They stood, staring at the surrounding area. All around, red stone emanated heat, and fires burned endlessly on many of them. The sweltering heart and the lack of moisture made them start sweating profusely. They walked forward into the arch before them, and gasped in shock and amazement. Lava waterfalls and rivers flowed down high cliffs, and a great fortress stood in the background. The lava was pouring into an enormous ocean of lava. But what they saw next surprised and terrified them more than their surroundings.

In the air, directly in front and above them, floated massive head shaped creatures, with stubby tentacles protruding from the base. Its face depicted a frown, and it came towards them. With a ear splitting shriek, its eyes opened, as did its mouth, and great balls of fire shot in their direction. Steve swung his sword, which sent the flaming projectile back to its source. Steve knew what must happen. "Everypony, run. NOW!"

They ran, and tried to think of where to go. They thought back to the fortress, and assumed it would be as good a place as any to try and survive this nightmare. They remembered seeing a rather steep slope to one of the balconies, and headed in that direction. They at last found the base of their obstacle, and proceeded to climb. It was dangerous, as the rocks crumbled under their hooves, and fire was raging on a few of them. Once in a while, one of them would lose their hoofing, and rocks would tumble down to whoever was below. They had to dodge many fireballs, but eventually found themselves at their destination. The fortress was large, and constructed of a dark red brick. Windows were barred with fence of the same material, and there was next to no illumination present. Twilight and Rarity lit their horns, and they stepped inside.

Rainbow Dash sighed. "What was the purpose of coming here again?"

Pinkie Pie raised her hoof. "Ooh ooh! I know, it's because there's a party in here right? Maybe those head things are the creatures that live here and they just want a..."

Applejack shoved a hoof to the pink pony's mouth. "Sugarcube, Ah don't think those things are exactly, friendly. And Ah definitely don't think there would be a party in this place."

Pinkie frowned, and looked at the ground, disappointed. "Dang it, I should have known nobody had a birthday today."

The mares looked confused at this, but continued. Spike was staying rather quiet, but in this realm, nothing much could be said, as everything was a puzzle. But he had something now. "Hey, shouldn't we look for that glowstone crud you talked about, Steve?"

Steve nodded. "Yes, but as you saw, we're not really welcome here. Those were Ghasts, vicious monsters that want only destruction. T this, their kind was forever damned to roam this realm. and because of this their facial expressions are contorted to appear sad. Zombie pigcolts are armed, decaying figures, but they won't bother us. But whatever you do, do not hit them, the entire area will attack you if this happens. Now, there should be glowstone and Blazes in this area. Blazes are extremely dangerous, burning enemies, which look like floating heads with rods encircling them, and they shoot fire. They drop powder though, which is used for potions and Eyes of Ender. We need to hurry."

They jogged the corridors, searching this way and that for signs of their targets. The maze of corridors and stairs finally led them to an open area, where a cage-like cube could be seen. As they neared it, it looked like there was something spinning in it. At the center of this cage, endlessly turning, was a figure matching the blaze's description. They crept forward, but no sooner did they get within a few feet, when suddenly a fiery being appeared, matching the description Steve gave them.

"Well, looks like we found the Blazes. Dodge their fires and kill them!" Steve jumped to the left, narrowly escaping a painful inferno. He jumped and dodged, and swung at the threat, until it toppled over, disappearing. It dropped a small, cylindrical object, colored orange and yellow. Steve walked over and it vanished into him. He started to strike the cage with his pickaxe, and it broke, and colorful orbs escaped from the center. As they continued on, they became anxious. It was suffocatingly hot in this realm, and they couldn't take much more. They happened across a bridge and, just a few blocks above them, was a bunch of bright, glowing material.

Steve's eyes brightened. "Yes! Hang on, I'll get it! That's the glowstone."

He placed block after block, until finally he reached it. Twenty three glowstone blocks sat there, all in a big cluster. He mined away at them, until finally every last bit was his. He hopped down, and smiled. "We only need a few more Blaze rods, now. There should be another spawner that way, because there's a raised up section, with fence around it. Come on."

They followed him to the described destination, and found exactly what Steve said was there. Blazes popped out, and they rushed to defeat them. Dodging and kicking, swinging and ducking, they defeated every last one of them. As they picked up the rods, they heard that telltale noise, that shrieking.

"RUN!"

They did. They ran through corridors, over bridges, past lava falls and great cliffs, until finally they reached the portal. They knew the drill, and lined up to go through. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and finally Twilight. Spike was next, followed up by Steve. He took one last look back, and saw the Ghast coming closer. He stepped through just as he heard a loud boom.

Author's Note

Next chapter is the Aether, so stay in touch for the next EXCITING EPISO-

"Yeah okay, whatever Sakra, you suck."

"Oh, but why?"

"Because you do, so shut up. Anyway, look forward to the next chap-"

"AHAHAHHAHAHA!!"

"AAH OH MY G---------"