//------------------------------//
// Between Morroc and a hard place. 
// Story: My Little Pony: Ragnarok is Magic. 
// by Castel 
//------------------------------//

My Little Pony: Ragnarök is Magic Chapter 2

Between Morroc and a hard place.



Lucia grabbed a couple of towels, draping one of them around her chest and drying her hair with the other as she made her way to the bathroom door.

        She stood in shock at what she saw when she pushed open the door.

        The first thing she didn't expect was for her previously unconscious charge to be up and about, and no longer glowing purple. Lucia almost smiled at the sight for a second.

         The second thing she noticed was Rarity; the dirt-gray unicorn was now draped in a cloak and looking even messier than before, ans she was looking up at her with a surprised stare and sweat running down her face. Even if she hardly knew the pony, Lucia was glad she had made it back safe and sound.

        Then, she noticed the cloaked man crouching just below her, with blood running down his nose and a lecherous smile on his face.

        She fell to her knees and screamed.

--

        Everything happened so fast; first Lucia stared at them for a few seconds, only to suddenly scream out of nowhere, and then Said was shouting from outside as he knocked on the door, only for him and a couple of guards to burst in seconds later.

        Rarity had no time to think and simply shouted as she made her way to the bathroom window.

"Run!" 

        She opened the window with her magic and looked back at Lucia. Rarity gave her an apologetic look and muttered hasty apologies as she jumped out the window.

        Rainbow whisked through the air past the shocked woman, "'Scuse me!"

        "Milady." Mr. Irrelevant offered his hand to help the almost naked priestess stand up, and flashed her what he considered a winning smile.

        "Get out!" The screaming only got stronger after an echoing slap resounded through the bathroom. 

        Rarity and Rainbow were waiting outside, and saw as the shambling figure of Mr. Irrelevant dropped down from the window. It simply lied there in a heap, unmoving.

        "Hurry up! We don't have time for your nonsense!" Rarity nudged the lifeless husk and groaned. "Oh, dear. Just hang on!"

        "Stop!"

Rarity looked up to see a guard reaching out of the window, while the screaming from inside still raged on.

"Ugh!" She slid her head under Mr. Irrelevant's motionless body and lifted him onto her back, “Let’s go, Dash!”

        They made their way back behind the tall building where they'd left the grappling hook secured, but Rarity soon noticed a flaw in her escape plan: they wouldn't be able to climb up the wall with Mr. Irrelevant in his current state.

        "Get up, you oaf!" She shook her passenger off and started prodding him with her horn again.

        "Just leave me here... I wanna die..." he said in a defeated voice.

        "We don't have time for your silly games!" the unicorn prodded harder.

        "Oh, fine." He got up casually, "But seriously, you two just go ahead without me. I've gotta get this little sample here to some friends, and I've gotta head in a different way from ya."

        "Huh?" Rarity's eye twitched. He could move all along!?

        "Yeah, just go. I'll catch ya later!" They heard the shouting of guards near their hiding place, and before Rarity could give him a farewell present, Mr. Irrelevant simply disappeared.

        "But how are we going to get over the wall if you won't help us climb!?" Rarity roared through clenched teeth.

        Rainbow cleared her throat. "Um, Rares?" She fluttered her wingtips.

        "Oh. Right." Rarity chuckled, embarrassed.

        "Just hold on tight!" Rainbow lowered herself as Rarity climbed on her back.

        "Hold it!"

Four guards were advancing towards them with their spears at the ready.

        "Sorry, gotta go!" Rainbow went up in a flash as Rarity held on for dear life. Dash could feel a slight burn on her wings from the extra weight, but kept flying on. I've carried dozens of ponies before! I must've slept for way too long, or something...

"Rainbow! Take us over to that hill!" Rarity pointed to the hills on the north of Morroc.

        "Mhm!" Rainbow simply nodded as she changed directions.

        They kept flying until the lights of the town were out of sight, and touched down on the hills, where both ponies slumped to the ground.

        "Whew! I feel like I'd flown through a tornado!" Rainbow stretched her wings. "Either I'm getting out of shape, or you are, Rares!"

Rarity faked a gasp and mock-glared at her friend. "Are you calling me fat, Rainbow Dash?"

        "I'm just saying!" Rainbow giggled. "That really was harder than it should've been, though."

        "Maybe you're still recovering from the poison, darling." Rarity got up to inspect her friend, and started poking and probing with a tentative hoof.

        "H-hey! Quit it!" Rainbow struggled under her, "That tickles!" She righted herself to sit on her haunches and took a deep breath. "Okay... so what's this about me being poisoned? Where are we? And what was going on with those things chasing us!?"

        Rarity looked down as her ears went flat against her head. "Well... where should I start?" She looked at Dash with sad eyes, "Do you remember the monster that attacked the princess?"

        Rainbow tensed up, "What!? When did that happen!?"

        "So you don't remember..." Rarity sighed. "Do you remember how the princesses summoned us to Canterlot last week?"

        "Yeah. We were stuck in the castle because Princess Celestia said she needed the Elements near in case of an emergency." Rainbow stuck out her tongue at the annoying memory.

        "And there was an emergency, dear. Don't you remember how Princess Luna ran into our room and teleported us away?" Rarity looked down. "Do you not remember the monster? Satan Morroc?" she looked up at Dash with slight anger on her eyes, "You even attacked it single-hoofedly!"

        Rainbow's eyes widened as the memories flooded back.

-- Rainbow’s Personal Account

        We'd been stuck in Canterlot for a few days, and being around so many stuffy ponies was making the urge to go on a city-wide pranking spree hard to resist.

        I did get to wear my Element all the time though, so that was awesome.

        Pinks was telling me about some awesome prank she'd planned: We'd convince Rarity to help us disguise as palace guards, sneak into Blueblood's room, and hide pie-springing traps all over his place! I had no idea where we'd get the stuff to make the traps, but Pinkie Pie usually delivers.

        Next thing I know, the doors bolt open and Princess Luna is yelling something and running towards us! I asked Pinks if she heard, but before she could answer, everything went white and I heard a loud popping noise.

        I think that's what teleporting feels like. Bleh. I'd take flying over that any day.

        I was rubbing my eyes when I heard another scream from Princess Luna, so I turned around and saw Princess Celestia lying on the ground, and Twilight was right next to her with tears in her eyes. Whatever did that was in for a whole lot of trouble.

         I was flying over when that... thing started moving.

