Equestria Lost: Dragons beyond time

by Tythen

The Crimson Greatwyrm: Part 2

Through the tight igneous caverns, the fighting duo turns into corners left and right while keeping their eyes open for any dead-end roads. The two adventurers could not slow down; there was no luxury of wasting time when all odds were stacked against them, especially when the ground shook a few seconds ago.

“How despicable.” Estelle growled out loud, “To think that the noble Flamewyrm would stoop so low by forcing us to play her game to save our home.”

“Not all dragons are quick to make friends and allies. The Greatwyrms and I held trials for worthy humans and royalty as long as I lived. As for humans today, I’ve made my challenge a lot easier for precious diamond snowflakes like you.”

“I cannot think of anything worse than what you’re putting me and the others through!” Estelle retorted,

“Estelle,” Francesca chimed in looking a little disappointed, “I think the original challenge would be fighting her.”

“Correct!!! Would you like to try it? I’ll stop the lava and bring all of you together so we can have a fair fight!”

“I stand corrected. I think the gauntlet is a wonderful challenge for me!!!” Estelle nervously laughed.

“You’re entering the first of three zones. And be warned that the fiends shall come from above because the type of fiends that appear out of thin air is random. I went and caught them on my own. Good luck! I shall check on your other companions.”

“There!” Francesca pointed to a blue-ish mansion-like gate ten metres ahead of them. Its ethereal colour and aristocratic design gave a familiar image to the girls; it was a gate identical to the one that barred them from escaping the golem in the forest.

“Very straightforward.” Estelle deducted, “Defeat the enemies, we get through!”

“Hey!” Francesca jumped in, “Keep in mind the risk of fighting fire with the wind,”

“Thanks for the reminder. I will double my efforts on the offensive and the healing!"

“Get ready! I can hear them falling!”

Red jars and mushrooms fall from the shadows above like rain. The jars land with a solid clang and reveals a thick red oozing liquid with pupil-less sclera inside each and every one of them. The shrooms bounce up and down, spinning comically until they came to a stop. Then they hop upright to face their prey.

“Do you know the tactic ‘Hit and Run’? Do it.” Estelle commanded, “Do it.”

“No need to tell me what I already know!” Francesca dashes for the enemies. Any of the slimes and shrooms close to her spinning body were thrown from her combined might of swing and weapon. But the shrooms caught in that attack had only so much as a scratch upon their caps, and the slimes only wobbled on the spot as if the dagger had harmlessly passed through their gelatinous body. Those who got attacked set their attention to their attacker and began to chase down the fleeing merchant.

“Regardless of whether it’s physical or magical attacks, the elemental mana of anyone determines their damage in battle,” Estelle mumbled to herself while watching Francesca dart to and away from the fiends. “And I must admit. If Francesca’s old weapon was made of wood, then surely Flash’s stick would have dealt some damage back then! Maybe it’s the mana Flash lacks that got him injured... and useless. If that’s the case, how can we rectify that?”

“Hey! Estelle! Have you forgotten what we did in the Forest!?” Francesca yelled as the entire group of fiends barrel towards her like a train.

“Sorry!” Estelle responded. She grabs her Loving Hand and holds it to her hip with the hand pointing at the horde; charged with the Preacher’s Mana. “Take this!!!” She taunts and fires a barrage of light orbs (at a very slow fire rate) that peppers the horde. The fiends’ reaction of pain and instability from the orbs’ sanctifying pain instantly proves to Estelle the importance of the Elemental match-up.

“Keep at it, Francesca!” Estelle cheered as her orbs of light turn a few of the fiends into black dust. “You’re doing great!”

“How are the four of you?” The Flamewyrm’s voice slithers through the runners’ ears.

The laid-back farmer, the child-like teen, the suddenly-confident fool, and the Belle Healer said nothing back as they rushed down what seemed to be an endless tunnel with corners and crossroads similar to what the preacher and merchant went through.

“Silent I see, no matter. As this is a lethal obstacle course, I have only one teensy thing to say, be careful of your surroundings.”

“Ms Cleo?” Flash growled while showing no signs of slowing down. “What type of ‘lethal’ traps does the volcano contain?”

“Small fire geysers for one.” Cleo answered with a deep breath, “They can leave any person burning if they ever get close… Speaking of, we’ll see some right when we turn the corner!”

True to her word, the team turns into a long runway covered with glowing and steaming Xs of red and yellow and immediately halt. Each of the X-shaped geysers is scattered all over, some in the middle of spouting out the fiercest of fires.

“Ooh!” Sweetie pointed a finger, “I can see a pathway that avoids the geysers completely!”

“Good eye,” Flash complimented as he follows the tiny finger tracing a meandering rocky path; a safe passage between all the violent flame-throwing geysers.

“But remember, we’re fightin’ against time here,” Big Mac reminded. “This runway’s ‘bout two-hundred metres long, and a majority of the safe path don’t provide a quick route through. We’d lose valuable time if we slither through the safe zone.”

“Assuming that the geysers are safe when they’re not active.” Flash theorises, just as the floor begins to rumble “Think you guys can handle going in and out of danger while controlling your emotions? Namely, fear?”

“What about you?” Sweetie asked, “You sound a bit mad and agitated for your last sentence. Was that tremor a bit triggering to you?”

“I’ll be fine,” Flash grunted, “I can handle things a little better when I’m a teensy bit on the angry side.”

“That is a recipe for disaster.” Cleo disagreed, “How about some further information? These geysers have their own times to spray and stop and yes, they are harmless when they’re not active. However, they will always give a signal before they erupt. Allow me to demonstrate with the one in front of you.”

The teenagers focused their eyes on a geyser in front of them. Its x-shaped crack calmly churned the red, orange and yellow terrors underneath. Cleo nonchalantly marched forward and placed both her feet and entire body on the dormant geyser.

“Woah!” Big Mac jumped,

“Eeep!” Sweetie Belle shook,

Flash just blinked two times.

“See?” Cleo twirled around, with her dress and pigtails flying as she did so, “No harm. However…” As she stepped out, a ball of fire began to inflate straight from the middle for the first two seconds. The third second enabled the ball to burst and release a small jet of flame that burned and roared like its similar counterparts afar.

“It looks like a Bunsen Burner. Sounds like one too.” Big Mac examined, “Though big, natural, and probably forbidden in classes.”

“Aside from seeing the geyser about to eject, you’ll also feel the heat underneath your shoe,” Cleo concluded as the fire geyser ceased spouting. “Is that all you need to know about them?”

“Sounds good to me,” Flash responded, “When we run, we keep an eye on the geysers we step on. Is that alright with all of you?” Big Mac, Sweetie and Cleo looked at each other and smiled,

“First time you’ve ever been helpful.” Sweetie giggled. Flash smiled back and gave a bow.

“Then after you!” He gestured, “Since you’re so confident, I insist! Quickly if I may add. I fear that the demonstration has just cost us another minute!”

“Fine! Through the fire and flames!” She yelled and launched off into the geyser field.

“Ah’m feelin’ some Déjà vu here…” Big Mac gulped and ran after her.

“Go ahead, Ms Cleo.” Flash gestured again, “I’ll take the end of the line.”

“If you insist.” Cleo shrugged and dashed off.

“Alright. Check your footing, but keep an eye on others too!” Flash mumbled to himself. “Let’s get running!”

Sweetie Belle takes the front of the pack as she flashes a smile full of cockiness but determination. Her small effervescent body turns the little bubbly girl into a crystal-clear entity of grace amid the geyser field. Her arms and legs ebb and flow to create a rapid but smooth current across every rocky ground or sleeping geysers. When one of the upcoming geysers roared up into Sweetie's way, she meanders around it with wavy spin. Further ahead, a group of geysers erupted simultaneously creating a nigh-impenetrable wall of fire with only a slim path the width of a gutter. But Sweetie didn't lose her initial confidence and squeezes through every fiery nook and cranny without pausing or stopping the stream of her dance. Finally, she pierces through the last of the walls and stormed forward along the path.

Not a single part of her skin or fabric was tainted by those flames. Such a performance, Sweetie thought, would make her graceful and perfect sister jealous.

Big McIntosh trails behind her with an attitude that belies his usual gentle self. He makes huge and fierce strides while rampaging across the two-hundred-metre field and trampling over every safe rocky floor and risky inactive geysers with his feet. But what of the geysers ready to explode? Along his charging route, he sees one five metres ahead ignite a small little flame. He knew exactly what this particular geyser has awakened. That's when one single thought pops into his mind.

Nope

He grits his teeth and floors his internal accelerator to shoot beyond his current speed. His trampling steps turn into stampeding blasts that can almost shake the ground he stood upon. His strides turn into long leaps as with each leg down, he propels it with a force that it took the rest of his body briefly off the ground like a jet in the air. His strength and determination combined are as vigorous the geysers themselves. It was this equalization that brought Big Mac to challenge the uncontainable geyser head-on... And left it erupting behind his back.

He overwhelmed that geyser's surge and many others who had dared to catch him after that. A young teenager nearing adulthood. A man who was known to be gentle and humble, only to reveal an empyreal spirit in the face of danger.

Cleo was the next-in-line of braving the field, and she does so with a sharp gaze.

