Chapter 18: Sable Granite

The doors to Tartarus stood open. All around us were the twisted gnarls of low growing plants that were common to the area. The sky was a bit overcast, hiding the noonday sun and darkening the area in cloud cover. I growled quietly as I realized that Sable must have already gotten inside and was probably making his way into the darkest recesses of Tartarus where the Darkness no doubt lay imprisoned.

“He'd have to get past that guard dog right?” Scarlet whimpered a bit as she poked her head over the rock we were currently hiding behind.

“You mean Cerberus?” Jackpot clarified.

“Yeah, him.” Scarlet weirdly enough seemed to calm at the mention of the big, scary, three headed dog monster that was famous for guarding the gates to Tartarus.

“Well, at least we know we picked the right place.” Silver whispered to me from over my shoulder.

“I don't see any guards or anything.” I said, getting somewhat nervous at that, “Either he came with a small group or maybe Cerberus did get them.”

“Cerberus is just an overgrown puppy.” Jackpot nickered, “He couldn't stop a little filly from getting in and out of here after all.”

“That was a long time ago Jackpot. Maybe he's gotten better?” Scarlet was doing her very best to try and keep herself, and us, calm in this situation.

We couldn't stay there discussing it for long, however, and we needed to get moving before Sable could get too far into Tartarus. We didn't want him to start releasing prisoners after all, especially the one we knew he was here to release.

“Come on guys, let's go.” I said, hopping over the rock and making my way to the open doors of pony hell.

Of all the places I had been the last few months, I had to say that Tartarus was not one a place I could ever have imagined myself willingly going into. Yet here I was, about to enter the pit that contained more evil than anywhere else in Equestria or the world for all I knew. The only noises I heard was the sound of jackpot nervously sipping on his cider flasks and then the sound of myself following suite as we neared the open gate. You can't really blame me for needing some liquid encouragement, this is Tartarus after all. Celestia only knows what kind of fucked up, horrid, hideous abominations I was about to see by trotting through the open gate and yet here I was, about to enter that place.

A couple of months ago I would have killed to be able to come here and snoop around, but a couple of months ago I was stupid. For the briefest of moments my body simply stopped me from moving forward, some voice deep in my head was shouting at me to turn around and run away from this place. It would be so easy to run away somewhere where Karfiso and his Zebras could never find me or at least, couldn't find me until all of this artifact smuggling and Family business went away. Yes, the voice shouting at me to do this was growing each time I took a pained hoofstep forward; my body slowing with each inch until I had stopped.

I craned my head back to look at my friends, maybe if they didn't want to go in I might be able to use that to convince myself to turn around. I had no such comfort; Jackpot looked like his usual confident self, Scarlet was definitely scared but in her eyes I saw an eagerness and determination as she carefully kept watch over the others, and Silver wasn't difficult to read at all, he wanted to go in. I knew that look, it was the look I got whenever I was reading a Dash Venture book, it was a look that yearned for excitement, it was a look that could make anypony follow him on an adventure. It made sense though, he was a fan of Dash Venture and of Grit, just the same as I was. It gave me a slight internal laugh at just how the same he looked now from when I first met him in the A.I library and then at Joe's when he joined us. I really couldn't say I had kept my bright eyed look through all of this but he had. I suppose he didn't go through all the shit I had to but he saw most of it or heard the rest. Yes, I remembered his look well, even if I hadn't sported it in some time. I wonder if I would ever have that look on my face again, a look that shows just how much a pony loves what they're doing. Maybe...maybe when I see Enyi again. Maybe if I could just talk to him, explain everything, maybe he would understand and then we could work through it. Celestia and Luna dammit! Either way, there really was no turning back now and after seeing the looks on my friends faces I was ready to go in and finish this. Sable Granite was in there and soon so would we.

I was the first to enter the large cavern that made up the entrance to Tartarus. Empty cages lay scattered about the sides of the cavern, reminders of prisoners past that had either been released or moved deeper into Tartarus.

If I've ever been somewhere completely horrifying yet entirely fascinating it was Tartarus. From the dying flora around the great gates to the dark and foreboding stones that made up the interior; I was simultaneously terrified and excited. My body seemed to chill as I passed through the gate and into the great, dark cavern. The air was cold and empty, a dreading sense of despair and loneliness almost overcame me as I gazed into the great expanse that was the entrance to the most dreaded place in Equestria. I shivered as I took a few steps more inside as thoughts of the horrors that were entombed here dominated my thoughts. The others in my group, even Jackpot, seemed hesitant to follow me in but once Silver merrily hopped inside the others followed.

The first place I looked was the prison of Tirek, not because he was still there but because it was something I had always kind of wanted to see. Tirek, along with many other prisoners, had been moved deeper into the caves many years ago but as a pony who knew her history, the spot where Tirek was first imprisoned allowed me to anchor myself in a subject I knew and was familiar with, history. The knowledge that princess Twilight and her friends had been here as well as Grit in one of his adventures lent me some comfort as the emptiness of the underworld flooded my consciousness. It took only another second for me to find Cerberus, or I should say to hear him, his snoring I mean. He was laying not far off from the great pit that led to the deep parts of Tartarus, a magically self-playing harp by his side to keep him asleep.

“Guess we know how Sable got past Cerberus.” Silver said quietly as we passed.

“How is that harp playing on it's own?” Scarlet worried.

“Magic.” Jackpot answered bluntly.

“Well I know that!” Scarlet nickered, “I mean how would Sable be able to do that?”

“He or somepony who works for him must have magic then.” Jackpot once again showed his bluntness.

I turned back to them and did my best to shush them up, “If Cerberus wakes up I don't think he'll be too happy to see us, so stay quiet.” I whispered.

