Tap tap tap.

Tap-tap tap-tap tap-tap.

Tap tap tap.

Flash repeated the pattern over and over again, tapping out the SOS against the roof of his coffin. He knew that the chances of somepony hearing it was slim. But the hope that his message might be heard, along with the knowledge that his air supply was limited and rapidly dwindling, was the only thing that kept him from panicking again. He felt like a gnat, surrounded on all sides by flyswatters that were just waiting to crush him.

Sweat trickled from his brow, and he let out a desperate whimper. He didn't want to die, and he especially didn't want to die alone in the cold darkness of the inside of a coffin. Trying to calm himself, he thought of Twilight. Of her smile, of the sweet lavender smell that she left in the room, her cute laughter.

I'll never see her again.

Forcing the thought from his head, he continued tapping out the SOS. Tap tap tap. Tap-tap tap-tap tap-tap. Tap tap tap. Please God...please let somepony hear...

The tapping of his hooves against the floor was the only sound that Phillip heard as he proceeded, following the painted arrows. He was guided up a flight of stairs, around a corner and down a long hallway. It occurred to him that somepony had done a lot of interior decorating over a period of at least a few months. He'd have to investigate further later.

But right now, he was focused on saving his friends. If this psychopath wanted to test him, he was determined to pass with flying colors.

Up ahead, he heard what sounded like a cheery humming. It could only be one pony. Turning a corner, he was both surprised and relieved to see two of his friends in the room ahead. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were both strapped to a pair of tables. Pinkie was humming happily, while Fluttershy was trembling in her bonds. A smaller table was in front of Phillip, with three levers, labeled 1, 2, and 3. Plastic tubing ran from the levers to three boxes on the floor, labeled A, B, and C.

"Oh, hi, Phil!" Pinkie called, seeing him. "Can you let us out of here, please?"

"Yes, please hurry," Fluttershy whimpered.

"I will," Phillip said, approaching quickly. "I just need—"

Abruptly, there was a hissing noise that seemed to come from the floor. With a whoosh, flames erupted from underneath Pinkie and Fluttershy. The small, but numerous flames flickered dangerously beneath them, threatening to consume them. A timer clicked on above them, displaying 1:30.

For a moment, Phillip froze. His heart rate jumped up and he suddenly found it hard to breathe, like smoke was choking him. He had to get out of here: the fire was going to spread out of control! Go! Run!

"Phillip!" Pinkie's voice cut through his panic. "It's getting hot in here! If you don't hurry, we're gonna be baked like cupcakes!"

"I don't wanna be baked!" Fluttershy cried, trying to free herself. "Help!"

Shaking off the fear, Phillip quickly read the instructions on the table: "Each one of the switches connects to one of the gas burners in the boxes. Determine which one goes to which. The boxes can only be opened once."

Phillip read the instructions again to ensure that he understood them, then looked at the levers. He realized that part of the piping was covered, making it impossible to determine which was which by just looking. Can I turn on just two of them? No wait, then I couldn't tell which is which! He swallowed, looking up at the timer, which was ticking down mercilessly. The flames beneath the friends were steadily growing larger, as if reaching up towards them.

"Please hurry!" Fluttershy said, closing her eyes.

Phillip couldn't think. The flames seemed to glare at him, taunting him for his weakness. The light was blinding him, the heat too great...

The heat!

Grabbing Lever 1, he pulled it and waited. "Stay calm, you two. I'm going to get you out." He looked at the timer: 0:40. He waited twenty seconds, then shut off the lever and pulled Lever 2. Turning to the boxes, he opened up Box A. The flame of the gas burner within winked at him. Good. Closing the box, he turned to Box B and opened it. The burner within was off, obviously, and he placed his hoof inside. It was cold.

Just to make sure my theory's correct... Turning to Box C, he opened it and put his hoof inside. Just as he'd hoped, it was warm inside from the fire.

"Phillip!" Fluttershy screamed. He had 10 seconds left. Turning back to the table, he saw that each of the levers had a dial beneath it. He turned the one beneath Lever 1 to C, Lever 2 to A, and Lever 3 to B.

A moment later, there was a buzz, then the flames beneath Pinkie and Fluttershy went out. The timer stopped at 00:07. The straps around the two ponies released.

"Are you two okay?" Phil said, hurrying forward and helping them out.

"Yes," Fluttershy said, hugging him in relief. "Thank you, Phil."

"That was really cool!" Pinkie said, smiling. "Well, no, actually, it was kinda hot. Y'know, from the flames. Now I know what a cupcake feels like in the oven!"

"You two get yourselves outside," Phillip said, reluctantly releasing Fluttershy. "The others are out there. You'll be safe."

"Okay," Fluttershy said. "Please be careful."

"I always am, Fluttershy," Phillip replied. Let me worry about you.

"Good luck, Phil!" Pinkie said, leading Fluttershy out of the room. The door closed behind her and locked. With the click of a lamp, the next door was revealed. Phillip proceeded forward. Two more to find...

Author's Notes:

In the interest of time, I decided to put two ponies in this one and save myself a chapter.

Believe me, if I could think of a better way to do this, I'd do it. We've just got two more to go.