I do not own MLP friendship is magic or any of the Gods or other series mentioned/represented in this fanfic.
Chapter Twenty-One: The Realms
Apple Bloom ran in her dream. From what she didn't know, all she knew was that she had to get away. Whatever was chasing her was catching up.
"You are my way in." a voice hissed by her ear causing her to turn her head but something landed on her back. "No running now."
Suddenly a burning sensation erupted on her neck causing her to scream.
"Apple Bloom!" Courage's voice called out. "Apple Bloom wake up!"
Apple Bloom woke with a start seeing the mustard maned Daron standing over her. He looked worried as the filly sat up from her bed. She looked around tiredly not really registering where she was blinking slowly.
"Are you alright?" burly wood colored stallion asked a look of worry on his face. The amaranth maned pony nodded her head yawning. Courage decided to go get some breakfast with her complaining about Maiden's Skymount waking him up. The pale olive earth pony wondered what her sister was up to.
"Is it just me or is there somepony missing?" asked Rarity looking around, all the ponies hummed for a bit as they thought about it. "Midnight Sun?"
"Where did he go?" questioned Rainbow Dash looking around. "Do you think he was a spy?"
"Honestly Rainbow." Twilight sighed as she glanced towards her friends... minus Fluttershy. "Just because he wasn't around after the tour didn't mean he was a spy for somepony he barely knows! Why are you so intent on making him the villain?"
"Why do you want to see otherwise?" scoffed the sky blue pegasus waving a hoof around. "He left us here in this village and we haven't heard from him since. Besides he hasn't really leapt at a chance for friendship. How do we know we can trust him? Oh yes he knows Aqua Star, but how do we know he's telling the truth? How do we know he isn't working for Sombra?"
The Princess' mouth snapped shut until turning to look out saying. "Why is it that we keep seeing a pony for their faults? What they have done wrong? Why are we so eager to place judgement on them? Do you guys forget that when I first came to Ponyville I didn't want friends. To me friends were a bother. They would have gotten in the way of my studies. You don't judge me for that because I am your friend. But what about Trixie? Comet? Gilda? Heck remember when Princess Luna came for Nightmare Night? You all remembered her for being Nightmare Moon. Why is it that all of us seem so intent on seeing him as Sombra? He expects that from us. And I know that Midnight Sun knew Aqua Star... she wrote about him in her journal quite often. She trusted him with her life."
Rainbow Dash was about to retort when Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder saying. "With her gone... wouldn't that mean he's hurting a lot more then we realize?"
"Ponies from that time didn't really show their emotions." Rarity explained looking at her friends. "Even Aqua Star never fully showed what she was feeling. Even after she got close to us. She was far more closed off than he was."
"We'll just find him after this and see what he was doing." Twilight suggested before looking out. "If Fluttershy succeeds in getting our cutie marks back."
"You mean when." grumbled the rainbow maned pegasus as she looked over at Party Favor.
Midnight Sun awoke to see Gears still hard at work her brows furrowing. Deciding that she needed a break he walked over to the filly and noticed that she was making a sword.
"Gears." he said softly placing a hoof on her head. "Take a break."
"I can't leave it until the sword is done." mumbled the bronze gold pony only to get pulled away by Midnight's magic. "Hey!"
"If you keep working like this you will pass out." the black maned stallion told her staring straight ahead. "You need rest, something to eat, and water. It will not do you any good to keep working like that. Trust me I know."
"Wait... you called me Gears." the filly realized looking at him with surprise. "But..."
"It seemed to suit you." Midnight replied pointing a hoof towards the filly's flank causing her to turn and look.
"I have... a cutie mark... it doesn't look like gears." Gears told him with a frown. "It looks more like a hammer and an anvil with an aura."
"You have to take in the minor details." chuckled the red eyed unicorn looking at her. "This place is filled with gears. So Gears it is."
"Thanks." mumbled the filly blushing slightly as she looked towards the forge once again fighting the urge to get back to work. "So what's it like where you are from?"
"Well, I'm not from Ponyville but..."
Sombra chuckled darkly as the mirror he was watching flickered between the images of Apple Bloom, The Princess of Friendship, and Midnight Sun.
"Prepare your attack on Ponyville." ordered looking at a pack of Timber Wolves, unlike normal ones these had red eyes. "Make sure to send those wounded here. I need those slaves."
"Yes my lord." growled the Alpha before fading into the dark.
"Now show me the Princesses." Sombra commanded the mirror only for it to remain blank. "Again? Now what are they up to?"
Two cloaked figures ran through a barren field before pausing as the taller one pulled out a map. They stared at it for a while before heading to their right slipping the map underneath their cloaks. Soon they came across two rocks one in front of the other and passed behind the one in front.
Charon had to admit his day had just gotten interesting when to familiar figures entered the realm of the dead.
"I didn't think that I would be seeing you two alive when you entered this realm." the mysterious stallion chuckled. "He can't trace you down here and Lord Hades knows about your arrival. Please board the ship with your hoods off Princess Luna and Celestia. One might think you are up to something."