Luckily Cerberus was off to the side of the chamber so sneaking past him wasn't that big of a deal, the bad part was that the only was to go deeper into Tartarus was to trot down a very narrow track that swerved down the cliff that edged the rear of the massive prison chamber.

“Easy, Silver and I will just fly you two down there!” Jackpot boasted as we stood at the edge of the black pit.

“Take a look down there Jackpot.” Silver said, pointing his wing down into the cavern.

Jackpot strutted his way over to the edge of the pit and casually looked down into the abyss. His face turned pale as a cold wind suddenly swept up from the darkness, making his eyes go wobbly as he suddenly lost his balance and fell over onto his flank.

“Wha-what.” Jackpot mumbled as his eyes rolled around on his face.

“Magic.” Silver stated, “To prevent anything down there from flying up. If you want to get out, you got to take the path, oh and don't look down. Makes it easier to catch escapees that way.”

“And just exactly how did you know this anti-flying magic existed anyway.” Jackpot said as Scarlet came over and helped him get up onto his wobbly hooves.

“Oh, it was in Dash Venture and-”

“The Skull of Corruption!” I said in unison with Silver.

“How did I forget about that. Grit came here once and tried flying down the pit and almost died when he realized he couldn't.” I slapped my hoof in my face as I remembered the plotline to one of Grit's earlier books.

“Yup, when you stare down into the abyss for too long it just sucks you in.” Silver said as he trotted over to the recovering Jackpot.

“Pretty profound coming from you.” Jackpot responded as he threw his wing around Silver's back in a friendly gesture.

“Thank-hey!” Jackpot just chuckled and when Silver gave me and Scarlet a 'help me' face we each gave a friendly giggle to go along with Jackpot. Silver rolled his eyes before joining in on the group giggle as we started down the winding path into the dark, careful not to look into the dark abyss as Jackpot had.

*****

Once you got used to it, Tartarus wasn't that bad. Sure the air was constantly heavy, dark, cold, oppressive and a whole slew of other words, but it got somewhat bearable the longer you spent in it. The pathway down into the dark pit went surprisingly fast only to give way to a maze of empty tunnels that seemed to go on forever. I swear, if Sable Granite is down here then he must be miserably lost because that's just what it seems to me right now.

There was very little light, only being enough to see that the tunnels kept going. There were several points where the path diverged and not wanting to split up in the literal underworld we came down to just randomly picking directions and going down them. Jackpot was always sniffing at the air or staring at the walls and floor as we went on and suggested paths that he either had a good feeling about or smelled not horrible. I didn't know what he was talking about most of the time so I would just nod and agree with him(he did have a knack for this kind of thing after all). Scarlet spent most of her time jerking her head back and forth at every perceived sound of hint of movement that wasn't one of us. With her though, I agreed that something seemed a bit off as every so often I would hear what sounded like heavy hoofsteps of flapping wings in the distance. Neither Jackpot or Silver were flying and Scarlet's and my own hoofsteps weren't near that loud so the constant feeling of being followed and watched constantly itched at the back of my neck. Nopony talked either, Scarlet was probably too scared and Jackpot was so focused on finding a way through the tunnels he barely paid the rest of us any attention. Silver kept at Jackpot's back and watched him carefully as he sorted out where we would head. And I just wanted to get through this and get everything over with, one way or another.

“There!” Jackpot suddenly shouted. “I saw something move down that passageway.” He quickly lifted off with his wings and flew over to the entrance of an adjoining passage to the one we were on.

This reminded me too much of Greywing's tomb and the spiders that had stalked us in it's own dark halls. This time though there were no spiders but some unknown thing that just seemed to follow us, or we were following it, or something. Either way, that was not an experience I particularly wanted to go through again so a different path was suggested along with a hope that whatever that was would just leave us alone.

“What if Sable already released the Darkness thing and it's stalking us?” Scarlet trembled.

“If something that powerful was released I think we would feel something, evil magic or the like, right?” Silver said, his head looking around us as he spoke.

“Well this place hardly feels wholesome and friendly.” I added as Jackpot stopped to inspect several hallways that shot out of the side of our own.

“You know Scarlet, some magical light would be great right about now.” Silver said as he squinted his eyes through the dim cave.

“I've been trying you know.” Scarlet nickered, a bit upset. “My magic seems to be a bit on the fritz right now.”

“So, magic doesn't work in deep Tartarus?” I pondered, “Makes sense I guess, wouldn't want the especially dangerous prisoners using it to escape.”

“Don't you dare leave me behind again.” Scarlet said, almost harshly but with a small whine in her voice. I didn't hold it against her, though there really was nowhere to leave her behind in here anyway.

It took me a few seconds but I remembered what Hero had said about Scarlet back in Marewaukee. She had apparently, according to Hero, been sent to the town of Money because no hospital wanted her on their staff(a great loss for them if her progress now is anything to show for it). Then what friends she was able to make on the island were killed by Goldie(I could understand that feeling) leaving her with nopony and nowhere to go. On second thought that's why she joined us, leaving her behind in Khaweth must have hurt her more than she let on.

“Shh!” Jackpot shushed us. “I feel some airflow coming from up ahead.” he whispered, signaling us with his wing to follow.

When he wanted to Jackpot could be very quiet, his wings flapping soundlessly as he slowly floated down the hallway ahead of us. It wasn't long before I felt a very weak rush of cold air pass through my mane. Scarlet squeaked a bit at how cold it was but her reaction only verbalized what I felt like doing. The passageway ended when we entered a large chamber with only a narrow strip of hanging rocks between us and another endless black pit. The bridge went straight across the chasm, expanded into a large platform in the center, then returned to being narrow as it reached the other side of the room. We decided to take a short break on the central platform while we caught our breath and discussed what our plan should be. As soon as we reached the center of the bridge however, I spotted the thing that had been following us, or more accurately I saw it's silhouette as it glided near the top of the dark cavern.

