Silver was heavy. It was hard to tell from the small pieces that ponies were used to dealing with: the occasional necklace or ring, or bracelets, or similar things. On a larger scale, though, it was almost three times as heavy as iron. Even the thin metal suits of armor that Twilight and her friends wore were almost unbearable.

Except, seemingly, to Pinkie Pie, who despite the added weight, was hopping around the edge of the room happily- -even if she had substantially less hang-time than normal.

“I can’t fly in this,” said Rainbow Dash. That was actually hyperbole; she could fly, just not terribly well. Fluttershy, in contrast, was completely unable to take flight.

“And so…plain,” said Rarity, sounding terribly disappointed. “I mean, I will never have a chance to wear this much silver again. It would be perfect for an ornate image here or there.” Her face lit up, and a small beam from her horn started to etch an image into her armor.

“It’s not supposed to look good,” said Twilight to Rarity, and then to Rainbow Dash, “or be comfortable. It’s supposed to ensure that the Choggoth can’t touch us.” She looked at her friends. In the armor, they all looked like soldiers.

“I think it’s great!” said Pinkie Pie. “Listen to this!” She slammed her head into a wall, and her helmet produced a pleasant if deafening ringing noise. “No helmet…oof…makes a sound like that ‘cept a silver helmet! It’s like being a big bell!” Her expression shifted. “Hey, do you think demon ponies make spicy pastry? I mean, it seems like a weird idea, but demons like hot things- -I’ve never had a spicy cake before.”

“You’re awfully excited ‘bout goin to Equestria’s worst prison,” said Applejack grimly.

“Yeah we are!” said Rainbow Dash. “I can’t wait to sock Satin right in the face!”

“There will be no socking of anypony!” said Twilight, frowning. “Satin Veil has a long-standing non-aggression pact with Equestria. You will not punch her, nor will you punch any demons. Don’t even talk to them. We are going on official business, so there shouldn’t be any need for any violence at all.”

“Oh,” said Rainbow Dash, her excitement fading. “Twilight, only you could make a trip to Tartarus sound so boring.”

As they were speaking, the Princess Celestia entered the room, Spike beside her. It had taken Twilight almost an hour to explain to Spike why he could not come with them; she had only managed to do it by asking him to be Celestia’s assistant for a few days. Celestia certainly needed the help, and Spike was so flattered that he accepted with hardly any hesitation.

“Are you ready?” said the Princess as Twilight’s friends bowed to her. “Is the armor adequate?”

“It’s a bit heavy,” said Rainbow Dash, and Twilight glared at her.

Celestia smiled. “It was the best I could do on such short notice. I do apologize about the weight.”

“No, no. I can handle it,” said Rainbow Dash. “I’m just saying. In case, you know, you want to give this to general soldiers.”

“There is not enough for everypony to get this armor, I’m afraid.” Celestia looked down at her student, and her friends. “I only wish I could send you an army. Sending you to Tartarus alone worries me greatly, and the Gloame is surely worse.”

“We won’t need an army,” said Twilight. She was, in a way, lying; she knew that they really did. The risk was too high, though, that if Celestia sent troops that D27 might simply shift to Equestrian and begin the invasion while the army was divided.

Princess Celestia smiled on them. “I wish you luck.” She then stepped past them and turned to face them. She lowered her head, and her horn began to glow with solar light. Before her, space distorted, and then tore, pulling itself apart into a wide circle. The air of the room was filled with the distant scent of smoke and sulfur.

“Go,” said Celestia, stepping from behind the portal. “Before it closes.”

Twilight turned her head toward her mentor, and nodded.

“We won’t fail you, Princess.”

“I know you won’t, Twilight.”

Twilight stepped through the portal, her friends behind her, into the cool and damp air of Tartarus. The portal snapped shut almost instantly behind them, snipping off the tip of Fluttershy’s tail and causing her to squeak and jump so hard that she actually managed to reach and cling to a already heavily weighted Rainbow Dash.

