Fillydelphia Maze Entrance
Ponies gathered 'round, as two flamboyant ponies in blue and white striped shirts paraded around.
"Yes that's right!" Said the first pony. He was yellow coated and his mane was red and white. "One Hundred bits to the pony who can get to the center!"
"And now, the rules:" Said the second pony. His coat and mane bore the same colors as the first. The only difference was the red mustache he wore. "If you're afraid of getting lost, you will be returned to the entrance. If you close your eyes to long, you return to the entrance. And should you get to the center, we'll buy any treasure you find there for an extra Hundred bits!"
"So the question is:" The first piped up.
"Who will take the bet?" The Second pony finished, looking through the crowd, looking for a good pony to put on the spot. He froze when he saw a strange being step forward, and openly gasped when the creature said:
"I will!"
Fillydelphia Train Station
Ditto jumped awake as a hoof prodded him.
"Excuse me sir," The conductor, a grey earth pony with black hair and a conductor's cap cutie mark, said, prodding Ditto's side, "But unless you want to ride all the way to Manehattan, this is your stop.
"If it's all right," Ditto answered, "I'd rather go to Manehattan."
Fillydelphia Maze Entrance
"I will!" Jason Wright answered, stepping forward.
"Forgive me, but what in Equestria are you?" The first pony asked, obviously startled at Jason's appearance.
"I am a human. My name is jason, and I seek something hidden in the maze." Jason answered, studying the two ponies.
It was then that the brothers noticed the group with this human. Six of the ponies they instantly recognized, especially the orange earth pony with a stetson. Three fillies were there too, one of wich the brothers knew as the filly who was quick to say, 'deal!'
There was a mare with a light rose pink coat, and a darker rose red mane, a long pink horn and a pair of pink wings also adorned her. On either side of the mare was three royal gaurds. Three solar, and three lunar.
A minotaur stood to one side of Jason, while a griffin stood on the other.
"Flim?! Flam?!" Applejack shouted, rage showing clearly on her face, "What in tarnation are you two doin' here?!"
"Why, is it a crime to hold a test of courage? After all, we practically gain nothing here!" Flim answered, a devilish grin on his face, "And I will put your question right back, why are you here with this, human?" the last word said with disgust.
"Because Equestria will fall under attack any day, and only through gathering a certain set of armor can stop it." Twilight answered.
Jason then shot her a 'What the frick?' look. "And to further complicate the matter, Celestia is a statue at the center of the maze, a Changeling in her place. So if you value living free, or at all, move." Jason explained, drawing Excalibur to prove his point.
"Well," Flam said, his face paling at the cold sword, "when you put it like that, yeah, go ahead. But if you'll let us introduce ourselves. . ."
"Fine." Jason answered, his tone growing impatient.
Both brothers cleared their throats.
*Ahem**Ahem*
"SSSSTTOOOOOOOOPPPPPPP!!!!!" Pinkie yelled, throwing one of her hooves into each of the brothers mouths.
Everypony stared.
"What?" Pinkie declared, "Time is of the essence! I have a new Pinkie sense, A cold chill down the back, Hair on end, and wet eyes! I'm sorry guys, somepony's about to die!"
No pony, (or person) said anything.
"They die," Pinkie continued, "In the maze."
The Maze
Jason was lost in thought, who was going to die? How did Pinkie know? And what if it destroys the group?
"I can't tell you, the Author told me, and that is up to us to decide." Pinkie rattled off, as if she read his mind. "Oh, and yeah, I read your mind Jason."
Jason shuddered at the strange pony and walked further ahead, his natural tracking skills taking over. But then he noticed something strange, the walls were made of stone, and the tunnel had opened into a room.
"This maze is unlike any I have ever seen." Razor commented, looking at a design on the wall.
"How did every thing turn to stone?" Twilight asked in wonder, her eager eye's taking in the ancient pictures of war.
"Jason," Rose called, tapping him in the leg, "Are you alright?"
Everypony turned to the Human. For he was frozen in the center of the room.
"Well no wonder someone will die here." He said aloud, "We are in the most dangerous, oldest, largest, magical. and intricate maze of them all. Crafted by a madman, who was bent on freedom. Guarded by a creature that was shunned by all. We stand in the most famous maze in human history. This, is the Labyrinth of Daedalus. And it is the test of Hope."
"A-and how do you know?" Fluttershy asked in a shaky voice, her head peeking out from behind Rage's legs.
"Because I'm looking at The Minotaur." Jason spoke calmly, Excalibur humming as he drew it from it's sheath.
Jason said only one word as he dropped the torch.
"Run!"
The Labyrinth
Before the light was snuffed out, the group saw what Jason meant: A huge beast, with a human chest and arms. A head and kegs of a bull. The Minotaur was the maze guardian, and he was reading the first charge.
Screams could be heard, everypony ran this way and that. Only Jason, who's sword was glowing, could see The Minotaur charge. But before Jason could swing, Rage grabbed the beast.
"Run friend, the world needs your group in the end. The Oracle showed me what I must do, and what you will do." Rage yelled at Jason. Throwing the Minotaur against the wall
"No!" Jason yelled in confusion. He watched helplessly as the two went back and forth. Each one growing weak. Finally, the Minotaur had Rage in a headlock. Rage began to cough as the oxygen was cut off.
Rage looked at Jason as his eye's teared up, "See that I get a proper burial. And tell my wife, 'Utopia is coming, spread the word, Utopia is coming!' And that I love her. Creator Speed, dear King!" And then a mighty snap was heard as Rage's eye's rolled up intohis head.
Pinkie was right. And now Rage was dead.
Jason looked at the Minotaur. "I will kill you for that!" He yelled, only to freeze at a new voice.
No, run. This enemy is beyond you.
Jason didn't know where it came from, but he heeded it's advice and ran.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in the Labyrinth, Nine ponies cried as Rose read Spike's account of the fall of Ponyville.
Hope was lost.