Every geyser on the infested field exploded and roared with very little chance to predict. Such an intimidating sight would strike fear into any human or sylvan who would pass by, causing them to turn and run. Everyone, by instinct, would choose the path that would not risk their very lives, and shy away from anything that would steal them from their place of comfort.

But Cleo was not like any of them. She, regardless if it was her own will, has lived through many times of comfort, times of victory, and especially times of pain, loss and suffering. These events have built her heart and soul to be fearless against the disasters of nature. There had been nothing new in traversing Mount Adolla back then, and certainly nothing new now. The geysers' attempts to intimidate the Belle Healer were only tiny embers that flickered and fizzled in the endless abyss of Cleo's focus.

Cleo quietly but swiftly pounces from one inactive geyser to another; sometimes she stops on the slithering rock path for a small break. When some of the geysers decide to act instead of intimidating, they find that their target has already vanished above their heads.

For a healer, she was a thief in the dark, and no force of nature could ever hope to catch her.

And jogging in last is none other than Flash Sentry. Willingly choosing the tail end, he keeps a watchful eye over the others ahead of him, and where they tread. But judging from how they moved and how close they were to the finish, he chuckled and smiled in relief. He came to rest at the rocky path and scanned the remainder of the track. It's his turn to make a move. How will he be able to get across?

"Boom!" Sweetie exclaimed as she landed on the other side with a splash.

"Phew!" Big Mac ripped through from behind and slowed down to a simmer.

"Made it," Cleo had revealed herself to the first two with an exhale. She had stealthily made her way through the fire and flames and past the imaginary white line.

"And we're all unharmed! Wooo!!!" Sweetie cheered and jumped. "Great work everyone!"

"Heh..." Big Mac gave a calm smile, "Clashin' with death ain't so bad after all."

"I wouldn't be so complacent with it." Cleo suggested, "Regardless, I'm glad to see you all alive and unscathed."

"Thanks, Ms Cleo," Flash responded, "When you're with us, we feel encouraged to brave the riskiest of challenges and trials."

"Muh?" The three blinked and turned to the Spiky-haired boy. He was standing between them and the remainder of the course.

"What's with the puzzled faces?" Flash raised an eyebrow,

"How... How did you?" Sweetie started speaking, "I heard you say you'll be last to go!"

"Which I did." Flash nodded truthfully,

"But judging by where you're standin'..." Big Mac pictured, "It looks like you've ended up as the first to get across!"

"It appears I have." Flash looked around and nodded in agreement.

"So in that case, it means you've overtaken us!" Cleo continued, "But we never saw you in front! How!?"

"Well..." Flash gave a look of thought, "My Bojutsu teacher always told me to be a torch that would illuminate the perilous road. If I do that, then no adversity in neither battle nor race will be difficult. To follow that up, I took a small example from the Goddess' book to 'Be Still, and know that I am Goddess' (at least the 'Be Still' part). You know, like the devout, strict, disciplined and rigid killjoy I am."

"The words that you used are sooo not like you." Sweetie responded, "Except for the killjoy part. People seem to cringe whenever you walk into their sight. Not that I'd agree with them."

"May Goddess bless you." Flash scratched his unsmiling face.

"But... You did act cowardly a moments ago." Sweetie changed her mind. "You should be embarrassed!"

"We are dealing with a DRAGON in an ACTIVE VOLCANO. How can I not be scared, temporarily, that I act bravely or rationally? I say 'temporarily' because... I just remembered how I got across those geysers."

As Flash continues his scanning, the words of his teacher and religious text comes to mind. To focus, he shifted all his energy and soul to his sense of sight. He skims his eyes across the remainder of his geyser-occupied path once more, then closed his eyes in focus and prayer.

Now with a mind of clarity and a steadfast heart. He opens his eyes to face the field. Multiple rays of yellow burst from where he stands and stops at the end of the road. Some of them went in a zig-zag pattern, others went straight forward without any turns. He traces each line and inspects where it will lead, and where it will turn when in danger. The first line he examined, he shook his head, and the line disappears like a light turned off.

One-by-one, the lines exit at the command of Flash's disapproval, and at a very fast pace. Then he pauses at one particular line and traces it with great caution. Unlike the ones before, the boy nodded in approval. The lines after it vanish in the place of the approved one. The judgement has been made. This is the absolute route for the best time and survival. Clearing his mind, a silent prayer of thanks, and one deep breath; He fires off.

Flash zips through across the guiding light with a scintillating balance of strength, agility and reaction. He bolts and zig-zags around every raging geyser firing off, and devotes all that he has learned to run on the way of truth and life. He always believes that alongside his training and actions that it also involves the inner drive and faith. At times that he would doubt himself, his abilities, he'd remember that he has faith in someone watching from above, who had faith in him. And yet, there was a new hidden power to his training and actions that enables him impulsively surge past the runners who went first. Something that he was unaware of.

Everything was planned. The geysers had no chance to blackout Flash's plans. And yet, the revelation of his finishing position was indescribable for the boy himself.

"I've got the reflection fresh in my mind," Flash responded as the floor shakes again, "But I think we should keep on moving. Is that alright if I tell you later?"

The other three nodded,

"We'll hold you to that," Cleo answered, and the four continued dashing forward, the first segment completed.

"Damn!" Francesca plunges her dagger through the remaining shroom and pulls it from its deteriorating corpse. "We took two valuable minutes for this verse,"

"We need to rethink our strategy for whatever comes next," Estelle responded. She grabs Francesca's hand and together they dash towards the path once obstructed by the blue gate, now gone like the vanquished enemies.

"What have you learned Preacher?" Francesca asked as they turn to the right.

"An extremely short and easy time if you face enemies using their elemental weakness. But that also goes vice versa if you face enemies whose element is your weakness! Surely you could use an attack with more power?" Estelle replied as they turn to the left.

"Now that I think about it... I could use my skills more often instead of reserving it for the big boss," Francesca suggested, "Your mana and weapon work as one. When you hit the enemies with your attacks, it charges your power needed to execute your skills. Once your skills are topped up, you can't pile up that energy further until you use your skills."

"Interesting! It's a good thing you remembered such a valuable piece of information at a time like this!"

"I'm not so sure if the same goes for you though," Francesca countered, "You're the healer. I think it's best if you save your healing skills for when we're almost down for the count,"

"By that logic, you're quite right! It appears I have a lot more to learn about Grastaea and its magic," Estelle humbly agreed.

"I've done some meditating and extending my mana limits a few days ago when the four of you weren't around and learned a new skill. This one takes a little more to charge than Peregrine Blade, but I can feel it's almost ready at the moment. Probably a few more enemies to hit or slay,"

"Just don't overextend yourself," Estelle warned, "I can heal you, but I can't bring you back to your feet if you go down."

"You may have a lot to learn, but you're doing it quickly! Here we are; the second 'zone'," Francesca introduced and they stopped on a large square area. Like before, another gate similar in design stood tall and the sound of falling and screeching voices can be heard above.

"That screeching..." She perceived, "Goblins."

Four stumpy grotesque creatures land around the girls, trapping them in the middle. Red in colour, claws on their fingers and toes, a battle tunic on their torso, spiny pad armour on their knees, shoulders, and elbows, a warrior's helm designed and fitted for their heads, and a vicious mace in their hands. The four goblins rear their heads and chant their battle cry; a horrid and grating wail that throws their human and sylvan foe in disarray.

"I see they like to fight dirty," Estelle winced, "Then we shall hold nothing back!"

"Wait!" Francesca stopped, "I can still hear more!"

Two extra goblins fall from the darkness above, one on each end of the square floor. Unlike their armoured brethren, these goblins are dressed from head to toe in red robes, three pairs of earrings, and topped with a cowl with mystical patterns. Their choice of weapon? It's a wooden staff with a gem on its top.

"Now this fiend's new," Francesca analysed,

"A goblin that casts magic?" Estelle guessed, "It definitely sounds and looks like a new foe."

"Well yes, but no. They are called Gobmancers, but these ones don't dress the part, nor are they holding the right weapons."

"You've certainly done your homework! Allow me to answer. These types of goblins are known as Gobhealers; so I'm sure you know what they do. The flame variant of this demihuman is pretty hard to find. I hoped to catch four of them but alas. Consider yourselves lucky."

"Hey, why are you helping us?" Estelle demanded, "Do you want to kill us or--"

The flame goblins shriek their battle cry, intruding the conversation.

"Do any of you have manners!?" Estelle turned to the goblins "It is rude to interrupt a conversation with painful and unrelated babbling! This calls for some punishment... And I'll start with you!" She charges towards a goblin with The Loving Hand, with the golden palm shining brightly, raised above her.

"LOVELESS HAND!!!" Estelle nobly screeched and slams the hand down creating a violent crumbling sound and a burst of dust. When it settled, the goblin was flat as a pancake, armour and all, and the ground it stood on was hammered and cracked.

"Now." Estelle turned to the rest, slapping the Loving Hand on her hand like a teacher would slap a ruler on theirs. "Does anyone dare to join him?"

The remaining goblins growl angrily and leapt towards the preacher, not paying attention to the merchant patiently waiting on their blindsides.

"Right where I want you. Peregrine Blade!" Francesca chanted,

The predatory dagger runs through all the three goblins and sends them crashing into a piled heap, followed by Francesca delivering the final fourth hit to send them flying again.

