Rainbow Dash squealed happily, "So excited!"
Rainbow Dash was dressed in her Daring Do Cosplay. She looked very excited and happy as she was looking at the scene - Daring Do Convention Center, where Daring Do fans and cosplay ponies have come to chat, play, entertain and enjoy their stay at the area. She has been waiting for a long time. But she isn't alone. Metalgear was with her.
"I still don't understand why you're so excited about it," Metalgear asked curiously and confusing, "As far as I know of, Daring Do is nothing but a fictional character of her titled story and franchise. She's not made of flesh but description and details of her characteristic, background and adventures. It is not part of reality. Nothing more, nothing less..."
Rainbow Dash scoffed, "That's because you're not the fan like me. You wouldn't understand anything."
"You truly confuse me a lot, Ms. Rainbow Dash. Make no sense at all."
"Whatever. Speaking of which, why are you here again?"
"By Princess Twilight's order, I was sent here to ensure Ms. A.K. Yearling to sign mistress's autograph and deliver it to her."
"Yeah. Of course, she would say that."
"But I'm also here to meet with my pen-pal as well. To be honest, I'm intrigued by her sincere words and interest in Metal Pony like me. I would like to know more about her."
"Figures. I'll see you later."
Rainbow Dash headed off in checking out on Daring Do Convention including ponies talking and entertaining with each other happily. She couldn't help but feel happy and excited of the area. Metalgear headed off to find his pen-pal while observing the area and ponies' behavior.
As Rainbow Dash continued wandering off, she was stopped by Daring Do Salespony as he was talking to her while holding the leaflet of Daring Do Adventu-cation.
"You look like a pony who'd be up for an all-inclusive one-of-a-kind adventu-cation," Salespony exclaimed happily and optimistically while showing the leaflet to Rainbow Dash, "where you can get to live the Daring Do experience!"
Rainbow Dash smiled, "No thanks. Did that already."
Rainbow Dash came across to Sapphire Stone Temple replica. She was amazed and surprised by its appearance. Found familiar tiles on the floor, she stepped on it, causing the arrow hole traps in firing a blowing gas of banners out.
Rainbow Dash squealed happily, "This is the..."
"...awesomest thing ever!"
Rainbow Dash was surprise as she turned to her right and found a dark orange colored Earth Pony with gray colors mane and tail and message bubble cutie mark worn Daring Do cosplay. He turned and looked at her while smiling in amazement and surprise.
"Now this is something that only a true fan can appreciate."
Rainbow Dash nodded, "They even put the tiles in the right order."
"Huh. Good catch. Oh, I'm Quibble Pants. Nice to meet you." Quibble Pants introduced.
"Rainbow Dash." Rainbow Dash introduced as she gave Quibble Pants a hoof-bump. Spotted her new friend's cosplay, she smiled and commented, "Nice costume."
"You, too."
"Thanks. The hard part was figuring out the right..."
Rainbow Dash and Quibble Pants shouted happily, "...number of arrow holes."
"B-B-Because on page 84 of Sapphire Stone, i-it describes her dodging a, quote, 'score of arrows shooting forth from holes in the very walls,' unquote," Quibble Pants exclaimed happily and frantically. It even amazed Rainbow Dash about him. He continued, "but then on page 107, Daring Do says she, quote, 'barely made it past the traps' barrage of arrows,' unquote, but clearly, Daring Do is embellishing and the correct number of arrows is..."
Rainbow Dash and Quibble Pants again exclaimed, "Twenty!"
Both ponies smiled happily as they can't help but felt they're gonna be good friends. They enjoyed the convention canter - taking picture stand, having entertainment and buying the souvenirs. They enjoyed the convention center and even each other's company.
On Metalgear's perspective, Metal Pony wandered off in the convention center. He looked around of his surroundings; observing and analyzing ponies' enjoyment and chatting at this place. It intrigued and amazed him a lot.
"Interesting..." Metalgear remarked as he approached to the Daring Do Toys Stall, "Though this character is nothing but merely fictional, ponies enjoyed being her and the rest ofthe characters very much. However, I have yet understand what interests them. The story? The plot? The characters? The Theme? Morality?"
"It is true mysterious, wouldn't you say?"
Surprised as Metalgear turned to his back and looked at the mysterious pony he heard of. He gasped in surprise and shock. He was looking at the slim brown unicorn pony with lavender mane with streaks of light pink and white in two pigtails and tail while her cutie mark is microscope symbol. She smiled at him.
"Aye yai yai yai yai yai yai!" Metalgear exclaimed in surprise and shock as his ears steamed off wildly and crazily while screaming frantically, "Mamma Mia! Holy Metal Mother of All! What a mare! This is nuts and bolts!"
"Wow, someone must be steaming off. A pleasure to meet you, uh..."
"Aye yai yai yai..."
"So, your name is Aye yai yai yai?"
Metalgear yelped while shaking his head, "No! My name is Metalgear! It's a pleasure to meet you, uh..."
Female unicorn bowed in respect to Metalgear, "Nicole Illusion. It's an honorable to meet you, my dear pen-pal."
"Huh? You're my pen-pal? Wow!"
"Why, yes, Metalgear. This is the first time to meet a rarest species in Equestria. Who would have thought that I would meet a rarest pony species from myth? I'm impressed and interested."
"You were?! I-I didn't expect that. Usually, ponies would be scared out of me or my kind. They would have walked or stayed away from me."
"Oh no, Metalgear. Unlike others; I have great interests in myths and legends especially meeting species and learning their culture, customs, arts and history."
"That's interesting for your reasons and hobbies you have."
"It's more than just a hobby, my friend. It's my occupation and responsibility - collect and record every species' information for books and museum. Not only this was for exhibition and library to prove its existence and valuable, but also for the ponies to learn and understand them while cooperate with each other."
Metalgear hummed thoughtfully, "Truly interesting objective you have. I hope it will come true."
"Yes," Nicole Illusion smiled and nodded, "What about you? Don't you have objective of your own?"
