> Spike's sister 2
>  by Musicnotes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The start of a quest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun had not yet rose but was going to soon as Spike woke up from his dreams. He was still in Sarah's room in the guest room of the castle in the Crystal Empire. Twilight was still asleep peacefully. He smiled and thought about the dream he had that night. His dream were filled with the actions of the night before. He saw the memory of when Sarah jumped in front of him to protect him from Sombra's magic, when Twilight and Princess Cadence used the spell to get rid of Sombra which he hoped would be forever, he dreamed about how Sarah's purple and pink scales had turn to white, and finally his dream ended with Sarah leaving this world and disappearing. Spike didn't really understand why her body just  turned white and disappeared the way it did, leaving only her necklace with the once black  now white crystal that had once held some of Sombra's magic. He adjusted the necklace, he wanted to keep it close to him since it made him feel like his sister was with him. He looked at the crystal and remembered what she said to him when he asked her why she did that after she took the blast. He spoke it softly to himself not wanting to wake Twilight. "Cause you don't deserve to die.." A tear fell from his eye. "You didn't deserve to either." 

Spike gets up from the bed and walks to the door.  He opens the bedroom door and silently leaves, letting Twilight continue her dreaming.  As he walked down the hallways there was nothing but emptiness and silence.  Spike knew that the others wouldn't be up but he didn't feel like sleeping. He just walked down the halls thinking about everything.  After a few minutes there was the sound of hooves walking across to floor. 

Spike looked and saw Princess Luna.  He gave a quick bow.  "Hello Princess Luna." 

The princess of the night smiled at Spike. "Why hello Spike. We are surprised that ye is up this early, for my dear sister has not risen up the sun yet." 

Spike nodded and looked at the crystal. "Yeah I know, I didn't really feel like sleeping." 

Princess Luna nods. "We understand, as a traveler of dreams we saw what ye have been dreaming about last night." She was referring to his dream about Sarah.

He sighs. "Yeah..I just can't believe she did that.."

The princess put her hoof on his shoulder. "She did what she thought was best for thou. My sister did the same when she put me in the moon for a thousand years. "   There was some light coming out of a near by window as the sun was rising.

Spike nodded. "Well I better go get ready." 

She nodded.  "We know that ye must get thy stuff ready but we are sure that Princess Cadence and Shining Armor are going to be doing that. Our sister will be meeting you in dining hall to talk about thy's quest." 

He looked at the crystal then back at Luna. "Thank you Princess, I'm going to head there and wait." He started walking. 

"We shall meet later." Princess Luna replied with a smile and watched him go. 


Spike headed to the dining hall with thoughts of this place that Princess Celestia had spoke of the last night.  She had said that she believe Sarah went to a place where dragons go when they die and also said that they were there before they  hatched. He wondered if there really was a place like that.  He wondered if it was full of life or cold and dark. He guessed he would find out when he looks for Sarah. He sat down in the dinning room. There was a purple crystal table in the middle of the room with several chairs all around it. He sat down on one and put his elbow on the table and set his head on his claw letting it hold his head up.

Meanwhile Twilight had woken up. She yawned and looked around. She saw that her faithful assistant wasn't there. She figured that maybe he wanted to be alone cause of what happened last night so Twilight got out of bed and was about to walk to the door when she saw the pile of journals. She remembered when both Princess Celestia and Luna mentioned them. She grabbed her saddle bag that she forgot she had with her and put the journals in there thinking that she might read them later.  She put on the saddle bag and walked out the door.  As she was walking she saw that her friends had woken up, some looking more tired than others. 

The Cutie Mark Crusaders yawned as they saw her. "Hello Twilight." Apple Bloom said. 

Twilight smiled at her friends. "Morning Everypony. Do you know where we are meeting to speak with the Princesses?" 

Applejack nodded. "Yes we do Twi.  We ran into Luna and she told us that we are to meet in the dining room.  Princess Celestia will be talking to us while we eat some breakfast." 

"Oh I hope Spikey-Wikey is alright. He must still be feeling quite upset because of what happened. I know I would feel that way if I lost my dear Sweetie." Rarity said as she gave Sweetie Belle a hug. 

"Me too." Sweetie Belle said with a smile. 

"Oh I agree with Rarity, I do hope Spike is alright. " Fluttershy said.

Twilight nods. "I agree with you all. I guess we will find out when we see him. He must have gotten up before me since I did not see him in the room."

Rainbow dash's stomach growled. "Spike must be in the dining room, I say we head there now too cause I don't know about you but I'm as hungry as a horse." 

Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah lets go." 

Pinkie pie bounced up and down. "Race ya!!" She started to bounce down the hall way.

Rainbow dash smiled. "Your on Pinkie." She starts flying to catch up with her.  

The rest of the group chuckled as they watched their two friends race. Scootaloo was cheering for her idol Rainbow dash to win as she always did. After a few minutes of walking they were soon in the dinning room. They saw that  Spike was leaning on his elbow still with his claw holding his head up. He seemed to be thinking. Rainbow dash was taking a few deep breaths and Pinkie smiled. They couldn't tell who won the race but didn't really care that much if either or had won so they all took a seat and sat in silence. They had no clue what they should talk about now.  A minute of silence passed until Princess Cadence and Shining Armor had arrived.  They were using their magic to carry several things. There was some blankets, a giant tent or two,some warm clothes and a bunch of gems in all shapes sizes and colors. 

Rarity's eyes sparkled seeing the gems. "Those are simply fabulous.  They look as if they are perfect for one of the designs I have been working on."

Shining Armor chuckled.  "These gems aren't for making clothes with Rarity."

Cadence nodded as she set the stuff she had been carrying on the floor. "Shining Armor is right. These gems might help you in case you face any dragons or if your dragon gets hungry himself." 

Spike looked at the gems, seeing them made his stomach rumble. "Now that you mention it, I am kind of hungry." 

Cadence chuckled lightly in response.  "Breakfast will be out in a minute. There are plenty of gems for you to eat then. You will need all your strength for the next few days. " 

"She's darn tootin. We will need it. " Applejack said. 

"Yeah we will." Sweetie Belle said. 

Rarity looked at her sister. "I'm sorry Sweetie Belle but I don't think it will be best for you and your friends to come with us. "

"But why? " Sweetie whined. 

"Yeah why? We want to help Sarah too y'all." Apple Bloom said.

Fluttershy looked at the girls. "Girls, we have no clue what will be out there. Its just to dangerous." 

Pinkie pie nodded. "Yeah there could be monsters or snow beasts out there." She made a scary face that made Rainbow dash chuckled. 

Spike sat up, took a deep breath and sighed. He looked at the Cutie Mark Crusaders and spoke sounding serious. "I know you guys want to help but please let me and the others do this. I don't think Sarah would want to see you girls risking your lives to help her when she did much to help you so please stay here with Shining Armor and Cadence." 

"But aren't you risking your life to help her?" Scootaloo said in response. 

Spike nodded. "Yes but it's different. I'm doing it because she is my family." 

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other and nodded. "Alright." They said in unison.

At that moment there were several ponies bringing in food from the kitchen. There was several crystal kingdom types of food like crystal berries, crystal corn and cider.  There was also regular things for breakfast like fruit, toast, and some gems for Spike. He licked his lips and chowed down.  The others started to eat. Rarity seemed pleased that her sister didn't do the cooking remembering the time she made breakfast.  After a few minutes of eating Celestia and Luna  walked in. Celestia had a scroll floating in the air with her magic. 

Twilight looked at her teacher. "Morning Princess Celestia. What is that if I may ask?" 

Princess Celestia smiled. "This my dear Twilight is the map you will need to get to your destination." 

Rainbow dash looked up from her plate of yummy food. "What if our destination anyway?" 

Spike nodded. "Yeah where are heading? You mentioned last night that you believe it that Sarah had magically disappeared to a place you only heard legends about?" 

Princess Luna took a step forward. "The place of which my sister spoke about is a place which many doubt exist. It is said to be a dark gloomy pit wiith a wall lined with bronze and is ruled by a dragon who was sent there eons ago some are chosen to stay there in the pit while others are sent to a place that we known as the fields. We believe that thou will do fine but there are many challenge you will face and ponies you may or may not meet. Follow thy map, it shall guild ye." 

Princess Celestia nods.  "Yes please be careful everypony. Cadence and Shining Armor have already got somethings for you." She points a hoof at the stuff they brought in earlier.  "I suggest you add these to your bags along with anything else you may need.  Its cold so I suggest you wear plenty of warm clothes, if you need us we are always a letter away." 

Twilight nods. "Yes Princesses. I will write to you as soon as we need you." She takes the map.

Pinkie pie hopped into the pile of warm clothes and came back out with several sweaters on and a red knit cap. "I'm ready." The group chuckles at how she looked. 

Fluttershy smiles. "You look very nice Pinkie." 

Twilight had started to put things in her saddle bag since she still had it on.  The others went to grab theirs and came back to fill the rest of it.  Spike even had his own bag. It was a purple one to match the color of his scales. Inside he put in Sarah's pink cloak that Rarity had given her, several gems and a blanket.  The three fillies went up to them and gave them all hugs good bye as they put on some warm clothes, they all either wore jacket of sweaters that seemed to be very stylish.  Rarity enjoyed that very much as she wore a purple sweater, a scarf, and a jacket to keep her extra warm.  After that they all exited the palace and walked for several minutes out of the Crystal Empire and into the Frozen North.  Right before Spike exited the Empire he looked at the crystal he wore around his neck. "I'm coming for you Sarah." 
> The cold north and the first of many creatures
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	As the group started walking through the Frozen North, it was freezing out but the group felt at least some warmth since they were all in warm clothes.  The snow under their hooves was about a foot deep and a chilly wind blew in their faces. Twilight did her best to read the map as they walked. They all agreed it would be best to stay together as a group since none of them knew this area well and they no clue what creatures may be out here.  Rarity adjusted her scarf as she was walking by Applejack who was trying to not lose her hat as the wind kept almost blowing it off. 

