Chapter Six: The Unwelcoming World

Luna awakens, a stinging pain and loud ringing in her head and ears. She winces and holds a hoof to her head as she groggily opens her eyes. All is quiet around her. ‘Where am I? …last I remember I was…’ She glances around her, the alicorns mind piecing things together quickly. She’s inside the cockpit of the war machine, but no longer in flight. The canopy glass is open, her pilot nowhere to be found.

“Talon?” She whispers hurriedly, her heart beginning to thunder within her barrel. Her eyes open wide with panic. “Talon?!” She calls out louder. “Mine flame, where thou art?!” The alicorns ears swivel and turn as she feverishly glances around, whilst unbuckling herself from her harnesses.

“Mine flame?!” She calls out to him again, no answer. Once free of her bonds, she climbs out of the cockpit and bounds onto the opened port canard of the warbird, then to the ground. She nervously titters as she searches frantically for the pilot.

The sound of something splintering in the distance catches her attention, startling her for a moment. Her ears prick straight up as her wings tighten against her sides, the midnight alicorn backing up quickly in fright against the fuselage of the downed aircraft. Her eyes dart around in fear, searching for its source.

With her soft jade orbs, she takes in the heartbreaking sights around her. All around the alicorn, is death incarnate. The earth is a barren wasteland of scorched, cracked and broken dirt, perhaps the sight of a once now long since cooled lava bed or flow. The skies are darkened a deep and dirtied gray, the sound of thunder rumbling faintly in the distance, echoing in the chasm of this endless abyss. The world to her feels barren and lifeless, dead and sorrowful as the grave. The air is hot, tasting of sulfur and ash, foul as the void of darkness deep. “Mine flame…please come to me…I am afraid…” She whispers, tears of sorrow and terror running down her cheeks, matting her fur and dropping to the barren cracked earth at her hooves. “Save me…”

A gunshot pierces the air loud and clear, followed by the rapid popping of several more. She snaps her head to the source, a flash of heat overcoming her as she senses the bauble she gave to the pilot drawing closer. Luna strains her ears forward and follows the sounds, then breaks into a gallop at full speed, taking to wing quickly to get airborne. She screams forward, pumping her massive blue wings quickly to gain more and more speed, a trail of starlight in her wake from her violently wavering ethereal mane and tail behind her.

“Shit shit shit SHIT!” The pilot screams out, as he turns quickly and fires off another volley of rounds from his assault rifle at the demonic creature chasing him down. A gigantic skeletal wolf, or a hound quickly gaining on him, it’s glowing yellow eyes devoid of any signs of life or thought, only feral of lusting for a meal. He races on foot back to the crashed war machine, his heart pounding in his chest as he’s losing this race. The hellhound almost to him. He turns and fires again, the gun now empty and only clicking. “Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh FUCK!!!!!!”

Luna’s eyes go wide, her pupils’ pinpricks as her heart nearly stops and leaps into her throat at the sight. She banks hard and dives, her horn alight brightly as she prepares an attack spell. “AWAY WITH THEE, FOUL BEAST!” She screams out in the Royal Canterlot Voice, the concussive force enough to stun the hellhound for a moment. She fires and discharges her spell, smacking the hellish creature directly and scattering its bones in every which direction.

Luna doesn't’ slow in her rapid descent, and crashes head on into the fleeing human, the two quickly snowballing together into a crumpled heap upon the barren wasteland. Disoriented for only a moment, Luna quickly shakes it off and wraps her forelegs around the pilot, squeezing him for all she can. “Mine flame!” She cries out in joy. Luna peppers her husband with kisses between incoherent words and nuzzles, then licks his cheeks and neck affectionately. “Thou art safe!”

Talon coughs hard, regaining his breath. He struggles and fights for air, the weight of the alicorn upon his chest making for difficult breathing. She continues to smother him, before she wraps her wings around him in a warm feathered embrace. He sighs defeated, and coughs again. “Glad…you’re alright.” He squeaks out.

After another moment of nuzzles, Luna registers the strain within his voice, and allows the pilot to get air as she rises off of him and to her hooves. A hot wind blows quickly with some force against them, the scent of sulfur, ash and brimstone heavy in the air. Turning to face the direction she came, Luna looks in the distance and sees the warbird upon the ground. It’s landed upon its belly, the landing gear still tucked within their respective bays. It appears damaged, the nose of the machine buried somewhat in the dirt, its wings covered with ash and dirt as well, black smoke slowly rising from its engines.

“Where are we…?” Luna asks, searching the area. It appears completely devoid of life, minus the remains of the skeletal Hellhound, if one could call such life in any definition. Sniffing the air, the sulfur stings her nose, the harsh smell causing her eyes to water and burn, irritating her and adding further to her pounding headache.

“…I was hopeful that you could tell me, Angel.” He responds, rising to his own feet and looking around. He removes his sunglasses and searches the horizon. In the gray skies of this barren, dead world, they can’t tell if it’s day or night. They see no signs of the Sun, or of the Moon. There are no stars, no way to ascertain their location or even direction. The only sights he can see, is dark, ominous clouds that have blotted out the heavens, adding to the gloom and feeling of despair overcoming him.

The alicorn shifts her weight on her hooves, folding her wings to her sides as she sighs. “The magical currents feel different here. They’re strong, but isolated and scattered. It almost feels as if it hasn’t been used much, or at all in quite a while…I can’t sense my sister either.”

