//------------------------------// // Chapter 62: Lavarynth // Story: MLP G5 Sunset: Tell Your Tale: Season 1 // by JesusG0987 //------------------------------// Chapter 62: Lavarynth In the heavy storms, the Marestream is flying through the storm while Zipp is making sure to avoid the lightning strikes. “Dragonlands, here we come!” Zipp exclaimed while the Mane 7 are inside, wearing some accessories while also flying around the Marestream due to the speed and heavy storm. “Zipp, I thought you promise to go easy while flying through a storm?!” Sunset yelled out while hitting the wall. “This is not an improvement!” She exclaimed. “I’m still working on it, Sunset!” Zipp said in defense before Pipp appeared next to her. “Do you think this have enough sparkle?” Pipp asked her sister while showing her silver sparkling sash in front of her sister. “I put glitter and I…” “Pipp! Pipp! I’m trying to fly-” Zipp tried to explain but was cut off when lightning struck the Marestream, shutting it down as it started falling. The Mane 7 all screamed when the Marestream crashed into the forest and onto the ground before the Mane 7 rolled out of the Marestream as they groaned. “Why can’t we not crash the Marestream while not getting struck by lightning for once!?” Sunset asked in irritation since this like the second or third time they crash the Marestream and the second time it was struck by lightning. “I don’t know why this keeps happening either, Sunset.” Zipp groaned while rubbing her head. Pipp got up as she rubbed her head as well before she screamed, which made the others wide eye and worried. “What is it?!” Hitch cried out. “My outfits ruined!” Pipp cried with tears to show her sash, which now has mud in it. “The invite specifically said to dress as sparkle!” She cried out while taking out a dragon invitation. “Pipp, seriously?!” Sunset yelled out in annoyance. “I get you are a fashion, but how about next time, let Zipp focus on her flying other then asking about your looks!” She scolded, which made Pipp flinch a bit. “Heheh, okay, that was my fault. Sorry.” Pipp sheepishly apologize before three shadows loom over them, with three big dragons with pumpkins on their masks all started roaring at them. The Mane 7 screamed as they huddled together before they saw the three dragons doing some kind of ritual before they circled around them. “I thought we stopped Opaline’s evil curse?” Hitch asked in confusion. “I don’t think this is a curse, Hitch.” Sunset said while seeing what the dragons are doing. “Sunset’s right, and I know evil, this isn’t it.” Misty said in agreement, seeing that this wasn’t a curse, knowing Opaline and evil well. “I think it’s some kind of dragony Nightmare Night?” She guessed. The three dragons then stopped once they heard what Misty just said. “Nightmare Night?Give me a break.” The middle red dragon said as the three dragons took off their pumpkin mask. The red one in the middle is a male dragon who has orange eyes, his scales are burgundy with a dark blueish underbelly while his horns are shaded with gray. His wing membranes have the same color in the middle and on the edges. His dragon fire is a very dark red color. His name is Lava. The one on Lava’s left is a female dragon, who has hot pink tinted horns, underbelly and scales and a short aquamarine mane. Her wing membranes have stripes of orange and aquamarine as well. Her name is Blaize. The other male dragon on Lava’s right has orange eyes, it’s underbelly is light-orange while his scales are orange with his wings membranes have light blue and dark blue colors with his horn light blue. His name is Tumble. Lava then continued. “This is way better.” He said to the Mane 7 with a smile, who are wondering what Lava meant. “This, is a lavarynth!” He exclaimed while he and his three friends spread their wings, which made a gust of wind to blow. “What’s a lavarynth?” Sunny asked as they all turned to Sunset. