> The Celestial Comedia- Twilight's Inferno
>  by Equine Speed Runner
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Canto I: Dark Woods are Nasty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometime after the gain of my mark 1
I found myself astray, lost 2
alone in a wood cold and dark. 3


What a wood that was, so drear 4
not even the Everfree 5
could strike my soul such fear. 6


Naught could have been more bitter 7
than that arduous place. 8
Oh! What I'd give for only one sweet apple fritter! 9


How I came upon, I could not say 10
so alone and withdrawn into myself I was 11
when I first came, lost from the Way. 12


And yet hope sprang upon my way 13
in the terrifying maze of fears14
for at the far end it seemed a hill lay 15


and I lifted my eyes. Its shoulders glowed 16
already from the sweet rays of light 17
and by virtue of its rays lead straight on a mare's road, 18


and shining, comforted me against the fright 19
whose agony beat upon my wretched heart 20
through all the terrors of that piteous night. 21


Just as a pony, who with her last breath 22
flounders ashore from perilous sea, might turn 23
to see the wide water of her near death- 24


so did I turn, my soul still fugitive 25
for death had not yet stilled, to stare down 26
that pass of which a pony had yet to leave alive. 27


And so I lay to rest from my heart’s race 28
till my heart ceased its pound and breath returned. 29
Then rose and pushed up that slope at such a pace 30


each hooffall rose above the last. And lo!31
Almost at the beginning of the rise 32
I faced a spotted Leopard, all tremor and flow 33



and gaudy pelt. And it would not leave, but stood 34
so blocking my passage time and time again 35
I was on the verge of turning back towards the wood 36


This fell at the first widening of dawn 37
as Celestia’s Sun was climbing Aries with the stars 38
that rode with him so to light the new creation 39


Thus the waiting hour and sweet celebration 40
of commemorating the sun did much to arm my fear 41
of that bright murderous monster with its treason. 42


Yet not so much but my knees shook with dread 43
at sight of a great Manticore that bounded upon me 44
raging with unseen brimming anger, its enormous head 45


held high as if to strike mortal terror 46
into the very air like a pegasus’s static bolt. 47
Upon his track, a She-timberwolf drove upon me, a wooden horror 48


ravening and rotted beyond all belief. 49
She seemed a rack for avarice, hollow and craving 50
oh many the aristocratic souls she has brought to endless grief! 51


She brought such heaviness upon my magic and spirit 52
at sight of her savagery, I thought both my horn would surely snap, 53
and died from every hope of peaking that high summit. 54


And like a Canterlot noble- eager in acquisition 55
but desperate to self-reproach to keep grace when Celestia's wheel 56
turns to the hour of his loss- all tears and petition. 57


I wavered back; and still the monster pursued, 58
forcing herself closer so that I might retreat 59
till my hoof lost grip and I feel into the sunless wood 60


And as I fell to my soul’s ruin, a magical presence 61
gathered before me in the foul and discoloured air, 62
the figure of one who seemed hoarse from long silence. 63


At sight of so familiar a shape in that friendless waste I cried: 64
“Have pity on me, whatever creature you are, 65
whether wraith or living pony.” And it replied: 66


“Not pony, though pony I once was, and my blood 67
was Lombeard, both my parents Manetuan. 68
I was born though, late, sub Discordian, and bred 69


in Roam under Augustus in the noon 70
of the false and lying draconequui. I was a spellcaster 71
and wrote for none other but one 72


who came to Roam after the burning of Trough 73
but you- why do you return to this sunless realm 74
instead of climbing that shining Mountain of Joy 75


which is the seat and first cause of pony’s bliss?” 76
“And are you then Starswirl and that fountain 77
of purest speech? My voice grew tremulous: 78


“Celestial light of wizards! Now may that zeal 79
and love’s apprenticeship that I poured out 80
in your heroic spells serve me well! 81


For you are my true master and first spellmaker, 82
the sole creator from whose ideas I drew the breath 83
of those sweet spells whose incantations are my life’s anchor. 84


See there, immortal sage, the monster I flee. 85
For my friendship’s salvation, I beg you, guard me from her 86
for she has struck a most primal and mortal tremor through me.” 87


And he replied seeing my spirit in tears: 88
“She must go by another way who would escape 89
the wilderness, for that mad monster that fleers 90


before you there, suffers no pony to pass. 91
She hunts down all, preys on all, and knows no glut, 92
but feeding, grows hungrier than she was. 93


