Chapter 83

Dave and Celestia kissed again, gaining an uproar from the crowd as they waved over the balcony. The crowds of ponies cheered as they waved flags and some danced in the streets, tables were laid out down the main street and everypony had a seat.

Dave tilted his head back to see Adamas with a wing wrapped around a tower to hold him in place, the dragon smiled at the human before taking to the air and flying around the city.

Flux slowly slipped away from the bridesmaids as she walked over to Strong Shield, smiling as the normally grumpy stallion gave her a small nuzzle on her cheek. Strong Shield glanced over at his son as he smiled. “He is going to be fine now.” The unicorn whispered.

“He has always been fine,” Flux kissed Strong Shield’s forehead as she smiled. “I wonder if he will like the gift we got him and Celestia.”

“He should,” Strong Shield snorted. “If he doesn’t appreciate it then I may have to make changes to his birthday list.”

Odio had floated to the roof of the hall as he watched Dave and Celestia wave to the crowds, the fog looked amongst the crowd. He narrowed his eyes at one pony that had a slightly bent horn, the unicorn’s mouth had a tooth that poked out as smiled.

A pair of mares stood and caught Odio’s attention, he recognised their true identities as the changeling royals quietly left. The fog of hate glared until they left, waiting until they were definitely gone before floating down again.

“Alright everypony,” Odio whistled to get the attention of the crowd in the hall. “The reception is going to be held in the plaza just outside the castle walls, there will be music, food and the happy couple will be the first to dance.”

Dave and Celestia smiled as they waited for the hall to clear of ponies, they waved to the crowd some more and shared another kiss before departing. They walked closely beside each other as they walked through the hall.

As they walked through the castle, guards, servants, chefs and groundskeepers were all lining the hallways and stomping their hooves in applause. Celestia blushed as she smiled to the ponies she saw every day, she considered them all friends but she never imagined they would be lining the halls for her.

Dave and Celestia reached the castle gates and stepped out into a shower of cheers, ponies lined the courtyard as they cheered and threw flower petals over the couple. Dave wrapped an arm around Celestia’s neck as they walked down a central path that took them to the large plaza.

A large set of turntables was set up and Adamas was sat behind them, he smirked to Dave when the human saw a familiar DJ jump behind the turntables and slammed on the switches to some lights, the mixture of reds and blues reflected off Adamas’ diamond scales as he extended his wings.

“Wow,” Dave smiled as he saw everypony looking at him and Celestia. He understood as he took a few steps ahead and extended his hand to the bride. “Care to dance?”

Celestia placed her hoof into Dave’s hand as he gently led her to the centre of the dance floor and they took their positions. Celestia stood on her hind legs as she placed her front hooves onto Dave’s shoulders.

Dave gently wrapped his arms around Celestia as some gentle music was played, Adamas slowly moved his wings to move the lights around the plaza as everypony watched Dave and Celestia slowly dance.

“I doubt we can try anything too flashy,” Dave whispered as he stared into Celestia’s eyes.

The white alicorn hummed, “Why not?”

“Well because…” Dave joined Celestia in a smile before holding one of her hooves and allowing her to lean back. As the alicorn rose again, she spun as Dave held a hoof above her head, the both smiled to each other as Dave wrapped an arm behind her back and swept her off her hooves, his arm the only thing keeping her from falling.

“I’m impressed,” Celestia smiled. She kissed Dave before he lifted her back up and resumed their dancing.

Cadence was smiling happily as she watched the happy couple dance. Her grin grew as Shining Armour stepped next to her. “Hello soldier,” She teased as Shining Smiled at her.

“Will you honour me with a dance?” The captain of the guard held out a hoof to the princess of love. The pink alicorn gladly accepted the offer as she was taken to the dance floor that was slowly filling with couples.

Strong Shield was watching his son dance, evaluating his performance and footwork. He rolled his eye to the Pegasus beside him, “Would you like to dance?”

Flux hummed, “I am fine here, and I know you don’t really enjoy these type of things.”

Strong Shield looked down as he sighed, “I suppose I don’t.” He stood as he turned to Flux. “But I enjoy being close to you.”

Flux blushed as she was offered a hoof and they both set out onto the dance floor. A few guards’ jaws dropped as they saw their old sergeant dancing, and dancing well. Matrix and Night Stalker watched the dancing and looked amongst the crowd.

“We are allowed to dance aren’t we?” Matrix looked at his partner as Night Stalker nodded. “So why aren’t we?”

“Because you would have to find a mare to dance with you,” Night Stalker sighed. “Basically all have come with a partner already so we are out of luck.”

Matrix groaned until he looked over at the food table and saw a familiar unicorn. He walked over and tapped Fix It on the shoulder, the unicorn swung his head around before smiling. “Hey guys, how you doing?”

“Fine,” Night Stalker responded simply.

Matrix was about to explain his dilemma to his friend but spotted a lone mare getting some punch from one of the large bowls. The guard put on a smile as he walked over, “Hey there, you enjoying the party?”

