Musical Labyrinth

Wes walked back and forth, he looked like he’s going to panic. Vinyl and Octavia were in disbelief. Seeing Luna and Celestia drop into the abyss planted in their brains. They stood near where the hole was, staring at the ground.

“Why is it happening to them?” worried Octavia.

“That’s what I want to know.” Vinyl felt the same way as Octavia.

Derpy followed Wes, she didn’t know what he’s thinking. After he stopped she bumped into him. Wes turned around, he didn’t try to attack her. He wasn’t surprised, he just wanted to see if Derpy had any ideas.

“So Derpy… you listen to more than one musical genre.” Wes decided to start a conversation instead.

“Oh yes. Unlike most ponies who chose one type of music, I like to listen to more than one,” smiled Derpy.

Wes can see that Derpy isn’t the kind of pony who takes sides. He lived in a world where people complain about almost everything, even from the tiniest detail. Some people go on a mindless rant with no explanation, others over analyse without giving the audience to see why. And that comes from people on the internet.

“You’re not alone,” said Wes.

Derpy’s surprised to hear it, her eyes widened. She’s glad she isn’t the only equestrian to listen to more than one genre.

“You’re pretty cute for a pegasus,” said Wes.

“You think so?” Derpy asked.

“Must be the eyes. It’s not easy to avoid being picked on.”

Derpy gave a big sigh. Memories immediately entered her head. “I was born this way. They also mocked me for my clumsiness. I had a difficult time making friends. All they do is laugh, point at me or just ignore me where ever I go. I slowly learned not to listen to them and showed them what I can do. I took a job at a post office. It started rough but I managed to get used to it. Then one day a blue box called a TARDIS landed near Ponyville. A pony calling himself the Doctor claimed he’s from another world. He had trouble being a pony. He was a human in a previous life.”

Vinyl and Octavia heard Derpy and Wes’ voices. They didn’t understand why they were talking. It’s not they’re discussing on how to find the princesses or find a way out of the labyrinth, they were having a normal conversation.

“Excuse me,” interrupted Octavia. “Don’t you realise that Equestria will collapse now we lost the two princesses?”

“We only have an hour left,” reminded Vinyl.

“Why are you always alienating each other?” asked Derpy.

Vinyl and Octavia didn’t know what she was talking about.

“We got alone fine,” protested Octavia. “We worked together to complete this challenge.”

“Yeah we can see that, but what about on the inside?” said Derpy.

What do you mean?” asked Vinyl.

“I’m the first to notice.”

Derpy explained after Luna and Celestia chose Octavia and Vinyl, for the two separate parties before being kidnapped, she saw both ponies looking uneven. They’re excited, yet they’re uncertain. She came to ask them what’s wrong, they didn’t respond.

“What we want to know is why you were unenthusiastic?” Derpy asked.

“We were glad that they us for two separate parties at the gala, it’s that we weren’t sure what they think if we were in the same place,” answered Vinyl.

“On our own, we attempt to appreciate us; but together, we don’t know what they think,” said Octavia.

Derpy took Octavia’s bow tie and Vinyl’s sunglasses. She put the sunglasses over Octavia’s eyes, and the bow around Vinyl’s neck. “Try to see into each other.”

Octavia and Vinyl didn’t get it at first. Once they stared at each other, what they saw is each of their inner thoughts. Wes watched the two ponies stare at each other. He looked at the clock, they have fifty minutes left.

Octavia and Vinyl actually felt comfortable wearing each other’s accessories. They smiled back at each other.

“You look cool with my shades,” said Vinyl.

“You’re pretty sharp with my bow tie,” said Octavia.

Wes noticed a piece of glass in the wall. It showed something hidden in the wall. A door being painted to look like the bricks. He spotted a screen behind the secret door. He flipped it open revealing a computer touchscreen. A disabled electronic lock made the door ajar. A menu appeared prompting a user to access the labyrinth. Wes didn’t get why Michael McCarthy would put a touch screen computer in the labyrinth.

He accessed it to see a map displaying the traps, locations of the five items, and where the others were. He noticed that the labyrinth can no longer change. The walls and floors stopped entirely. The computer read that the power was cut off and is running on backup power.

“Ponies,” said Wes. “I know where the crystal heart is.”

Derpy, Vinyl and Octavia rushed over to see the Crystal Heart’s location.

“What’s that?” asked Derpy.

“A computer that Michael McCarthy installed in case of emergencies. It has the entire map of the labyrinth and where your friends are,” explained Wes.

Wes Found a USB cable attached, he connected it to the scanner to download it.

“How did you know the scanner will connect to that?” Octavia asked.

“I’m a sucker for new tech,” smiled Wes. “Whenever I’m not writing songs.”

He can access every music file, and every function of the labyrinth. He found a microphone, he can communicate with the other ponies. He changed the settings of the microphone, so his voice can broadcast everywhere.

“Who puts a microphone in a labyrinth?” asked Octavia.

“Not for showing off obviously,” said Vinyl.

Wes tapped the microphone, a sound echoed everywhere. He didn’t question why there were speakers, he just proceeded to talk. “Listen. If anybody can hear my voice, I found a way to the Crystal Heart. Unfortunately, there isn’t much time left. You’ll have to focus on finding each other while we complete the final task. Also this is Wes with Vinyl, Octavia and Derpy.”

He disconnected the scanner from the computer after downloading the software. It is now a PDA. “Michael must have used all that dirty money to build this place.”

