I do not own MLP
Chapter Twenty Five: The Underworld and Hades
"Ugh, are you sure this is the way?" Rainbow Dash asked earning an eye roll from the author. They were deep in the Everfree Forest and already the fast flier was complaining.
"Yes I'm sure." snapped Astral Pen before looking to her right. "Come on we're nearly there. This entrance is a lot closer to Ponyville than the last one."
"Entrance to what?" Twilight inquired as the pine green earth pony walked through some bushes before stopping at a hole. "What is that?"
"That is where they went. Follow me." explained the gold eyed mare before heading down some stairs the others following. "Quickly now, the entrance doesn't stay in one place for long."
"Where are we going?" this time it was Rarity asking the question earning a groan from Astral. "You haven't told us!"
"It's hard to explain!" the yellow maned pony replied before moving off the stairs towards a hooded figure. "Well Twilight's been here before. Greetings Charon!"
"Astral Pen you have already been here!" groaned the figure causing Twilight to pause. "You brought more living beings to the Underworld."
"Hey! Hey! I'm not staying!" Astral explained looking at him. "They wanted to snoop in the Princesses business not me! Welp, see you girls later, I know when I'm not welcomed here."
"If you did then you wouldn't come back." grumbled the ferrystallion before focusing his attention on the princess and her friends. "Greetings, I am Charon. The ferry pony to the Underworld. Will it just be you six?"
"Why don't we just fly across?" Rainbow asked earning a sigh from Charon before he said. "Do they teach them nothing in the World of the Living? If you attempt to fly or use magic to get across the river you will never return to your world. You will be lost for all eternity. Now get on the boat."
"Oh... here you go." replied Twilight levitating a few bits to the ferrypony who looked a little surprised. "Astral Pen told us to bring some."
"Perhaps next time she will tell you how she keeps finding the entrance." grumbled the cloaked stallion before climbing on after them and the boat began to move. "Lord Hades has already been alerted to your presence. When you exit the ship you will go straight to his palace. If you need help, Thanatos will guide the way."
"Thank you." the Princess of Friendship told the stallion who didn't reply as he guided the ferry across the River Styx.
"Didn't you come here one time?" asked Rainbow Dash and Twilight shook her head saying. "I only was brought to the entrance of the Underworld. I never entered here until now."
The rest of the trip was quiet until they reached the shore on the other side of the river. Twilight looked around before spotting a pale grey pony with bat like wings. His red slitted eyes held a bored look to them as his short black and dark steel grey maned curled around his face. Rarity swooned as she stared at him but he held no mind.
"Lord Hades summons you." he spoke his voice deep before turning around. "Follow me."
Twilight did not have time to take in the Underworld. Unlike the World of the Living the Underworld held its own beauty. The darkness was lit up by magma and flames from the River Phlegethon and veins of crystals running down the wall. Applejack whistled at the plant life in the courtyard, she didn't know anything could grow down there. The group found themselves in front of large obsidian door with large white pony skeletons standing guard. Fluttershy gulped as they walked past them their heads turning to watch them.
The hall they walked down was made of obsidian lit by flame like flowers and white ones. Large stain glass windows lined the left side of the hall depicting a few scenes that even Rainbow Dash turned her head from. The death counts were just too high. Soon they came to a stone door adorned with skeletons and fire gems set in gold. Rarity squealed in delight at the sight of the gems.
"Lord Hades, the Bearers have arrived." Thanatos called rapping a hoof against the door before pushing them forward with one hoof. The doors opened slowly allowing the group to walk forward and into the throne room. Twilight gulped her ears falling flat against her head as she took a step forward into the long hallway her eyes locked on a lone throne resting on top of stairs.
"Well well, more visitors." a voice spoke as the rest of the ponies entered. "And this time the newest Princess of Equestria. What an honor it is."
"We are here to find out what happened to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia." responded Twilight standing her ground only to gasp when the Lord of the Underworld came into view. He had a smirk on his face as he walked down the stairs his slitted gold eyes watching them intently.
"Y-you're an alicorn?" gasped Fluttershy as the slitted eyes landed on her causing her to hide under her hair. Hades rolled his eyes at the reaction.
"Yes and no. Unlike you ponies I was not born, I was created." he growled before walking up to Twilight. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, this is the first time you have seen me, but not the first time I have seen you. I must thank you for returning Cerberus, it would have been more... disastrous if he stayed a moment longer. Now onto the next question. What happened to your dear monarchs... They came to me seeking help."