Applejack put her hoof on her hat to hold it still. "How much longer do we have to walk Twilight?"

Fluttershy shivered a little. "I hope not long. We have been walking for awhile it will be night soon." 

Twilight looked up from the map. "There should be a cave somewhere." 

Pinkie pie pulls out a pair of pink binoculars and looks around, seeing nothing but snow that was blowing. "I don't see anything yet." 

Rainbow dash sighed. "I could fly ahead and see if I can see it." 

Twilight shook her head. "That would be a bad idea. We wouldn't want to get separated." 

Spike nodded. He had spent their whole time walking not saying much. He looked at the white crystal then looked at his friends. "Twilight's right. If we get separated then we would be wasting time.  Let's just stay together. "

Rainbow dash nods. "Ok."

Rarity adjusted her scarf once more. "I say once we find that cave we try to get warm. Its freezing out here." 

"Its colder than a ice cream cone in a freezer." Applejack added. 

Twilight nods. "Thats right for sure. Pinkie do you see a cave yet. There should one around here if I'm reading the map right." 

Pinkie pie bounces around in circles as she looks through her binoculars once more.  She sees a grey cave that seemed big enough to hold them all. "I see it girls. " She points her hoof at it. 

"Yay!" Fluttershy cheered.

"Good job Pinkie." Spike said.

Pinkie gave a salute. "Just doing my job." 

The group headed to the cave. Once they got in they saw that it was a big cave with a high ceiling and  the ground was cold. They all started to unpack their things. Twilight unpacked a few of the scrolls that contained Sarah's journals. Pinkie pie unpacked a cake and ate it. Rarity was setting up her tent because she refused to sleep on the ground in case it was dirty. Applejack unrolled a sleeping bag and pulled out a blanket telling her drama queen of a friend that a little dirt never hurt no pony.  Fluttershy didn't unpack her bags as she saw an ice blue colored bat and was quietly talking to it. 

"Why hello my friend. What's your name?" Fluttershy said quietly. 

The bat made a sort of chirping and beeping sound and Fluttershy nodded.

"Thats a nice name. It's great to meet you Echo.  Have you lived here often?" The yellow pegasus 
asked.

Echo the bat nodded and made several more chirping and beeping sounds. 

Fluttershy nodded once more. "All your life you say. That must be interesting. " 

Echo chirped once more.

Rainbow dash looked over at Fluttershy. "Who are you talking to Fluttershy?" 

"A ice bat. His name is Echo." Fluttershy said. 

"A BAT!!! Don't yet it come near me. I could get rabies. " Rarity cried. 

"I'll protect you Miss Rarity, if that bat comes near you I'll be here." Spike said.

Rarity smiled at her dragon friend. "If you could do that for me dear you would be a real hero for me." 

Spike nodded. "Yeah..I'll be your hero..." He looked at the white crystal thinking about how Sarah acted as his hero. 

Echo made several noises then waved his ice blue wing at Fluttershy before he flew out of the cave. 

Fluttershy smiled. "Don't worry. Echo said he was going to leave and search for some food. I hope he finds some. "

"If he stays far away from me then I'll be fine." Rarity said as she went inside her tent.

Twilight was reading the journals not paying attention to what her friends where doing. She found them very interesting. Twilight knew that Sarah was kept alive with the help of Sombra's magic but reading the journal entry about it opened her eyes to the dragon Sarah was. She really never wanted to go along with Sombra's plan at all. As she read the journal entry it made her wonder why her egg was left in the snow. Why wasn't it in a cave? Did Sarah have anypony searching for her egg.    Once she finished she saw Pinkie pie sitting in a snow chair she made with a bubble pipe in her mouth. It made Twilight chuckle and then she went back to her reading.

The group soon fell asleep some time later but Spike was still up. As the wind blew, he looked outside the cave seeing only white.  Spike had headed outside but knew he shouldn't. He didn't why but he had this strange feeling that something was calling him. He thought maybe it was Sarah. He walked out into the snow and after several minutes he rubbed his eyes as he thought he saw a beautiful mare.  She looked even more beautiful than his lady Rarity who he loved dear to his heart. The mare looked like she had very pale white coat. Spike thought that it might have even looked transparent. The mare's mane was long and black as she wore a simple white robe that looked as if it could barely keep her warm.  "Who is that beauty? She must be cold. Is she lost? Hey you!" 

The mare turned to him. "Hello" 

Spike looked at her. "Are you cold? Its freezing out here. " He held out the scarf he wore.

The mare shook her head. "No I am fine. You know you shouldn't be out in the Frozen North alone. It is quite dangerous."  

Spike nodded. "I know. I'm searching for somepony. Why are you here?" 

"I guess you can say I'm searching for somepony as well." The mare grinned.

Meanwhile back in the cave. Applejack woke up not seeing anywhere. "Where did that dragon head off to this time. I hope he didn't have to head to the little dragons room. " She started to wake the others getting them up only took a minute or two.

When they got up Fluttershy said. "I hope he is alright."

Twilight nods. "I hope so too, we better go out to look for him." 

"Lets hope we don't get lost." Rainbow dash said. 

They all nod and soon everypony was back out in the freezing cold. They started their search calling Spike's name.  Twilight wondered why Spike went out. He knew how dangerous this place is. 

Back with Spike and the mysterious mare they were still talking to each other as if they had know each other for awhile. 

"Really who are you looking for?  "Spike asked the mare.

The mare moved her hoof through her long black mane. "You.." As she spoke her breath looked blue and it started to slowly coat Spike. 

"Me..." Spike said as he started to shiver and suddenly the white crystal dimly glowed but Spike didn't seem to notice as he was to distracted be the beautiful mare. As it glowed Sarah's voice seemed to quitely speak in his mind. Spike run... Before he could run or even wonder if that was really Sarah's voice, the mare spoke once more. 

The mare smiled. "Yes, you.." Her icy breath soon froze him solid. 

In the skies Echo the ice bat Fluttershy had made friends with had just eaten and was heading back to the cave. He saw what was happening and recognized Spike.  He quickly flew to the mane six to tell them. He soon found them. Echo sat on Fluttershy's shoulder and started to make his chirping beeping sounds telling her what he saw.

Fluttershy gasped hearing what the bat was telling her. "Spike's in trouble. Echo said that a beautiful mare had frozen him. We must hurry." 

"A MARE! She is going to get it for freezing our Spike. " Rarity said. 

Applejack nodded. "Lets go y'all." 

They nodded and with Echo leading them. They soon ended up by Spike and the mare.  Spike looked like a popsicle.

Twilight looked angry. "Get away from Spike. " Her horn glowed as she was ready to use all of her alicorn powers on this mare. 

The mare frowned and looked at the group. Her eyes struck fear into them. 

Rainbow dash shook off the feeling and glared.  "You mess with our friend so that means we are going to get you."

Fluttershy nodded. "If thats ok with you that is..." 

Pinkie pie randomly pulled out a pie ready to throw it. 

Rarity glared at the mare.  "You messed with the wrong ponies now leave."

The mare felt threaten and disappeared into a cloud of mist. 

Twilight used her magic to levitate the frozen Spike. She looked around at the ground only seeing Spike's claw tracks and the groups own hoof prints. "Hmm it seems like she has no hoof prints." 

"How strange." said Fluttershy.

Applejack nodded. "Lets get back to the cave and defrost our dragon."

Twilight nodded and they soon headed back to the cave.  On the way back Rainbow dash looked at Fluttershy. "I guess making friends with that bat really did help us." 

Fluttershy nodded and pet Echo. "It sure did."

Rarity nodded and looked at the ice bat. "I suppose I was wrong about you."

Echo flew to Rarity and smiled. 

When they got back to the cave, Twilight used her magic to teleport some wood and started a fire. She set Spike down and the others brought over the blankets and covered him up to help melt the ice melt faster. Pinkie went straight to her snow chair and tried to keep it together as it was melting. "NOOOO!!!" The group chuckled.

After a few minutes the ice was all melted and Spike was awake telling the girls what have happened. "And then I swear I heard Sarah's voice but before I could do anything the mare spoke and I guess I was frozen..." 

"I wonder who that mare was." Fluttershy said.

"Me too." Applejack said with a nod.

Twilight thought for a minute, hearing Spike tell his tale. "I think you just met somepony called a Yuki-onna. In the legends I read they spoke of a beautiful mare who appears to travelers trapped in snowstorms, and uses her icy breath to leave them as frost-coated corpses. Other legends I have read say she leads them astray so they simply die of exposure. "

"I can see why this place is so dangerous now." Spike said. "I had no idea that somepony like that could live here." He shivered for a minute. 

Twilight nods. "Yes that is why we must stay together. If we continue to do that and follow the map we are bound to find Sarah."

Spike smiles. "Yeah your right. I guess some how Sarah was trying to warn me.." 

"Im sure of it Spike. Lets get some sleep." Rarity said.

Spike nods looking at the white crystal. "Yeah good night." 

Soon everypony were wrapped up in blankets, sleeping bags and laying in tents if they felt like it was needed. Spike was covered up feeling cozy letting the warmth of the fire warm up the rest of his chills and soon he was drifting into sleep. 
> The tundric worm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was a new day as the group had just woken up. They were all ready to get moving on with their quest.  Spike was folding up all the blankets from the night before. He felt kind of bad that he foolishly went out in the snow, he didn't know that there was a mare known as the Yuki-onna and that she could turn ponies to ice pops. He was glad that the others found him before he would be an ice pop forever. Once he finished folding the blankets and putting them in the saddle bags, he looked at the necklace remembering that he heard Sarah's voice. He wondered if he really heard her or was it his imagination. 