She mates with any monster, and will mate with more 94
before the Alicorn comes to hunt her down. 95
She* will not feed on lands nor loot, but honour. 96


And honesty and kindness will make straight her way. 97
She will rise between Fetlock and Fetlock* and in her 98
shall be the grace of friendship and new day 99


of that sad Itfilly for which Nisus died, 100
and Thunderus, and Equestrius, and the mare Camilla. 101
She shall hunt the monster through every kingdom sick with pride 102



till the monster is driven back forever on the Moon 103
whence Envy first released her on the world. 104
Therefore, for your own good, I think it well 105


you follow me and I shall be your guide 106
and lead you forth through an eternal sunless place 107
There you shall see the ancient ponies tried 108



in endless pain, and hear their lamentation 109
as each bemoans the fate of cruel pains through a hollow emptiness. 110
Next you shall see upon a burning mountain 111


spirits in fire, yet content in fire 112
knowing that whensoever they learn and understand 113
they yet will mount into the blessed circle. 114


To which, if it is still your wish to observe, 115
a worthier pony* shall be sent to guide you. 116
With her I shall leave you, for the Queen of the Sun, 117


who reigns on high, forbids me to come there 118
since, living, I never learned her true teaching. 119
She rules the waters and the land and air 120


and there holds court in her city and throne 121
Oh worthy are they who she chooses!” And I to him: 122
“Wizard, by that Alicorn to you unknown 123

lead me this way. Beyond this present ill of instinctual terror 124
and worse for my mind to conjure and dread, 125
lead me to Applejack’s Gate* and be my guide through the sad halls of rigor.” 126


And then then: “Follow.” And he moved ahead 127
in silence, and I followed, my mind brimmed with thought, where he led. 128
> Canto II: Long Speeches and the Descent
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The light was departing. The brown air drew down 1
all of Equus’s diurnal inhabitants, singing songs of sweet rest 2
from their day-roving, as I, one mare alone, 3


prepared myself to face the curious furor 4
of the discovery and the pity, which memory 5
shall here set down, nor hesitate, nor err. 6


O Founders! O High Genius! Be my mind’s aid! 7
O Memory, recorder of the discourse, 8
here shall your true nobility be displayed! 9


Thus I began: “Magus, you who must guide me, 10
before you trust my eyes to that arduous path,11
look to me and look through me – can I be worthy? 12


You who scribed the alchemical quill, 13
in tangible flesh laid bare the symbols, 14
crossing with mortal sense immortal sill, 15


leaping blindly without guide, 16
for a journey sill to sill, 17
is more rapid than the quickest ride. 18


But Lo! If you were he who first went, 19
then the runes would lift your hooves not, 20
no purchase would have been sent, 21


lest the wing of an Alicorn support your hoof 22
your doom should have been certain 23
but even they are not aloof.* 24


In that quest which bards’ tales pay homage, 25
you learned that realm’s mystery from which arose 26
Her victory and Roam’s first archmage. 27


There later came the inspired vessel, Alogoscio* 28
bearing the confirmation of that Truth 29
which is the one true door to friendship’s row. 30


But I – how could I dare? By no permission? 31
I am not Starswirl. I am not Alogoscio. 32
None would believe me worthy of this vision. 33


How then, may I presume this high honor 34
and not fear my own lack? You are wise 35
and will grasp but what my own mind could dare ponder. 36


Surely those of higher authority than I 37
will laugh and make mockery, a fool’s word 38
they proclaim. Magic Kindergarten would be upon me nigh. 39


As one whose fears unwill what she wills, will stay 40
strong purposes with feeble second thoughts 41
until her fears spell all her fervored zeal away - 42


so I hung back and balked at the thought* 43
till thinking had worn out my hard-suppressed glee, 44
so stout at starting and so easily lost 45


“I understand from your words and that shrunken look in your eye,” 46
that magnificent wraith answered me, 47
“Your soul is sunken in terror from possible disparage of on high 48


that bears down heavily like a yoke on a weak back 49
turning your course through imagined horrors, 50
as shadows give seed to fearful panic 51

To free your mind of its chains I will tell you all 52
of why I rescued you and what was spoken to me 53
when I first pitied you. I was a shade 54


among the shades of Limbo, when a Mare 55
so kind and loving, I implored her 56
order my will, called to me. 57


Her eyes were aflame from the lamps of the great Spheres. 58
Her voice rang clear through me, tender and sweet 59
an amica’s* voice, pure melody to lusting ears: 60