        It was like something out of a comic book! Big angry face with 4 glowing eyes, huge mouth filled with sharp fangs, a body like a mix between a gorilla and a dragon, and... those wings. I would've expected dragon wings on a monster like that, but he had something that almost looked like pegasus wings instead! They looked way too short for it, and they had pitch-black messed up feathers that stuck out randomly. It's like they were mocking how our wings are supposed to be!

        Oh, and then it started talking. I didn't make out most of what he said with that weird voice he had, but he called Princess Celestia a horse! A horse! Who did he think he was!?

        I charged at him and BOOM! The sucker didn't know what hit 'im! He was crying and swatting at the air like crazy, but I expertly dodged left and right. I had him on the ropes, but something got in my eye (always use your goggles!) and he managed to get a lucky hit in.

        I rolled with the punch and flew back to everypony else. Twilight was about to explode and said "Let's show this monster what happens when he messes with us!" Aw, yeah! Now we're talking!

        This guy's luck had run out; we were calling in the big guns!

        I still feel funny when I think about the times we've used the elements... I don't know if it's the same for everypony else, but it always feels... warm, for me. I could feel as our power combined and shoot out at the thing.

        And the elements were actually destroying the chump! That was... uh, different. He was struggling, but we'd already taken one of its arms, but then I caught a blue glowing blur out of the corner of my eye, and suddenly, I could feel Rarity's energy was gone!

        I looked back at Rares and saw a strange figure hovering above her. It looked like a ghost, but it wasn't like a pony. I'd never seen anything like it!

        Then I heard a scream I'd recognize anywhere: something was wrong with Fluttershy! I ran towards Rarity and took her away from the weird ghost. She was out cold, but other than that I could tell she was okay.

        After making sure Rarity was alright, I looked up and saw we were surrounded; weird monsters had come out of nowhere! There was even a flying thing with a huge, glowing hammer!

        I was about to jump in to show those chumps who's who, but I heard something moving behind us, so I turned around and saw another of those things was looming towards Rarity! I leaped in to stand between her and whatever that thing was.

        This one was smaller than the others, but it still looked like trouble: every move that it made looked like it was bending itself in painful ways, it had a gross gash that ran across its face that was bleeding nonstop and it had those red, glowing eyes.

        It tried scratching me, but I was way too fast for it! It kept swiping at me, only to hit the air every time.

        I was moving back as I kept dodging, and I guess I didn't notice a root or something and I tripped. I was prepared to surprise that thing as soon as it leaped at me, but the chicken went for Rarity instead!

        I couldn't let that thing harm Rarity when she was defenseless, so I moved in and swept Rarity away from that monster, fast as lightning!

        As I kept galloping, I could feel something stinging on my side, and then I felt sleepy all of sudden... Everything went black after that.

--

        "Next thing I know, I'm looking up at you, and you look like you went on a mud-wrestling match with a minotaur for two whole days and lost."

        Rarity shuddered as she remembered the pyramid's minotaur. "Let's not talk about minotaurs, dear."

        Rainbow got up to Rarity and started shaking her, "So what happened after that? How did we end up here? Where is here? Where's everypony else?" Rainbow took a deep breath. "And what was up with those things trying to catch us!?"

        "Ca-a-alm do-o-own, Rainb-o-ow Da-ash!"

Rainbow let go of her friend, and the unicorn fell to the ground with a thud. "Sorry."

        "It's okay, darling..." Rarity said groggily as her eyes stopped doing loops in their sockets. 

"Let me see..." Rarity took a deep breath, "I have no idea how we ended up in this place, but when I woke up two days ago, you were lying next to me in the desert... you were in a very bad condition; there was a long gash running on your side and it had a purple glow all around it." The unicorn looked down, "That turned out to be the poison spreading, I believe." Rarity shuddered at the memory of her friend's state a few nights prior.

        "I guess that other monster also got a lucky hit on me... Oooh, if I see that thing again..." Rainbow fumed.

        "Personally, I'd rather we never had to see that monster again..." Rarity shuddered. "Though I suppose we're likely to face them again if we go back to Equestria..."

        "Go back to Equestria?" Rainbow repeated. "Where are we supposed to be, then?"

        "From what I understand, the town we were in is called Morroc. It was supposed to be a prison for that monster, but it escaped recently." Rarity sighed. "And the town itself is part of something called "Rune-Midgard". I have no idea where this is in relation to Equestria, though. For all I know, we may be in another world entirely."

        "So those creatures are kind of like the ponies of this place? That's kinda cool." Rainbow tapped her chin.

        "They are called "humans", darling, and yes, they do seem to be the ones in charge here, as it were." Rarity looked back at the town and sighed. "Actually, one of the guards back at the house was the first human I met here. He actually helped us by bringing you to a healer."

        "Huh? So why'd they try to stop us with their spears?"

        Rarity looked up in thought, "Well, you see... do you remember the female human we saw on the bathroom?"

        "Yeah, what about her?"

        "She was the one that healed you and treated your wounds. They called her a priestess, I believe, and her name is Lucia." Rarity shook her head. "Anyhow, she healed you, but she said she couldn't get rid of the poison... and then she suggested that the Assassins' Guild would be able to."

        Rainbow flinched, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Assassins!?"

        "I know, darling, I felt the same, but she explained that assassins are actually kind of... helpful to the common folk around here. They said the assassins had saved many guards that were injured in the initial attack by Satan Morroc, even if some guards resented their help."

        "So the guards got mad because you hired an assassin?" Rainbow lifted an eyebrow.

        "Oh, no, I didn't actually meet any assassins." Rarity looked at the pyramids, "The thing is, the Thieves' Guild's hideout is inside of those pyramids, and Lucia said that they would be able to contact the assassins for me to help you. So when I suggested I was going to the pyramids, Said told me he wouldn't allow it... so I had to sneak out, and it seems they didn't take kindly to that."

        "Yeah, no kidding." Rainbow got up and looked directly at Rarity's eyes, "And where are the others?" she asked with a serious tone rarely seen on the pegasus.

        Rarity looked down and closed her eyes, "I... I don't know." tears started forming on the corners of her eyes, "You were the only one around when I woke up. I looked for the others, but found nothing... Rainbow, I'm not even sure if they are... if they're..." Rarity started sobbing again, but she felt a warm hoof under her chin and looked up to see Rainbow's worried face.

        "Don't worry Rarity, they're not... gone. I can tell." Rainbow nuzzled Rarity and wiped her tears away with her hoof.