"Yes, I do have one - serving and work for Princess Twilight Sparkle as her commander and head butler."
"Interesting... Would you tell me more?"
"I'll be honored. This is one tale you wouldn't forget."
Metalgear and Nicole Illusion walked across through Daring Do Convention as they were having some discussion and chatting about it.
Rainbow Dash and Quibble Pants were taking a break and having some drinks at the food court after some crazy adventure. They were sitting down on the bench.
Rainbow Dash sighed, "I am so glad I ran into you. Even though I knew the convention would be totally awesome, it's more fun when you're with someone who really knows Daring Do."
"I know what you mean. It's so hard to find a pony who really gets it." Quibble Pants commented happily.
Spotted Metalgear and Nicole Illusion coming towards them, Rainbow Dash waved and greeted them to come and sit with them.
"I see you make new friends?" Rainbow Dash commented.
Metalgear nodded, "Indeed. And this here is Lady Nicole Illusion."
"Lady Nicole?" Nicole Illusion asked in amusement. She giggled, "I'm not noble or royalty. I'm just an archaeologist."
"Right..." Rainbow Dash said in amusement. She then introduced them to Quibble Pants, who smiled and greeted them. And just before she could continue, she noticed something on leaflet. She said in concern and confusion, "Hm. That's weird. We've only done stuff from the first trilogy. After lunch, we should probably start working our way back through the other books."
Quibble Pants yelped in surprise as he spitted some juices out to the front. He coughed a bit before groaned, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. There are no other books."
"Of course there are." Rainbow Dash insisted, "Daring Do and the Trek of the Terrifying Towers, Daring Do and the Many Faces of-"
Quibble Pants groaned as he interrupted, "Uh, p-please, please don't. Just don't even mention the titles. I-I'm not saying those books don't exist. I'm saying that I refuse to acknowledge them."
"Why?"
"'Cause they're horrible! I mean, there isn't a single thing after Ring of Destiny that is even remotely in the realm of the possible!"
"What?!" Rainbow Dash demanded in anger, "I know for a fact that everything in every one of those books is one hundred percent possible!"
"Uh, and how could you possibly know that?" Quibble Pants asked slyly.
"Gyuh, uh, I just..." Rainbow Dash groaned, "do!"
Quibble Pants scoffed unconvincingly, "Well, that's a compelling argument."
As Quibble Pants and Rainbow Dash continued arguing with each other, some ponies have gathered and looked at them fighting over 'Daring Do Franchise'.
"Uh... You do realized you're arguing over a fictional character and her stories of non-existence," Metalgear pointed out calmly, "Everything is not one hundred percent of either real and possible."
Nicole Illusion nodded, "Metalgear was right. This is pointless and stupid. You're both acting like foals to argue over a silly fiction."
"SILLY FICTION?!" Rainbow Dash and Quibble Pants snapped in anger at both Metalgear and Nicole Illusion, who were shocked and surprised by the reaction. They snarled, "Stay out of it!"
Rainbow Dash turned and glared at Quibble Pants, "Why would you even come to this convention if you hate Daring Do so much?"
"I don't hate Daring Do. The first series was smart and cool and an amazing nod to old-time serialized adventure books, that somehow manages to be self-reflective and ironic while at the same time celebrating the art form without a hint of cynicism." Quibble Pants explained calmly and firmly, "Which is why I came here to ask A. K. Yearling muzzle-to-muzzle why she sold out and dumbed down the rest of her books into just a series of impossible action sequences!"
"Okay, now I know you're crazy. A. K. Yearling is awesome, and every Daring Do book that comes out is better than the last!"
"Wha... Wow. Okay, yeah, I-I-I'm sorry, but I could never be friends with somepony who's willing to believe impossible stuff is possible as long as Daring Do does it."
"That's okay, because I could never be friends with somepony who's so focused on things being possible that he's willing to turn his back on the coolest hero of all time!"
Quibble Pants groaned, "Fine!"
Rainbow Dash shouted in anger, "Fine!"
Both of them turned and left at once. Both Metalgear and Nicole Illusion followed Rainbow Dash as they have some private discussion.
"That's real mature of you, Rainbow Dash," Metalgear remarked dryly, "All this to argue over a silly fiction story and its characters that never existed in the reality realm."
Nicole Illusion nodded, "And do not forget, the details and description of 'adventure' Daring Do done was nothing but pure fiction while creatures and animals such as Ahuizotl a humanoid cat is nothing but imaginative creature."
"Huh? I thought you say you're interested in legends and myth?"
"Well, Ahuizotl's species is not of the legend and myth as far as I have researched so far. Some of the artifacts from fictional stories are confirmed to exist in this realm, but so far, we have yet confirmed to find them."
Rainbow Dash groaned, "Shut up! You want reality check? You've got it! Just follow me."
Though confuse and concern, Metalgear and Nicole Illusion looked at each other while shrugged as they followed Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash led both Metalgear and Nicole Illusion to the hotel's lobby where she was talking to hotel register about demanding that she needs to talk with A.K. Yearling, though the hotel register wasn't amused by it. She was annoyed and disappointed by it until...
"Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow Dash turned to her right and found somepony familiar stood before her and her friends.
Rainbow Dash gasped in surprise, "A. K.! I gotta talk to you. It's an emergency!"
Sensing her friend and fan's concern, she looked around of the area before A.K. Yearling shushed to Rainbow Dash, "Not here!"
This surprise and confuse both Metalgear and Nicole Illusion. A.K. Yearling led Rainbow Dash and her friends all the way to her room. She then locked it tight before closing down the curtains. This even confuse two ponies even more. She turned and looked at them. She gasped in surprise while looking at Metal Pony.
"Oh my gosh!" A.K. Yearling asked in surprise as she approached and looked at Metalgear carefully and thoroughly, "I can't believe it! You're real! You're one of the rarest pony kind - Metalpony! I thought they're extinct! How?! Where did you find this mechanical being?!"
