Twilight Sparkle, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Silver Spoon, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy found themselves inside another jungle. The trees and bushes were vermillion and the azure night sky was decorated with stars.
Rainbow Dash said, “...And then I swooped down to save Rarity and...”
Scootaloo listened to every word of Rainbow Dash’s tale. Rarity was a little embarrassed about the Young Flyers Competition.
Scootaloo said, “That was so awesome. I wish I could had seen you pull off the Sonic Rainboom back then.” She felt a little safer with Rainbow Dash nearby.
Rainbow Dash heard something in the distance. “Look out!” She took Scootaloo and dodged a nearby arrow. By that point the other ponies were ahead of Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. The arrow hit the tree. There was a suction cup on the arrow.
A pegasus whose coat matched the orange ground approached them. “Not bad, kid.” He had a bow strapped to his back.
“Who are you?” Rainbow Dash said.
“Name’s Sagittarius.” the pegasus said. His blank tail swooped around as he left. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo chased the mysterious archer.
Meanwhile, Twilight, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Silver Spoon, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were a few yards away from Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.
“Hey,” Apple Bloom said. “Where’s Scootaloo?”
Applejack looked around. “Rainbow Dash is gone too.”
The eight ponies looked around for the pegasi.
Apple Bloom Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon were nearby a pyramid. Apple Bloom noticed a crystal that matched her sister’s coat in hue. The crystal was attached to an arrow.
Apple Bloom knew what that crystal would likely be, but she had an irresistible urge to touch it. Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon tried to restrain her from touching the crystal.
“Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said. “Please stop.”
“I can’t,” Apple Bloom said. “That crystal is so pretty.”
Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle slipped and Apple Bloom went towards the crystal. She picked up the shiny orange crystal and it flashed.
Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity saw the flash.
“What was that?” Applejack said.
Pinkie shrugged. The five mares went to find the source of the light.
In another location. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo saw the flash.
“Is that...” Scootaloo said. She hoped it wasn’t a warp crystal.
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo went to find the source of the flash.
Rainbow dash and Scootaloo found a vermillion temple. There, they saw Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Applejack nearby.
“There you are!” Twilight said.
“Where have you been?” Applejack said.
“We chased some pegasus named Sagittarius when we saw some flash from here,” Rainbow Dash said.
“We saw that flash as well,” Rarity said. “But if you’re here then that means--”
“That three fillies are warped by the crystals?”
Sagittarius descended from the nighttime sky. behind him were the gates and the entrance to the temple.
Scootaloo saw an arrow lodged inside the temple walls, an orange warp crystal was tied to the arrow. “Did you do this?”
Sagittarius said, “Maybe I did.”
Scootaloo said. “Where are my friends?”
Sagittarius said. “They’re in the tomb of Chiron.” He looked at the mares. “You came here to help free these fillies?”
Rainbow Dash said. “Of course!”
The archer said, “Then you must know that they have to be tested as well. If you can find the golden idols and escape the tomb, then you can free them and move on to the next trial.”
“Did you say idols?” Twilight Sparkle said.
Sagittarius nodded.”There are three golden idols, for now. Find them all and escape, and you’re free to proceed. This temple if filled with booby traps placed there by the archmage Chiron.”
“I’ve heard about Chiron,” Twilight said. “He was one of Star Swirl the Bearded’s many students.”
Sagittarius said, “Correct.”
Scootaloo was a bit puzzled. She wondered why she and the other Crusaders thought up something like this temple. But right now, she knew that there are more important matters.
RaInbow Dash said, “I’m going in.” She thought about all those Daring Do books she read. She knew she was ready for this.
“Rarity, can I borrow that hide you got from Leo.” Scootaloo said.
Rarity said, “Um,” She was a little hesitant to hand it over to a small filly. But she realized that she might need the protection. “Sure.” She gave Scootaloo the near invincible hide. “But why?”
“I want to help Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo said. “I can’t just stand by with my friends are in trouble.”
Rainbow Dash was a little hesitant. “Are you sure you can handle it kid?”