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know this kind of thing.” Sunset said with her hooves raised, not sure what Lava meant either. “Lava, what is that?” She asked. Lava then brought out a scroll as it showed a dragon breathing fire at shadowy monsters. “There were series of test. That challenge dragon’s most important skills, bravery, wisdom and creativity!” He announced while doing a dramatic pose. Blaize then got in front of him while looking at at the ponies. “And a fun way to welcome you to my tribe.” She said with a smile. “So this is like, a welcome tradition you dragons do now?” Sunset asked, since Twilight told them some details on the dragonlands and the traditions they do from Ember and Smolder, but this is new. “Well, yeah, something like that.” Blaize said. “Did Spike plan this?” Sunset asked with a smirk. “Well, he does carry traditions and he wanted to give you ponies some fun.” Lava said with a smile. “Of course he does.” Sunset said with a shook of her head. The Mane 7 smiled before Pipp walked up to them with a confuse look. “So, when you dress with sparkly…” She started. “We meant actual sparkles. It’s very dark in the lavarynth.” Blaize stated while Lava nodded in agreement. “Oh, but it makes everything scarier.” Tumble said with a chuckle. “Eh what now?” Hitch asked in worried and confusion. Lava just then roared while reeling up, blowing a gust a wind at the Mane 7, who felt the wind pushing them back from that before Lava stomped his paws into the ground, causing a trapdoor to open up beneath the Mane 7. “Oh boy.” Sunset muttered before the seven ponies and Sparky all screamed as they all fall into the hole. They all fall for a few moments before they all hit the ground as they all groaned and look around in the darkness. “Anypony find a light switch?” Sunny asked. “Sunny, we’re underground.”  Sunset said boredly with her eyes narrowing boredly before the ground started shaking, making them all flinch. And then lava started spewing out of the walls as the Mane 7 huddled as the lava surrounds them before pillars start smashing from the top and then saw slice around. This made the group panic a lot, and Hitch was very protective over Sparky, but also over Sunny, as he placed a hoof around her in a protective manner. “Okay, the Dragonlands maybe a jungle area now, but the lava from ancient times when it was a rocky volcano terrain is still burning?!” Sunset questioned in shock from what they saw. “And Lava didn’t mention these obstacles in the way!” She added. Then they saw a claw structure with a gem at the end of the room. “That’s must be the way out!” Hitch exclaimed while he and Sunny held each other away from the lava. “Lava said these are tests, right?” Zipp asked her friends. “This must be the first one.” “But how do we get there?” Misty asked, since for them, it is complicated to fly around that. “Yeah, me and Sunny are good at flying, but this is too extreme.” Sunset said while Sunny nodded in agreement, since they are good fliers, but they’re not crazy for something this crazy. Zipp then gave a determined smile. “Then we get there by being brave.” She said before turning to Hitch. “Give me a boost, Hitch?” She asked with a wink. Hitch get what Zipp is saying as he gave a smirk and lifted up his hoof that is glowing green. “Aw, yeah.” He said before he stomped his hoof down, creating a spring like plant under Zipp. “Ready?” Zipp hunched down as she spread her wings. “Lava bun, here I come!” She exclaimed as the spring plant tossed her across the lava. Zipp flew at high speed over the lava as she dodge the pillars, “Ha!” She exclaimed while the others watched in awed at Zipp’s skills as she flew around the lava spurts while twirling, which made Pipp bit her hooves in worry for her sister. Zipp then saw the saw blades as she gave a challenging smirk. “Huh.” She said before she flew past them at high speed as she gave a chuckle before she look ahead and saw two blades coming out from the side, which made her scream in startled before she narrowly duck and a piece of her mane was cut off. “Ah!” She yelped before she narrowly escape the blade as she gave a twirl. “Yea-ha!” She cheered. Zipp then landed to the other side as she press the gem, which made all the obstacles and the lava while the rest of the Mane 7 and Sparky cheered Pipp as the door opened up as they ran pass Zipp, who they complimented her for their bravery before Sunset and Hitch, with Sparky, are the last ones. “That was close.” Hitch said in relief as the two hooftap together before walking up to the others. “That was really brave, Zipp.” Sunset complemented as she patted Zipp’s back. “Really amazing flying. And great teamwork there, as well for you and Hitch.” She added before catching up with the others. “I thought these tests were suppose to be scary?” Zipp said with a prideful smirk before she entered with the others as the door closed, before she and the others stopped in fright as they look at the walls and saw monster like shadow dragons flying around. The rest of the Mane 7 huddled around Zipp as they all screamed in fight again, with Hitch once again keeping Sparky and Sunny closer to