Metalgear gave a hard slap on A.K. Yearling's hoof, "Please, do not call me 'mechanical being'. I am a sentient yet intelligent metallic pony! I'm sensitive of it!"
Nicole Illusion nodded in agreement, "Metal Ponies are very sensitive with the words."
"Sorry. I'm was excited and happy to meet an actual Metal Pony! All my life and experience as an archaeologist, I've always want to meet wondrous and mythical creatures like you. This is amazing!" A.K. Yearling said happily. She stopped in realization as she turned and glared at Rainbow Dash, "Please tell me that you did not tell these ponies about my secret life?"
Rainbow Dash yelped while blushed in embarrassment, "Sorry. I have to tell them about the books you wrote are one hundred percent possible and real especially that pony from downstairs. He thinks everything you've written after the first trilogy is totally unrealistic and terrible. And I need you to help me prove to him that it's all totally possible."
A. K. Yearling sighed, "I've got bigger problems on my hooves than dissatisfied fanponies." She then showed her crocodile amulet-like key. This surprised her three friends. She continued, "The Amulet of Culiacan, and Caballeron wants it. But the amulet's only a key." She chuckled a bit as she brought the map and showed it to them, "The real treasure is hidden in a lost temple. The Seven-Sided Chest of Chicomoztoc. Caballeron wants to sell it to the highest bidder, of course, which is why I need to find it first."
Nicole Illusion grabbed and looked at the amulet closely and carefully, "This... This can't be! This is impossible! I thought it's just a legend especially the lost temple and its treasure! H-how?!"
"Not only that," Metalgear said in concern as he looked at the map, "This map. The lost temple! It has one hundred percent match with my charted map!"
Both Metalgear and Nicole Illusion looked at A.K. Yearling, "Who are you?!"
"What are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash asked in concern. Both of her friends glared at her. She shrugged, "What? She didn't came here for autograph and talk with the fans since she said she needed to get the treasure before Caballeron does.
"Rainbow Dash's right. I'm not who you think I am. My real name is Daring Do," A.K. Yearling said calmly and firmly. It surprised and shocked her new friends. She continued, "Since I haven't found the temple yet, this place's the safest place for me and the amulet. It's crawling with security, and if I get into trouble..." She removed her coat and hat off. She revealed herself to be a real Daring Do before them, "...I can just blend in with all the Daring Do cosplayers."
Metalgear and Nicole Illusion gasped before steamed off frantically, "Aye yai yai yai yai! This can't be real! It's impossible."
"Wow... They really didn't believe it that I'm a real deal," Daring Do said in amusement. Rainbow Dash nodded. She cleared her throat, "Anyway, I need to meet up with somepony else, who can help me with this expedition. Just keep your eyes out for anything suspicious. And make sure your friends won't tell anyone else about it."
"Got it," Rainbow Dash saluted. She smirked as she asked, "Does a pony who only likes your first trilogy qualify as suspicious?" Daring Do gave a glare to her. She chuckled uneasily, "just checking. Let's go!"
Rainbow Dash, Metalgear and Nicole Illusion looked around of their surroundings in search of Dr. Caballeron and anyone being suspicious. Unknown to them for passing a few group of fans by, Dr. Caballeron and his henchponies were looking around of the surroundings as they came across to Daring Do's Adventu-cation stand. Seeing Daring Do Convention makes him sick.
Dr. Caballeron sighed, "I find all this fanfare around my archenemy... disturbing." He turned and glared at the salespony, "I mean, where is the booth for Caballeron?"
The salespony pointed to Dr. Caballeron's behind direction. As the mad archaeologist did, he found a group pf fans were cosplaying him.
"Wow... They sure like you, boss," Biff the pony with a hat commented.
Dr. Caballeron groaned, "I do not see the likeness." He turned to the front and found both Rogue and Withers returned to him. He noticed his fat pony carrying a pillow on back. He demanded, "What is that?"
Rogue gulped, "Uh... Just a new pillow, boss."
"Did you find Daring Do? And I mean the real one?!" Dr. Caballeron demanded.
Withers shook his head, "Sorry, boss. No sign of her. Just cosplayers so far. You'd think they could work on her real wings and cutie mark?"
Dr. Caballeron groaned as he threw the pillow aside from Rogue's back, "Come, let us find the real Daring Do and the Amulet of Culiacan. I don't want to spend any more time in this place than I have to!"
Rainbow Dash and Nicole Illusions looked around and closely at the cosplayers in making sure they found the real Dr. Caballeron. Metalgear used his scanner to identify real and impostors. And so far, they found him yet until they bounced onto someone rainbow-maned pony hated the most.
"Well, if it isn't the pony who know impossible things can happen because she just does!"
Rainbow Dash groaned, "Ugh! Sorry, Quibble, I've got more important things to do than argue with a pony who thinks awesome means unrealistic."
"Cabelleron located! Cabelleron located!" Metalgear exclaimed in surprise. Rainbow Dash and Nicole Illusion turned to him. He pointed ahead of them. They spotted Dr. Caballeron and his henchponies heading straight while passing fan ponies by. He nodded firmly, "Target confirmed! No props or make up in him."
"Can you pinpoint his location?" Nicole Illusion asked.
Metalgear nodded as he narrowed his eyes, "He's heading to the back entrance. Let us go and inform Yearling about it now!"
"Not yet, Gear," Rainbow Dash said firmly and calmly while looking at her targets, "We need to know where's he going to. And then, we tell Daring Do about it."
Rainbow Dash and her team headed off. Their conversation surprise and confuse Quibble Pants. He decided to tag them along to find out of what's going on. He also wanted to know why they're so obsessed with the fictional characters especially his favorite villain - Dr. Caballeron. They all followed their targets.
Unknown to Rainbow Dash's team, Dr. Caballeron's henchpony spotted them before turned to him.
"Hey boss, ain't that the same Pegasus pony we saw at Daring Do's place?" Biff asked in concern.
