It's About Time, part 2.5: Journey to Tartarus

[no_vampires_plz]

As the three humans, one Hyrulian, one unicorn, and one demon-dog press forward, the character of the woods around them changes. The undergrowth gets denser, the canopy above lets in less light, and the flora in general is much more... exotic than what one usually sees in the woods by the lake.

"Now, I know that the pathway to Tartarus starts somewhere in this general area," says Twilight. "But I don't know of its exact location. It's not something that ponies really want to advertise."

Comments

[no_vampires_plz]

Unfortunately, these aren't natural flames, and prove to be a bit more resilient than that. Part of it is extinguished, but what remains spreads rapidly, not only consuming the carpet but drawing the attention of more of the insects.

Suddenly, they don't seem so harmless anymore.

[sky_child]

Link's first thought, after crashing to the ground with a thud--and rising to his feet to make a few agile backflips out of the way of the fire--is that he must have done something to anger the goddess, if he's stuck in a cave full of fire-resistant bugs of fire and all he has to defend himself is a sword and a wooden shield.

Either that, or she's testing him, perhaps for some ordeal where he finds himself in a dangerous situation with barely anything to protect him. Or nothing at all!

...like that's going to happen.

Sword drawn, he observes the fireflies, thinking of a way to attack them without endangering everyone--or himself.

[basic_powers]

Crapcracpcrapcrap.

"Firebugs! Link! Smother the carpet's fire!"

[fiss84]

84 freezes for just a second not sure what to do before a grim look of determination takes over. She flies over to one of the fire flies and touches it, then another and then another, hoping this will cause them to follow her and leave the others alone long enough that they can come up with a better plan.

[no_vampires_plz]

Sure enough, the insects follow, clustering around 84 until her form is completely obscured. The buzzing seems to take on a tone of frustration that they aren't setting her on fire.

Twilight glances over at Mia. "Think you can freeze those bugs without hurting her?"

[gorgonfondness]

"I should be able to," Mia says, working to smother (or at least contain; she isn't terribly concerned about salvaging the carpet) the spreading fire.

She then starts freezing the bugs, moving the ice in thin layers to keep from accidentally attacking 84 or anyone else in their party.

[basic_powers]

"Whurf!"

Well at least 84 dropped Moon Shadow off onto Cerberus' back before zipping about to taunt the fireflies. He's just got to captchalogue the jerky again before the giant dog starts moving for the scent.

[fiss84]

Okay, maybe this wasn't a good idea, 84 thinks as she tries to fly farther from the group. Unfortunately the firebugs swarming her and jostling her have turned her around and now she's not sure which way the party is.

She tries an experimental hit at one of the flies, trying to determine how dangerous fighting back would be. If they explode, that would be bad.

[no_vampires_plz]

The bugs frozen by Mia's magic drop to the ground, lifeless.

The one she just struck, however, explodes in a brief but blinding blast of yellow-green light.

Twilight yelps and shields her eyes with one forehoof.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia's magic briefly stops at the light. But she's quick to resume it, freezing more and more bugs. Before long, enough are frozen for them to safely proceed.

"Well, these bugs are certainly something new to me," she comments.

She toes the remains of her carpet.

"And now at least the family has an excuse to go carpet shopping. Better it than us."

[sky_child]

He lets out a sigh, then gives Twilight a wry, but hopefully comforting grin.

"I'm starting to think I should've stayed at home," he says--though his tone indicates he thinks no such thing. Maybe he's not gifted with magic, and maybe there's nothing he can do in the end, but it's always nice to have a friend along for the journey, right?

...assuming they are friends.

[basic_powers]

It definitely helps to have a friend for the journey.

"...Link, you wanna carry the bag now?"

Moon Shadow's asking this as he holds up the bag of jerky as softly as he can. Someone's got to lead Cerberus, and 84..

Well his eyes are still smarting from the punch to the bugs.

[fiss84]

"Note to self, don't punch fire bugs," 84 says as she lands and stumbles around a little dazed. She's not really hurt but that was quite the light show.

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight concentrates and a bubble of pink light springs up around the party, shutting out all but a handful of the firebugs. The remainder beat themselves angrily against the bubble, trying to get through to the deliciously flammable creatures inside.

"I can't keep this up for very long," she grunts. "We need to run."

[gorgonfondness]

She doesn't have to tell Mia twice. Twilight gets a backup ice shield from the Guildmaster as they move, staying in the rear to make sure the others are safely seen out.

[sky_child]

Link grabs the bag wordlessly and darts ahead of Cerberus, trying to keep ahead of the party as they flee from the fireflies.

Unfortunately, he has to slow down to a jog now and then to stop from running out of breath.

[basic_powers]

urgh...if he had netting 84 could carry them all, save Cerberus that much faster...this is like that insane logic puzzle with the man, the canoe, the chicken, fox and grain...

He's just going to hold onto the giant dog's back for now, Cerberus lumbers towards the scent and sound of the jerky. If those bugs would just....find something else to harass.

How many of those flares did he use up with the Mandrake?

-fhnt!- -fhnt!- Two rockets flare back down the tunnel, back the way they came from, blazing brightly.

"Pleaseworkpleasework."

[no_vampires_plz]

Wonder of wonders, it does. The firebugs dart after the flares, buzzing around them like moths around a flame. Anyone who bothered to look closely would see that the bugs seem to be eating the fire.]

The narration doubts anyone will look that closely, though.

[fiss84]

This little super hero isn't though she does look over her shoulder from time to time as they run to make sure they aren't being followed. Her eyes are finally clearing so she darts over to Moon Shadow.

"You wanna walk for a bit or fly again?"

[basic_powers]

"Fly again, just please let me know before you drop me off next time?"

It takes a little of a balancing act to stand up so she can grab his harness again and they can light the way down the tunnel.

"I'm out of flares anyways."

[fiss84]

"Sorry," 84 replies with a wince as she lifts him. "I'll be more careful next time."

[no_vampires_plz]

Once the light from the firebugs has well and truly faded behind them, Twilight drops the shield. She sags down onto the floor, panting. "How does Shining Armor do that all the time??" she wheezes.

[gorgonfondness]

"Don't get discouraged," Mia says, dropping her own shield and giving Twilight a gentle pat on the ear. "It takes time to build up stamina. This might be a good opportunity to see if my starlights will work for you."

She takes two small, wrapped orbs from her bag. They look (and feel) a bit like blue bath beads. Mia unwraps one for herself and holds the other out for Twilight

"These give you a boost of magic energy in case you can't afford to wait for it to naturally build up again."

She pops the starlight in her mouth.

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight takes the other starlight in her mouth, chews, and brightens immediately. "Mmm, spearmint!"

[basic_powers]

He's going to just wait til they get back for a pick-me-up. Not being remotely magical in nature, he's trying to scan into the darkness ahead, by light of his glowsticks.

84's getting a couple for herself, just in case she gets separated again, since she's the one nice enough to carry him.

"...those sound really handy."