The peak was getting close to reach, but that didn't mean there were no dangers left to be had. Twilight continued her trek up the remaining of the mountain, feeling the cold breeze beginning to pick up. The snow jacket and winter boots she had packed were gone, thanks to the loss of her bag. Step by step the blistering temperatures were dropping, until the air currents were getting even harder to drift pass. One more step and there was an intense shove that pushed Twilight back at least 7 1/2 feet. Trying again she trotted back to the same location, only to be hoisted back even further. One more time she attempted to battle the wind and of course she lost the battle, but this time the wind did not stop. This time it continued to push her back to the point where she could not progress forward and only lose progress. She tried for a straight hour running and running, hoping to get past.
It was to intense, she had to seek some sort of shelter or she would be smacked off the mountain and be splattered all over the ground. Just in the distance there stood a cave. "Oh great another cave." Twilight said sarcastically. Luckily this was a completely different cave, so she sprinted in to escape the picking up winds outside. Inside the cave was dark, dead, and alone. No glimmer of crystals, no shimmer of sun, and no signs of anything lively inside. Only the wet dripping of water reaching the freezing bottom of the cave. With nothing to do twilight sat down and think to herself.
She sat and thought for who knows how long. It had certainty been a real long time. This was greatly worrying to twilight.
"Well that's just amazing another stupid blockade in my path that just wastes my dwindling time. How I am supposed to deal with all this foolish complications in my journey! I had everything planned out from the start and all of it had just gone to shambles! I lost all of my stuff, almost got killed multiple times, and got stuck in this cave for who knows how long! I don't even know how long I have until this mystical thing disappears! I may as well just call it quits and leave. I probably didn't even make it in time. But of course I still have to wait for this wind to clear! AHH!" She picked up a rock and threw it out the cave. "This whole thing was a stupid idea itself." Another wet drop found its way to the ground. Apart from the fierce wind there was silence. Then a few more droplets of water set foot back on the ground. A sniffle... three more drops... then the faint sound of a shaking body.
No words were spoken, as defeat had finally struck Twilight. Feeling it even more the slight sadness shown in her moment of tears increased. Her small sob went up to wailing wail, as she placed her hooves on her head getting it through her mind the failure she had felt she so rightfully earned. Moments passed, slowly declining the pained blare of depression. "I'm going home..." Then a gleam of light. The sole sight in there that resembled some sort of happiness. She didn't feel up to it, but she felt there was a need to follow the ball of shining shimmer seemingly attempting to guide her.
There was no emotion in the way she walked. The light halted exposing a picture on the wall. On that wall showed the mountain and a indistinguishable object resting on top. Twilight sighed. "I don't need this." But she continued anyway. Step by step revealed more and more pictures. The first showed the ancient sage and his strange methods. Twilight found herself giving a weak smile to it. The second showed the humongous ice cream cone creating horrible winds like usual. The third exhibited the ice wall that twilight had almost slipped off at least 10 times and a goat standing prideful at the top. The fourth a single tree. And the fifth a board game with a bear looming menacingly in the background. Twilight glanced back down the path at the five images picturing the dangers she had faced. She had done all of that.
If she hadn't gotten to the top and succeed in her odyssey, she has certainty done a whole lot on that odyssey. This made her feel a bit better, becoming a bit proud for herself in her heart. The light reveled one more image, this time it showed a message.
It read: The mountain aims to challenge whoever feels they can accomplish the goal. However it never is easy, for the challenges faced are never more than just an obstacle or test to pass, but inside lays a deeper meaning. Making it this far shows great strength, but also tiredness from the climb. Whatever your deeper meaning it is up to you to find out what that is. Your choice is to get past your limit and figure out what that is, or go back home, be safe, but gain nothing. The choice is not a matter of safety or comfort, but a choice of who you think you can be... I hope to see you at the top.
The light then shifted and sparked into a portal. Twilight stepped closer, while the wall at the end of the path opened up letting in the light. Her hoof reached for the portal hesitating. "No" Her hoof tapped the floor. With a pause, another hoof raised and tapped the floor. Soon more followed until taps turned into soft crunches. "It's time I finish this."