They all shivered simultaneously, and from more than just the cold. Tartarus simply seemed to have that effect on ponies- -it was draining, as if it were somehow saturated with anxiety and fear. The landscape itself did not help to assuage the feeling that the air generated; if anything, they were in collusion. Tartarus was made of lifeless gray rock that stretched in all directions, forming endless planes of stone that would rise suddenly into cities of pointed rock mountains. The sky itself- -if it could even be said to have a sky- -was like that of a stormy winter day, a silent, swirling mass that were more depressing than frightening. Together with the air and bleak landscape, however, they took on a much more frightening caste.

They had landed at the base of a particular mountain, one with a large and ornate door built into it.

“Are those…” said Rainbow Dash.

“Bones?” asked Applejack, confirming the identity of the decorations around the door and piles around it with her question.

“Yes,” said Twilight. “This is the door to Tartarus Proper. Celestia’s prison for the worst criminals in all of Equestria. This is where they keep all the dark spirits.”

“Like that one!” squeeked fluttershy, pointing out a dark figure that was approaching them.

“Road apples,” swore Twilight. “Just don’t make any sudden movements, and don’t look him in the eyes.”

The figure emerged from the shadows and confirmed what Twilight already knew. He was a member of the Lost Race- -a demon pony, a guard of Tartarus and a member of the only ponies that actually liked living in a dimension known for torment, a direct follower and worshiper of the immortal Satin Veil.

In a way, he superficially resembled a pony, but was far larger and more muscular, his size on par with Celestia’s but not nearly as graceful. His coat was a deep and rich red-orange, although his main and tuft of a beard were both black. He had a pair of flightless wings- -they were skeletal, consisting of little more than fingers covered thinly in translucent red velvet- -and a pair of ram-like horns protruding from his forehead.

He looked down at the ponies who had dared to approach him and glared with a frown that only a demon could muster. Then his attention turned toward Twilight, and he suddenly smiled.

“Princess Sparkle,” he said, his voice sounding oddly pleasant and cheerful. “Welcome back! I was not aware of a new prisoner shipment today.”

“They’re not prisoners,” said Twilight, her voice measured and careful.

“Oh? Well, I suppose I ought have figured that, considering the uniform. I suppose this is a surprise inspection, eh? I wasn’t aware of a- -oop!” He laughed at himself. “Well, of course I wouldn’t know about a surprise inspection! That would ruin the surprise!”

“I think I like this guy,” whispered Pinkie Pie.

“Well, aren’t you just the most adorable thing!” he said, suddenly rubbing a cloven hoof on Pinkie Pie’s head. “You’re exactly the same color as my youngest daughter!”

“We’re here because we’re trying to get to a place called the Gloame.”

The demon’s eyes narrowed. “Now why the here would you want to go there? It’s a terrible place. Not a place for demons, and certainly not one for ponies.”

“We have business there,” said Twilight.

The demon shrugged. “Well, who am I to argue with official business? Just don’t let the shadows touch you. Some fates are worse than death.” He chortled again. “Believe me, I would know!” He turned around, and Twilight noticed that his cutie mark was a cactus, which seemed oddly out of place for a demon.

“Just come this way,” he said. “I know a place where you can open a portal. I can even give you the tour on the way. My name is Spiny Violation, by the way. You can call me Spiny.”

“I’m Pinkie Pie,” said Pinkie Pie, bouncing jauntily to Spiny’s side. “And you already know Twilight. So the rest are Applejack in orange, Rainbow Dash trying to fly there, Fluttershy in the back, and the white unicorn is Rarity.”

“Ah, a white unicorn,” sighed Spiny. “The very symbol of purity. We don’t get too many of your kind down here.”

“Oh, well,” said Rarity, seeming oddly uncomfortable.

They passed through the gates onto the rocky ramp that led into depths of the prison. The containment spires loomed above them- -carved tower of stone that glowed with blue light. They seemed to emanate pain, and Twilight was suddenly aware of how close she had once come to being imprisoned in one of those towers.

“Mind the dog,” said Spiny as they approached a tremendous black, three headed bulldog.