        "But how can you be sure!? You saw that monster... it could've..." She was cut out by a hug from her friend.

        "I can feel it. I... don't know how to explain it, but ever since we first used the Elements of Harmony on Nightmare Moon, I've been able to feel something weird when you guys are around. I even started being able to tell each one of you apart only by that feeling recently." Rainbow broke the hug to look directly at Rarity's eyes. "When I was sleeping, I didn't have any dreams; it was all dark and I could feel something eating at me... I guess now I know that was the poison."

        Tears kept streaming down Rarity's face as she heard Rainbow's story, All my fault...

        "It wasn't your fault, Rarity!" Rainbow shouted as a couple of tears fell down her face.

        Rarity looked up at Rainbow in shock.

        "I remember feeling something else. It was very warm and nice... like somepony was looking after me the whole time. It made the poison hurt much less, until I was barely even able to feel it." Rainbow paused. "I couldn't tell at first, but I guess it was you who I felt all along, Rares." She moved in for another hug and squeezed her harder. "So thanks for saving me, Rares. For everything."

        They both stood there for some time, enjoying the tight, warm hug, until Rarity's sobbing stopped.

        "Thank you, Rainbow Dash." Rarity finally smiled.

        "Eh, don't mention it. Seriously." Rainbow chuckled. "You know I will never leave my friends hanging, but I also know you would never leave us hanging, either."

        Rarity looked down again. "Not even when I tried to upstage you on your most important day or snub you out of petty selfishness?"

        "Oh, come on!" Rainbow broke the hug again. "You're still feeling bad about that?"

        "They are both amongst the lowest things I've ever done in my entire life." Rarity wouldn't meet Rainbow's gaze.

        Dash patted her head playfully, "You just have a hard time stopping the attention from going to your head." She chuckled nervously, "We're kinda alike, that way."

        Rarity finally looked up at Rainbow, the fear in her eyes melting away as she saw understanding instead of contempt in her friend's face.

        "The girls actually told me you were the one that came up with the idea that they should cheer on me at any cost, and that you even offered to be the test subject for Twilight's spell the day of the Best Young Flyers Competition." Rainbow moved to sit next to Rarity, and placed her arm over her friend's withers. "Besides, if it wasn't for you, maybe I would've never found that extra power I needed to do the Sonic Rainboom!"

        "Do you really think so?" Rarity sniffed.

        "I know so! Now stop moping around, we need to find the others ASAP!" Rainbow leaned her head against her friend's and quickly got up.

        Rarity wiped the tears from her face and stood next to Dash. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash... I... really needed to hear that."

        Rainbow skipped ahead of Rarity and looked at the pyramids off in the distance, "So... are we going to those pyramids now?" She couldn't hide her glee.

        Rarity chuckled at her friend’s excitement. "Of course, darling. There are debts to pay, after all."

        Rainbow looked back. "Huh?"

        "Oh, nothing to worry yourself about, dear." Rarity waved her off.

        "If you say so." Rainbow stared back at the pyramids in the distance, and lowered herself, "Okay, hop on!"

        "Are you sure you should be flying, Dash? I wouldn't want you getting hurt so soon after recovering."

        "I'll be fine, mom!" Rainbow did a back flip in the air and flinched a little at the movement, but pretended it didn't happen. "I'm made of tougher stuff than that!"

        Rarity wasn't fooled and rolled her eyes. "I don't think we should fly in, anyway." she looked at the town off in the distance, "They probably have guards looking around in the pyramids' valley. They'd notice us instantly if we just flew in..."

        "They wouldn't catch up with me, though!" Rainbow lowered herself into a prowling position and flared her wings. "They wouldn't even have time to blink before we were inside the pyramid."

        Rarity pinched one of Rainbow's wings, causing the pegasus to yelp.

        "Hey! What's the big idea!?" Rainbow shot Rarity a glare as she rubbed her wing.

        "Let's just walk, darling. Besides, one would think you'd be more excited about getting to sneak stealthily past angry patrols of guards." Oh, I hope they aren't actually patrolling the area... Rarity walked ahead. "But if you don't think you can manage that, you should fly over and wait for me near the pyramid's entrance." Rarity smirked.

        "What!? You don't think I can be sneaky if I want to? You are talking to one of Ponyville's Premier Pranksters!" Rainbow trotted ahead of Rarity. "Fine, we'll sneak through. Maybe I'll even teach you a thing or two about sneakiness." the indignation in Rainbow's voice was reaching mass levels.

        Which only provoked restrained giggles from Rarity. "If you say so, darling. Let's go."

        The rocky hills proved uneventful as they made their way to the edge of the valley. They didn't see any patrols on the area, but they had to be careful with all the refugees wandering around.

        "They aren't even looking for us." Rainbow blew a raspberry at the town's direction.

        "Well... they may be waiting by the pyramid's entrance. I think there's only that one way in, so we still have to be careful." Rarity said as she slid down the hill's steep.

        Rainbow jumped down after her, simply gliding her way down. Her wings still ached a little, but she didn't mind. Some lame poison isn't going to get the better of the Rainbow Dash.

        They stuck to the hills surrounding the valley, only breaking from them when Rarity noticed they were approaching the mushroom farm. Rainbow asked why Rarity started trembling as she mentioned the place, but the latter simply told her the story was "too horrid to remember". This only helped to pique the adventurous mare's curiosity, who made her friend promise she'd tell the story another time.

        They made their way through the edge of the refugee camp; Rarity could already make out the entrance to the pyramids further ahead, and saw a lone figure standing at the entrance, but the lack of light didn’t let her recognize him.

        "Okay, Dash, we need to be very careful now. There's a guard at the entrance, and I don't know if he's friendly or not..." Rarity lowered herself to the ground and began stealthily crawling closer to the pyramid.

        Rainbow had to bite her lip to hold back a giggle as she followed, watching Rarity prowling with her rump high in the air. I guess she took sneaking lessons from her cat. I hope she doesn't jump that guard! She was so lost in thought she didn't notice her friend had stopped and bumped headfirst into her.

        Rarity almost jumped when Dash bumped into her rump, and she looked back to glare at her.

        Rainbow only gave her a sheepish smile and shrugged, silently mouthing an apology.

        They hid behind a palm tree a few yards away from the entrance, and Rarity peeked around it to take a better look at the guard, but she still couldn't make out if it was the same guard from earlier that day. 

