//------------------------------// // Chapter six: Level Five // Story: Magic and Games. // by Nailah //------------------------------// Wild Ace took steady, deep long breaths in and out as he sat on his flank. This place was real… anything that happened here would be permanent. He couldn't help looking at the missing strands of his tail. Even though it wasn't much, the grim reality that it could've been a lot worse spiraled through his mind. He had to calm his nerves. “Get a grip, you know these games better than any pony,” he spoke to himself, trying to settle the rapid beating of his heart. With one final breath he stood up proudly on all fours, his body still quivering, but he forced himself to dash into the next level. He wasn't sure what awaited him in this place, but if he recalled from the books he had read, there were one hundred floors, that meant he had quite a long way to go, before he'd get out of here. Honestly, he hadn't even thought about how he would get home, even if he did reach the top. He glanced ahead to see what challenges this current level would bring. The forest all around him seemed quite luscious, the grass between his hooves wet with morning dew. Trees surrounded him on every side. He didn't see platforms for jumping like he had in the precious levels. He could hear noises all throughout the thick of the brush, and it made startled him so much, he bolted straight up into the air with a slight yelp.  He looked all over, trying to find the source of the noise. But… nothing seemed to be there. Was he going crazy? He had to stay calm, if he didn't, he would surely lose his life here, and if he didn't return to Ponyville, he could only imagine what his parents would do about it. He wouldn't die, he swore he wouldn't die here. Bracing himself, he hopped down into the jungle, looking with his deep green hues from side to side, scanning the area. It didn't seem like anything but a jungle. If this was a level, there had to be something he was supposed to figure out. Maybe he was supposed to find something. Perhaps a key, like he had needed for the doors. He wasn't sure where to start, but he knew he had to find the key, after all it had to be somewhere in this place, but this was a jungle, it could go on for ages. He swallowed a deep gulp of fear as he pranced further inwards, towards an unlikely danger. At first it didn't seem like there was anything in this jungle other than an endless amount of trees, and it felt like no matter how deep he went into it, it just went on and on. The trees almost felt like they were getting closer, almost as if they were moving. But trees didn't move… or did they? He stood still as he looked from one side to the other. Nothing really seemed to stand out about them, the wood and the leaves reminded him a lot of the trees in the Everfree Forest, but that didn't exactly help calm his fears. He knew the Everfree was shrouded in mystery, it certainly was puzzling. There was no way this forest could be anything like the Everfree though. Shaking slightly, he felt as if the trees were getting closer and closer. Wait, maybe the key was in one of the trees… it could be possible, right? he thought to himself. Maybe the trick of this level was to make you think you were gaining process, only to keep you in an endless circle of trees. With that thought in his mind,as his heart raced rapidly,  he stared up at one of the trees. “Alright, here goes nothing!” he shouted, bolting straight up the tree. He kept climbing until he reached the top, and was able to see over the top of the tree. He looked to the skies above him, seeing birds flying back and forth. There was no sunlight shining down, just a dense cloud cover. That's when he spotted it, he noticed the key, almost seeming like it was suspended in the air. He just had to figure out how to get it. Staring at the clouds, he had a lot of strength, but he couldn't use magic. It would be nice to have Sweetie Belle here right about that, but heck, he wouldn't mind it if Button Mash was here too. He needed someone to be here so he didn't feel so alone, so overwhelmed by what this game was throwing his way. He could try jumping, but if he didn't make the landing correctly, he could end up with a broken leg if not worse. It wasn't like these trees weren't tall, they had to be at least twenty feet up into the sky. He knew he had to get the key, no matter how scary it might seem, if he didn't try, he wouldn't get anywhere. He simply nodded his head, a big grin spreading across his muzzle, as he scratched his forehoof against the top of the tree, getting down into a position to dash, head down, rump up. He kept his eyes open, making sure he knew exactly what he needed to do. He sprinted up and forward towards the key. He just barely caught onto the end of it in the air, it magically appearing in his hooves, and he felt himself falling. Quickly he made an attempt to jump into one of the trees to catch is fall, but he missed the first one by a few split seconds. He didn't