him. “This is scary!” Zipp exclaimed in fear. The shadow dragons flew around them as Sunset charge up her magic and blast around as they were infected. “What are these things?! Shadow Dragons?!” She yelled in panic as she kept blasting them, but they weren’t being effective. “And our attacks not hurting them?! Who in tartarus are these guys!?” She exclaimed as she stopped blasting once she realizes it was useless. A shadow dragon then flew up to Hitch and Sparky, who are looking in wide eyes in fear. “Boo!” It exclaimed. Hitch’s ears dropped in fright. “Retreat!” He exclaimed while Sparky screamed in fright before he burp out his dragon fire in the process as it hit the ceiling, which made the shadow dragon gave a startled gasped. Misty saw this as she gave a smile as Hitch ran back to Sunny as he held her in fright while Sunny gave him a brow from getting startled by a sudden ‘boo’ the shadow dragon simply said. Misty walked up and face the Shadow Dragons with a courageful expression. “Misty! What are you doing?!” Pipp asked in worried as the others saw her facing the shadow dragons. “You’re gonna get smushy!” Izzy exclaimed in worried. Misty just face the giant shadow dragon as it gave a roar at her, but Misty isn’t afraid as she turned to her friends with a smile. “No I’m not. Because I’m not afraid.” She said as she gave a determined expression and face the shadow dragons again as her friends look at her in awe. “My whole life I’ve been a bully, but I learned bullies can only make you afraid, if you ket them.” She said as she lit up her horn. Sunset and Izzy looked at each other as they each gave a determined expression and lit up their horns and ran next to Misty as the three use their magic to shine on the shadow dragons, which the others came up to them with determined expressions as well. “And sometimes, all you need to defeat the darkness, is a little light.” Misty finished with a smile as the Mane 7’s Cutie Marks then started shining as they created a bright light all around the room. The Shadow Dragons all screamed in pain as they all disappeared as the room lit up in sparkling lights as another dragon claw with a gem appeared as the Mane 7 cheered for Misty as the Unicorn gave a smile at her friends’ words. Sunset turned to Misty and place a hoof on her. “Great going, Misty. And, yes, as a reformed bully myself, I can definitely vouch for a lot of that." She said, remembering the time when she was a mean bully during her times in CHS before Twilight help her see the magic of friendship. “Well, us bullies have to learn and face them together, right?” Misty asked with a smile as the two ponies hooftap together. The Mane 7 then entered another room, which only has a small crack and little light shining through it while there was nothing around except a few rocks and dirt. “Huh, guess we should, uh, look for a clue?” Sunny suggested with a small smile. The Mane 7 look around the room while trying to find something that is different. “If this is how Spike wanted things to go through, he should’ve at least plan the last test better.” Sunset commented while kicking some dust. “There’s nothing in here but rocks and dust, which just a small crack with lighting.” She noted. “Oh, I did not dress for this.” Pipp said as she step into the light of the crack, which reflected out of her sparkling scarf as the group turned and saw a dragon breathing. “Wow!” They all exclaimed in awed. “A clue!” Hitch added while pointing at the dragon carving. “Huh?” Pipp asked in confusion before she realizes what she did as she gave a small smile. “Oh, wow.” She said, while in reality, she didn’t mean to do that but it did help. “Looks like someone left a carving of a dragon down here for us to use.” Sunset said as she and Misty inspected it. “Then what do we do with it?” Misty asked in wonder. “I have no idea.” Sunset honestly said as she turned to the others. “If any of you pony have a suggestion, we’re all ears. Because while this carving is a clue, I got nothing.” She stated. Sunny look at the carving while Misty and Sunset kept inspecting it before she notice a claw nail of the dragon sparkling before she remember what Lava said to them. “Bravery, wisdom and creativity.” She muttered before she have an idea as she smiled. “So we need to be creative!” She exclaimed. “And we got jus the pony for the job, Izzy!” Sunset exclaimed with a bright smile. Izzy gave a smile, knowing what they have plans. “Get ready, ponies! It’s about to get Izz-icle! Izz-icle!” She exclaimed while wearing her sunglasses