"There!" Francesca laughed while dancing on the rumbling ground, "That should deal lots more damage! Knock them down Estelle!"

"Understood!" Estelle slings her projectiles.

The bolts from the Loving Hand hit their mark directly, but then came an unexpected, yet familiar-looking green light illuminating the falling goblins. The flying goblins landed flawlessly with delighted squeals.

The girls winced; all their efforts were for nothing and they just remembered why.

"Gobhealers," they responded together.

"Change of plan!" Francesca runs forward again, "Take out the healers! The Loveless Hand of yours could help!"

"I can't. It works like the skills!" Estelle moaned,

"Fine. Stick to orb throwing!" Francesca grouched. "I'll work harder!"

Francesca darts towards a gobhealer in the distance and dealt a mix of stabs and slashes on his robes and skin. Instead of fighting back, the gobhealer retreated away from her while managing to evade the slow but persistent volley of yellow orbs.

"You're rather smart to run!" Francesca complimented, "But let us see how long you can run until I--"

"Be careful!" Estelle yelled,

"Aaargh!!!" Too late to move or listen, a goblin clubs her directly on the temple. Francesca slips over with her head violently pulsing and her body burning all over. Estelle could see a trail of... red leaking down her hair?

"Yes. They are quite smart. Smart enough to use the same tactic we did!" Estelle sighed, "But that's what I'm keeping an eye on! Healing Faith!"

Two green hands sandwich Francesca and interlocked their fingers in prayer. After glowing brightly and disappearing, the merchant jumps up and darts to Estelle's side all treated and mended.

"How do you feel?" Estelle asked,

"My head's still ringing. And my pain sensors are still on overload." Francesca reported with wobbling eyes, "But I could feel the relief on the wounds as well as my mana."

"So you feel lots of pain when getting knocked over by the element you're weak to. Is that right? I don't think I can keep up!"

"Learn later, win now!" Francesca snapped,

"The fiends know their role in a fight, hence the gobhealers retreat if they come close. What if I grab their attention and you sneak up? And don't worry about the normal goblins. They're too slow to catch up." Estelle proposed,

"A fair tactic that I'm willing to risk my life on. I'm counting on you preacher!" Francesca saluted and launches off. Estelle nodded and followed behind.

Estelle dived forward, slipping by the mace-wielding goblins, confronting her target. The fiend's eyes squint in suspicion, the girl's weapon is similar to his! So how did it perform a melee attack? This enemy is confusing...

"Caught you hesitating..." Francesca whispered in the Gobhealer's ear. Estelle and Francesca launched their ambush attack and held nothing back. Even if the fiend's nature to Flame would weaken Francesca's strikes, it could not change Estelle's. He could not heal himself after healing the goblins and could not get away in time. There was nothing left of him when the girls relented their assault; merely a mix of small green lights and coins. Two fiends down, four fiends remain.

"I'll deal with the goblins!" Estelle commanded, "Go defeat that healer!"

"Well someone's acting brave!" Francesca teased, "But be my guest. Have fun!!!"

"I'm going to teach you a lesson you won't soon forget! Yaah!!!" Estelle taunted. Shaking the Loving Hand at the three goblins releases the slow volley of orbs likes before. After a few hits or so, the mace-wielding goblins decide to club this annoying preacher instead of the merchant. Observing their behaviour, Estelle retreats from the agitated goblins until there was enough distance to shoot some orbs, then rinse and repeat once they get dangerously close.

Francesca, in the shadows, lunges forward at the lone gobhealer. The Gobhealer decides to fire a few vile orbs of energy and Francesca responded with rolling away from them. Surprisingly, Francesca took one of them straight in the face, but she charges on, right into his space.

"Nice try!" Francesca sneered, "But you should have retreated, idiot. Now fall!" And with that, Francesca slices the healer to dust with style.

"Francescaaaaaaa!" Estelle jogged towards her, with the horde chasing after her. "These grotesque goblins somehow got faster!"

"I can't do everything Est." Francesca rolls her eyes with a shrug that screams 'not my problem'. "Set them up. Use your newly-learned Force Strike or something!"

"Oh! I actually forgot about that!" Estelle remembered, "Keep watch!"

Estelle turns with a sharp right away from Francesca and ran harder and further before coming to a halt. Turning around, she stands tall, lifts her head, tenses her muscles and drives every bit of energy into her lungs until she could feel that tingling sensation build up.

"Huuuhhhahhh!!!" Estelle thrust the Hand forward with a high-pitched grunt, right in front of a goblin. The terrifying yellow beam bursts forth and skewers the goblins at different parts of their bodies and held them in place while delivery immense amounts of divine pain. Had Estelle not put that extra distance during her running

"Now Francesca!" Estelle yelled, "Get them!"

"Perfect call!" Francesca grinned deviously and rushed up from behind, "Take my second skill! Windwhistler!"

Two sharp whistles echoed throughout the cave, and with each whistle appears a wide deep gash in the goblins torso. It was too late for the goblins to realise what had happened and fizzled away into black dust all at once. The area is clear of enemies, and the blue gate fades from their view. With an approving nod, the girls continue their sprint, hopefully, with time to spare just after a second rumbling.

"Your judgement calls are shaping up fast!" Francesca confessed, "I'm impressed!"

"That's awfully nice of you. Perhaps I should practice that Force Strike more often, as with many other things. Speaking of which. Windwhistler?"

"Pretty cool huh?" Francesca winked while spinning her dagger around. "Two dagger slashes with a heavy dose of force and speed that it makes a whistling sound!"

"Amazing. It would motivate me to learn my second skill quickly!"

"Not enough time for that though," Francesca reminded, "We need to reach the final zone quickly. Speaking of which, I'm sure the running trial is a cakewalk compared to the fighting trial."

Meanwhile, a large boulder rolls down a path with a care-free attitude. It never notices that its round body covers up the entire path and anyone who gets in its way would be crushed. Then again, a boulder never speaks for itself, it only does what it does when something or someone is strong or smart enough to force it to. Four tiny bipeds just so happen to stumble on its path without the strength to stop it. They now have no choice but to flee forward down the winding path... Or end up like paper with ketchup and salt.

"Aaaahhh!!! I did not sign up for a Daring Do experience!!!" Sweetie yelled,

"Is it rotten luck that we have no space to dodge it!?" Big Mac yelled,

"No... Every path with rolling boulders is like this!!!" Cleo apologised,

"Brunhilda! How cruel can you get!? Forcing visitors to run for their lives just to get to you!" Flash yelled,

Barely escaping the rolling boulder, they enter a path filled with between large curved bones with sharp ends protruding out from the ground or the walls.

"Dragons have some impressive ribcages!" Flash admired. Even he couldn't help show interest at something new when angry.

"Didn't you say they were immortal though?" Sweetie asked,

"I also said they weren't invincible. This large dragon perished through fatal wounds, deep within those caves. As the volcano began to develop, it took their remains as part of its design." Cleo explained,

"I wonder what they feel like..." Sweetie gradually approaches one.

"Don't!" Cleo yelled out, "Those bones are incredibly flimsy and weak! If you just get close to them, they'll topple over on you!"

Sweetie immediately stopped. The bone, on the other hand, rattles and shakes until it snaps in two. The top part falls on the ground and slams into a million pieces with a nasty crunch... Just a door's length away from the young girl.

"That was a close call." Cleo sighed in relief, "But I hate to say this. The bones you see up ahead? They have the same condition."

"... Oh, bother." Big Mac moaned in a dignified way.

"We could use the fishing rod tactic. One of us could bait the bones, then get reeled out before it falls. But now that I think about it..." Flash looked at the road of bones, "We can't afford that time after going down a path with a boulder on our tails. Can't believe that took about two minutes."

"We got seven minutes left, with no idea how far we are from the dragon's skull."

"Oh dear, I feel rotten for leaving you in the dark!"

"I beg your pardon?" Flash looked around again,

"I shall shed some light on the situation, as well as some apologies." Brunhilda announced, "First off, I mentioned Dragon Bones being the goal, but I wasn't specific. The skull of the Dragon is your goal, so you have my apologies. Given where you are, however, you are pretty much halfway there! If you survive the falling bones, there is one last obstacle course between you and your destination! But this one will be incredibly long and dangerous than what you faced so far. Good luck!!!"

"Hey Mac, do you remember running across the geysers?" Flash nudged,

"Course," Big Mac responded,

"You could do the same for the toppling bones. Charge on through without fear."

"Only because Ah knew how the geysers work. Not the bones though."

"If you keep an eye on the bones, you can tend to predict where and when they'll topple, but only once you get as close as Sweetie has. When you do, well... You have to make some quick decision thinking then and there. I know some people would hit the brakes and try to back up. Sad to say that they're the ones that got hit."

"And who are the ones that don't?" Flash inquired,

"Those who, as you say, bait them to fall, or run under them before they could fall."

"So charge on through without fear. Now ah feel confident." Big Mac smiled,

"Be careful though. Even if you may zoom past some, there are more strung along sharp corners or tight pathways. Be careful if you slow down, or at least turn the corners."

"No worries. Ah can do this!"