Rarity noticed him looking at the necklace. She could only guess that he was thinking about hearing his sister's voice. Her and the others have been worried about him since the fight with King Sombra. They all knew he wanted to get her back no matter what the cost. Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow dash had all felt the same way when Sombra took the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She walked up to him. "Oh, Spike are you finished packing up the blankets dear?" 

Spike heard her voice and looked up at her.  "Oh..hello Miss Rarity. Yes I just finished. "

Rarity nodded.  "Then come on. " She put on a scarf and went over to the others.

Fluttershy was chatting with Echo the ice bat while Rainbow dash was finishing putting away a tent. Spike grabbed the saddle bags and passed them around to the respective owners.  Pinkie pie took hers and started to bounce around the cave. 

Twilight looked at her friends after she looked up from the map. "Ok  everypony ready to go. We have a lot of ground to cover." 

Pinkie pie stops bouncing and nods. "Yep. I'm ready Twilight. Can we have a snowball fight later." 

Rainbow dash looks at Pinkie. "We don't have time to goof around Pinkie. Lets save the playing for another day but if we were going to play we all know who will win."

"Would it be Frosty the snowpony?" Pinkie asked.

Rainbow dash facehoofed. "No. I would win." 

Applejack adjusts her hat. "We don't have time to y'all to see who would win. Lets get going everypony." She headed to the exit of the cave. 

The rest of the group followed her. Fluttershy said goodbye to her bat friend and they all were soon back out into the cold. As they were walking the wind started to blow harder. It was hard for Twilight to read the map.  The group continued forward on their quest.  Spike decided to stick by Twilight's side so he could try to see the map as well. From what he could see if he could that they would have to continue in the direction they were going for a while till they reach a mountain.  When it got to the mountain it looked like that was where the trail ended. Is that where they will find Sarah?  

Spike looked at Twilight. "So we are headed to that mountain right?" 

Twilight nodded. "Yes thats what the map is telling me but it seems that the trail ends there so I'm sure that is it."

Spike nods.  "Ok. " He looked at the others. "How are you guys doing back there?"

Pinkie pie jumps up. "I'm good Spike. "

Before the others could answer the ground beneath their hooves started to shake. The group looked around and wondered what was causing this. 

"Is it an earthquake?" Fluttershy asks. 

"It must be Fluttershy, what in all of Equestria could cause this." Applejack stated.  At that moment a giant crystalline looking worm popped out of the cold snow covered ground. When it popped out the ground stopped shaking. 

Rarity gasped. "What is that thing?" 

"Its a worm..." Fluttershy said. 

The worm roared loudly at them and Fluttershy curled up on the ground shaking feeling afraid.  It looked as if it was going to eat her when Applejack thought fast and took everyponies scarfs and used them to long enough lasso. She was glad that rarity had decided to grab a lot of scarfs so she could have different options. It started to shake her off but Applejack held on tight to the hoof-made lasso. 

"Stop squirming you vermin." She said with the lasso in her teeth.

"Applejack stop that. We don't know what that thing can do." Twilight said. 

"I got it Twi." Applejack told her friend. The worm continued to shake. 

Pinkie pie looked at Rainbow dash. "Hey Dashie ready for that snow ball fight?"

Rainbow picked up some snow and formed it into a ball. "Lets do this." She throws it at the worm. 

Pinkie pie does the same. "Take this and that. Hey Rarity join in on the party." 

Rarity picks up some snow in her hoof. "A lady does not take action in such ruckus but I would have to make an exception."  She joins in on the snowball fight. It went on for several minutes. Soon the beast had calmed down and stopped its shaking. Applejack let go of the lasso and went over to the group. 

Fluttershy looked up. "Is it over.." 
Rainbow dash nods. "For now." 
Fluttershy got up. "So what now y'all?" Applejack asked. 

Spike shrugged as he went over to the worm. "Not sure." He burped and green flames came out of his mouth and touched the worm. It looked like it was starting to melt. "Hey Twi! Look!" 

Twilight went over. "Hmm its melting." The wind died down and soon everything seemed still temporarily. "I think I read something in one of Sarah's journals about this." She opens up her saddle bag and pulls out one of the scrolls. She hands it to Spike. "Care to read it aloud for us?" 

Spike eagerly grabbed it. "Yes. I wonder what Sarah wrote. " He opens it up and scans the scroll.  He begins to read it aloud.  "Dear journal, My journey so far to Ponyville is long from being complete. I am still in the frozen north and have recently come across a gigantic worm.  The knowledge that my master Sombra has gifted me showed me that it is called a Tundric Worm. These giant worms burrow through the deep snow and when they feel the vibrations of somepony passing overhead, they burst upwards, swallowing the pony whole. The pony dies of hypothermia in the hollow area of their "stomach" and is slowly encased in the crystalline substance of the Tundric Worm's insides. They can only be killed by fire.  That is all for now. From Sarah."  He folds it back up. 

Rainbow dash nods. "Well I guess it missed on trying to eat us. "

"I'm glad." Fluttershy said. 

Twilight nods and smiles. "Same here Fluttershy. It only being killed by fire explains on why your breath Spike cause it to melt a little." The ground then shakes and the Tundric Worm tunnels back underground.

"Well I say we better get back to moving." Spike says.

"I agree." Applejack said. 

They all nod and start to head back to their journey. They have already faced some danger and they could only guess there will be more.

> The end of the map
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the group went on they haven't faced any new troubles since their run in with the Tundric worm. Twilight continued to look at the map making sure they were still heading in the right direction. In the distance they could see a gray mountain and it looked like the same one on the map.  Spike seemed very happy that they were getting close to the mountain, he kept looking at the white crystal that hung around his neck. "We are almost there Sarah. I'll find you." He said in a hushed voice. 

Rainbow dash brushed some snow off her coat as it started to fall on them. "So almost there? I'm sick and tired of this cold. If it gets any colder or we have to walk any much more we will all be pony popsicles." 

"Well whinging and crying like Rarity isn't going to get you anywhere sugarcube." Applejack replied.

"You want to see whinging dear. This is whinging." Rarity replied, saying the last sentence in the same whining tone as she had did with the diamond dogs when she was held captive by them. 

"Girls please don't argue. I'm sure we will be there in no time. Right Twilight?" Fluttershy said turning to her friend.

Twilight nods. "Yes we will be there soon." 

"Good I can't wait to get there." Spike said. 

The ponies nod at him. They continued forth as Pinkie Pie started to bounce ahead singing a tune she came up with. "We're off to the mountain cause thats where the map will lead us. We gonna find our friend.  We faced a few dangers and we'll face many more cause we will see what will be in store." 

Fluttershy giggled listening to Pinkie sing. Twilight says.  "Pinkie stop that"

"Aww..ok." Pinkie said chuckling. 

They continued walking for several hours. The snow continued on and off for a lot of that time and soon the night fell.  They were going to sit down in the snow for a little bit to take a break but Pinkie went ahead and made everypony a snow chair. 

Rarity looked at Spike as she sat down.  "So Spike what are you going to do when we get to the mountain. I hope your not thinking of doing anything rash." 

Spike gave a small smile to her. "I'll do anything to get Sarah back. We are so close I think I can feel her."

"Don't worry Spike.  I'm ready to throw a cake at anypony who dares triers to stop us." Pinkie pie said pulling out a cake out of nowhere. 

Spike chuckles. "I don't think we need to have a food fight." 

"I second that but I'm sure we can get her back. I am now a princess." Twilight says.

"Oh that is right darling. Maybe you could give who ever we face a royal order." Rarity replies.

"That would be awesome!" Rainbow dash exclaimed. 

"I guess we will see. We should get back to walking. Care to lead us Spike?" Twilight says turning to her dragon friend. 

Spike stood on his snow chair and was about to say something when it crumbled. He got out of the snow pile it had made and brushed off the excess. "Yes I will. Off we go." 

The group stand up and start walking towards the mountain as Spike lead the way.  Spike was several paces ahead of the others and was lost in his own thoughts.  He kept thinking about what he would have to do to get his sister back.  He remembered that Princess Luna said that this place  ruled by a dragon. Would he have to ask the dragon that ruled this place for her to come back? Would he have to offer him anything? He figured only time would tell. The crystal on his necklace glowed sightly and heard  Sarah's voice in his head. Your almost there. He smiled and said quietly. "I know." 

They soon got to the mountain, it was still dark out but  it didn't matter to the group. They got to the end of the map and felt for sure that this was were Sarah was.  Rainbow dash looked around. "So where should we look." 

Fluttershy shrugs. "I don't know." 

"Well Y'all lets see it looks like there is a small cave not far from here. Lets start there." Applejack said. 

"Good idea." Spike said as they all started walking. After a few minutes they walked inside the cave. It was very deep and it looked like the deeper it got the darker it seemed.  Spike used his fire breath to light the way.  The walls were bare and cold. It didn't look like anyone was ever in there.  They were about to stop and talk about  turning back when they soon approached a mysterious shadow. 

"Eep." Fluttershy said seeing it. 

"Don't be scared Fluttershy. Its just a shadow it can't hurt us." Pinkie pie said smiling. 

"Oh your right." She replied. 

Twilight smiled. "Its probably nothing girls lets keep going or turn back. Which should it be." 

They were about to talk about it when the shadow started to move and a calm voice of a mare spoke.  "Your group traveled far to come here. You faced a few dangers but will face a few more if you continue on."

Spike looked around. "Who said that?" 

