THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: 13

"Come come Level Five, hurry along now, you're far too slow!" Mystery Star sat atop a series of marble steps, glancing down at the tiny filly whom was tiredly climbing each and every one of those step despite the fact she had wings. It was obvious the steps were too large for her, and she couldn't help but wonder why the steps were so abnormally tall. Level Five placed both her front hooves atop one step, reaching her hind leg up while flapping her wings in order to push herself atop of that particular step, and she repeated the process. Surrounding the two alicorns appeared to be nothing but a vast endless space consisting of nothing but intersecting stairways leading to all sorts of levels and rooms which didn't appear to make any architectural sense. Despite the awkward layout of the entire castle, it had somewhat of an odd appeal to it. All of the walls were bright and colorful, as were the marble crafted steps. Level Five paced heavily in tiny breaths, as she whimpered upon reaching the top of the steps where Mystery Star sat, simply glancing up at her with a soft frown and a tired expression. "Hmph..."

Mystery Star glared down at the filly. "What a pitiful Mary-Sue! Complaining only after a couple of steps! Come now!" Mystery Star pointed a hoof at yet another staircase they had to climb. "It's only 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 more!" She turned to face the series of steps before raising both hooves defiantly and confidently before it. "Hah! In my backstory I could transcend even the stars in the blink of an eye! Surely you can make it up a measly few steps new level five! Now come!" She turned back to face Level Five, "Now let's-" The alicorn blinked as her eyes widened. Only seeing a speck of floating dust where the filly once sat. The alicorn's surprised expression immediately turned to one of innate fury, as she snarled angrily and her eyes lit up with flames.

Level Five immediately continued descending down the steps instead, eventually tripping, tossing and tumbling down onto a flat surface. "Mph!...Nyuh..." She climbed to all fours and patted herself off.

"LEVEEEEEEEL FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!!"

Her eyes widened in reaction to the screeching battlecry. It sent shivers down the filly's spine as she glanced back with a nervous chuckle and painfully crooked smile, back up the steps as her cheeks were a pale red. "Eheh..U-Uhm...You see, I erhm-"

Descending down those very same steps with a mighty flap of her wings, would be Mystery Star. "YOU DARE ATTEMPT DITCHING ME!? I, AN ALICORN GODDESS AND THE SECRET ELEMENT OF HARMONY!?!?!? I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I BESTED NIGHTMARE MOON, BANISHED PRINCESS CELESTIA, AND DEFEATED TWILIGHT SPARKLE WITH MY HOOVES TIED IN MY BACK-STORY, AND I DIDN'T EVEN USE MAGIC! AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME! AND YOU- Oooooooooh hohohoho~ and YOOOOOOU~ a measly little LEVEL FIVE believe you can simply up and run away from my gracious presence!? I AM A LEVEL NINE AND A RESPECTED ALICORN AMONG ALL THE MARY-SUES!!!! YOU WILL PAY DEARLY FOR THIS YOU LITTLE TWERP!!!"

Level Five simply had a wide eyed straight faced expression. She soon gulped. "Oh..." Before the filly immediately took an opposing turn down another series of steps, as Mystery Star slammed down on her previous location, kicking up dust and debris into the air and sending off a shock-wave which sent the filly tumbling forward a few feet. Level Five immediately made another sharp turn as she just continued trotting hurriedly as she came to another flat surface, a stationary floating platform which stretched across and between the series of staircases. And as she made that sharp turn, immediately attempting to snatch her up from that location would be Mystery Star yet again, still on the filly's tale as she flapped her wings. Level Five glanced back, to see the alicorn having immediately regained her sense of direction, and then continuing her pursuit. The filly looked ahead then with a worried look, biting on her lower lip the entire time as what she saw was what appeared to be a portal.

Mystery Star snarled angrily! "GUH!!!! A CONVENIENTLY PLACED PLOT DEVICE!?!?! HERE AND NOW!? MEDDLESOME DEUS EX MACHINA!!!" Mystery Star's thoughts were in shambles, as were her words of rage as she thought about the situation. Little Twerp I won't let you reach the floor portal! I got to you first so you're mine! You will climb those steps with me whether you like it or not, for I am an alicorn princess and nopony ditches me! Hah! And even after I was so nice to you! It was only a few million steps! Selfish little filly! The alicorn's eyes widened as she immediately prepared to grab the filly one last time, preparing her wings for one more mighty flap before grinning fiercely and chuckling wildly. "Ahahaha! Despite the fact you have such a convenient little escape Level Five! You're not going anywhere! You will never make it to the portal in time! This is the difference between a measly level five and a level nine! Now, you will continue climbing those steps with me! RIIIIGHT, ABOOOOOOUT-" And she flapped her wings ferociously, bursting forward producing a stream of fiery black rings.