        I guess we could knock him out if it came down to that... Rarity shook her head and blinked. Oh, dear... at this rate I'm seriously going to become a criminal. She looked back at Rainbow and whispered, "Okay, I'm going to get his attention, be ready in case we have to knock him out."

        Rainbow grinned and saluted. When did Rarity go all Daring Do on me? 

        Rarity flared her horn and flashed a bright blue light in the guard's face, causing the guard to flinch in surprise. He slowly made his way towards them, his spear at the ready.

        "Is someone there?" 

        Rarity recognized the voice and let out a sigh. She was about to step out when a rainbow blur whisked past her from above and struck the guard on the side.

        Rainbow knocked the guard down with her surprise attack. They were struggling on the ground and she was about to hit him on the jaw, when she felt a tug on her tail that caught her by surprise. She yelped as she was pulled away from the guard, and she looked back to see her tail enveloped in a soft blue glow, and Rarity galloping towards her.

        "Hey! I was about to take him out!" Rainbow glared at Rarity, who simply trotted past her.        

        "I'm terribly sorry, Umar. We thought you were one of the guards chasing us." Rarity said as she helped the guard up with a sheepish smile on her face, "My friend here is just too... um, bold for her own sake some times." She shot a quick glare at Rainbow.

        Rainbow shrank back from Rarity's gaze and chuckled nervously, "Hehe. Sorry about that pal." 

        Umar groaned as he got up. "Ugh. Did I just get hit by a rainbow?" He looked at the cyan mare and gaped. "Did I just got taken out by a rainbow pegasus!?"

        Dash glared back and flew towards him menacingly, "You got a problem with rainbows?"

        Umar got up to Dash’s face, "Only when they sucker punch me outta nowhere and there’s no gold pot at the end!"

        "Oh, I’ve got your gold right here!" Rainbow drew a hoof back, but when she tried to punch, her hoof wouldn’t budge and a strong tug on her tail brought her to the ground.

        "Seriously, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity glared down at her as she lay on the ground, "That is enough! We can’t treat what little allies we have in this place in such a manner!"

        Rainbow glared back, "But he was-" Rarity's hoof stomping on the ground right next to her cut her off.

        "But nothing!" Rarity walked back to Umar with a sweet smile on her face. "I hope you can forgive her. I would simply hate having to explain to The Guild how we got into a problem with such a big, strong guard such as yourself from some silly misunderstanding." Rarity leaned into him and shuddered, "Not to mention I would hate to tarnish my poor rainbow-maned filly-friend's reputation as some sort of violent brute who single-hoofedly takes down guards! Just think about what people might say about her!"

        Umar chuckled nervously and shifted his eyes, "W-well, I don't want your friend to look b-bad. It was all a misunderstanding after all!"

        Rarity beamed. "Oh, you would do us such a big favor? Really?" Rarity got up to give him a hug, "Oh, such a chivalrous gentleman! Thank you so much!"

        Rainbow was mock-gagging as she looked away, but a sudden tap on her shoulder made her jump to the air.

        "Now go and apologize to the good man, Rainbow, dear." Rarity said with a sweet voice and a smile on her face.

        Rainbow threw her arms in the air and yelled, "But I already-"

        The glare Rarity gave her stopped her dead on her tracks. She went back to the ground and walked dejectedly to Umar. "Sorry." she muttered through clenched teeth.

        Umar gave her a smug grin, but said nothing in reply.

        Rarity moved between them. "Good. Now, with that nasty business behind us, let's just go inside, shall we?"

        Umar spoke up before they left, "I'd watch out in there if I were you; they sent a search party inside looking for you a little while ago, and they haven't come out yet. I doubt they'll find the guild's hideout, but you might run into them if you aren't careful."

        Rarity bowed and began walking into the pyramid. "Thank you, Umar. Come along now, Rainbow, dear!"

        Dash said nothing and simply followed dejectedly, looking at the floor as she went.

The pair entered the pyramid, and Rarity smiled at the look of the ornate rows of torches adorning the large corridor.

        "Well, here we are, dear: The Great Pyramid of Morroc!" the unicorn said with a flourish.

        "Uh huh." Rainbow kept her gaze directly to the ground.

        Rarity looked back at her friend’s apathetic tone and sighed. "But darling, I thought were excited about this! Just look at the maze in front us!"

        Rainbow looked up and snorted. She was about to look away, but the rows of torches laid in front of her caught her attention. "Whoa..." She stared with her mouth agape. That's almost exactly how I imagined the pyramids on Daring Do's trip into the forbidden tomb! She jumped into the air "That is so aw-" She caught herself when she saw Rarity smiling up at her, and dropped back to the ground, "Eh." she shrugged.

        Rarity got next to her and tried to nuzzle her, but Rainbow managed to move away in time.

        "Oh, Rainbow..." Rarity sat on her haunches and looked at her friend, even if Dash averted her gaze. "I'm sorry, but we really can't afford to make enemies in this place, even if he was being a dolt! I had to do something or who knows what he could do later if he held a grudge against us?"

        Rainbow huffed, "You didn't have to nearly stomp my head off! And what was up with those death glares!?" Rainbow walked off into the maze. "Let's just move on."

        Rarity trotted up to walk beside her, but Rainbow wouldn't meet her gaze. Oh, Dash... 

        They walked in silence until they reached a point with several paths to take. Rarity looked at her friend, who was looking at each path tentatively. It was obvious Rainbow was excited, but she was fighting it in favor of staying mad at Rarity.

        I guess I really was too harsh... She noticed the diamonds on the edges of a pair of walls and and she was hit by inspiration. Oh! I~deaaaa! Rarity cleared her throat, "So, Rainbow Dash, did Daring Do ever get trapped in a maze?"

        Rainbow perked up, but immediately feigned indifference. "Eh, I think she's been to a couple of them."

        Ooh, I think I piqued her interest! "And how did she beat them? Just by sheer, um, awesomeness, or did she have some manner of clue?"

        It was getting harder for Rainbow to keep her cold act. "W-well... she did get some hints about what path she should follow, but she figured out what it was by being pure awesome!" She faked a cough and looked away to hide the smile forming on her face.

        I doubt "being easily annoyed at imperfections on walls" counts as awesome... "Oh, did she have to figure out a riddle or something?"

        Rainbow looked at her with a gleam in her eye, "How did you know? Did you ever read Daring Do and the Cursed Pharaoh!?" Rainbow got up to Rarity and leaned on her. Her fan-girl mode had been successfully activated. "Do you think we'll get to fight mummies too!? I loved how Daring Do set the whole tomb on fire to escape from the mummy king!" She squealed at the thought of battling an army of mummies like her hero.