“Yeah, with a giant dragon as lights it couldn’t get any more awesome,” Rainbow Dash chuckled as she looked up at Adamas, she turned to look at the guard and smiled at his stripes. “I didn’t realize the guards were trained to look cool.”

Matrix chuckled, “Half pony, half zebra, all natural.”

“Really?” Rainbow Dash hummed. “Why are you talking to me anyway? I am not stealing spoons.”

“W-well I was wondering if you would like to dance,” Matrix tilted his head to the dance floor. As he saw the cyan Pegasus go into a deep thought a new beat kicked in that was a lot livelier and less intimate.

Rainbow Dash smiled to the guard, her eyes glancing to the two spectators behind him. “Do your friends need dates too?”

“Huh?” Matrix looked back at Fix It and Night Stalker, both stallions looked away innocently. “Yeah, if you know anypony for a socially awkward unicorn and an unfriendly Pegasus.”

“Hey!” Fix It and Night Stalker protested in unison.

Rainbow Dash smirked, “Twilight! Applejack!” She called over to a purple unicorn and an orange earth pony. “These guys want to dance, I’m sure you can find something in common.”

Matrix gawped in success to his friends before following Rainbow Dash to the dance floor. Twilight walked over to Fix It and looked at the medal he wore. “Wow, you must have done something heroic.”

“I DEFUSED A BOMB!” Fix It half-yelled, blushing slightly as Twilight smiled excitedly.

“You must know a lot about mechanics, I built my own machines to help with my own experiments,” Twilight giggled as Fix It’s eyes opened in surprise as he slowly smiled.

The unicorn ran a hoof over his mane as he looked at the dance floor. “We could talk whilst we dance, if you wanted to.”

Twilight smiled, “Sure, so long as we get near the speakers and see who can guess the power output first.”

“You’re on,” Fix It smirked as he accompanied the purple mare to the dance floor.

“Well your friends are certainly an odd bunch,” Applejack smirked as Night Stalker hummed in agreement.

Night Stalker looked at Applejack, “I know you probably have a few stallions wanting to dance with you, seeing as you are the Element of Honesty.”

“Nah, you’re wrong Mr Guard,” Applejack teased with a smile. “I got mah work ta do so I don’t have any time for any flirtin behaviour.”

“I agree, how are we supposed to keep a meaningful relationship if we don’t have a decent amount of savings,” Night Stalker looked at the dance floor before looking back to Applejack. “Would you like to hear flirting while we dance?”

Applejack smirked, “Seeing as we are on days off then I don’t see why not.”

The charcoal guard allowed himself to smirk slightly as he followed the blond farmer to the dance floor. Soon the party was in full swing as Vinyl played music and controlled the lights that shimmered off the diamond dragon.

“Hey Adamas!” The DJ called up to the dragon. “How about you lend a hoof to the bass?” The white unicorn smirked as Adamas tapped his tail along with the beat before letting out deep hums that shook the ground.

Nox was dancing with Applebloom as he saw his mum and dad slowly leave the excitement. “Where are you going?”

Dave ruffled Nox’s mane as he allowed Celestia to walk ahead. “Your mum and I are just going to spend a moment together, you have fun though.”

The human walked over to a large table and sat next to the smiling bride, Celestia kissed Dave’s cheek as he sat down. “So Dave, the rest of eternity?”

“Yeah, I think we can handle that,” Dave rubbed his eyes before looking to Celestia. “I will never get tired of seeing your smile that is for certain.”

Celestia smiled until a black fog floated between her and Dave, Odio’s eyes both looked at each individual. “Hey would you like to know what my gift to you two is?” Odio hummed as Dave and Celestia shrugged. “I managed to get an X-box here with all the latest game.”

“Really?” Dave narrowed his eyes. “What about DLC?”

“I made the portal in space and made it so we can connect to the internet directly to the castle,” Odio bowed. “I am very proud and I would like to thank myself for making a portal linking two worlds that is no larger than a pin.”

Celestia smiled, “Thank you Odio, I am sure Dave and I will love it.”

“Oh,” Odio paused. “Yeah, no problem but… it is all set up in my room and I think it would be technical moving it all to your room.”

“What was that about a portal?” Dave rose an eyebrow and Odio sulked away. “Oh and that globe you sent to my house was a poor prank.”

“Globe?” Odio stared in confusion. “What globe?”

Dave frowned, “The pasta and syrup one? It said that it was sent from America.”

Odio floated softly in the breeze, “You come from Britain though.”

“That’s why I was confused,” Dave smiled before it faded completely. “Who else could have sent it?”

Odio shrugged before floating past Strong Shield and Flux. Strong Shield walked over to Dave with a box and Flux walked over to Celestia with a small narrow case. “Wedding gifts, I had to make adjustments to yours Dave.”

Dave opened the box and pulled out some kind of bandolier, a thick belt with sheath fit around his waist but another thick section stretched over his shoulder. “Thanks dad, was this yours?”

