//------------------------------// // Legend's of the Hidden Laboratory // Story: Out of my Element // by TheLostwriter //------------------------------// Out of my Element Chapter 11: Legend's of the Hidden Laboratory In the three days since my first test flight I had flown several times, and with the exception of the first had crashed on every landing. Rainbow and I had an interesting conversation about my new abilities. She figured I could probably fly higher than any pegasus on record. However she also had decided that I was not going to impress any of the top flyers in Equestria with my maneuvering ability or speed, seeing as I could be out flown by a chicken. In the end I had been somewhat afraid of becoming addicted to magic use but now I knew I was addicted to flight. No one was particularly happy when I had told them about the deal that I had made with Logia but none were upset. However when Firestorm insisted on accompanying her into the lab there were several unhappy faces, including mine. I had stayed silent through the whole conversion, knowing if I spoke I would end up losing somehow. Dealing with these mares was becoming more and more complicated. I never had this kind of problem back home, but of course I never would have had six women hanging out with me on a daily basis back home. I snorted a breath out of my nose and received a glare from Logia along with an unreadable expression from Twilight and Rarity. Whatever, I thought. If I couldn't breathe without digging myself a hole might as well get this started. "Everyone got their stuff," I asked as I walked over to tap on the floor. The replies were mostly silent a few sharp glances, or nods along with Fluttershy muttering something I couldn't understand. I stood smiling beside the now open trap door as everyone began to funnel through. The yellow pegasus however took each step with trepidation as she slunk along behind the group her eyes sliding around looking everywhere but down the path. "Fluttershy," I said as softly as I could. Unfortunately her name caught in my throat so I cleared it with a grumble, which was met by a squeak and a jump from her. She turned her jump into a dive down the stairs and I followed with a slight smile. My eyes followed her as she went, and I couldn't help but laugh. Damn did you get a good look at that fine filly's flank, asked a familiar voice in my head. My laughter was cut short and I felt the color drain from my face as a chill ran up my back. I thought I told you to go away, if it was possible for a thought to be growled this one was. Aw, come on Steel it's so boring in here. All I get to do all day is sit and watch what you watch. I can't help but notice all the lovely ladies out there, and sometimes I just can't stop myself. The voice began to ramble as I slowly began to start down the stairs. They were a much harder challenge than I expected especially when during the voices rambling I heard it say, and I'm stuck back here with the other one he's even less fun than you are. That statement almost caused me to miss a step and tumble the rest of the way down. Wait you're both there, the thought popped in my mind as I was formulating another thought. Yes, of course, said another voice slightly less manic than the first. You're lord of this body for now and thanks to the wards on your mind, I can't gain anymore strength. However it is a boon as well, I don't think any of us would be whole without it. I stopped on the stairs and pinched my eyes shut and thought, will you two... What would I tell them, go away, like that would work. I sighed and continued, do you think it would be possible for you two to stay quiet for a bit longer. I can't say for my cell mate but as long as you are proceeding in a way that gains us power I have no objection, the second voice said in a suave manner. The thought was followed with the feeling of a smile. Hey it can't hurt to look, said the other voice, I mean come on I bet you could have bagged half of them by now. You haven't even tried the pity card with you being a cripple, and I bet that fire maned one would be fun in a love hate kind of way. Well more of a hate, hate kind of way but that could be fun. Shut up, I roared in my mind. The thought was followed by silence, "this is going to be a pain," I muttered as I started back down the stairs.   By the time I had reached the first landing Twilight and Logia where examining the puzzle and Rarity was repeating what she remembered from the first attempt. The tension between Rainbow and Firestorm was slowly becoming palpable and I was becoming concerned that this expedition was going to fail before it started. When the unicorns announced that they had figured out the puzzle. After a few moments of silence AJ asked, "Alright already what is it?" "The last time we were here Star Swirl said something about this being a test of intelligence courage and loyalty," began Twilight. When Twilight paused to breathe Logia took over the explanation with as much exuberance as the previous mare. "Courage is obviously the act of crossing the chasm, intelligence is discovering out how and loyalty..." "Loyalty," said Twilight pushing her way back to control of the lecture, "is working together and trusting each other as we cross." "And not leaving anyone behind," added Logia.   "Right," replied Twilight with a slight nod of her head. "So how does that help," asked Firestorm her voice dripping with irritation and her eye's still watching Rainbow. "It means," snapped Logia before switching to a friendless tone, "that you and Rainbow Dash will fly up above and direct us along the path." As she spoke she smiled slightly in a way that was very unfriendly and appeared more of a bare toothed growl.   Rainbow perked up at the sound of her name and asked, "Why don't we just teleport across? I know there are a lot of us but Twilight's jumped four of us days of travel before and that gap is what just fifty feet or so." "I can't, at least I don't think I can," she began to stutter and her face was marked by embarrassment due to the stares from Logia and Firestorm. "Well I think that would nullify the test and last time we were drained and transported out for that." "You can teleport," repeated Firestorm in awe. "Yes, no one's ever made a big deal about it, and I've never kept it a secret." "I wish I could do that," muttered Logia, "I'm only good at animation spells and scanning." "We all excel in different areas; I for one excel in fashion and finding gems. So if we can hurry this up I would rather like to get done with this expedition and out of this dirt quickly. It took hours to get truly clean after our last trip down here." Everyone looked at Rarity, several with a look of disbelief, as she spoke. After a nervous laugh she added, "Well and I can sense some of the gems we are searching for further on and for me to sense them at this range there must be a large amount present." I silently stood by, I had done my bit for this challenge, finding the start of the path. However if what I had seen and read of Star Swirl in the past few months where any indication all the challenges left by Jack would be based on some form of movie or overdone cliché. "Steel!" I looked up at whoever had called me and found most of the mares looking at me. Rainbow tossed her head and asked, "You coming?" "Yeah sorry I was just caught up in thought, just be aware that the tests are at the least as tricky as the ones in the Daring Do books." Logia partially held back a laugh, and Rainbows smile widened as she said, "then it's a good thing I'm an expert." I nodded my head with a smile and then followed the group as they started down the stone bridge. Firestorm and Rainbow Dash had taken flight and were hovering above the walkway directing Twilight who was in the lead. I was tense as I walked not just for the narrow bridge and the unending chasm below, but since I was following AJ I was waiting for the inevitable comment from one of my mental passengers. As tense as I was it was a guaranteed thing that I jumped when a ball of fire shot past at one of the flying pegasi. Several things happened at once Fluttershy squeaked and pounced on my back wrapping her forelegs around my neck, and Firestorm was enveloped in a purple shield the magic’s color was a giveaway to who cast it. The ball of flame broke like fluid against the shield and the sound of a second ball incoming caused Logia to wrap Dash in a similar shield. The two unicorns had just made the turn and from comparing the look on their faces the archaeologist was straining to cast the protective bubble. I locked up and tried to make breathing easier against the near choke hold of my panicked rider.   Applejack saw the strain in Logia as well and hollered, "don't worry I got ya Logia, you just focus on keeping' that shield up." She ducked her head slid under the mare and stood up carrying the unicorn on her back. "Alright let's get going," she said in an equally loud voice. I pinched my eyes shut and watched the path that I followed keeping my view obscured. I didn't want to give the voice in my head anything to comment on. Unfortunately I discovered that didn't work as the voices began to return. Hey come on man, the feeling of that honey on our back is nice but if you don't at least give me something to look at I'll go nut’s The other voice started up, Shut it, if you distract him and he falls I will find out if I can kill you before we hit the ground. Don't worry he can fly. Only a little better than a rock. Shut it, I ordered in my mind as I took another trepid step, the pegasus on my back not helping at all.   