        Rarity sighed contentedly as her friend kept going about Daring Do's exploits. No wonder she gets along so well with Pinkie Pie. She giggled, "Actually, Dash, this maze has its very own riddle to find the short way to the thieves’ hideout." She looked at her friend in the eye, "Would you like to try solving it?"

        Rainbow gasped, "A riddle!?"

        Rarity nodded. "I'll even let you lead us until you figure it out, if you wish." I'd rather we are in this maze for hours than having you stay mad at me, anyway...

        Dash could hardly hold still, she was bouncing off the walls in a way that would make Pinkie Pie proud, "All right! Let's hear it!"

        Rarity closed her eyes. How did it go again? Oh, right. She got up on her hind legs and attempted what she thought was a threatening pose, waving her arms in front of her, and said in her best attempt at a deep voice, "The snakes that follow the path of fabulousity shine the brightest!"

        Rarity sat back down, and looked at an astonished Rainbow Dash with a proud smile on her face. I guess I can be scarier than I thought. She giggled to herself.

        And then Rainbow dropped to the ground in roaring laughter. "Bahahaha! Fabulousity? Did you just come up with that?" She kicked at the air as she let out a louder guffaw.

        Rarity could feel her cheeks burning, and felt the sudden urge to crawl into a hole, but when she saw her friend laughing so carefree on the ground, she broke out with her own ladylike laughter, slumping over her friend.

        They both lied there for minutes, laughing away the stress and the hurt from before, until it was replaced by the pain of laughing too much, though they didn't mind. Eventually, the laughter slowly died down.

        Rarity got up and looked at her friend with a regretful face, "I really am sorry, Rainbow Dash. I didn't mean to hurt you." she extended a hoof to her lying friend.

        Rainbow took the hoof and got up to nuzzle her friend. "I... I'm sorry, too, Rares. I guess I was being a bit dumb. No hard feelings?"

        Rarity nuzzled her back. "No hard feelings. I know you were just trying to protect us."

        Rainbow chuckled. "Uh, yeah. Sure." She got to the air, "So, were you serious about that riddle?"

        Rarity felt her cheeks flushing again, "Of course! What is wrong with fabulousity!?" she huffed defensively.

        Rainbow had to look away. Just the indignant tone on Rarity was enough to make her chuckle; she wouldn't survive another laughing fit if she looked at her face now. "Oh, you mean other than the fact that you're the only pony ever that would say that word with a straight face?"

        "Oh, nonsense! I've worked with various ponies who used the word perfectly without any problem." Rarity whipped her head up in indignation, though the blush on her face lingered.

        "Well, yeah, but fashion ponies are usually pretty wacky." Rainbow giggled. "No offense."

        Rarity huffed, "Well, if you don't want to solve the riddle, then we can just move on!" Rarity started stomping away, but Rainbow flied directly in front of her.

        "No no, wait!" Rainbow looked at her sheepishly, "I was just kidding; I wanna give it a try!" Rainbow sat on her haunches and started rubbing her chin with a hoof, deep in thought.

        Rarity chuckled at the sight, and sat in front of her friend with her eyes closed, trying her hardest not to give anything away like looking at the torches or the walls.

        Rainbow stood up and looked at the different paths in front of her, "Let's see... the path of... heheheh... fabulousity..." She inspected each of the roads, but nothing caught her attention. She was changing between the different paths, when she noticed a familiar symbol on the edge of the wall, "Aha!"

        Rarity looked at her friend pointing at one of the diamond shapes on the wall. "Wow, not bad, darling. Was it really that easy to figure out?"

        Rainbow beamed a cocky smile. "Well, I guess it just comes naturally when you're as awesome as me." Rainbow chuckled, "Besides, that part is probably easy for anyone that knows you." Rainbow struck a pose and gave her best Rarity impersonation, "Diamonds are fabulous after all, Darling!"

        Rarity mock-glared at her, but couldn't resist giggling at her friend's antics. "Well, what about the rest of the riddle? You found the quick route, but what do we do from here?"

        "Just follow me; I got this!" Rainbow trotted down the path with the diamond.

        Rarity allowed herself one unladylike smirk as she saw Rainbow hadn't notice the diamond on the other wall, and had gone down the wrong path. She was about to go after her, when Rainbow turned a corner, only to come right back out with a sheepish smile on her face.

        "Uh, dead end right there."

        "Would you like a hint, darling?" Rarity asked in an amused tone.

        Rainbow grunted and started inspecting the walls again. "No, thanks."

        Rarity giggled as her friend brought a hoof to her face when she finally noticed the diamond on the other wall.

        "All right, here we go!" Rainbow walked down the path carefully this time, with Rarity following shortly after.

        They made their way through the maze, all the while Rarity was looking up at the torches discreetly, but Dash was too busy thinking about the riddle to notice her.

        Rainbow groaned as they reached the third dead end in a row, and looked back at Rarity. "So... I'm guessing that the snakes that shine aren't the corners with torches..." 

        Rarity bit her lip. So close! "Do... do you want a hint now, Rainbow?"

        Dash looked down for a moment. I am getting pretty tired of this... but Daring Do didn't give up, and she had a whole army of mummies on her back! She shook her head. "I can do this!"

        Rarity smiled at her friend's determination, even if it was for a silly game.

        They were walking back when Rarity's ears perked at a familiar plopping sound behind them. "Dash do you hear that?

        Rainbow's ears perked up as she concentrated. "I hear something like... jelly dropping on the floor." She scrunched up her face, "What is it?"

        "I have not seen it myself, but that's supposed to be some sort of nasty slime monster." Rarity shuddered as the noise got closer. She could hear something else farther away, but the idea of having to deal with the slimy creature was too distracting.

        "Wait, a monster?" Rainbow landed next to Rarity, "Don't worry Rares, I'll deal with it." She got up on her rear legs and punched at the air.

        Rarity chuckled at her friend and placed a hoof on her shoulder, "It's okay, darling, it is not supposed to be aggressive unless we attack it first."

        They both stared as a big shadow neared the corner they had just passed. A big, circular shadow that grew more and more as it jumped closer and closer. Rarity hid behind Rainbow as the shadow grew bigger, trembling at the thought of being anywhere near such a disgusting-sounding creature.

        Rainbow took a step forward and puffed out her chest, "Come out, whatever you are, I'm not afraid of you!"