“Well that’s not good…” He mumbles, looking around. “I tried to reach any pony I could at the palace. There’s no response, only static. I couldn't even ping for an IFF or anything. Even the compass is going crazy and just spinning.” He responds, turning to his alicorn.

“What happened, mine love?” She asks, turning to face him. “Why has our craft crashed?” Luna asks, looking over the downed machine. Her eyes trace its form, taking note that it has indeed taken some damage, obvious scrapes and deep, large scratches run the length of the air frame. The insignia's upon the wingtips and vertical staves also appear scuffed, the markings of the alicorn in flight with sharp contrails shows signs of burns. ‘That must be where the lightning bolt struck us.’

“We got zapped while we were on approach to the runway. We took a hit to our wing, which made our birds systems go haywire. Then another one hit us. Next thing I knew we were in a dead spin and had no systems working. I didn't have enough time to put down the gear before we crashed here….wherever here is.” He explains to the alicorn. With a sigh he feels around his flight suit pockets, retrieving a cigarette and his lighter. He lights it, and exhales a stream of smoke.

Luna chews on her inner cheek within her maw, her ears swiveling in apprehension. “Mine love…we must find a way to get our craft into the skies again, and find our way home.” She whispers. Thoughts of their children race through her mind, terror once again beginning to fill her heart at the thought of not being able to see her two precious treasures.

“Let’s get it set back on its gear again, then try and figure out the damage.” He sighs out. Nervously turns his head and glances at the various bones of the creature that was chasing him only moments ago. “Believe me…If I never see this place again, it’s still too damned soon.” He shivers.

Luna nods curtly in agreement, falling in at her flames side as they begin the short walk back to the downed war machine. They don’t notice the still glowing eyes of the skeletal Hell hound, and the bones slowly inching their way close together again.

Luna alights her horn when they reach the aircraft, encompassing the machine within the soft dark blue glow of her magic. The pilot climbs into the cockpit again and begins trying to power up systems. The computer flickers on, the image of controls and various system settings appearing on the cracked display of the pilot’s console. He sighs as he starts flipping switches. “Ok angel, lift the bird up a few feet so we can lower the gear.”

The alicorn giggles softly. “This reminds me of our first night together, mine love.” She smiles sweetly and lets out a wistful sigh. Doth thou remember?”

Talon nods, his gaze focused upon the flight controls as he begins to lower the landing gear. “I think you and I remember that night very differently, angel. It was in a nice garden just off of our balcony, not whatever this freaky place is.”

With a roll of her eyes she sighs and nods, concentrating on lifting the aircraft carefully within her telekinesis. “Not quite what I had meant, mine flame. Thou takes things too literally, like the lady Sparkle.” She watches as the landing gear bay doors open slowly, the war machines tires and landing struts emerging out from within its steel body slow and underpowered. With several moments they lower into place with a loud metallic clatter and click, then lock. Luna lowers the machine to the ground gently, setting the couples warbird upon its tires once more.

“Fuel wise we’re at a little less than half capacity, angel. We should probably refuel before we bother trying to get airborne. Think you can do it?” Talon asks, climbing back out of the pilot’s seat and coming down the steps of the fuselage.

The alicorn pumps her wings and bounds onto the canard, her horn still alight as she opens the fuel bay hatches. She begins to weave her spell as she closes her eyes, swishing her horn to and fro slowly. Her horn dims after a moment. “Neigh, mine flame. The moon must not be out, nor can I sense its presence in the heavens.” She murmurs, chewing on her cheek within her maw again. “I can’t make mine moonshine without moonlight, my love.”

He sighs and folds his arms to his chest. “Well…this just gets better and better, doesn't it?” Before his alicorn can respond, they hear a low rumbling growl close by, and the eerie blood chilling sound of bones clattering behind them. Talon turns slowly, only to stare at the glowing yellow orbs of the Hell hound inches from his face. He swallows hard as he feels its blisteringly hot breath against his flesh.

Luna gasps as her breath is caught in her throat, her heart all but stopping. “Mine flame…don’t…move.” She whispers, narrowing her eyes at the demonic creature. As she takes a step forward to the edge of the wing, the creature lets out a feral bark and a loud growl, indicating it’s about to attack.

The Hell hounds maw slowly opens, the razor sharp white teeth gleaming like a knives edge as they move, the serrated nightmare only inches from the pilots face. Talon stares wide eyed and frozen with fear as the creature continues to breathe on him. It’s hot, rancid breath reeking with the stench of rotting meat, decay and death.

The creature lunges forward at the pilot in the blink of an eye, only to be struck by a bolt of black magic and sent flying back in a scattered pile of bones. Another three bolts of black inky shadow strike the various parts, before a blur of dark blue miasma screams by the human pilots head, the force of its speed knocking him to the ground.

A short distance away a figure in a tattered, gray hooded cloak stomps on the Hell hounds skull, grinding it into the broken and cracked earth. Dirty and mud caked hooves dance in a quick and amazing display upon the creature’s remains, pouncing and leaping from bone to bone. Sounds of bones splintering and shattering, feral and enraged equine screams are heard ringing throughout the air like the deafening crack of thunder.

Luna bounds off of the canard of the war machine and steps over the pilot, slinking down into a defensive position over her husband as she spreads her wings out in a daunting display. Her eyes narrow into slits and her ears pin back as she alights her horn. Lowering her barrel to the pilots’ chest, she stares at the newcomer carefully and with a degree of fear and curiosity.