“Cerberus!” squealed Fluttershy, suddenly jumping out from the back of the group. The dog, which had been foaming aggressively until then, suddenly calmed and leapt forward, licking Fluttershy with all three of its tongues. “Oh, I missed you so much!”

“Oh, yeah,” said Spiny. He stood next to Cerberus and pushed the creature over. Spiny and Fluttershy then both gave the oversized dog a belly rub, causing one of its legs to kick. “Such a good dog, eh?”

“Whose a good doggy!” said Fluttershy.

“You are!” said Spiny, squeezing one of the dog’s heads between his hoofs. “Yes you are!”

“Um,” said Twilight after several minutes.

“Oh, right,” said Spiny. He stood up straight and put another demonic frown on his face. “Cerberus, persideo!” The three headed dog’s ears perked, and it immediately stood and then sat. “Concesso.”

The dog stood at attention, and allowed them to pass.

“Is that all you need to say to get into Tartarus?” asked Rainbow Dash, floating past the dog.

“Oh, no,” said Spiny. “If a pony had tried that…well, let’s just say all those bones on the door came from somewhere.”

“I thought this place was filled with spirits or some such,” said Applejack.

“Sure, sure,” said Spiny. “But this section’s got some especially nasty folks locked up. The Sun-Demon’s personal stash.” He turned around and faced the ponies. “And, by the way, on behalf of all us demons and on behalf of Satin herself, we do truly apologize for the Tirac incident a few weeks ago.” He pointed to the nearest of the containment towers as they walked past, and Twilight saw a face she had though she would never have the displeasure of seeing again.

“Twilight Sparkle,” said the gaunt, red-skinned centaur locked within a sturdy cage with no openings.

“Tirac,” said Twilight. “Back where you belong, I see.”

“Princess, what can I say to convey how sorry I am to you? Please, I’ve learned from my mistakes. I now see the magic of friendship! Just let me out of this cage!”

“Do I need to get the hose again?” threatened Spiny.

Tirac smiled, and then laughed, far more heartily than his situation should have warranted. “You fools! When you defeated me, you let something worse through! I could have ruled you all, but now, with me here, Equestria is doomed!” He glared at Twilight. “If anything gives me pleasure here, it is that someone else will succeed where I have failed.”

“Princess Sparkle,” said Spiny. “If you want to do the honors?”

“Honors?” asked Twiligh, turning toward the smiling demon, confused.

“Well, since you’re a visiting dignitary and all. You have that spiral-horn on your head. As long as he’s right about there, he’s pretty much immortal. Might I suggest a de-boning spell?”

“Whati?” Twilight had not even known that a de-boning spell even existed, except perhaps for butchers.

“Oh, sorry,” he said. “I forgot you’re on a mission and all. Well, don’t you worry your pretty princess head.” He glared at Tirac, smiling. “I’ll be back later.”

Twilight refused to think about what would happen to Tirac. She knew that bad things happened to ponies who were sent to Tartarus, but some things were best left unknown.

“You seem to…enjoy your job,” said Rarity, looking up from the now rather complex carvings that she had put into her silver armor.

“Here yeah, I do.”

They moved past several more of the containment cells. Spiny seemed to be enjoying himself, treating them as pleasant exhibits, and Twilight did not want to argue with a demon five times her weight. She could tell, though, that the sight of the prisoners was disturbing to her friends.

The first one they passed after Tirac was relatively calm, a tall hooded being dressed entirely in yellow with a chain around its neck. It had no visible eyes, but Twilight could still feel it watching her, and its very presence terrified her. It never once moved, nor had she ever seen it move, not even the last time she had quested to Tartarus. It simply sat, meditating, and waiting.

Uphill from it was something that sent Fluttershy hiding behind Spiny. It was a vaguely pony shaped mass of rusted metal and mechanical components that continually pulled against the numerous chains binding it to its designated location, screaming in perpetual rage.