        Out of the corner popped a small, light-green blob that stood a little shorter than the length of the ponies' legs. It's most captivating feature, however, was the eyes with which it looked at them: big, beady eyes stared directly into Dash’s soul, crushing her heart with the sheer power of their adorableness. The creature bounced closer and closer, and, somehow, its eyes went even bigger as it looked up at Rainbow Dash.

        Rarity stepped further back the more the creature approached, "Dash, do something! Don't let that disgusting thing near me!"

        Dash couldn't take it. Her legs gave in, and she dropped to the floor in front of the creature. It's... too... cute! Rainbow was soon petting the creature. "Aww, who's a cute little-"

        And then it jumped at her face.

        "Rainbow!" Rarity screamed as she moved in to kick away the monster that was bouncing on her friend's head. As her hind hooves connected with the creature, she could feel the muck marring her, "Ack!" It's a little like stepping on mud, only it burns a little and I can feel my will to live weakening ever so slightly. Actually, I guess it's a lot like stepping on mud...

        The monster was sent flying from Rarity's buck, and became a nasty splotch on one of the maze's walls, running down to the ground to form a slimy puddle.

        "Rainbow, are you okay!?" Rarity looked down at her friend and jumped back with a scream at the sight. "Eugh, gross!"

        Dash got up slowly, with a gooey and slightly burning sensation all over her face. "Bleugh! You can say that again." Rainbow spat and proceeded to shake like a dog that just got out of water, but that barely got any of the muck off of her, "This thing isn't coming off! And it itches!"

        "Ugh, is this place filled with only disgusting monsters!? Why couldn't it be some water blob with soapy bubble attacks!?" Rarity lamented as she kept slipping from the slime on her hooves.

        "Why are you even complaining? I'm the one with burning slime all over my face!" Rainbow kept rubbing her face with her forearms, but that only managed to move most of the slime from her face to her forelegs. At least I closed my eyes in time...

        They both failed to notice the sound of clanking armor and heavy footsteps moving towards them until it was too late.

        "Hey, I was right! It was them making all that noise!" One of the guards from Morroc peeked from the same corner the Poporing had come from. "They're over here!"

        Rainbow and Rarity looked at each other, then back at the guard.

        "Oh, yeah. There were soldiers looking for us, weren't there?" Rainbow asked casually.

        Rarity looked on solemnly. "I guess playing riddles wasn't a good idea after all, darling."

        "Eh. Totally worth it." Rainbow smirked as she launched herself at the guard. Her sheer speed was enough to catch the guard unaware, and she nailed him in the stomach, knocking him out. "You mind if I borrow your cape?" The unconscious guard wouldn't respond, so Dash took the cape anyway.

        She was wiping off the muck as more clanking noises and the voice of more soldiers made their way towards them.

        "Rainbow, try lighting what's left of the Poporing on fire!" Rarity shouted from the back.

        "The what now?" she turned at Rarity.

        "The stain left behind by that ugly slime!" Rarity yelled back, exasperated.

        "It wasn't that ugly..." She muttered as she grabbed a torch, "Sorry little buddy." She threw the torch at the splotch, and a bright green flame flashed dangerously near her. Dash could make out a faint smell of burnt fur as she made her way back to Rarity. "Gee, thanks for that, Rares."

        "Sorry, Rainbow, but it worked! Look!" Rarity pointed at the flame that kept burning away, almost completely blocking the path towards them. "Let's get out of here before those guards manage to put out the fire!"

        Rainbow stared at the bright green flames, and suddenly it hit her. So bright... She flew up to the torches on the walls, and noticed that their brackets had a small wavy carving. "The shining snakes..." she muttered to herself.

        Rarity looked back as she was trotting away, "Rainbow we have to go! Come on!"

        The sound of angry shouting from the guards was faint, but it kept growing at a steady pace.

        Rainbow dashed towards Rarity and picked her up, flying them both away. "I got it, Rarity! I found the snakes!"

        Rarity was shocked enough from her friend suddenly whisking her away at high speeds; she barely registered any sounds and could only spit out a "What."

        "The shining snakes! They shine because they're on the torches!" Rainbow kept flying. While the maze wasn't wide enough to maneuver much, years of speed training had given her enough reflexes and hoof-eye coordination to make her way through at a quick enough pace.

        Rainbow finally touched down after going down a couple of stairs. "There's no more snakes over here. What now?" Rainbow put Rarity carefully on the ground, but the unicorn still slumped over.

        "Gently, please..." Rarity moaned as her eyes kept spinning.

        "Oh, don't be such a baby. You went through the Rainboom just fine, you can handle this."  Rainbow rolled her eyes.

        Rarity slowly got on her hooves and shook her head. "Excuse me, but the Sonic Rainboom didn't have anywhere near that much turning and near smashing into walls." As her vision readjusted, Rarity recognized the corridor that led to the basement and walked into it, "Oh, we made it! Come along, darling, it's this way."

        Rainbow looked at the snake statues on the far wall, and flew up to get a better view at the image carved on the wall. "Wow..." Her heart started beating faster as more images from Daring Do's adventures flashed on her mind.

        Rarity chuckled from the ground behind her and started making her way down the stairs, "If you liked that one, just wait until you see what they put in the basement, Daring Dash."

        Rainbow blushed and looked down at the unicorn, "D-don't call me that, Rarity!" she said with a flustered voice.

        Rarity looked back blankly and blinked. "Oh, but I meant no disrespect, darling. Your stunts earlier really would have made your hero proud, if I do say so myself." She started walking down the stairs again, "Now come on, we are almost at the hideout!"

        Rainbow simply blushed harder and followed from behind. I guess it was like something Daring Do would do... Yeah! I'm just awesome like that! ...so why the damn blushing!? She walked down the stairs and was left breathless by the sight. "No way!"

        Rarity giggled, "See? Even I thought this looked very dramatic when I first saw it." She chuckled nervously, "... even if I was rather distracted at the moment."

        Rainbow just kept staring straight ahead with her mouth agape, taking it all in, until she felt Rarity's hoof closing her mouth.

        "You'll catch a fly, darling. And you don't want to catch the flies they have around here!" Rarity shuddered. "Anyhow, there is another puzzle down here to open the door to the thieves' hideout. Do you wish to try it, Dash?"

        Rainbow blushed as she remembered the nickname, but tried to hide it by shaking her head, "N-nah, I've already used too much awesome today, if I keep it up, it won't be as cool when I have to do something later. Just show it to me."

