Diamond_Dancer marches along, grinning sheepishly. "Right, Right. Dat, is why we brought Nettle along! She knows all about da unspeakable horrors of da undaworld! Also, she brought snacks! Hey, you'se guyse remembah when we was in da forest like, a year ago, and we found da huge Roc, and it tried ta kill me?...Pony...dat was awesome!" She reminises cheerfully. Of course a LOT of things have tried to kill her since then..
Solar_Eclipse trots along with the others. His steps are probably more noticable since his legs are shorter and he has to walk twice as quickly to keep up. He seems pleased, going on an adventure! Nothing can go wrong. Of course, his weird powers are acting up now, the shadows worried about him so they stack in around his body, making him start absorbing the light around him. An odd effect, to be sure.
Firefly laughs and nods to Diamond. "And you imprinted thy face into a large tree, yes, I recall." then perks an ear and floats backwards along the line to hover beside Nettie. "Oh, any lemon snacks in there Good Steward?" looking curiously towards Nettie. "A good snack is essential when storming a demon hive hole.
Nettleglum has seen the Everfree Pointy Jumping Rocks, of course, but didn't think they got as large as Diamond seems to suggest. Curious. She stays close to the young prince, ever watchful for her charge. "Lemon. Lemon. Let me see. Toadstool, clam, henbane, cinnamon crisp... oh. Oh dear, I'm sorry, Squire. Would banana-borscht do?"
Ohhhh and Scope brings up the rear looking none too pleased, skulking along after the group with angry eyes locked on the ground infront of his hooves. Whatever's on his mind he's still ready for combat for as he walks a bright point of light remains at the tip of his horn, pulsing every minute or so.
Diamond_Dancer tilts her head thoughtfully. "I like Cinnamon!" She announces to nopony in particular, however, before she can gobble any of the tasty (see horrifying) treats down, she comes to a pause towards the enterance of the demon hive. The hell hole. The terrible forsaken place no pony in thier right mind would ever dare to go...so Nettleglum is perfect for this sort of thing! "Alright...dis...uh...dis looks like da place! "She announces- an indeed, a smallish sort of clearing with several large stonehenge like tablets lay before them. "...Is dare uh...a door, or a spell of sight seeing or...uh...a key or somedin? How do we get in?"She squeaks.
After a few moments, Eclipse skitters to a stop beside Diamond Dancer. He nods a little, "Yes...I'm sure...that's it." His tail swiff-swiffs about again and he pushes the helmet back off his eyes after a moment, the oversized headpiece dipping and bobbling about on his head. He looks up to Nettleglum and gives her a big grin. "Hi there."
*THUD* *THUD* *THUD*. Step by step, a house-sized shape steps through the broken metal gates edging the cave entrance. Cerberus, the gigantic black dog, steps into the gap. Two heads growl, fangs as big as a pony's leg bared, while the leftmost head lifts up and sniffs the night air solemnly. Oh, and there's a tiny little fourth head behind the other three, but it's nibbling on fleas. It's budding season for Cerberus.
Firefly makes a face at bannana somethings and gets distracted as Nettleglum points out the entrance area, then Diamond also says it. She takes to the skies, up high, about eighty feet or so, circling to get an idea of the area and have a good look at those stones. A good look she gets. She banks over and circles, pulling into a tighter flight path, preparing to make an attack run from behind. Besides, they brought the bia...shakes her head. Prince. Along. It was sure to focus on them first.
Nettleglum gives the Prince a reassuring... er... deadpan. She then lurches forward, a sudden dank and sour wind rising. She stands in silhouette, outlined against the pale, chalky uprights of the circle. "There is but one path into the heart of the underworld, dears, and it is paved with broken souls and battered ponies and Byzantine floor tiles. The guardian of the gates cannot be tamed-- except by Fluttershy, I think-- but it must be passed. Also, I think my left hoof just crushed a snail. Excuse me."
Scope sighs, rolling his eyes and moving through the crowd and stepping straight up towards the three (lol four) headed dog. "Hey, I got somethin' for ya." The orb that WAS at the tip of his horn suddenly launches and hovers infront of the cave guardian. "Here ya go boy, y'want it? Huhuhuhuhuhuh?!" The glowing green orb wiggles from back to forth, looking awfully like a wonderful tennis ball.
Diamond_Dancer watches that bright glowing orb with eyes wide. Oh, she wants it! Yes she does, yes she does! She raises up on her hindlegs, hooves in front of her like paws!!
Solar_Eclipse's eyes widen just a bit as a giant monster dog appears. His whole body suddenly just goes jet black and he hops back a few steps, letting Scope get all Blaster Ray Gun on him... only then it's just a tennis ball? Eclipse quirks a brow and shrugs, skittering over to his lurching guardian.
Two heads continue snarling. One continues sniffing. The Black Beast steps forward again, its paw crunching on the path kicking up an ancient horned skull. Its second step tosses out a flat piece of broken ceramic, circle and square patterns printed on it in faded colors. The snarling heads go right past the floating green ball, ignoring it entirely... when 'yip yip yip yip!' sounds behind them. Cerberus pauses so its two heads focused on duty can roll their eyes in exasperation. Behind them, the tiny little bud is straining at the end of its short neck, biting at the green ball.
Firefly banks hard left and circles, keeping high up and behind the four woofed creature, maintaining a holding pattern for the moment. If Scope could take care of that creature there may not be a need for her to attack it. That and she reaaaaalllly didn't want to tell her friend Fluttershy she had to stomp one of her critter pals into the mud. She calculates her attack just in case.
"Awww, at least the puppy wants it!" As Scope is controlling the first one another, larger orb appears on the tip of his horn and this one is no ball. Oh no, the energy spikes that emit from the core indicate it's one of his torpedoes that he's got locked in the chamber, launching out at bliding speed at the giant Dog's chest.
Nettleglum looks down just at the horned skull lands at her hooves. Oh. So /that's/ where that went to. And here she was accusing Cousin Vague of wandering off with it. ._. She keeps herself between Cerberus and Prince Eclipse, cautioning, "Please keep clear, young master. The guardian is unpredictable, and sometimes his fleas carry a virulent plague which is not nearly as relaxing as the usual kind."
Diamond_Dancer glances down at the giant skull, and then at Firefly, and Scope. Hmmm, She's not much for combat, which is NOW just dawning on her and slowly, she pumps her wings to lift her up into the air. "YO! Hey...Uh, Cerberus! ...C, can you talk? Is dat someding you can do? Hey, SIT!" She shouts suddenly, at the top of her lungs. She doesn't think that's gonna work, but hey, it's worth a shot...