The figure stops grinding the now decimated creature, only to turn its own glowing teal orbs upon the couple. Draconic slits appear from within the hood, its face impossible to make out or see. A deeply powerful, but feminine voice calls out to them just above a whisper, its icy voice all too familiar to the pair. “Demon…”

“Obsolescence…” Luna grits out, hearing the voice loud and clear within her sensitive ears. “How did you get out?! What is this hell thou hath made?! Where’s Tia?!” She demands, rage clear within her voice.

The hooded figure takes a step forward, the crumbling earth kicking up a small cloud of dust beneath her heavy cracked hoof. “This ends here demon…you should have stayed in your keep!” The figure calls out, the hood and cloak falling away. Black feathered wings spring up and out, as a powerful mare of the shadow stands before the couple. Caked, dried mud, blood and dirt cover her from hoof to horn, but her ethereal chaotic star field mane, Cutie mark, and razor sharp teeth are impossible to mistake. Standing before them, is Nightmare Moon herself. “I’ll grind you into dust for murdering my subjects and my kingdom!” She begins to charge forward her horn alighting with an inky, shimmering black shadow.

Talon scrambles to his feet and stands in front of Luna, his arms held out wide at his sides to defend his alicorn. “Nightie! Stop this!” He yells out, his eyes focused in on the demonic alicorn. The bauble around his neck glows bright red, the star spinning violently as a thin shield springs out and surrounds him and Luna. The bolt of black magic deflects off harmlessly.

The black alicorn fires again and again, bewildered that her magic simply slides off of the shield. “Out of my way devil spawn! That monster dies!” She cries out, her eyes betraying the icy venom and malice within her tone. She rears back upon her hind legs, beating her fore hooves against the shield. Once again, she’s deflected by the Lunar magic within the bauble.

Luna alights her horn brightly and casts forward a bolt of her own magic, the bolt simply slipping off of the black alicorn as if she were covered in the slickest oil in creation. No spell would touch her, the midnight alicorns magic rendered completely ineffective and useless against Nightmare. Luna’s eyes open wide with panic and fright as she desperately tries again, while standing behind the safety of the pilot and the shield.

Talon lunges forward and tackles the mare to the ground, quickly wrapping his arms tightly against her barrel and pinning her legs between his and her chests. “Let me go!” She yells out.

The pilot continues to hold her as he squeezes and strains against her incredible strength, desperately trying to maintain his grip on her while not harming her. “Nightie! Calm down! That’s just Luna!” He yells back at her.

The midnight alicorn backs away in surprise, watching the sudden turn before she moves closer again. Nightmare continues to struggle for a few moments, before she suddenly stops and pants raggedly. “Mine flame…?” She whispers, her gaze flicking between the nightmare alicorn, and her husband.

She heaves a heavy sigh, and flops her head weakly against the ground within the humans’ arms. Talon can feel the strained rise and fall of her chest, the rapid heartbeat threatening to explode from her alicorn breast. He notices something else as well, he can feel her bones through her thin, seemingly frail form. She begins to chuckle quietly for a moment. “Go on…finish me you weak, foalish bastards. Kill me like you did every other poor soul in my kingdom. ”

Talon loosens his grip slowly. “We’re not going to hurt you Nightie. Just calm down!” He breathes out, looking at the alicorn in her eyes. He notices she’s staring into his own eyes intently, trying to read his thoughts. He can feel her relaxing slowly, the tension of the demonic mare’s muscles showing her submission. “I’m going to let go now, and you’re going to stop attacking…deal?” He asks slowly. He watches as she nods equally as slow, before he releases her. The two remain on their sides staring intently at one another, human nor alicorns gaze breaking for even a moment.

Luna swallows hard as she comes close, then falls slowly to her belly, folding her legs under her and resting her wings at her sides over her flight jacket. “Obsolescence…how did thou escape from mine soul? How art thou within thy own body?” Luna asks in a bewildered, hushed tone.

The black alicorns eyes flick to Luna close by, as her horn dimly alights with inky black shadow. The magic once again slips off of Luna, completely unable to probe or read her. “What are you…why do you speak as if you know nothing of your crimes?” She asks, her voice showing deep irritation and anger. “Why did you leave your keep?! Was it not enough to murder every life on this planet?!”

The pair is taken aback in surprise by her inquiry, leaving them speechless. Nightmares eyes flick to the dirt and ash covered warbird, as she regards it with great trepidation and fear. “And what is that thing?!” She cries out to them.

Talon and Luna’s eyes meet for a moment, confusion upon both of their features. He clears his throat and looks back at the alicorn inches from him. “…I…I think we’re not in Equestria anymore angel.” He mutters.

“I do not believe so, mine flame…” Luna responds, looking at the alicorn before her carefully. She clears her throat. “I believe we have a very severe case of a misidentification, mine love.”

The dirtied and frail alicorns eyes open wide, hearing their conversation. “And why do you call me Nightie?! My name is Obsolescence! Former queen of Elysium! Do not act so crass with me, Devils!”

This time, Luna clears her throat, some irritation in her voice. “Mine name is Luna Masters. Princess of Equestria, Regent of the Stars and all realms of dreams. This is mine husband, Talon, Master of the skies and of the banshee. Thou have us confused with another, for we are no devils or demons. Nor do we wish any harm to thee. Our machine hath crashed here after a storm from our realm, and we simply wish to return to our home.”