The two figures dropped the hoods revealing the alicorn sisters before they boarded the ferry. Celestia levitated a few coins to the hooded pony as he climbed on after them and the boat set sail. The white alicorn was quiet as she looked at the dark tunnel they were going down she hadn't been down here since Discord was defeated. The Princess of the Day sighed. Relations with the Underworld had not been reopened since then.
"It is quieter then in used to be." Luna commented and her sister nodded until the boat stopped. She had to raise an eyebrow at a pine green unicorn climbing onto the boat as the ferrypony sighed.
"You know he doesn't like your visits Ms. Pen." Charon told the pony as the boat sailed away from the shore. The sisters looked at each other as a red unicorn with orange gradient spots that actually moved and flickered like flames. She had a dark blue mane and gold eyes were the pupils were split.
"Lord Hades summons you." she snapped looking at the princess before jerking her head to the castle. "I would show you the way but the Fields of Punishment need guarding. Talk to Thanatos if you really need help."
"We can find our own way Styx, thank you though." Celestia replied before Luna and herself head towards the castle made of stone. Both took a deep breath before flying up to the castle and landing in front of a crystal and obsidian fountain.
"Princess Celestia. Princess Luna." spoke a pale grey pegasus with bat like wings and red eyes. "I see you arrival was unhindered. Lord Hades is waiting for you in the throne room. He has questions."
"I thought as much." Luna sighed as Thanatos headed inside and the two Princesses followed him into the castle surrounded by water and fire. They walked down halls of obsidian lit by white flowers that glowed brightly and red flowers that flickered like flames. Their steps were loud and echoed on the floor as they passed stain glass windows. Some held pictures depicting those who either have gone to Elysium or should have if they hadn't stayed. Others were of battles with Death Toll near the bottom with the count from the battle. Soon they came to the door to the throne room, it was wood made from carved stone. It was adorned with skeletons and fire gems set in gold. The double doors opened revealing a large throne room covered in shadow though the moment Celestia and Luna entered flowers on the walls and ceilings lit up and the room filled with an eerie light.
"And here I thought you've forgotten about me." spoke the figure lounging on top of a throne resting upon high steps. The throne itself was made from ebony and onyx yet adorned with jewels found in the earth near the base. Gold lines formed images coming from the jewels depicting the realms of the Underworld. A large old three headed dog rested at the foot of the throne. Unlike the black bulldog that was now guarding Tartarus this had the shape of a black wolf though the fur was short revealing a bony structure almost sickly but that didn't seem to faze the dog. Red spots dotted the fur though some were covered by the mane of fire. There was a black serpent resting on top of the massive dog's back.
"The last time we spoke you told us to get out." the white alicorn retorted as the stallion on the throne shifted his gold slitted eyes narrowing as he said. "You thought it was an excellent idea to store the stone statue of Discord in Tartarus. Do you know what would have happened if the dragons found out and decided to rebel? You would have Dracoliches trying to find the ones who put him there in the first place."
Luna stiffened at the thought again having fought against a few herself with Celestia.
"And I see that dear Luna has returned to normal." the King chuckled standing up revealing his grey blue coat, blue fire like mane, bat wings, and horn. "How exciting."
"Quit using sarcasm Hades we are here to ask a favor." chided the Princess of the Day causing him to snarl revealing sharp teeth. "Not that kind of favor. We need your help to fight in this war."
"You know I can not leave the Underworld." Hades reminded the two walking down his steps as the large dog lifted his head. "Easy Kerberos, easy."
"Cannot or will not?" asked Luna earning a short glare from the King of the Underworld. "Because you did for Abyssia."
"Need I remind you that Abyssia tried to raise an entire army of Dracoliches and that I personally joined the fight after any life from that battle field had gone?" growled Hades moving forward. "I am the Kind of the Dead, Luna. I am an artificial creation, I am bound to my duty of watching over, ruling, and judging them. Sombra does not wish to kill the ponies, he wishes to enslave them."
"How do you know this?" Celestia questioned causing the stallion to say. "There are a few perks about being one of two rulers of the Underworld. You make interesting friends. We might have to crossover to Helheim, Hel has the Norns today."
"Hel?" inquired the dark blue princess looking towards Celestia who shifted uncomfortably. "The Norns? Sister?"
"Oh? Did she not tell you?" chuckled Hades before looking at Thanatos. "You're in charge Thanatos! Make sure Tirek does not get out again, Kerberos come."
The large old dog stood up and followed behind his master as Luna looked towards her sister.
"Hel is not a pony, she rules the Underworld for any nonpony creatures." he explained as a portal opened up revealing a large cavern. "They have their own gods all non ponies, this includes the norns... though even I am not sure what they are."
"Hades, it is rare that you travel outside of your own realm and venture into mine." a female voice resounded around the cavern. "And you have brought the Princesses of the Day and Night with you. It must be a good day. Or is it night? I have not seen the sun in the longest of times. Creatures do not want to die it seems so they live for the longest of times. Come we have much to discuss. Including the land lofting in sky waiting to rejoin that which it left and the little filly who is being used in a plan that you do not want to be enacted."
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