Probably a good thing he was given the warning. The big guardian looked so happy and...sort of. He might've tried to pet it. Ok, probably not, Eclipse does have some sense. The foal gives Nettleglum a quick nod or two, saying "Yeah ok. I wouldn't want to have some plaque." His head tilts as he watches, helmet again wobbling about.
It turns out, the Guardian of the Immortals' Prison was not chosen casually. He is immune to Diamond Dancer's sweet reason. Slightly more impressively, he is immune to magic. At least, Scope's disruptor torpedo strikes him square in the chest, and while there's a fizzling and Cerberus yelps, no visible damage is done. It must have hurt, because the tiny fourth head snivels and whimpers as two of the main heads open their jaws, snarling in fury. The whole bulky body bunches up to spring... and the leftmost head whacks the middle head hard. The snarling stops. The two guardian heads look at the leftmost head. It jerks up towards Firefly. They all three look up, sniff the air, and suddenly the collosal beast rears up on its hind legs, tongues hanging out as it pants in apparent joy, trying to follow Firefly's flight path!
Firefly is startled a little, not at all expecting this reaction. But the objective was to clear the entrance, so...." she barrel rolls and waves to the large puppy and lazily flies away from the entrance, to the east, leading it, if it follows, around one of the large stones so it won't see the party. She remains high enough to stay safe, yet low enough to keep its attention. "Who's a good puppy?" grinning and looping off a ways, looking back now and then, waiting until everypony was inside before making her next move.
It didn't work against Diamond Dancer when she was "infected" and now it doesn't work against Cerebus? ... That's it. "I quit." The armored stallion grumbles as the the guardian follows Firefly apparently in pure dog-like joy, Scope dropping to his flanks and sitting there with an angry grumble.
Diamond_Dancer Rolls her eyes. "Hey, you'se didn't git eatten' right? In my books, anyday dat ends with you not gittin' eatten' is a plus! You'd be surprised how often I ended up eatten when I was out here. "She trails off and sighs, shaking her head. "Come on, path is clear! Lets head into da pit! We might not git a second chance!
Head creaking back, Nettie watches as the Squire loops away, trying to lead the giant beast. How nice, a new playmate. She wonders if she should mention the chew-marks he tends to leave on his playmates, but why spoil a nice surprise for the Squire? "Now, young master, remember, to speak politely to the dead, and never bring up any gaping mortal wounds they may still display after their demise. Some of them can be easily embarrassed. Oh. And if we see Sisyphus, do not fall for his little, 'oh, can you watch this boulder while I grab a quick lunch' line. I lost an entire summer vacation that way."
Contrariness seems inherent in Cerberus's nature. First he resisted distractions, then physical force. Now Firefly tries to lead him away, and he takes two 'little' steps on his hind legs, but follows no further. It might be the chain running from his collars back inside the gates, but he doesn't pull against it. Instead, after a little panting and waving around to try and follow Firefly, the leftmost head whacks the others again and he collapses onto all fours. Butt raised, shoulders and heads against the ground, he starts shuffling rapidly to turn this way and that and always bow facing Firefly. It DOES leave the gateway open!
"Can I stare at the mortal wounds?" asks Eclipse. "Because I might not be able to stop." He keeps pace with Nettleglum as the others distract the new playmate. "Mmph, well I'll try not to anyways. It's goign to be totally gross isn't it?"
Firefly loops around and returns, seeing the thing was chained up. She hovers a few meters out of potential lunge reach a bit off the ground. "And how has our Guardian been today hmmmmm? Is the good puppy watching the gate all nice like?" baby-talking to him, while inwardly trying not to barf.
Nettleglum simply lurches through the gate as if heading up the front walk of her own house. It might be noted that the two paths are similar in many ways, though there are fewer clutching tendrils here in Tartarus.
Diamond_Dancer motions for the other ponies (+1 diamond dog) to hurry and follow her into THE GAPING MAW OF HELL. Seriously, she's gonna need back up here ponies. "Scope, quit bein' a baby! You're a royal GUARD for Celestias sake!" She announces, narrowing her eyes. "Come on, come on, dat dog isn't gonna be tied up all day!"
Nettleglum doesn't see what all the fuss is about. It's only the corkscrew-turning hell-maw that exhales the fumes of abyss and draws deep the poisons of Equestria, the very wound eternity has gouged to fester with the bacillus of pain and rage and eternal, unending torments. She's got snacks. What's the problem here?
Cerberus shows no further signs of stopping anyone. It's the only sign Cerberus doesn't show. The left head insists on remaining bowing to Firefly. The other two swivel like searchbeams as Nettle leads Solar close, and remain crushed to the ground, staring fixedly at him. The tiny fourth bud head looks around this way and that in bafflement, until Scope gets near. Then it whimpers and hides behind the middle neck. So, you know, congrats. Through the broken gates the way lies open into a cavernous tunnel sloping down into the inky black depths of the Earth.
Problems? There's no problems. Eclipse is armored up and ready to go. He adjusts his helmet and delves in through the mouth of the underworld with all his fantastic friends. He makes a brief mistake of taking in a breath and then makes a few muffled coughs. No one told him how bad this place was going to smell. As he nears Nettleglum, the weird shadows that linger on him cling to her too, mostly because they're too lazy to walk. )
Firefly waits for a while until everypony is inside, then swings around and lands, just out of reach, on the path into the tunnel, waving a wing. "Will thou allow me to pass?" she asks, staring at him matter of factly.
Scope quietly stalks by the canine guardian and tosses a sharp glare towards the fourth, smaller head as he passes. ...But then another orb appears on the tip of his horn, launching outwards and bouncing across the ground before coming to a stop closeby. .. It doesn't vanish right away either when he enters the cave, apparently a parting gift for the younger of the heads.
Nettleglum seems to inhale, deeply, like somepony coming home again. She neither coughs nor sputters on the sulfurous stench, if indeed she's actually breathing at all. "Oh, my goodness, I had forgotten how simply /cozy/ this place is. It's like Mother always said, home is in the details. Mind those puffballs mushrooms, young master. The spores tickle in your brain as they grow."
Diamond_Dancer trots slowly into the darkness, and takes a breath, trying to vibrate her wings fast enough to give a buzz like Scootaloo, and not enough to drift her up into the air. The end result is a soft glowing light that shimmers from her body- her contrail held in one place. She's her own personal flashlight- and something she might want to see a doctor about one day. "Alright! So, dis is Tartarus...gotta say...this is terrifying. So uh, okay Eclipse. You're time to shine! Which way to Luna!" She asks excitedly! This is really happening, this is it! Adventure, excitement!
