The seven ponies and draconequus appeared before an ancient forest of dead black trees stretching along the boarder of the green grassy lands of Equestria.
"Well, that's weird," Discord noted aloud in confusion.
"What is darling," Rarity asked.
"We should be in Commotion Castle's throne room and speaking with Prince Daniel right now," Discord replied.
With quick motions Discord snapped his eagle claw hand several times. Each time the eight of them flashed and reappeared only a couple of feet from where they once where. Then Twilight gave it a try and she couldn't even teleport to the other side of the tree line.
"That is strange," Twilight agreed, "Discord, is there any other way into the land of Chaos?"
"There's a road but that takes longer and I'm not sure how great of shape it will be in," Discord stated.
"Lead the way, tour guide," Pinkie Pie shouted from within the canopy of one of the dead trees.
As the group followed Discord to the entrance, soulless black eyes watched the procession through a crystal ball in a candle lit room. The red and black alicorn looked upon them with malicious humor.
"Ahh, Discord, old friend. Tis sad that thou couldn't join me sooner," King Blood Blades murmured.
Suddenly Blood Blades spotted a black unicorn with a splashing blue mane and recoiled quickly.
"NO! It can not be," the chaos king looked back into the crystal ball for a closer look. He saw instead a black unicorn with cotton candy like red mane and a cutie mark camera with red flowers.
King Blood Blades breathed deeply with relief and glared at the pony, "She must die."
"Um, guys? Why am I here? As to say, why am I going on this adventure with you guys?" Joy asked no one in particular.
"I just assumed that Celestia wanted you to come with us since she gave you a saddlebag with your cutie mark on it," Discord replied.
"I'm sure the Princesses have a reason for you coming along with us," Twilight followed up.
"Probably wants us to keep an eye on ya," Applejack stated.
"Yah, we don't want some suspicious creature roaming around Ponyvile or Canterlot," Rainbow Dash snapped.
"Now Rainbow Dash, give Joy a chance. She hasn't hurt anyone," Fluttershy defended softly.
"Yet," Rainbow replied while giving Joy the stink eye.
"Ah, don't listen to Dashy," Pinkie Pie said cheerfully.
"People, please. I'll just slow everyone down and be entirely useless. I don't even know how to use magic," Joy argued.
"Then how about some lessons then," Twilight offered.
"Wait, right now," affirmed Joy.
"There's no time like the present," Twilight replied as she looked through her saddlebags.
"Alright ladies, we're here," Discord announced.
Before the eight of them laid a brick road with bricks of various sizes and faded colors. Dead grass could be seen poking through the edges of the bricks; as sunlight filtered through the branches of the dead trees.
"W-w-we're going in through there," Fluttershy asked with ever increasing pitch.
"Oh, don't worry my dear," claimed Discord as he patted his best friend on the back, "These are zombie trees. They wont hurt you or anyone else that's bigger than a fly."
"Z-z-zombie trees," Fluttershy squeaked.
"I've never heard of such flora," Twilight concluded as she paused her rummaging through her bag to inspect the trees.
"Neither 'ave I," Applejack agreed and joined Twilight.
"Amazing, a whole new type of forest. Why are they called zombie trees," Joy enthusiastically asked Discord.
"Well, they only photosynthesize moonlight and they eat insects," He told them nonchalantly.
With a little squeal Joy whispered, "I wish I had my camera."
The seven ponies followed Discord into the Zombie Forest. At first the road was a normal brick road but slowly the walk on the road became a bit crazy. The road lead to the bottom of a river that you could breath in, the road turned into a loopty loop, then it became rubber and you were able to jump on it like a trampoline (my personal favorite), et cetera. All the while Twilight was teaching Joy basic levitation skills.
"You're getting quite the hang of levitation, Joy," Twilight complemented.
"Thanks, but you're doing a great job of teaching me," Joy commented while a black stick swung around like a conductor's baton in a red-violet glow.
"Hey Discord, how long till we get to Commotion Castle," Rainbow groaned.
"By hoof? We'll be there by tomorrow," Discord remarked.
"Why do these trees have to have such dense branches? I could fly up and see how close we are," Rainbow Dash complained.
"But Rainbow Dash, just look at the way the sun filters through the trees. It's giving me such wonderful ideas for some new dresses when we get back home," proclaimed Rarity.
"It truly is beautiful, but the road is a bit tiring," Fluttershy mumbled tiredly.
"Are you KIDDING ME! This road is AWESOME," Pinkie Pie stated as she chewed on a chocolate brick from part of the road earlier.
Suddenly the eight of them came across an orange wall.
"What is that," asked Joy.
"It's an orange wall," replied Discord.
"Okay then. What's it doing here," Twilight questioned.
"I have no idea," Discord informed the group.
"Didn't ya use ta live here, Discord," AppleJack interrogated.
"Yes, AppleJack. I did, but obviously things have changed," growled Discord.
"Hey guys! I found a sign," Pinkie shouted.
The eight of them gathered around as Pinkie Pie read, "To those who wish to pass. Use this spell to spell your way out."
Beneath the sign were instructions on how to use the spell.
Everyone turned to Twilight.
"Seems simple enough. All we have to do is let the spell lead the way," Twilight concluded.
After a couple of tries twilight was able to move the orange wall away. Revealing a multi colored maze.
"Ah'm gonna set up a marker f'r us here incase we get lost," AppleJack stated after a long pause.
"I'll go help you," Joy offered gently with the black stick still glowing in her magical grasp.
"Okay. Maybe we'll be their overmorrow," Discord commented.
The six ponies and the draconequus followed behind Twilight as she used her magic to push around the walls. Trying her best to lead the group in a straight line to the other part of the road. After about two hours the group was lead back to only one marker that AppleJack and Joy made in the beginning of the maze. The other markers that were made in the maze some how vanished.
"Aaaaaah! I can't take this any more! I'm going to go blind with all of that color," roared Rainbow.
"Maybe there's more to the riddle," Twilight contemplated.
"I'll go read it again," Pinkie Pie replied.
Once again Pinkie Pie read the sign. Suddenly Rarity's eyes lit up.
"Oh, I think I know how to get through this maze," Rarity claimed.
Everyone turned to her.
"Really," Fluttershy asked.
"Well, I think," Rarity replied, "I think when it says spell your way out, it's saying to use the colors to literally spell "way out.""
"It's so simple," proclaimed Twilight.
"Well, since you know your colors better than the rest of us, I think you should lead," urged Joy.
Everyone else agreed.
"Okay then Darlings. I'll do my best," claimed Rarity.
After Rarity learned the given spell she lead the group through the maze. Wenge, Almond, Yellow, Olive, Ultramarine, Tulip and suddenly they found themselves in front of a new part of the road. Discord and Joy hung back while the five of them hugged Rarity in celebration.
"Alright! Let's go," cheered Pinkie as she bounced forward behind Discord's lead.
It was after ten steps that a sudden flash of light blinded the group and Rarity fell to the ground.