"You can do this Mac!!! Go! Go! Go!" Sweetie jumped and cheered,

"Remember what I can do if you mess up. And also remember that I can only do it once in our current situation." Cleo reminded,

"We'll follow behind. I have faith in you." Flash added,

"No sweat," Big Mac grinned, tilting his head and stretching his legs, "Here ah go!"

Big Mac pushes off with a mighty start and powers on like a fireball. Focusing heavily on the path ahead of him, he lunges forward with large stomps as he slips past the carnage of large bones shattering onto the igneous surface.

Then he finds the cave leaning heavily to the right, filled with just as much of those flimsy bones waiting to fall. He knew that to make a safe turn, he would have to slow down; That can't happen, or he will end up underneath a falling one. He veers to the left then slams his balance to the far right. Those following behind would have described what they witnessed as a bullet on fire turning a very narrow corner without even scraping the cavern walls. Where the route leads, Big Mac was uncatchable, burning through all the falling bones without a single graze from beginning to the end.

Big Mac roars as he skids into a halt. He looks at his body; not a single wound. Just dust that merely caught on his clothes. Feeling victorious, he looks behind to capture the dusty carnage that transpired behind him. Hopefully, his friends had come out unscathed too. To his surprise, the three of them jogged out of the dust devil with no wounds of their own.

"My greatest thanks for taking the danger." Flash nodded,

"Aww come on, ya didn't go through the danger?" Big Mac grumbled,

"Sorry, I should have told you that unlike geysers, these types of 'traps' aren't infinite."

"Don't worry! We really love that you cleared the path for us!" Sweetie comforted,

"That's okay," Big Mac chuckled, "At least you can easily catch up! Now that ah feel it. This lil' leg of the race took less than a minute!"

The ground shakes and rumbles, and Big Mac's face turned from cheery to gloomy.

"Not cool Mac," Flash and Sweetie groaned, shaking their heads.

"Let's keep going," Cleo suggested, "We only have one final part to clear,"

"Congratulations!!!" Brunhilda applauded, "You are now out of the Volcanic caverns, and into the Crater, where your final leg of your trial awaits! And be warned. What I have in store for you has pain guaranteed to the runners! As for the fighters, even worse!"

"Thanks for recognising our guaranteed pain for the past zones," Francesca mumbled,

"Oh, Goddess!!!" Estelle shrieked, "I can see the lava so close to us now!!! I can feel its heat... We're going to die!"

"Let me help you with a number. The lava is 30 metres away from you."

"Like we needed that!"

"Don't stop running girls, because the path I directed you through is the path to--"

"The... Was it seriously that close!?" Estelle slowed down. Across a ten yard bridge lays a giant head devoid of everything but grey and charred bone. Noticing the horns on its head and one on its nose, and the shape of the face, the girls have found themselves facing a Dragon's skull, with a large black chain wrapped around its maw.

"Then what are we waiting for!? Let's go!" Francesca laughed and rushes ahead.

"Not so fast. Did you recall me mentioning a third zone?"

"Yes?" Estelle asked,

"You have only completed two zones. You've still got one more, and it happens right in front of the dragon's skull."

"Then bring it!" Francesca taunts as the two arrive. "What's the last pathetic challenge?"

"Just one pathetic enemy. Do you remember the time when two of you tried to get in the Windwyrm's Den?"

"A fight with another golem fiend." Estelle threw up her arms, "That's it. I'm done with this."

"Throwing in the towel does NOT suit an ally of the Prince. I assure you, this one is easy. One, it's not the hefty golem you remember, and two, I made sure that this one wasn't those 'menaces'. It'd be quite unfair given how disadvantaged you already are. Meet... the Igneous Golem!"

The Igneous golem landed firmly on his two rocky legs and given his size, created a giant shockwave that launched the girls a little into the air. Unlike the golem in the forest, his pupilless eyes and face is part of his main body instead of having a head and neck, and on the top of it, a small mini volcano surrounded by what looks to be a stone-edged crown. The golem roars at the girls, displaying the contents of his toothless and tongueless mouth; nothing but completely soft and molten palates. As for the arms and legs, there were many mini trails of magma connecting all the limbs together despite piled up with rocks of different sizes and shapes. The magma trails also have flowed over the golem's hands and knuckles, if any human gets touched by that, the consequence is obvious.

"Easy my flank!" Francesca roared, "Everything has always been a disadvantage to me!"

"Certainly you have other adventurers that you can use back in the Halidom? Presumably, someone who isn't weak in a Flamefight? Even the Timid Preacher could beat him single-handedly!"

"I can't do anything about it you know. We've been trying to put food on the table that we can't prioritise finding Wyrmite!"

"Listen, I'd love to talk more, but you need to fight this abomination before it kills you. I can't tell it to stop you know."

The golem roars once more and lurches forward.

"Here we go again." Estelle sighed.

Around the same time, from another exit. The running team was met with an uncomfortable heatwave, and they were certain on where it's coming from.

"30 metres doesn't seem that bad." Sweetie peered at the rising lake of magma, "Basically 15 doors long!"

"I'm getting dizzy here." Flash groaned, "And my body feels like it's ready to sweat."

"Mah's skin's gettin' itchy as well," Big Mac grumbled, scratching himself. "And ah feel sick in the stomach."

"Then it seems the Flame Mana is overwhelming the three of you." Cleo concluded, "We must hurry."

"Check it out! There's the goal!" Sweetie changed her attention,

"One Dragon skull in the distance. Check." Big Mac confirmed with his eyes, "We're actually going to do this! Not like we had problems in the first two legs anyway."

"Be honest. None of you would survive if I wasn't around." Cleo gave her trademark glare. "One mistake from you and it's straight to Hell or whatever you believe in."

"Hang on. There's some commotion at the skull." Flash looked harder.

"That would be your fighting friends. Busy with an Igneous Golem."

"Igneous Golem? A Golem with the Flame element?" Big Mac asked,

"Correct!"

A sudden wave of terror crashes into their consciousness.

"If you don't want them to die, you'd better join up with them. The remainder of this path leads you right to them! That is if you can get there alive..."

"The third leg," Big Mac pointed in front of them.

It is a very narrow road filled with ten sharp hairpins with eleven straight paths, each about seventy-five metres long, connecting them as one long snake. But it isn't how crazy long the final stretch was. The geysers, the boulders, and the sharp bones have made a vengeful return.

"What better danger is there than using the previous obstacles in one segment? Time for your review test!"

"Brunhilda, you SUCK!!!" Sweetie insulted,

"And you sound like the Prince's Faerie Companion. She's a sassy pain in the rear." Brunhilda retorted, "Excepting the line you'll start at, each of the lines has a certain trap into it. Line 1, 5, and 9 contain the geysers; 2, 6 and 7 are the boulders; and lines 3, 4, and 8, the bones. As for the last line, please wait a moment..."

Three goblins with robes, a staff on one hand, and a crystal orb on the other are dropped onto the mentioned final line.

"These fiends will motivate you!"

"Ms Cleo? What are those?" The three turned to the sylvan.

"Gobmancers." Cleo responded, "They like to strike from a distance. Sometimes they cast fireballs or an explosion on wherever its enemy is standing."

"How very organised. It sounds fun, but we still need to push through in time." Flash stretched his limbs, "Or else..."

"Mark my words Flash. We will get through this alive, and we will save everyone in Canterlot."

"Hmph," Flash snorted.

Back at the fight, Francesca launches a flurry of daggers directly towards the golems' front as Estelle supported her with unrelenting firepower. The Igneous Golem lurches forward and slams his fists down, but Francesca nimbly rolled out of the shockwave and hopped on the fiend's rocky arms.

"Be careful you don't touch the magma on its back!" Estelle warned,

"Just stick to firing your balls and beams," Francesca grouched, "And heal me if I get banged up! Now for my next trick..." With her dagger, she stabs the Golem's top repeatedly and violently while keeping a firm grip on a rock with her other hand. To the fiend, everything felt like itchy mosquito bites and tiny bits of hail. But it was definitely concerned about the bloodsucker sucking away its health bit by bit.

"I'll turn up the power!" Estelle alerted. With that, she ceases her regular staff attacks and changes into launching force-charged beams, which pierced into the golem's body, though unable to skewer him through. The girls' creative attacks are bringing forth a decent stream of damage without getting hurt, but the golem remained unflinching.

"Just how tough is this thing!?" Francesca moaned,

"If this golem won't feel pain, then we will just have to hit harder!!!" Estelle growled. "And I've got a good example ready to go!" With a tight grip, Estelle's Loving Hand begins to shine once more as the preacher advances.

"About time!" Francesca laughed, "Looks like its challenge completed for us!"

"You'll never be prepared 'fore' this! The LOVELESS HAND!" Estelle commanded and whacked the golem into the air like a golf-ball, just as Francesca hops off safely. The two girls watch the golem fly through the air in a comedic way, then ungracefully drops into magma with a big splash.

"Lava hazard." Francesca golf clapped, "Impressive."

"I agree!" Brunhilda chimed in, "But, you might want to take another look again."

As the splash died down, the Golem reveals himself to be floating on the lava with his arms (and presumably legs); dripping all over in magma, but completely unfazed by it, much to the girls' jaw-dropping horror and fear.