There is at the moment only one way to go. Down. Down the crude path along the center of the tunnel, made out of bits of bone and old hide and intricately patterned ceramic. Down towards the big, dark lump that moves and squeaks, just barely visible to those with really good dark vision. Down leaving behind the huge dog, which tucks its heads underneath itself reverently as Firefly passes, showing off the moon symbols imprinted on its metal collars. Actually, only three heads do that. The tiny fourth head is yipping spastically, bouncing furiously against the leash of the giant body, biting at the glowing ball Scope left it. Kids, you know?
"Uhhhh," says Eclipse, looking back and forth. "D-down?" he suggests. With any luck the land of Tartar Sauce is just a big, long, deep tunnel with no offshoots at all. Yes. That's certainly bound to happen. "This looks...yeah great. Totally the right way." The kid's a terrible liar. Even when he's lying by pretending he knows what he's doing, his eyes shift back and forth.
Firefly keeps her wings flared, but sees the marks on the callar and makes a face. Duh. She should have seen that earier, or guessed at it. At least she knew there would be less trouble getting back out now. For her anyhoofs. She has to grin a bit as the littlest head tries to play with Scope's gift. She folds her wings and walks on into the tunnel to catch up with the others. "I trust, good Steward, you know the lands here well, because I know nothing of it."
Nettleglum is moving ahead, as blase' as ever. She shambles down the tilting, wild tunnel, approaching the lumpen, misshapen mass at the first dip. "Hello, Prometheus, dear-- still taking a vacation I see? That's splendid." As far as Nettie remembers the story, he held a barbecue so popular that they awarded him with a lovely retirement rock and a pet eagle.
Diamond_Dancer nods her head. "Yeah, Dis is uh, dis is all greek ta me! So, uh, Nettie, Eclipse, it's show. Just lead us to da princess! "she explains, and draws in a deep breath, gags, and chokes. "Dis place smells like da royal laundry room! Ugh! Ok, So I've got no idea whats down here. I tried to like, borrow a book about Tartarus from da library right...but den I got distracted by someding shiny. "She admits quietly.
Nettleglum is speaking to the giant pony chained to the rock. He is big. He is as tall as Celestia, but with Big Mac's build, although his face is more sleekly handsome. Shackles on all four hoofs chain him stretched out on his belly on a huge rock in the middle of the tunnel, and he fills the path because he is one massive piece of stallion meat. 'Meat' being a particularly appropriate word, because sitting on his plot is an eagle as big as any regular pony, picking wet scraps out of the wound where his cutie mark should be and gulping them down. The wound doesn't seem to be getting any deeper. Guy can heal.
Eclipse takes a moment to disregard what Nettleglum said earlier. He stares at the wounds, the oddities of things, the...is that a bird? Oh man, it would make an awesome pet if it would stop nibbling on that pony's gaping wound cutiemark. He blinks a few times and clears his throat, moving to walk with Nettleglum again, "Who's your friend?" he asks, brow lifting up a bit.
Firefly follows along as well, almost last in line, giving Scope a slight glance. Not a bad one, just a 'yeah, we can talk later, I have a feeling it wil help' kind of look. As they pass the large chained up pony, all she can do is mrf, then glide up and over. "Wow. Sucks to be you." landing on the other side.
Clara emerges from the umbra to one side, preceded by the chink of schist flakes under the handle of her familiar pick-axe that doubles as a cane when the Diamond Dog chooses to walk bipedally. She seems to be in good health, her fur shiny if not well kempt, her expression hopeful if not cheery. She has a new vest on--purple and red, with small round gems inset. She peers at the group, and then at the bechained sufferer, and then back at the group. "YooU haVve mAaAde It," she declares in a voice as gravely as the terrain.
Diamond_Dancer pauses to look at the pony chained to the walk, glances at the other ponies, and coughs quietly. "Uh...Hey dare...uh... fella. Dat looks uncomfertable! So, uh, I'm diamond, and uh, Dis is, uh, everypony. We're lookin' for a princess. Uh, deep blue in colah, her hair is da universe, and she always talks realy awkwardly. Like da kid in mathclass who always talked way too loud? Yeah dats da one. Oh, oh, and she has a look in her eye, like she might go insane at anymoment....you seen her around here?
Sotto voce, Nettie leans low over Eclipse and murmurs. "This is Prometheus, young master. As I recall, he held some sort of bonfire party for some Earth Ponies, a long time ago. It was very popular." She raises her voice as she stiffly totters up. "Prometheus, dear, you /must/ pardon us, we are in something of a hurry-- would you like a clam biscuit, dear?-- we're looking for Princess Luna."
The enormous stallion stirs, his head turning a few inches and a deep brown eye swiveling to regard his visitors. His voice is remarkably even for a guy with an eagle eating his butt. "I endure," he answers Firefly, his voice echoing down the tunnel. Then his gaze moves to Nettleglum. "Luna is down below, in the farthest reaches. Proceed with caution, my children. She hath laid low Atlas and chained him again in his place, but has not yet caught Tethys." The eagle, profoundly indifferent to company, continues gnawing.
"Good to meet you," Eclipse says, remembering manners when introduced to giant ponies being constantly eaten by eagles. He listens to the direction and nods, "Ah...thanks a lot," he grins, then hmms, wondering why his grandmother is mucking about down here anyways. He gives a glance to Nettleglum, then to the others, and then back to the big pony. "You...uh, maybe want us to shoo the eagle off your backside?"
Firefly ponders to herself mostly, but audibly as well. "I always wondered if there was anything to that whole 'having your backside gobbled' story. Seems so." then lands beside Clara. "So, dweller of caves, it seems we are once again joined on a common mission." looking over to Eclipse. "This is his punishment for whatever he has done, decreed by the Princessess. it would be wrong to interfere."
And there's Scope, quietly watching the scene unfold from near the back of the group. <.< He doesn't really bring anything to table in this quest, only there for his unique firepower! .. Which has already failed with that canine guardian back there so his hopes are not very high right now. D:
Diamond_Dancer points forward. "Okie dokey! So, danks for da directions...good luck wit da boid, we'll see you on our way back!" Diamond announces, slowly edging away from the benibbled pony. "And I thought I had issues." She mumbles quietly, wings still vibrating and flittering, lightning up the cavern ahead and behind them. "So, uh, Nettie, what can we expect to find down here?" The white pony asks, pausing when she comes to a rather large fork. "...Also...left or right...your call here, Clara."