while doing a pose before looking at Pipp. “Pipp, you keep shining!” She instructed as Pipp smiled with sparkles in her eyes. “Zipp, you stand here and spread those big wings wide!” Izzy instructed as she put the surprise Zipp on a spot and raised her hoof and her wings as she then move Hitch to a spot. “Hitch, do you’re earth pony thing right here!” She instructed as she made Hitch summon his Earth Pony magic to grow some plants. “And me and Misty get all snag here!” She then turn Misty’s head as she did the same as the four ponies did a pose. The dragon is glowing up even brighter before they notice two claws not glowing. “It’s not enough! We need at least two other unicorns!” Pipp exclaimed. Sunset and Sunny turned to each other with determined looks as they nodded before Sunny brought out her Alicorn form. “We got it!” Sunny exclaimed. “Scoot over Izzy.” Sunset said as she and Sunny squeeze in. “How’s this?” Sunny asked with a smile. “Yes! Amaze-apice!” Pipp exclaimed joyfully before she frowned. “But why isn’t the door opening?” She asked. Sparky then ran around as he stood in front of the craving while giving a burp, releasing a dragonfire as they then look at the carving of the firebreath the dragon was breathing. Sunset then realizes what. “The dragonfire! We need dragonfire to complete this puzzle!” She exclaimed with a smile. Izzy get what Sunset is saying as she look at Sparky with a smile. “Get ready to fly, little guy!” She said to Sparky as she levitated Sparky, who giggled as he was brought to Zipp’s hooves, which he breaths out a big dragonfire as the carving lit up completely. The Mane 7 all cheered as the carving lit up and a a door opened up, which the Mane 7 exit from as they saw Lava, Blaize, and Tumble waiting for them. Lava then gave a groan. “Never expected to see you ponies again. Not bad.” He said, while also feeling a little impress on how the Mane 7. “Not bad at all.” A familiar voice spoke up as they all looked up and saw a big familiar green and purple dragon flying towards them as he landed behind them as he gave a smile. “Very impressive, ponies.” He said. “Spike!” The Mane 7 exclaimed happily rushed up to him him as he leaned down.  “It’s great to see you, old friend.” Sunset said as she petted Spike’s nuzzle. Spike chuckled as he stood up. “It’s great to see youall  too, Sunset. And I see that Lava gave you ponies the lavarynth test when came by.” He added while giving Lava an amusing look as said dragon rolled his eyes. “Yeah, it was tough at first, but with some teamwork, we manage to pull through.” Sunny said with a smile. “Like how Twilight and her friends once did.” Spike said with a smile, remembering when Twilight and her friends did a challenge in a room to beat. “I hope you weren't singing or dancing in there.” He said with a teasing look. “Singing and dancing?” Pipp asked with a brow. “Well, I felt like singing at first, but why?” She asked. “Because when Twilight and her friends once tried to complete a time challenge of escaping a room, they were about to win, but due to them singing or dancing, they were distracted long enough to lost by a couple of seconds.” Spike said as he gave a laugh, which made the other laughs as well. “Ah, memories.” He said fondly. “Hahahah, that is so like Twilight and the others to do something like that.” Sunset chuckled before giving a solemn look, which Sunny and Spike notice before they nuzzled Sunset, which made her smile as she then turned to Spike. “But seriously, Spike, it was really fun.” “And you ponies passed the tests of the three dragons most talents.” Spike answered as he stood up with Lava, Blaize and Tumble beside him. “Yep. You ponies showed bravery,” Blaize pointed to Zipp first, “Wisdom,” She gestured to Misty, who gave a small smile while placing a hoof on her head. “And creativity.” She finished with Sunny, Sunset and Izzy as the three hooftap each other. “That means, you ponies are now and forever, members of our tribe!” Spike finished with his hand raised, which the Mane 7 smiled from that, especially hearing from the Roya Advisor and current Dragon Lord himself. Tumble then gave a smile at them. “Now, let your inner dragon roar!” He announced. Spike and the other three dragons all breath out their dragonfire and roared into the air. “Roar!” The Mane 7 all roared loudly as their they glowed and their Cutie Marks shined out to the four fires. The fires then made symbol of the Unity crystal with a mixture of four different fires and magic to show the unity of all creature. End of Chapter 62.