"Launching giant fiends to their deaths is a truly effective strategy." Brunhilda explained, "At the same time, there are ways where it can be ineffective as proven by yours truly. Good thing this fiend is drawn to hit you with his own strength. Otherwise, it would just stay there and attack you from a distance. Especially when--"

The volcano shakes once again, interrupting the Flamewyrm's speech.

"--that happens. You'd better start pelting it with attacks or else you'll be swimming in lava too! Oh wait, I forgot. You'd burn the moment you touch the lava."

"This is bad," Estelle panicked. First seeing the Lava rise five meters higher, then at the Igneous Golem swimming towards them. "This is really bad!"

"Then do something!" Francesca harshly repeated, "You attack at a distance. Fire some beams at it!"

"R-Right!" Estelle nodded.

"Oh, Goddess! I'm starting to feel the heat now!" Sweetie moaned as a new geyser, one whose shape covers the width of the path, calms down. "And I'm not talking about these geysers! I'm talking about the lava here!"

"No kidding. We're really running out of time here." Flash responded while keeping watch of everything possible. "Mac! Duck!" He yells.

Big McIntosh ducks; just in time from a scorching fireball aimed at his head.

"Thanks, pardner!" Big Mac gave a thumbs up and reached the hairpin leading to line 2 - the line of boulders falling from above rolling into the liquid magma below.

"Sweetie Belle, Big Mac, you two go on ahead." Flash ordered as he and rest catch up, "You go with Ms Cleo."

"Like before? What do you have in mind now?" Cleo inquired,

"Can any of you multitask?"

"Checking social media while eating dinner? I can do better than that!"

"First of all, that's really bad table manners, Mum and Dad would kill me if I did that. And second, what about watching the obstacles and the fiends up ahead?"

"Ooh." Sweetie bit her lips, "That's a different story,"

"Exactly. That's why I suggest I slow down and watch the Gobmancers, while you guys focus on the obstacles ahead."

"What about you then? You'll have to go through the same things too." Big Mac countered,

"I don't have to move around to dodge geysers and bones. Moreover, those Gobmancers tend to aim their shots at targets who are closer."

"You are quite a strategist Flash," Cleo complimented, "Perceptive of your enemies, and a spotter for your allies."

"I will make sure that all of us will face Brunhilda together," Flash vowed,

"Understood then. There's no need to tell me what my role is," Cleo nodded, "But don't be afraid to call out if you're injured."

"Thanks, I will." Flash nodded with a warm smile as he stood up and cheered. "Alright, guys and girls! Let's hit it!"

The three runners advance rapidly through the first three lines; they dodge the geysers, outrun the boulders, and navigated the falling bones with caution. However, they made sure that they are aware of the space around where they walk and kept their ears open for their spotter's warnings.

"Heads up Ms Cleo!" Flash called out. Cleo rolls forward, away from the Gobmancer's fireball and continued running.

"Fireball heading your way Mac, at a slow speed. Just find a spot that you're not currently standing on." Flash continued. Big Mac responds with a smile as he waits for a bone to drop and break, then carries on through with the slow fireball missing its farmer by a considerable metre. Him, Sweetie Belle and Cleo decided to wait at the hairpin to line 4 and signalled for Flash to join them, and he did. Unsurprisingly, he had no problems with the first three lines of traps (and that line 3 traps can't be reused).

"Lines 4-6 - Bones, Geysers, Boulders," Flash announced, looking very confident. "Same trick as before?"

"Eeyup. Sure." Went Big Mac and Cleo respectively.

"May I do the bone baiting?" Sweetie asked, "I know what to do."

"Would Rarity mind?" Flash asked,

"Nah. She's better off focusing on fighting," Sweetie stuck her tongue out,

"Sure," Flash chuckled,

"Yay!" Sweetie jumped for joy and ran up,

"I'll follow behind her just in case," Flash spoke, "You think you guys can do the spotting?"

"Ah'll volunteer," Big Mac responded, "Ah reckon ah get the easy job after bein' the first to run the bone field,"

"Thanks." Flash gestured, "But hey, do NOT take spotting as 'an easy job'. Almost everything can kill here, you're making sure that doesn't happen!"

"Woah." Big Mac raised his hands, "Okay. A-Ah got it. I won't be complacent."

Flash nodded gently in response, then tailed Sweetie. Through the falling sharp bones, she flows on through. She switches between diving forward or ebbing backwards to avoid the bones.

"Head down and yer feet movin'!" Big Mac alerted, "They've opened fire!"

And she heeds the farmer's warnings, though, given the type of trap, she could spare the time and look at those firing. She giggles. Two of them were aiming straight for her, while the third's trajectory would end up hitting the bone. 'What shoddy aim!' She thought as she splashes past the bone with a laugh.

"WATCH OUT!!!" Big Mac roared.

"What?" Sweetie spun around in confusion.

Then it struck her, the bone she had just past was falling towards HER. The third fireball that struck the bone changed the falling piece's direction, and no one anticipated such a possibility. Big Mac's message came too late, and Sweetie was unable to move from the falling bone. And yet some blur tackles her just out of the way... replacing her as its victim.

Big Mac, Cleo, and Sweetie Belle hear the nasty crack once again, horrified that the cracking could be more than just the bone. From looking around, Sweetie deduces her saviour from that unexpected trap, was neither Big McIntosh nor Ms Cleo. It was him. The dust settles to reveal Flash Sentry lying head down, filthy, and lifeless.

"NO!" The three runners yelled in unison. Seeing their friend and ally like this, the farmer and the healer rushes to Sweetie's side,

"We need to carry him to a safe spot." Cleo warned, "Not only will those bones hurt people but stun them too."

"Thank the Goddess..." Big Mac sighed, "He's still got a pulse."

"Flash... Goddess... no..." Sweetie spoke, though with a complete loss for words.

"Sweetie, Flash will be fine." Cleo comforted, "Right now, you need to clear the rest of the line."

"But... Wait... Can't you heal him?" Sweetie stammered,

"I can. But as I said, it's only the--"

"Do it." Sweetie interrupted, getting her speech back, "We'll be fine."

"Agreed." Big Mac nodded, "He promised to get us through alive. We're holding him to it."

"You're right. In that case..."

"I know." Sweetie stood up, "I'll clear the path... And thank you."

Cleo nodded. This sense of acknowledgement seems to put the two at a deep understanding, something that can't even be interrupted by the mountain shaking.

"I wish I could help," Estelle sighed, "I really do! But my staff orbs and force strikes aren't making a single dent in him!"

"Don't be-- so pessi--mistic!" Francesca growled while dodging the Golem's fist, "Every shot counts to build up your more reliable healing (and lethal) skills!"

"Th-That's true..." Estelle spoke reluctantly,

"Here it comes! Its arms are in the air!" Francesca warned. Slamming his fists down again, the Golem watches Francesca nimbly rolling away once again. He recognised this pattern, however, and quickly retracted his arms. The moment Francesca realised she was going to hop onto nothing but air, the golem swung his hand and caught her in his grip. He tightens his fist, and the crushing might makes the merchant scream.

"Oh dammit!" Francesca wailed and choked, "This... again,"

"Fight it!" Estelle advanced, "I'll rescue you!" But as she said that, a worry struck her - How can she rescue her? There's not enough energy in her to bring forth the Loveless Hand, and all her other attacks do not faze it; to what extent can she do? Use Estelle's strength as Big Mac pointed out back then?

"Hang tight," Estelle comforted while winding up her fists, "I'm going to get a little physical here."

"Urk..." Francesca groaned in pain, yanking her arms out of the grip, "Just hurry it up... I don't know how long I'm going to be stuck... And this thing is staring at me!"

The Igneous Golem looks carefully at his catch, wondering what he should do. Crush it? Smash it? Actually... He feels a little bit weak. A Sylvan snack would do then! He brings Francesca closer and opens his jaws wide. Francesca's eyes widened in the realisation of what this fiend has in store.

"Estelle help!!!" Francesca's screams in panic, "It's going to EAT ME!"

"What!?" Estelle froze a giant look of despair washes over her face. Her window of opportunity has been severely reduced. If she doesn't act now, Francesca... No... Adagio's going to be eaten! And yet... What can she do!? Bringing out Estelle's best won't be enough to save Francesca! There has to be something. Anything!!!

Wait a minute... Anything?

The image of Sunset, Twilight, Pinkie, and all her best friends appeared in her mind, holding out their magical geodes as if they were getting their picture taken.

Of course!!! Magic! How could she have forgotten these weeks!? She used it the first time against those fiends, and it worked! It was only then that once given the powers of Estelle, she adapted instantly on using the essence of the New Alberian adventurers to fight fiends.

But then again... Estelle can't use it as she is, and who knows if her magic could be enough to wring the golem free? And that's not to mention she'd be the most vulnerable. Aside from being exposed to great danger, these clothes would hinder her movement--

"I have no other option!" Rarity snaps out of her worries, "I will save you Adagio! Even if it puts my life at risk... Because that's what friends do!"

"Estelle, what are you--"

"Disengaging!" Estelle chanted, pulling a silver staff out of her heart. Once yanked out, Estelle was enveloped in a body of yellow light. When it was gone, Rarity took Estelle's position, stance, and even her clothes (although very ill-suited)

"I should have taken out that stupid headpiece!" Rarity complained, "It tangled up my hair! Never mind..."

