Spell 63: The Stallion in the Sun

Dusk Shine, Barbra, and the other stallions stood before Violent Volcano Fields where the Elements of Harmony are said to be hidden. As its name suggested, there were many volcanoes, at least two thirds of them active and, indeed, rather violent. “Well?” Rainbow Blitz asked, flying up ahead of the others. “Are we just going to stand here and let Equestrion burn, or are we going to get those Elements?”

“Rainbow Da- er Blitz, wait!” Dusk Shine called. “We can’t just rush in there like I know you want to. Odds are Solar Flare will have traps laid out for us so we can’t reach the Elements.”

“So then what are we supposed to do?” Barbra asked.

“You, go home and... check on things, I guess,” Dusk Shine said to Barbra. “Help with the bucket brigade if any fires start.”

“Okay,” Barbra replied. She then hopped off of Dusk Shine’s back and raced off back towards Ponyville.

Dusk Shine turned back to the other ponies. “Everypony else, we’ll need to come together and use our natural abilities to show Solar Flare that there’s no force stronger than friendship.”

“Okay, then,” Caramel Apple said. “What are we waiting for?”

“Absolutely nothing,” Dusk Shine replied. The six stallions then galloped off into Violent Volcano Fields. (Yes, Rainbow Blitz is flying. This should be implied when I talk about the group galloping.) Meanwhile, a serphent of flame that could only be Solar Flare followed the ponies.

The six ponies trotted cautiously along the path carved out by the volcanoes an lava, Dusk Shine prepared for anything, but the other ponies weren’t really paying much attention. “S-so,” Butterscotch stammered, “has anypony ever even heard of this place, before?”

“Not really, Butterscotch,” Elusive replied. “But all this heat is just a horror on my mane.”

“Wait,” Dusk Shine said, turning around. “You mean to tell me that nopony has ever even heard about this place? Not even you, Rainbow Blitz?

“Actually, no,” Blitz replied. “It seems like this place just appeared out of nowhere. Too bad, too. This place seems like a great place for extreme flying practice.”

“Really?” Dusk Shine was about as confused as can be. “What could have caused such a thing?”

“Oh! Ooh!” Bubble Berry suddenly started shouting, waving her hoof. “I think I know what! Maybe this place was conjured by Solar Flare. You know, brought to life the moment he was freed.”

“But that wouldn’t explain the book mentioning the place,” Dusk Shine replied, still puzzled. “Unless...” Just before Dusk Shine could finish his thought, the ground beneath the stallions caved in, sending them all sliding uncontrolably down a steep slope towards a lake of lava, except Rainbow Blitz and Butterscotch.

“Come on, Butterscotch!” Rainbow Blitz shouted. “We need to save them!” He then flew down as fast as he could towards the others with Butterscotch following him as fast as his wings could take him. Rainbow Blitz grabbed Bubble Berry while Butterscotch grabbed Elusive. Caramel Apple and Dusk Shine continued to slide down the slope towards the lava below. Dusk Shine landed on a rock, stopping his slide, but Caramel continued sliding, stopping right at the ledge.

“Dusk Shine!” Caramel called. “Help!”

“But,” Dusk Shine said to himself, “that wasn’t supposed to happen. Unless...” Dusk Shine then hopped off the rock and slid down towards Caramel. “Hold on, Caramel! I’m coming!” He then grabbed Caramel Apple’s hooves and did his best to pull him up, but of course, Dusk Shine wasn’t strong enough and Caramel was too heavy.

“Dusk Shine!” Caramel shouted. “I can’t hold on much longer!”

“I know, but you won’t have to. When I tell you, let go.”

“What? Have you lost your mind?”

“Trust me. I’ve been through this before, remember?” Caramel was about to respond, but decided to trust his friend with his crazy plan. “On the count of three, let go.” Dusk Shine looked over to see Rainbow Blitz and Butterscotch flying by, ready to catch Caramel Apple. “One. Two. THREE!” Caramel willingly let go and began falling, only to be quickly caught by Blitz and Butterscotch.

“Wow,” Caramel said. “That crazy unicorn was right.”

Dusk Shine stayed up on the ledge, still wondering why what happened happened the way it happened. “This couldn’t be happening. It’s all wrong.” Dusk Shine then realized that his friends were calling out to him, snapping the confused unicorn back to reality. “I’m coming!” Dusk shouted, teleporting down to meet the others.