“No it was my old captains,” Strong Shield smirked as Dave looked at him in shock. “Just because it was used by an evil pony doesn’t mean that it is also evil.”

Dave moved his hand to adjust the strap on his arm and the sheath moved around his belt and up the strap to meet his hand behind his back. “Woah, what the hell?”

“A simple mechanism means the weapon will move to where your hand is, allowing you to grab your weapon no matter your starting position.” Strong Shield smirked. “With a sword it will be very effective.”

Celestia smiled as Dave moved his hand between his legs and the sheath dropped back to his belt but flipped upside-down. Flux held out the small wooden container and allowed the princess to take it with her hooves.

Celestia opened the case, her eyes widened as she lifted out the necklace and admired the craftsmanship. A single gold locket rested on a thin gold chain, the surface was covered in tiny markings that retold Equestrian legends such as its founding and the defeat of ancient villains such as Discord.

“It was my mothers,” Flux sighed as Dave helped Celestia put it on. “She said that if you add you and your lover’s picture inside then your legend will continue forever.”

The princess shook her head, “I can’t it is too much.”

“You are married to my son,” Flux paused before looking over to Dave. “If you will be my son?”

Dave stood up and walked over to the Pegasus, he got on his knee as he wrapped his arms around her. “Thanks mum, and make sure you keep dad happy.”

“I will,” Flux looked to Strong Shield before slowly wrapping her wings around Dave and hugging him.

Dave smiled, “Love you mum.”

Flux gasped before her face turned red from embarrassment, “I… love you too son.”

Dave returned to his seat before Strong Shield and Flux left, the leaving couple walked side by side as they rested their heads against each other. The next to approach the married couple was actually Adamas lowering his head to them.

“On behalf of all the Enlightened, we congratulate you,” Adamas smiled as they couple gently rubbed his diamond snout. “Oh and those artefacts you had my apprentice fetch are now in your possession, the guards made sure they were secure.”

“Oh… ok,” Dave shrugged to Celestia. “How are your apprentices?”

Adamas groaned, “One has failed, one has potential and the other has a headache.”

Celestia gave her sympathies before the dragon returned to his lightshow duty. Dave rubbed his neck before standing up, “I am just going to the toilet, see you in a sec.”

Dave walked back into the castle and hurried for one of the nearest toilets, luckily not far from the entrance. He stepped in and looked around the small lavatory, a toilet, sink and mirror was all that was contained in the windowless room.

As Dave finished his business and began washing his hands, he stopped to smile in the mirror. “I’m married.” He looked at his hands as he curled them into fists and cheered quietly, “married!”

“Shame.”

The human froze, the familiar voice would have made him wet himself if he hadn’t already used the toilet. Dave struggled to lift his head to look in the mirror, his felt his heart beat against his chest, his eyes widening in terror as he saw the abyss behind the black hood.

“H-how?” Dave stammered in disbelief that the warden of Tartarus was behind him.

“I can check up on past inmates,” Warden looked down at Dave. “And you 1EC have a special place in our records. I came bearing a present for you.”

Dave shuddered as he felt the mark on his arm resonate to Warden’s presence, the tall being moved an arm to hover over the brand and a long grey finger slipped out of the sleeve and pressed against the mark.

“P-please,” Dave whimpered, knowing he was powerless against Warden. “I’ll do anything, just… don’t take me back.”

“The bet wouldn’t be valid if I forced you back,” Warden hummed. “You go back willingly, and if you don’t come back with a positive point about my prison then I make you my personal victim of torture. But don’t think you can just stay away and live normally, because I will appear every time you have a happy moment and make you remember.”

Dave looked at his arm as the grey finger pulled aside his sleeve and pressed into his flesh, the pain masked by fear.

“Say thank you for the gift I am giving you,” Warden watched as Dave whimpered a quiet thank you. “You are welcome.”

Dave’s vision filled with blackness before his eyes opened again and he was sprawled across the sink, his mark had no evidence of any finger being pressed into his skin. The human turned on the tap to splash his face with water before staggering outside the bathroom.

“I swear, I will win this bet and see you dead,” Dave snarled, his anger focused at Warden. He looked down the corridors for any evidence of the prison warden.

The recently married human remembered the party going on outside, he walked out and headed back to the plaza. He saw a pony trot past and his mouth parted in a snarl, a low hiss left his mouth as he drooled.

Dave slapped a hand over his mouth, he had only reacted like that when he was in the final month of his sentence of Tartarus. He was an animalistic and ruthless predator, his hunting was more about delivering crippling blows before moving in for the feast.

Every time Dave walked past a pony he thought of a thousand ways to kill and devour them. His mind clouded until he saw Celestia, his primal urges retreated as he hurried over to his bride and kissed her deeply.

“Together forever?” Dave asked, more out of fear that he might lose control.

Celestia smiled as she held the human, “Of course, I will never let you go”

“Thank you,” Dave whispered as he kissed the alicorn again. His mind flashed back to the saying he heard repeated a thousand times in prison.

You may leave Tartarus. But Tartarus never leaves you.