Countless clusters of diamond crystals appear from the air and clumps together in Rarity's palms. It then forms itself into a weighty hammer; one that resembles a legendary hammer in comics.

"I won't let you eat my friends!" Rarity declared and throws the Diamond Hammer aimed at the golem's hand. This time, the Igneous golem reacted to this unexpected attack. Though the hammer shattered on contact, the strike sent a painful resonation throughout the golem and causes him to wail and drop his meal. Rarity captures the falling merchant in a clear cut diamond ball and levitates it away from the golem (with Francesca in tow).

"Are you alright Francesca?" Rarity inquired, releasing the ball.

"Yeah. Still got my dagger," Francesca nodded, dusting herself. "That was a close call. I..."

"Save the thanks and hugs for later." Rarity interrupted, "Tell me, what is the strongest weapon in Grastaea?"

"Hard to choose. What are you looking for?"

"If the Golem is sturdy and hard-plated, I'd like a type of weapon that can be wielded by normal people, and that can tear those traits apart!"

"All the soldiers and adventurers of New Alberia use one of eight weapons when in combat: Sword, Blade, Dagger, Axe, Lance, Bow, Wand, and Staff."

"I like the sound of the axe,"

"Slow but heavy. Sure you're up for that? Given that you're not wearing the right attire?"

"The only article of clothing that fits me is her slipper-like shoes. I regret calling them boots earlier. I can make do with these wrong sizes for now." Rarity picks up the Loving Hand, "Please forgive me, Estelle. I know the Loving Hand is not intended to hurt others, but allow me to borrow it as a part of my axe to slay this fiend!!!"

Once again, Rarity's magic diamond clusters appeared out of thin air, but this time attached itself onto the Loving Hand until it was completely enveloped. Then, more diamond pieces form around the Hand's head (or in this case, hand) and create the axe's head. While the but and shoulder was all jagged or cut blunt, the entire edge of the axe was smooth, thin, and razor-sharp.

"Your magic..." Francesca's jaw dropped, "Is pretty awesome and practical."

"Wait!" A voice came from the east of the maw, a familiar girl in pigtails running towards them.

"Ms Cleo!" Rarity spoke, "You made it through!"

"Yes..." Cleo panted, "But we have a problem..."

"What about Sweetie and the others?"

"That's the problem. Big McIntosh and Sweetie Belle. They're in... They're in critical condition!"

"No way!!!!" Francesca and Rarity yelled together,

"I don't have enough energy to heal them, and Flash is doing his best to keep them conscious... The only one I can think that can heal them is you, Estelle."

"You're right." Rarity nodded, magically commanding her diamond axe to shatter apart, "Looks like I still need to rely on Estelle after all."

"Not to worry." Cleo noticed the Igneous Golem walking towards them, "I'll gladly take your position to fight if it means you can save your sister and friends."

"Thanks," Rarity nodded, bringing out the silver staff and touched it with her heart. A yellow light swallows up the girl and the staff while displaying her body outline. The staff breaks down into orbs of light and gently burrow their way into the girl's heart. Then, she begins to change in front of everyone. Her body only had little changes to her upper torso and her messy hair went back to pigtails. Finally, the yellow light fades; presenting Estelle once more, with, of course, the colours of Rarity.

"I just noticed," Estelle examined herself, "Despite Flash saying I look like a mature woman, I feel from her body that Estelle isn't significantly older than I am."

"When I first met the prince, he was in his late adolescent years." Cleo informed, “But save it for later!"

"I'm on my way!" Estelle yelled and charges down the runners' path.

"As for you Francesca, come with me!"

"Wait. Aren't we fighting the golem? What's going on!? And what happened to the brat!?" Francesca inquired.

"Fiends are what happened," Cleo responded as the ground shakes once again. "Then Flash threw up this plan on an angry whim."

"My head feels sick..." Flash moaned upon Big Mac's back, "But my body... my body feels fine. Did you heal me, Ms Cleo? Thank you but... you should've saved it for later when others were injured,"

"Don't push it. We supported her." Sweetie scolded, "You gave us a promise that ALL of us will get through this alive. Me, Big Mac, Ms Cleo, and especially YOU."

"You still had a pulse, but you were stunned. We're not takin' any chances fer the Gobmancers to send ya to the Boot Hill." Big Mac added,

"If you did pass away, you would be breaking your promise. We would be pretty mad and upset. So would you." Cleo concluded.

"Alright you guys, I got it." Flash conceded, "I can run on my own again by the way."

"We've just past the geysers and the boulders. We're reachin' the hairpin to Line 7 soon." Big Mac informed, "By the way, it's hard to carry you and dodge the fiend's fireballs at the same time. Ms Cleo took over my spottin' position. Ah reckon once we reach the hairpin, you take the spottin' duty."

"Sure." Flash nodded,

"I will stay with you Flash," Cleo briefed, "Also at this range, the Gobmancers would feel confident in using their second spell. It carries more damage than their fireballs."

"No worries. You've got us covered as always. Right Flash?" Sweetie cheered,

"Yeah yeah." Flash laughed as he slowly hopped off. "Take care,"

There were only four lines left to complete. And Flash's eyes were ready to watch out for his friends once again. If the group recalled the order, it was Boulders, Bones, Geysers, and the Gobmancers at the end. Flash analysed the situation of line 7. The boulders on this line were faster than the previous ones, and not to mention that by the rate they drop, the boulders would trap anyone between them. That being said, Sweetie and Mac together were able to maintain their distance from the boulders behind and front. The Gobmancers won't be able to hit the two with their fireballs either, as their targets were constantly moving.

But something terrible was going to happen...

Flash notices one of the Gobmancers looking at something else instead of casting fireballs with their friends. It had his twisted wand held high and orb glowing red while looking away from the two walkers.

"What's going on with that guy?" Flash spoke out, and it hit him. The odd Gobmancer was focusing his sights right on the hairpin after the boulders. On the hairpin, a red circle began to form. The edges of the circle are formed by what looks to be air currents made visible by being red in colour. It is reason enough to convince Flash that the Gobmancer is responsible.

"Ms Cleo?" Flash called, pointing at the red ring. "Is that what I think it is?"

"That's the explosion spell!" Cleo gasped, "Or at least the preparation. Either way, I've told the three of you what it can do. They need to dodge it the moment they clear the line!"

"No..." Flash stammered, "It's very unlikely they can..."

"What do you mean!?" Cleo turned around, "I thought you would..."

Cleo trails off her voice as soon as she saw the teenager. He was shivering and sweating all around, with a face of one who's eye-to-eye with his greatest fear.

"The boulder in front of them is not only blocking them from seeing the hairpin, but also limiting their speed and space! They won't be able to slip out that quickly!!!" Flash responded,

"What about them running past it before it goes off?" Cleo suggested,

"I've been watching remember? For the entire run..." Flash reasoned, "Big Mac can only outrun something if he's at peak speed. And Sweetie also needs a great deal of speed to dodge it as well... The boulder, despite rolling fast, is not enough for the two to reach that level, and the path and hairpin have extremely little space to dodge!"

"Then what about 'baiting' it?" Cleo continued, sweating like he is,

"They'll get crushed by the boulder from behind!" Flash raised his voice, "No matter what I plan, they'll still get hurt! And you just used Elder Cure! Unless you have another skill I'm unaware of."

"It's not a healing skill." Cleo shook her head, "It's a--"

"... Dammit!" Flash spat and yelled out, "You two! Once you clear the boulders, you need to run to the next line immediately! No matter what, do not slow down or stop at the hairpin!!!"

"Huh?" Sweetie yelled back, jogging between the rolling boulders.

"One of the fiends is planning to hit you with a nasty spell. He's set it up around the hairpin!"

"Wait, Flash, my second skill!" Cleo stopped, but Flash wasn't listening.

"Cleo let's hop on the line. Just so we can get to them quickly... if the worst-case scenario happens!" Flash ordered then turns back to the two. "Just don't stop! We're going on the boulders right now!"

"Well, that ain't good." Big Mac gulped, "Explosion spell on the hairpin huh?" He exits the boulder line, "We'd gotta run."

"He means now!" Sweetie yelled and tackles the farmer.

"Woah!" Big Mac takes a few steps back but was able to halt and catches the girl in mid-air.

"But we're too late Mac," Sweetie spoke as she finds him and herself inside the red circle, "We're done for..."

"Wait... Aw no! Ah'm mighty sor--!" Big Mac just realised his unconscious mistake as the Gobmancer swung his wand down.

A loud explosion occurs in front of Flash and Cleo. Though the boulder in front has shielded their eyes from the victims within the pillar of fire, two distinct screams of pain slipped around; the fate that has befallen the two students.

"McIntosh!!!" Flash screamed in a fearful response, "Sweetie Belle!"

The two remaining runners got past to see what had transpired. The circle of burning air was no more. Rather it had turned the area it covered into nothing but shades and the putrid scent of burning, including the bodies lying on the ground... lifeless.

"Goddess!!! Noooo..." Flash approached the two and falls to his knees. He looks at Big Macintosh, lying on his back. His eyes are staring widely and bleakly to the sky. His jacket, shirt, and jeans turned pitch black, with large portions of it breaking away into ash and dust. His cheeks, his hands and his arms, had a horrifying mix of dark red and black, black looking bubbles, shrapnel-induced wounds, and mini traces of fire burning his skin. Even worse, Flash could see parts of Big Mac's clothes melted onto him.