"So you attacked them?" interrupted Rainbow Dash only to be promptly ignored by Hades. "Hey I'm talking to you!"
"Rainbow!" hissed the mulberry alicorn looking at her friend with a stern look. "What has gotten into you?"
"I did not attack them." the grey blue stallion replied before walking to the steps again pausing to scratching a large three headed dog behind the ears. "What exactly did they say?"
"They failed." said the former unicorn a bit confused when he laughed.
"What's so funny?" growled RD as Applejack just stared at her like she was crazy.
"Only the world of the living would think that they failed a simple test by not having the result they expected." explained Hades before vanishing in flame and appearing in front of Twilight. "But perhaps you and your friends would be willing to take on the same challenges your beloved monarchs did."
The Princess of Friendship thought for a moment before nodding her head.
"Good, follow me then." replied the Lord of the Underworld before heading off down a hallway. Rainbow Dash paused for a moment watching her friends follow this strange stallion. She looked behind her wondering if she should just go.
"The choice is yours." a deep voice spoke causing her to turn around and see the pale grey pegasus from before. "To go or to stay. This choice is yours to make Rainbow Dash."
"Why do you look like that?" asked Rainbow as she watched him with magenta eyes though they were focused on his wings. Thanatos looked at her before sighing as he looked at a window to the left of the throne. The sky blue pony looked towards it and saw a grey blue pegasus painted against the glass. His eyes were closed peacefully.
"I was the first pony to die." he told her before looking away. "Hades had given me a present. A choice. I was free to return to the land of the living, but I decided to stay. I wanted to bring the dead to him, in that sense I became death. It was when my talent appeared, the skull representing my duties. I am there in the end to make sure a pony breathes their final breath and guide them here to be judged."
"How did you die if no pony couldn't die before?" questioned Rainbow a little confused as Thantos explained. "I knew there had to be more than just living eternally. So I disregarded the rules and bound my wings before jumping off the cliff. Hades himself found my dying and gave me the choice to live or die. I chose death having become bored with living. Each choice shapes the lives of others. If I hadn't died then this place would be empty and the surface world full of life that it cannot hold."
"Every choice is important huh?" mused the pegasus before heading off after her friends. "Thanks!"
"Ponies now days." sighed Thanatos before looking towards a large portrait to the right. "At least they are doing what is right. Just like you Clover. I will find you one of the days and when you finally choose to come Lord Hades' smile would return."
-Meanwhile in the Everfree Forest-
Discord hovered over the Mirror Pool as he continued work on the weapons again. Dragoste was now hovering over the pool as he continued to weave his magic around the weapons. Soon a pale blue flame appeared near the entrance.
"So you have arrived." mumbled the draconequus glancing upwards. "Do you have what I need?"
"It took some convincing." a female voice spoke out. "But they agreed to grant you a shard of each of their powers for the young ones in exchange for bringing balance."
"Yes, yes, balance can come later." huffed Discord as three shards appeared beside him. "Wisdom, Power, and Courage. These do fit the little ones perfectly. Makes me wonder what you did to get them... Ma..."
"I would prefer it if you didn't say my name." sighed the voice as bright gold eyes peered through the darkness. "You don't know who is listening."
"Oh right, if Sombra were to find out who you really are it could cause problems." the Chaos spirit chuckled as his magic surrounded the shards. "For all of us. All though he could hear you fangirling a mile away."
"What do you mean by..." began the voice before a bright light appeared and a new voice spoke. "Wait are we in a fanfic?"
There was a high pitched squeal.
Okay, that hurt.
Hey this means we get to be in a fanfic where the author is a sexy little...
"Discord take him away before he ruins everything!" snapped the voice causing the draconequus to sigh before snapping his fingers one more time.
"No wait!" the male voice shouted. "Phew still..."
A cloud of smoke exited the shadows.
"Seriously Discord, a hat?" asked the voice before sighing. "What else do you need me to get for you?"
"Just buy a little more time while I start designing the weapons for the youngest Princess and her friends." Discord told her. "I will call you when I need you Skogsrå."
"I'm not a Skogsrå, Discord." replied the voice before turning around a white tipped tail slightly split flashing in the light for a moment before vanishing.
"No, you are something very different." chuckled the Chaos spirit as he began to work on the weapons once again. "Now let me see, ah yes that will be perfect."
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