“Look, there it is again.” I pointed up towards the ceiling as the flying shape quickly flew across the chamber and towards the exit on the other side of the room.

“Is it Sable!” Silver shouted as Jackpot suddenly leapt up and towards the shape, his wings beating as hard as he could trying to catch the shape.

I almost lost Jackpot in the darkness as he and the shape danced around the dark ceiling as he tried to catch it. The shape proved quite slippery though as whenever I thought I saw Jackpot get near it, it would just pivot in the air and evade him. A few seconds later the shape disappeared altogether and Jackpot returned to the platform frustrated at his failure.

“I can't believe it got away from you.” Scarlet gasped in disbelief.

“What was it? Did you get a good look at it?” I asked, kind of scared but kind of excited at the same time(scaredcited? No that sucks).

“It certainly wasn't a pony, I'll tell ya that.” Jackpot huffed as he caught his breath. “I didn't get a good look at it but it was a bit bigger than a pony and whatever it was it had better eyesight than me. Could barely see my muzzle in front of my face up there.”

Hey, do you guys hear something?” Silver asked suddenly.

“Hear wha-” I started to say before my ears caught what he most likely heard, quickly followed by my eyes seeing what it was.

“Boulder!” Jackpot shouted as he quickly dashed to dodge the massive boulder that had suddenly smashed into the platform we stood on.

The boulder was massive, at least five times my size, and it smashed right onto the platform we stood on over the abyss. The ground cracked and Scarlet found herself loosing her hoofing and tumbling over the edge. Jackpot swept down to save her while I leapt over to help. When I hit the ground it gave way and now I found myself falling into the pit. I could only let out a scream as the ground disappeared from under me and I found myself falling into a bottomless pit. Luckily Silver swept over with his own wings to try and grab me but he was not as strong as Jackpot and when he neared me a falling rock hit his wing and knocked him off balance in the air.

“That wing just healed!” he screamed as he fell after me.

“Jackpot! Do something!” Scarlet yelled distantly as Silver and I fell farther and farther away.

There was no way Jackpot could have gotten to us, we had fallen too far and he had to find a safe place to put Scarlet down. I just kept falling and Silver fell right after me. Horrifying thoughts filled my head as I screamed bloody murder as I found myself being consumed by the black abyss.

“Jackpot! Jackpot! Scarlet! Scarlet!” I screamed as I flailed my legs around, vainly trying to latch onto something that wasn't there.

“Ivory! I'm here!” Silver yelled from a bit above me.

It was dark and I could only barely see his outline in the darkness. I saw the stone hit his wing so I knew he couldn't fly which, in my mind, left us pretty much dead; plus, I doubt he could fly in this anyway if the last pit was any indication.

“Fuckfuckfuckfuck! We're gonna die! We're gonna die! Luna! Celestia! Help!”

All I could do was scream as I quickly began to slip into panic. The endless black began to disorient me as some magic began to spin my head and eyes and I lost all sense of balance and self as I plunged, Silver at my side, into the dark pit. There was blackness and then there was blackness. This was the latter; everything seemed to just melt away as I fell. I had lost all sense of time anyway so after what felt like hours I lost all strength as my body went limp and my voice died. This time had to be it, there was no way I could get out of this, I was about to die here. If I didn't hit the ground then I would fall forever until I starved to death. Silver couldn't fly, even if he hadn't just hurt his wing again and....oh sweet Celestia, I'm about to fucking die!

“Scarlet, Jackpot...Grit, I'm...I'm sorry.” The last words I said before I lost consciousness amid the void.

*****

“Sable Granite!” I shouted as my body shot up from the cold, hard ground I was laying on. I was alone, my body was sore beyond belief and most importantly, I was lost. “I-I-I'm alive!?” I said with equal parts joy and confusion. “Wait! Silver!” I called out to no answer.

All I could do was slowly lift my aching body up from the ground. I looked around, seeing only blackness and some unnatural dim light that seemed to emanate from nowhere. There was a small hallway that sat at the end of the blackness, it was all I could see and so it would be my only option. At least one of my hooves had to be broken; whenever I tried to trot a searing pain would shoot through my leg and into my body. It took nearly all my strength to just hobble over to the passage and out of the dark room. It took some time as I was obviously slowed down by my broken hoof but I managed to make my way into the hall and down it until it opened into another large chamber. Here I saw Silver, standing straight up and staring at a massive gate, bound in writing I was far too disoriented to try and figure out.

“Silver?” I said weakly.

“Ivory! You're ok!” he said exuberantly as he galloped over and grabbed me in a tight hug. “You weren't moving and you didn't wake when I shook you. I-I thought you were...” he didn't finish.

“I think my front leg is broken.” I hissed as his hug began paining me greatly.

“O-o-oh sorry.” he apologized before letting go of me.

“Where are we?” I gasped, looking back up to the massive door that stood before us.

“It's that Pre-Celestial script. It's all over the door.” Silver answered, “Read it, maybe it will tell us.”

I just realized now that I didn't have my notes with me, “Damn Enyi. He took everything.” I immediately felt horrible for saying that but those notes would have come in very useful right about now.

Without the notes there was only so much I could remember about the language and this became very evident as I only was able to recognize a few of the words that were written on the door. I slapped my good hoof on my head, doing whatever I could to try and remember more but I just couldn't. I hadn't had nearly enough time with the language to actually learn it well enough that I didn't need my notes for a translation job as big as this. Despite this I didn't give up, All I could do was look at the words I did know and try and figure out the rest from context clues in the grammar and my own intuition.

