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

[sky_child]

Yeah, Link's noticed that the thing's decidedly not moving...

"...oh...I guess it's dead..."

[basic_powers]

So what if it's dead? Moon Shadow's just going to work and getting a few chunks off of the creature for himself.

"No one minds if I take some of the mandibles or legs, do they? I know someone who will want to see what they can make with these."

[fiss84]

"As long as I don't have to carry it," 84 replies a little worried. He may be Moon Shadow but he's still a boy and they can be so gross sometimes.

[no_vampires_plz]

"Or me," adds Twilight. She draws the line at carrying dead animal parts.

[gorgonfondness]

"I can carry extras," Mia offers.

Who knows? There might even be a magical use for the spoils.

[sky_child]

Link's...pretty sure he can't hold any of that anywhere, but that won't stop him from staring at the monster's corpse, wondering if he could use its parts as potion ingredients.

...if Mr. Bertie had any idea what to do with those parts.

[basic_powers]

"I've got space in my packs, you don't have to worry."

No, seriously, he just made a mandible, a section of bug armor, and a couple of legs just disappear into somewhere.

...probably the same place he pulled that sword from.

"I'm going to be safe and grab a few extra. Just in case."

[fiss84]

84 tries to peer in without being too obvious about it, which of course means she's obvious about it.

[no_vampires_plz]

"We should get going," says Twilight. "Before anything else has a chance to escape."

[gorgonfondness]

"You're right. Especially since more of us are on foot now."

Not that Mia seems to mind this development too much. She didn't have the family carpet when she was out saving the world.

[sky_child]

Link examines his sword for any damage (though he knows it's already duller than before), then places it back in its scabbard.

The shield's still doing fine, at least.

[basic_powers]

She's not going to see much in Moon Shadow's armor that would tell just where those items went, but he did catch her trying to see what was being done.

"...84, no I did not put those into the realm of nightmares. Tell Susie to stop saying that stuff."

He's just going to jog to keep up with Cerberus and whuff an apology.

Sorry about the angry words. I hate it when things try to eat me.

[fiss84]

"Okay," 84 replies a little startled. "I don't know that it will do much good cause I did tell her once already. Should we all walk now so we stay together?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Sounds like a good idea to me," says Twilight. "It can't be too much farther..."

[gorgonfondness]

"Stay on your guard all the same," Mia cautions.

There's always at least one more random encounter right before you get to your destination.

[basic_powers]

"Can do."

...even if his steps are a little squelchy still from all the ew.

[fiss84]

84 falls into step and tries to breath from her mouth as she'd down wind and the ew just does not smell good.

[no_vampires_plz]

After they get a few dozen yards down the tunnel, Twilight stops.

"Um. Who's leading Cerberus?"

[gorgonfondness]

Mia looks behind them to see if the dog is still following.

"Who had the food last? And perhaps more importantly, has the mandrake worn off for him?"

[sky_child]

Link winces. "That was me. But I gave it to someone else because of that monster..."

[basic_powers]

"84? I think I remember Link handing the jerky to you."

...what, someone actually you know, kept track of things.

Even if he was inside of a nightcrawler's mouth for some time.

[fiss84]

84 looks down at her hands as if she were holding the bag before looking back at the wall she had smashed to find the bag of jerky where she had dropped it. And of course Cerberus had found it and is now licking it trying to get to the yummy smells.

"I'll go get it!" her voice calls out as she flies off to scoop the bag up despite the drool. "Here boy..."

[no_vampires_plz]

The mandrake toxin hasn't quite worn off yet, but Cerberus does seem a great deal more alert and energetic than he did when the journey began. He perks up immediately and takes off after 84 and her bag of treats.

[gorgonfondness]

"At least he seems to be recovering just fine," Mia comments as she follows, trying her best to keep up while keeping an eye out for trouble.

[sky_child]

"Did you need me to carry it again?" he asks.