Dr. Cabelleron groaned, "Which one?"
Biff shook his head in pointing to the back, "The one with the rainbow mane. You know, when we got the Ring of Destiny from Daring so we could sell it to Ahuizotl."
Withers spotted them, "Weren't there, like, five other mares with her or something?"
"Hmm... It doesn't matter," Dr. Caballeron said calmly as he turned to the front, "They will not know what hit them."
Dr. Caballeron and his henchponies exited the entrance, followed by Rainbow Dash's team. However, the latter group found nothing and no sign of their targets either.
"And we're out here because...?"
"Daring Do told us that Caballeron came to this convention to steal the Amulet of Culiacan," Rainbow Dash explained calmly, "and I just saw him and his henchponies come this way!" She turned to Metalgear, "Metalhead, didn't you say you marked him?"
"I did!" Metalgear said in concern, "How did they escape my heat sensor?"
Nicole Illusion hummed in concern, "I don't know. But I know what's happen next especially when we're the ones who weren't aware of the real situation. We'd better get back now!"
"Yeah! Good idea," Quibble Pants said uneasily as he turned to his back, "I'm gonna head back inside. There's just a little too much crazy out here for the both of us."
And just before anypony could do anything, Rainbow Dash's team got covered up by bags.
Hours later, the bags removed. Rainbow Dash's team were looking at three henchpony including a new bald guy with brown mustache and short tail. Dr. Cabelleron entered the scene while glaring at his enemies.
"I do not know what Daring Do is playing at," Dr. Caballeron said dryly and darkly, "but if she told you four fanponies of my plan to steal the amulet, you must work for her."
"Oh no," Nicole Illusion said in concern, "The real Caballeron?"
Rainbow Dash turned and glared at the unamused Quibble Pants, "What do you have to say now, Quibble?"
"This was your plan to prove the Daring Do books are realistic?" Quibble Pants asked dryly, "You bought a Daring Do Experience Adventu-cation, really?"
Nicole Illusion groaned, "This is not Adventu-cation."
Metalgear nodded, "Indeed. This is one hundred percent confirm that Caballeron and his henchponies are in flesh and blood. And we're in the jungle but nowhere near to Daring Do Convention. And this is a reality, not for entertainment."
"What?! Are you kidding me?!" Quibble Pants demanded in anger. His 'friends' and enemies shook their heads. He groaned, "Stupid robot. Must be malfunctioning in your system!"
"EXCUSE ME?!" Metalgear demanded in anger. He steamed off in anger, "I am not robot! That is indeed rude and offensive insults to me! You're indeed insignificant stupid pony, who complains like a rotten and whined brat!"
"What?! Why I oughtta?! I'll show you who's rotten and whined brat, you piece of shit!"
"Give it your best, fleshlings!"
Both Metalgear and Quibble Pants argued wildly and angrily while the rest were looking at them oddly and shock. Nicole Illusion shook her head while have a facepalm on her head.
"Why do I bring these two with me?" Rainbow Dash asked in annoyance.
"ENOUGH!"
Everyone yelped in shock and surprise. They looked up and found three familiar group Rainbow Dash and Metalgear haven't seen since the Third Mystic War - purplish Cybertronian Pegasus and his head was covered by the mask with two bug's eye shapes, the big and brown mechanical humanoid dragon with mechanical jets and various guns, and crimson armored and mechanical Griffon, armed with turrets-like on his back and a cobra-head on tail's end.
"Oh no..." Rainbow Dash hissed in concern.
Metalgear nodded, "Machine Dragoon's Top Generals - Sevenstrike, MechaInfinite and Sixshot. These can't be good."
Sevenstrike muttered and screeched in anger. Sixshot sighed, "Caballeron! Did you get the lost temple?! We need to get there now! My associates aren't please of waiting."
"We will," Caballeron groaned, "When we find it, the Seven-Sided Chest is as good as mine! And you three can get whatever you want! We just need the Amulet of Culiacan to unlock it."
MechaInfinite growled, "Which you fail to retrieve! How do you intend to fix this mistake?"
Sixshot nodded, "Yeah! We're not very patient Machine Generals."
"Uh-huh, and you've got the plans?" Quibble Pants asked in annoyance, caused everyone to look at
him. He continued, "Daring Do has the amulet so you came up with this over-complicated plot to lure her into the jungle and exchange it for us."
Sevenstrike screeched in anger while narrowed his bug eyes in glaring at Quibble Pants.
MechaInfinite growled, "Is he serious?! Is he mocking at us?! Does he not know who is he dealing with?!"
Sixshot hissed, "He will regret it."
"I wouldn't call it over-complicated, but..." Dr. Caballeron said uneasily, "yes."
"Okay, we're done here. Great work. Seriously, very believable." Quibble Pants commented in annoyance. MechaInfinite slammed his big right foot in front of him. It scared him off. He groaned, "Listen, pal, you can keep her money, but I'm not-!"
"SILENCE!" MechaInfinite shouted and roared in anger at his enemies. He snorted in front of Quibble Pants, "You will learn to be quiet or die. I do not care of your complains and concerns, but I demand silence now. And we will find the temple, with or without the key!"
Sixshot nodded as he turned to Dr. Caballeron, "Doc. You'd better hope you've got plans."
"Do not worry, I've got this," Dr. Caballeron said confidently, "As long they remained here, Daring Do will come to rescue them. And if she wants them back in one piece, she will give me the amulet! Tie them up!"
"Yes sir!" Henchponies saluted.
Dr. Caballeron's Henchponies tied Rainbow Dash and her friends up tightly. Sixshot placed a Griffon Lock in locking the chains tightly.
"That takes care of it," Sixshot said confidently, "Now we go and hunt our lost temple."
Sevenstrike turned and muttered in anger at Dr. Caballeron. MechaInfinite nodded, "You'd better not mislead us again, doctor. Our master will have your head."
"Rest assure, I'll make sure that we find it," Dr. Caballeron said calmly. He turned to his henchponies, "Keep your eyes on them."