        Rarity giggled. "If you say so, darling. See that taller human with the horned helmet?" she pointed at the wall, "He has a snake emblem on the helmet, and if you follow the story, I think he starts a rebellion against that fellow with the fancy hat."

        Rainbow gasped. "A pharaoh... At least that's what I think it is."

        Rarity nodded. "Huh. Well, it seems the humans weren't happy with the... pharaoh, and the horned human gave them weapons to rise against him." Rarity trotted over to the secret door. "And here, it looks like the humans are all celebrating their freedom, but they also look like they're reaching for that torch up there."

        Rarity took the torch with her magic and a loud click echoed behind the wall, which soon slid off to reveal the secret path.

        "And voilà!" Rarity giggled.

        Rainbow joined her. "Heh, that was actually pretty cool, Rares. Did it take you long to figure it out?"

        Rarity shook her head, "Oh, aside from a mistake on my part by going into the next basement floor, it was fairly easy. The hint I was given also had to do with snakes, so figuring it out wasn't so hard."

        Rainbow gave her a confused look. "You got a different hint? How did yours go?"

        Rarity sighed and was about to rant, but a shout from inside startled them.

        "What'd I say about the door!?" Dirge said with a slurred voice as he walked up to them. "And try keeping it down, it's way too early for this..."

        Rainbow looked at Rarity, who was smiling sheepishly at the tall human.

        "Oops! Sorry, dear." Rarity ushered Rainbow inside as she placed the torch back in its socket with her magic. "I'll tell you later, Dash, for now...  I suppose we should meet Jaffar or Brad."

        They walked over to Dirge, who simply stared back at them through half-closed eyes.

        Rarity stood between Rainbow and Dirge, and motioned at the latter with her hoof. "Rainbow, this is Dirge, he is in charge of security around here." she turned at the half-asleep man, "Dirge, this is the friend your fine guild helped save, her name is Rainbow Dash."

        "Sup!" Rainbow looked at Dirge, but she recognized a face she was very familiar with, even in other species; the face of disturbed sleep, so she backed away, "Why don't we just let him go back to sleep, Rares? We'll say hi later."

        The man just grunted as he went back to his room.

        Rarity walked further inside, with Dash following close behind. They made their way to the counter, but it was empty again.

        "I... suppose we could go inside. If even the security was sleeping, I suppose it must be rather late." Rarity suggested as she made her way behind the counter, tentatively opening the door. "Hello?" she whispered into the darkness inside.

        She walked further inside, eyeing the different doors all over the corridor. At least one of these has to be the door to the sleeping quarters... "Amalia? Brad? Is anyone there...?"

        Rainbow simply walked quietly behind her friend. I guess I could go for a nap right now, too.

        The pair kept walking until they reached the end of the corridor, and soon they were facing an imposing-looking wooden door, with its reptilian sentinels standing guard at its sides. Rarity was about to knock when a whisper from behind caught her attention.

        "Maybe you should let him sleep for a little longer, Rarity."

        The ponies looked back to see a young girl in pajamas standing behind them, a groggy expression plastered all over her face.

        "Amalia!" Rarity moved next to her. "Oh, I'm sorry, dear, did we wake you?"

        "It's okay. I was supposed to wait up for you so I could show you around when you came back... but I fell asleep after awhile, anyway." The girl smiled at the unicorn and gasped when she saw the cyan pegasus. "Oh! You're..." She knelt down next to Rainbow, "A pegasus! With wings and rainbow hair and oh my gosh you're adorable!" She was about to pet her wings, but Rainbow stepped back.

        "Whoa there! Watch, don't touch." Rainbow looked at Rarity, "Who's this?"

        Rarity moved between the two."Amalia, this is my good friend Rainbow Dash. She doesn't like it when others handle her wings." She giggled, "Rainbow Dash, this is Amalia. She is a sweet girl, so do try to be nice to her."

        Amalia blushed and shrank back. "Hello, Miss Rainbow Dash. Sorry about your wings."

        Rainbow flapped her wings and waved her off with her hoof. "Don't worry about it. So you were going to show us around here?"

        Rarity stepped in, "Unless you're too tired, of course. In which case we will simply go to wherever we can wait... or perhaps take a bath..." She sighed.

        "Why don't we just go to sleep, Rares? I sure could go for a nap after that maze." Rainbow glanced at the bags under Rarity's eyes. And you look like you could sleep for a whole week.

        "I couldn't possibly sleep in this... ugh, condition. I'm positively filthy!" Rarity looked at her hooves, which still held a light green taint in some places. "I simply must take a bath if I'm ever to get my beauty sleep." Rarity complained.

        "Follow me to the women's quarters, we have a bath in there if you wanna use it." Amalia walked slowly back towards the entrance, yawning along the way.

        Both ponies followed wordlessly. The offer of rest was causing fatigue to finally catch up with the both of them, and their energy was slowly fading away.

        They followed the girl into a big room filled with bunk beds. It was mostly tidy except for one unmade bed.

        "Just pick any bed you want, I'm the only one using this room right now..." She yawned and pointed at a door on the far left, on the back, "That's the bathroom. You can use my stuff if you wanna; I just left it by the showers." She yawned again and made her way to the messy bed, "Well... good night..." she dropped on the bed like she never woke up in the first place.

        Rarity giggled and whispered to Dash, "Poor dear, I guess we really arrived at a bad hour." She stretched herself and began walking to the bathroom, "You can go to sleep if you want, dear, but I simply must take a bath. I may as well sleep in there if I want to get even partially rid of all the... things I've been through." She shuddered at the memories. Never again.

        Rainbow eyed the beds for a moment, but looked back at Rarity again and sighed. "I'll come with you; you'll probably stay there forever if I don't keep an eye on you, anyway." She trotted ahead of Rarity before she could respond.

        They entered the bathroom door to find themselves in a wide locker room. Rarity's eyes lit up when she noticed the sudden change to a more elegant ceramic tile floor and white lights on the ceiling.

        "Oh, my. I almost feel back at the spa!" she giggled, walking on with a bit of a bounce to her step. She saw the entrance to the bathroom proper and almost galloped over. What she saw on the other side left her with her mouth on the floor. 

        "Oh. My. Stars!"

        A huge room with sparkling white marble floor greeted her her; and rows of ornate shower spouts coming out from the wall on the left called her with their charming song of cleanliness. Then she noticed the huge bath on the center of the room; water was cascading into it from two giant, ornate marble snakes' mouths, with steam wafting ever so slightly from the flowing clear water.

