Author's Note

After much procrastination I finally release this chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Can you spot a reference to "The Room?

Chapter Three - Welcome To Vanhoover

After lots of reading Talzotl had found out some information about the Cutie Map that could help him capture the Element Bearers.
'When a friendship problem occurs somewhere in Equestria, the Cutie Map calls for the ones suitable for the Task of Resolution' it read.
Seemed easy enough except the problem was that the Cutie Map would need to summon all six of them to Vanhoover to solve the 'friendship problem'. There had to be a way of creating a friendship problem so big it needed the six Element Bearers to come.

Well, schools in the city most likely had many different friendship problems but would it be enough? Perhaps different establishments had them. Both ideas seemed great but unfortunately Talzotl did not have time as the ponies he planned to capture would eventually track him down for the castle incident. There must be an easier way. A lightbulb shined in his mind. He could find a spell that could fool the Cutie Map. Such a powerful device would require a powerful spell. He browsed his bookshelf looking for a book on powerful spells. A minute later, he found what he was looking for.
Ancient and Powerful Spells and their Uses the title read. Looking through the pages there were many spells but none were what he wanted.
A spell to conjure squid-like monsters, nope.
A spell to invoke happiness , tempting.
A spell that shot spider webs, now that was made for nerdy wannabe superheroes.

On the last page was a spell that might do the job.
A spell to invoke false messages onto magical object. Eureka! He studied the spell intently reading the instructions on how to perform the spell properly. The spell required him to picture the object he wanted to trick, which was easy enough as he had seen the Cutie Map a day earlier and what it looked like was still fresh on his mind. He exited his study and before starting his Grand Scheme, he went to go check on his mother.

Talzotl knocked softly on her bedroom door and was met with a weak "Come in".
He entered quietly and saw his mother smiling at him although Talzotl could tell it was a bit of a struggle for her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her.
"So far still the same. Although I think it's getting worse." She coughed . Talzotl sighed with sadness. His mother, Kimono was really sick. The doctors could not explain her predicament. It was like the flu and cancer had teamed up and decided to attack her. The flu caused her to feel extremely weak, and gave her the coughing and sneezing. Her normally pickish purple coat had become pale and her purple mane was sweaty. The cancer had slowly affected her greenish yellow eyes making seeing difficult.

"I want you to know that no matter what happens to me, that I will always love you. Even if this sickness takes me, it will never take that love away." The Earth Pony tried to hug Talzotl but she was too weak to even put her legs on the floor. However Talzotl put her legs back in the bed and hugged her softly so as to not put her in any discomfort.
"I know mom," Talzotl said softly. Kissing her on her forehead, he left the bedroom so she could rest. Outside her room he wished he could find a cure for his mother's illness.

After letting his negative emotions subside, he went outside into a large backyard to perform the False Message Spell. The area was extremely large and was the size of a small park with trees. He closed his eyes and tried to picture the crystal table. Although the map was not activated, he knew it was the Cutie Map. He struggled to keep other thoughts out of his mind and was forced to try again three times until he managed to think only of the Cutie Map. After seven seconds he felt his horn tingling and he opened his eyes to see a rainbow colored spark a few feet above him. After five seconds, it vanished. According to the book this was the spell taking effect. Now all Talzotl had to do was prepare and wait.

***

Ponyville

Yesterday's rain had finally stopped in Ponyville. Fillies and colts were playing in the puddles and all the ponies were glad they didn't have to bundle up. However Twilight Sparkle was busy questioning the stallion in charge of Ponyville Station called Station Master.
"Miss Sparkle," Station Master curtly said "All I can say is that the mysterious pony booked a ticket to Fillydelphia."
"Well then I'd like to book six-" suddenly Twilight's cutie mark - a large pink star with five small white stars surrounding it - started to blink.
"On second thought cancel the tickets," Twilight said sheepishly and ran back to her castle as the Cutie Map was summoning her. Once she got to the throne room she saw her five other friends in the room.
"Did the map summon all of you too?" Twilight was met with nods from the five others.

"So where are we are we headed? Manehatten? The Crystal Empire?" Rarity asked with curiosity. Their cutie marks hovered on an area west of the map of Equestria.
"Hmmm," Twilight put her hoof on her chin. "This city is called Vanhoover. I've read about this place but I've never been there before."
"Neither have we," the other five stated.