"Show yourself." Rarity demanded. 

"Show myself. If that is what you ask then I will." Out of the shadow a long bronze dragon appeared. She was at least three times the size of Spike and had small wings.  She looked at the group.  "So will you continue on?" 

The group took a step back surprised to see the dragon. They turned to Spike since it was his quest. Spike looked at the dragon. "Yes we will continue. I'm here to get my sister Sarah. You haven't seen her have you." 

The dragon's eyes were empty of any color as she looked at Spike. "I know who you are. My friend has spoken of you. You have no sister but think of the one you call Sarah as your own. To get her back you must follow me and face the first of many challenges." 

Spike nods. "I'll do it. Just lead the way." 

"Wait wait before we go off and do who knows what. Who are you dragon?" Applejack said. 

The dragon smiled. "You may call me Valkyrie. Now please follow." She turned and stated to fly down the cave. 

The group follows silently at first for the first few minutes until Twilight whispered. "Can we trust her. This could all be a trap." 

Rainbow dash nodded and replied. "Yeah it could be." 

The white crystal glowed once more and Sarah's voice spoke to Spike in his head. It sounded the same as it did before but only a tad quieter. Follow her please. Spike nods and looks at his friends. "We must." They all nod at him and carry on walking. 
> the first challenge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 	The group all followed Valkyrie the dragon through the cave as it got deeper. Spike had stopped using his fire breath when they noticed that there was small torches on the walls that made the bronze dragon's scales shine.  The group had been quietly talking  to each other trying to figure out what the challenges that the dragon had spoke about might be. 

"I bet if its a race then I should be the one to do it. " Rainbow dash said to them as she walked across the cold ground.  The sound of water dripping could be heard faintly. 

Rarity nodded as she walked by her fast flying friend. "Yes darling you must do it if its a race. You can beat any opponent even if its a dragon." 

Valkyrie stopped and turned her head to the ponies and small dragon. "You know I can hear you." 

Twilight looked at Valkyrie. "Sorry if she said anything to offend you  but please won't you tell us of these challenges?" 

Spike nods eagerly wanting to know them as well if not more than the rest of the group so that he could get his sister back. "Tell us Valkyrie, what do we need to do?" 

"Yeah what is it if you don't mind that is." Fluttershy added quietly. 

The bronze dragon nodded and started flying again. The group followed her and waited to hear the answer.  As they walked deeper into the cave they saw claw marks on the stone walls and the dripping noise got slightly louder. The amount of time that passed before Valkyrie spoke again seemed like it was as long as it took Twilight to finish a good book or Rarity when she was working on an amazing outfit.   "You will face seven challenges, in some one of you will face in others all.  Each has a theme and if you don't pass then you won't move on.  It is your choice to leave if you feel like you had enough."  Her voice sounded calm and steady when she spoke.

Applejack trotted up to her. "Like we would quit. I would like to let you know that we Apples are no quitters and neither are my friends. "

Pinkie Pie bounces up and down excitingly  hearing the word themes. "OOO THEMES!!! What kind if themes?" 

"You will see." Valkyrie replied and landed softly on the ground in front of a passage way. Rainbow dash was ready to speed down it but when she tried she was stopped by a magical barrier.  She tried to ram through it once more but it was to no avail.

Twilight looked at her. "Rainbow stop that. If you want to get through it then it looks like you would need to use a spell."

"I would like you to try Princess Egghead." Rainbow dash replied rubbing her head.  

"I will " Twilight replied as her horn glows its usual magenta color aura.  She shot her magic at the barrier several times but it had no effect on it. She soon stopped and started to take deep breaths. 

Fluttershy looked at her. "Oh Twilight are you okay?" 

Twilight nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. My magic seems to have no effect. Why is that Valkyrie?"  

"The barrier will only let all of you pass after the challenge is complete. Now the rest of you go one by one to see who may face this challenge. " She replied to Twilight.  The group nodded and one by one tried to pass through.  Spike had gotten through first. 

"Looks like I'm up. Wish me luck." He said. 

Rarity went up to the barrier and slipped through. "It seems like your not going alone my darling." 

Spike's eyes light up with hearts at the thought of doing the challenge with his love.  "Yes my fairest Rarity."  The white crystal glowed dimly and his head he heard Sarah's voice but it was getting quieter every time he heard it. Please focus lover boy. Spike nodded and shook his head snapping himself out of it. He needed to focus, this was his quest. He needed to accomplish it with out getting distracted.  

The others who hadn't tried to get through the barrier tried to but they weren't able to. It seemed like the first challenge was only for them two. Valkyrie looked at them all with her colorless eyes. "The first challengers have been chosen, the barrier will open if it is completed. I will go with them." The dragon went through the barrier into the passage way and stood by Rarity and Spike. 

Pinkie Pie put her hooves to the barrier and looked at them. "Please be careful you two. Try not to fall into a pit or fail the challenge making it so that we will never see Sarah again and...." 

Before she could finish speaking everypony cried. "PINKIE!" 

The bubbly pink pony shrugged. "What? " 

"Don't worry about it guys. We wont fail." Spike said with determination and with that him, Rarity, and Valkyrie headed down the passage way.

They continued to head down the passage way and with every step they took the sound of the dripping got louder. Rarity covered her eyes. "What is that horrific noise. I can't think straight." 

"I think its water dripping. I heard it earlier but I didn't notice it. " Spike said as he looked around trying to find the noise. As they continued on they walked through an opening and suddenly found themselves standing on a ledge.  Above them have saw a small waterfall coming out of the ceiling above them as if it was there by magic.   The two looked at Valkyrie wondering exactly how the big the cave inside the mountain was and how this place was even possible. "How..." Spike said.

Valkyrie jumped off the edge and flapped her wings fluttering above the water. "This place is full of magic to test every challenger that wishes to find what you would like to find.  Welcome to the first of your challenges that you would be facing. Before my time guiding ponies and creatures of all sorts here this challenge was once known as lust but I changed it to love."  She flew in a circle making the water underneath her form into a tornado.  It spun quickly and once it died down  they could see a wooden raft held together by vines or long pieces of grass, it was hard to tell but it homemade.  Standing on that raft was what looked like a young unicorn filly who Rarity recognized in a heart beat.  It was her sister Sweetie Belle.

"SWEETIE BELLE!!!" She cried in shock and surprise. Rarity wondered why her sister was here. The last time she saw her was back in the Crystal Empire. Her and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders were suppose to be watched by Princess Cadance and  Shining Armor. She wondered if the other fillies where here as well. She turned to Valkyrie and said angrily. "Why is my sister here. This is no place for her, let her go at once." 

The dragon shook her head. "No. This is your challenge you must face it. I should warn you, there are plenty of creatures in the water that may want to harm her." 

"Not on my watch they won't." Rarity said and jumped off the ledge and dived into the water. 

Spike gasps. "Wait Rarity!"  Spike understood that he couldn't stop her. He knew that  siblings  would do anything for each other. He watched trying to understand why he was chosen for this challenge since it was Sweetie Belle that was in danger and nopony that he loved.

There was the sound of a splash as Rarity landed in the water. The water was freezing cold and it made her mane  and fur get soaking wet in the process, she shivered slightly. She saw the raft with her sister on it a yard or so away  and swam towards it.  The current was pushing her backwards but she kept moving forward not giving up. When she got closer to it she saw a scaly body slithering up and down the water. There was no doubt in her mind that it was a sea serpent.  She remembered the day when her and her friends had got the elements of harmony and they met a fashionable sea serpent with a excellent mustache.  She doubted that this serpent would be as kind as the one they met in the past.  It moved toward the direction of the  raft  and seeing that Rarity swam faster and soon got to the raft about a minute before the serpent.  She pulled herself onto the raft and hugged the filly. 

"Oh Sweetie Belle,  I'm glad your safe. We must get of this dreaded raft."  She said but after she said that the filly that looked like her sister disappeared and Rarity was only hugging a the air. It was all a illusion but before she could think of what was going on the serpent hit the raft and caused it to crack slightly.  She screamed. "Help!" 

Spike jumped hearing her scream. He saw that it was only her on the raft and saw the serpent hitting it.  It only took him a second until he thought that he finally understood the challenge. He was suppose to save the pony he loved, Rarity. "Hang on Rarity. I'm coming." He jumped into the water and quickly swam toward the raft.   As he approached it the serpent stuck his head out of the water and opened his gigantic jaws and Spike could see its pearly white teeth as it goes to take a bite out the raft with Rarity on it as if she was a snack. Spike swam faster. "No one if going to hurt my Rarity." 

The serpent turned to him. "What are you going to do about it?"

He was pretty scared but he didn't want to show it. The only thing on his mind was not to lose somepony else he loved,  He thought for a minute and  looked up at the serpent with all the bravery he had inside him. "This." Spike said and chomped down on a part of the serpent's body and it let out a cry, The serpent then swam off.  Spike swam over to Rarity and got on the raft but it started to crack more because of the added weight.  

"We need to get off of here Spike." Rarity said. 

Spike nodded but before he could say anything the raft broke in half and they both were back in the freezing cold water.  Valkyrie was still flying in the air and brought the water around them up in tornado as she showed off before bringing them back to the ledge that they stood up at the beginning of the challenge. They both shivered.

Rarity glared angrily at the dragon. "What happened to my sister!" 

"I told you before the challenge started that this place is full of magic. This challenge was all about the love. The love for family and love for others. What you saw was an illusion, your sister is still safe." She said and looked over at Spike. "When you were out there were you thinking of the danger or getting killed?"

Spike shook his head, " No I wasn't. I just didn't want to lose somepony else that I love." 