Flash covers his mouth and nose. He couldn't comprehend what was worse. The sight of his friend at death's door, or the smell he's giving out. He turned to Sweetie. Lying face down, most of her hair had been singed, losing her natural shine and curls to resemble the wavy image of a fire burning away. Her jacket had completely burnt away, and half her skirt is gone too. Her skin didn't receive as bad treatment as Big Mac's. Whether it was fortunate or not, there's no denying that she could not survive it either.

"Cleo..." Flash wept, "You look over Sweetie. Ladies should be checking on ladies."

"Flash..." Cleo began to tear up, "Don't give up... It's not over yet..."

"Please..." Flash sobbed, "What can we do? What can I do?"

He couldn't take it any more. Big McIntosh. Sweetie Belle. He only got to know a lot about them through 2 weeks ago, thanks to that unexpected trip. Because of that, he finds himself more at home with them, he shifted his priority from his studies and hobbies to sharing time and fun with them. Though most people would think it as a chore, deep down he enjoyed working and hanging out in the Halidom together. Even when he was training alone, he enjoys it when someone was watching. Now they were gone; done in by the group of Gobmancers who, by the looks of it, were now apathetically shifting their sights on him and Cleo.

This pain... upon people he deeply cares for, even if for a very short time... caused by those with the face of silent indifference... it hurt Flash incredibly. All this sadness, all this despair. All of this brought him to tears... and for him to snap.

"You're right Ms Cleo." Flash responded, "It's not over yet." He stands up, wiping away his tears.

"Flash?"

"These Gobmancers..." Flash grits his teeth and tenses every muscle in his body. "They are going to die."

"Flash, calm down!" Cleo warned, "Don't let your anger cloud your judgement!"

"Ms Cleo!!!" Flash grabs the Healer's hands, and stares at her with a wrathful gaze, "You need to get rid of them fast!"

"What do you mean?" Cleo responded. Scared yet confused.

"One, it will relieve us of danger. Second, you need to build up energy to use your skills." Flash responded, "If I were to strike them down, it would amount to nothing as I have no skills of my own. You're the healer, you need it more."

"Oh... You're right!" Cleo's eyes widened with hope.

"I saw that face." Flash growled, "Seems like you've got it."

"What if it's not enough?"

"Then meet up with the girls," Flash instructed, "Find Estelle, get her to come and heal us. As she's fighting with the golem, I'm positive she has her Healing Faith ready! If not, then tell her to get going once she has it ready! I'll stay here and do as much as I can to keep them alive!"

"Yes. I understand." Cleo nodded,

"One more thing," Flash added, "After you tell Estelle, you have to touch the Dragon's skull with Francesca before you can get back to the golem! Heck, yell to the damn Flamewyrm that both of you have touched it!"

"Touch the skull? I do not understand... The golem is in the way..."

"There's no time!!!" Flash yells the moment he feels the ground shake, "We've got less than 3 minutes left before we all die! I know I'm burning with anger, but all the more for you to trust me and go now. Please!!!"

"... Okay, Flash. I've trusted you ever since you protected the Halidom from the fiends." Cleo nodded, "I'm sorry that I have to do this."

"I trust you too, Ms Cleo!!!" Flash bellows back as she runs ahead, "I know you can do this!!!"

"I'm sorry Flash." Cleo spoke under her breath, "I still do not understand why we have to."

She runs past the falling bones without hesitating.

"And not being clear with your orders is a really big flaw for a tactician or strategist, because it gives doubt. Especially if the people you command are friends."

She rolls past the geysers in her quiet and stealthy self.

"Then again, the soldiers of Dyrenell Empire aren't friends with the commander or their strategist. They'll follow orders, even if it's the dirtiest trick of all because according to them, pawns and soldiers must be sacrificed to guarantee a victory. Especially if it would save a nation from the brink of annihilation, or the last step that would achieve a long-lasting peace."

And finally, she approaches the three Gobmancers, who look back at her with sharp, yellow, eyes.

"You three..." Cleo glared, "Have caused far too much pain and trouble!"

The fiends respond with targeting their fireballs at her. Cleo swiftly rolls underneath the fire and launched two purple orbs, as befitting the staff weapon. Unlike Estelle, it takes only one of these purple orbs to vaporize a single fiend, and with both landing a direct hit, the two front Gobmancers collapsed into dust.

The final one raises his wand to cast one more spell, but Cleo swiftly stepped forward and blocked it from swinging, thanks to her own staff.

"I remember you." Cleo blinked, "You're the one who cast that explosion. In that case..." With the locked staff, she slides the Gobmancer to the edge, dragging its feet across the rock.

"You and the fiends will harm innocents no longer," Cleo vowed and pushed it off the edge, and into the lava with a thick splash. The fiend showed no signs of floating, and as Cleo could tell, it would never surface again.

Then she gulps. The lava is itching ever closer right now. Unfortunately, those three gobmancers did not give her enough energy. There's no time. She needs to get Estelle.

"Wow, you guys really had it rough," Francesca responded after hearing the story. "Sorry. This is as much as I can say without making a nasty remark."

"You can apologise by touching the maw," Cleo responded as he dodges the golem's swing. "Come on!"

"Pretty easy!" Francesca nodded as lunged forward towards the skull and placed a hand on it. It felt smooth, a little chip here and there, and the feeling of small but gritty grains too.

"Brunhilda!" Cleo calls out with her hand on the maw, "Francesca and I touched the Dragon's Skull! What are you going to do!?"

"What am I going to do?" Brunhilda boomed, "Talk of course! I'm very, very furious... and yet impressed."

"What about?" Francesca demanded,

"Let me make myself clear. You have NOT completed my challenge. To do that, you must complete everything I have thrown at you. That being said, the golem behind you is the only task left. The runners have completed theirs."

"We completed ours? You are losing me here." Cleo responded,

"Then it would have been your loss. However, I am a dragon of my word, so I will choose not to play coy and explain what you have done. Or rather, what the pathetic boy Flash wanted you to do."

"He had a reason for touching it? ... By Ilia, I forgot!!!" Cleo's eyes widened again,

"Exactly. It seems the biscuit's anger does not cloud his judgement, but the opposite. Instead of charging forward and killing those fiends, he wanted to send you because he knows how Grastaean combat and mana works. I was suddenly disturbed when he also wanted you and Francesca to touch the Dragon's maw, playing on exactly what I just said. I want to burn him immediately for taking the mickey out of me and my unclear words, but I will do no such thing. He was the one who adhered to my rules and conditions, and he shall be rewarded for doing so. All of you shall be rewarded."

"A reward for all of us." Francesca repeated, "That means the lava!"

"Congratulations. At least one runner and fighter have reached the dragon's maw. You have successfully stopped the clock. Your lives are safe."

"You're right. I never thought we could do that!" Francesca sighed with relief, just as the golem let loose a frightening roar behind them.

"Oops. Let me correct that last part. You are not out of the fire yet. You still have to beat that fiend!"

"I still hope there's something I can use!" Flash growled. He manages to recover what's left of Big Mac's bag. As he scours through the contents however, everything was burned (or melted). Apples, snacks, water bottle, bandages, and Rarity's clothes. For some strange reason, Adagio's clothes didn't burn. He pulls out his own black bag. Though it was used to carry the sword, it still carried supplies of his own. Especially water, disinfectant cream, and bandages. Not even the bone from before could damage it.

"This is going to hurt Mac... Bear with me!" Flash warned as he poured the water. Big Mac groaned and whimpered for mercy as the water splashes onto his burns and wounds. Flash panicked. First Aid wasn't something he was familiar with, but it's good to know that despite all this pain, he was still alive. But... What can he do after that?

"Goddessdammit!" Flash cursed as the last drop of his water fell. He pulls out the disinfectant cream, then paused. Mac's body is wounded all over - Which wound should he start with!?

"Flash..." A faint voice spoke out,

"Mac?" Flash knelt down, "Was that you? Can you hear me, Mac?"

"No..." The voice coughed, "In front of you..."

"Sweetie Belle!?" Flash looked forward. To his absolute surprise, Sweetie was on her own two feet hunched over in pain. Though her jacket has completely burned away, her inner shirt and singlet remained intact to cover her body (though there were a few burn marks). Her entire skin was riddled with wounds thanks to the shrapnel caused by the explosion, but any fire has only charred her skin, rather than warp it completely. None of her clothes had melted into her skin, even though she still smelt like a burning bush. Only a small fire lingered on her soft cheeks, attempting to burn through into muscle.

But the shock of disbelief doesn't end there.

A blue light traces around the site of the active burn and begins to 'eat' away at it. Once it had collected together into a small ball and disappears, all that remained was the black char on the skin. The same charring as her arms, hands, legs--

"Don't peek Flash..." Sweetie moaned, trying to cover any holes on her skirt, "I know you're better than that."

"Sorry." Flash quickly looked back down to Big McIntosh. "But how are you--"

"Conscious? Not badly burned?" She brushes her hair to one side, "I don't know either... But how is Mac?"

"Badly burned." Flash responded, "You can tell."