Rainbow Dash flew up and exclaimed "Well what are we waiting for? Lets go!"
"Hold yer horses Rainbow," Applejack admonished. "We gotta git our stuff ready."
"Thats true," Twilight agreed. "We might be there for a while. That city is bigger than Manehatten."
"Can I come? I've never been to Vanhoover before." Spike had just entered the room. Clearly he had been eavesdropping.
"Well... the eastern part of Vanhoover is known for its high rate of crime," Twilight stated "But I'll let you come since you'll be with us."
"YES!" Spike exclaimed with excitement.
The six and Spike packed their things and bought their train tickets to Vanhoover.

***

Talzotl had been going through the steps to his plan. He would lure the six into a trap, cast a sleeping spell on them, and put them in the secret underground area where he had set up an Escape Room for them to take part in.
Why an Escape Room you may ask? Well by the time Talzotl sent proof that he had captured the Element Bearers to The Boss, it would take a while for him to respond.
He went out into Downtown Vanhoover to find somepony to help him lure the Element Bearers.

***

Vanhoover

The Element Bearers and Spike had just arrived in Downtown Vanhoover. Or to be precise Waterfront Station of the Friendship Express. They exited the station onto a busy street. Noticing the intense glares that the Vanhooverite ponies were giving Spike, he stuck closely with Twilight.
The area they were in had extremely large buildings similar to Manehatten however they were a bit smaller. They decided to explore the city. In their exploration they checked out the famous Stallionly Park, a large globe like buiding known as "Science World" which Twilight had enjoyed, its version of Central Park at the eastern outskirts of the city and the Equestrian Games village.

They found themselves back in Downtown Vanhoover where they heard two stallions arguing.
"Don't touch me motherbucker!" one voice exclaimed.
"Maybe if you treated your crew better, they woudn't have resigned from production!" exclaimed another.
Then suddenly they heard grunting. Rushing into the allyway they found a pale Earth Pony stallion with shoulder length black mane and a light orange Unicorn stallion with a brownish blond mane and beard scuffling.
"Wut in Equestria is goin on with you two? Applejack asked the two like a mother scolding two brothers fighting over a toy.
"He insist that the drug deal scene take place in an alleyway instead of rooftop," the pale stallion said with a strange accent.
"I insisted that because an alleyway is the most likely place where drug dealers are going to meet," the orange stallion said.
"Well darlings," Rarity said with a flirtatious tone "Instead of fighting over those scenes, why not just film both those scenes and decide later?"
The stallions considered that option.
"Weeeel," the pale stallion answered "That does work pretty mare. What do you say Craig?"
"If that allows production to continue then I am in Hoffy," the orange stallion named Craig said.
"Now thats the best way to do it boys".
"Well then lets go Craig. Thanks a lot pretty mare. Bye. Hi dragon." Hoffy said as he patted a dumbfounded Spike on the head.
The two stallions left the alleyway.

"Well," Rainbow Dash said "That was the strangest stallion ever.
"Ah agree," Applejack said.
"I guess our friendship problem is solved but I have to say that was pretty fast," Twilight stated.
"Can we still explore Vanhoover Twilight?" Spike pouted.
"Sure Spike," Twilight smiled. "I still want to see more of Science World."

Suddenly to Spike's horror, each of the six fainted in front of him. He tried to wake them up but very shortly he ended up fainting himself slamming to the ground.

***

"Good job boys," Talzotl smugly said to the two stallions that were fighting earlier. More like fake fighting.
"Well it was easy to act," Hoffy said
"Now give us the money you promised us." Craig demanded.
"Certainly. Two thousand bits as promised," Talzotl responded. He pointed to Craig. You mind helping me load them onto the paddy wagon?"
"Sure".
With the help with of Craig, the six ponies were loaded into the paddy wagan.
"What about the dragon?" Craig asked.
"Leave him," Talzotl ordered.

***

Talzotl pulled the paddy wagon to his mansion. On his way he attracted strange looks from various ponies since there was a young stallion pulling a large paddy wagon full of toys. Or so they thought. There were actually six mares inside. As to how he was able to pull the wagon without straining himself from the weight, he cast a spell on the wagon that made it's weight extremely light. At the mansion he levitated each of his prisoners to the Escape Room underneath the mansion. Now his plan would begin.

***

Escape Room

Twilight woke up. She scanned her surroundings. Her and her five friends and were in a small room. The walls were made with stained oak with a few pictures. The room had one door. One by one the other ponies and woke up.
"Wh-where are we? Fluttershy asked with fear in her voice.
"I don't know." Twilight answered.
"Welcome my little ponies," a loud growling voice said. "To the Impossible Escape Room."