“It looks like some kind of verse or, or-”

“A warning.” Silver finished my thought.

“Yeah.” I said, a bit surprised. “It's like some kind of spell or something. I can't make out the whole thing but I know the word for the Darkness and it's written all over this door.”

“So we're here then.” silver said solemnly. “This is it.”

I limped back a few steps, “Yup, looks like it. Prisoner zero, the great Darkness. At least we got here before Sable did.” as if that was some kind of consolation at this point. I realized that we really didn't have a way out of here and with my broken leg I was in no condition for climbing in the pitch darkness. All we could do right now was wait until th-

“That's not entirely true unfortunately.” A distant, familiar voice echoed from the dark, breaking me out of my train of thought.

“Huh? Wait, I know that voice.” I couldn't quite place it but the voice was definitely familiar. “Whose there!”

Suddenly a flapping noise came from up above me. The dark shape from earlier swept down from above me and landed not far from the massive gate to the prison of the Darkness. The shape was indeed not that of a pony, but a...a griffon?

“Patches?” I said in absolute and utter shock as the blue griffon I had met in Griffonstone stood before the gate. “W-what are you doing here?” I looked over to Silver whose expression had dropped to a stone cold look.

Indeed, before me stood the excitable little griffon who had led me to and through the tomb of Greywing. How she got here and how she was managing to fly so freely down here were beyond me. My first reaction was one of relief, to see somepon-someone whom I knew but that quickly fell away when I finally processed what she had said.

“Whoa! Ivory is that you!” Patches said in the same excitable voice I remembered her having, but now with a very obvious sarcasm to it. “It's been so long!”

“Huh?” My head was spinning at a million miles an hour as I stared at Patches.

“Come on now, I thought you were the smart on of your group.” patches sneered as I continued to stare at her.

“Wait, what!?” Is all I could still manage to say.

“Come on out everyone!” Patches called back into the darkness.

I turned my head as out of a second hallway that I had not seen came two more individuals. My eyes widened in utter shock as before me stood two more faces I recognized, Roose the yak and Doublehead the buffalo. My eyes frantically darted between the three creatures that stood before me, all with looks on their faces that were a far cry from what I remembered about them.

“Pony looks confused!” Roose bellowed as he entered the light. I could see that on his back were all six of the artifacts that had gone missing; the cape from Greywing, the spear of Bighorn, the other spear that Goldie had recovered, Aurora Solstice's staff, Whisperwind's shield and finally Abila's helmet.

I turned my head frantically towards Silver, a wild look in my eyes, “Silver, what are they all doing he-” I didn't need to finish to know. “Silver?” I said, almost whining as he passed my and headed towards the other group.

“I have to say that you did better than I thought you would Ivory dear.” Silver said, his tone of voice had changed dramatically.

“Silver?”

“That's not my name Ivory. Honestly I thought I gave it away with my name. I was certain you would piece it together at some point at the rate you were learning stuff.”

What was he talking about? What did he mean, figure what out? I knew the answer of course but coming to terms with it was another matter entirely.

“Silver Chaser, as in chasing down all of these artifacts, which are silver. Honestly Ivory, it's not that hard.” now he was just being patronizing.

But I wasn't paying much attention; I was just standing there, trying to balance on my bad leg, stunned and stupefied by what was going on in front of me. There's no way this was happening, there's no way this was real. This had to be some trick from Tartarus or something. Silver couldn't be Sable Granite, I talked to Sable while with Silver, well Enyi and Scarlet were with him. Then it dawned on me, Jackpot said he thought that the one we talked to on that radio wasn't Sable. Fucking dammit! What the hell was going on!?

“Well, if you're just going to stand there I think I'm going to open this gate now.” Silver said, motioning Roose with his wing to head towards the gate.

“Huh? What, no stop! Silver what's going on? You can't open that gate! You know what's on the other side!”

“Keep up Ivory, that's why I had you gather these artifacts for me.”

“The fuck!” I was still too stunned to move(plus my leg).

“The first Elements of Harmony Ivory Star. They will both open the door and let me control the power that sits on the other side.” Silver said as Roose laid down the six artifacts in front of the gate.

“You can't!” I shouted as I tried to hobble my way over but was stopped when Patches landed in front of me, blocking my path. “What's going on Silver? What was all of this for?” I was so entirely confused, nothing seemed to be making any sense.

My brain began to spin even more now. Everything that had happened now became both clearer and more perplexing with each passing second. If Silver was Sable than why had he been helping me, why did he free Jackpot on Mt. Everhoof, why did he get me to Khaweth to fight Goldie? Possibility after possibility flooded my mine, each one making less sense than the last. His plan would make no sense by helping me. If wanted the power of the darkness to control Equestria for the family then why team up with the pony trying to stop it and fight against your own organization? It just didn't make any sense and it made my head hurt as well as making me angry that I couldn't get it.

Silver motioned for Patches to move which she did. Silver slowly trotted up over to me, standing right in front of me and looking me straight in the eye.

“You've been such a big help Ivory. I suppose I could give you a bit of an explanation.” he turned back around and faced the gate again, “When I saw you in that library all those months ago I knew I saw some potential in you.”

Oh shit, Silver was Sable! Silver....had....Grit...killed.

“I'll try not to monologue too much but I must say that I am thoroughly impressed with you. You almost figured out my plan and no doubt you're trying to make sense of it even now. You see, the truth is that I don't actually want the Darkness to rule Equestria for the Family; I want to use the Darkness to destroy the Family.”

I could hardly breath. My mouth was hanging open, everything made less sense, my brain just couldn't process this anymore.

“Y-you ordered Grit...you had him ki...” I mumbled but Silver seemed to understand.