Talon lets out a sigh and sits up, turning to look at his alicorn. "Well...I guess this explains why we couldn't reach anypony at the palace...kinda hard to do that when you're not even on the same planet." He rises to his feet and shakes his head, unable to contain himself from letting out a small, uneasy chuckle.

Luna shakes her head and turns away from the demonic alicorn, taking a step back to the warbird. "We wish no conflict with thee, fair queen Obsolescence. Fair thee well and good day." She remarks, turning her muzzle up with annoyance.

The pilot shrugs, then nods to the queen. "Okay angel...let's get to figuring out how to make it..." He's cut off.

"WAIT!" The black alicorn cries out to them, scrambling to her hooves. She gallops and darts in front of the couple, panting quickly. You can see her rib cage expanding and contracting rapidly through her thin, clearly undernourished coat and skin. "You two...you're really not of my world, are you?" She asks. Her panicked, teal eyes glance quickly to the downed war machine, then back to the midnight alicorn and pilot.

He quirks an eyebrow and folds his arms to his chest, looking at the mare incredulously. "Really...as if the aircraft or myself isn't enough of an obvious answer?" He sighs. "I'm not even from HER world, let alone yours. We just want the hell out of here so we can return home."

Luna rolls her eyes, falling in at her flames side. "Mine flame is correct. We only wish to depart as quickly as possible, so that we may be reunited with our treasures and herd." The midnight alicorn flutters her wings, several dark blue feathers falling gently to the barren and cracked black earth at her hooves. "We know nothing of thy world, nor its conflicts, nor do we seek to partake in them."

A far off rumble like thunder catches the trios ears, seemingly sounding as if its slowly moving closer to them. The pilot notices right away the clear apprehension of the demonic mare before them, as if she knows and senses a threat approaching. Luna's ears also prick straight up and swivel, as if she's scanning the air for something.

Queen Obsolescence heaves a heavy sigh, lowering her head and staring at the ground silently. She grits her teeth, her ethereal tail and mane seemingly flickering and losing cohesion for a moment. "Why not...it isn't as if I don't welcome death anymore...for what reason do I have to continue?" She mutters under her breath, turning away from the pair and walking forward.

Talon looks at Luna, noticing she's focused intently at a point far off in the horizon. The hot wind continues to blow harshly, scattering some dust and flecks of the cracked wasteland in its breeze. "What is it?" He asks, tracing her line of sight. He sees nothing.

"Obsolescence..." Luna calls out, turning to look at the demonic mare. "It's that which you confused us for, is it not? Is that the power I sense?" She asks. The rumbling sound catches the wind again, a slight tremble is felt within the ground. Luna shivers for a moment, stepping nervously in place.

The queen stops in her tracks, gritting her teeth. She turns on her cracked, mud caked bare hooves and looks to the night princess, nodding slowly. "That it is. The demons that have slain my kingdom, and left me to wander this barren world alone for eternity as punishment for defending my subjects." She grumbles out between clenched teeth, sorrow upon her features. "I am sorry for confusing you with them, outsider. Please be on your way...so that the demons don't come for you. If I still had my power...I would have helped you return."

Talon steps forward, holding up his hands. "Wait...would some one please explain this demons and magic shit to me? I'm lost." He breathes out. "You fucking space ponies always confuse the hell out of me."

Luna nods, her soft jade orbs tracing the black alicorn before her. She finally begins to see the mare for what she is, rather than as her reflection; her own darker self, she sees a princess like herself, stripped of her kingdom and reason to exist. She silently gives a knowing nod, while extending her wings out erect upon her back. "We wish to hear thy tale, fair queen. Perhaps...perhaps we can help thee, in exchange for information of how to return to our own home. Clearly thou needs aid, as do we to obtain our own mission completion."

Queen Obsolescence raises her eyebrows, genuine surprise written all over her features. "You two must be off-worlders. No one has offered help to me in several hundred years." She comments, shaking her head. "Very well..." She chuckles darkly. "I will tell you my history if you so desire. But we must return to my shelter." She motions to the horizon with her hoof, pointing to a very dark, ominous cloud in the distance. "There is a powerful storm approaching, it comes whenever the demons unleash their guard hounds to search for me. The one I had slain for you was only a foal. A child. These are much bigger and more powerful...we will not survive an encounter with one. Bring your...thing, and let us be on our way with haste."

The pair look to one another briefly, then nod. With a sigh, Luna alights her horn and encompasses the warbird within her magic. The dark blue field carefully grasps the aircraft, then levitates it within her telekinesis spell, cradling it gently and lifting it off of the ground. She then kneels forward and presents her back to the pilot, where he quickly mounts and gets positioned.

"Tell me, Obsolescence, can thou fly? It would be the fastest mode of travel." She comments, holding her large, elegant wings out to her sides in a wide display, presenting them to the frail black alicorn. In turn, the queen nods and extends out her own wings, taking to wing quickly and leaping into the air. Luna pumps her own wings, gaining altitude as she tows the aircraft behind her, in pursuit of the black mare.

* * * * *

Luna stood in the center of a dead city, looking around at the remains of the dilapidated buildings and structures. The area they were in was small, the city couldn't have possibly been any larger than Ponyville or Dodge City, perhaps smaller. To her left at the top of the calderas, was the remains of possibly a church, or some house of worship. The inscriptions of the broken and crumbling stone resembled a very intricate carving of a four clef knot or braid within a circle.

