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

[fiss84]

"Thank you, Miss Mia," 84 says to be polite. She didn't really need it but that's beside the point.

Looking at the poor puppy she continues, "I'll fly him out...carefully," before flying down. Assuming no one stops her, she'll carefully pick Cerberus up, all the while making comforting noises to him.

[no_vampires_plz]

"Mandrake flesh is a narcotic. If he only had one bite, he'll probably be okay in a few hours--wait."

Twilight holds up a hoof in a 'wait a second' gesture, then casts a simple light spell to illuminate the hole--which, as it turns out, isn't merely a hole, but a tunnel running in a roughly east-west direction.

"This is the path to Tartarus. The mandrake was nesting right on top of it!"

[gorgonfondness]

The thanks is accepted with a nod and a smile.

"Then it seems we're ready to press on."

Mia supplements Twilight's spell with her own Lumos.

"I wonder if the creatures that live down here are anything like those in the Cave of Trial?" she wonders aloud. "If anyone would like something to deter the effects of poison or being turned to stone, I have some protective rings and armlets."

[sky_child]

Link squints down into the hole, then studies the vine, the area around him. The vine shifts up a bit from the hole--Link is tying it to something solid and heavy.

Then, without word, he climbs down the rope into the hole.

[basic_powers]

...Moon Shadow's just going to watch Link climb down into the hole with the rest of them before looking at Cerberus thoughtfully.

"...hey Twilight, how're we going to get Cerberus moving again if he's going to be out for a few hours?"

[fiss84]

84 lays what she hopes is a comforting hand on Cerebus' shoulder instead of flying him up. "Are you okay boy? Will you be able to walk with us?"

[no_vampires_plz]

Cerberus just blinks blearily at the empty air.

Twilight looks thoughtful. "Maybe we could cut that vine down and use it to make a leash?"

[sky_child]

"How long of a leash should it be? I can climb up there and cut it..."

And he'll handle the landing part.

[basic_powers]

"I don't think that vine'd hold him back or pull him along much..." No offense, but that dog is the size of a house, and even if 84 pulled back with all her might...well. It's still a vine rope. Not defendium alloy...

...well the only things he's got left in his pack that aren't weapons is the first aid kit and spare food..

...food.

"...I have a really crazy plan." He's just...you know, going to take out a bag of jerky where Cerberus can't see it. "...if he's anything like the other canines I know...he thinks with his stomach."

[fiss84]

84 spies what Moon Shadow is holding and sees where he's going.

"Should we tie it on a stick? Or maybe I could fly with it ahead of him to keep him going?"

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight grimaces a little at the sight of the (ugh) meat, but nods. "Sounds like a plan. We need to head west, which is--" she points-- "that way."

[gorgonfondness]

"I can help keep us covered in the back," Mia says.

The last thing they need in this situation is an ambush.

[sky_child]

"--then I'll take the front."

This kid puts up a good act. Looking at him, you'd think he doesn't have any fears about what's ahead--whether he'd be useful enough to conquer them. Everyone here has magic. All he has is his sword.

But he can't go back on his offer. And honestly: he doesn't want to.

[basic_powers]

"Wouldn't we move faster if 84 carried me? I can hold a glowstick to light the way, and then Link and Twilight can ride on the carpet with Mia and provide covering fire for Cerberus and me?"

He's fairly...hard to digest, as is 84, and the faster they get this done...

The faster they're out of the tunnels, at least that's his logic as he digs out several glowsticks and cracks one, duct-taping it to his boot.

[fiss84]

"Okay," 84 says flying up and taking his words as an order. She carefully grabs a handful of harness while wondering where Moon Shadow's wings of darkness are but then she's sure he has a reason for not using them. Maybe he wants everyone to feel useful.

"Ready?" she asks and, assuming there is no objection, lifts off to carry him down.

[no_vampires_plz]

"Sounds good to me. Just try not to get too far ahead of the rest of us." Twilight strides purposefully over to Mia's carpet.

[gorgonfondness]

"I should be able to keep up," she says, taking her place at the front of the carpet. "But if there's another encounter and I have to fight, I'll have to land it. The carpet's getting used to Twilight but it doesn't know Link."

[sky_child]

"I'm not that scary," he says to the...carpet...as he climbs on. "But is this okay? Are you sure you don't need someone up front to defend?"

[basic_powers]

"..erp! ...I just need you guys to worry about defending Cerberus, 84 and I are much tougher than we look." Moon Shadow calls down, after having to work out how to open the dang bag with gloves on, before rattling around the contents to agitate the scent of them..and let Cerberus know of their noise.

"...hopefully us being airborne'll reduce the number of things that'll attack the bait."

[fiss84]

"I'd probably break the teeth on anything that tried to eat me," 84 says with a smirk. And with that she flies slowly forward while looking over her shoulder to make sure Cerebus is following.

"Can any of our light be directed forward like a flashlight are can we only do glowing?" It would be nice to see farther than the sphere they are in but if not, she'll work with it.

[no_vampires_plz]

"I can direct my light spell, but it's got a pretty limited range, so I dunno how much that'd help," says Twilight.

Cerberus, meanwhile, is following Moon Shadow and his jerky with the intense concentration of a creature who isn't quite sure where all four of his feet are at the moment.

[gorgonfondness]

"I'll just have to keep up with the carpet, then," Mia says.

And then, to Link, "I'm glad you're back here with us. It's good to have a balance of magic and physical strength."

They've got magic covered for the whole group. Physical strength doesn't have quite the same range. And if something resistant to magic should come up from behind...

But Mia doesn't worry about that as they smoothly hover behind Cerberus, her concentration on flying.

[sky_child]

Link smiles silently at this. Perhaps if he were another boy, a more vocal boy, he'd thank her for the encouragement. And maybe he'll actually do that later.

For now, he throws a look over his shoulder, staring at the darkness behind them.

[no_vampires_plz]

There's nothing to be seen but the rapidly diminishing light from the hole left by their battle a few minutes ago.

[basic_powers]

And Moon Shadow has to split his vision on the night vision goggles between Cerberus drooling after the bag of jerky and whatever might crawl or twitch it's way in the darkness ahead.

They are heading into Tartarus after all. Not the most-tourist friendly of locals, unless you wish to be on the menu.