Returning to the desert was easy enough, after all, Wonder had entrusted Applejack with the task of clearing out the enemies there herself, and she had reported no problems. No, what was the issue was the heat. As a sea-creature, the heat was bearing down on him very harshly on his scales. This creature was supposed to be in water, and not running and on land and fighting in this warmth.
Despite his physical limitations, he had to make due and explore this area as he had heard via talks with a shopkeeper and Smokey briefly about there being a very useful armor set and weapon in that direction. The area was not without enemies, mainly those annoying giant frogs he previously could rush under. However, now being his regular size minus his back legs, he had to deal with these before they passed by.
The tough enemies were the green cycloptic creatures he had fought before in the castle. Thing was, these creature fell rather quickly under his Legendary sword set, but without that enchanted weapon, they took several more hits, and posed a bit of a challenge, especially if left alone after a hit, they would launch there own fire attacks too!
After a while, he passed the demonic creatures, and made it to a new challenge: Lava. There were platforms over the lava itself, but the ghost creature he had encountered as a bunny timed themselves to appear in front of him before he could jump on each new platform. This prove no challenge at first, but with one miscalculated jump, he fell in the lava once, and nearly lost all his health he had with the power hearts he had collected so far. There had to be a way to pass the lava, and kill these creatures in the way...
Finally, after a few more lava traps and more creature defeated, he found a small building and entered it for a brief break from all the fighting. As it turned out there was a treasure chest with more loot to grab, as well as a return doorway. Wonder thought about returning briefly, it would be nice to see how the pink mare was doing as he never got to check before. On the other hand, getting here was already trouble enough, and why not continue? I made sense to push on, but before he did, he thought it would be wise to check this new pig-merchant and see what wares this one sold.
"Welcome to the shop! If you *snort oink* plan on not frying yourself into a lovely broiled fishstick, perhaps you might like this armor set?" The swine merchant declared as he walked in the doorway, holding up a strange scaled chest armor.
"What does this thing do exactly?" Wonder asked, as he had gotten a few armor sets so far, and most were ok, but some were quite lack luster in comparison.
"Simple! It makes you lava-proof! Made from a tough set of old dragon scales, these things will let you swim in the lava, and get to explore the land beyond this humble shop!" *Snort-oink* O"Oh, and before you ask, no dragons were harmed in the making of this set, this is all disposed of molted scales, but still blessed with dragon-magic!" The pig quickly added, knowing the equine in front of him may object to anything brought about by harmful means.
Wonder pondered this offer, it would cost him most of the money he and Applejack had collected so far, but, if it lead to a better place to explore, and with tougher enemies to earn more money, it may be a wise decision. He nodded, and gave the money to the merchant, and equipped the set as he exited the building, nearly running into a skeleton solider in the process
The skeleton was crumbled, and soon, he dove into the hot lava, but as he did, no harm came to him. It was as if the chest piece itself created a barrier of swimmable magma around him! Very excited by this concept, he let his rear fins and tail loose and move freely in the liquid and used them to propel himself forward, taking a few more unlucky skeletons out in the process.
The swimming, along with combat training, worked wonders for any odd creature and monster that happen to be in the lava as well. The odd thing was, these creatures showed no signs of any magic on them in anyway, save the skeleton soldiers who were themselves magically living, but none of the other creature were wearing scales, or anything equivalent. This was odd, but in previous adventures, Wonder had found most enemies don't follow the rules that he had to do.
Two more lava pits, each with some fireball traps and a few enemies waiting to catch him were passed, before the end of the road came into sight...literally. There was a set of blocks rising to the skies in font of him, and a door in a tall building proved to be the only thing of interest around. Having no other choice in the matter, he proceeded inside, and found himself in water straight away!
The Village
"Pinkie, what are you doing up there?!? You don't know what is out in that part of the world, so stay put until Wes gets back! That is, if it's ok with you I guess." Fluttershy tried to get her friend down from the platform overlooking the Inn in the village.
"No! you guys don't get it, this is the game I used to play! I remember when all the other fillies and colts played their Neightendos and I had my Pega Magic system! You just don't understand...I know what to do here! It'll be ok!" Pinkie declared and before she could continue to the world beyond the village, a lasso and a bat-winged Night Guard swooped in and caught the excitable Earth pony.
"Calm down there Sugarcube! I know you say you know what you are talkin' about, but I really insist you should stay put! I'd fought these creatures too and I would hate to see ya harmed in anyway. So please stay here?" Applejack tried to reason with the pony, now tied and pinned under both Night Guards.
"Okie-dokie-lokie! I'll stay until he gets done with the lava puzzle...the Buster sword will be very useful after all! Oh, but I'll be right back, I have to help him!" Pinkie said before escaping her restraints and disappearing in a blur towards an unknown location...