give up though, he put the key in his mouth, and lunged towards the next lowest tree, his whole body landing on top of the leaves that covered the top of the tree. He panted heavily, as he lay there for a good few minutes, before wiping his brow, and standing up. He spat out the key and put it in his hoof. He was one step closer to figuring this place out. He had gotten the key, now he just had to find the door. It didn't seem that difficult, but he knew if he went down into the endless trees, the place made him feel as if he would forever be swallowed by the forest all around him, he took a deep gulp as he tried to regain his composure. What should he do? He sat there, trying to think. This jungle was full of danger, but there had to be a way out of here, it couldn’t just go on forever… Deciding quickly, it was better to stay up on top of the trees, he began jumping from tree to tree. It was almost just like the platforms from the previous levels, but this time there was no rope to save him if he missed a jump. Likely the trees weren't nearly as far apart as the platforms. It was actually quite fun to jump from tree to tree. He was starting to gain more confidence again. He could do this, he knew he could. He would find his way out, and show everyone just how talented he was. This was his destiny, and he wasn't about to let the fear of it consume him. No, he was much stronger than that! The birds didn't seem to bother him, though he still kept his gaze on not only where he was heading, but also them. He couldn't afford to not take this seriously, even if it was supposed to be just a game, there was clearly a lot more at stake here. He could only hope that the others weren't having as much trouble. Surely, they had found his room by now and noticed him missing, surely they'd come and find him, right? They wouldn't leave him stranded here… He paused for a moment as he considered the fact they might not have come. If they haven't, he might be stuck here forever… suddenly this game wasn't fun at all. He was really regretting his decision, he felt his hoof slip from the top of the tree as he began spiraling downwards towards the ground. He let out a yelp, as he attempted to catch himself. He drastily tried grabbing a branch, but missed it, he felt like all hope was fading, the further and further he flew towards the ground. This couldn't be the end for him. He lunged as far as he could towards the closest tree and wrapped his hooves around it, the tree helped to slow his fall, but he still ended up on the forest floor with a loud thump. He felt the aching pain in his flank, as he rubbed his hindquarters, standing up. He was alive… he hadn't broken anything. He felt sore, and he limped a bit from the impact for a few minutes until he regained his composure, maybe it might be better for any others not to get stuck in this game. He didn't want to even think about any of them getting hurt, especially Sweetie Belle. Imagining her hurt made him furious. He dashed forward with all the strength he had, practically plowing right by the trees until he finally could see the double doors to the next level in the distance. It felt like a miracle to him once he reached the save crystal and maintained his progress. He wiped the sweat from his brow, and took a deep, steady long breath. The worst was over, right? He ached in places he hadn't known he had, but his ears perked when he heard a low rumbling growl. He immediately stood poised and ready for action. “Who's there, show yourself! I'm not afraid of you,” he spoke boldly. He glared into the vast distance of the forest floor behind him, looking, listening, trying to find where it had been coming from, but then the rumbling happened again, and this time it sounded much closer. There was no way it could have snuck up behind him, but he quickly turned on his hooves, trying to spot the creature. He was going to use his guts to take this thing down! But nothing was there… the rumbling was getting louder, much louder, and he still couldn't find anything in the distance. He was going crazy! He felt like something had to be around him somewhere, but there was nothing there, the only one here was him. He knew that… then where was that noise coming from? Trying to calm his nerves and think straight, he suddenly realized something. He hadn't eaten anything in awhile, not since he entered this place, and since he had been using so much energy, he must be starving. The growling was his own stomach, he felt rather idiotic right about now. He had to get something to eat, but where was he going to find food in a place like this? He continued on through the double doors towards level six, he had no idea what to expect, but if there was one thing he knew, he wasn't going to give up. He knew the Crusaders had never given up, and he had to show he was brave if he wanted to earn their respect, and perhaps even the admiration of the filly he had a huge crush on. Blushing slightly, he shouted,“For Sweetie Belle!” as he entered the next level.