Derpy had an idea. “Why don’t you play a song?”

Wes found that Shining Armour and Twilight were near a task. “Certainly.”

He picked a random song and closed the fake wall. “We better head to the Crystal Heart if we want to leave alive.”

He displayed the map on the scanner. Octavia, Vinyl and Derpy followed him around the corner.

Shining Armour and Twilight heard Wes’ voice. They stopped suddenly, it was another task. Numerous TV screens popped up and played the song Wes picked. Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling” started playing, with lyrics from BJ Thomas’ rendition. He wondered how Wes managed to pull it off. Twilight didn’t say a word, Shining Armour just sang.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie heard Shining Armour and followed his voice. Rainbow Dash swooped in, blocking their way.

“Sorry about that. I noticed that traps stopped working, so I flew everywhere,” explained Rainbow Dash.

“No time to waste. We must find Shining Armour, he might lead us to the others,” said Applejack.

They all ran off together in a group.

Cadance hear Shining Armour's voice. It's her first time hearing his singing voice. She didn't pay attention to the song, she listened to pinpoint where he was. She's baffled with the song choice.

Fluttershy and Rarity were speechless. They stared at each other due to the music. They see each other's confusion.

"I didn't think Twilight's brother can sing," said Rarity.

"And I thought I was the shy one," said Fluttershy.

They followed the sound of Shining's voice.

Luna and Celestia heard Shining Armour singing. Celestia found it weird, Luna enjoyed the song. She danced around and immediate dashed off. Celestia followed behind. They reached an intersection and suddenly, Shining Armour, Princess Cadance and Mane 6 arrived simultaneously.

Shining Armour and Cadance rushed over to embrace each other. They almost cried, fearing they won’t see each other.

Luna and Celestia drew sigh of relief for seeing all of Mane 6 safe.

“Princess Luna! Princess Celestia! We thought we lost you.” Twilight was glad to see them again.

“You won’t believe what we went through,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Wes must have found a way of finding each other,” theorised Celestia.

Luna stared at the clock. Ten minutes left. “We’re running out of time.”

The ponies’ reunion ended abruptly.

Wes, Octavia, Vinyl and Derpy ended up in a recording room. Microphones, amplifiers and some studio equipment decorated the area. Derpy found a scroll on the floor. She opened it and read it. “Put everything you know in your journey to shatter the Crystal Heart. Also there’s no selection this time.”

“How do we do that?” asked Octavia.

Wes looked at a TV screen. All of the ponies left in the labyrinth were still there. He can see the Crystal Heart, it’s pretty much similar to the one in the Crystal Empire. He found scientific equipment on the other side.

“We supposed to play a song that will make the Crystal Heart shatter,” said Wes.

“Which one should we play?” Vinyl asked.

“We have six minutes left and I know just the song to fill that length.” He went around the room to find instruments.

“I don’t know if we will make it shatter.” Octavia had her doubts.

“What do you mean?” Vinyl asked.

“It’s an unbeatable challenge. I heard that no matter which song we pick, the Crystal Heart will remain intact.”

“I did hear of it, yet it’s not to do with the song choice,” thought Vinyl.

“What made you say so?"

“My music feels technology of the future. Either that or there’s some equipment over there.” Vinyl showed Octavia the wires and converters.

Wes Gave Octavia a bass, Vinyl a guitar and Derpy a drum kit. He hooked up his Fender Jaguar and drew his pick. “OK all set.”
“Give the word Derpy,” said Wes.

Derpy started drumming The Knack’s “My Sharona”. Their music’s transmitted to the equipment and converted into energy.

The ponies heard Wes’ singing, they knew Derpy, Octavia and Vinyl are with him.

“Who’s Sharona?” The mane 6 said in unison.

Just then a wall opened revealing a path.

“No time for asking, we found an exit!” Pinkie Pie made a dash before anybody spoke. The rest followed from behind.

Wes let Vinyl play the first guitar solo. He saw Derpy having a fun time. Watching her reminded him of his childhood.

The Crystal Heart slowly vibrated not to the sound waves, a different energy converted from the equipment. It converter the sound waves into shock waves. Based on the noise level and music notes, it varies in strength.

All of the ponies stopped at a drawbridge. They waited roughly 15 seconds for it to drop.

Wes played the second guitar solo. At roughly 3 minutes & 13 seconds in, the Crystal Heart began shaking rapidly. Wes knew had to keep going. He continued to nail the solo and the heart continued to shake. He didn’t look at it, he didn’t want to feel distracted. At 3:42 the Crystal Heart shattered. Millions of pieces scattered everywhere, some faded into air. Wes didn’t tell the ponies to stop. He wanted to keep going.

Crystal shards sprinkled over Cadance and Shining Armour. As they continued to look up, the clock continued to tick down.

“We better hurry,” informed Shining Armour.

Every obstacle that stood in their way moved away from their path. A door appeared on the other end. They collided into each other before breaking it down.

Wes exhaled after finishing the song. Derpy collapsed on the drums. Vinyl and Octavia wiped the sweat off their foreheads. A door across the room unlocked. It wasn’t the one they entered.

“We did it,” smiled Derpy.

“Hope Princess Luna, Princess Celestia and the rest are alright,” said Octavia.

“They are,” replied Vinyl with enthusiasm. “We destroyed the Crystal Heart. We beat the Labyrinth.”

Wes opened the door. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing.”