Rarity was breathing shallowly as the six ponies and the draconequus gathered around their faint friend.

"What the heck was that," Joy exclaimed.

A small flash of light went over Discord as he changed into a doctor's outfit.

"Is Rarity going to be all right," Pinkie asked.

"Ah a don't know, she doesn't look so good," Applejack replied.

Fluttershy was helping Discord examine Rarity as Discord made certain hospital equipment appear.

"Oooo, when I find out who did this I'm going to give them what for," Rainbow Dash steamed.

Twilight examined the surrounding area with her magic to see if she could find any traces of what attacked Rarity.

"Well girls, it seems that Rarity will be all right," Discord stated to the group.

"Are you sure? She seems so gray," Fluttershy said.

"That's because something was stolen from her," Twilight announced.

"Like what," Applejack questioned.

"We won't know until Rarity wakes back up," Twilight said, "but that spell was part of this obstacle and I don't think it will be the last."

"So in other words," Joy started.

"We're in dangerous, enemy territory," Rainbow finished.

"I'm so sorry Discord," Pinkie Pie said sympathetically.

Discord said nothing as he looked at the road ahead wretchedly. Then with a snap of his lion paw two of him appeared with Rarity in a stretcher.

"Shall we be going," Discord declared.

The group moved along on the disorderly road in the middle of the forest for two hours before Rarity woke up. She was tired but wanted to walk anyway.

"Are you sure you're okay," Fluttershy tentatively asked.

"Because if you're not, we are capable of carrying you," Joy stated gently.

"Or we could take uh brake," Applejack added.

"Darlings, please stop your fussing. I'm just a little tired is all," Rarity replied exasperated.

"Rarity, you were attacked. What feels different," Twilight urged.

"To be honest, I don't rightly know," said Rarity.

Before Rarity could elaborate more upon the subject the eight of them came across a plaque in the middle of the road. Up ahead the road seemed more desolate than usual.

Joy walked up to the plaque and read:

I cannot smile

I cannot laugh

You won't pass my trial

No way in naff

"Oh what rude language," Discord complain.

"Looks like the next challenge is to make someone laugh," Twilight speculated.

"You're up Pinkie," Rainbow stated.

"Alright lets do this," Pinkie Pie shouted and started hopping enthusiastically forward.

"Pinkie Pie, wait," Twilight called out as the group ran after her.

They didn't have very far to go when they came upon a barrier of thorny vines. In front of the vines was a rather thin pony lying in the middle of the road facing away from them. He looked almost translucent.

"Hi! Are you the pony that can't laugh," Pinkie questioned enthusiastically.

With very little movement the pony turned his head to look at the pink pony. "Yah," he replied in a monotone voice.

"We'll you're in luck, because today is the day you will smile," Pinkie Pie declared.

"Okay," he said in the same monotone voice.

After a few stretches Pinkie Pie went full ham and cheese with her comedy act. Her friends pealed with laughter as Pinkie threw out act after act, of joke after joke, and of funny story after funny story. Still the stallion looked upon Pinkie with glassy, unfeeling eyes. Finally feeling desperate Pinkie asked Discord for a sack of flour. Then poured the contents unto her self. The pony didn't even smirk.

"Why can't I get you to laugh," Pinkie Pie cried out in frustration.

"Sorry," was all he replied.

Pinkie was near tears when Discord stepped up, "Maybe he only likes chaotic related comedy. I'll try next."

"Okay," the pink pony sniffed.

Then Discord started telling really strange jokes and stories about people and places that the other seven didn't understand very well but still laughed at certain points just because of how he said them. Still the seemingly translucent pony didn't move, but just stared an unblinking stare.

"Jeez, tough crowd, tough crowd," said Discord.

Soon the rest of the ponies started trying to get the impassive stallion to smile.

"I guess I could give it a try," Rarity said after Joy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight all tried and failed. "When we were younger I would put on little puppet shows for my sister to make her smile."

Rarity moved her head as to use her magic, but nothing happened. She tried again to make simple puppets out of the surrounding area, again nothing happened. Realization struck Rarity like a lightning bolt and she turned to her friends in tears.

"I… I can't use my magic," Rarity cried.

The others looked at her in shock while out of habit Rarity proclaimed how horrible this new development was then threw her self to realize too late that she couldn't make a couch appear and owned crying on the cold hard floor.

Fluttershy trotted up to Rarity and started to stroke her mane in a tender, motherly way.

"There, there, Rarity. I'm sure we'll get your magic back," Fluttershy encouraged.

"No you won't," the immovable stallion said.

"What makes you think we can't," Rainbow challenged.

"Yah," Applejack said backing up Rainbow.

"Look around you. Those aren't just sticks. Those are bones of ponies before you who were forced down this road; to weed out the weak or to rid Prince Daniel of enemies. You cannot go back, you cannot go around. You are stuck here until you die."

Pinkie Pike was starting to break down into tears.

"But there were so many ponies I didn't get to say goodbye to," Pinkie Pie cried.

"I know how you feel," the monotone stallion stated.

Fluttershy looked at the seemingly emotionless pony on the ground and trotted over and sat down beside him. Looking closely him she could see that the stallion had a long matted silver mane and tail. His fur looked coated in dirt, color indistinguishable and was scary thin. His brown eyes looked devoid of all feeling.

"Discord, can I have a glass of water and a dandelion sandwich please."

Discord did as she asked while helping the others calm Pinkie Pie and Rarity down.

"Tell me. What happened to you," Fluttershy asked gently as she pushed the water and sandwich towards the stallion.

First there was no movement then slowly the pony sat up in a sitting position. He eyed the food before him. He grabbed the sandwich and while eating he told Fluttershy about how a long time ago the love of his life died in a hate crime while trying to escape to the Land of Chaos for a better life. He told her about the offer he was given to work on the part of the path in exchange for his loved one back. He told her through his tears how she was just as he remembered her but she was not the same and was becoming a rotting corpse. He told Fluttershy of the day he died and how his true wife came to welcome him home, but some magic was forcing him here.

As the ghost pony told his story, Fluttershy cried heavily.

"That's awful," Fluttershy wept.

"It is," agreed the stallion, "But thank you. Thank you for crying with me."

Then the ghost stallion gave Fluttershy a gentle smile, "You remind me so much of my love."

Shortly after he said that the stallion dissolved into dust and ashes and the thorny vine barrier collapsed.

Everyone congratulated Fluttershy in a respectful and calm way for opening the way for them. As soon as the eight of them stepped through the vines, Fluttershy was hit by a sudden blinding light and fainted.

Wow it's been so long since I last up dated this. Life is such a pain some times. Welp, I hope you people are enjoying my story so far and wish me luck on finishing this.