Anon's excellent adventures in Tartarus

NOTE: This continues directly after the story "Anon and Discord Throw Down".

 

>You are Princess Luna, she who controls the moon and stars.

>After you fell for the temptations of evil, you were exiled for a millennium on the very same moon you rose each night.

>It has been perhaps a year since you were freed from the veil of madness that blinded you for so long.

>It has been perhaps a year since you reclaimed your rightful place by Celestia's side.

>You reflect on that year with a sad smile that doesn't reach your eyes.

>Though you were no longer under Nightmare Moon's influence, you were still bitter and unwilling to be open with anyone, save your sister.

>That didn't change until a month ago, at the most.

>You gaze at the comatose figure laid upon his back on the bed, inert, and save for the rise and fall of his chest, seemingly lifeless.

>It was a month ago that Anon arrived in your world.

>It was a month ago that you two had spoken on his balcony, your first true conversation with someone who wasn't your sister.

>You give a remorseful sigh, as you remember how the human snapped at you, told you that you needed to stop wallowing in your own self-pity.

>It was a month ago that Anon managed to, somehow, open you up.

>It was a month ago that Anon had become your first true friend.

>And now it has been three days since his fateful duel with Discord.

>Three days since he was last awake.

>Three days since you've learned that even with the thorough beating Anon dished out, Discord still got the last laugh.

>You feel a familiar wave of bitter anger rise from within you, and smash one hoof down in frustration.

>You are the second most powerful pony in Equestria, matched only by your sister!

>And yet...

>You nudge his limp form, hoping that he will respond, but knowing what will happen.

>Nothing.

>You had all this power at your disposal...

>And yet you could do nothing to help your dearest friend.

>Your ears perk up at the soft clopping of hooves on tile behind you.

>You have no need to turn, you know who it is.

>Only one other pony wore horseshoes like yours.

>"Any luck?" your sister asks, as she draws up beside you.

No... nothing. He's the same as he has been.

>You find the words hard to say.

>The lump in your throat is making that happen quite nicely.

>You feel a warm, soft wing wrap itself around you, as Celestia draws you in close.

>"You need to be strong, Luna. I know it's hard for you to see him like this, but there's nothing we can do to help. All we can do is have faith in him."

>You manage to tear your eyes away from his limp form to look your sister in the eye.

I haven't lost any faith, but I just want to...

>"I know you want to help."

>Your sister sighs, gazing down upon the human.

But I can't, I know.

>You practically spit out the words.

I just wish we could at least know what happened to him... What did Discord /do/?

>"Discord..."

>Celestia furrows her brows in a thoughtful frown.

>"Do you think he could be the cause of this?" she asks.

Well... yes. Judging from Anon's levels of stamina through past physical tests... Sister, I don't think that this is just him being exhausted. At the very least, I would guess that he would at least have awakened a day and a half ago. But...

>You concentrate, horn glowing with arcane power.

>A moment later, you release the magic in a pulse that spreads throughout the room.

I can't find any trace of his influence. Discord's, I mean.

>Celestia nods, understanding your dilemma.

>"Let me try." She says, as her own pulse scans the room.

>You don't understand what difference it would make if she did it, bu--

>Her eyes widen in surprise.

>Well then, guess she found something after all.

>Nudging Anon with her head, she manages to roll him onto his stomach.

What are you--

>"I've found something, she says, horn glowing once more.

>Out from under Anon's shirt emerges a sticky note, written in ancient runes.

>"KICK ME" Celestia says aloud, tone reflecting how annoyed you both were.

>the were, however, more lines under that.

>"Well, looks like I've finally figured out how to corrupt you and your fighting spirit! You put up a good one, Anon, but as I always, Chaos wins in the end. Of course, you won't be reading this, will you?

>"Well then, My Dear Princesses, I'm afraid I've sent your precious warrior on a little trip. And I have my doubts that he'll be returning to you any time soon.

>-Discord"

>"P.S. You'll probably be seeing him soon, once I deal with you two. Tell him to say hi to the family for me."

>...

>"Well, that explains a lot." Celestia says, stunned.

>You are unable to form words.

>To use a term of Anon's, "Your jimmies have been most thoroughly rustled."

Discord has...

>"Managed to separate Anon's spirit from his body." Celestia says, finishing your sentence for you.

>Evidently, he didn't manage to completely sever Anon's connection, seeing as his body was still alive.

Well, I guess that answers that question.

>Celestia nods.

>"Indeed it does."

>you spend the next few hours letting this revelation sink in.

>You could do nothing to save Anonymous.

>Nor could your sister.

>Nor could any unicorn.

>Nor any medicine.

>The only one who could save Anon now...

>You gaze out into the night sky you had worked so hard to create, that Anon always loved to see.

>And you breathe the message to him, wherever he may be.

The only person you can save you...

Is yourself.

-------ANON'S PERSPECTIVE-------

>The first thing that tells you that you're awake is the pain.

>Fuck, everything aches. What happened, did you get run over by an angry Big Mac?

>No, but you fought the personification of chaos itself. /That/ might have something to do with it.

>You sit up, opening your eyes.

>You're greeted with way too much red for your comfort. Everywhere you look, a miasma of crimson dominates your vision.

>Grumbling, you rub the blurriness out of your eyes even as you rise to your feet.

>And you take a look at your surroundings once more.

Oh, god /dammit./

>So you've arrived to see red skies, with ash and lava everywhere, atop a hill where it appears people have been slain en masse, on account of all the bones, with a couple of raging volcanoes in the background.

>Turning, you see something that stands out. >Instead of something colored red, orange, yellow or grayish black, you find yourself reading a plain old brown, wooden sign.

>"WELCOME TO FUCKIN' TARTARUS!"

>"Hope you like eternal damnation!"

>...

Fuck.