With the henchponies nodded firmly, Dr. Caballeron led and guided Machine Generals through the forest at once. His henchponies kept their watchful eyes on them and the area.
"I could have beaten them easily," Metalgear said dryly. He sighed, "If I had known Machine Empire were here, I would've been knock these idiots out than arguing with this idiot."
"Oh! Call me an 'idiot'?!" Quibble Pants asked in annoyance before scoffed, "That's fantastic." He turned to Rainbow Dash, "If I pretend to believe this nonsense is real, will you call off the henchpony repertory theater over there?"
Rainbow Dash groaned, "They're not gonna listen to me. They abducted all of us."
"More importantly, did you not see Machine Empire's Generals?" Nicole Illusion asked in anger, "They're Dark Mystic! Their threats are serious! Don't take it lightly."
"Oh, wow, so you're gonna stick with that script?" Quibble Pants asked in annoyance, "O-Okay, fine. We're, we're in a Daring Do Adventure."
Quibble Pants picked a Daring Do badge out of his shirt by mouth. He threw it straight to the front, causing henchponies yelped in surprise and concern.
"What was that?!" Pickpocket asked in shock.
Quibble Pants unconvincingly cried, "Daring Do. Thank goodness. We're over here."
And just before the henchponies could do anything, someone charged in and knocked them out in swiftly and hard. Rainbow Dash and her friends looked up and encountered a familiar face.
"Red Arsenal?!" Rainbow Dash asked in surprise. She sighed, "Boy am I glad to see you."
Red Arsenal scoffed, "Yeah, so am I. Caballeron really need to pick the right henchponies. Compare to the Demons and Dark Mystic I faced, these are jokers." He has his cybernetic hoof transformed into metal cutter in cutting the Griffon Locks off. He then freed them. He sighed, "That takes care of it. Let's go and meet up with Daring Do now."
"Wait! You're the pony she's meeting up with," Rainbow Dash asked in surprise. Red Arsenal nodded. She sighed, "Good. We need to tell Daring Do about Caballeron and his devil deals with Machine Empire! Whatever those guys want, it's worse than mad archaeologist's greed."
Red Arsenal nodded, "Alright. Follow me. She told me to meet her at the temple."
"You know where to go?" Metalgear asked in surprise. Red Arsenal smirked as he shown his map. He whistled, "Wow. I thought I should be resourceful and ready with everything."
"Then, let's go now," Red Arsenal said firmly.
"No way." Quibble Pants protested, "Just point me to the hotel and you can play fanpony and hunt treasure out here all day long."
Nicole Illusion facepalmed in annoyance, "Not this again."
"What's your problem, buddy?! Do you know where the hell are we?!" Red Arsenal asked angrily. Quibble Pants scoffed while looked away. He groaned in anger as he held Daring Do Fan up, "We're in goddamn middle of this jungle! We're no close to your convention now! You either come with us or die in hell! And I really mean to drop you dead here!"
Quibble Pants huffed, "You're not the first pony or robot to say that. Just give it a rest with your silly script."
Red Arsenal groaned as he was about to punch Quibble Pants but stopped by Rainbow Dash. She turned and glared at her 'friend', "Fine. Let's just say this is a Daring Do Adventucation. The only way to get back to the convention is to go through it. So just follow me, and I'll lead you out. Deal?"
Nicole Illusion nodded, "Would you rather get lost forever in the jungle?"
Quibble Pants was about to argue but lost with words as he groaned in defeat, "Fine."
As Red Arsenal led and guided his team to the lost temple, Metalgear muttered, "Should've just leave him in the jungle."
"Sounds like he pissed you off with 'robot' word again," Red Arsenal asked in amusement. It caused Metalgear groaned in anger while steamed off a bit. He smirked, "Thought so. If he ever try to be funny again, I'm gonna show him how real my shot can be."
"If that doesn't work on him, then I don't know how." Rainbow Dash remarked sarcastically.
Two hours later, Red Arsenal continued leading and guiding Rainbow Dash and her friends to the lost temple and meeting up with Daring Do. And so far, no sign of Caballeron and his accomplices yet. However, Quibble Pants continued complaining and rambling about Daring Do franchise. It's getting annoyance to others.
Quibble Pants continued rambling, "...which would make Daring Do left-hoofed, which we know is false, and that is everything that's wrong with Daring Do and the Trek to the Terrifying Tower. Now, the problems with the next book are even—"
"Would you just shut the hell up, Quibble?!" Red Arsenal shouted in anger, "We're working here!"
Quibble Pants scoffed, "Oh, sorry to ruin your adventure-cation act, Colonel! I'm sure Daring Do is waiting for us before our bad guys could catch up to us."
Spotting something ahead, Red Arsenal halted his team from marching. They come across an old yet unstable rope bridge.
"Oh right..." Quibble Pants remarked sarcastically, "What Daring Do adventure would be complete without the precarious rope bridge?"
Have enough with fanboy's complains and annoyance, Red Arsenal took his both bow and arrow. He aimed them at Quibble Pants, surprise the rest of it. He snarled while warning angrily, "One more complain from your mouth, I'm gonna put an arrow right on your face!"
Quibble Pants rebuffed, "Like I'm gonna fall for that! You really like to joke! You're a hero. And heroes don't-!"
SWOOP! The arrow passed Quibble Pants's left cheek and hit on the tree's trunk hard. His left cheek bleed a bit, making the fanboy screamed and panicked in fear.
"I don't do jokes. And I'm always serious with my job. So, shut up and follow my lead," Red Arsenal shouted in anger. Quibble Pants nodded fearfully. He turned to the front, "Metalgear, you go first. Your seismic sensor should able to identify which planks not to step."
Metalgear saluted, "Roger roger! Initiate Seismic Sensor now!"
As his eyes glowed in red, Metalgear marched and walked on the bridge while making a beeping noise from his body in checking and marking on the planks that may break. The rest of his friends waited patiently for him to complete the work. Reaching to the end, Metalgear's eyes blinked brightly in signalling them to cross the bridge.