"Oh, it's most charming, Diamond, dear... let's see, I do remember dear Scylla-- she's one of the lifeguards here, watches over a large whirlpool bath-- I do did try everything to get my mane to look like her's as a foal. I didn't have enough scales, sadly. Once we pass her station, things are a little looser. There are fewer councilors and a lot more of the inhabitants amuse themselves on their own terms. Arts and crafts days are Wednesday. Do not go near the popcicle sticks without armor." Nettleglum had some interesting Summer vacations, apparently.
Clara approaches the group, and especially Clara, showing slight surprise in her body language that they aren't surprised to see her. Still--she did arrange to meet them, after all. She isn't at the fork yet, having lingered by the spectacle of torture that is Prometheus. "Hello, SquIire of The mOoOn," she says to Firefly with a little jerk that might be half nod, half bow. "TelL mE...what Are tHis poOny'S crIiimes?" It looks like the sympathetic Diamond Dog isn't comfortable seeing anyone, even a Titan, trapped like this.
Firefly tilts her head to Clara as the canind catches up. "Given this particular punishment, I must assume is had something to to with his behind. Perhaps he bent over to look at a flower as the Princess was approaching. I imagine in his time mooning a Princess may have been very bad indeed. And he does have a lot of behind to have offended with, but if you trule wish to know, you ARE free to ask him yourself." and keeps an eye out for wayward popsicle sticks, to avoid them.
The gigantic stallion lowers his head to the stone again, closing his eyes. "My crime was to side with thee, my children, over my brothers and sisters the Titans. When the creatures thee call princesses emerged victorious, I chose to remain in my exile unto the day my siblings learn to share the world. I must, for if my mark heals, great Cronos will use it to escape his bonds." A brief sigh that gusts around the tunnel like the Royal Canterlot Voice, and he adds, "Proceed with caution. The Flesh Foals have bred beyond belief, and they respect not even the Grimdark clan. But it is good to see thee again, Nettie."
"Ok, mister. If you say so. Looks like it hurts. Be careful it doesn't get infected." Eclipse gives a big grin, he so wants to be helpful, and his tail swiffswiffs again before he looks to Nettie and follows along once she starts down the path once again.
Diamond_Dancer glances down the left chamber, then the right chamber. Her wings stop flickering and fluttering and her contrail goes out, leaving the place dark. "Yo, you'se guys gotta light? My wings are gittin' tired. Alrighty, So, uh, Clara, you'se the cave expert. Which way you dink Luna went? Please tell me she went down da chamber without da terrible monsters in it?
Bringing up the rear once more is the armored stallion, head turning to cast a curious gaze on the chained-titan.. at least until he gets a closer look at that eagle, lips pulling tight and hurrying onward after the group and looking somewhat perturbed.
Clara shudders at the words of the stentorian Titan. The gravel beneath her weapon shifts ominously and her eyes seem to change. After a few moments, she speaks. "The lEgeNds of mYy peOpLe are diFfeRent froM whAt you sAay, gREeat oNe. I wiLl preSume that Time llies, and YoU do noOt. But if tHis ExIle be yoUrs to kEeEp, and you woulD not bE freEed...then know. NOt aLL of uS woRshIp tHose with the tItTle 'PrinNCeSs.'" The Diamond Dog bows her head. But she can't resist one last question before moving on. "...WhaT waS yOur mAaRrk?" She glances toward Diamond Dancer. "I ExpEect the oPpoSite, deAr DanNCer." She looks up and sniffs the air. "I SugGest the DowWnwArd canTing slOope."
Nettie looks flatly troubled. "Oh, dear me. And here I didn't think to bring any Flesh-foal repellent. How awkward. If you should see any, perhaps it would be best to walk the other way. Their gnawing can be terribly troublesome, particularly when they are in large groups. Scope, dear... Squire... feel free to swat them if need be. It's best to use fire."
Firefly just walks along now, not really having much in the way of tunnel manuevers. She was examining the walls, the path, the loose stones and gravel, anything and everything that might be useful for offense or defense. That and she felt...disconnected...not being able to see the skies. It didn't bother to too much, it was more of an annoyance.
The rest of the party may be leaving PRometheus behind, but as Clara stops to talk to him directly, the Titan's eyes peek open again. The look he gives her is mild and very tired, and his voice hardly booms at all as he answers, "The flame of knowledge, for I gave my children the magic of the Titans that they not be prey to all the other monsters. Weep not for me. Thy Kobold waits below, still alive in his own prison." For those moving ahead, it appears the tunnel doesn't go down forever. There's a sudden end where it opens into a big open space way ahead, and large things moving in the shadows on either side of that doorway.
"What's a flesh foal? Are they dangerous?" Eclipse adjusts the helmet a bit again and looks back a moment, then to Nettleglum. "Umm, k these things are sounding worse and worse. Why did Grandma Luna come down this way again?"
Diamond_Dancer Scoots herself up towards Firefly as the party wanders along the dimly lit path. "Hey, Fiyafly, you'se git da heebie jeebies too when you can't like, fly? I dink Pegasi are naturally clos...clost....uh...ClosOW! I bit my tongue! I'm still getting used to being able to feel my mouth aga- "And Diamond, noisy little Manehatten pony, shuts up. It's the large moving shadows that probably have something to do with it, but it's end result has her quiet and wide eyed, peering into the darkness with uncertainty. "Is dese flesh golums?" She whispers.
Nettleglum sticks protectively close to Solar_Eclipse. "Flesh Foals are a sort of local pest, I'm afraid. They chew on anything that comes within their path, and they spore from their own remains. And worst of all, they simply /will not grow/ outside these caves. I've tried everything to get a good cutting or some spores, but they always fail. Ahem. If we should see Flesh-foals, young master, I want you to watch your hooves and keep close to me."
Clara nods and accepts the answer Prometheus gives. She shuffles on without addressing him further, but her mind is churning. Her strides soon become wide as the tunnel slopes downward, and she catches up to the group. "FlEesSh FooOAlSs?" she asks, her voice gaining an urgency. "I wiLl wAtCh for thEm. I hAve mY wEeapOn. Is anYone hEre HaAandy with FiiRe?"
Firefly says "No Diamond, I do not get...hees or gee bees. I just prefer more options for manuever than caves tend to allow me is all. Less freedom is all." then lifts her head and looks to Nettleglum. "I trust you can not merely ask the golems to allow us passage, else the recommendation of fire would not have been offered. I would recomend Scope handle them." then pauses. "He can teleport behind them and blast them one after another."
As if on cue, a magical torpedo is locked and loaded at the tip of his horn, followed by the ridges of that magical appendage beginning to glow a solid green as he slips through the group and takes point up ahead, snorting a little as he looks aside to Firefly. "Armed and ready."