Rarity smiled. "Aww.. That's so sweet. Spike thank you." She gave the baby dragon a hug and a kiss on the cheek. 

Valkyrie landed on the ledge and  folded up her wings as she started to head to the entrance.  "You both have passed. Onto the next test." 


> The second challenge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Spike and Rarity had just finished their challenge and were following Valkyrie through the passage back to the others. Spike held the white crystal in his claw and was just looking at it silently.  Rarity looked at him a little worried but she figured he was thinking of Sarah.  She trotted over to Valkyrie. "Is Sarah alright wherever she is?"

Valkyrie nods. "Yes she is.  Hopefully she will return to your side."  The bronze dragon said nothing else as she lead the two back to the group.  They could see that Rainbow dash and Pinkie pie were playing tic-tac-toe in the dirt and it seemed like nopony was winning. Twilight was reading a few of the scrolls that contained Sarah's journal entries. Applejack and Fluttershy were talking to each other quietly.   Pinkie pie was the first to see them and she gasped. "Rarity! Spike ! Your both alive and didn't fall into a pit. " 

Spike nods with a chuckle. "Yes we made it. We're a little wet but we made it. Twilight your going to love this place it's full of magic. It's hard to believe but there is a waterfall here and Valkyrie made a water tornado and..." Before he could say anything else Twilight gave him a hug. 

"I get it Spike. I'm just glad your back." The alicorn said and looked at Valkyrie. "May we please head to the next challenge?" 

She nods. "Yes. The barrier that was keeping the rest of you hear while these two did the challenge should be lifted. Please follow." The group nods and follows the dragon down the same path that Rarity and Spike had to go through to complete the first challenge.As they  went down the path   Rarity noticed that the place didn't seem quiet the same as before as if the path was magically changing before them to send them down a different route in search of the next challenge whatever it may be. The path was darker with each step they took as the torches on the walls were getting the dim. Spike would take a little time to relight some so that they had a good light source to see. 

Pinkie pie's stomach growled loudly. "All this walking sure is making me hungry. Does anypony have a cake, pie, snickerdoodles, cheesecake, muffins, cherry chimichangas, hay fries, hayburger, carrots, or cupcakes that I can much on? Preferably a cherry chimichanga cause that sounds really good right now. "  

"Now that you mentioned it I'm hungry too." Rainbow dash said. 

Fluttershy looked at Valkyrie and said almost in a whisper. "Do you know where we can get some food if you don't mind that is. We wasted a lot of ours traveling here. " 

The dragon looked down at the pegasus. "Yes I do.  Your stomachs will rest easy once they are filled. Just be patient young ponies."

Applejack nods. "Alrighty then sugarcube. We will wait but I'm hungrier than my dog Winona after a long day of work on the farm." 

The dragon just nods saying nothing leading the group through twists, turns, and probably in  circles too but it was hard to tell since everything really did look alike from the walls to the torches on that hung on them. It was as if  just ware them out and to make them more hungry than they already were.  By the time they finally came to a stop in front of another tunnel their hooves were aching, they were out of breath, and they all wanted to collapse to the cold hard ground and have a good nights sleep for a thousand years or so. Rarity moved her dark purple mane away from her eyes. "Are we there darling?" 

Valkyrie nods. "Yes. You all may come into this challenge but as like the challenge before there will be a barrier only one or two  of you will get through. " 

"Well I don't know about y'all but I'm ready to face this one." Applejack said tilting her hat with her hoof. 

Pinkie's stomach growled louder than before. "Boy is my stomach hungry can we have some food now?" 

"Not yet. After come now." Valkyrie replied to her and went down the tunnel into a  cavern that made everypony gasp. 

The walls of the cavern were red as blood with several regal rugs and tapestries that Rarity couldn't take her eyes off of. The tapestries had pictures of a long ocean scaled color dragon with a scar over its eye.  In the center of the cavern was a long banquet table with several chairs around it that was full of almost ever food the group could think of. It had several kinds of gems from the grassy green emeralds to the clearest of diamonds. There was woven baskets full of  apples, oranges, pears, coconuts, kiwis, peaches, mangoes and grapes. Plates were full of slices of chocolate cake, hay sandwiches, hay fries, salads,  and cookies. Several ginormous bowls were full of every kind of ice cream. There were barrels full of cider as if it had just came from Sweet Apple Acres and jars of zap apple jam were by them.  All of the food made everypony's mouth water and as they all ran towards it all but one of them got bounced off by the magical barrier that was surrounding the table pushing them towards different corners of the room. The only one that wasn't bounced off was the bubbly pink pony Pinkie pie. Her eyes were full of glee as she looked at the sweet treats that were at the end of the table.  She turned and looked at the others seeing that they weren't by her side. "Why isn't everypony over here. We could have a cake eating contest?" 

"It looks like this is your challenge Pinkie." Twilight said.

Rainbow dash cheered. "Go Pinkie win this challenge for us.  What ever it may be." 

"We believe in you hun." Applejack said with a smile. 

Valkyrie walked over to Pinkie getting through the barrier with ease. "This is your challenge. It is called Gluttony. The meaning of gluttony is.." 

"To  gulp down or swallow, it can also mean to over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, or wealth items to the point of extravagance or waste." Twilight said interrupting her and finishing her sentence.

The bronze dragon made a puff of smoke come out of her nose in a huff not liking to be interrupted or having ponies finish her sentence. " Yes, that is correct. Now let me ask you Pinkie correct? When you are at home how much do you eat?" 

Pinkie sat down on a lemon shaded rug and put her shiny hoof to her chin thinking.  "Hmm I would say alot. I eat several cakes a day, some haycakes for breakfast with a lot of sugar, I sneak a cupcake when ever I'm baking, rock candy when my sister Maud comes, lets see what else.." 

"Its a lot so whats with the questions? I want some of that cider." Rainbow dash said eying down the barrel of cider her mouth watering. 

Valkyrie looked at Pinkie pie straight in the eyes and as she looked at Pinkie with her colorless eyes it was as if she was looking at her soul. "Your body runs a lot on sugar so you may have trouble with this challenge. You must walk from one end of the table to the other with out eating or touching the food."

"How does this challenge represent gluttony. This is like the opposite of gluttony. " Twilight responded. 

She looked at the princess. "This challenge may be called gluttony but it is your friend who represents it with  her consumption of sweets.  If you would like to move on then she must complete this challenge." 

Pinkie pie gives the whole group a smile as she stood back up. "I'm sure I can do it.  It will be as easy as throwing a giant party or baking a batch of cupcakes." 

"Go Pinkie." Fluttershy cheered. 

"You may start when ready " Valkyrie says to Pinkie and she started bouncing down the side of the table.  Her stomach growled as she smelled the juicy red apples as she passed them.  She got passed the other baskets of fruit but as she got to the last basket she  thought that it would be a good idea if she wore one of the baskets as a hat.  "This would make an awesome hat." She smiled  and goes to reach for it. 

"STAY FOCUSED DEAR! " Rarity yelled. 

"Oh yeah silly Pinkie." The bubbly earth pony replied before she touched the basket and went back to walking down the side of the table her stomach growling hungrily.  She passed the plates of hay sandwiches, hay fries and salads with ease but had some trouble when it came to the cake, cookies, and ice cream since it was all of her favorite party foods. She thought to herself come on Pinkie be strong, no matter  how tasty of treats these may look like I can't eat them...yet. Very slowly with her mouth drooling she makes it pass the sweets and soon just ended with the cider, zap apple jam and the gems and got to the end of the table with easily. 

The barrier that was around the table vanished and a piece of the cavern wall moved creating an exit. The others slowly went towards Pinkie and gave her a hug. "Good job Pinkie you really did it." Fluttershy smiled. 

"Of course I did it girls. It was easy as pie for Pinkie pie." She replied. 

"We had our doubts but you did it sugar cube." Applejack replied. 

Rainbow dash zoomed towards the barriers of cider after giving Pinkie a hug. "Let's eat." 

Twilight laughs and turns to Valkyrie. " May we eat now?" 

She nods. "Yes enjoy your meal you will need your strength." 

Not needed to be told twice the group pulled out chairs to sit down and started eating. Valkyrie watches them fill their stomachs as she took a seat in a chair. Spike smiled as he munched on a sapphire and couldn't help but think of the time when he gave a sapphire to Sarah. He looked at the white crystal and said quietly. "Two challenges down. We will see each other soon." 

Rarity pointed to the tapestry. "Who is that dragon on the tapestry?" 

"I suppose I should tell you while you eat." Valkyrie answered with a small smile.
> Seth 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The group was eating the food from the table to settle their hungry stomachs. Rainbow dash and Applejack were drinking cider like there was no tomorrow, Rarity was eating a small salad full of carrots, radishes, and lettuce, Twilight was eating a hay sandwich, while Fluttershy was munching on some fruit and watching Pinkie devouring the sugary sweets.  Spike at his gemstones silently but with a smile as he saw his companions eating. Valkyrie waited a few minutes before she started her story. Once she saw that everypony and dragon had their full attention she started speaking. "Long time ago, long before the rule of your princesses. When dragons have passed their souls would just drift around with no place to be, no place to rest. One day a powerful dragon and several overs equal to the his strength used their magic  to create the place where you stand. It is called The Grave.  I know its a bad name but whatever back to the story. The Grave allowed the souls to rest peacefully.  Over the years it became ruled by the Grave King also known as Seth and he also made it so that this is where all dragon souls begin and end.. " She paused looking at the tapestry. 

"So this place is called The Grave its interesting." Twilight said.

"My soul started here?" Spike said as he put his claw by his heart. 

Valkyrie nods. "Yes even my own started here as well but we have no memory of it"

"So y'all are telling me that dragons created this place with magic." Applejack said.