Red Arsenal led the team across it while avoiding the red marked planks. As others followed his way, Quibble Pants was ignorant and not amused as he walked casually on both unmarked and marked planks.
"Dude, you don't have to go overboard," Rainbow Dash said firmly.
Nicole Illusions nodded in agreement, "He'd never experience the danger before. Go easy on him."
"I don't care," Red Arsenal said dryly, "If he's unprepared and not ready for any kind of situation, he might as well died or get captured . Compare to my team, Team Fighter is more prepared than this joker."
"Just take it easy on him, Arsenal, okay" Rainbow Dash asked calmly. Red Arsenal remained silent while calmly as he continued walking. She sighed as she turned to Quibble Pants, "Quibble, you really need to take things serious."
Quibble Pants groaned, "Whatever. Look, I'm all for making things feel as real as possible, but are these Adventu-cation ponies sure this thing is safe?"
"Is it too "realistic" for you? Wouldn't want that on a Daring Do adventure, would we?" Rainbow Dash asked angrily.
"If this were really a real Daring Do adventure, I'm sure I'd step on the wrong plank at exactly the wrong—"
Quibble Pants was interrupted due to him stepped on the marked plank, which broke into two. It trapped him. Everyone stopped and turned to him. Rainbow Dash and Metalgear were flying as they pulled his tail up high while Red Arsenal and Nicole Illusion levitated his body slowly in getting him out.
Quibble Pants sighed in relief, "Good thing this is all just a pretend adventure. Least we know all of this struggling won't make the bridge fall apart."
SNAPPED! The stability of bridge broke into two while leaving everyone stay in midair. They looked at each other in shock and concern.
"You just have to say it," Metalgear remarked dryly. He chuckled a bit, "Wow. Pinkie's right. It is fun to say that."
Quibble Pants, Red Arsenal and Nicole Illusion screamed and panicked. Rainbow Dash and Metalgear flew towards them at once. Metalgear managed to launched his Claw Strike in grabbing and pulling her back up to him, but accidentally have their lips touched on each other. Red Arsenal used his Cybernetic Hoof in firing a grappling hook on the rook as he held it tightly.
As Quibble Pants was about to drown into the flowing yet fast river, Rainbow Dash grabbed and pulled the rope that wrapped around him while heading straight to the river. While on surfing board pulled by her, he sighed in relief of being safe from danger. He then spotted a waterfall ahead of him, making him gasped in concern. She quickly tied the rope around the tree's branch tightly, making him spun and rotated around it.
But the rope snapped, causing Quibble Pants screamed in fear as he was thrown straight and knocked by tropical trees before landed on the ground safely. Rainbow Dash and her team arrived and regrouped with him.
"Are you alright?" Nicole Illusion asked in concern.
"Hah! How's that for not possible?" Rainbow Dash asked confidently.
"That was... awesome! I-I-I thought we... and then you, and the flying...!" Quibble Pants exclaimed frantically and excitedly, "Wow, and I was like, "Where are you going?!" A-a-and then you swerved, and I was, I was, I was on the water, and then," He muttered and exclaimed frantically in gibberish before he sighed, "Wow!"
"Yeah. If you read that in a book, you might even think it was unrealistic." Rainbow Dash said slyly.
"Okay, I'll give you that one. I mean we could have been done for." Quibble Pants remarked before paused in realization, "We could have been done for! W-What kind of Adventu-cation is this?! I mean, that's just, that's just bad business! What, what are these ponies thinking?!"
"Idiot!" Red Arsenal shouted in anger, "This is not Adventu-cation! Stop screwing around and help us now!"
"I don't think so! Seize them!"
And just before anyone could do anything, Red Arsenal got rammed by Sixshot's Armored Car Mode before shifted into Jet Mode in ramming him to the sky. The robotic Griffon transformed into Tank Mode in slamming Red Arsenal down. He transformed back to his Griffon Mode as he held Red Arsenal tightly while putting an EMP Chip on the latter's cybernetic hoof.
Metalgear was about to assist his allies but found Sevenstrike armed and readied to fire at Nicole Illusion. And just as he fired his guns, Metalgear jumped and blocked the blasts from harming her. However, he was shot and damaged badly. Nicole Illusion was about to help but got knocked aside by Sevenstrike, who approached and placed an EMP Chip on him.
Rainbow Dash was about to help her friends but grabbed and slammed to the ground hard violently for several times by MechaInfinite. Dr. Caballeron and his henchponies grabbed and tied Quibble Pants tightly with ropes.
Dr. Caballeron scoffed, "Told you. It'll work! We thank you for escaping but leading us directly to the Lost Temple of Chicomoztoc!" He laughed in amusement upon looking at the glares of Machine Empire Generals. He chuckled uneasily, "Sorry. Make sure they are secure this time! We can't have them escaping again."
Dr. Caballeron's Henchponies have tied Rainbow Dash's team up with ropes now.
"Do as you please," MechaInfinite said dryly before taking out a mechanical seeds-like, "We have business to attend now."
Rainbow Dash gasped upon looking at the Seed, "It can't be!"
Sevenstrike screeched happily. Sixshot nodded, "Indeed, Sevenstrike. Let us find and capture the rarest creatures in this temple."
Machine Generals headed off to the back entrance of the temple while Dr. Caballeron led his team and hostages to the front.
Entering the temple's interior hallway, Dr. Caballeron led his team and hostages through it in search of his lost treasure. And so far, they found nothing.
Rainbow Dash groaned in anger as she was strained by ropes, "You'll never get away with this!"
"Won't I?" Dr. Caballeron asked in amusement, "You've led me to the temple, and Daring Do is too noble to let harm befall her companions, so the amulet is as good as mine." He turned and found Quibble Pants has been quiet. He smirked, "What? No witty remarks this time about how silly my plan is?"