In the light of Scope's magical ball of annihilation, the end of the tunnel is plainly revealed. It doesn't just end, it runs out as a short platform before a huge gap, some kind of cliff. The tunnel is thankfully wide, because at the mouth sit two things on either side. They're hard to label. One is a whirling, pulsing ball of vortexing air and water, and on the other side a pony bigger than Prometheus, but more of a ponypede, whose many legs trail back into a hole in the rock, and if that weren't enough she has extra fanged heads in place of some of her legs. There does at least seem to be plenty of space between them, but at the light the ponypede twists, looks right at Nettleglum, and makes a whimpering sound as she reaches out to paw the broken path as far as she can reach in Nettie's direction.
Solar_Eclipse's eyes close a moment, then partly open again. "Yeah, not a bad idea," he says, scooting over to follow closely, the ever present darkness of shadows trying to hide him from view. "Be careful Mister Scope," he says, not wanting anyone hurt really."
Diamond_Dancer frowns quietly, pointing a hoof towards the ponypede. "...is anypony else freaked out by dat? I'm not a doctor, but dat seems unnatural. "She quips, taking a few steps forward and peer at the creature, and then peer towards the swirling death vortex. " I could make da jump across dat gap, but... Nettie...you'se uh...you know her?...Him?...Dat?" She offers quietly.
Sighing, the noise similar to the last vestiges of sodden life escaping from a dying accordion, Nettie answers Firefly. "They are not ponies, however much they appear otherwise, Squire. They are a form of fungal life, and a very rude sort at that. Almost entirely un-trainable. I could barely even get them to wear sailor suits during our Summer presentation of /HMS Ponyfore/..." she breaks off as her stiff lurching brings her within sight of the ponypede monstrosity. "Oh, it's dear Scylla! Hello, my dear! Oh, how inviting the water looks today, but I haven't a bathing cap-- oh, Uncle Innsmouth sends his love!" She waves a hoof. "This is Scylla, everypony, she's the lifeguard here. And I should warn you, she is /very/ strict when it comes to pool safety."
Clara lets Scope slip past her and then stands at the doorway, gaping at the monsters. She apparently isn't familiar with these. Having boggled for a bit, the delver steps out slightly onto the platform, next to Diamond Dancer, and looks around the room quickly, not sparing more than half a second without looking back to the aberrations. "ThEeSe aRe hOrRorS," she says, unnecessarily. As for Nettie's explanation? "ScyYylLa?" Skeptically canine eyes train on the ponypede again. "PoOOl sAafeTyY?" Those same eyes narrow.
Firefly shifts into hover mode, taking flight just up and behind Scope. She lifts an eyebrow at the ponypede thing and how it was acting. She glances to Nettleglum. "And here I thought she was another pet of yours." grinning a little, tilting her head slightly for a moment then looking back to the swirling mini-storm thing across the way. "Diamond, after Discord, not much is surprising....only...different. My question is a simple one. How do we get past them?"
"Hmmmm." Seemingly unfazed, Scope remains ready to fire at a moment's notice and probably would have at the sight of the strange "ponypede", if not for that whimper it made once it noticed the group. Dropping his guard just a bit the unicorn takes a few steps towards the creature, brows lifting a little as he looks up in curiousity at the ponypede's main "face"
It doesn't seem inclined to attack him. The main head, three times the size of his own, peers down at him with eyes that shine luridly green in the light of his disruptoball. Actually, her face is pretty. Very pretty, sleek and long and feminine, reminiscent of the royal family. Rearing up, she regards him with a stare that conveys wordless, sad curiosity. The heads along her midsection are harder to distract. They remain focused on Nettie, and start whimpering, "Nnnnn..." "Nnneeeeeet..." "Nneet" "Glom!" A natural conversationalist, this thing ain't. But with Scope's light up to the doorway, Tartarus itself is finally revealed. The ponies stand before a gigantic chasm sealed over the top and splitting deep into the Earth. Paths line the sides on multiple levels, and stone bridges crisscross the enormous gap, and as for how far down it goes... somepony will just have to go past the guardians and look, won't they?
Diamond_Dancer draws in a slow breath when Tartarus is revealed to them. This is it. THIS, IS, IT! The impetuous nature of youth and the hyper active nature blend together to give Diamond an almost stupid grin across her face. "I can do dis! Oh, I can do dis!" She announces boldly, already reving herself up to go diving into the chasm and examine every inch, rock and cranny to find the princess- and more importantly, to prove to the group and herself that she isn't useless! She's important! She deserves to see! She's fast, and clever and incredibly durable! This is PERFECT! Somepony's been hanging around Rainbow Dash to long...but then again, most pegasus are like this in thier youth- Espcially those with the title of 'elite'
Making sure the young prince obeys all the rules of pool safety, Nettie escorts him between Scylla and Charybdis. "...never gallop this close to the pool, and always wait an hour after eating before plunging into the eternal void, young master." She beams a deadpan... nothing... at Scylla to show she's Cool Around the Pool, like the old filmstrips say! "Diamond, dear-- we do not roughhorse around when it comes to poolside safety. Please settle down."
Clara is awestruck beyond awestruck when the full nature of their quest is revealed. They aren't crossing over...they're going ^in^. She reflexively seizes Diamond Dancer's tail. "TaKe cAare," she cautions the enthusiastic flier. "ThIs is a PLaAce of lEegeNd, and the lEgenDs may bEe wroOOng. In mY peEople's tAles, PromEethIus was tHe crEatoR of tHe rAace of uUnicoORns, and hE diId suUfFer. But hE diIEd loNg ago, and wAs a moOrtAl poOny. My kNowLedge is....inCoMpleEte here." She turns to Nettleglum. "ThIiS sAge is nOw ouR beEst hOope of SurvivAl...but ThEre are RruUUulLes." The Diamond Dog looks the party over sternly. "Has AnyPoOny eAten aNNythinG wiThin the lAst hOour?" she asks, taking Nettie deadly seriously.
Firefly says "Easy Diamond...recon flights will be soon, indeed." following Nettie's central path, though not on hoof, but in hover flight. "For all we know there may be larger angrier cousins to quarray eels living all over down there waiting for a foolish flier to dive in blindly." grinning. "Know your surroundings beforehoof." then looks over to Clara. "I have eaten, but would not say no to something to drink. It is a touch less humid that I expected. Fire and all."
