can keep up that is." Bulwark smiled, extinguishing the fire while Soarin got up and limbered up while Fleetfoot pulled her flightsuit hood back up and zipped it up before putting on her flight goggles. He wrapped up the linen back into rolls and placed them back into his saddlebags then making sure his gear was secure to his body. After checking himself, the trio of pegasi and alicorn made for the nearby clearing and once there, they spread their wings and with a push off from their hind legs they took the skies and gained altitude quickly before making their way to Canterlot as fast as their wings could beat.