“It wasn’t me!” it screamed, seemingly in terror and agony as it reached out with a long, asymmetrical claw toward the cavern ceiling above. Its voice was horrible and distorted through the metal that was sewn to it. “I did what I had to! Celestia, save me- -” It’s mood rapidly shifted, and its sadness and fear was replaced with pure rage. “- -I will kill you! I will kill you all! I will tear out your intestines and feed them to your sister, and have my way with her corpse for what you did to me!”

“Shut up, FireStorm!” boomed Spiny with a voice far deeper than his normal speaking voice. Part of his body also seemed to ignite slightly.

The creature responded, if only marginally; its words simply collapsed into unintelligible screams.

“Ooh,” said Pinkie Pie, bouncing over to the next cell. She actually seemed to be enjoying herself. “What is that one?”

The prisoner on the last pad in the row seemed oddly out of place. It was some kind of pink pony, although fluffy to the point of being nearly spherical. It was chained to a stake by one of its legs, and stood with its tongue emerging partially from its mouth.

“Must…hug!” said Pinkie Pie, jumping toward the pony, only to be tackled by Spiny.

“Whoa there!” he said, pulling Pinkie Pie back. “Not even we go near that one!”

“Why not?” asked Fluttershy. “It looks so…soft.”

“Let’s just say Celestia had a really good reason murdering their entire species.”

The fluffy pony’s eyes shifted slowly, staring at Twilight, and she realized that it looking at her was worse than being watched by the being in yellow.

“You’ll like the next row better,” said Spiny, smiling and ushering them quickly past the last prisoner. “We’ve even got Nab Sidesaddle. Killed almost three hundred ponies before they finally got him- -he wasn’t even a pony anymore at that point. We also have one of the last living ghouls- -”

“No, thank you,” said Twilight. “We really need to get to the Gloame.”

“Oh, right. Real important business, eh?”

“We have a Choggoth in Equestria.”

“Don’t know what that is, but we’ve been hearing quite a few rumors from above. I feel ‘sepcially bad for you.” He pointed at Rainbow dash with his horns. “We’ve had at least three incidents this week. Amateurs keep opening up portals and dumping blue ponies down on us. Most of them we dust off and send back, but some…well…amateur portals just don’t always work quite right.” He smiled. “On the plus side, if you want any fresh meat, we have some.”

“We’re vegehtarians,” said Applejack, taking a few steps back.

“Oh,” said Spiny, somewhat disappointed. “Well, all we have is meat, unfortunately, but if you’re really intent on going to the Gloame, it’s probably best to go on an empty stomach.”

“Is it…really…that bad,” said Fluttershy. Twilight was amazed that she had stayed conscious through the hall of horrors that Spiny took so much pride in.

“Oh, yeah. We had a prisoner get free a few decades back. Nasty fellow, a necromancer. Liked little colts, and not in a good way. Though he could avoid detection if he went through the Gloame.” His expression darkened. “I lost three good friends that day. Went in, didn’t come back out. The only survivor came back half mad.”

“Did the necromancer escape?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Wasn’t even meat left. Just bones.”

“What got…what got him?” squeaked Fluttershy.

“The shadows.”

Spiny seemed serious about that part, even though Twilight was unsure exactly how or why a shadow would be carnivorous. Unlike the others, though, she had known about the shadows, as well as the proto-golemns that wondered he Gloame. Celestia had informed her of these things, and taught her a spell to counter the shadows, as well as a way to breathe the toxic atmosphere.

What really disturbed Twilight, however, was why Celestia knew so much about the Gloame in the first place. Twilight had never heard of it, even in all the books she had read in her entire life. She managed to justify the situation only by remembering that Celestia’s life was several thousand times longer than Twilight’s. She had probably seen some pretty strange books in her immortal life.

Spiny led the ponies deeper into the mountainous prison, past endless chambers of rows of prison cells. Eventually they found themselves in a catacomb-like cave system that seemed to be where the demon guards spent most of their time.

The strangest part about the guards, Twilight found, was that they all seemed to know her. Each one that they passed would greet Spiny, and then greet Twilight, always addressing her as “Princess Sparkle”. Apparently, even in Tartarus, ponies recognized those with wings and horns as royalty.