Scylla and Charybdis make no move to stop anypony, and on the other side the ponies stand on one of the ledges running as paths along the side of the gigantic chasm. It goes down, down, down into darkness, with caves, some with obvious metal cell doors blocking them, scattered about the walls. The stone bridges form a spiderweb between the rock walls, and the nearby bridges are... well, a mess. The black charring of lightning damage is all over the place near your doorway, and many of the bridges are splattered with blood. On the bridge one level below you, the bodies of adorable blank flank foals are strewn, most of them chopped almost into hamburger. Between those corpses, a lone unicorn white unicorn, tall and slim and with a crown cutie mark, pushes a rock bigger than he is with his face. He moves it slowly and with great care, but then, the bridge isn't that wide. The corpses don't seem to bother him at all.
<OOC> Luna says, "Oh, that's right. Firefly, since Luna went into Tartarus, you have been getting ZIP from her through the bond."
<OOC> Firefly says, "Thus her caution."
<OOC> Luna says, "No power, no thoughts, no sense of where she is, nothin'."
<OOC> Firefly nods.
Exactly.
<OOC> Luna says, "And it's not coming back now that you're here."
you can practically SEE the steam raise out of Diamond's ears. Chill. Calm down. Settle down. Relax. THESE are the words that send young, inspiring pegasi into a frightful RAGE. How is she supposed to settle down when she's THIS close to such a grand adventure?! When she finaly has a chance to shine and do something COOL- and useful! Settle down?! RARRGGHHH!!!! "..." She doesn't reject, but her body language is quite clear. Wings tucked by her side, ears splayed back, and tail twitching wildly, she humphs in her silence and glares at the chasm. Diamond- NOT talking- means Diamond isn't 'happy' by any stretch of the word...
Nettleglum pauses at the edge of the abyss. "Oh, dear me. The groundskeepers certainly haven't been keeping up the place /at all/." Aghast in her own toneless way, the dark pony carefully picks her way down a more-or-less intact path. " Sisyphus. Oh, Sisyphus, dear-- it's Nettie. I know you're devoted to that physical therapy routine, but please just wait a few moments..." She shambles towards the unicorn, keeping her hooves well clear of the foal-gobbets.
Clara is trying to rein in the overenthusiastic Diamond--she was prepared for this much. Her grip on the flier's tail doesn't falter. Now ignoring the water-air monstrosity somewhat, she blinks at Firefly, and turns again to Nettleglum. "Is tHe coNsuMption of vIcTuaLs forbidDeN wiThin TArTarUs??" she asks. "If soO, we sHoulD ConSuUme all Our pRovisiIonS eXcept for SoMe thaT we WilL stAAsh, wait One hOur, and mOve qUicklLy. OtheRwiISe, wE wilL hAve to WaIt for the MoOnsQuIire to Be pUURifiIEd." Echoes of something sinister from around them draw her attention, but the flesh foals, if it is them, aren't moving yet.
Firefly grins to Diamond a bit, feeling much happier seeing evidence of lightning all over the stone. "I do love the decorator." looking to Diamond more. "Serving the Princess means listening and obeying, wether you like an order or not. You wish to serve Luna, you need to master this. Consider this field training if nothing more, after all, -I- will be asked my thoughts on you, and I am watching." grinning a bit. "Now, look, learn, tell me what you see, and what does it tell you? Something is amiss here and the clue lies before you. Can you see it?" sweeping a wing toward the dead blankflanked foals, the large fellow, and the charred stones. "What do you mean, I am impure?' looking to Clara.
"Oh, no, Clara, dear-- only if you wanted to go swimming in the pool." Nettie gestures at the whirling maelstrom of water, darkness, and air opposite Scylla.
Huh? (Type "help" for help.)
The unicorn lifts his head over the top of the rock, staring with mouth agape up at the tall, skeletally thin pony descending the path towards him. "I say!" squeaks Sisyphus, "That's a Grimdark figure if I've ever known one. Nettleglum! Bally chuffed to see you again, pet, it's been ages. Don't hoof the rock, luv, I haven't gotten this close to the exit in a century. How have you been?" Oh, and if ponies are looking CLOSE, almost all the damage to the foals are from thin slices, except the lumps of lightning-burned ash. Quite a number of jaws are agape or ripped in half, and the teeth on these kids are saw-edged triangles any shark would be proud of.
Diamond_Dancer's cheeks flush a dark shade of red. Both with rage and embarrassment of her actions. Of course she's still under watch. She's not a member of Luna's court YET- even thought she SHOULD be. But, the spunky pegasus sets her butt down squarely and peers into the chasm. "...I...I don't see anyding. "She stammers sadly. Emotions run strong in pegasi, like Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo and most others. Exteremes to no end, Diamond is immediately filled with dispair. Oh how will she serve the princess if she can't even solve a riddle such a this right infront of her face!! "...D, Dare isn't any evidence of Luna's hoof work down here? She should have left a burning trail...but I dont' see anyding. "She sputters nervously.
"Not to worry, Sisyphus, my dear-- I know how attached you are to your exercise equipment. I've been just wonderful, it's so nice to see the old camp again, I should say." Nettie's not paying the slightest attention to the mutilated 'foals' around her, aside from taking care not to get anything on her hooves. "We are looking for her most gracious majesty, Princess Luna. Have you seen her recently?"
Clara blinks twice and gazes across to the other aberration. And stares. "ThAT is a ^PoOoL??^" The delver shrugs and tells Firefly, "I meaNt bEcauSe yOu had EeaTen. But nOo mAtTer." She lets Diamond come closer to the entrance so that she can heed Firefly's guidance and search for clues, but doesn't quite let go of that tail. And when Diamond sits, Clara is forced to stoop. "We muSt noT EntEr yeeT. ThEre aRe FaTes too fEear, such as Those of tHeeEse shArP-tooThed FooOaLs." Could these be flesh foals? She then peers down through the chasm to the regal figure, eyes wide and blinking intermittently.
Firefly has not proceeded any further, staying with Diamond and Clara, who was holding Diamond's tail still. "Do you not see the dead little ones, blank flanks, strewn about? Now ask yourself, how does a little foal get /here/, knowing what we've passed to get here, and why are they armed to the teeth, with, such teeth?" pointing one out. "Very unusual. Also, nothing we have met yet has been cabaple of making these kind of wounds, thin razor slashes. Also, such rended flesh? This should tell you there is a foe here we do not see. A hungry one." grinning over her shoulder. "Clara can sense it too I think. A different way perhaps, but the end result is the same." lifting her head to watch Nettie speak with...that guy.