To the edge of that some distance away, a snapped board, broken and rotting at its center was suspended by a wooden post, crumbling and held together by ancient looking rope and twine. A long since broken and decayed cobblestone path leading from the remains of the sign, was decrepit and decayed steps leading to a platform with large sections of the floor caved and fallen in, perhaps once a food service place or a pub.

She sighed as her eyes scanned the depressing area, her sight falling on a structure with the thatch roof long since caved in. There was a depiction of a single bit or coin carved into the rotting and fallen door leaning against the frame, perhaps once the sight of a bank or financial institution.

Just a short ways from that, and currently what is covering and hiding their war machine was the remains of a once blacksmiths shop. It's anvils having long since fallen into dis-use for quite some time. Luna raises an eyebrow, seeing a small flow of molten lava flowing slowly through a channel just behind the main area of the decrepit shop, suspended in a bench or table like structure. The heat from the flow is forming a sheen of sweat upon her coat forcing her to remove her flight jacket before she falls due to heat exhaustion.

Talon whistles, looking around. "Looks like this place could use a little help..." He says with a slight nervous chuckle. "I'll take a guess and say this wasn't always so...depressing." He asks quietly, looking to the dirtied and frail black alicorn.

"No..." Queen Obsolescence states. "This was once my home. After the arrival of the demons, many of our cities had fallen. Our capital city was destroyed by the smaller demon...the one that looks like your mare." She motions with her hoof to Luna. "The skies were once a beautiful soft blue, the lands were green and lush, our oceans deep and clear. Elysium was a proverbial paradise to all of its inhabitants."

"So what happened? Surely this didn't occur in a single day." Luna asks, taking position at her flames side. She continues to look around, her eyes tracing the depressing and gloomy surroundings all around her.

"I...I know this will sound strange to you possibly....but there was once a time when I had power, will over both the day and night. My power moved the heavens, painted the skies with beautiful light, and kept my home a beautiful, wondrous place." Obsolescence quietly states, while settling to rest in a small nesting area of old, torn cloths and dried straw. The black alicorn glances up at the warbird, eyeing it carefully as she begins to tell her tale. "And then they came..."

"These demons...they appeared to be just like myself. They had both wings and a horn. My subjects...my ponies. They knew only of peace, only of kindness. They didn't know the horrors of which they were about to encounter. The demons called themselves Formors...with them they brought monsters to my lands. Creatures of nightmares that were thoughtless and feral. In Elysium, we had no conflict, no wars, nor violence. We had no weapons to fight them back. Our magic...our drive as a society was to better ourselves, and others to help the greater good. We helped one another, explored and always thirsted for knowledge."

She breathes out a tired, raspy sigh, staring off at the gray skies with dark clouds of ash moving lazily in the heavens. "At first...we were able to contain most of the creatures within chasms and keeps, sealing them within the bowels of Elysium with a simple ward and a statue of our deity, the all mother...Goddess Nehimaine. But then...those two appeared."

Talon and Luna take a seat before her, listening to and hanging onto her every word with great interest. The pilot digs through his satchel and searches the pockets, retrieving a candy bar for his alicorn and handing it to her. Luna takes the confection within her magical grasp and opens it, then breaks off a piece and offers it to the black mare.

"What is this?" She sniffs it, pausing from her story.

"Food, from our world." Luna comments, still holding the piece within her magic. "We have plenty more, thou art welcome to partake in its enjoyment."

Obsolescence eyes it warily, before gently pushing the piece of chocolate away. "Perhaps later..." She mumbles, turning her gaze away. Luna shrugs, and returns the piece close to herself where she nips at it, enjoying the treat to herself.

"The demons came...one of fire and light, the other of ice and darkness. As our struggle seemed to prevail, the last of the creatures being forced to the depths of the keeps...it enraged their masters, these demons. They came...and slaughtered all who were within their reach. The dark one blotted out my sun and my moon, covered the skies in a shroud of shadow and dark magic...my powers were rendered useless, my connection with my celestial charges lost. Then the fire demon...she set the entirety of Elysium ablaze...her fury had scorched and burned everything to a cinder."

"It was only a matter of weeks before the planet was lifeless...I watched scores of my subjects die at their hooves...and I was powerless to stop them. My every attempt to communicate and make piece with them, foiled. Then...then they cursed me with this body." She holds up her mud caked foreleg letting out a weary sigh. "As a punishment...a torture, what have you. They cursed my body, turned my soft violet fur into...this. They made my eyes like theirs, my power to darkness. In my rage, I turned to the shadow, to try and drive them back...They had stolen a part of me, and dragged it into their keep. My heart...it was a physical manifestation of my power, called Le Fal. If I had a way to retrieve it...I would be able to clear the skies, and reset the heavens. If I had that part of me back...I could undo their crimes, and bring back life to my planet. Mother had called that power the Falasis piece, the heart of creation. "

Talon nods, standing up. "Sounds pretty simple then. We just need to help you get this piece of you back, and we both get to return to our homes. So where is it then? Where is this keep?" He asks, lighting a cigarette.

Queen Obsolescence snorts. "It isn't so simple as you believe, outsider." She rolls her teal draconic eyes, then points to a small mine shaft a short distance away from them. The only still intact structure within the city. "It's five floors down in the most hellish place you could ever endure, guarded by the most powerful Formors in existence. Even with all of my strength and wit, I've never made it beyond the first floor without failing and having to flee. Nothing short of an insane monkey, a big miracle and unlimited power possibly make their way through. And even some pony could, they would have to fight against the demons themselves in the final room of the keep, the fire demon being the worst of the two. ...it can't be done."