“That wasn't part of the plan. I was going to offer a partnership with him but I suppose the others grew a bit suspicious of me.”

“B-but you...you lead the Family, you're their leader and you...”

“We all have our masters Ivory. Remember, there were three heads to the Family. Grit beat one branch years ago, I'm in charge of the second and the third is still out there and believe me when I say that they make me look like a saint.”

“W-why?” I barely muttered.

Silver sighed, “Why do I want to destroy the very organization I help lead? Why Ivory, I'm not going to tell you. Understand that my reasons are personal and also understand the Grit's death was not what I wanted. I would have loved for him to be on my side but the other family head saw right through me and took that option right out.” as Silver said this I could see his teeth grit as a hint of anger filled his voice. “Now, I'm more determined than ever to see this through.”

“That doesn't explain anything. Why all of this? Why Goldie?”

“Goldie was a threat, she was loyal to the Family and not to me, no matter how hard I tried to change that. You saw how dangerous she was and in the end she managed to sniff me out and figure that I was trying to hurt her precious Family. I had to get rid of her and you and Jackpot seemed like the best bet to me. Plus I thought that giving you Goldie on a silver platter would help you to reconsider my offer.”

“Offer?”

“To join me of course. The one who offered it to you on Mt. Everhoof may not have had the luxury of telling you everything but the offer was genuine. With your help and the power that lies behind this door we can destroy the Family before they do something truly horrible.”

“Horrible? Like what?”

Silver hung his head down and shook it slowly, “I don't know. They've been planning something for decades but what it is I don't know. They're the main branch of the Family, they lead everything but I doubt their plan will be ready for several decades at least and I wanted to get a head start in foiling them.”

I had to force myself to calm down but I think I was beginning to understand. Silver never planned on helping the Family so I guess he had me and Goldie looking for the artifacts to simply find them faster. Then when Goldie discovered his plan he had me take her out to remove her threat and show me his words were genuine. I mean, Silver was the one who sent me to that restricted room in the library. It's almost as if he knew...what was in there....dammit.

“I don't care.” I said.

“Excuse me?” Silver said, a bit surprised sounding.

“I don't care about your reasons, you killed Grit, hurt all those innocent ponies and zebras, I'll never want to help you. How do you even know if you can control the Darkness, you know how powerful it is. Everything I've ever heard about it says it's the most powerful thing ever.”

Silver chuckled to himself and the other three joined.

“My dear Ivory, if the Darkness was truly so great it couldn't have been beaten and imprisoned now could it.”

Damn that made sense.

“It's all here, written on this door.” Silver fanned his wing out, moving my attention to the great gate that served as the greatest prison in Tartarus.

“What do you mean?” I asked, now both disgusted and curious.

“Remember those notes on translating the script I gave you? Well I may have lied bit. You see I've had the language translated for some time now. Grit did help me with it, even if he didn't know exactly why. It allowed me to translate these words here and what they say is quite interesting. So when I saw you researching that bracelet you have on I saw in you a pony that I could use to replace Grit. So you could say I pointed you in the right direction to see if you were up to the challenge.”

“What does the text say?” My brain just wouldn't let me not ask that question.

“It's an instruction manual. It tells how one can control the Darkness and exactly how to do it:

Hence comes an era of darkness and greed
but ancient power doth hold thy need.
Symbols of light and strength do hold
the memories of legends, heroes of old.

Six there were and six there are before the door of dark shall mar;
One crown for the Zebra to save her race,
One staff for the sorceress to earn her place,
One cloak for Gryphon whose heart is shown,
One shield for Pegasus with no fear known,
Two spears for friends whose strength is clear,
One heart from one who held them dear.
Together their strength it can hold fast, a terror greater than powers past,
A power which in earth it hides, In Tartarus where the darkness lies.

“The text refers to these artifacts, weapons used to bind and control the very Darkness itself.” Silver now had an almost aura of dread around him. “The first Elements of Harmony, the greatest power known to ponykind, or any kind for that matter.” as Silver spoke Roose and Doublehead had been arranging the artifacts before the door. “It also refers to me, it's destiny that I should control this power and use it to make the world a better place.”

“You're delusional!” I shouted angrily.

“Am I? Remember my company logo, it's the same as my cutie mark. Three lines combining into one, surrounded by a triangle, it's a peace sign. I'm meant to bring peace to Equestria and this is how I'm meant to do it.”

I did notice one thing in Silver's prophecy though, he missed something. There was a line he said, One heart from one who held them dear. He was missing something, an artifact or something else needed for them to work. The modern Elements of Harmony needed all of them together to work properly and these probably operated in a similar way. I didn't know what it was but if he tried to release the Darkness without every piece then it would either not work or the most evil thing in history would be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world.

“Silver wait!” I shouted.

“I'm done talking Ivory. I'll ask you once more, join me and I'll tell you everything. I've told you this much to show you that I'm genuine. I really do want what's best for Equestria and this will help me destroy the Family. Think about it, we can avenge Grit, end the violence in Khaweth and make sure whatever the Family is planning never comes to pass. You would be a big help.”

Thinking about it he had a point. His actions suggested at least some of what he said was true. The bad leadership shown among his forces at Khaweth began to make sense; kill as many of the Family as possible and have the rest arrested and Silver did leave to 'deal with an emergency'.

This was insane! How could I even consider working with somepony like him. The things he's done and had done are completely evil. He had Grit killed, he had Grit Killed! There was no way I could trust him in any capacity, I don't care what he says. Not to mention the years of having Grit do all those horrible things that have now nearly destroyed his legacy.