Eventually they were led to a small room. Spiny pushed open the door and revealed a low-ceilinged room with an extremely old and pitted floor. The room had several decrepit tables and chairs stacked against the wall, but the center was clear.

“Now, you all have got about three hours,” he said. “The old-folks home is having bingo here after that point. Or you can stay, if you like bingo. Oh, and here.” He stamped one of hoofs against the floor, and it flickered and distorted. Rarity and Applejack, who had entered the room first, jumped back as a threatening set of flames tore across the floor leaving a complex symbol of charred marks.

“You’re basic pentagram,” said Spiny. “Free of charge for a princess, of course.” He started to leave, but then turned back to the ponies. “Oh. And I feel somewhat bad asking, but my anniversary is coming up. Taking my wife through the full tour of the place, like on our very first date, and then a trip to the very best restaurant for some of those failed blue- -I mean, for some good steak. But I really wanted to get her something special.”

Rarity’s eyes lit up. “Why, isn’t that sweet of you?” she said. “Who knew demons were such romantics! You know what they say, though. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” The other ponies glared at her. “Metaphorically, I mean.”

“Actually, I was hoping that I could have one of your souls,” said Spiny, seeming somewhat embarrassed. He looked down at Fluttershy, who cowered from his gaze. “How about you? You look like you have such a soft and innocent soul. Would you happen to be a virgin?”

Fluttershy released a weak “eep” sound and blushed severely.

“Oh, Spiny,” said Pinkie Pie, putting her leg around his neck, something that required her to stand on her hind legs. “You’re so darn sweet! I would totally give you my soul, except…” her voice deepened, and her smile vanished. She stared directly into Spiny’s eyes. “I. Don’t. Have. One!”

“Well, okay!” said Spiny, disengagint from Pinkie Pie and taking several rapid steps back toward the door. “I’m late for my shift. Got to go. Cactuses and all…have fun!” He slammed the door, and rapid hoofsteps moving down the hall.

“Pinkie, that was awesome!” said Rainbow Dash.

“But is it…true?” asked Fluttershy, still mostly red from Spiny’s awkward question.

“Yup,” said Pinkie Pie, bouncing around the pentagram on the floor. “No soul at all. I still remember when it happened. I sneezed really really really hard, and it shot out my nose! Well, I was drinking milk at the same time. And eating a cake. So a lot of stuff came out that day. Actually, I think there’s still some there…” She took a deep breath and put a hoof on one of her nostrils, leaving the other opened and primed for launch.

“Pinkie, please!” cried Rarity. “Not in the pentagram!”

“Girls, please!” said Twilight. “These spells aren’t exactly easy.”

“What kahnd ah’ spells?” asked Applejack.

“It’s easier if you just see it. Hold on. Literally, I mean. Also, try not to move.”

Pinkie Pie took a deep breath, and clung to the floor, holding herself perfectly still. “Hurry up Twilight! I don’t know how long I can not move- -”

Twilight closed her eyes, and her horn flashed. The spells were intensive, so she performed them in rapid succession. The first was a breathing spell, which coated each of her friend’s muzzles in a small translucent magical mask. The second was a repellant spell that made them all slightly luminescent, to keep the shadows away. The third- -and the hardest- -was a portal spell.

For that part, she had to open her eyes, if only to see how the pre-made magical shape below her was constructed. It was actually rather simple, but also elegant in a brute-force sort of way; it provided all the basics for powering and targeting the spell, only requiring a pony to provide the coordinates and a bit of magical energy to jumpstart it.

Twilight focused her mind, and felt the locations of her friends. The pentagram beneath them shifted, aligning its points to each of them and leaving Twilight at the center. The lines suddenly glowed with purple light that rapidly shifted to white, and a triangle expanded from beneath Twilight.

Of course, only at that moment did she realize that the portal was below them. With a sudden gust of vacuum and a surge of gravity- -as well as several cries of surprise- -Twilight and her friends were sucked into the Gloame.