Firestorm and Rainbow continued to give instructions trusting the shields, but both encouraging faster movement along the path. I was nearing the second turn when Twilight reached the end shortly followed by AJ carrying Logia. Dash landed allowing Logia to stop her spell and letting Firestorm direct me I made the next turn. Soon I was across the stone bridge followed by Pinkie and Fluttershy had gingerly climbed off my back.   As soon Rarity's hoof left the bridge the blue glowing image of Star Swirl reappeared along with the booming voice.  "Congratulations, My Little Ponies," at this distance I could have sworn he wore a slight smile as he said that, "You have passed the first test, five more remain. From now on you will be judged on a more individual nature. In," it gestured to the nearby wall and which shimmered and disappeared, "the next room you will find a chest. I leave you with that." The image warped slightly before dispersing, returning the room to the light given off by the small stone strips. "Alright let's get going," shouted Firestorm as she bolted into the next room. Through the door I could see her search the room and then a toothy smile spread across her face. "Come on the next door is open," she shouted and she dived across the room entering the next doorway about the time I entered the room. Logia was ahead of me and had time to shout for Firestorm to stop before the fire orange pegasus was surrounded by a light blue swirling energy and then she was gone. Star Swirl's booming voice returned echoing through cavern, "Your friend is unharmed but failed the test she will be waiting for you to finish." The silence that came after the statement was deafening until Twilight walked up to the chest and said, "Six test, six Elements of Harmony, and the first test was loyalty. This one has to be generosity; do you think Star Swirl left these tests for us, the holders of the Elements?" I gave a weak smile and said, "I don't know but  from what I've read he would know of the Elements and wouldn't put it past him to do just that. Where we came from there are several tests in popular media that would qualify for tests against the Element qualities."  I walked up beside her, pulled out my reader and placed it in the chest. I looked back at Twilight and Logia, their faces matched and showed they as well knew how to pass the test as well. Logia pulled out the contract we had signed from her saddle bag and placed it in the box. "What," she asked at my expression, "I just like to be prepared for all occasions." I smiled slightly and stepped away from the box as Twilight placed her item in a journal, she had been taking notes on this adventure.  She then turned to the others and told them what was needed. Applejack sighed and said, "All I've got is my hat," before taking it off. She gave the felt brim a light stroke with her hoof before asking, "Do you think we'll get them back?" "I don't know, but if this is a test of generosity, I would say that is a definite possibility," I said. The pained look on her face pulled at my heartstrings causing me to look away into the rooms exit door. I heard AJ place the hat in the chest followed by Rainbow saying, "What are Fluttershy, Pinkie and I suppose to do we don't have anything." "Wrong," sang Pinkie, "I have my emergency party supplies." I turned around to see her placing a small box into the chest, “how," I asked. Her answer was cut off by Twilight's answer to Rainbow. "What do you hold close, closer to your heart than anything else?" Rainbows eyes widened and she moaned, "No, really you can't be serious. You expect me to pull a pinion out for this." "You can fly missing one," countered the purple mare. "Yeah, but it throws my flight dynamics off," she landed looking in the box then back to everyone who had already place an item then back. "Oh pony feathers, I'll do it," she muttered as she grabbed one of her smaller pinions and pulled it out with a wince. The cyan feather drifted into the chest. Fluttershy was sitting down thinking and when everyone looked at her she drew up in a defensive position. "I don't have anything," she said softer than a whisper, "I mean nothing I have is as important to me as what all of you gave up." "Don't worry about it sugar cube, none of us expected this so just put what you can in the box." Applejack spoke as she walked over to put a hoof on the shy pegasus. "Okay," she said in her hushed voice, "I will try." She walked over and whispered something into the chest. "What did you give it," asked Logia. "I told it I would try my best not to hold us back by being scared," answered Fluttershy Rarity grumbled something that sounded like not again before magically shearing off half her tail and placing it in the chest. As soon as her mane touched the inside of the box the lid slammed shut and the whole thing phased out of existence. The chests disappearance was quickly followed by Star Swirl announcing, "Thank you for your generous offering it was more than adequate."            Dash then asked, "so that means it worked right?" "Only one way to find out," I said and took a step towards the exit. By the time I had reached the door Rainbow had already flown through with Pinkie bounding along behind her. As I walked through I was passed by every other pony but Fluttershy.  They had turned around to watch the ones behind walk through as did I, all be it slowly. Fluttershy was slowly walking towards the door the constant battle between terror and inner strength played across her face forming a look of shaky resolve. When she reached the doorway she paused slightly hoof raised just about to cross the threshold. In that instant she closed her eyes and forced the hoof down a second followed quickly and with each successive step her pace quickened until she was in the next room. The new room was the same size as the previous except for a totem pole of three laughing faces replaced the chest and no obvious exit. Pinkie took one look at the statue and announced, "Wheee, now it's my time to shine, what do, I do?" The unicorns looked at eachother then at me and when I shrugged, rather ungainly in the brace; they began to study the statue. Their horns glowed but nothing happened. I quickly deduced they were searching for any magical residue, at least that’s what I would be doing if I could. Scanning was another fun little trick that I couldn't do with the rig or at least I hadn't figured out to cast a spell that would feed the information back to me. That whole line of thought felt like a bad idea having the magical power flowing back into my mind when I had very little idea how a human brain worked, let alone my current one. After several passes around the statue by the unicorns it began to speak with three voices as one. "Stop that tickles, that type of laughter's no fun, there is no challenge. Why don't you try a joke?" With this Pinkie began to laugh, "So it's a joke challenge, this will be fun. I love jokes! But I hate poison joke! That stuff is nasty! What do you get when you cross a..." "Pinkie dear," began Rarity, “don't you think it would be wise for you to go last in case some pony needs help?" "Oooh, that is a good idea," replied the pink earth pony. "Who wants’ to go first, I'm not much of a joke teller," asked AJ. Logia followed AJ with her own question, "What are the rules"          I stepped forward and threw my hat in the ring. "I have a fair number of jokes to try," I offered. There were several glances around the group before AJ said, "well shoot, I don't see why not, give it a go." "Alright," I said before turning to the statue. "Why do ducks, have flat feet," there was silence while the room waited for the punchline, "to stomp out forest fires." No one laughed and the top statue lit up from the inside. "Okay then, why do elephants have flat feet," again silence was all I heard, "to stomp out burning ducks." Pinkie broke into laughter at this and a few snorts of suppressed laughter came from behind but on the statue the middle face lit up. I exhaled through my nose and thought for my best joke, "Did you hear about the Siamese twin elephants joined at the truck? When one sneezed the other ones eye's got real big." Several distinct laughs joined Pinkies along with the laughter from the bottom face echoed in the room. Once the laughter died the three voices began to speak as one again, "you have earned the right to pass to the next room." Once they finished speaking a doorway appeared simmering as the rock face dissolved into light and then disappeared.   