"Crikey, 'ow could I have missed her?" Sisyphus laughs. Stepping around the side of his boulder, he lays a foreleg over it and chatters with Nettie, "Come through like a buzzsaw, didn't she? And bloody good show she did, because before she showed up, I'd 'ave told you to turn around and go right home. Rotting Flesh Foals everywhere. Ekidna and Typhus running around breeding princesses-know-what. Some of the simply behemoth monsters awake in the deeps. Ghastly. And that old boyfriend of hers, Maladrak, he breaks free right after she makes mince out of a swarm of Flesh Foals like locusts, I swear. What a fight." He sighs, blinks, and seems to remember that there was a real question in there. A hoof is waved into the abyss. "Down there somewhere, the old noggin suggests. She must be. Still some wicked fights going on."
Diamond_Dancer can't move with Clara holding onto her tail- and she's right to do so. If it weren't for the diamond dog, Diamond would have pitched herself happily into that hellish chasm searching her her dear, beloved lost princess. "Ok, so where do we start lookin' first? Dat is a loooong way down...Princess Luna could be anywhere! Do we split up?" She asks quietly to no pony in particular
Having hung back again for a bit, the Prince finally moves forward up to Nettleglum. The little Luna-colored colt smiles a bit to Nettie's new friend (Or really old friend) and says, "Hi," in pleseant greeting before looking around the caverns, nose wrinkling at the...interesting scenery.
Scope is inspecting the foals as well, horn at the ready to lash out at anything that makes any sudden moves. <.< However something DOES move out of the corner of his eye and he unleashes he[BUY SOME APPLES] on a nearly foal corpse, a beam of energy zipping outward and slicing through the poor thing before a torpedo impacts it and vaporizes it. "...Oops."
Nettleglum leans over the sheer drop, apparently impervious to heights. "Oh, well, it is good to know she is having a relaxing vacation, dear-- I know how pleasant the facilities here can be. We should, nonetheless, see if she needs anything. Come along, young master." Nettie starts down the slope.
Sisyphus nods cheerfully to Nettleglum, and approves, "You have a rolicking time, luv. Me and the Missus here-" and he winks playfully and taps the boulder, "-just 'as to go round the other side and up past Scylla, and freedom is-" As Nettleglum and Solar Eclipse ease past the giant rock, the princely unicorn stallion's eyes widen. "'Ere... Nettieluv, that colt's got no cutie mark. That's a pip, Nettie, and no mistake. Don't you know-" He sounded very worried, but it's nothing compared to when Scope blasts one of the Flesh Foal corpses. When that happens, Sisyphus lets out a squeal, slips on some blood, and falls flat onto the bridge. It hardly takes an eyeblink, but without his grip the boulder immediately pitches sideways, rolling right off the bridge and tumbling into the depths. Sisyphus peers over the edge, and has enough time announce, "Well... SOD," before he vanishes into thin air. That leaves the ponies alone, on the gory bridge, amidst the silence of Tartarus. Which isn't that silent. Squeaking, chittering noises are definitely audible, rising from the depths.
<OOC> Luna says, "Tartarus is a huge chasm under the earth. Along the sides run ledges that act as paths at many different levels. Bridges run from side to side randomly. Nettie, Scope, and Solar are on a bridge just down the slope from your entrance, which is very near the top of the chasm. Firefly, Clara, and Diamond are actually on the ledge right at the entrance/exit."
<OOC> Luna says, "Oh, and there are holes in the sides of the chasm all over the place. Many of them have obvious prison cell doors."
Diamond_Dancer peers quietly into the chasm and glances towards Firefly, and then back down. "Dink we ...AHEM. Think...Thiiink? Hmmm. Think we oughta try one of dem doors? I bet anyone down dare would be real happy to give us directions if we let 'em out! If dey lookin' for trouble, Fiyafly can take on any challengers!" She pips thoughtfully. "Yo, Nettle...who runs dis joint, anyhow? Dis place kinda looks like a prison...so...maybe we talkin like a warden or somedin?"
Firefly lifts an eyebrow. "You've been improving your efficiency Scope. Very nice." smiling, then finally taking to the air, mostly to just glide over a bit and land on whats-his-name's large rock. "Are you by chance related to Rarity somehow? I heard she also had a thing for a rather large rock...." and finds the boulder moving. She walks on it as it rolls and grins, seeing where it was going. "CANNONBALL!!!!!!!" and flares her wings, crouching on the boulder, back looping to follow it down, using it as a shield and weapon combined. Anything looking up would just see the rock and they'd be well past by the time anyone realized a pegasus was a meter behind it, almost touching distance as it fell. But it was excellent scouting and recon cover. She doubted even a bridge would slow it down.
"What's a pip, Nettleglum?" asks the Princling as he stares up at her a few moments. Ears twitch just a little bit and his tail swishes. He watches the slip, the roll then the vanishing and makes a soft 'huh'. "So strange. Where should we go? You think Grandma Luna's much deeper still?"
"Huh.. well that sucks.", mutters the armored stallion once Sisyphus vanishes into thin air and they're left alone on the bridge. His ears wilt a little as he's wracked with guilt but that doesn't last for too long, he's got a mission and that's.. he doesn't know exactly what it is other than "shoot things" but it must be important, a torpedo launching upward and filling the area with a greenish hue to light their way.
"Oh, he really is -most- devoted to his fitness routine, young master. How very good for him. But we must continue on to find her majesty." Nettle watches the falling boulder vanish into the abyss below, falling so far there isn't even a trace of sound from its eventual impact. "Now, you all must, simply /must/ promise not to talk about what you see from this point on. I'm afraid if word got back to Rarity about this spa, she'd be terribly, terribly jealous. It's the most exclusive spa in all Equestria, really. You won't tell her, will you? Promise?" Her path takes her past gaping, black-toothed openings from whence moans and mad, tattered scraps of gibbering filter. Seams of white-hot tar bubble, and every so often something shrieks from the levels below, endless despair and utter hopelessness.
Lighting up the area could be quite useful. It certainly gives Firefly a better view to scout as she plunges down behind the descending rock. There's all kinds of things to see down there, like a section in the distance filled with webbing, and the little mechanical pony marching along a ledge, but odds are good it's the four blank flank pegasus foals shooting up past her that will catch her attention. With Tom Sr. in the way they completely fail to notice her, focused entirely on the party above. They're not alone, either. The unicorn foals are just slower, running up the walls with faintly glowing horns, and the earth ponies having to climb are slower still, gnashing their serrated teeth in frustration.
Diamond_Dancer is doing her absolute BEST not to pout as Firefly takes the scouting dive. She was RARING to go, but the Diamond dog kept her from leaping into the forsaken abyss. HUMPH! She never gets to do anything fun. But that's fine! No matter. It's cool. She's not matter. Instead, Diamond starts to quietly follow along the chasm that leads to one of the roads that desend downwards. "Alright ponies, times a wastin here! Lets giddyap! "She mumbles.