Later, Rainbow Blitz was bragging to Caramel Apple of how he saved Caramel’s life while Dusk Shine was hanging in the back of the group, thinking about what had happened. Why it happened the way it happened. He wasn’t thinking for long before he was called back by Caramel Apple. “You all right, sugarcube?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Dusk replied, “I’m fine. Just... doing some thinking, that’s all.”

“By the way,” Ranbow Blitz said, flying back to join the others, “what were you trying to say before the cliff collapsed?”

“Oh, yeah. Let’s see... I think the reason this place didn’t exist but was still mentioned by the book was because when Solar Flare was in power, this place was his domain. When he was sealed, this place disappeared along with the Elements of Harmony. That way they couldn’t be used while he was sealed. That’s my theory, at least.” Dusk Shine had just finished his sentence when a blast of lava was shot right at the ponies. “DIVE!” Dusk Shine shouted. The six stallions dove in different directions, narrowly avoiding getting burned to a crisp.

“Everypony okay?” Butterscotch asked.

“MY TAIL!” Elusive shouted loudly, his voice shaking the mountains and volcanoes around the ponies. “IT’S BEEN BURNED TO A CRISP!”

“Elusive,” Rainbow Blitz said shakily, “I think we have bigger problems than your tail.” Blitz took several steps back as he was approached by the creature who lobbed the lava at the ponies. It was a Pyrosaur, a giant tyrannosaur-like creature who wielded the powers of lava and flame. (I’m sorry. Were you expecting a manticore or something much less creative than that?)

“A Pyrosaur?” Dusk Shine asked. “But those are creatures of pure myth! No such thing could possibly exist!”

“Maybe because no such place as Violent Volcano Fields exists,” Rainbow Blitz replied. “Now, are we going to fight this thing, or what?”

“Hold on, Rainbow Blitz. I think Butterscotch can beat this thing easily.”

“What? Why me?” Butterscotch asked. “How could I-” He was cut short by the Pyrosaur, who used its tail to send Butterscotch flying into a rock, knocking him out instantly.

“Butterscotch!” Dusk Shine shouted.

“I guess there’s only one thing to do, now,” Rainbow Blitz said, charging at the Pyrosaur. Caramel Apple, Elusive, and Bubble Berry followed closely in the charge.

“I don’t get it,” Dusk Shine said to himself as his friends got thrashed by the Pyrosaur. “First the rock on the cliff, now the Pyrosaur knowing to knock out Butterscotch? What is Solar Flare’s game?” Dusk Shine looked over to Butterscotch, who was partially buried by some debris from the rock he crashed into. “There’s only one thing to do, then.” Dusk then galloped towards the Pyrosaur, who was swatting the other ponies away with its tail. “Everypony back off. I know what to do.”

“You’re call, Duskie,” Bubble Berry said as he was flung by over Dusk Shine’s head, crashing into a rock near Butterscotch. “I’m all right!”

Dusk Shine rolled his eyes a little. “Pinkie...” he said to himself. He then turned to face the Pyrosaur. Caramel Apple and Elusive gladly backed off, but Rainbow Blitz was still flying around the Pyrosaur, still trying to fight it. “Rainbow Blitz,” Dusk Shine shouted, “back off!”

“What’s your plan, Dusk?” Blitz asked.

“Nevermind, just move!”

“Okay, fine.” Blitz then flew off away from the Pyrosaur over to where Butterscotch and the others were.

Dusk Shine approached the Pyrosaur cautiously, careful not to make any sudden moves. The Pyrosaur growled a little at Dusk Shine, but did take a couple of steps back. “I’m not gonna hurt you,” Dusk Shine said, extending his hoof. The Pyrosaur looked at Dusk’s hoof for a little, leaned in to sniff it, and put its nose on Dusk’s hoof, growling softly, almost like a cat purring. “Good. Now, show me what’s wrong.” The Pyrosaur opened its mouth into a roar.

“DUSK SHINE!” Rainbow Blitz shouted.