I smiled slightly and then looked back at the rest of the group, "I'll see you on the other side." I walked into the next room as I heard Rainbow trying to convince Fluttershy to go next and to use the great joke she had told here earlier. The next room was similar to the first a deep chasm but with a rickety rope and wood slat bridge across. I turned around to see the yellow pegasus step up to the statue. "Knock knock," she asked. "Who's there," replied the three voices of the statue. "Interrupting cow." "Interrupting cow wh..." "MOOOOO!!" I couldn't help but chuckle as the soft spoken pegasus told her joke and apparently I wasn't the only one who found it funny as the statue broke into laughter along with everyone else. Once the roar of laughter died down the statue repeated the same instructions that it had given me. Twilight eagerly stepped up to replace Fluttershy with a wide toothy grin on her face and blurted out "There were two peanuts, walking down the street and one was assaulted." The room was silent except for a few forced chuckles, and Pinkie who had been continuously laughing. "Twilight you need to work on your delivery, it was a tad bit rushed," said Rarity as she stepped up beside her friend. "Why don't you step back and relax. I will give it a shot." Twilight hung her head and stepped out from in front of the statue and the light in the top face went out. She was replaced by Rarity who was puzzling aloud on what joke she should tell. Eventually she announced, "That is the one, oh my, that it is," she chuckled to herself and then began to tell her joke. "One day a wife said to her husband, Darling, I need a new dress. What's wrong with the one you've got, he asked." She paused for an instant and then continued, "Well, it's too long and, besides, the veil keeps getting in my eyes." Pinkie stopped laughing and announced, "wait I don't get it." However the statue gave a light laugh and repeated it's congratulations. To which Rarity tossed her head and skipped slightly through the doorway. "Aw get off your high horse Rarity," growled Applejack, "I guess I'll give it a go." She walked up to the statue cleared her throat and asked, "What can a whole apple do that half an apple can't do?" A moment passed and followed it up with "It can look round." Rainbow moaned with her hoof on her forehead while Pinkie shouted, "I get that one," and began to laugh again rolling on the floor. There was a long silence from the statue before it laughed even weaker than it had for Rarity, and again repeated the same message.       Logia stepped up next, she looked as nervous as Fluttershy had at the beginning. "Um, since I'm an archaeologist you could say my career is in ruins." Rainbow snickered slightly and but the statue didn't the top face did light up though. "Well I guess you could say that joke was pre-hysterical." This brought another snort from Dash but this time thestatue  did erupt with laughter. Twilight stepped back up to the statue and the top face lit back up. "Okay let's try this again," she blushed slightly as she began to speak, "I overheard this from some guards in the castle when I stayed there. What is the easiest way to get a time off for a vacation?" The unicorn nodded her head as she counted slowly to three. "You make fun of the princess; she'll give you an all expense paid trip to the MOON!" She almost howled the last word. If I had thought any of the earlier silences where deafening this one would have been painful. I wore a half smile, and looked around the room at everyone else trying to take cues from them. Rarity looked floored like she wanted to say something but couldn't gather the words. Fluttershy's eyes were wide but her face looked sick, similar to Applejack's but the farm pony's eyes were pinched shut. Pinkie had frozen in place and Rainbow hovered jaw hanging open as far is it could go. I heard a snot beside me, I looked over and saw Logia shaking trying to hold her laughter. Twilight began to shake but not from laughter, it looked more like she was about to cry. About the time I thought she was going to break down the statue began to laugh loudly, louder than for any previous joke. When its laughter died down it gave the same instructions it had given thus far to an almost weeping Twilight. The purple unicorn walked slowly her bangs hiding her eyes through the threshold into the room with all of us. I stood still with the rest of the group watching her approach and once she was in the bridge room she was swarmed by her friends. All I could hear was her repeating over and over, "I had to; I promised I would never repeat that joke but I had to." Logia leaned over to me and said, "What's her problem it was funny and I've heard significantly worse about the princess before?" "I can't say," I replied, "but from what I have been told even when the princess has been furious with her she has held her up on a pedestal. I think she sees what she did as a betrayal, like throwing garbage at the statue on top." "I hope she's okay, is that why everypony was so shocked?" "I would hazard a guess." I turned back to the two left inside the joke room in time to hear the punchline to Rainbows joke, and it was my turn to be floored. "Honey this one's eating my popcorn," finished the pegasus. The statue erupted into its three tiered laughter and once again repeated its instructions. Finally it was Pinkie's turn. She stepped up and asked, "What do you call four banana peels,  a set of slippers." She burst into laughter and a few slight giggles from the mares around me could be heard but the totems did not make a noise. The top face lit up and Pinkie shouted, "Come on that was funny." She paced for a moment the asked "What has four wheels and flies, a garbage cart!" Once again her joke was met by silence from the statue. "I need a bag of flour," she said to herself, "no that's a sight gag. Oh I know it's in another language but I've read it's the funniest joke ever. Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!" Everyone was in silent confusion, I could have sworn that was some form of broken German but the statue began to laugh. The laughter began to warble and sequel like a microphone with a crossed cable before sparks began to shower out of the totem pole. "Pinkie you might want to get out of there," shouted Applejack. The pink mare bounded towards the door with the statue consumed in flame and melting to the floor. Once she reached the new room I turned around with everyone else to look over the new test. It was just as I had seen before but there was now a goat standing three quarters of the way across the wood slat bridge. It's square pupils watched us as it slowly made a chewing motion with its mouth causing it's long beard to lightly brush one of the boards. "I want to try this one first," said Rainbow landing on the bridge and walking down its length. No one gave an argument on why she shouldn't and I began racking my mind trying to figure out what this reference was from and what element it would test. Just before Rainbow reached halfway and the goat began to speak I figured it out but I only had time to think a pained, no it can't be. Once Rainbow stepped over the halfway mark the goat began to speak. "Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Truth must answer me these questions three, ere the other side they see." Oh no,I thought. "Okay," replied the pegasus. "What.... is your name?" "Rainbow Dash," she answered with a cocky smirk. "What.... is your quest?" "Uh, we're looking for Star Swirls lab." "What.... is your favorite book?" A big grin spread across her face as Dash answered, "easy Daring-Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone, it's the first in the line of books." "Right off you go." "This is a test," said Rarity with a laugh, "I'll go next." "Wait," I shouted, "this is from a movie if you got a question wrong or tried to change your answer you got flung into the volcano below. There are also trick questions."     The unicorn only smiled, "Don't worry dear I've got this." She started down the rickety span and just like what happened with Rainbow previously the goat began to speak once she crossed the halfway point. "Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Truth must answer me these questions three, ere the other side they see." "I'm not afraid, ask away." "What.... is your name?" "Rarity," she tossed her mane as she spoke. "What.... is your quest?" "To be the greatest fashion designer in all of Equestria and to find Star Swirls lab." "What.... is the capital of the zebra nation?" "I don't know that," she blurted out, suddenly she was wrapped in a vortex of blue energy she started to scream, and then she disappeared. Star Swirl's booming voice again echoed through cavern, "Your friend is unharmed but failed the test she will be waiting for you to finish." "I am going' next," growled Applejack as she set her jaw and marched onto the swaying bridge. Once she got in range the goat called out "Stop.... What is your name?" "Applejack," she said firmly. "What is your quest?" "To find the lab at the end of these tests." "What is the Average market price for a bushel of apples?" "Which breed, Zaps, Red Delicious, Macintosh?" "What, I don't know that," as soon as the words left the goat's mouth he disappeared leaving the path open for everyone to follow Applejack across.     My jaw fell open, I was truly without word. Why was I even here, I thought as the everyone crossed the bridge. On the other side I heard Logia say to Applejack, "You sure know a lot about apples." "Well you have to know these things when you're a farmer," was the reply. No, no, no, no, NO! I thought to myself I desperately wanted to find something to beat my head against. This was wrong and knowing Jack this was going to get worse. "What's wrong with you," asked Rainbow as I stepped off the bridge. I had been on autopilot and hadn't paid attention to what was going on around me. In fact I had been so lost in thought that I hadn't realized I had started to make a face to match my thoughts. I pinched my eyes closed and normalized my expression before saying, "nothing, at least nothing you would understand." "Oh, okay" replied Dash with a look that did not agree with her statement. It looked like she was more insulted than anything else. "These are all references to movies, and everyone is behaving too much like the movies." "That's a good thing right?" "Sort of," I replied with a odd mix of a smile, frown and a shrug, that I didn't know I was capable of producing. I continued walking, I was the slowest of the group and I felt like I was slowing down even more as the path to the labs continued. The next doorway was open and once I walked through I saw that it was like walking through a door in the middle of a hallway. The seven of us that remained stood taking turns looking down the hallway in either direction. Suddenly the silence was broken by a soft echoing cry of "help." Everyone froze twisting their heads trying to hear where the voice had come from. We waited for the call to come again and it did, but this time it was a different voice.   "Where are you," yelled Rainbow. This time the call for help was familiar voice, at least for me. I wasn't mistaken on my guess because everyone else in the group from Ponyville shouted "Rarity?"   "Wait," yelled Twilight as most of the ponies began to run into the maze. "This has to be a test of kindness, on an individual level," she began as the charging ponies started to turn around. "Before we charge off need to think about what we're going to do. We haven't had the best history with mazes." "Alright, but if this is a test of kindness I say we follow Fluttershy's lead after all kindness is her Element," replied Rainbow Dash with a smile. "That makes sense," returned Twilight before looking at Fluttershy and asking, "Well what do we do?" The yellow pegasus seemed to melt under everyone's gaze she quickly jerked her head around looking away from everyone and said, "um, we go find them." I saw Twilight raise an eyebrow at Dash as she walked by me and down the hallway Fluttershy was looking. "Come on, you're going to be alright just help us through this test." Fluttershy's reply was cut short by another yell of help, from Rarity. "He said she would be safe, didn't he? But if she's calling for help she's not safe." I was astonished It was like another part of the timid pegasus woke up. As she stood up chest out I realized that this was an individual that I didn't ever want mad at me and when she looked back her eyes were ferocious. "Come on we need to save Rarity," she said as she took off down the maze with everyone following behind. I tried to keep up but soon discovered that attempting to do so was an impossibility, and almost as quickly discovered I was lost in the maze. --------------------------------------------------------- This was exhilarating; Logia had never been on an expedition like this before. The traps using your wits to figure out challenges, Rainbow was right this was just like a Daring Do novel. As she ran a smile spread across her face, this was fun living in the here and now, no plan along with the Elements the heroes of Equestria. She looked back to check on Steel and saw nothing. She stopped as quickly as she could and shouted, "We've lost Steel." The others slowed down and Applejack came to a stop shouting, "Y'all go on we'll go back for him." Twilight nodded and said, "Be careful," before the group returned to their gallop. "How far back do you think he is?" asked Logia. "Don't know, we shouldn't have taken off like that we know he can't run in that get up," replied Applejack. "Steel, where are you," she bellowed and then filled her earth pony lungs for another shout but was interrupted by an echoing cry of help.           "Do you think that was him?" "Only one way to find out." The two ponies took off through the maze looking for their lost comrade. ---------------------------------------------------- "Twilight help," called a voice. The purple unicorn slid to a stop in shock. Was that, her mind was racing, the princess? "What's wrong," asked Rainbow once she had zipped beside her. "Did you hear that, I think someone called my name?" "No," replied the pegasus shrugging her shoulders, "I didn't hear anything." "Twilight," the voice came again it definitely sounded like Celestia. "I heard that," Rainbow said with a grim expression, looking up she saw that both Fluttershy and Pinkie had gone on. "Well I guess they didn't see us stop." "This is exactly what I didn't want to happen we're all split up now," grumbled Twilight in a dry tone, "we're at our weakest now." "I think this is what Star Swirl wants, I wouldn't be surprised if we split up even further," replied Rainbow in her own equally dry tone.   Twilight raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why is that." "It fits with what we know about the tests, there all suppose to be individual tests right." "Yeah." "There we go, let's find whoever was calling you."   ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pinkie looked around and said, "Um, Fluttershy we've lost everypony." Fluttershy came to a stop and looked around "Oh my." Rarity's voice call for help again echoed down the hallway. The pegasus's eyes widened, she shouted "I'm coming Rarity," and she took off in the direction the yell came from faster than she had ever move in her life. Pinkie had a hard time keeping up with her and after a few turns she had lost her yellow feathered friend. "Oh well it was going to happen sometime, I wonder who I'm going to find." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I had given up on trying to find everyone and had fallen back on my carnival experience as a child; keep your right hand on the wall. However seeing as I no longer had hands I was making due by dragging the right wing tip along the wall. This had been somewhat helpful as I had reached three dead ends thus far, and when I came around the next corner I found myself at another. "Well, sh.." "Now, now Steel don't start corrupting this world with your Anglo Saxon vocabulary." I jumped and turned around to find a hologram very similar to the one at the beginning except no beard, hat or robe. "Jack," I asked a bit incredulously. The image laughed, "That’s right." "Why in god's green earth would you have me build all of this," I tried to gesture to crown and wings, "If I wasn't going to use it?" The image began to pace back and forth in front of me. "You would have but I never expected you to bring the bloody Elements of Harmony along with you. This was designed so that only a few beings would be able to solo the tests, the Princesses, you with the Alicorn rig. But I knew my research or some of my equipment might be needed later on so I hid it so only ones who would use it correctly could access it." "Alright, but you know your fool Alicorn rig sucks, it fired my nerves when I tried to use it." The image of Jack frowned and looked at me, "So that's what that clunky metal suit is for, hold still let me scan you." I relaxed and let the brace hold me still as several interlaced beam crossed over my body. "Hmmm, Looks like you tried to focus too much magic at once through the crown." "How in blue blazes did I do that? I only had three crystals." "How indeed, let me think on it. Oh my probability calculations says that you were channeling additional magic through your body." "Yeah, more explanation is needed on that buddy." "You're an earth pony right." He waited until I nodded my head to continue, "Earth ponies can channel the innate magic of the earth through their hoofs and into their magic. They have the most magical reserves of all the races but the least number of uses. Healing for example, that's why without any alteration they can normal live four to five hundred years, unicorns can live twice that but they have to actively use their magic to do so. However hard headed earth ponies can live a thousand years or more as well but that's a one in a million maybe." "You told me I aged at one tenth the normal for these ponies, and now you say that their normal lifespan can reach a thousand years?" "Yeah you'll be around for a while, so what's the rush on finding the lab?" "When we, you and I arrived here we tore the dimensional barrier that protects this place. Now something big, ugly and a little crazy is coming for dinner and we can't lock the door."   The image froze except for flickers of static scattered along the projected body. "Is it the massive creature that leaves behind black flame?" I raised my eyes to look at his; it was odd meeting the gaze of something I could see through, "Yes." "Damn," he paused for an instant  before continuing. "Alright, if I could I would change the rules of the tests so you could just walk to the lab, but I can't. The real Jack prevented me from doing so, but I will do what I can to help." "Why?" "I'm a neural imprint, a copy of Jack's mind from three hundred years before he died. I watched slowly as, I, my creator, this existential garbage is tiring. I watched as he slowly went mad. He told me of the dreams, I had seen them myself well kind of he had a few of them before I was created. I know what you're facing and I know that nothing in this lab right now can stop it but we might be able to figure out something. " "That's not what I was hoping for; I think we all wanted the magic key to be here." "Yeah well, it's not that simple. Hey it looks like your friends are about to walk in on their tests want to watch?" The image disappeared and then reappeared beside me along with a projection on one of the walls. Six images, one of each of the mares from our group. "What's going to happen?" "Shhh, don't talk during the movie." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applejack sighed, they had walked all the way back to the entrance searching for Steel but had no luck finding him. Now they were following a cry for help in the maze. This is worse than when Big Mac and I got lost in the back forty when we were little, she thought. "Help," cried a voice. It had been several minutes since the last cry. "This way," said Logia as she turned off the hallway. Another voice further down the hall yelled for help. "Logia, down here," said AppleJack as she turned to look at her companion only to find a wall where the doorway had been moments before. "Well if that don't beat, I wonder if this Star Swirl ever had a run in with Discord." She shook her head and started down the hallway towards where she had heard the cry for help. Two voices called for help and they sounded very similar. As she closed in on the cries, the smell of fire, burning wood, apples and hot metal wafted down the hallway. Panic gripped her, she knew this was a projection but still she didn't want to step in on a fictional razing of Sweet Apple Acres. She came around the corner and found nothing she was expecting. What she walked in on was The Flim Falm brothers machine, The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 in flames. It looked as if it had exploded, shrapnel flung across the corridor. The brothers were buried under the flaming debris. Flam's face was covered in blood, Flim a massive burn across his side.   Applejack reacted instantly she first reached Flam pulling him out of the debris. She removed his vest and pinned it to his face. "Can you hear me," she asked. He nodded slightly. "Good now hold it tightly to your face; I'm gonna go get your brother." She turned to sprint back towards the wreck, but he spoke, "Why?" "Because y'all need help." "Why help us, we made you look like a fool?" Applejack looked at the injured unicorn, "for a bit you did but you got what was coming to you and I wouldn't wish this on anypony." She looked back at the destroyed machine but it was gone, she looked back at where she had left Flam but he was gone as well. "What the hey is going' on around here," she asked just before the ground began to shake and the maze walls began to sink down. --------------------------------------------------------- Logia looked back to see if Applejack was still following her, and what do you know she was gone. Well there goes some of my respect, she thought as she walked down the hallway. This was becoming less and less fun. "Help" The cry was close and she thought she knew where it was so she sprinted down the hallway. as she came around a corner she found a green earth pony with a brown mane smashed and broken. "Logia," he whispered coughing up blood, "why did you leave me?" She felt like she was going to start crying, "Decimal, I'm sorry I didn't mean to leave you, I had no choice." The broken pony laughed dark blood spraying from his lips as he did so, "Logia please don't lie to me, you're only lying to yourself anyways." "I don't care, I am sorry, I'm sorry to everyone I left." "You never even came back; you haven't seen the memorial at Canterlot. You haven't done anything to prove that." "I know," she began to break down in tears, "Decimal I'm so sorry to you personally more than anypony else. After you told me that we were in the same class and that you were always right behind me. Then we were attacked all I could think about was myself I didn't anyone else I could have helped but I had never imagined destruction on that scale." "So there's the truth." "Yes, that's the truth, I can't do anything for you now but I'll stay here until you go." Decimal smiled a thin string of blood dripped from his lip, "It's okay I believe you now." "What," asked Logia? She stumbled when the ground began to vibrate. Looking around she saw the walls where lowering into the ground. Looking back at Decimal she saw that he was gone. "I guess I pass this one," she muttered to herself as she fought back tears.              ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight sprinted through the maze, "where is she," she continuously muttered as Rainbow flew along beside her. "Calm down Twi, we need to relax it's just a test and you know that's not really the princess." The unicorn slowed and took a deep breath, "I know, at least part of me knows that." "Help," cried a new voice, this one familiar as well. "I think that one's mine I'll see ya latter Twi," said the pegasus as she took off wings outstretched. She neatly banked around a corner and was gone. Twilight sighed, Rainbow was right it was just a stupid test. Looking up she continued down the hallway to the turn past Rainbows. The corridor ended in a large room, Celestia in all her glory was pinned under a stone in the center of the room. Her eyes widened when she saw Twilight. "Help me," she called her voice raspy from the yelling. The purple unicorn reacted on instinct rushing over to lift the stone off her mentor, and as she did she noticed something odd. Celestia's back leg shifted in texture and color. Mid way through lifting the stone off her leg Twilight realized what she saw, she tried to push the rock back down and pin the phony princess unfortunately it was too late. As the thing that wore Celestia's visage stood Twilight yelled at it, "You, you ruined my brother’s wedding." The image of Celestia shimmered and wall of green flame enveloped her. She was replaced by the Changeling Queen. "I told you, I did so to feed my subjects." Twilight growled, "You turned my brother against me, my mentor, and my friends, all for a little food?" The queen strode through the room examining one of her chitinous hoofs. "I'm not going to deny what I did, but think about it this way if the roles were reversed. You would deny an entire populace, all of Canterlot, Manehatten, or even your precious Ponyville sustenance if you had the power to fee them? You would let them all starve even if you saw your neighbor with more food than they could ever eat." "Do you want my forgiveness?" "What do you think?" "I'll never forgive you but at least I understand why to some degree but why not openly ask to visit." "I don't know next time you see me why don't you ask?" "I'll do that." Twilight blinked her eyes and the queen was gone. She looked around and saw no one was there. She stumbled slightly as the ground shook and the walls receded into the ground. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Rainbow Dash zipped through the hallway. She knew that this test was to be faced alone and the only way to help the others was to face it as quickly as possible. The call for help came from around the next corner she knew that much as well. Making the last turn she slowed down and landed, one thought crossed her mind. "Whoa," she said in surprise. The walls had grown and at the far end of the room was a giant transparent blue bear. "Great, when The Great and Powerful Trixie asked for help, she didn't expect the hopeless to arrive." "Trixie?" "I can understand why you would be in awe. Trixie does that to ponies, however if we could turn our focus towards the Ursa Minor." "Right, did you ever discover how to vanquish one of these?" "Trixie hasn't had time yet." "Alright then," said Rainbow with a smile. "Let's do this," she cried and leaped into the air soaring straight at the Ursa. She circled the beasts head then turned back diving at Trixie. Just before she struck the show mare she pulled up and grabbed her body lifting the unicorn off the ground. "Trixie demands you let her go." "Sorry, not gonna happen, we might not see eye to eye but I'm not gonna leave you to be bear food." Dash looked down and saw that her passenger had vanished. "What," she asked as she tumbled to the ground.  She couldn't tell for sure because the world was spinning but the walls seemed to be getting shorter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pinkie skipped through the maze taking turns at what seemed like random. Eventually she bounded down a hallway towards a dead end and found a cage with a griffon inside. Once she realized who it was she came to a stop, "well if it isn't Miss Meany pants." "Oh joy I get to be saved by queen lame," groaned the imprisoned griffon.   "You ruined the party I threw for you with your meanie-ness, yelled at Fluttershy and turned you back on Rainbow Dash. I'm going to get you out of the cage because it's the right thing to do." "Oh really," replied Gilda raising an eyebrow, "are you going to throw a party afterward?" "No silly there's no time to throw a party, you’re not really here. I bet that our minds were scanned and everyone who appears was picked for us specifically." Gilda’s beak hung open as Pinkie pulled a key ring out of nowhere and began to flip through the keys. "I'm not mad at you image of Gilda, or even the real Gilda I feel sorry for her if she stays a meanie like that she'll never have any friends." Pinkie placed a key in the lock and gave it a turn, the lock and chain holding the cage closed fell to the ground. When Pinkie looked up she saw that the cage was empty, she looked around for the griffon. "Gilda," she asked looking around but the griffon was gone. She laughed, "That was easy."  The ground began to shake and she sat down, "Oh this makes my voice sound funny." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluttershy rarely moved like this, usually she walked, slowly. Running was dangerous you couldn't watch where you put your hooves when you ran. You could run into someone and hurt them or worse step on someone or something. However Rarity was in trouble. Whether it was the real Rarity or a projection she wasn't sure, but she couldn't take a chance that she was the real one. She felt the burn of muscle strain on along her back specifically in the muscles that controlled her wings. She could feel the pressure building in front of her in the exact way Rainbow described the pressure building for a Rainboom. She came around a corner and saw a white unicorn with a purple mane dangling from a ledge struggling to hold on and not fall. The cliff face she was hanging from was giving way under hoof. Fluttershy pushed herself she needed speed she needed to be faster than she had ever been before. Faster than saving Rarity and Spike after his greed issue. Faster than chasing down Rainbow when she had been discorded. The pressure wave built, and she could feel the conic angle shrinking as the pressure increased around her body. Everything felt like what Rainbow had described except for the pain she had said nothing about the pain. Her muscles ached, her body ached pressure squeezed her unlike anything she had ever felt before. How could Rainbow stand this, she thought as the pain caused tears to leak out of her eyes only to be swept away by the speed. "Help," yelped Rarity as her grip on the ledge gave way and she started to fall only to have a massive ball of pressure force her back up over the cliff. She looked up to see who it was that had saved her, "Fluttershy?" The pegasus was standing on quivering legs, and she winced with each step, "Rarity you're okay," she gasped before collapsing to the ground. Every time she tried to move, that muscle would scream in pain but she stood back up and staggered over to her unicorn friend to wrap her in a hug. She couldn't tell if it was her trembling body or not but it felt like the room was shaking violently. She closed her eyes and cried, "Oh Rarity." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So," started the hologram, "What's the world like up there, I haven't seen it in about a thousand years." "There's a town and you house is a library," I replied still watching my friends. "That's cool how about the forest," he asked. "The Everfree, that's where I popped out. From what I've been told it's a crazy place where everything acts normal at least in my opinion." "I would wager that we arrived at the same spot however when I got here the forest was a small grove of trees. I'm going to hazard a guess that our entry point is what caused the Everfree. Heck those blue flowers I think they are called Poison Joke developed in the grove I appeared in," the hologram was rambling on about chaos theories now and I chose to ignore him. Eventually after watching the last test come to an end I looked over at the Image of Jack and asked, "you said would do what you could to help us, where was the help?" The wall was collapsing turning the labyrinth into a flat plane of stone. The image smiled and said, "I did. You just won’t realize what I've done until you see the actual lab." "Right, so anything else you can help me with?" "Two things, one everyone who is transported away will be returned either when you all fail, or reach your destination. Second you might want to stop Applejack quick otherwise you're going to hate this next test." When the image was finished talking it vanished from in front of my eyes. "Over dramatic pain in the backside," I muttered as I looked across the newly formed room. There was a large gap along the edges about twenty feet across and no way to tell how deep. In the center was a stone gazebo four pillars with a short angled roof inside was a pyramid with fog bellowing out from underneath. Two short wrinkly creatures with bull like horns walked around and one was having it's back stroked by a lithe unicorn with a short almost buzz cut mane and red eyes. I looked around the platform for everyone else Applejack was closest but we were all spread out scattered around the central structure. I started to move but as I did so the lithe unicorn turned to Applejack and asked, "Are you a god?" I took a deep breath to bellow out what I could, "don't," I started but I was too late so I shifted my yell to, "hold on." The unicorn smirked and announced, "Then die," it growled as energy arced from its horn. The wind started to pour out from the pyramid and I started to feel myself slide backwards along the stone floor. I focused my mind on the crown and the steel shoes that locked the support struts of my brace in place. I needed to change their shape spikes grew from there bottom stabbing into the ground as I braced myself against the wind. Looking around I saw Applejack her hooves had crushed the stone as she stood against the wind. She was being pushed back leaving crumbling scars of stone as each hoof fought to stay on the ground. Rainbow had parked herself on the ground wings tucked in holding herself in a dive position looking like she was in no trouble at all. Twilight had surrounded herself in a translucent purple bubble and was having no problem with the wind. A large stone slab now rose out of the ground where Logia had been obscuring her from view.  Pinkie had somehow acquired a large amount of rock climbing gear and had secured herself to the ground. That left Fluttershy who was tumbling across the stone plain towards its edge. She would try to stand up but couldn't for some reason. I closed my eyes and reached out I needed something to manipulate; it was the only type of magic I could really use. Small stones were tumbling across the floor so I gathered them up and formed them into a rope. By the time I looked up I saw a that Twilight had already used her magic to hold her in place so I shifted the rope into a concave wall behind the tumbling pegasus and Twilight used her magic to cover the front in a shield.   The red eyed unicorn only smiled and the wind speed picked up. Looking around I saw Applejack slip further back and so it Rainbow. Pinkie was at the end of a rope flying around like a kite wearing a smile as wide as her face.  Okay I know how they did this in the movie but how to do it now, I thought as I examined the entire room again. This is the test of magic. So what do we have, two unicorns, myself with an almost empty power crystal, my gut told me it was half empty. Fluttershy was out, the two earth ponies wouldn't be much help and Rainbow couldn't fly in this. I had seen Twilight create an energy blast from her horn when she started teaching me magic, that will work, I thought. I tried to yell at Twilight but the wind ripped my words away before even I could hear them. I needed to communicate with Twilight and Logia. So I began to puzzle out what to do when I was hit by an epiphany. I focused once again on my magic and I carved the same message in the stone in front of both unicorns. try to shoot the pyramid with an energy blast. I saw Twilight nod and then a similar message was scrawled on the floor in front me, can you cover Fluttershy?  I gave her a nod in reply and the shield covering the pegasus disappeared. I did my best to form a wall in front of her blocking the wind that was driving her into the back of the shelter I had built for her. I looked back towards the two unicorns both where sending bursts of energy at the pyramid. It was having an effect the wind was dying down but there was little else going on. I blinked no I wasn't mistaking it the unicorn in the center was frowning. This time my voice was able to carry across the stone field as I yelled, "try a beam." Both unicorns stopped, refocused and projected a beam of magical energy at the pyramid. A series of explosions wrecked the structure and then everything stopped, the two bull like creatures and the red eyed unicorn had disappeared just as the pyramid had. The wind had stopped as well and everyone was walking towards the center. I looked towards where Fluttershy had been only to see the swirling blue vortex of the teleportation spell. I tried to take a step in her direction only to find myself still nailed to the floor. I concentrated on fixing that and once I was done I heard the beep signaling the crystal was empty. At the far end of the stone field a door appeared, as Star Swirls voice announced, "your friend is unharmed but failed the test she will be waiting for you to finish."          "Who," asked Rainbow looking around? "Not Fluttershy," she said with a pained expression. I bowed my head, I shared her feelings it felt like it had been my fault. However when I looked up I was surprised to find Rainbow smiling and she said, "come on let's find this lab so we can get everypony back." I followed everyone as we entered the lab and as we did I eyed Pinkie there was no place that I could see for her to be hiding the climbing equipment. It was bothering me enough that I went ahead and asked, "Pinkie where do you keep all the random stuff you pull out of nowhere?" "I keep it in my super secret hole." I fought back my laugh and said, "Right, sounds like Hammerspace to me." "Oh, Hammerspace, I like that name I can keep all my hammers there. Hammerspace, Hammerspace, I wonder if I can make a song about it?" I shifted my attention away from Pinkie and to the room we were entering it was large, not as big as the stone platform for the labyrinth but larger than any of the other rooms. It was full of bookshelves covered in cobwebs, a small section had wooden desk suffering from dry rot barely solid enough to hold the glassware on top. In the center of the room was a large exposed Potestatum gem cluster. "Is this it," asked Logia with an incredulous look. She tapped on one of the bookshelves and that shelf collapsed dumping its contents onto the floor. "I doubt it, if it was everyone would be back now," replied Twilight as she examined the chemistry glassware. "So what's left to test," asked Applejack as she returned from her search of the laboratory. "This isn’t what I was expecting, where are all of those fancy machines like what you have Steel?" It was a good question, so good in fact that I had to shrug in response, "I don't know." I looked around there was something about the wall behind the chemistry tables that kept grabbing my attention. There were two wrought iron lanterns mounted side by side on the wall. I walked over to investigate. "What's this," asked Rainbow as I came around a table. She was standing beside a short stone table with a large dish set in the top. The dish glowed blue, the same blue as the projected images of Star Swirl.   "I don't know, if you find any buttons push them see if it come on." I walked past her and began to examine the wall. A high pitched whine of electronics from behind me grabbed my attention. Turning around I saw that the emitter array had activated. "Congratulations," the image of Star Swirl said, "on finding my lab."         I grunted and turned back towards the wall this wasn't the lab I knew that much but my brain kept me looking at the wall there was something about it. It might not have been the wall maybe it was the lanterns drew my attention but either way I ignored the projection. "This isn't right, it can't be the real lab," muttered Twilight as she walked up beside me, "if it was everyone would be back right?" "That's my understanding," I answered still looking at the wall as I  thought, maybe one of the lanterns is a lever like in one of the old gothic movies. I tried to stand up against the wall but I soon discovered that with the brace that was very much impossible. "Oh wow, I've never seen anything like this before," said Logia awe evident in her voice. I turned to look at her and saw that she was holding up an intricately carved pipe examining it with her magic. Stepping away from the wall I asked, "What's so unique about it?" "I've never seen a pipe with this much detail in the carving has a castle and a creature with a polearm riding an earth pony." I got closer and her description was accurate, it was obviously something Jack had created. "Can you tell what it's made of," I asked as I stepped in close enough to examine the pipe with her, it did look familiar. "I think it's some form of dentine, it probably was a tooth at one point. It has some decent magic in it so probably it was a dragons tooth; they lose their teeth all the time." She turned the pipe over examining the stem which appeared to be made of amber. "Though usually dragons swallow their teeth," she added as an afterthought.            I took another look at the pipe and announced to everyone, "While you're around looking keep your eyes open for a disk in the wall that this would fit in." "You mean like that," asked Rainbow pointing to a wall section a few yards to the right of where I had been. "Yeah," I sighed. "I would wager that any more tests are made specifically to make sure that it's me that finds the real lab." "So this isn't the lab, it looks like a lab," commented Pinkie as she returned to the group. "It has everything you ponies might need to defend yourself, his research stored in books. That massive Potestatum vein in the middle, heck if Rarity was here I would ask her to cut off a few more crystals for the rig. It gives you what he thinks you might need if you came here, that's all." "That's not a bad idea, why can't Twi or Logia do that," asked Applejack. "I mean why can we cut off some new stones?" Twilight took it upon herself to answer, "Rarity's special talent is dealing with gemstones and someone with that kind of talent is needed to cut Potestatum in a way that it doesn't explode." She turned to Logia and said, "Not to imply anything negative about your abilities but if either of us tried it would probably detonate that entire cluster, destroying Ponyville." Logia smiled and agreed, "even if I wanted to try, the fact that the whole town would be destroyed from one mistake would keep me from attempting it." Her smile turned into a frown as she added, "I have enough death on my hooves."             I walked over to the disk that Rainbow had pointed out and examined it. Just like in the movie the stem would need to be removed and would be used as a handle to turn the dial once the bowl had been place in its inverse molded nook. I told Twilight what needed to be done and stepped back out of the way. She stepped up to the wall placing the pipe in its recess and the stem in its hole. A heavy clunk of gears falling into place was heard as she began to twist the dial. From behind us the sound of stone scraping  across stone and I turned to see that the floor in front of the wall I had been examining was being drawn away sliding into a pocket under the wall. It the sliding floor revealed a staircase that descended a level then turned into a hallway. I looked at the others and then started down the stairs. The room we found at the end of the tunnel was a square sandstone temple with a chest high pillar at each corner. The pillars each had a triangle cut into the center and on each side of the triangle a pattern of lines were present, different for each corner. In the center of the room was a small stage and on top of that a black statue of a pony in stereotypical Egyptian garb staring skyward. In the center of each side of the stage sat a triangular stone with lines that matched those of the corner columns. "Okay this is easy," I said aloud, "the small stones go on the pillars that match the lines carved on them. The flat lines are earth, the one with the vertical lines is fire, water has the wavy lines on the bottom, and the one that has the arched lines on top is air. Once you have them placed expose them to their element and they'll unlock." I looked at everyone after I was finished; they all looked back at me with surprised faces. "What this is based on one of my favorite movies, let's get this going." Rainbow nodded and grabbed one of the stones flying over and placing it on its stand. Twilight, Logia and Applejack all grabbed one as well. I climbed up on the stage and began to think, the last element was 'love,' where was I going to find that. These last few tests I was supposed to be able to complete on my own, and I wasn't going to do that on stage. I guess I could kiss the statue. Looking up I saw that Rainbow and Applejack had activated their stones. Logia was pouring water out of her canteen onto hers and Twilight appeared to be casting a flame spell on her stone. Once I saw the glowing light emit from the last one to activate I asked, "so who wants’ a kiss." The look of horror and disgust that I received from everyone but Pinkie and Logia ruled them out, Applejack just looked annoyed. Twilight and Rainbow probably where having issues with the dream memories, I knew I was. Awe yeah, those times were great, we got all the honeys, started the lecherous voice in my head, we need to go back. Shut up, shut up, shut up, I thought to myself as fiercely as I could. Before I realized it I had a pink earth pony wrapped around my neck, she hit me hard enough that I doubt I would have stayed standing without the brace.   "I don't kiss anyone who's not family but hugs are good too right," she said. I swallowed my throat suddenly dry and said, "thanks Pinkie." I then looked at the others before saying anything else. "In the movie the hero kisses the girl here on the stage, the fifth element in the movie is love."  I sighed and stepped off the stage, "I don't know what to do for the last part, and I'm supposed to be able to do this solo." "You could kiss the statue," offered Logia doing her best to hide a smile. "I guess it's worth a shot at this point," I replied before returning to the stage. I gave the statue a proper kiss, the black polished stone was smooth and cool to the touch but nothing happened. Suddenly I felt extremely foolish, and I felt my cheeks flush as I stepped back away from the statue. "Well that's a no go Huston," I muttered. This was one of the times I wished the brace would allow me to sit comfortably, it would be easier to think sitting down.   "Do you think it can sense emotion," asked Rainbow. "I don't think so, I'm not picking up any magic from the statue," answered Twilight, "but whatever the last part of the test is, it takes place on that platform." "Hey Applejack," I began, "do you think you could try to move the statue?" "I'll give it a go but don't you think we should hold off on destroying things tell we know what they do?" "True," I added, then lifted a hoof to the statue and gave it a shove. Nothing happened, "I can't tell if it's attached or not so I'll leave it to you." The orange earth pony stepped up to the statue inspecting it as she went, eventually she turned around and placed both back hooves on the statue just below the center and began to push. The statue slid across the stage to the edge but nothing more happened.   Logia climbed up on stage and spoke in a calm manner almost hiding her nerves, "you said there were two kissing in the movie." Her eyes shifted to a glare, as she growled "I'll give it a try but don't think anything of it." "You sure, if this doesn't work you’re not going to try to kill me are you," I laughed a little afterwards. I hopped that I didn't sound a nervous as I felt; this was way outside my comfort zone. "I won't know until you try," she countered. What the hell, I thought as I walked over to her and looked in her eyes. This is what I'm talking about, maybe we can convince her to do more afterwards, goded the letcher.  