Firefly spirals along behind Tom Sr., the rotations letting her see everything easier while leaving her various emergency manuever options. A mechanical pony...awesome...she almost wished she could have used that herself, but has been unable to enter it without a connection to Luna's magics. The pegasi that race by do indeed her her attention, as do the unicorn foals running up....wait, yes, they were running up the walls. She abandons the rock to pull a high-G U-turn, not wanting to airbrake or do a reversal in here, the sudden boom would alert everything of her presence, and it may create more falling Tom cousins or even a grandpa. She winds her wings up into a deep rumbling roar as she shoots up behind the pegasi, manuevering so she was 'over' their backs relative to them, doing a snap 90 suddenly across the slowest pair's flight path, using her own wings agains the back of their necks in doing so.
Meanwhile, a ways behind the others, not soaring about, Eclipse is just now nodding to Nettleglum, answering her with a "Ok, I won't say a thing." He somehow suspects this might be his guardian having odd tastes again, but he doesn't say it. He's just skeptical of a spa being "Nice" here. He gives Scope a look and a nod, smiling to him as he keeps his vigil over the others with his laser of doom.
This is a new one on Scope, staring at the walls as unicorns seem to be able to climb wa-- Wait, the foal NEXT to him can do that, eh! Seeing that Firefly has the pegasi foals occupied the stallion takes aim, a point of light sliding across a hornridge which then brightens and emits a concentrated beam of energy outwards towards one of the unicorns, the other side doing the same seconds later followed by a volley of his patented torpedoes, the spinning orbs launching outward from his horn tip.
Nettleglum eyes the marauding blank-flanks flatly. This. Is why we can't have a nice Tartarus. "Those are flesh-foals, dears. They will not respond to reason. They will not show mercy. They are horrifyingly violent. In spite of this, I'm afraid they're not nearly so pleasant at they sound. I suggest we keep moving. Do not. Buy any of their cookies, should they offer."
Flesh Foals, it turns out, are not bright. They don't notice Firefly speeding up behind them, and the blow of Firefly's wings knocks them squeaking and tumbling out of their flight path. Scope's streaking laser blast is blocked by a shimmering shield from one of the unicorns... for a fraction of a second. It's hard to know if it would last longer, because shifting its magic makes it lose hold of the wall, and it too goes falling into the dark. The foremost pegasus foal doesn't even dodge the first disruptor ball, which goes through it, leaving a smoking corpse like an obscene donut falling into the depths. The final pegasus veers off its path to dodge the remaining bolts, but now they're behind the unicorns, one of which gallops up to scramble onto the bridge where it joins the ledge, while the other two leap off of the walls, toothy mouths wide as they bite at Firefly. Oh, and Nettie's just joking about the cookies. Only one of the earth ponies, the one way in the back, wears a sash and is trying to lug a couple of brightly colored boxes with it as it climbs.
Nettleglum stares. Flesh-foal Flock 341. Oh, yes, she remembers them. They still owe her a box of Minty Mushrooms from waaaay back.
Diamond_Dancer's eyes widen ever so slightly, and the young pegasus breaks her stride to fall back along with the group. There's no mistaking the sparkle of excitement glinting in her gaze- the promise of action, fighting, adventure, and heroic deeds swirl around her, even now, even here in this place of torment. But she doesn't go charging off just yet, she just remains where she is. Perhaps she's biding her time, or perhaps she's waiting for the right moment to strike. Perhaps, she's even afraid of these abominations seeking to harm her companions...or maybe nobility has kicked in, and she's sticking close to protect Nettle and Eclipse. Regardless, whatever it is that's holding back her desire to cast herself into the fight is keeping her stationary, for now...
Firefly spirals and inverts after slamming two of them just as unicorn foals leap at her from the walls. "Oh you did NOT just think you were going to bite ME?!?!?!" snapping her wings to blast aside then merges that into a vertical rotation that puts her behind one of the nearer leaping things as it approaches. "You should stick to the walls." slamming into this one's back, jetting forward in nera full flight mode to drive this one into the other one, then streaks across the chasm ina blur to slam them both into the stone, letting them go and airbraking with a hard peeling motion in a left spin upwards spiral to get clear just before impact and any debris from it.
Whatever it is holding Diamond Dancer back is probably Clara's hand clutching her tail. Hands are tricky things, that way. But as she sizes up the situation, she realizes that the nigh-invulnerable warrior must be allowed to earn her glory. The splitting of the party makes it necessary for everyone to be as mobile as possible. So the Dog releases the pegasus and gives her a gentle spank on the heiney to urge her on. "Use yOur foRrce, DAnCeR--dO noT tesT the StReNgTh of yoOur hIiDe!" And Clara herself spins into action, raising her pickaxe and taking a broad stance. She can't fly, which makes this battle all the more dangerous for her.
It's his time to /shine/. Well, he hopes it is. Eclipse looks up to Nettie and says something dorky, thinking it sounds cool, "Then let's get those cookies." Not his best line. He trots forward a few steps, peering over seeing somepony climb up and a bunch of earth ponies a bit behind. "Uhh haven't exactly tried this.." He looks over beside him, to the empty space, and says "Hey, you, get some friends and go cover their eyes." His...shadow oddly nods then flits off with a few others. Nettleglum's probably use to this. He then squints down, "Ah...oh, I got one for this... Need a lift?" His horn starts glowing full force as he tries to simply lift up as many of the foals as he can.
A torpedo speeds towards the earth foal but right before impact it poofs out, instead the foal is surrounded by a greenish aura and lifted (along with the boxes) up to where Scope stands, curiously head tilting a little. Even with it probably gnawing and biting at him he pulls out a couple bits from a pocket within his armor and sets it in the foal's bag, taking out a box of what looks to be peanut butter cookies and carefully floating the foal away from the group and safely depositing it on a nearby ledge.
Nettleglum is a lover, not a fighter! In any event, she's fretting a little-- deadpan, but sincere-- as Eclipse tries to get into the fray. "Oh, do be careful, young master. Watch the edge of the bridge-- keep your hooves where you can see them-- oh, dear me." She backs against the gibbering cell opening. She knows these private spa rooms are /most/ luxurious, with hot and cold running screaming little things and wall to wall walls. "I do beg your pardon. Have you a spare towel in there? Perhaps some liniments?"
Exactly.
"Uh...dat a victory? Did we win?! And nopony caught on fire?! Dis is like, da best day evah!"