“What is it, Blitz?” Dusk Shine asked, turning around. “It’s just showing me its tooth. There’s a rock stuck in it.” Dusk Shine then turned around and examined the tooth. It was about the same as a regular tyrannosaur’s tooth, only the Pyrosaur’s tooth bunred and glowed like an ember. There was a rock stuck between two teeth, and you could tell just by looking at it that it hurt. (You could say it was almost a burning kind of pain, but I think that analogy would be fairly redundant. Just guess why.) “Okay,” Dusk Shine said, taking a breath. “Now, this might hurt a little.” He then “grabbed” the rock in his energy field and prepared to yank it out. “Just hold still...”

The Pyrosaur roared loudly as Dusk yanked the rock out from between its teeth.

“DUSK SHINE!” the other ponies shouted loudly.

“Hold on, guys,” Dusk Shine shouted back. “Still not done here.” Dusk Shine turned back to the roaring Pyrosaur. “I know it hurts, big guy, but try to hold still so I can make it feel better. Shh, shh. You’re gonna be all right.” The Pyrosaur calmed down a little and leaned back in towards Dusk Shine. The other ponies just looked on in surprise as Dusk Shine used his magic to mend the Pyrosaur’s teeth. It didn’t even take that long before the Pyrosaur’s teeth were all back in place. “There. All better.” The Pyrosaur stood up straight again and licked the teeth that used to be broken. They seemed good as new and the Pyrosaur was evidently happy about it. It nuzzled Dusk Shine and growled softly. “You’re welcome, big guy,” Dusk Shine said, caressing the Pyrosaur’s nose with his hoof. “Now get on out there and eat whatever you want to, again. Just don’t eat too much sugar. It’ll rot your teeth all over again.” The Pyrosaur stood, let out a loud roar, and stomped off in the other direction. Dusk Shine then trotted over to the other ponies, head held high. “Heh, you ponies should see the look on your faces. Each one of you looks exactly like .O. No lie. Now let’s get going. Butterscotch, you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Butterscotch replied lazily, picking himself up out from under the rubble and rubbing his head with his hoof. “Did you beat the Pyrosaur?”

“Yeah,” Dusk Shine replied. “Taken care of. Now let’s move. Onward we trot, my comrades!” The six stallions began again on their origonal path, still being followed by the fire serphent.

The six ponies stopped at a dark cave. “We don’t have to go through there, do we Dusk Shine?” Butterscotch asked.

“Don’t worry,” Dusk Shine replied, casting a light spell with his horn. “Elusive, I’ll need your help with this.”

“Okay,” Elusive replied, putting his charred tail down and casting the light spell himself.

“Let’s go, ponies,” Dusk Shine said, trotting into the cave followed closely by Elusive and the others. Meanwhile, the fire serphent followed the ponies inside, seeming to cast no light that would reveal it.

“Dusk Shine,” Butterscotch said, “what should we expect from this cave?”

“I don’t know, Butterscotch,” Dusk Shine replied. “But what I can guess is that Bubble Berry needs to me on call for this next obstacle. You hear that, Bubble Berry?”

“I hear ya, Dusk Shine,” Bubble Berry replied. “You can count on- YIPE!” he shouted suddenly as he was pulled off his hooves by a fire serphent and into the darkness of the ceiling. “DUSK SHIIIIIIIINE!”

“Bubble Berry!” Dusk Shine shouted back. There was no response from Bubble Berry.

“That’s it!” Rainbow Blitz shouted. “It’s time to take the fight right to Solar Flare!” Blitz then flew up to chase Bubble Berry, but he didn’t get far before he crashed into the ceiling. “What? But this doesn’t make sense. Bubble Berry was pulled up a lot further than that. Dusk Shine, can you explain this?”

“Illusion would be my first guess,” Dusk Shine replied.

“Well how are we supposed to beat illusion?” Blitz asked. Just as he asked this, the ceiling suddenly lit up right in front of him and out jumped a weird and scary looking face made purely out of fire. “Woah!” Blitz shouted as he fell to the ground next to the other ponies. Following Blitz’s fall was the fire face and several others just like it.

“What are those, Dusk Shine?” Butterscotch asked.

“I have no idea!” Dusk shouted back. The five ponies screamed at the top of their lungs as the faces surrounded them. It didn’t take long before Dusk Shine realized something. He had figured out Solar Flare’s game. “That’s it!” Dusk Shine said out loud. “I know how to beat these things!”

But there’s no way in Equestria or whatever this place is called I’m doing the song, Dusk thought to himself.

Dusk Shine broke from the group and stepped forward towards the fire faces. “Dusk Shine!” Elusive called. “What are you doing?”