"Yes all creatures have a special kind of magic in them."  The bronze dragon said.

Spike nods and holds the white crystal on his necklace out. "Of course they do,remember Sarah made this crystal turn white with her magic."

"He is correct Applejack." Fluttershy replied quietly.

"I just find it hard to believe thats all." The earth pony said. 

"Thats okay. Most pony folk have trouble believing what a dragon tells them since they think most of us are monsters but we aren't." Valkyrie said.

Rarity nods. "Of course not all of you are monster. Some may be bullies like a group of teenage dragons who tried to steal phoenix eggs or the greedy dragon that Fluttershy had to use the stare on but you, Spike and Sarah are wonderful." 

Twilight smiles as she remembers something she had read in one of Sarah's journals. "Valkyrie I do have a question if you don't mind me asking. While I was reading Sarah's journals I found an entry about strange dreams she was having involving a frozen pool and frozen land where she kept hearing the words unborn and snow. I know that dragons are hatched and not born but its strange how she heard those words in her dream.  Do you know anything about that?" 

The dragon nodded slowly taking a few minutes to gather her thoughts to answer the young alicorn's question. "The answer to your question Twilight is that Sarah was never suppose to be hatched some souls are just suppose to remain here with the king. She has memories playing in her dreams out this place.  Snow might be the name the king has given her, he does that with a few of the souls that stay here." 

"She had to stay here? Where there is no parties that is just awful." Pinkie pie whined. 

Rarity nods. "Awful indeed." 

"So lame." Rainbow dash said sipping a mug of cider.

Spike looked at the crystal. "Your name was Snow? Thats pretty its just like your scales after Sombra's magic had stop running through you." 

Fluttershy smiled thinking how nice the name was. "Sarah Snow is a lovely name." 

Spike chuckled. "Thats prefect Fluttershy. While I am Spike the dragon, she is Sarah Snow. Its perfect." He turned to Valkyrie. "Can we keep going now. I wanna see Sarah." 

The bronze dragon looked at the ponies. "Are you ready to leave. You have five challenges left to face and  I can not guarantee the next time you will have a chance to eat so perhaps you should save some  for later."

Pinkie pie was already ahead of her as she was filling her bag up with cupcakes, cakes, fruit and whatever else she can fit. She gave the dragon a salute. 

Rainbow dash was trying to fit a barrel of cider in her bag but was having trouble. "Come on Pinkie pie can have all the food she wants in her bag but I can't have one barrel of cider. " She hugs the barrel. "Oh sweet sweet cider, I want you so bad."

Rarity chuckles. "Rainbow dash darling its just cider. You can get more later." 

"But its cider!" Rainbow replied to her friend. 

Twilight watches her friends get ready and goes over to Spike. "How are you feeling Spike with hearing everything." 

Spike shrugs. "Not sure but knowing that Sarah wasn't meant to be outside of the Grave just wants me to get her back even more. I wanna have so much fun with her like I wanna show her my comic books, have a fire breathing contest, fly kites again and tons of things. I want her to live and have a life with us." 

Twilight smiles and hugs him with her wing. "Same here Spike." She looked and saw that the group was starting to leave and that Applejack currently had Rainbow dash's zap apple colored tail in her mouth as she was trying to drag her away from the barrel of cider. 

"No!!!" Rainbow dash screamed.

"That's enough sugar cube." Applejack said sounding muffled as she walked behind the group dragging Rainbow.

Twilight looked down at Spike. "We better get moving, we don't want to get left behind now do we."

Spike chuckles. "Yeah we better hurry. I don't think Applejack can hold Rainbow dash away from the cider for long." 

The two smiled and hurried after the others. 
> The third challenge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was time for the group to face the third challenge, they have been traveling down the cave system for awhile now. Pinkie pie was bouncing along happily by Valkyrie chatting her head off with her. The bronze dragon looked a little annoyed by the pink pony chattering way to no end but didn't say a thing as she spoke and asked questions when she felt like it was necessary.

"And then Twilight used this memory spell on all of us and we gained our colors back so we weren't grey anymore. Then we turned Discord back to stone using the elements of harmony." Pinkie said with a smile.

Valkyrie nods. "Very interesting and what happened to this Discord after?"

"Well Princess Celestia brought him one day in Ponyville and asked Fluttershy to reform him." She answers. 

The bronze dragon turned to look at the yellow pegasus. "You reformed him. That must have been some feat to do so."

"Well it was hard at times when he didn't have my house upside or turning the poor beavers into monsters but all he needed was a friend and a dash of kindness." Fluttershy said quietly.

Pinkie pie nods. "Yeah Fluttershy showed him what it means to be a friend. He is still so much fun at a party. "

Valkyrie nods. "I see." 

While those three continued to chat with each other. Twilight was studying their surroundings trying to understand the magic used to create this place and the challenges that it uses to prove their worth to bring somepony back.  There were parts on the wall where she could see claw marks. "Why are there claw marks here." 

"Maybe somepony or dragon did that so they wouldn't get lost as they were traveling here." Applejack stated.

"That could be it Applejack. I believe that Valkyrie mentioned that others had been through these challenges before. Maybe some had gotten lost." Twilight states as they walked soon arriving to an entrance to a new path.  

Rarity looks at the path and turns to Valkyrie. "Is this the next challenge?" 

She nods at the unicorn. "Yes now lets see who this challenge is for. "

One by one everypony and dragon tried to walk through the entrance to the next challenge. Twilight was able to get through easily and so was Spike. He looks at the white crystal around his neck. "Looks like I have another challenge I need to face. " 

"I wonder what this challenge is going to be. Our group already had to face love and gluttony." Twilight said as she adjusted her bags. 

"Good luck darlings. Come back soon." Rarity said when she realized this wasn't a challenge she needed to face. 

Rainbow dash kept hitting the entrance, wanting to break through the magical barrier. "Come on! I want to prove myself in one of these challenges. Spike already faced one. Its not fair!" 

"You'll get it next time Rainbow." Fluttershy said as she put a hoof on her friend's shoulder.

Rainbow sighed. "Yeah, you're right." 

Pinkie pie tried to get through the barrier but couldn't. She chuckled. "Oh well, I don't need to go there. I already did a challenge." She smiled and took Applejack's hat when she wasn't looking. "Don't worry Dashie, good old Aunty Pinkie is sure that all of us will get to do a challenge together. Maybe we will all face a giant monster or our greatest fear." 

Applejack chuckled and took her hat Pinkie. "Pinkie pie don't you remember we all faced our fears before back when we were looking for Sarah's heart and such." 

She giggled. "Oh yeah."

Valkyrie  allows a smile to appear on her face as she walked through the barrier. "Enough chatter, its time for the third challenge."

Twilight and Spike nodded and a serious look appeared on their faces knowing that they needed to complete the challenge to move on.  They followed Valkyrie as this part of the cave got darker. It was so dark that Spike's fire couldn't make the place lighter. As they continued Twilight couldn't get the help but think that she was getting farther away from Spike. It was hard to tell cause now she couldn't see a thing out in front of her face as if she was blind.  "Spike? Valkyrie? Are you guys still here? "

There was no response at first making her worry. She heard the sounds of wings flapping and knew that it could be Valkyrie since she was the only thing she knew that was close by her with wings. She continued walking when she was suddenly surrounded by light. She was standing in a small room full of several books. As she looked around she saw that Spike wasn't there.  "Spike? Where are you!" 

Valkyrie appeared behind her. "Spike is going through his challenge and this is yours.  You both will be dealing with your greed." 

"Greed? I can understand Spike and greed but my own?" Twilight said as she walked over to a book. It was one of the lost journals of the great Starswirl the Bearded.  She couldn't help but open it to read about her idol.  

"Greed is defined as intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. Knowledge is another form of wealth in some eyes." The dragon said in a serious voice. 

Twilight was scanning the book losing focus in what Valkyrie was saying. She found this journal to be very interesting as she read about alicorn magic and what she could do with it.   She didn't even notice that Valkyrie had disappeared. 


Spike wondered where Twilight had gone when he was finally able to see what was around him. He saw a fedora type hat, several gems, a lamp,  some books, a doll house, apple trees, and several other things.  "Look at all these things. Twilight would love the books. " He places the fedora onto his head, looking around and found a mirror. He looks at it.

"I'm looking good." He said tilting the hat. He grabs a gem off the ground and starts to eat it. He didn't really seem to care that he had already had eaten a lot of gems earlier. 

"Well I guess I could just wait here until Twilight and Valkyrie finds me." Spike said as he laid on the pile of things.  

Several minutes went by in silence. Spike just ate a few gems every now and then.  Valkyrie had silently entered. She watched the young dragon for several minutes studying him. She goes and tries to take something from the pile but he stops her. "I see you are falling to a dragon's life long enemy. Greed. You overcome it once and you will need to do it again. I can not help you but I'm sure you will accomplish it." 

Spike was slowly starting to grow. He didn't want to let anypony have his things now. He watched her as she silently left. 


Twilight had books piled all around her with several open at the same time. She  was slowly gaining more knowledge and becoming more powerful with ever book she read.  The books she was reading was now glowing but she paid no mind as she was absorbed into it's contents. The power from the books seemed to be going more to her head as her eyes glowed a grey color.  She had started to imagine herself being the only ruler of Equestria.  In the corner of the room there was a ghostly figure. It looked like Sarah. She walked over to Twilight and placed a transparent claw by her head. Her voice sounded horse. "Twilight...your being corrupted by greed. These books they are suppose to make the reader want to know how to get power. From what I know about you, your power doesn't come from your magic or even books. It comes from your friends, remember that." She disappears and Twilight seemed to have snapped out of it.