"This isn't the official Daring Do Experience Adventu-cation, is it." Quibble Pants asked dryly, making the rest sighed in relief. He continued angrily, "It's some cheap knockoff run by a bunch of incompetent ponies that have no idea how to execute this adventure with any level of safety!"
Rainbow Dash and her team groaned angrily about Quibble Pants's stupidity and ignorance.
"Are you kidding me?!" Metalgear exclaimed in anger.
"Uh... I don't get it," Rogue said in confusion.
Withers shrugged, "Me neither. This fanboy is crazy and stupid."
"What was that with the bridge?! We were in serious danger!" Quibble Pants complained frantically, "I-I'm reporting you all to... well, I don't know who I'm reporting you to, but it's gonna be somepony important!" He groaned in anger as he tear the rope around him out. He approached and glared at Rainbow Dash and her friends, "Oh, and this cut-rate excuse for an 'Experience' hasn't proved anything except that I'm right! It has all the hallmarks of a lame Daring Do adventure!"
Unknown to Quibble Pants, he accidentally stepped a stone down, causing the walls to pour mud in the hallway. Everyone noticed it. Rainbow Dash was about to say but Quibble Pants interrupted.
"No, I'm talking! Generic jungle location – check. Overly complicated villain plot – check. Random coincidences that conveniently get us to the next big set piece – check!" Quibble Pants complained but unintentionally stepped on another stone, which opened the floor behind him.
Dr. Caballeron was about to argue, but he interrupted, "Listen, buddy, I don't take orders from some second-rate performer who learned acting from the Supervillain School of Bad Accents! The only thing this mess is missing is some giant Ahuizotl wannabe monster, and I have a feeling that would be a bit too much for you bargain-basement adventurers to pull off!"
"Uh-oh..." Biff said in concern.
Pickpocket quivered, "You could say that again..."
Unknown to Quibble Pants, the creature slowly emerged from his back covered in mud. Its muddy appearance scared most of them including Dr. Caballeron and his henchponies running away at once. It surprised him as he turned to his back and found a greenish humanoid crocodile. It roared wildly at him.
"Is that what I think it is?!" Metalgear asked in concern.
Nicole Illusion nodded, "Yes, it is! It's Cipactli!"
"Um... you're real. This is real." Quibble Pants asked in concern and fearfully. And just before Cipactli could take a bit, Rainbow Dash grabbed and dragged him to run. He screamed in fear, "This is real!"
"I'm gonna kill you, Quibble!" Red Arsenal groaned in anger as he fired his arrows at Cipactli's head. He looked up and found Dr. Caballeron and his henchponies escaped and entered the chamber. He pulled level down, causing the walls closed down. He screamed in anger before slam his cybernetic hoof on wall, "Damn it! We have to find another way out now!"
Metalgear screamed frantically, "Here it comes!"
As Cipactli continued charging at Rainbow Dash and her team, someone grabbed and brought them to higher ground. They're all safe now. They looked at the rescuer, who is none other than Daring Do herself. She helped and freed them from the ropes including EMP Chip off from both Red Arsenal and Metalgear.
Daring Do turned and glared at Rainbow Dash, "I told you to warn me of anything suspicious, not run off on an adventure without me!" She sighed, "You're luck that Red came and rescue you in time."
"Wha..." Quibble Pants was stunned and asked, "Whoa, whoa, y-you're real! You-you-you're friends with her?"
Rainbow Dash smirked as she has her wing on Daring Do's back. It annoyed her to removed the athletic pony's aside.
"We'll have to do introductions later." Daring Do said calmly and firmly, "Right now we have to—"
Quibble Pants interrupted, "G-Get out of here, yes! Thank you!"
"Actually, no." Daring Do disagreed. It surprised and scared Quibble Pants. She continued, "We can't leave without the treasure." She turned and looked at below as Cipactli was swimming on the mud as it slowly rising up. She hissed, "And we should probably get to it before our friend gets any higher."
Daring Do led the group all the way to the specific chamber she has found.
Daring Do and her expedition have arrived at the rounded chamber-like with seven doors. It surprised and amazed the group. Daring Do looked at the doors.
"Seven doors, seven locks. One of them leads to the treasure." Daring Do said in concern as she looked at her amulet key, "I'd rather not think about what the others lead to."
Quibble Pants scoffed, "Yeah, yeah, the classic 'Pony and the Tiger' bit. All you have to do is—"
BAM! Quibble Pants yelped in pain before dropped to the ground hard. Red Arsenal huffed in anger as he kicked on the fanboy's guts hard four times. This surprise everyone else.
"How about you shut the hell up," Red Arsenal said dryly before kicked Quibble Pants' guts again, "You've done enough damages now! Now, let the professions handle it, not some amateurs and fanboys like you!"
"Geez. You don't have to hit me that hard," Quibble Pants coughed painfully, "And sorry about not taking it serious."
Everyone looked at the doors carefully while analyzing them carefully. They wondered which door to open. However, as Daring Do was about to open one of them, Quibble Pants make noisy sounds. It irritated and annoyed others.
Red Arsenal groaned, "I swear to Princess's name! I'm gonna-!"
"Enough," Daring Do said firmly as she turned to Rainbow Dash, "Is he always like this?"
"Yeah. But..." Rainbow Dash sighed, "he's usually right."
"We have theories," Nicole Illusion said calmly before glared at Quibble Pants, "But better make sure we check on him first."
Metalgear nodded, "Yeah. Before he tried to be funny with us again."
"Ugh, finally," Quibble Pants groaned in annoyance as he looked at the doors, "Look, each door has another door that matches. These two both have Earth ponies fighting serpents. These two have Pegasi fighting griffons. These two have unicorns fighting bears. But this one..."
Daring Do looked at the middle door as she gasped in surprise. She turned to both Metalgear and Nicole Illusion, who nodded in agreement. She said, "...has an Alicorn on it! It's the only one without a match! How did I miss that?"