Scootaloo draped the hide around her back. “Positive.”
“Alright then,” Rainbow Dash was a little bit careful.
Sagittarius snarked, “Watch out for crystal skulls.”
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo went into the temple. The other mares tried to follow but after the pegasi went in the entrance closed.
“Hey!” Pinkie Pie said.
“Don’t worry,” Sagittarius said, “If they come back with the idols then they have another escape soon.”
The ponies just stood in front of the temple. they hoped that Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo would be alright.
Inside the temple, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were in awe of the elaborate entrance chamber. Bronze statues adorn the chamber as there were elegant pictures on the floor and walls. The duo ventured further into the tomb.
There at an hallway. Rainbow Dash saw Scootaloo stepped on a loose stone with an image of a snake and pulled her back. Arrows emerged from holes on the walls and it the other wall. The projectiles dripped a poisonous azure liquid.
Scootaloo gulped at the sight of the liquid. “Thanks.”
Rainbow Dash, “No problem.” She looked forward. “We have to be careful, any place we step on could be a trap.”
Scootaloo said, “Got it.”
The two looked down and saw the floor was adorned with images of animals. Rainbow Dash saw images of black snakes, azure dragons, vermillion phoenixes, white tigers, and chartreuse bears. There was an inscription on the button. “The one who guards the east guards it a sacred hoard with breath of flames, the one who guards of the north drips poison with every bite, the one guarding the west has a coat of snow, and the one who guards the south burns with hellfire.”
Rainbow Dash noticed that the puzzle looked similar to the one Daring Do had encountered. She knew that the inscription was significant somehow.
“Okay,” Scootaloo said. “So snakes are out. Any ideas?”
Rainbow Dash remembered the dragon hibernating in a mountain. “I know that Dragons hoard their treasures.”
“That’s right!” Scootaloo. “But why is that important?”
“I have a feeling that the inscription’s missing something important.” She recalled when she, Rarity and Twilight had to help Spike stop other dragons. She remembered the phoenixes there. “The phoenix is also out. it usually appears to be covered in fiery feathers.”
“Usually?” Scootaloo said.
“Well, they molt when dying,” Rainbow Dash said. “The tiger is out too. It’s kinda obvious.” She looked at the tiles with the white tiger.
Scootaloo said, “But none of them are as poisonous like the snake, right?”
“That’s right,” Rainbow Dash said. “Which leaves.”
“The bear!” Scootaloo said. She jumped on a tile with a chartreuse bear on it. Nothing happened. The pegasi’s hunch was correct. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo hopped on the chartreuse bear tiles and soon, they were past the corridor.
Scootaloo felt safe. She felt like with the Nemean’s skin draped around her Rainbow Dash by her side, that nothing could hurt her.
After a while, The two were inside another chamber. In the center of the chamber was a golden idol. The idol looked like Apple Bloom.
Rainbow Dash said, “One down, two to go. Just run if the pedestal collapses.”
Scootaloo picked up the idol. “Got it.” The chamber rumbled and the pedestal collapsed. The two galloped as far away from it as possible. Two of the walls slowly moved towards each other as the pegasi galloped to the exit. The tiles that made up the floor dropped, revealing an abyss below.
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were almost at the exit of the chamber. But the walls were closing in. Scootaloo made it out with the Apple Bloom idol, but Rainbow Dash was still inside. She said, “Hurry!” She saw the wall were a few yards away.
The tiles that made up the path back collapsed under Rainbow Dash just as she was at the door. She tried to fly, but something prevented her from doing so. She fell into the abyss as the walls collided.
Scootaloo was stunned. She said, “No, no, no...” She tried to process the fact that Rainbow Dash wouldn't be able to survive the crashed walls. She thought she would never see Rainbow Dash again.
“Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” Scootaloo shouted to the deep expanse of the corridor, but nopony could hear her.