"Sarah?" She said sounding confused for a second. She stands up and looks around. "I thought you were here..."   She shuts the books. "I don't need these."  As soon as she said that the books started to disappear. 


Spike had grown to the size of a full dragon and he covered himself with his treasure, he seemed to have forgotten the true reason he was here. His crystal glowed lightly but he didn't notice. As he closed his eyes to take a nap, he saw images of his friends. He saw the time when him and Pinkie Pie on several occasions, when he first met Fluttershy and told her his life story, when he always helped Twilight in the library, when he helped Rainbow dash when she was training the pegasi to deliver water to Cloudsdale, the time when Applejack saved his life and most importantly he saw when Rarity got him to change back the first time he was consumed by greed. His eyes snapped open and roared. He swung his tail at the items that surrounded him, as he got out of his pile he could have sworn he saw the figure of another dragon around his original size but he paid no mind to it.  He started to separate his pile into several piles one to represent each of his friends. Once he had done that he changed back to his normal size and the treasure disappeared. 

"Good to be back to normal. Can't believe that happened." He muttered and turned as he heard the sound of the nearest wall by him dropping to reveal Twilight. He ran and gave her a hug. 

Valkyrie dropped back into the room. "You both passed this test. Now it is time to move on." 
> The fourth challenge part 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight and Spike look at Valkyrie, they were both glad to have finished their challenge. The challenge was greed and they both had to defeat their own. Twilight knew she was only able to finish hers because Sarah had appeared to help her. She looked at Spike. "Spike, I'm pretty sure Sarah came and helped me. There was a time when I was so focused on what the books were saying but also for what the books claimed I could get like power. If she didn't appear and showed me that true power came from my friends then I wouldn't have passed. " 

Spike blinks a few times awestruck, he thought about back during the challenge when he thought he saw a dragon the same size he was.  "I think she might have come too." 

Valkyrie nods. "She might have, now come your friends are waiting." She headed to a pathway that appeared and the two followed. There were now still more challenges to go, they had already done three of them with Spike doing the most so far.  When they got back to the others everypony smiled. 

"You're back, yay!" Fluttershy said quietly. 

Rarity smiled. "Oh my Spikey-Wikey. I'm so glad to see you and Twilight back." 

"I bet Twilight just used her magic to get through the challenge easily."  Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack chuckles. "I'm sure she did it all with out her magic Rainbow." 

Twilight chuckles. "Thanks girls but I wouldn't have done it with out some help." Twilight and Spike then tell the gang about what they both been through, they all seemed happily surprised as Valkyrie had started to lead them down another path way. This path was brighter than the others as torches light the way. 

"That sounds like some challenge, I hope mine aren't like that at all. " Fluttershy said to Twilight. 

Applejack nudges her softly on the shoulder. "I'm sure if you have a challenge then it will be okay, just wait and see Sugarcube." 

She nods at her friend. "You're right. I'm sure I'll do great."

"We all will do awesome." Rainbow dash said as she flew past Valkyrie. The bronze dragon kept an eye on the cyan pegasus, taking note of how fast she was going.

"How fast can you go Rainbow dash?" Valkyrie asks.

"If I said I could go pretty fast, I would be lying."  She boasted as she was trying to do tricks. She did a flip, and other things trying to show off.  The group followed behind her as she was showing off. 

"How often do you practice?" The bronze dragon asks. 

"Alot to a little." The pegasus responded. "It depends on if I need to be more awesome than I already am." Valkyrie nods as the group continued forward, after minutes of walking they end up in front of a cold gate door. The bars were charcoal black and  it looked as if it was locked.  The ponies and baby dragon all had a confused look on their faces as they looked at this gate. A single thought seemed to enter their mind. It was why was there a door here of all places, they are in a mountain after all with a cave system on the inside, why would there be a door or in this time a gate.  They all turned their heads to the bronze dragon as she started speaking.

"This will lead one and only one to the next challenge. Which one is the question, I know what challenge comes next and I may guess which of you will go but you all must still try to walk through."  Valkyrie puts a claw to the gate. "This is a difference entrance than the past ones as you can see. The past three had just been another path in the cave where it was protected by an invisible barrier, only to be passed by the ones who the challenge is met for. For this one you must open the gate door. " She demonstrates it by taking the handle and pulling it open.  She closes it with a slam.  "Only the one who the challenge is meant for will be able to open it." 

Pinkie spits on her hooves and rubs them together. "Let's do this thing." 

Rarity looked at Pinkie in disgust. "Pinkie dear, that is disgusting, covering your hooves with your spit." 

"It's fine Rarity. A little spit wont hurt nopony." Applejack said and spits on the ground causing the girly white unicorn to jump slightly so it wouldn't get on her hooves.  She just glares slightly at the two earth ponies but says nothing at first walking to the gate.

"I will go first since I would not want your filthy spit on the handle and have it get on my hooves." She tries to open up the gate but couldn't. Then one by one the other ponies and dragon did the same.  The only one that could open it was Rainbow Dash. 

"Looks like this is my challenge. Finally!" She said.

Fluttershy smiled glad to see that she wasn't going to get the challenge. "Good luck Rainbow."

"I don't need luck. I'm just so awesome I can get it done easily." She replied to her friend. 

"Don't get cocky sugarcube." Applejack said but the pegasus just brushed her off as she flew through the gate. Before Valkyrie left Twilight tapped her on the shoulder. The bronze dragon turned to her and spoke calmly. 

"Yes?" 

Twilight looked nervous. "Will Rainbow get through this?"

"Why are you asking me this princess? Do you not believe your friend will get pass this challenge?" She said.

The alicorn shook her head. "It's not that. It's that.." She looked over at Spike and turned back to Valkyrie. "We all really want to do this right and get Sarah back."  The dragon nods and starts down the path that exited the gate leaving the ponies to catch up with the cyan pegasus.  The cave walls started to change as a multitude of colors appeared on it. The magic of this place was ready to deliver the next challenge. 
> The fourth challenge part 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The path down into the cave began changing as Rainbow Dash entered the place where she was going to be taking her challenge, the cave walls seemed to have disappeared as she now was in a grassy meadow.  "Hmm. It really doesn't look like I'm in the frozen North anymore,  I guess the magic in this cave place can do a lot of things. " She said as she looked around, seeing a blue sky above her with a few nice, soft, fluffy clouds. They seemed perfect for her to sleep on.   She yawned. "So where is this challenge I'm suppose to be owning at?"  The bronze dragon walked up behind her saying nothing for a second and took a few steps to get in front of the cyan pegasus.  She looked at her with her colorless eyes and finally spoke to her. 

"Your challenge is starting now." She raised her claw up and in the distance a giant ancient tree with a twisted trunk sprung up from the ground.  

"My challenge involves a tree? Are you sure this isn't for Fluttershy? I mean she did want to be a tree.  Applejack probably would have been a better choice if this challenge involves Applebucking or giving a tree a name. She did name a tree Bloomberg after all. " Rainbow said tilting her head at Valkyrie and then looking at the tree. 

She just shook her head in reply.  "You challenge does not involve those things. Remember earlier I asked you how fast you can fly?" 

She nods. "Of course I do, we were talking about me after all, the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria. " She flapped her wings and zoomed around in circles around the dragon before landing where she started.  "See, pretty fast you see?" 

"I see that. Now your challenge is to fly to that tree over there-" Before Valkyrie could finish Rainbow interrupted. 

"I can do that in ten seconds flat, just watch." 

"Oh no you won't. I am not done speaking." She responded as the green grass under thier hooves and claws turned into a white starting line.  "You will need to fly over to that tree there before she does, it is like a race." 

"She? She who?" Rainbow asked and Valkyrie didn't need to answer as right before them a pegasus resembling Fluttershy appeared before them. The pegasus did resemble  the kind friend the cyan pegasus had grown up with but her fur was a greyish yellow, her mane a more darker shade of pink and lastly, she had no cutie mark.  Rainbow dash inspected the double and turned to  the dragon. "Fluttershy, you want me to race Fluttershy? Easy peasy.  When do we start? Now?" 

Valkyrie shook her head. "No, you will have time to practice.  Time move faster for this challenge, it may seem like days for you but it would not really be.  You will have five days here to practice and when I come back the race will begin. " She waved her claw and a table appeared full of food, books, and a few other things that Rainbow dash loved.  "When you are in need of a break take a minute and enjoy yourself."  She turned around and headed for a door with a count down clock that appeared when Rainbow wasn't looking. It looked like it was going to start when Valkyrie was going to leave.  

The pegasus looked at her opponent, to the table of goodies,  and to the count down clock. "Five days to practice, I will barely need that.  This  is going to be easy, Fluttershy is the slowest pegasus I know, this copy will be the same." She flew to the table and found the latest copy of Daring Do.  She smiled. "Awesome!!!!"  Taking the book she flew to a cloud and started reading it. 

Once Valkyrie had gotten to the door she turned seeing the pegasus on the cloud.  "This copy is not like the friend you know, practice will be the key to your success, if you don't and judge your opponent based on their looks then you will become cocky, thinking you don't need it then you will become lazy and be the sloth that you are."  Rainbow dash didn't even listen to her as she was reading, already sucked into the adventures of Daring Do.  The dragon shook her head and walked through the door,  the count down starting.    

Four days, twenty-three hours, fifty-nine seconds, fifty-eight seconds.....

The grey yellow copy of Fluttershy was stretching as she was warming up to do some practicing.  She spoke not a word as she started  flying like Fluttershy, nice and slowly, taking her time. She flew to the twisted tree and smiled and pet the small bird that was nesting on one of the branches. She smiled and flew back to  the starting line looking up at the clouds seeing Rainbow dash reading the book.   Still not speaking the copy went over to the table and grabbed an apple, looking around the sun was setting  meaning that the first day of practice would soon be coming to a close.  The copy did wonder which of them would be practicing more, she figured she would see what the next days would bring. 