"Well then lucky for you, I happen to be that said insane monkey. And right now that pair of demons are standing between me and our treasures. So point the way, and let me do the rest." He says, cracking his knuckles and grinning.

Obsolescence stares at the pilot, wide eyed and shaking her head, before she glares and scowls. "You two mention a treasure, what could gold possibly be for you that you would throw your lives away?"

Luna smiles and shakes her head, also rising to her hooves. "Not gold or bits...our treasurers are our children. Mine offspring. We have twin fillies...Stardust Kiss and Moonlight Way. Mine flame and I wish to return home so that we can be with our family."

A soft smile comes to the queens muzzle, nodding in understanding. "I too...would go any distance to be with my own family if I had one. I was never blessed with sisters or brothers, nor did I ever bare children in my years. Looking back...I wish I would have considered it, rather than distancing myself from my mortal subjects."

Luna smiles and nods. Before she can speak, the queen interrupts her. "However, if I may ask...why are you two so willing to help me? Why would you take such a risk for some pony that you know nothing of?"

The midnight alicorns gaze falls to her flame, who gives a small nod for her to respond. Luna lets a small smile cross her muzzle, then turns to look at the black alicorn before her. She draws a soft breath. "In a simple and short answer...it is our way. It is how we of Equestria all are. Every pony works together to strive for harmony with one another, as well as for our own daily lives. " She sighs, her gaze softening as her own illustrious jade orbs bore into the black alicorns teal ones.

"As my flame once told me...'evil only prevails when good fails to act.' I myself, am the co-ruler of mine own world, where I care for the moon and all matters of the night. We...on our world, had our own demons to battle, years ago. The parasite, as we called it, attempted to do to us, what these spawn of Tatarus do to you. We drove the parasite back, then cast it into the abyss. Mine flame had helped us with our own war against these creatures, had protected us, watched over us and sheltered mine subjects under his own steel wings. Mine flame now hath answered thy call, and wishes for us to help thou reclaim thy world. I shalt follow him to the edges of Heofon, without question or fail. So if mine love states we shalt slay these demons for thee, then that is what thou whilst expect to be." Luna answers with a wry smile.

The pilots gaze falls to the bauble, the star a deep violet hue spins lazily and slow within the glass orb. He sighs and nods, then turns his gaze to the warbird. "When we finish this...I hope you keep to your word and help us get home. We'll get your heart back, and we'll put an end to this...once and for all." He breathes out, rising to his feet.

He climbs up into the cockpit, and collects the pistols and spare clips, then collects the remaining three rifle magazines. He sets the strap of the rifle around his neck and chest, then checks the breach bolt for a round after installing the fresh magazine into it. "So...it's now or never. Let's get to it."

"Perhaps...perhaps you should rest first." Queen Obsolescence whispers out, her ears folded back to her head as she stares blankly at the barren earth at her mud caked hooves. "It's...quite hellish within there. We will all need our strength if we are going to succeed..."

* * * * *

Several hours have passed, the three resting still in the same spot just under the still intact thatch and wooden structure within the dead and desolate city. Luna and the pilot have completed some repairs and looked over the warbird, whilst answering a long and wide list of questions to the newcomer queen about Canterlot, the aircraft and their own history.

Talon steps down from the cockpit, dusting off his hands as he smiles. "Well, should this turn into a dogfight, we for sure have enough fuel and ammo to put a quick end to it. We also still have the VTOL functions available on the bird angel, so we'll be able to also take off again with no problems."

Luna smiles, her gaze somewhat unfocused and distant. 'why do I feel as if I'm still missing something...' She asks herself, not paying attention completely to her flame. She chews on her cheek within her maw, silently doing an inward search. Despite the situation and all that has happened, she still can't help but feel lighter, as if a great burden has been lifted from her own heart.

"...Equestria to angel?" He says, waving his hand in front of the regal midnight alicorns muzzle. She snaps her attention to him and blinks rapidly for a moment, then smiles and nuzzles his hand. He cocks an eyebrow. "And where were you just now?"

She nickers softly and steps forward, giving him a soft kiss. "Lost in thought, mine love." She breathes out with a gentle smile. "I know this may sound odd...but I still can't help but too feel...better than I have in years."

"So....should we consider this a vacation spot for our next family camping trip?" He retorts with a grin. She scowls at him with a grin of her own, then playfully bats him with her hoof. He chuckles in response.

"Neigh mine love. I can't explain it...but mine own heart just feels lighter these days, as if a great weight hath been lifted from me. For the first time in over a thousand years, I can state that I almost feel completely at peace with mine self."

He sighs uneasily, his thoughts trailing back to the dream he had the night of the camping trip. "Heh...probably just something you ate, angel. I'm glad you're feeling better." He looks at his wrist watch for a moment, then shakes his head. "The girls should be getting up in about another half hour...I just hope Sunny Butt is able to come up with a good excuse as to where we are so they don't worry themselves sick."

Luna visibly wilts a bit, hearing that, her thoughts drawn to their children. "I hope we will be able to return to our home soon, mine love...I already miss mine treasurers. I...I know that Tia and fair Dusty shalt take good care of them in our absence...but I wish to be with mine herd. I cannot bear being away from them. "

"I agree, angel. I agree completely." He quietly responds, embracing her tightly. "I already miss them too..." He whispers. As the couple are holding one another in each others soothing embrace, the queen clears her throat quietly. Talon and Luna turn to look at her.