Level Five yelped as she immediately lowered her entire frame, trembling as she covered her head with her two front hooves and wrapped her tail around her body in a defensive manner as if it'd make a difference.

And,... ending up going right over the filly and missing her snatch by a mere few inches would be Mystery Star, whom mistakenly flew herself straight into the portal afterwords. As she slowly started to fade into another level of the castle. The alicorn appeared absolutely baffled as she stared straight ahead, and then glanced down at her empty hooves. "Now?"

Level Five glanced about nervously, unsure what just happened as she stood to all fours and just tilted her head to the right curiously while biting on her bottom lip, watching as Mystery Star disappeared into another level of the castle.

Mystery Star cried out in anger, "YOU LITTLE CHEAT!!! THIS ISN'T OVER YOU HEAR!? YOU'RE MY PROPERTY! YOU HEAR ME!? MIIIIIINE, MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE! I WILL TRANSCEND THE STARS, THE UNIVERSE! I WILL FIND YOU NO MATTER WHERE YOU HIDE YOU LITTLE-" But her voice then died out, disappearing completely.

Level Five lowered her hind legs, just blinking as she looked ahead at the portal. After a few seconds of staring she just closed her eyes, lowered her head, and sighed with relief. "Myaaaaaaah..." Before wearing a wide pleased smile on her face. She then went back to all fours, turning around and then beginning to head off into a steady trot, wondering where exactly she was. As she'd trailed down back in the opposing direction, she'd just caught sight of a hallway that lead far off into the direction she was now heading. The filly tilted her head to the right, before shrugging yet again. She might as well she thought, if she ever planned to make it anywhere in this crazy castle, she might as well start attempting to navigate her way around. But after all these crazy Mary-Sues appearing out of nowhere, she was starting to get awfully tired of this place, and she hadn't even been alive for more than a week.

The filly continued trotting down this particular hall. She squinted off in the distance to see if she could see the end, and she surprisingly couldn't. She closed her eyes halfway with a grumpy expression as her face scrunched up and she just huffed. "It wasn't this big outside." The walls of the hall were white with a gold trim trailing down the top and bottom all the way towards the end, if there even was one. Also hanging about the walls were many pictures of different ponies, elegantly painted into perfection. She raised her brow at one of the pictures, noticing beneath one in particular, it said, Level 1. This caused the filly's eyes to widen as she was suddenly curious. Next to the label, she saw a tiny red button. The filly of course, pushed it.

A strange voice came up which sounded awfully like the headmistress, "Welcome to the Hall of Canon! Please enter your level!"

Level Five's eyes widened as her gaze shifted hurriedly from left to right and she bit her lower lip. She then muttered, "Erhm?"

The voice continued. "Please press the red button in accordance with your level!"

Level Five nodded to herself, and just tapped the button five times, before backing away hurriedly and lowering her posture.

The voice chuckled, "Thank you, producing your virtually simulated canon guide! Goodluck and enjoy, level 5!"

There was a lingering silence for some time.

Level Five just rose from her cat like pouncing stance and glanced about a bit. "Uhm, Hel-" but she was suddenly interrupted.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! SILENCE SLAVE!!!!"

Level Five cried out in horror! "EYAAAAAH!"

For suddenly appearing would be the floating holographic head of a mysterious pony.

Level Five trembled as she cried, "I haaaate this plaaaace!!! WAAAAAAAH!" She sobbed and sobbed.

The holographic floating head continued. "PITIFUL SLAVE! I have been called upon to give you your tour of the Hall of Canon! Luckily for you, graaaaaah, you've been lucky enough to get the special edition King Sombra hologram! Grah crystals! Bzzzzzt!" The head then turned to face the picture in particular. "So the slave wishes to know about level ones!? Muahahaha! A level five wishes to know of a level one!? Very well then slave, peasant, crystal-hater I shall humor you for some time!" He closed his eyes laughing wildly like a mad dog before suddenly hearing a banging noise. "Grah? What's that!?"

Level Five was seen banging on the red button continuously with a scrunched up annoyed face. "Give me a new one! New one new one!"

