Chapter 29: 2 keys, 1 Chapter!

(WHAT?! The fourth wall only has a couple of cracks ok? It can be repaired by magic!)

Crystal Mountains…

“Ok on three we go through the door and get the key” said Twilight

“Ok” Applejack agreed

“One…two…THREE!” said Twilight

The Pair of them Barged in but as soon as they went in a white flash caught them and suddenly they were at the very start of the cave much to the confusion of Applejack and Twilight.

“What the-?” asked Twilight

“Either Ah’m been on the Apple Cider again or we’re back at the start” said Applejack

“But why?” asked Twilight thinking

Through the cave one will endlessly wander, unless one enters from the different start of the same room.

Twilight and Applejack both read these words that just suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Twilight was confused as she repeated these words to herself but no sense came out!

“This doesn’t make any sense! Travel endlessly…enter from the different start in the same room?” said Twilight frustrated

“Ah’d say we’re missing something here” said Applejack

“We may just be but I’d like the try this one more time…” said Twilight

Twilight set off the path again with Applejack following behind but after 30 minutes it was all for nothing as they were sent back again and a very annoyed Twilight sat down as the words appeared again.

Meanwhile in a Desert…

Rarity and Pinkie Pie, thankful the shade they had been in the temple for at least a couple of hours but they hit the end of the Temple with a Treasure chest but as soon as they got in the room Iron bars fell in the entrance blocking their escape and a spirit appeared.

“Greetings Elements of Generousity and Laughter, I have been waiting for you” greeted the Spirit

“You have?” asked Rarity

“Why yes, I’ve been waiting a long time for the day you two would show up to collect this key of Harmony!” said the Spirit showing them the key which was a Pink colour

“So can we take it off your hands so we can continue saving the world? Pretty Please?” said Pinkie

“Unfortunately no, you must pass a riddle first to test you, sorry but that’s how I was told to do this” said the Spirit

“I understand completely, may we hear the riddle?” said Rarity

“Of course…” started the Spirit

I run and run but can never leave

I am often watched but never seen

When long I bring boredom

When short I bring Fear!

What am I?

“Hmm…where’s Twilight when you need her?” muttered Rarity

“Who knows? It could be Dashie being chased by me that one time I was super-sad” said Pinkie

“Pinkie seriously? Just give me a couple of minutes and I’m positively sure something will come to me” said Rarity thinking

Pinkie then proceeded to sit down and do something random and thinking at the same time and Rarity was pondering this all in her head…

“Hmmm…this is an odd riddle…ok Rares, you can do this, you just have to think about it! Something that runs but never leaves? I have no idea, Rainbow Dash on a treadmill? No Rarity you do not have time for these smart cracks! I am often watched but never seen, hmmm…air maybe it is invisible or something makes it invisible like Unicorn magic? No that cannot be right!”

“Just letting you know you have 2 minutes left to come up with an answer” said the Spirit

“When Long I bring Boredom, something like a really boring play or sticking around that Jerk Blueblood! Something that when short brings fear? I’d say money but none of those make any sense! ARGH! WHERE’S TWILIGHT?! SHE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS!”

“You have 30 seconds left and your time is short so please come up with an answer” said the Spirit getting bored

“Urgh! Something! Anything! Give me a brainstorm!”

Rarity looked around and saw Pinkie being random and looking at a watch on her hoof getting bored but Rarity feared she wouldn’t guess in the time she had…

“I have no time…what do I do? Wait a moment…DING! OF COURSE! TIME! The flow of time runs but we’re always in it so it can’t leave! It is watched from the clocks and the watches that tell the time but you can’t physically see time! Time feels long when you are bored and when you are short of time you fear you will not make it in time! So it’s TIME!”

“TIIIIMMMEE’S UP! Do you have an answer?” asked the Spirit

“Yes I do…The Answer is... (dramatic pause)…TIME!” announced Rarity

“C-Correct! I cannot believe you got that!” said the Spirit astounded

“Thank you, may we have the key now?’ asked Rarity

“Of course” said the Spirit

The Key popped out of the Treasure chest and went into Rarity’s outstretched hoof, whom could not believe her luck she solved that riddle. But she remained proud as she and Pinkie Pie left to go back to Ponyville and grab the last key with the Spirit waving good-bye and disappearing to who-knows where.

The Crystal Mountains…

Twilight Sparkle sat staring at a wall trying to figure out the puzzle as she tried going through the cave another 3 times attempting to get in the room but to no avail…

“Iffin’ y’all ask me I’d say something about that wall over there looks mighty suspicious” said Applejack staring at the wall opposite them

“Hmmm…” said Twilight thinking

Now that Applejack mentioned it, there was something off-colour about the wall in fact it felt fake compared to the others and it just clicked, it just made perfect sense and Twilight couldn’t understand why she didn’t see it before! She had to enter from a completely different entrance which meant that there was a secret entrance to get the key but if anypony tried the front door they get sent back to the start!

“Applejack you’re a Genius!” declared Twilight

“Ah am?” asked Applejack

“The Wall is fake and it must have a secret Entrance to the room where the key is” explained Twilight

“Y’all sure?” asked Applejack

“Positive! Give it a good buck!” ordered Twilight

Applejack went to the wall and did her famous signature Apple Buck to the wall which broke revealing a path.

“Well Ah’ll be!” said Applejack impressed

“After you Applejack” said Twilight

As it turned out they were alongside the original path to reveal a door and as they went in they were satisfied that it did not send them back to the start and a chest was in the middle but a wall of fire went around it and the exits were blocked!

“What in Tarnation?” asked Applejack as she looked around

“What’s doing this?” asked Twilight

The Answer was a Bipedal Crystal figure with a HUGE axe! And it was starting to charge at the pair who dodged both left and right, but it seemed to deem Twilight as more of a threat then Applejack and charged straight for Twilight who ran around

“Twi! Y’all got a plan?” asked Applejack after Dodging a throwing axe from the Enemy

“Yeah, but I need you to be ready, as soon as his back is turned you need to strike him into the fire” said Twilight

Twilight got the Crystal Enemy to focus on her and after 5 minutes she managed to get his back facing Applejack and Twilight was in front of the fire and as he swung his axe, Applejack bucked from behind and Twilight dodged his fall into the flames which made him explode into pieces and was no more.

Twilight turning to the chest opened it to claim her prize of an Orange Key and before they knew it some enchantment had sent them back to the Crystal Empire.

“Well Twi, we all did it!” cheered Applejack

“We worked together and got through this, I hope the others were successful” said Twilight

“Ah’m sure as sugar they were” said Applejack patting Twilight’s back in comfort

“In any case we should head back to Ponyville

Conclusion of split groups, To be Continued…