But what if he was telling the truth? What if there really was an even more dangerous piece of the Family out there that he was trying to stop for whatever reason. To have planned all this out he had to be smart so maybe he did know what he was doing? Silver wanted me to believe what he was doing was for some greater good but what he was doing was still dangerous and wrong. All of the hatred I had for Sable, coupled with the feelings of betrayal and confusion I now felt had bubbled out and now was creeping into my mind. Everything that had gone wrong with my life over the past months had been because of him. This is a pony who would order hundreds killed if his insane logic could justify it to himself, there was no way I could join somepony like that. A pony like him could never wield the Elements, even if they were only former elements. He had somehow deluded himself into thinking he could and because of the he was going to doom Equestria.

I spit at him, “I could never work for a pony like you! You hurt so many others, you don't care if innocents get hurt in your insane plan. You read Dash Venture, remember what happens every time somepony messes with powers they don't fully understand. It never ends well and that's what you're doing now. You could never understand the Elements of Harmony, let alone wield them. There's no way you are going to be able to control that power, it'll destroy you and all of Equestria!”

“So it's a no then, what a pity.” Silver turned around and trotted towards the assorted relics that sat before the gate.

“Silver no!” I tried to chase after him but my leg bent beneath me and I fell to the ground. Patches than dug her clawed paws onto me to keep me in place as Silver neared the door.

Silver stood inside the circle of relics and lifted his head up towards the massive gate. I tried to move my head to see but patches kept me pinned to the floor. I tried to struggle but with my broken leg Patches was stronger than me and her claws were close to digging into my skin. Silver looked at each of the six relics arrayed before him and muttered something I couldn't hear. I saw a tear fall from his face as he looked back at the gate and then back down to the relics. After a few seconds they began to glow with a bright light that blinded me and all the others in the formerly dark room. Patches lifted her paw to cover her eyes and I took my chance. Running as fast as I could on three legs I charged at Silver but I only got so far when a wave of energy pushed me back. Silver was now covered in a blazing light as the words etched on the door of the prison began to glow in an aurora of colors.

“Stop! You don't know what you're doing!” I shouted to no avail.

Silver and the artifacts began to float up in the air as they and the door glowed in a rainbow of light and magic. I couldn't get up but when I tried to move I noticed my leg had suddenly healed and I could walk again. I used all of my strength to stand up but that was the limit of what I could do in the swirling storm of magic. Suddenly, as quickly as the light and magic appeared something else did as well. A shape of a pony, no something greater, almost as if Celestia herself had appeared, came forth and let forth a cry:

“NO! He is not for you!”

Then all of the magic disappeared and Silver, patches, Roose and Doublehead were thrown against a wall. The floor beneath them gave way and they all fell into the darkness below, screaming as they went. The magic died down, the lights faded, and the artifacts fell to the floor, now dim and inert. I wavered a little as my legs turned to jelly and gave way. The last thing I saw before I fell unconscious was the Celestia-like shape fading into the dark.

*****

When I opened my eyes I was once again alone. The room was dark and quiet as all signs of what had just happened were gone. The artifacts let off a dim glow as they rested before the great doors to the prison of the Darkness. My legs and hooves were still weak as I rose from the ground, my body sore but my leg, which was previously broken, seemed to be healed. I shook it in almost disbelief as all the pain which had been shooting through it was gone.

I wasn't entirely sure what had just happened and my head was still spinning a bit as I hobbled over to the pile of magical artifacts. They lay there on the ground, dimly glowing but otherwise showing no signs of magical gate opening or malevolent evil releasing. I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw that the gate was still closed. I found myself staring at it for several strange seconds as my gaze seemed fixed on the massive doors.

I was still trying to wrap my head around what had just transpired. Silver, or Sable Granite I guess, was gone, as was Patches, Roose and Doublehead. It came to mind that Goldie had mentioned something about Sable hiring non ponies, they must have been who she was talking about. How could I have not noticed it sooner? How could I have let that happen? Thinking back on it the signs were all there. A lot of things now made sense but at the same time made less sense.

“Ugh, my head hurts.” I grumbled to myself. “How am I going to carry all of these out of here? There has to be some kind of exit the Silver's goons made it in here.”

I looked around but saw nothing. Everything away from the artifacts and the door was shrouded in black. I didn't even know the extent of the size of the chamber I was in, let alone how far down I was or if I could ever find Jackpot and Scarlet down here. Shit! Jackpot and Scarlet! Where were they? All of my friends were gone and I was all alone. I hated being alone, I hated the dead feeling that standing in a place like this gave you. The air was cold and looking at the door for too long made me feel uncomfortable yet it seemed almost like something was pushing me towards it. That pony thing had disappeared, whatever that was. Her(it was a mare's voice) reminded me of somepony...that's right, it was the same voice I had heard before, several times in fact. First in Luna Bay right before I saw the cloud palace and then in the Badlands before I found the path that led us to Bighorn's spear. I wonder who that voice belonged to and if I would ever hear it again or if I would meet the owner of the voice? The shape I saw was that of an Alicorn, I had read about an Alicorn that Abila knew but what was her name? Terria, that was her name. Maybe that was her, this mysterious Alicorn who guards the legacy of her friends, maybe she was the heart that the prophecy written on the doors belonged to. Silver had obviously discounted her or maybe thought the heart was him or something. Either was she had rejected him, hmph, serves him right.

And then the realization finally fully set in. I had been betrayed by one of my friends. Silver was the head of a transport company...well I guess that explains why the smuggling was so rampant, Silver's company operated all over Equestria and even in some other kingdoms. In fact, everywhere his company had a strong presence was someplace where Grit had taken artifacts from or at least near those places. There was still a lot I didn't know, in fact I still didn't know why Silver had tried to do all of this and I honestly had no idea. He said Grit's death was not planned and that he had been forced to do it and I could tell that he obviously admired Grit in many ways(he was a Dash Venture fan after all). Maybe it had something to do with Grit, Silver obviously wanted Grit to be a part of it which didn't make sense with his former actions. Perhaps grit once again knew more than he let on or maybe this was something else all together that I could hardly guess at right now. And what of this other branch of the Family Silver spoke of? What was their plan? Why would they suspect Silver of betraying them? And why make him kill Grit to prove his loyalty?

