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]

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.

[fiss84]

84 keeps her attention forward, trusting Mia, Twilight and Link to give warning of any attack. As she flies though she listens to the echos they make and strains to hear any change. She also stays close enough to the ground or Cerebus that she can drop Moon Shadow off to attack if needed.

[no_vampires_plz]

For a long time, they travel in silence, save for Cerberus's staggering footsteps. Then, a faint noise becomes audible: a low, droning buzz.

Twilight's ears twitch up. "Does anyone else hear that?"

[gorgonfondness]

Mia nods and opens her bag, keeping a couple of healing potions at the top just in case.

"Be alert to each other's actions," she advises the group. "If these creatures are anything like the ones at home, and so far they have been, they might be capable of confusing us or putting us to sleep."

[sky_child]

Pointy ears have their advantage: he might just be hearing the droning noise better than anyone else here--save the dog, of course. He squints into the darkness behind them--and above them, in front of them...

The sound's honestly making his skin crawl.

[basic_powers]

...what he wouldn't give right now for having packed one of those zapping fly-swatter tennis racquets.

Moon Shadow's probably going to regret cracking open a fresher, brighter glowstick with his teeth and passing it up to 84 to shine a little more soft light around, especially up.