The countdown clock on top of the door now displayed three days, one hour and the seconds counted down.  Rainbow dash had finished the book she read and was now laying down on the cloud she claimed as her own.  She went over to  table and munched on some food and drank a bottle of cider that she found.  She looked around and yawned and saw the Fluttershy copy stretching, an idea popped into the cyan pegasus's mind.  She trotted over to the copy. "Hey Fluttershy want to have a practice race?"  The copy nods heading to the white starting line.  Rainbow dash nods following. "I guess you're not much of a talker like my Fluttershy." Once they got to the starting line, they took their starting position as Rainbow dash looked at the copy and spoke. "On your mark, get set, go!" She flew off towards the tree, her mane and tail behind her.  She looked behind her and saw the copy going slow as when she practiced but slowly getting faster.  The leading pegaus chuckled. "I'm going to win this easily."  After she said that she was at the tree and stopped to see where the copy of Fluttershy was,  seeing the copy was still behind, she decided to fly back to the starting line.  The copy shook her head as the rainbow maned pegasus flew back to the starting line and just made her way to the tree and then turned back to the starting line.  Rainbow dash smiled as the copy got back. "Nice try kid, that was good for a beginner. Can't wait for us to have the real race."  The copy just nods and goes to do some push ups.  Rainbow dash smiled watching. "Guess she is going to try harder to beat me now but she won't get as good as me."  The pegasus goes to the table and grabs a pillow and a blanket and heads back to her cloud, thinking she will take a nap. 

While the pegasus took her nap, Valkyrie returned to check up on everything, she sees what has been taking from the table, moving her head up to the direction of the cloud, she shook her head seeing Rainbow asleep.  "This really is the challenge for you."  She rolled her eyes and looked at the copy and watched as it was ready to fly towards the tree. The copy saw her and just nods. The bronze dragon returns the nod and the copy flew as fast as Rainbow dash to the tree and then back to start several times.    When the copy was finished she grabbed a bottle of water from the table and started drinking it.  Valkyrie looked at the copy once more and gave another nod which the cpoy seemed to understand and walked back to the starting line. The dragon watched and looked back at the sleeping pegasus, picking up a rock and  walking back to the door, opening it.  She turned and threw the rock at the Rainbow dash and quickly left.  Rainbow dash woke up getting it and looked around. 

"Hey who threw that, I was getting my winner's rest." As she looked around she saw the copy flying towards the tree at the same speed as she could fly.  Rainbow looked stunned. "How..."  She threw the blanket off herself and flew to the ground. "I better get practicing." The copy smirked as  it went back to practicing, with Rainbow dash now training and they continued doing that for as long as they could. 


The count down clock went off and a annoying beeping began playing as it said zero days, zero hours, zero minutes. Valkyrie entered and had a small smile on her face as she saw the two opponents waiting for her.  "I hope you are ready."  

"Yeah I am." Rainbow said and the copy nods.  

"Good. Get ready, get set go." The bronze dragon said as and they took off at the same fast pace, when ever one would get the slightest lead the other would catch up, it went back and forth like that until they got to the tree. The winner of the race was them both, it was a tie.  

"A tie? " The cyan pegasus said as Valkyrie flew over and nods. 

"Yes it is but you still won. " She said and the copy disappeared. 

"How could I still won? I was suppose to get to the tree first, you said I had to." She exclaimed. 

"I know that is what I said but this challenge wasn't really about racing, it was about your laziness.  Your challenge was all about something called Sloth.  You were physically lazy for the first few days but once you saw how the copy of your friend could fly as fast as you, you got to work. Now come, your friends have been waiting for you."  The dragon said and headed out the door for the final time with Rainbow dash following behind her. 
> The start of the next challenge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow dash followed Valkyrie through the cave tunnel to get back to her friends. She looks at the dragon and asked her a question, that she didn't think anypony had asked her yet. "What's up with your eyes?" 

The colorless eyes of the dragon looked at the rainbow pegasus.  "I was born this way, just as you were born with wings and a rainbow mane. " The pegasus nods and they keep walking.  They soon get back to the group seeing them just standing around. 

Spike looks at Rainbow. " Back already? That must have been really easy for you." 

"How long was I gone?" She asked. 

"Five minutes." Pinkie pie jumped in to speak. Rainbow dash looked surprised but then remembered Valkyrie's warning to her earlier when she said that time would have been moving differently for her during her challenge. 

"That short, for me it was longer like a day per minute." She said to them. 

"What did you do sugarcube?" Applejack asked. 

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy. "Well I had to race this pony that looked a lot like Fluttershy and I was given a few days  to do it. I thought it would be easy cause there is no way you could beat me so I was chilling on a cloud enjoying some cider and a Darin Do book. Then I took a nap and when I woke up and saw this pony flying as fast as me,  no pony is faster than me so I did some training." 

"A copy of me whoa." Fluttershy said. 

"Did you win?" Pinkie asked. 

Rainbow dash shook her head. "No, well yes...we tied." 

Twilight had a scroll and quill out on the ground as she was writing. "So was your challenge a race?" 

The pegasus shook her head. "Well Valkyrie said it was like um..." 

"It was Sloth." Valkyrie said. 

"Sloth? Isn't some kind of furry animal." Rarity said looking at Fluttershy.

"A sloth is a mammal,  hangs in trees, moves slowly, and they are good homes for other animals. A sloth may be home to moths, beetles, cockroaches, ciliates, fungi, and algae, isn't that so nice of them to have other creatures live on them." She replied to her friend. 

"That sounds disgusting, the thought of having creatures crawling all over you." The unicorn shivered. 

"It's not that kind of sloth Rarity. In a few books I read Sloth refers to a pony being lazy in ways like physical and religious. " Twilight said and looked at the scroll she was writing on. "All the challenges we have face involved a theme, greed, lust or love as Valkyrie had called it, gluttony and now sloth. Every one of these are involved in a book about deadly sins. " 

"You are a smart pony Princess." Valkyrie said as she started walking. "There are still more of the challenges to face now come." 

"Deadly sins?" Spike said. "Those don't sound too good." 

"Yeah they don't but we already did four of them, we can do whatever else that come are way." Pinkie smiled at the dragon bouncing after Valkyrie.

"Don't worry Spike. We handled it fine so far." Twilight said placing her hoof on Spike's shoulder.  "We should see what this next challenge is."  Spike nods and together with the others he follows Valkyrie. 

"I do hope this challenge isn't too dangerous." Fluttershy said softly. 

"I'm sure we can handle it Fluttershy." Applejack said. 

"I hope so." She replied. "I just wouldn't like any of us to get hurt or worse.."   As they were walking it was clear the magic in this cave was starting to change the surrounds as the ground under their hooves  changed from stone to grass and new sounds came out of no where.

Chirp, chirp. 

Tweet, tweet.

"That sounds like animals. " Twilight said and noticed the change in what she was walking on. "Grass?"  

"This cave.." Spike said shaking his head. 

"Oh I wonder what animals could be here." Fluttershy said happily. 

The dragon leading them said nothing as she walked.  Her silence was ignored by the others as they talked like Rarity who pointed with her marshmallow hoof as she spoke. "They must be up ahead." 

Applejack nods.  "They sounds like they could be. This cave is crazier than Pinkie on a sugar high."

"You do realize you can't get a sugar high, its all in a pony's head." Twilight said.

"Like that matters Twi. This cave is just plain crazy. I mean lets go over the facts. First this cave is in a mountain, the first thing we meet in here is a bronze dragon bigger than Spike that we are following with out question for the most part,  passages protected by magic, there was a waterfall in the first challenge with illusions  of Sweetie belle and when we had to go to the second challenge the same path used to get to the first challenge took us to a dining room. Do I need to continue?"  The earth pony said. 

"Well it is magic, I guess anything can happen." Spike said with a shrug and looked at the white crystal on his necklace. "I guess it's like Discord, it doesn't have to make sense. " He looked at Valkryie and then back at the group. "You guys remember the story Valkryie told us. This place is called the grave and the dragons  and it is ruled by the grave king Seth. He must want this place to be crazy and unpredictable for these challenges to prove we are worthy to get Sarah.  She was never suppose to have life but stay here." 

The group nods looking at Spike.   Valkryie smiled slightly and spoke. "Good to know one of you have been listening.. now for the next challenge. "  She stopped in front of a glass door.  "You know  the drill."  One by one the ponies went in and Fluttershy was the only one who could get through the barrier that was placed. 

"What me..I don't think I can do this." She said.  

"I'm sure you can do it. Just believe in yourself." Pinkie said smiling.  Spike nods and was going to lean against the barrier expecting him to just stay there but instead he fell through.

"I have another?" He said. 

"Looks like you do." Rainbow dash said crossing her hooves. "You get all the fun." 

Pinkie pie smiled. "Good luck guys." 

"Thanks Pinkie." Fluttershy said looking down unsure if she could win this challenge whatever it may be. 

Applejack smiled at her friend.  "Don't look so glum.  Spike will be there with you." 

"I guess you're right." She replied. 

Twilight looked at everyone and then at Valkryie. "Will these challenges be done so?"  The bronze dragon just nods in response and motions for the shy pegasus and  the baby dragon to follow, leaving their friends.    Valkryie had lead the two to a beautiful garden, it was almost as beautiful as the one in Canterlot.  There was sounds of animals all over. 

"Wow." Fluttershy said. 

"This is for our challenge? What are we doing gardening?" Spike asked. 

Valkyrie shook her head. "No, the challenge is Wrath."