I closed my eyes more to concentrate on silencing my mind than anything else and suddenly I felt her lips on mine. It was a surprise to say the least. It was an odd, during that one instant I couldn't tell if time was speeding up or slowing down. My eyes popped open as she pulled away, it was silent nothing happened with the room. I began chewing on my lower lip and then asked, "Uh you wouldn't hit a cripple would you?"     "Depends on what happens next," she answered with a smile. My mind was blank; no matter what I did or tried I couldn't get my mind to restart. Eventually I forced my thoughts on the room to start back up, the kiss had done nothing. Looking around the room I saw nothing that would gave a hint at what I was supposed to do, and every time my gaze would cross Logia my thoughts would stop until I looked away. Damn woman, I thought. Stop complaining and get on with it, you need to figure this out, said the other voice in my mind, the one that was not a lecher. Hey maybe another kiss would work from you, said the lecherous voice. Go away, I need to think. It's not like I can ask anyone for help. Why not, you already have, replied the lecher. The last comment sparked a thought in my head, "Jack I know you can hear me. Come on man let me in, or at least give me a hint." Silence filled the room; I looked at everyone and said, "this isn't making sense." Then it hit me, Korben said he loved her before the kiss. I looked a Logia and said, "let's try this again." She eyed me concernedly, before nodding in agreement, and saying, "one more time that's it." I leaned in and whispered, "I love you," right before our lips touched. Several things happened one was the lights on top of the stone converged in the center of the room. Another was a door opposite of where we entered opening and finally I felt a sharp pain, the room spun and I saw white. "I thought you said you wouldn't hit a cripple," I cried as the room slowly came into focus and slowed its spin. "I said depends on what happens next, how dare you springing that on me." "I could have said it to the statue," I cried gesturing to emphasize my point. "It's just we moved it already and," my voice began to falter as I started processing what I was saying, "you were there, and oh dear I'm digging myself a hole aren't I." She laughed and replied, "Oh it's one you're not getting out of without a crane." There was another snort from behind me and I saw Rainbow shivering from suppressed laughter, Twilight hiding a smile, Pinkie being Pinkie, and Applejack staring off at nowhere whistling. This only caused my embarrassment to increase, my face felt like it was burning. "Well now that we have this door opened let go," my voice squeaked as it caught in my throat.  I turned myself around as fast as I could fighting the brace as I did and marched for the new door. The next room was empty save for a button in the center of the room, the walls were white, no imperfections. I waited for the rest of the group to enter before speaking, "I'm going to guess that this button starts this test." "Well press it then," said Rainbow. "Okay I just wanted everyone to be ready," replied as I reached up to press the button only to find that Pinkie had already pressed it. A giant image of Star Swirl's face appeared then the long hair and beard fell away leaving the three dimensional portrait of the hologram that answered to the name Jack. "Hello Steel, I see you've made it this far, along with some friends. You have passed the tests of loyalty, generosity, laughter, honesty, kindness and magic. You found the repository, and the door into the lab. You passed the test of love, and now you have to prove tolerance." The face vanished and on the walls images flashed and random videos began playing all overlapping each other. The audio that accompanied the videos all were played at equal volumes along with so many other audio files that I couldn't separate them. I caught fragments of Numa, Numa, and at least one of Beethoven symphonies along with some girl singing about picking a seat. I felt like I was going to be nauseous, the random pulsing of vibrations from the noise and the strobe like flashes of visual stimulation quickly induced a headache. "Ah, make it stop," yelled Rainbow. She had her head pinned to the floor with her front hooves and  as she was begging, "make it stop, for all that is good in the world make it stop." She was then wrapped in the swirling blue energy vortex. I fought through the noise, and looked around Pinkie was zipping from screen to screen watching each video for a few seconds and then heading to the next. Applejack had closed her eyes and was standing rigid in the center of the room. Both unicorns had magical energy covering their ears and their eyes were closed. Looking at one of the walls I saw a red bar and a time counter at the bottom which read, 1:30/15:00.   Fifteen minutes later I staggered out, deaf from the media room from hell, into a room that could best be described as a circular warehouse. Along one section of the wall was a bank of computers and in the center was a giant screen showing a boot up process. In the middle of the room was another hologram projector, this time projecting an image of Jack smiling. As more lights came on I saw that the far side of the room extended into a square alcove off of the main circle. In the center hung several mechanical devices one a device that looked like it would attach across the chest. It had two arms ending in five fingered hands. On the wall opposite the computers was a work desk armed with every construction tool imaginable, as well as several storage bays on either side of the construction table. Looking back I saw Pinkie zipping around the room looking at devices with the same thoroughness she had shown in the tolerance test. The two unicorns looked like kids on Christmas morning and Applejack looked board. I shifted my gaze back to the hologram and asked, "Where is everyone?" "Here," he said with a smile pointing to the alcove. four swirling energy vortexes dropped the ones they had taken. When they arrived they looked just as they had when they were taken, same stance, same everything. In fact Rarity continued to scream for several seconds before realizing where she was. "Oh and here is what you gave up in the generosity test," added Jack as the items returned to float in front of everyone. I heard Applejack cry, "My hat," and saw everyone head over to the returned ponies to give hugs and welcome them back. "This is wonderful, you're just like Santa Claus, do you have anything else to give us like a quick way out," I asked. "That's easy the first few tests take place in a cavern I modified to function like the holodeck." I frowned at the projection, "this is a little hard to believe you know that right?' "After I lost you I spent years learning about how interdimensional travel worked and came here after sending several sets of supplies through. Everything here is the result of over twenty years of development back home combined with the magic of this land." Twilight walked up beside me flanked by Logia, "what are you," she asked of the image. "I am a neural imprint of Star Swirl. I know everything he did at the time of my creation." The two unicorn’s eyes dilated in synchronization, before simultaneously assaulting the projection with questions. I turned from the new discussion and walked over to the computers, and examined the interface, as I did and image of Jack appeared like the paper clip with a selection box underneath. "Good lord how arrogant do you have to be." I jumped when the image spoke, "Well when you're locked away for several centuries you have plenty of time to think up jokes." Looking back over my shoulder I saw that everyone was gathering around the hologram. "So you can multitask now." "I am pretty much a computer now and that is what they're meant to do." "So what was your plan for the, whatever you want to call it, the black fire demon." "Other than don't read the Necronomicon aloud, I still need more data. I have a few ideas but it needs to be confirmed. Right now I would wager that since it's from the space between dimensions that anything in this one wouldn't be able to defeat it. My best suggestion would be to use the Elements to stitch the hole we tore shut. However from what I have seen of dimensional barriers it has healed somewhat already at least to the point that we can't find it from the inside." "So we have to wait for something to come through to find the wound," I asked. "Yeah and whatever comes through has to come all the way through or be pushed back out before it can be sealed." "That is going to be a pain, but we know where it will come out right, the gateways don't move." They do but only slightly due to the oscillations of the planet. I still haven't figured out how they bind themselves to one place. It's a whole different set of physics laws that I have only scratched the surface and add onto that the laws that govern magical energy. I think I did damn good job figuring out what I have." "I'm not going to argue, but what can we do to prepare?" "That is what I've been working on," he replied opening windows full of schematics, and as each one opened my smile grew.