"I've been asking myself that ever since book four!" Quibble Pants asked dryly before he get nudged by Red Arsenal. He groaned in pain, "Will you cut that?!"
Daring Do placed her amulet key on the Alicorn Door's hole. It sunk deeply. It opened by sliding to left side. Everyone looked at the stone stand - a black box with diamond shape and blue crystal balls around it.
"The Seven-Sided Chest of Chicomoztoc!" Quibble Pants gasped in surprise. Daring Do took it at once. He turned to the front - muddy water covering the floor. He gasped, "Oh no! It's coming!"
Everyone headed back to the area. They found the area is flooding with mud. Cipactli was still growling and swimming on mud.
"Uh..." Rainbow Dash said in concern, "The way out is totally covered! How are we gonna get out of here?!"
Daring Do looked up and found the exit, "There!"
"Seriously, do you ever not escape out of the top of a temple?!" Quibble Pants complained. Red Arsenal punched him to the ground hard. He groaned in pain, "Will you stop doing that?!"
Daring Do groaned, "We'll have to carry Mr. Adventure Critic out with us!"
Rainbow Dash hissed, "We won't be fast enough! We'll never make it!"
"Wanna a bet?" Red Arsenal said confidently. He turned to Metalgear while smirking, "You're thinking what I'm thinking?"
Metalgear smirked, "Yes, I am. Initiate Upgrade Mode!"
Metalgear shifted into Metalgear Super Mode while Red Arsenal armed with Super Cybernetic Canon. They both aimed at the Cipactli as it almost close to them. They fired both Mega Buster Canon and Heavy Artillery Blast at the humanoid crocodile to the ground hard.
"Now's our chance!" Red Arsenal shouted.
Metalgear held Nicole Illusion on his back. Quibble Pants jumped on Rainbow Dash while Red Arsenal held tightly on Daring Do. They all flew out of the temple at once. They all landed on the ground safely. They all sighed in relief.
"Glad we didn't do dangerous stuffs," Quibble Pants said in relief. Daring Do shushed him as she led them to the bushes, where they took a peek on Dr. Caballeron and henchponies were looking around of the area. He smirked, "Okay, I got it. Let's create a fake treasure out of mud and rocks, give that to Caballeron, and then we—"
Daring Do interrupted as she armed with a pebble, "Not every Daring Do plan has to be super-complicated."
Daring Do threw a pebble at the temple's walls. Dr. Caballero and his hencponies went and checked on the area. But instead, they came across Cipactli, which licked its mouth. They screamed in fear and ran away at once while it chased after them.
"Meh. Not particularly original or inspired, but it worked." Quibble Pants remarked dryly.
"Who were you again?" Daring Do asked in annoyance.
Rainbow Dash answered, "He's a fan."
"Uh-huh. There's some stairs on the other side of the temple that lead out of the ravine. I suggest you two take them and head west." Daring Do instructed calmly. She turned to her lost treasure,
"I've gotta get this to a museum. Thanks for your help. I couldn't have done it without you. All of you."
Rainbow Dash and her friends made their way back to home now. She has some chats with Quibble Pants about Daring Do.
"So...?" Rainbow Dash asked in amusement.
"So... maybe the later books are slightly more realistic than I gave them credit for. Still don't like them." Quibble Pants remarked dryly. She yelped in anger. Before she could argue, he interrupted,
"Wait, hold on. Before we get in another fight, I-I think I finally figured it out! I love the Daring Do that solves puzzles and uses her brain to get out of tough situations, and she did way more of that in the original trilogy! You love the Daring Do that is brave and awesome and comes out on top no matter what the odds!"
"Okay...?"
"And that's okay! We might never agree on what makes Daring Do cool, but you... are definitely cool. I-I mean, the way you saved me on the bridge? Wow! And escaping from the temple... your friends, Rainbow Dash, are awesome."
"Well... I-I'm not the one who can locate a treasure in half the time Daring Do can!" Rainbow Dash commented, "You may have terrible taste in books, but you're pretty awesome yourself. In a brainy, egghead, puzzle-solving kind of way. Heh."
Quibble Pants smiled, "I guess we don't have to agree on everything to get along. Friends?"
"Definitely friends."
"Uh, do you think A. K. Yearling would consider letting me write the next book? I... I think I can make things way clearer. I mean, for instance, in the second adventure..."
Red Arsenal have chats with both Metalgear and Nicole Illusions about Machine Generals' involvement at the lost temple.
"So, what are you gonna do?" Metalgear asked curiously.
"I'm gonna go back to my work," Nicole Illusion said calmly, making her friend upset. She turned and smiled to him, "But I'll come and visit you. Plus, I don't know if the kissing is intentional or unintentionally. But I would like to start as friends."
Metalgear yelped in concern while blushed, "Yeah! Unintentionally! Sure, we start friends."
"That's good for you to kissing around. But we're missing one point," Red Arsenal said dryly, "What are the Machine Empire after?"
At the Lost Temple of Chicomoztoc, three Machine Generals emerged from it, along with the mechanical forms of Cipactli Army. MechaInfinite held the Seed tightly.
"Experiment complete," MechaInfinite said firmly before chuckled, "Dark Lord would be please of it."
Sevenstrike muttered in amusement. Sixshot smirked, "You've got that right. Half of the land is gonna be part of machines. I love Cybertronian Seeds with modification. Our time will come..."
END...
Review and Suggest...
Main Casts:
Ashleigh Ball: Rainbow Dash
Derek Stephen Prince: Metalgear
Patton Oswalt: Quibble Pants
Kath Soucie: Nicole Illusion
Minor Casts:
Chiari Zanni: Daring Do/A.K. Yearling
Michael Dobson: Dr. Caballeron
Crispin Freeman: Red Arsenal
Brad Garrett: Rogue
Cheech Marin: Biff
Steve Blum: Withers
Colin Murdoch: Salespony, Pickpocket
Cameo:
Fred Tatesciore: MechaInfinite
Dee Bradley Baker: Sevenstrike
David Kaye: Sixshot