“Exactly what Pinkie Pie and Bubble Berry would do.” Dusk Shine paused for a moment, not believing that he was about to say what he was about to say. “I’m going to, and I regretably quote, ‘giggle at the ghosties’.”

“Come again?” Caramel Apple asked.

“Well, my friend Pinkie Pie taught me this lesson through a song, but I kind of don’t feel like singing right now, so I’ll just explain it. The best way to combat fear is to laugh in its face. Make it so that they can’t harm you.” Dusk Shine turned to one of the faces. “Observe.” Dusk Shine started out laughing kind of nervously, but after a while it turned into a real, good-natured laugh which turned the face’s expression into a scream and eventually caused it to disappear alltogether. “See? Laughter is not only the best medicine, but also the best weapon against fear. Try it, guys.”

The stallions looked at each other for a moment, but then decided that Dusk Shine got them through enough already and took his word for it. Each pony went up to a different face, thought of the funniest thought they could think of, (most of which actually included Bubble Berry) and laughed as loud as they could until the cave was clear of the faces and it returned to its original pitch-black state. “Well now I can’t see anything,” Rainbow Blitz said.

“Need a little help, Blitzy?” Elusive asked, walking over and casting the Light Spell. Just as Elusive reached Rainbow Blitz, the ponies heard a screaming coming down from above them. Elusive had almost no time to react before Bubble Berry fell on top of him.

“Hiya, Elusive,” Bubble Berry said, bouncing right back up. “Sorry to interrupt your nap time, but we still have some Elements of Harmony to find.”

Elusive growled a little and was about to say something when he was cut short by Dusk Shine. “Everypony,” Dusk Shine said, “I see the exit!”

“Finally!” Rainbow Blitz said. “I’m desperate to stretch my wings.” The six ponies then made their way to the end of the cave.

Finally out of the cave, the ponies were back to the volcanic landscape that they were fairly used to by now. Rainbow Blitz flew around a little to stretch his wings while the other stallions came to a raging lava river. “Lovely,” Elusive said. “How are we going to cross this?”

“I’m not sure, Elusive,” Dusk Shine said. “But be ready to do something about it. I think you’re up next.”

“Me? What could I possibly-”

“Shh,” Dusk Shine suddenly said.

“Did you just-”

“Shh! I think I hear something. Follow me.” The ponies followed Dusk Shine upriver, where they all began to hear the same noise that Dusk Shine was hearing. It sounded like crying, and the source of the crying was a giant Lava Eel, crying and thrashing and causing the lava river to rage. “Um, hello?” Dusk Shine called to the Lava Eel.

“What? Who’s there?” the Eel asked.

“Yeah, hi. I’m Dusk Shine. These are my friends, Caramel Apple, Rainbow Blitz, Elusive, Butterscotch and Bubble Berry. We were wondering if you could calm down a little so we can cross this river.”

“Calm down?” the Eel asked. “How can I calm down when my beautiful hair is ruined?” She pointed up to her head, which was partially cut off.

“How in Equestrion did your hair get like that?” Elusive asked.

“I honestly don’t know. One minute I was swimming around, minding my own business, and the next, this weird streak of fire flies by and slices a chunk of my beautiful hair off.”

“Who could possibly do such a thing to a creature as beautiful as you? I mean, look at you. Your scales glow as bright as the very lava you swim in.”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“Your eyes gleam like emeralds in the summer sun.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“But all of it ruined by your half-haired head.”

“Yes, it’s very tragic indeed.”

“This kind of thing is a crime. A crime that I can’t stand to bear witness to any longer.” Elusive then trotted over and pulled one of the Eel’s scales off.

“Ow! Why did you do that?”

“I won’t let you suffer this fate any longer.”

“Elusive!” Dusk Shine called. “What are you planning-?” He was cut off when there was a loud slicing sound coming from where Elusive was standing. A collective gasp filled the herd of ponies as the Eel fell. “Elusive! What have you done?”

Elusive set down the scale and trotted over to the fallen Lava Eel, which wasn’t dead. (Actually, I was never sure why it fell in the show. I mean, what logical sense was that supposed make?) “Here you go,” Elusive said, using his magic to tie his tail to the Eel’s head.

“I’m flattered, Elusive,” the Eel said, “but it looks a little... burnt.” She pointed up to where Elusive tied on his tail, which was still half-charred.