The Sombra Edition hologram roared, "GRAH! H-HEY STOP THAT!"

As Level Five stood beside the Sombra Edition hologram, she still looked up at the picture of the level one curiously. The picture portrayed a tiny icy blue filly standing in the snow and looking towards the skies. She had a puffy mane consisting of the colors white and that icy blue shade again, while her eyes were a hollow blue, almost transparent. Her name was labeled as, Snowdrop.

The Sombra Edition hologram spoke out then. "Graaaaah! This is Slave Snowdrop! A natural born level one creation, beloved by all!"

Level Five blinked a bit, before glancing over at the hologram. "Mr.Sombra, what does it mean to be a level one?"

The Sombra Edition hologram snorted, "Bah! Ignorant slave! To be a level one is to be near the heart of canon. Does the measly level five not even know what her level means!? Grahahahahahaha! So pitiful, sooooooooooooooo foolish!"

Level Five's eyes teared up as she lowered her head with a whimper, "Mmmm..."

The Sombra Edition hologram gasped, then cackled in amusement. "AAAAAAH yeeeeees~ tears. How delicious! Delicious despair and sadness! As a reward for your pitiful display of weakness, I shall enlighten you, graaaaaah. There are two paths one may strive for in the Grand Orphanage of Mary-Sues. One path is known none other than as the path of crystals- ah, I mean, The Path of Plot Development. Grah! To follow the path of plot development, a Mary-Sue must learn to throw away all that she is through a time of dedication, and become worthy enough to be able to escape slavery and join ordinary ponies in the land of Equestria! GRAH!"

Level Five blinked a bit, "Oh?" She lowered her hind legs, sitting and listening intently.

The Sombra Edition hologram grinned fiercely, turning towards the filly. "Next is The Path of Sue! The path of sue is one a Mary-Sue slave shall forever feel at home. They are forbidden from leaving the orphanage yeeeees, but they achieve so much more. Power! Respect! Status! And slaves! They shall have all their riches granted to them, granted they forever remain in jurisdiction grounds of the orphanage to protect it forever! Bwahahahahaha! These are none other than those who hive risen to level 10!"

Level Five blinked. "Does that mean everypony was a level five once?"

The Sombra Edition hologram snorted. "No you useless slave! Hah...Bahahahahahahahahah!"

Level Five appeared desperate, "W-What?...What's so funny?"

The Sombra Edition hologram grinned. "You are simply, unlucky. Remember slave, there is only two paths one may choose, escape their bonds of slavery, or rule this empire from the top! To be a level five is to start at ground zero! Many Mary-Sue slaves are simply born at the upper levels! And those fortunate enough to be born close enough to level 1 shall escape! But a level five? Bwahahahahahaha! A mere whelp, a plaything! Pitiful slave! Often sought after by others due to such a neutral state, it's often many are forced to comply with those who seek their aid. Grah crystals!"

Level Five was silent then, as she just glanced to the lower left, as if lost in thought.

The Sombra Edition hologram appeared pleased. "What is it slave? Cat got your tongue?"

Level Five glanced up at him, "Nope. I won't choose either."

The Sombra Edition hologram snarled angrily, "WHAT!? A slave speaking such nonsense! That is simply remaining stagnant!"

Level Five shrugged, before she began trotting with a flick of her tail, adding some sass to her trot for a second. "Hmhm, so?"

The Sombra Edition hologram groaned angrily. "Graaaah....What a lazy slave."

Level Five stopped before another picture. "Mister Sombra, whose this?"

The Sombra Edition hologram stopped before the hologram, raising a brow. "Graaaah! Ah, this is Nyx."

The picture portrayed a little black filly, the name being labeled as Nyx, while also stating her as a Level 1.

The Sombra Edition hologram continued. "Another natural born level one, and a goal many Mary-Sue's strive to achieve."

Level Five looked upon the portrait of the filly, unable to define the feelings coursing through herself. Level Five wore an almost melancholic expression as if lost deep in thought, this caught Sombra's interest.

The Sombra Edition hologram snickered, "Oh what's this? What is it whelp? What is it that occupies your pitiful little mind eheh!?"

Level Five glanced over at him with half closed eyes. "Mister, how many Mary-Sue's have graduated to level one?"

There was a lingering silence before the Sombra Edition hologram cackled beneath his breath, "Graaaaah....zeroooooo."