Royal Canterlot Training Grounds
Jason yelled as he flanked left, circling around his target. Rose had two spells going about her as Jason made another pass. The first was a shield spell to lessen the damage caused by Jason's sword. The second was a lightning spell to keep her pupils on their feet. Suddenly and without warning, Twilight Sparkle appeared in front Rose, and in a moment of shock released the shield spell. With a smug look on her face, Twilight tapped Rose's leg with her hoof.
"Tag, I win." Twilight cheered as Jason jogged up, sweat trickling down his neck.
"Good one.' He panted, giving Twilight a hoof bump. But to their surprise, Rose laughed.
"And you think that that tactic would work in real life?" Rose demanded, almost sounding cross.
"What, it worked didn't it?" Jason asked, confusion present.
Rose then gave him a death stare. "When you face your sister, she will not be easily jumped. And she is going for the kill. You have to be prepared for anything."
"Jane may want to kill me, but I still want her to be safe." Jason answered, glaring at Rose.
Before Rose could respond, Jason began to shrink until he was Pony sized. As he shrunk, he began to change color and shape, until finally, he was a changling. With a sheepish smile, Ditto looked up at Rose.
"Ditto, where is Jason?" Rose asked in a mock kind voice.
"Um, Jason said something about following the CMC to the crystal catacombs, and asked me to disguise as him." Ditto said flinching as if he expected to be hit.
Twilight's head snapped up. "The CMC?! What was Jason thinking?!" She yelled.
Rose stepped forward. "Twilight calm yourself, you can yell when Jason and the crusaders are safely back. For now, we go after them."
The Crystal Catacombs
Somewhere Below Canterlot
"What were you girls thinking?!" Jason yelled when he finally caught up to the runaway Crusaders.
"Well, you guys were taking to long with your training, and we thought we could scout out the caves after we found out where the entrance was." Sweetie explained, a guilty look on her face.
Jason just sighed, "Well, seeing as we're here, might as well look around." As he spoke, Jason looked around the cavern, taking notice of the five hallways that went in different directions, one of them being the one that leaves the caves. "Come on." Jason said to the crusaders as he picked a tunnel at random.
As the group walked away, a chuckling began, and a deep voice whispered, "Soon."
Entrance To The Crystal Catacombs
Rose sighed, "He went further into the cave, and I think something is following him. Something big."
"Then let's hurry, we have no time to spare." Razor Talons exclaimed, taking off down the entrance tunnel.
"Wait! We don't know what tunnel to take!" Twilight yelled to no avail as everyone followed Razor into the caves. As soon as Twilight entered the cave, the wall slid shut, and a strange laugh followed. Turning towards the sound, Twilight froze in fear. For no more than Ten feet from her was various sized balls of webbing hanging from the ceiling, and in the center of them stood a Giant Spider.
All Twilight could say was, "Who are you?!"
The spider chuckled, "I am the guardian of this cave, it's riches, and the armor your friend seeks. My name is Timor, and I am the spider of fear."
The Crystal Catacombs
Timor's Lair
Jason and the crusaders entered a large, nearly open cavern. In front of them was a small river which divided the room. On the other side of the river was a large staircase, covered in gold. On top of the stairs was a pedestal, on which a pair of gauntlets sat "There they are!" Scootaloo cried, flinging herself into the water. Shortly afterwards, the other Crusaders followed her in.
"Wait!" Jason yelled, but it was too late, the girls stopped halfway across the water with fear upon their faces. In front of them stood a woman who was partly see-through. Her long shockingly white hair flowed as if it were underwater.
Transfixed by her appearance, Jason asked, "Who are you?"
With a slow smile, the woman answered, "I am Sarai, the Oracle of the Waters, and the guardian of this test."
Jason blinked, "Test? What test?" He asked.
"The test of fear." The Oracle whispered, her voice chilling Jason to the bone.
"What?' Jason asked again, still unsure about this.
"You have entered the chamber of Timor, of Fear." The Oracle explained patiently, "And to escape alive, with your young friends, you must pass the Test of Fear."