"It's time." She says quietly, a look of tension upon her features. She turns her draconic gaze to the keep entrance, letting out a heavy sigh. "Hell will hold no surprises for me this day...so let us be off, so that you may return home and be reunited with your family."

With a curt nod, the pilot releases his alicorn from his embrace, then adjusts his fatigues jacket. "So...lets do this." Luna titters nervously, and falls in at her flames side as they walk. Talon swallows hard, grasping the grip of the rifle tightly as they go.

The three turn and walk into the mineshaft entrance, a feeling of dread washing over the pilot and midnight alicorn as they enter the dark room. They look around, the pilot and Luna surprised upon what they find once their eyes adjust to the dim light.

The room itself was completely contrast to the world outside, the feeling the atmosphere itself had presented was enough to make even the most battle hardened Lunar Stallions turn tail and run while screaming out for their mothers. The air was hot, thick and hard to breathe.

The ground at their feet and hooves, had deep cracks that ran every which way, the cracks themselves glowing with a deep red, signs of the torment and hell that waited below the trio. In the center of the basalt and onyx floor and magma veins, was a large statue.

"Mine flame...that looks like..." Luna's eyes go wide her pupils pinpricks as she stares at the statue before them. A pony? No...she would have expected that, they all would have. Perhaps even an alicorn statue, or a depictions of the all mother. No...what stood there upon the obsidian platform, towering over them was...

"A human angel." The pilot finished for her, breathless and wide eyed. It was of a human, or human like woman, very beautiful and carefully carved, with large, elegant black wings upon her back, each feather painstakingly detailed down to the individual fibers within each feather. The woman was kneeling at the edge of the obsidian platform, holding a large, long stone sword with the blade exposed and pointed down, her expression silent and almost seemingly in prayer.

Talon walks around the statue, then gazes at the black alicorn queen. "Is this what your kind consider your deity? A human angel? He asks. "She looks like something from my own world."

Obsolescence nods, looking at it, reverence and relief clearly in her features, faith deeply laced within her eyes. "That is the Goddess Nehimaine. She is one of three sister Goddesses that have always watched over and protected my planet. It was always said that she was the Goddess of War, and Vengeance. My subjects placed these statues in the entrance of every keep, to deter Formors from trying to escape into the outside world. Thus far...it's worked and kept the demons locked within the bowels of this one."

Luna lets out a soft sigh, nodding. "We shalt have to talk about this later. Let us begin this, so that we might return to our own realm, and thou return yours to its prior state." She says, turning to face the black alicorn.

The pilot also heaves a sigh, then looks around the room. "So...where's the door?" He asks, not seeing any exit, other than the one they entered through. He quirks an eyebrow, then turns also to face the black alicorn.

"Via the platform. You offer an item for sacrifice to the statue, and it transports you through wave motion energy to the lower levels." The queen says quietly, not looking at the pair, her gaze still focused upon the statue. When she hears the strained confused breaths of the pair, followed by the rustling of their jackets, she turns her draconic teal orbs to them, seeing their confusion. She sighs and rolls her eyes. "Just drop any item on the floor of the platform at the base of the statue, and you get sent into the keep like magic." She groans out.

Talon looks to Luna and shrugs. He takes a step, then turns to look at her, waiting for his alicorn to join him. "So, just any old item?" He asks, while digging through his pockets for his cigarettes and a lighter. "Sounds simple enough." He sighs and ignites the cigarette, then breathes out a stream of smoke.

"Yes, that is essentially all there is to it. All three of us simply get on, one of us drops an item and we're in. That's really all there is." The queen breaths out, her voice showing some signs of irritation laced deep within it.

The pilot begins to check his pockets for another random item, pulling out anything he can find of little or no value. As he's digging through his flight jacket pockets, a single bit slips past his hand and drops to the platform before he could catch it.

Queen Obsolescence and Luna's eyes go wide, their breath both catching in their throats. All is quiet for a few tense moments, before the black alicorn speaks up quietly. "...what did he drop?"

Luna furrows her brow, confused. "I do not know..." She steps onto the platform and stands for a moment, waiting to also go into the demons keep. Nothing happens. She turns to look at the queen, who has a rather terrified look upon her muzzle, her breaths quiet and rapid. The gears slowly turn in the midnight alicorns mind, before she narrows her eyes. "...why doth it matter what item mine love dropped...?"

The black alicorn swallows hard, her stare blank. It takes her a moment to answer, her voice a haunted whisper. "Because unless we know what it was...we shall not be able to enter...only one party may enter the keep at a time...to prevent the Formors from being able to escape between drops..."

Luna's eyes go wide, her pupils pinpricks. Her heart nearly stops in her chest, as her mind processes what was just said. "You mean that..."

The black alicorn nods solemnly. "Unless we know what he dropped and also drop the same item...he's going it alone."

* * * * *

Inside the opening of the keep, Talon looks around the empty and dark cavern, waiting for Luna and the black alicorn to enter with him. He sighs as he waits, it already having of been half an hour according to his watch. The minutes continue to tick away, the only light within the hot, stagnant room was the light given off by the bauble.

"Eh...they'll catch up." He says, growing impatient. He looks around, his eyes since adjusted to the darkness and gloom of the room. The walls are all black and ashen basalt, with veins of onyx and obsidian running through them, peculiar rock formations in both the ceiling and the walls. In the center, is a duplicate statue like the one he had seen earlier, only this one was strangely off. The wings...were opened wide upon this ones back, the eyes open.

