Immortality: Vinyl Scratch's Challenge

Vinyl wasn't disoriented by the sudden change of scenery. Not that she could see much in the dark of the night. From what Vinyl could make out, she and Lyra were now in a grassy clearing among some trees.

"Where are we?" Lyra asked. Vinyl lit her horn and looked down at her friend. She was surprised by what she saw. Lyra looked weak, almost old. Their were circles under her eyes, a nd her Mane was ruffled. Maybe it was the dim lighting, but Lyra's golden eyes looked faded and pale. Being immortal and ageless, it wasn't a look Vinyl had ever seen on Lyra. Transferring energy must be hard.

Vinyl hesitated before answering, "I don't know."

Lyra staggered to her hooves.

"I'm alright," she said before Vinyl reached out to steady her. "I swear, I'm fine."

"If you say so, Lyra. So, what do we do now?" Vinyl asked. Lyra looked up, and Vinyl followed her gaze. The sky was inky black, only a few stars shining down.

"I think that's the North Star." Lyra pointed at one star to Vinyl's left. "So we go this way." She pointed in another direction. Vinyl followed Lyra in the direction. At the same time, she was drifting around her thoughts, trying to figure out what magic she had.

"So, what's the deal with this spell?" She asked as they walked. "Is it permanent? Do you still remember how to do the spells?"

"I think I'll remember in a while," Lyra responded without looking back at Vinyl. "I haven't felt this tired since the time I almost died in that fire." Vinyl remembered Lyra's story: how she had defended her best friend against robbers and, when they angrily set the house on fire, Lyra had been knocked unconscious and assumed dead.

"Well, how long do we have?" Vinyl asked. "Until Twilight invades?" Lyra was silent. The only sound was the soft clip clop of the girl's hooves.

Finally, Lyra replied, "Probably before the end of the week. I imagine maybe Twilight will take the Elements down to 'train' them, then use them to invade."

"So we have seven days to find Twilight, stop the Elements, reform her so this never happens again, rescue Pinkie, then go back into hiding?"

"Probably less time than that. And Vinyl," Lyra added, "I think Twilight wanted to keep us in Canterlot... So she could figure out how she could be immortal."

"What?" Vinyl hadn't thought of that. "Why in Equestria would she want to be immortal?"

"To rule Equestria forever," Lyra responded, stopping and turning to face Vinyl. "She's probably analyzing our DNA to reconstruct her own to match it or something like that."

"Yeah." Vinyl didn't know what to say to that. "So, what spell should I try to find out where the Elements are?"

"Let me think. Um, how about the Instant Locate Spell?" Lyra suggested. "We can figure out where we are, and then from there we can get to the Equestria-Griffon Border."

"Alright," Vinyl agreed. She searched her brain for the spell. "You know, searching through my brain is both awesome and disturbing." When she found the spell, Vinyl shut her eyes and cast it. She didn't know what to expect, but suddenly, she was sure of her location. It was like the answer had just appeared in bubble letters in her brain.

"We're just north of the Hayseed Swamps," she announced, opening her eyes. Lyra nodded.

"Okay, Vinyl. Thanks." She smiled, but it looked sad and nostalgic on her tired face. "Now, we should just keep walking East."

And walk they did. Vinyl had done a lot of bass-canon pushing over the years, so she didn't mind walking long distances. Lyra, on the other hoof, had the strength taken out of her and didn't go very far before she insisted on a short break.

"When do you think your strength'll return?" Vinyl asked when they began walking again. Her horn was lit up, and it shone brightly before dimming a few yards away. Lyra was silent.

"I'm not sure," she replied after a while.

"Should I teleport us?" Vinyl asked. "Do you have a spell that can locate other ponies?"

"Not sure," Lyra responded. "Why don't you... search your brain."

"Sure, Lyra." Vinyl closed her eyes and sent her consciousness to the back of her brain, searching through spells to find something that would be useful.

"Hey Lyra, I found an Object Location Spell. Would that work?"

"It... I don't think it works on ponies," Lyra pointed out.

"Well... maybe we could use it on Twilight's crown!" Vinyl suggested. "Or the Elements!" More silence from Lyra.

"That's a great idea, Vinyl!" She exclaimed, then coughed afterwards.

"Jeez, Lyra, are you alright?" Vinyl asked. Lyra nodded.

"Go on, Vinyl. Use that spell," she directed, stepping closer.

"If you say so," Vinyl answered. She shut her eyes and felt her horn light up with magic. She concentrated on the physical Elements of Harmony, the necklace she had seen on Pinkie's neck, the crown that Twilight used.

"Vinyl, look." Vinyl opened her eyes to see a glowing blue line in front of them. The color matched Vinyl's magic aura exactly, and it was about an inch in width.

"This will take us to the Elements," Lyra realized.

"Agreed," Vinyl agreed. "Let's move!" She began to trot next to the thread.

"Wait, Vinyl!" Lyra gasped. "I'm... out of... breath." Vinyl turned around.

"Already?!" She asked in shock. Lyra nodded, still panting.

"That spell really took its toll on you," Vinyl commented. An idea came to her, and she conjured up a cart. "Here, I'll pull you." Lyra climbed in and smiled.

"Thanks, Vinyl," she said, smiling.

"No problemo," Vinyl answered. She narrowed her eyes. "Now let's kick some evil tyrant flank!"