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

[gorgonfondness]

It'll be good if she doesn't, as Mia has managed to pull up again.

She figures she's got about one spell in addition to flying the carpet. She has items that can dispel the charm but they're in her bag and require searching and distribution. They'll have to do something about the plant itself.

"I'm going to try something," she says.

And the carpet gently descends again, though there doesn't seem to be a struggle to go up again as Mia casts a new spell.

Out of nowhere, a rumbling can be heard. Soon there's a rush of snow blanketing the clearing and, hopefully, muffling the enticing aroma.

[no_vampires_plz]

It works. Cerberus blinks and shakes all three of his heads sharply, looking much more alert than he did a moment ago.

[sky_child]

He'd been too caught up in the charm to pay attention to the warnings. The declining scent gradually pulls him out of his daze, until he is aware of his tenuous grasp on Julie's hand. He tightens his grip.

"...what just happened?"

[basic_powers]

"Enticing scent trap plant."

...yeah, he's just going to be shaking his head, because for a moment there...it just seemed like laying down with that plant would've made his worries go away.

"Twilight, would it be bad if I wanted to set that plant on fire?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Yes. Very, very bad," says Twilight. "That's not just any plant, it's a--Cerberus! NO!!"

But it's too late. Cerberus is still a dog, and, like all dogs, is eager to play in the new-fallen snow. He bounds excitedly across the snow-covered field, his right hind paw coming down right on the spot where the plant was.

Quick as lightning, thin brown tendrils shoot up out of the ground to wrap around the demon-dog's hind paw, and start pulling downward. He struggles and roars, but within seconds he's completely vanished into what is now a gaping hole in the ground.

[tag to Julie]

[fiss84]

There is no way a puppy, demonic, three headed or otherwise, is being eaten by a plant monster while 84 is around! She swops closer to the ground yelling, "Drop off!" and lets go of Moon Shadow and Link, then dives for the hole with a haymaker backed by all the righteous anger a super powered 10-year old can muster.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia lands the carpet near the boys, her head clear now.

"Are you all right?" she asks, shaking her head one last time.

[sky_child]

"I'm fine," is all he says before drawing his sword and darting after Julie towards the hole.

[basic_powers]

"84, WAIT!"

Moon Shadow's running right behind Link after his friend and copilot.

"Twilight, what kind of plant was that?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"A mandrake," Twilight pants as she gallops alongside him. "I read about it in Problematic Plants of the Paleo-Pony Period. It rests just underground so the flower on its head can lure in prey..."

Far below, at the bottom of the hole, one can just barely see Cerberus struggling against his captor. The mandrake's body is one long, serpentine tuber, with root-tentacles coming off in all directions. At the front of the tuber is a dragonlike head with the leaves and flowers poking out of its cranium like a tuft of hair.

[fiss84]

84 is barely able to pull back before entering the hole and it's really hard to leave the puppy in there with the monster but she knows better than to ignore Moon Shadow's advice.

"Can I hit it now?" she asks anxiously.

[no_vampires_plz]

"Blunt force won't hurt it! We need to use fire!"

[gorgonfondness]

"Not a problem," Mia says once she's caught up to the group. "It'll take some doing, though. This place is too risky for my big spells."

The Guildmaster starts a series of small area attacks under the mandrake, burning as much as she thought safe for their surroundings at a time.

[basic_powers]

You want to know what's really handy for times like this? That programmable writing flaregun that the Revenant is always making Tyler pack!

=phhhrrrrooom= Four small rockets speed away from Moon Shadow and into the hole towards the serpentine creature.

"You said not to light it on fire!!"

[no_vampires_plz]

"I said not to light the part we saw on fire, that would have just made it angry!" Twilight hollers as she summons power for a fire spell of her own.

The mandrake flinches as the first of the flames strike its root-body, letting out a screech like nails on a chalkboard. More root-tendrils grow rapidly upward with the intent of snagging the annoying meat-beasts that are trying to cook it.

[fiss84]

"Watch out for the puppy!" 84 cries out, cause someone needs to. She keeps a close eye on him and will swop in for him the first clear chance she can.

[gorgonfondness]

The mandrake makes the mistake of grabbing Mia. It doesn't know this is a mistake but it will.

As swift as she can, she grasps the root-tendril holding her in both of her hands. Fire flares up from her fingers, the flames lacing her body without consuming her. The mandrake isn't as lucky.

"Put me down," she says firmly, almost as if she were addressing the plant she keeps outside her window who does much the same thing to trespassers.

[no_vampires_plz]

The look on the mandrake's face can only be described as "!".

It complies with Mia's request.

[basic_powers]

...oh Dangit, 84, you had to go and be heroic and slightly reasonable. He has to howl down towards the hole now and gyarrgh that tendril came closer than Krampus!

Cerebus! Can you survive fire untouched?

[no_vampires_plz]

No! Cerberus howls back with one head while the other two snap at the mandrake's tendrils.

[fiss84]

84 doesn't speak canine but that howl just cuts through her. She flies down hoping her new costume is as flame proof as billed and starts tearing tendrils away from Cerberus, fighting to free him.

[no_vampires_plz]

The mandrake lets out another shriek and launches itself toward Julie, its Venus-lytrap-like jaws open to swallow her whole.

It's interrupted in mid-motion, however, by a jet of flame from Twilight's horn toasting its head.

[gorgonfondness]

Having been put down, Mia takes a moment to help keep everyone safe. A quick, glassy gleam of an ice shield comes up in front of each member of the group before vanishing as suddenly as it appeared. The protection, however, remains.

"This should keep all of you safe from the fire," she says before getting back on the offensive.

[sky_child]

Link was a bit startled by the sudden sheen of ice--but surprise seems to be the name of the game, here. He shrugs it off, his attention drawn to a series of vines nearby.

Julie might be able to fly, but there's no way she's gonna get everybody out of that hole quick enough to avoid getting attacked by another mandrake.

He darts to them, not feeling the need to alert the others of where he's going. They don't seem like they're paying any attention to him, anyway.

[no_vampires_plz]

The mandrake seems to be weakening, the fire making its movements slower and less controlled--enough so that Cerberus is able to bite down on the mass of tendrils gripping him and sever them completely. He lets out a bark of triumph as he leaps free of the plant's grip.