He quirks an eyebrow as he studies it, unzipping his flight jacket as he walks around it and studying the statue. It's hot, and very hard to breathe. The air reeks of decay, ash and the scent of burning. Worse than it was upon the surface. The air...is thick with tension and evil. He swallows hard as he finishes taking off his jacket, wrapping the sleeves of it around his waist, leaving only his black t-shirt on covering his top. He adjusts the strap of the rifle upon his shoulder, then turns to face the stairs going down, behind the statue. "Heh...here we go then." He says to no one.

Much to his surprise, he finds an empty room at the base of the stairs. What also greets him however, leaves him mortified and wishing he didn't let that bit slip out of his pocket. He swallows hard, his eyes wide with surprise. "Oh...shit."

The halls are alight with the fires deep within the barren earth, flows of magma bordering the narrow corridors and each room. The walls, are towering sheets of basalt and twisted metal, the metal glowing red from the heat. The air is unbearably hot, a sheen of sweat forming all over his body, down his neck and dripping off of his flesh. The ground was black, cracked and uneven, the cracks filled with small veins of magma coursing through them deep below, giving off unreal heat and some light.

In the center of the opposing wall, far on the other side of this chamber, was a tall door made of heavy wood, metal and stone. He points his rifle in front of him and trains it, carefully searching for a target as he slowly enters. The room appears to be empty.

In the corners of the room, each one has a pillar of onyx, with a carefully made and polished red glass orb, easily as big as a small foal resting upon its top. He lowers his rifle and walks up to one of the orbs, studying it carefully. He can see a small light glowing within the center of the orb. He eyes it curiously, then moves along to the other orbs, finding their much the same.

He studies the orbs carefully for some time, then moves on to the door. He knows he can't lift it, the large and towering barricade much too heavy to even push, the metal too hot to grasp. His eyes trace the outer edges of the door, before he finds mechanisms and gears, leading to a very intricate pulley system and cables leading off of the top, the cables going into a black wooden box above the door, then being routed to other pulleys in the corners of the high ceilings. His eyes follow the cables, leading to the base of each orb.

He shrugs, letting out a quiet sigh as he walks up to the red glass orb closest to the closed door. Looking it over, he sees no switches, no signs of mechanisms or devices. He lifts his hand and gently taps on the orb, then sees the light within it flicker and glow bright for a moment, before dimming back down. He quirks an eyebrow and repeats the action, slightly more forceful.

He gives it a good whack with his fist, the orb fracturing slowly for a moment and glowing bright. The screeching sound of metal being twisted and pulled fills the air, before the door suddenly lifts up slightly and raises into the stone arch above it. His eyebrows raise as he steps back and looks at it carefully for a moment, before he grins. "Ah! ...so that's how this works." He says, his tone somewhat hopeful. He steps back into the center of the room and takes aim with his rifle, then squeezes the trigger. A single round fires and shatters the orb, the door quickly being drawn open.

He moves forward to the next room and checks, sweeping with his gun left, then right, finding an identical set up. The room is of equal size, another four glass orbs adorning the corners on top of onyx pillars that shine with a deep black luster, against the magma flows only a few feet away behind them.

He takes aim at the pillar to the left of the next door this time from his position, and discharges another round from the rifle. The orb shatters and glows brightly with a red sphere of magic, the next door flying open quickly into the stone arch above it. He lets out a chuckle and walks through the empty room, grinning. "Five floors of hell indeed." He grunts out, wiping the sweat from his forehead on the sleeve of his shirt.

He exits the room, following the narrow corridor slowly, his rifle trained forward as he approaches the next and third room of the first floor of the keep. He comes to find yet another room with the same setup as the last two, the door at the other side closed, and no sign of Formors anywhere. He looks behind him down the corridor, still not seeing his alicorn or the other mare.

"Luna...hurry up." He whispers, checking the third room. His confidence now growing and his doubt raising of the true danger of this hellish place, he picks the orb to the right of the opposing door and takes aim, discharging a round. The orb shatters...the door does not open.

He quirks an eyebrow and looks at the door, waiting for it to raise, not noticing the swirling black energy in the center of the room beginning to form. He takes aim at the orb to the left of the door this time and fires again, that orb also shattering. Nothing happens.

The energy grows darker, and begins to take shape. Now the pilot notices, as a second swirling black mass forms. His eyes widen and he quickly ducks behind the cover of the wall beside him in the corridor, as he watches. The mass continues to swirl, before it takes it's shape. Standing at the center of the room where the mass once was, two large, black skeletal hellhounds, easily twice the size of the one chasing him earlier. Their eyes glowing deep crimson.

The hounds begin sniffing the air, their empty rib cages glowing with a swirling red ball of energy at their centers, the ribs expanding and contracting as they intake air. He can hear them moving around, clawing and scratching at the keep floor, their bones clattering together as they move.

'I...just HAD to say something.' He thinks, face palming. He breathes hard and thinks, planning out his next move. The noise on the other side stops. The air suddenly silent, the only sounds of it being the hum of the magma flows, and the pilots own breathing.

He waits for several moments, the area still completely silent of the hounds, before he leans over to check behind the wall. He lifts his rifle and grips the handle hard, squeezing it before he turns to peak around the corner. As he does, he comes to stare into two glowing red eyes filling his vision.