“I'll have to remind myself to stay out of the politics of evil secret organizations.” I mumbled as my gaze went back down to the artifacts on the ground.

As I stood there thinking about what to do I heard a sound that chilled me to my bones. A strange creaking noise crept up behind me as I slowly and dreadfully turned my head and body around. The door to the Darkness' prison had opened.

*****

Horror rushed into me as I realized what had just happened. I let out a scream as I immediately dropped to the floor, my hooves covering my head as I cowered on the dark ground for the inevitable wave of ultimate evil I knew was about to come. After several moments I realized that nothing had happened. I poked my head out from behind my hooves and saw that the door had simply swung open slightly, in fact there wasn't even anything really holding it together in the first place. I carefully got up and pushed the door shut with my hoof, it simply limped back open when I removed it.

“The door wasn't even locked?” I puzzled as I looked at the side of the door to see that it was just a solid piece of wood and that there wasn't even a lock, holding the door in place. “Magic?”

I turned my gaze upwards and saw the inside of the room. I quickly turned away and hid behind the ajar door. Once again, nothing happened. I peeked my face around the door, my curiosity of what could be beyond overpowering my sense. The room was dark(duh) and seemingly empty. I crept inside a little bit as a bit of the room became more and more visible. Suddenly a small orb of light formed on my chest and shot down the large chamber to a small shape that sat at the far end.

“Ah! My soul!” I shouted as I once again fell to the floor, my head inside my hooves. But once again, nothing happened.

After a few more moments I rose again, this time looking and seeing the small shape that sat at the other end of the room. I squinted to see it better and Celestia nuzzle my muzzle with her butt if I didn't see a pony sitting there.

“Whose there!” the pony suddenly said, speaking in a loud but almost frightened sounding voice.

“Wait, what!?” I said, almost stuttering at how taken off guard I was at this pony suddenly talking.

“Who are you? And why are you here?” he said again.

“I-I-I'm Ivory Star.” I stuttered. “A-a-are you t-t-the-”

“Go away!” he commanded.

“Excuse me!” I said, a little offended.

“Please, just leave me be.” he said.

“Um, I told you my name so maybe you should tell me yours?” I'll admit this was starting to interest me as my previous fear disappeared at the thought of talking to this strange pony who apparently lived in the deepest pit of Tartarus. My curiosity and desire to know more had once again taken hold of me.

It took him several seconds to answer, “My name is Caelus.” he said.

“Caelus? That's a weird name.”

“Please leave now.” he nearly whined.

“Are you the Darkness?” might as well be blunt.

“Some used to call me that, yes.” Caelus answered.

Holy Luna's lady parts I'm talking to him! It wasn't what I was expecting though. I expected to feel horrifying evil or some presence of malevolence or dread but instead I just felt nothing. From what I could see this was just some pony. His voice wasn't threatening, in fact it almost sounded sweet, but not that kind of sweet where you can tell they're trying to sound that way no, it was the kind of sweet that comes from a pony who just likes being, well...sweet I guess. It was an almost comforting voice that made me feel safe just listening to it. You can guess that this did feel a bit strange coming from the supposed most powerful and most evil creature to ever exist.

I took a few steps closer, “Can you come out?” I asked hesitantly.

Did I just ask the ultimate evil to come closer to me? I must be going crazy!

Caelus rose from his position, I could see him turning around and then I heard the clopping of his hoofsteps as he entered the light. He was indeed just a pony, a Unicorn to be exact. He was the most unimpressive Unicorn I've ever seen, he was just grey. His coat was grey, his mane was grey, his eyes were grey and his face looked depressed. And...and he didn't even have a cutie mark!? What!?

“There, are you happy now? Will you leave now?” Caelus said, a bit annoyed.

“What was that light that came out of me?” I asked.

“It lets me speak your language. That way I could tell you to leave me alone.”

As he neared me he suddenly stopped, his face turned into one of shock and disbelief.

“What is it?” I asked worriedly.

“I can feel her on you.” he said.

“Huh? Whose on me?”

“The power of harmony. Why? Why does she keep doing this for me?” Caelus' face leveled out and he took a deep sigh.

“Who? Terria?”

Caelus snapped his face back in my direction, “You know her name?” his face was back to shock and disbelief.

“Yeah, I think she's been leading me here. I've seen, or heard, her several times over the past few months.”

Caelus let out a slight laugh. It was not a pleasant sounding laugh but more like a self-pitying laugh. It was not pleasant to see him do that, his face made him look so forlorn and sad that it almost made me sad just looking at it.

“I've spent so much time here, regretting so much. Do you know what I've done little pony? The horrors I have wrought? The lives I've ruined?”

“I've some notion yes. You destroyed the old Zebra Empire.” I said, trying to remember everything Enyi told me about the subject.

“Oh, I've done so much more than that. I've ruined more lives than you could possibly ever know. I've created abominations so horrible that you could scarcely imagine.” he wasn't boasting, I think he was trying to scare me off and make me leave.

“Yeah, I've seen some of them I think. Lazilob, the spider, or maybe some memory of her. I saw her in Griffonstone, she was nearly dead or maybe just a ghost. My friend showed her some compassion and she disappeared.”

“Truly? You have seen Lazilob and still you chose kindness over violence. That is...surprising.”

It then suddenly dawned on me, it was as if the feeling just came over me and the question popped into my head almost on it's own.