Rainbow Dash woke up on a sea of sand. It was too dark for her to see the ceiling. She try to fly but something kept her wings from opening. She looked around and saw that her turquoise wings and hind hooves are now gold.
Rainbow Dash was shock to see the development. She had to find Scootaloo and the other two idols quickly. She galloped to find a way out. Along the way, she saw various pillars rising out of the sand.
Scootaloo mourned around the temple. Tears rolled down her eyes as she trotted around the part of the temple where she saw Rainbow Dash fell to her demise.
“I can’t do it,” she said. She remembered the good times she had with her friends, crusading for their cutie marks.
“You’re weaker than I thought!”
Chartreuse energy poured out of the Nemean armor. An apparition of Diamond Tiara appeared in front of Scootaloo. This spirit had wings and a horn of ice. The illusion said, ”You’re not even good enough to get your cutie mark. Let alone save your friends.” She cackled evilly.
Scootaloo glared at the illusion. “That’s not true!”
The illusion of Diamond Dust chuckled gain. “Oh, really? You couldn't even save your idol, your friends can’t help you now. You’re all alone!”
Scootaloo was angered. “Shut up!” She charged the illusion, but it disappeared. She felt hurt.
She thought some more about Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and realized that right now, her friends needed her. She looked at the Apple Bloom idol.
Scootaloo looked forward, her confidence brimming. She thought ‘Up to this point, Rainbow Dash went to save us. But now that she’s gone, it’s up to me now. I promise you that I won’t let you down!’
She galloped deeper into the temple.
Scootaloo saw another set of tiles. This time without an inscription. The tiles depicted bats, cats, hats, rats, and geese. Scootaloo thought about the previous tile puzzle. She saw that most of the things depicted rhymed, except for the goose tiles. She stepped on one of the goose tiles, but another volley of arrows emerged from the wall.
Scootaloo ducked the arrows. She looked back at the puzzle. “Okay, no geese.” She looked at the puzzle again and noticed another oddity. She tried stepping on a hat tile. Nothing happened. “Phew,” She said. She hopped on the hat tiles and passed the obstacles.
She looked back and saw the tiles and walls were changing. They shifted into a door. Scootaloo went in to find what lay beyond.
She saw another idol. This time the idol resembled Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo looked above and saw small holes on the walls and ceiling. She was careful not to set off any traps. She noticed that she felt a little heavier than usual and that her movement slowed.
Scootaloo was a few feet away from the pedestal. She was cautious. She took the idol and swung the Nemean hide around.
The holes let loose many arrows. Scootaloo used the indestructible hide to deflect the projectiles, than she ran out of the door.
She got out with two of the golden idols. She was about to pluck the arrows off the hide when she saw that her forehooves were solid gold.
“What the hay?” She saw that her wings and hind hooves were also gold. She realized that this was the reason she felt heavier than usual. She felt scared again. She put the hide back on and galloped deeper into the temple. ‘I have to hurry,” Scootaloo thought. She tried to go faster, but the weight of her cloth, the idols, and her solid gold hooves and wings impeded her speed.
She accidentally stepped on a stone, and boulders fell. She tried to evade the boulders but was too slow. A boulder landed on top of her. The hide stopped it from killing her, but it was now caught under the bolder.
The idols fell to the ground. Scootaloo tried to move, but the invincible hide was still caught under the boulder. She saw another boulder was about to fall. She took of the hide and charged forward. She grabbed the idols. Soon after, the hallway behind her collapsed and fell into the abyss.
Scootaloo saw another doorway and entered.
Rainbow Dash was trekking the underbelly of the tomb. Her hind legs were now solid gold. She struggled to moved with her gilded legs and wings. She wondered how in Equestria did she survive the fall.
She saw some debris fell in the distance. She also saw the Nemean hide that Scootaloo was wearing. She galloped to the rubble and took out the hide.
“Scootaloo?” Rainbow Dash said. She moved some of the rubble away. “Scootaloo?” She removed the rubble to find the filly, but she was nowhere to be found. She hoped that Scootaloo was alright.