“Oh no!” Elusive shouted. “I completely forgot about that! I’m so sorry.”

“Elusive couldn’t pass the test because of what happened with the Pyrosaur,” Dusk Shine said to himself. He then looked over to the bright-orange scale that was lying on the ground near him. He then picked it up with his magic and looked at it for a while. “Solar Flare won’t win over a lucky shot.” He then stepped towards the Eel and used his magic to drag Elusive away. “Hey, Lava Eel! I have something better for you to have.” Dusk Shine raised the scale with his magic and cut off his own tail. “It’s not as beautiful as Elusive’s used to be, but I hope you enjoy it just as much.” Dusk Shine then used his magic and replaced Elusive’s tail with his own on the Lava Eel’s head. “It’s the best I could do, and I’m sure Butterscotch wouldn’t be willing to give up his tail.”

“What?” Butterscotch shouted. “But I’ve invested in tail extentions! I mean, the natural colors of my naturally long tail compliment my coat.”

Dusk Shine rolled his eyes and turned back to the Eel. “Do you like it?”

“Like it?” the Eel asked. “I LOVE it! This stripe in your tail was exacty what I’ve been missing in my hair since I was born. Thank you, Dusk Shine.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Hey, Dusk Shine,” Rainbow Blitz said. “the lava river is calm now, but we still can’t walk across lava.”

“Oh, right...”

“Allow me to help,” the Lava Eel said. She then grabbed all the ponies in her hands and carried them across the river, setting them all down gently on the other side.

“Thank you!” Dusk Shine called to the Eel. He then turned back to his friends. “Okay. We’re almost to Solar Flare’s castle, so let’s not stop now.” He and his friends then galloped off towards the castle, which was now visible at this point. However, Solar Flare was still following them, and he had one more trick up his sleeve.

The six ponies came across a rickety bridge, but it was still standing contrary to what Dusk Shine was expecting. “Well that’s weird,” Dusk Shine said out loud.

“What is it, Dusk Shine?” Rainbow Blitz asked.

“Nothing,” Dusk Shine replied. “Just... cross the bridge one at a time. Celest- er, Artemus knows how stable it is.

“Got it,” Rainbow Blitz said, flying over to the other side. “Come on, Butterscotch.”

“Coming,” Butterscotch said, carefully flying over the bridge. He was followed by Bubble Berry, Caramel Apple, and Elusive crossing the bridge on hoof. Dusk Shine was about to cross after Elusive, but a bright light out of the corner of his eye stopped him.

“What is that?” Dusk Shine asked himself, walking over to the source of the light.

“Dusk Shine!” Elusive called from the other side of the bridge.

“Hang on,” Dusk Shine replied. “I’ll be right there. Just give me a second.” Dusk Shine then continued walking over to the light. There was a figure of a pony in the center, but Dusk Shine had to struggle to see who it was. Once Dusk Shine was close enough to see who it was, he was actually quite shocked. “Princess Celestia?”

“Yes, Twilight,” Celestia replied. “It’s me.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Why, I’m here to bring you back to Equestria. You’ve done well in discovering what Spell 63 was, so you have already passed your test.”

“But this world is in danger.”

“Twilight, you need to come with me now. I can’t stay here for long. If you don’t come with me, you could be stuck here forever.”

“But Princess...”

“Come with me now, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Princess-”

“NOW!”

“NO!” Dusk Shine shouted, startling even himself. He honestly couldn’t believe he just said that to Princess Celestia. Unless...

“Twilight, what is wrong with you?”

“Absolutely nothing... SOLAR FLARE!”

Princess Celestia instantly erupted into flame and there stood Solar Flare himself. “How did you see past my disquise?” he asked.

“It was quite simple, really. There was one fatal flaw in your plan. Princess Celestia doesn’t know how to cast Spell 63, so she can’t get here at all.”

“Very clever, Twilight Sparkle, but that was only one part of the trap. You just stepped into the real trap.” Solar Flare’s horn then began glowing brightly and Dusk Shine was suddenly surrounded by fire.

“Wha-? What’s going on?” Dusk Shine asked panickedly.

“Your defeat. Mwahahahahahahahahaha!” The fires around Dusk Shine continued growing and swirling until Dusk Shine was completely engulfed. The flamed quickly disappeared, along with Dusk Shine.