“Do you want to come with me?” I asked.

“What?”

“We could leave here. By the looks of it your imprisonment is over and your guard obviously wants you to leave.”

His face almost teared up at the mere thought. They were not tears of joy however, he was sad, very sad. I understood what he was feeling almost immediately, he didn't think he was worthy of being let out. I don't know what it is but I could just tell that this pony was not just some great evil, he was a pony who felt so horrible about his choices that he had become too terrified to ever leave the depths of his own ended imprisonment. I knew what it was to make bad choices(maybe not as bad as his but still) and it made me notice the small tear that fell down my cheek as I looked at Caelus' sad face. He may at one point have been the darkness but no more, he was now just a pony who needed some help. But I was probably the wrong pony to offer that help, after all I was going to prison pretty much the moment I left here.

“Hey Caelus? I know how bad making bad choices feels and so I'm here trying to make up for it. It's true that your past choices carry over to the present but part of life is learning to take responsibility and improve yourself and do what you can to make up for those mistakes. That's why I'm here now. I made some bad choices so I came to the deepest, darkest part of Equestria to right that wrong and do what I should have done a long time ago.”

I turned my head back tot he pile of artifacts, my eyes falling on Abila's crown as it lay there in the pile. I would have to make sure all of these artifacts were returned safely to their proper places. I could leave the others in Canterlot with the princesses and deliver the helmet back to Khaweth personally. Once the princesses had them I was certain all of the artifacts would find their way back to their own kingdoms for their own people to keep safe. If I could maybe help Caelus or at least point him in the direction of somepony who could I think that would be a good thing to. But I couldn't do it now, I had other important things to do and my own consequences to face.

“I'll be back soon ok. I promise that when I'm done making up for my mistakes I'll help you try and make up for yours.”

Caelus looked legitimately surprised by this offer. His face showed as much confusion as mine had been showing pretty much all day. Then he lowered his head and turned away.

“That would be quite the feat, I have much to answer for.” then he turned back to me, “But I suppose that if you are willing then perhaps...maybe she was right, maybe it is time.” for the first time I saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he spoke. “I once thought that my fate was set, then a pony whom I thought would despise me spared my life when it was worthless. I have long pondered that decision and I see now that she was far wiser than I.” Caelus now let out a laugh, a good laugh, “Perhaps I shall begin to listen to her advise now. I shall wait for you here Ivory Star. When you return we shall see what can be made us the both of us.”

From behind me I heard voices calling out, “Ivory! Silver! Where are you!” it was Jackpot and Scarlet, my friends.

“You know Caelus,” I picked up the hoof with Sparky on it and showed it to him, “ponies have been saying that friendship is magic for thousands of years, maybe there's something to it?”

“Maybe.” he answered.

I said goodbye and turned out towards the exit. I passed through the doors of the prison and began to collect the artifacts, slinging the shield on my back and using it to carry the other artifacts proved a good idea. As I held all of the relics I finally saw that there was a hallway that led up and out of the dark chamber and I began to head towards it when I suddenly heard Caelus singing from behind me. His voice and words were still sad but within it was woven a hopeful tone that made me think that everything might just turn out for the better:

Of peace I sing of peace long lived as fair as fair can be:
of silver leaves and golden grass beneath the elder tree.
In slender towers, shining bright, the glow of sun and moon,
upon the earth by soothing light, gentle hearts would swoon.
Upon the shores of Illumar, in Varna by the sea,
melodic hills upon the dawn and nighttime sang for me.
A loving friend is what I had as strong as any queen,
her heart was kind and full of life wrapped in a silver sheen.
All I had I thought of naught as further on I went;
the one whose love I held in trust was into sorrow sent.
I passed beyond the shores of care, my life I left behind,
I did not think what hurt I sowed, pushed so far out of mind.
What did I do, how could I know, the sorrow I would bring,
no more would grow in endless joy the golden grass of spring.
The countless stars of gentle night would glimmer in the sky,
strings of gems and jewels they were, yet long ago they died.
The whispering strands of southern isles, the wind would greet each morn,
those mighty cliffs and gentle seas in horror they were torn.
My friend is gone, her light is dimmed, to my failings she did lose,
but fight for me all time she did, to spare me she did choose.
But if of friendship I would sing, would they show some to me,
if ever I could return across the wide and rolling sea.

I met my friends by the exit to the chamber and told them about Caelus and what had transpired. We gathered up the artifacts and carried them down the passage where Jackpot had marked the way he and Scarlet had come. We found our way out of Tartarus, waking Cerberus up and making sure the door was closed and locked behind us.

“You know Ivory, I'm sure if we explained all of this to the princesses than they could get you out of this whole idiotic prison thing.” Jackpot suggested.

“I can't tell you how much I want to do that but no, I promised Caelus I would face the consequences and besides, doing this is the only way I can see Enyi ever forgiving me.” don't get me wrong, I didn't want to do this but I had the feeling my situation wouldn't stay this bad for long. I needed to do this for Caelus, Enyi and myself, besides I needed a break from all this emotional turmoil and the constant aches and pains I would no doubt be feeling in the coming months over all the injuries I've recently had and had quickly healed.

“You must really like him if you're willing to go through all of this just for the chance of him not hating you.” Jackpot said, a bit of regret still in his own voice.

“Yeah, I suppose I do.” I said back, “Don't worry though, I'm hopeful it'll all turn out all right.”

“I hope so.” Scarlet said.

Author's Notes:

Dear readers,

To those of you who have read this far I want to profusely thank you! As this is the end to the first part of the story I would absolutely love it if you could leave some comments/critiques/etc..It would mean a lot. If you're interested I will probably start part two early next year. Again, thanks for reading this far into my little hobby and I hope you all have a wonderful day!