Rainbow Dash saw a flight of stairs in the distance. She took the hide and ascended the stairs.
Scootaloo was in another chamber. She saw a third idol on the pedestal. The idol looked like Silver Spoon.
Most of Scootaloo’s body had become solid gold. She struggled to move towards the idol. She slowly crawled towards the pedestal.
The idols started to glow. Scootaloo moved slightly faster now. The gold on her body receded a little. Scootaloo moved closer to the idol. She touched the idol and it flashed.
Nearby Rainbow Dash ascended to the peak of the stairs and into the chamber. She noticed that the gold on her body was slowly disappearing. She saw Scootaloo nearby a portal and galloped toward her.
Scootaloo didn’t notice Rainbow Dash. Her eyes were focused on a portal that appeared in front of her. She heard some familiar screams.
“Guys?” Scootaloo said. She felt a little bit scared, but she knew she came this far, and that she won’t abandon them now.
Scootaloo took a closer look into the portal and saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon climbing their way up. “Guys!”
“Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom said.
Scootaloo noticed that the three fillies are coated in gold. The weight of their gilded bodies weighed them down and impeded their climb. Scootaloo held out her hoof and noticed that it was coated in gold again.
Apple Bloom latched onto Scootaloo’s hoof. Silver Spoon climbed up and held Apple Bloom’s tail and Sweetie Belle held one of Silver Spoon’s hind legs. Their combined weight caused Scootaloo to slide deeper into the portal. She tried to pull them out of the portal, but the weight of the gilded fillies in turn pulled Scootaloo deeper into the portal, coating her fur and mane in gold in the process.
‘Come on,’ Scootaloo thought. She fear that this was the end. Her body continued to slide into the portal, and all but her tail is covered in gold now. She felt somepony tugging at her tail.
Scootaloo looked back and saw Rainbow Dash pulling her away from the portal. She was happy to see that Rainbow Dash was alive, but she remembered that her friends needed her help. The two pegasi pulled the gilded fillies out of the portal. Rainbow Dash’s strength overcoming the weight of the four gilded fillies. Soon, they were out of the portal and the fillies coats and mane and tails reverted to their natural hue and weight.
Scootaloo hugged Rainbow Dash. “You’re alive!”
Rainbow Dash blushed. “Easy, kid.” She was a little relieved to see Scootaloo and the others were safe.
The chamber rumbled as the temple started to collapse. Rainbow Dash saw the three idols and picked them up. “Let’s go!”
The five ponies began their escape from the crumbling tomb. Rainbow Dash saw a hole on the ceiling.
“We have to fly!” Rainbow Dash said. She placed Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle on her back. Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom held to her hooves. “Hold on! This is gonna get bumpy.”
Rainbow Dash flew up while carrying the fillies. They dodged the rubble as it fell and evaded several obstacles. Soon, they flew out of the temple as it collapsed beneath the azure sky.
Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Sweetie belle, Apple Bloom, and Silver Spoon flew to the front of the now ruined temple.
Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Sagittarius saw Rainbow Dash descend to the vermillion with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Silver Spoon.
Applejack and Rarity were relieved to see their sisters were safe.
The filles climbed off Rainbow Dash. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hugged their sisters.
Sagittarius looked at Scootaloo. “Well. Look at how far you went without Rainbow Dash carrying your hoof all the time.”
Rainbow Dash handed Sagittarius the idols. “Here are your idols!” She fumed at the thought that the archer pegasus would harm fillies like that.
Sagittarius took the idols to the gates. There theidol s disappeared into azure dust. The dust formed the sigh for Sagittarius (♐) on the gates. He looked back at Scootaloo. “You have proven yourself ready to move on to the next trial. There are three trials left.”
Twilight Sparkle noticed that in order, Pinkie Pie, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Fluttershy, Silver Spoon, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and now Scootaloo had been tested. She realized that she was the only one that hasn’t had a trial. She felt a little anxious.
Rainbow Dash handed Rarity her Nemean hide. The ponies entered the gates.