‘O intelligent Manetuan whose wizardries 61
live in Equus’s memory and shall live on 62
till the last whirl of the Sun ceases in the skies 63


My dearest ward and fortune’s foe, has strayed 64
onto a friendless shore, and stands beset 65
by such neuroses that she turns afraid 66


from the True Way and news of her in the Spheres 67
rumours my dread she is too far gone. 68
I come, afraid my wings too slowed by my fears. 69


Fly to her and with your high counsel, pity 70
and with whatever need be crafted or learned for her good 71
and spirit’s salvation, help her, and solace me. 72


It is I, Cadenza*, who send you to her. 73
From blessed height I dream my ladybug to fly. 74
Love called me here. When those among who cannot err, 75


I stand again before my Lady, your praises 76
shall sound on high,’ She paused and I began: 77
‘O Alicorn of that only grace that raises 78


feeble ponykind within its mortal confines 79
from thoughtless bestiality to higher mind 80
allowing reach to friendship in its refines; 81


so welcome is your plea that to my sense, 82
were it to be already fulfilled, it would yet seem tardy. 83
I understand, and am all obedience. 84



But tell me the reason for your venture thus 85
from from the wide heavens of your joy 86
to which your thoughts year back from this abyss, 87


and fills your entire being with revile 88
if but for one more soul astray, unicorn, 89
you allow the filth of a place so vile 90


stain your taintless hoof. Is such then, 91
the effect of such strong Love of the Aspect* 92
so as to prevent the on-high from becoming aloof?’ 93


‘Since what you ask,’ she answered, ‘probes near 94
the root of all, I will say briefly only 95
how I have come through Moon’s pits lacking fear. 96


Knowing then, O waiting and non-understanding shade, 97
that is to fear which has the power to harm, 98
and nothing is so fearful on the Moon. 99


Nor is anything more pitiful or disgusting 100
than the shades here uncomprehending, 101
their total refusal to learn obstinate and unwilling. 102


I am made by Celestia’s all-seeing mercy 103
your anguish does not touch me, and the flame 104
of this great burning, can not lick even the least of me. 105


There is a Lady in the Spheres so concerned 106
for him I send you to, that for her sake 107
the strict decree is broken. She has turned 108


and called Octavia to her wish and mercy 109
saying, “Thy friendless one is sorely pressed; 110
in her distress I commend her to thee.’  111


Octavia, that spirit of light and foe of all 112
cruelty, rose and galloped to me at once 113
where I was sitting with the modern Vinyl, 114


Saying to me: ‘Cadenza, true niece of Celestia, 115
why dost thou not help her who loved you so 116
that for thy sake she left her reigning solitude? 117


Dost thou not hear her cries? Canst thou not see 118
the death she grapples with beside that river 119
no ocean dare pass for rage and fury?’ 120


No spirit of Equus was ever as rapt to seek 121
its good or flee its injury as I was - 122
when I heard my sweet Octavia speak - 123


‘To descend from the Spheres and my blessed seat 124
to you, laying my trust in your high knowledge 125
that honours you and all whose minds are given taste of it.’ 126


She spoke, and turned away to hide a glistening tear 127
that, shining, urged me faster. So I drew my strength 128
and freed you from the beast that plagued you there, 129


blocking the near way to the Celestial Height. 130
And now what ails you? Why do you lag? Why 131
the neurotic anxiety and pale fright 132


when three such important Mares lean from the Spheres 133
in there concern for you, and my own pledge 134
of the great learning and good news that awaits your ears.” 135


As a flower, drawn and puckered during the night 136
turns up towards the returning sun and spread 137
there petals wide to bask in the warmth and light - 138


just so my wilted spirit sprouted once again 139
and such a heat of impassioned zeal surged 140
that the dam of my curiosity was broken 141


And I was born anew, my spirit rejoicing, 142
for the knowledge I sought, was just within 143
grasp of my hoof, a mere stretch to reaching. 144


Thus I began: “Blessed be that Mare of infinite pity, 145
and great is thy taxed and incredible shade 146
that came so promptly on the command she gave thee 147


thy words have returned me to my first purpose. 148
My Guide! My Lord! My Master! Now lead on: 149
one will and one thirst will serve us both for this.” 150


He turned at once when the words left my lips 151
and facing his back, trusting his step, 152
I entered on that hard and perilous track. 153