Volcanic area
Part of him was glad to be in the coolness of the water, but a short swim later towards another door, he regretted the wet feeling as the heat in the air made the cool water team, and feel even hotter than before. Still, he was out of the arid and hot conditions outside at least, and before him, stood two doors, one on top of a set of blocks, and another on the far side of the room. Upon closer view, there was another doorway under the blocks as well, but his sword was not made to bust through those solid blocks.
From nowhere, suddenly a pink mare jump out of the far-side door and tackled him, "Oh my it is you, You ever LOOK like Wonder-boy! I can't believe my eyes, and oh yes...I am here to help you!" she paused, and soon looked at the very confused stallion in front of her.
"Um, I am sure glad you are ok, but where do I go from here, I saw into the room, and it looks like a dead-end, unless I could climb like a bunny, or something..." Wonder stated the obvious, and Pinkie chose this moment to explain what to do.
"Well duh! That is why you need to go through THAT door in the middle, and turn into a bunny, Of course in the game I played you were a mouse or something, or was it a Flicky? I don't remember...but anyway, go through turn into that and get the Buster sword, and before you come back to the village, STAY as a bunny! I'll show you a secret, I promise! Oh shoot, I haven't thrown you a "Thanks-for-rescuing-me Party! Gotta go!" and she left.
Wonder collected his thoughts, and wondered if he should trust the ideas of a clearly crazy party-pony. He wasn't one to distrust people, but didn't she say she PLAYED this before? Seems rather silly, he thought. Still, after mulling over the options and finding the room did change him both into a dragon and bunny, he soon decided it was best to not argue with a being that knew the future, and followed her directions. He found the sword, and as a result, he found a way to break blocks with his weapon! Suddenly, as if remembering something he had just heard, he remembered a perfect place that was blocked off by something block like in town, and went through the Return doorway ahead of him...
As he arrived in the village again, Wonder left for the bridge that connected the hospital to the rest of the buildings. Pinkie tried to call him over, but he ignored her, and busted the blocks that made up the bridge and was off the explore the area below. What he found was a series of caves and trails, and more paths that only he as a bunny could fit into. He followed one, and eventually found a block that produced a weird item that brought forth a door in front of him.
Unsure how this worked, but curious as to what was inside, he opened the door, and found another treasure chest against the opposite wall, and another door above, but out of reach by anyways he could tell. He opened the chest up, and found a new saber inside, one that gave off pure magically energy when held, but otherwise seemed rather uninteresting. He swung it in frustration, and discovered it could make new blocks in front of his very eyes! It was obvious what he had to do, and he soon used that ability to make a path to the upper doorway, and back into the village, much like a Return door.
Wonder switched out the sword for another he had bought and was going to head to the beach area when he heard a boom of something below, and being a guard, he had to investigate. As it turned out, it was the famous "party cannon" he had heard about in the Canterlot circles while training, and as she mentioned earlier, Pinkie had completely decorate the inn with party decorations, and was ready to start the celebration.
"It's about time you get back! I don't know why you insisted on getting that Magical Saber right now...you only need it later on when you reach your final form, silly! But, it's ok, because you are here now, and OH!!!! If you ever want to change back into another form, there's a hidden switch right before you go down to the beach? Just in case you wanted to ask!" Pinkie said as fast as she could, but surprisingly, it was fully understood by the guard.
"Ok, well, I should probably be heading out there and rescue the next Element. I really think it is important I do this soon, so no one else gets stuck in the strange land, don't you?" he asked, but was certain by the look on her face, she felt nearly...betrayed? If that was the right word for it.
"Oh, but I can't let you go and rescue Dashie until you have a little fun at my party I made especially for you and your Night Guard friends! Oh my gosh, is that a spoiler?!? Ignore what I said there...I promise, the other girls are fine, and I know one party won't be that much trouble! 'Sides, i already have everyone inside, and that Silhouette mare has already told us so much about you too!" Pinkie explained, and unknown to her Wonder had shrugged away, hiding his blushing bunny face.
His bat-winged friend didn't know too much embarrassing things about the Earth pony, but enough that he knew he being at the party while on a mission would only raise more questions. He was determined to minimize the trouble she could cause, and it was namely his name he wished to avoid slipping out. Fluttershy and Pinkie didn't know him other than Wes, and he hoped to keep it that way...
"Fine, I'll join you in a bit. I want to change back into my Sea-pony form first, and quite honestly..I would love a bit of rest after that lava area I just went through. Besides....what is the worst thing that could happen while I am taking a break?" Wonder said, and began to walk to the Magic-changing room.
Little did he know, by simply saying that last phrase, fate itself seemed determined to make him regret his saying of such. As it turns out, the worst thing that could happen is NOT something bad or evil, but perhaps, something one was not expecting to see in this Monster World...