"Cleo can't heal us." Sweetie spoke softly, "She's cast the spell for you."

"I..." Flash clenches his fist, "If that couldn't work, I called for Estelle."

"Oh. That's nice. If I recall correctly, her spell greatly heals the most critically wounded person in the group."

"But it's going to be a while to get there..." Flash grumbled, "Come on Mac. Hang in there. Help is on the way!"

"Don't die on us, Big Mac." Sweetie encouraged, lisping slightly, "I know you've been through worse."

There was no response,

"Big Mac. You wanted me to keep my promise," Flash growled, "Well that's what I'm trying to do. You have to stay with us!"

"Please... Think about those you love. Applebloom, Applejack, Granny Smith, your entire Apple Family. Don't leave them behind..." Sweetie wept,

A pair of green hands held together in prayer slips between the two teenagers and stops above Big Mac. Then the hands part from each other and laid themselves on him. The hands burst into a bright green light to engulf the farmer then faded instantly. Big Mac was left with all of his skin cured of scorches, burns, and wounds.

"Those hands..." Flash blinked, "Healing Faith?"

"Indeed." Estelle steps forward to them, "It looks like I came in the nick of time."

"Rarity!!!" Sweetie smiled with joy.

"There there..." Estelle smiled back and gave a hug, "You do seem worse for wear Sweetie, but not to worry. I'm sure we can find a way to fix your hair. Just as how we've fixed Big Mac here."

"Hey Mac, speak to me. Are you alright?" Flash turned back.

"...Argh..." Big Mac slowly moves his eyes and body,

"You're alright big guy." Flash patted his shoulder, "Take it easy and slowly."

"Ah... That was..." Big Mac slowly sat up, "I still feel it."

"Don't worry," Flash wraps one of Mac's arms around him, "We'll get you to the end. Just tell me if it hurts..."

"Don't y'all... Ah can rest here." Big Mac protested, "We only have less than a few minutes left."

"If Brunhilda is reasonable, we won't have to worry about the rising lava anymore."

"What do you mean?" Estelle asks,

"In her rules and conditions, she said 'At least one from both teams must make it to the dragon bones to stop that clock'."

"And that condition is achieved." Brunhilda spoke up, "Thanks to your quick memory, you have saved yourselves from melting."

"Hold your jaws guys." Flash warned, "We've got to bring our farmer out to safety first."

"But you still haven't saved yourselves from the golem. You may want to do something about that."

"Thank you, Estelle, but we can take it from here. Go back and help Ms Cleo and Francesca."

"No," Estelle refused,

"Why? Having healers on deck are essential against fiends who have the advantage over us."

"Ms Cleo can sustain herself and Francesca, but we desperately need the power to beat the golem. I propose you go instead of me."

"Huh?"

"Desperate times like these calls for desperate measures." Estelle explained, "You're the only one with the powerful weapon. I can see you've even attached it onto your belt. Be a shame if you never used it, mmm?"

Flash paused for a moment of silence, then grabbed his black bag and passed it to Estelle,

"There's snacks and very little supplies for small wounds and cuts in here. Moreover, please take your time on the geysers."

"I will," Estelle smiled,

"We will," Sweetie corrected,

"Stay safe you three," Flash nodded back and ran off.

"I'm getting exhausted here," Francesca moaned, "I'm risking my tail just to keep up the pressure!"

"You're not the only one," Cleo responded,

"You've got backup!!!" Flash yelled.

The Spiky-haired teenager charges at the golem with the sword drawn. Emitting a loud warcry, he plunges it (with one hand on the pommel, and another the handle) into the Golem's sides. Then he quickly pulls it out and follows with a horizontal slice that perfectly cut out a part of the rock. The Golem screams and stomped around only to stumble and fall over thanks to the cut.

"Woo!" Flash laughed, "Now that's a reaction of pain! Maybe I should take up swordplay!"

"Meh," Francesca scoffed, "I prefer Rarity's magic, but I can't be a chooser here."

"Yes, because I expect a wind dagger and a light staff to make a fire fiend scream." Flash chuckled, "Now can we break this thing already?"

"Ancient Aegis," Cleo utters. A blue dome, engraved with cryptic runes, covers an adventurer each with Flash and Francesca feeling a tight sensation on their skin and bones.

"Don't falter. Keep on fighting!" Cleo responded,

Francesca and Flash start an unrelenting flurry of blades, desperate to knock the hulking rock apart. Unfortunately, the golem stood up and retaliates with a sharp backhand, knocking the two away. However, Francesca did not react as badly the last time she got hurt; and Flash felt the blunt force fade after a while with his bones still intact.

"Hey!" Flash moved his limbs, "I'm not broken! That's a nice skill!"

"A spell to enhance durability," Cleo explained, "Only lasts for fifteen seconds. Now let me fix any wounds of yours up. Elder Cure."

A green light bursts within the two fighters, repairing any wounds with a youthful sensation.

"Say, what have you and Est tried when fighting this thing?" Flash inquired,

"We did this..." Francesca answered, and quickly whispered to him and Cleo.

"Seems good," Flash nodded, "Mind if I try it?"

"Dagger users are known to be swift and dexterous. Swords? You're better off staying on the ground."

"I have an idea," Flash proposed. "But I'll need to wait for the opportunity."

"Scatter," Franesca spoke, and the three jumps from the Golem's attempt to smash them flat in one go.

"Hup!" Flash latches onto the Golem's knuckle and plunges the sword into the golem's hand. The Golem could feel his presence and flings him around. Flash did feel a little in his stomach but he held on thanks to the sword he lodged into the stone; he uses it to vault himself up on his two feet.

"Smart," Francesca shrugged, "But good luck trying to climb to the top."

"This thing moves so much!" Flash grumbled, "I have to make it in one jump!"

"No, wait! That's reckless!" Cleo warned but he didn't listen. Flash takes one deep breath and jumps, pulling the sword out while at it.

Cleo and Francesca couldn't believe it; his jump sends him flying two metres above the Golem. It took no effort for him to land perfectly on top of the Golem's crown either. Since when did this mortal Equestrian achieve such power to do so? Certainly not from his 'bo staff' training!

"Guys? Let's bring this thing down together! Concentrate your strongest attacks when I stab it!" Flash commanded,

"Again, no need to tell me what I already know!" Francesca moaned,

"Make it count!" Cleo encouraged.

"Here goes." Flash takes a deep breath once again and lets out a bloodcurdling roar.

"Raaah!" Flash drives the sword down the golem's volcano top. The Golem opened his jaw wide, unleashing a powerful gale filled with the sounds of pain. Though it almost blew the two girls away, they knew that this is the most vulnerable state the golem has ever had, and now it is time to deal the finishing blow.

"Perish!" Cleo commands, firing the purple beam. Striking the golem right in the mouth, breaking down its molten palates.

"Windwhistler!" Francesca chanted. Two sharp whistles, two powerful slashes in the same site. The Golem pauses, frozen in his actions after the last slash.

"We did it." Cleo smiled victoriously,

The golem drops his arms, fell to his knees, and leaned forward, crashing to the ground. Flash was still on the golem as it fell, but safely jumped off with the sword in hand.

Bang!

The golem explodes, releasing a tremendous amount of black dust that hit the ground in a massive wave, which disappears almost immediately.

"That's a sight for sore eyes." Francesca laughed, "I actually did it. I defeated a golem in a disadvantaged state. I am so powerful."

"We're right here you know." Flash frowned, taking a knee.

"Fighting fiends solo is impressive, but never forget that fighting together is a surefire way to achieve and cherish victory," Cleo added,

"Yeah yeah." Francesca covered her ears, "I don't need another lecture from someone late to the battle,"

"I think they contributed a lot in my opinion," Estelle disagreed.

"You were watching?" Francesca turns to the voice.

"We sure did," Sweetie responded energetically, despite looking weak.

"Had I known you'd come, the three of you would also be healed when I cast the spell. I'm so sorry," Cleo apologised

"No biggie," Big Mac coughed, supported on each side by the sisters. "Ah'm alright now."

"And that is my entire challenge complete! Congratulations to all of you getting here alive! Now, I'll open up the maw, and calm down the lava. Meanwhile, you guys should give thanks to each other for what you've done!"

"What is she talking about?" Sweetie moaned, "Brunhilda doesn't make sense sometimes."

"Oh, yeah. Estelle? Or rather, Rarity?" Francesca remembered,

"Mmm?"

"Thank you for rescuing me back there. I'll admit I might not have survived getting eaten. I feel like... I can rely a little bit more on you."

"That is wonderful to hear Adagio." Estelle gave a hug and smiled warmly, "My feelings are mutual. I would love to start understanding you more from now on."

"Sure..." Francesca twitched, "But you don't have to hug me so quickly."

"Flash?" Cleo turns to the teen in question, "I want to say thank you too. For thinking quickly,"

"Oh. That's really nothing." Flash chuckled, "You're the one who stepped forward without me telling you the entire story due to time constraints."

"True, but if I doubted your plan, it could mean the difference between life and death. Don't sell yourself short."

Chink!

The chain bounding the Dragon's maw snapped into pieces. Without it, the maw opened wide, revealing a path further inwards.

"Well then?" Rarity led, "Let's confront the Flamewyrm once and for all!"