        Even Rainbow was in awe at the sight. "That's got to be the coolest pool I've ever seen! It needs more rainbow, though."

        "That is the bath, darling." Rarity said dreamily as she took off her cloak. She was skipping down to the showers, when she heard Rainbow scream.

        "Whoa! Rarity, what the hay!? Is that blood!?" Rainbow was upon Rarity immediately, probing at the fur matted with the brownish-red liquid in different places.

        "Oh..." Rarity chuckled nervously. "Don't worry about it dear, it's dry now and should come out with some scrubbing." Rarity paused, "Oh, I seriously do hope it comes out..."

        "That's not what I meant! What happened!? I thought you looked like a mess before, but I guessed it was just because you hadn't slept or something!" Rainbow poked the dried off blood in Rarity's lower neck. "How did this happen!?"

        Rarity flinched as her friend touched her sore spots. "Oh... I suppose this is as good a time as any to tell you about my little misadventures..." Rarity sat on her haunches, "First off, darling, don't worry, Amalia gave me one of those healing potions earlier, and it left me almost as good as new." Rarity walked to the showers, "As for the blood... well, the spots on my back aren't from an injury, it's... ah, I got that from carrying you into town, you see." Rarity chuckled nervously as Rainbow's eyes grew to the size of platters.

        "Oh, geez... uh, sorry about that." Rainbow looked away, rubbing the back of her head.

        "Think nothing of it, Dash. I'd do it again without hesitation." Rarity paused as she meditated on her words, "Not that I'd like it to happen again, of course. Aheheh." 

        Rainbow moved next to her again and softly touched the stain on Rarity's neck. "And what about this?"

        Rarity sighed as she reached for a faucet. "I suppose to explain that I'd have to tell you about my little trip to the mushroom farm, too..." She turned the faucet and a thick stream of water dropped from the spout on the wall. "You don't mind if I wash up while we chat, do you?"

        Rainbow looked on in silence as an idea popped in her head. "Actually, why don't I help you out? That's some of my blood on you, so I might as well be the one to clean it out!" She grabbed a white bathing sponge lying on the ground and made her way to her friend.

        "Well... I'm not one to decline some well-earned pampering..." Rarity giggled. "Do be gentle, though."

        Rainbow blushed again, but Rarity couldn't see her while she was under the stream. "O-of course!"

        Rarity regaled Rainbow with her dramatically biased anecdote while the pegasus continued to work her backside. Rainbow couldn't hold her laughter as Rarity told her of the fat Fabre and how it was more traumatic for her friend to get bug guts on her hooves than nearly dying the death of a pincushion. 
She told her of how she was lost in the maze, and how exhaustion combined with a monstrous bat almost cost her singsong voice (oh, and her life), and how she swore bloody vengeance against a certain lousy riddler.
Rainbow gasped and stomped on the floor when she heard about the bat, swearing out loud that she would deal with all bats ever for daring to touch her friend, though she almost forgot as soon as she heard the riddle Rarity was given, nearly dropping to the floor and laughing from how terrible it was.
Rarity didn't tell Dash about the deal she struck with the guild or her encounter with the minotaur, and instead decided to skip right to her dramatically enhanced rescue, along with Mr. Irrelevant's antics.

        By the end of Rarity's shower, they both had had their share of laughs and cries, and decided to move on to the bath. Though Rarity insisted she helped Rainbow with a shower, to which the latter submitted after some chiding.

"You simply cannot go and enter a bath without cleaning yourself first, darling." Rarity had said.

The rainbow-maned pegasus enjoyed her friend's backrubs more than she thought she should have, and when Rarity offered to wash her wings, Dash shyly decided to concede. Happy moans filled the bathroom as her wings were massaged, and the pegasus melted under the unicorn's delicate, yet precise hooves.

        They finally made their way to the bath, and Rainbow almost dived in with a cannonball, only a deep glare from Rarity managed to stop her in time.

        "Ahh..." Rarity moaned happily as she slowly entered the bath. "Now this is definitely something I could get used to..." She hummed a happy tune as she brushed her mane.

        "It's not bad." Rainbow tried to sound nonchalant, but the relaxation and enjoyment on her voice was undeniable. She was still feeling the effects of Rarity's massage and the hot water on the bath only made them better, leaving her sleepy. She closed her eyes and nodded off.

        A strange sound trembled in the air, and Rainbow perked up. She didn't know how long she'd been asleep, but when she searched for the source of the noise, she found it was Rarity resting her head on the edge of the bath, peacefully snoring away. Dash couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, though a pang of sadness broke through her. She's been through so much... and for me...

She shook her head and approached her friend, gently nudging her on the side. "Come on, Rares, let's go to bed."

        Rarity only shifted her head slightly, "Just five more minutes, dear..." she mumbled in her sleep.

        Rainbow chuckled and rested next to her, "Oh, all right, but only five!" She knew her friend couldn't hear her, but stood there for a little longer watching over her anyway.

When she decided she was actually staring, Rainbow grabbed her friend and carried her off on her back into the locker room, where she dried both of them off with towels. If I mess up her hair with my rain-blow dry, she'll probably kill me. She mock-shuddered.

Dash's drying ended up leaving Rarity's hair still a bit messier than before. ...I guess I can pay her back for that massage now.

She went back for the brush her friend had used, and tried to comb the unicorn's purple mane as gently as she could, though a few knots here and there made her almost wake her up.

        Finally done with her friend's mane and tail, Rainbow carried her off to a bunk. She carefully dropped Rarity off in the lower bed, but when she tried to leave, she noticed Rarity was clinging to her neck, and wouldn't let go.

        Too tired to break away, she soon fell asleep next to the already snoring unicorn...

--

        A high pitched noise woke Rainbow Dash up, and she turned around to see a giggling Amalia staring at her with a huge smile on her face.

        "Uh... morning?" Rainbow tried to get up, but a pair of white hooves wrapped around her neck brought her back to the bed. Rainbow gasped for air as Rarity squeezed her head harder into her chest. After some light struggling, Dash finally managed to fall out of bed, while Rarity kept dreaming away.

        Amalia kept giggling as she helped her up. "Good morning, but it's actually past noon already. I tried to wake you guys up earlier, but you just looked so cute sleeping together!"

        Dash looked away to hide the blush she felt on her face, "Aheh. Well, thanks." She looked back at Rarity. "Let's just let Rares sleep for awhile longer, 'kay?"

        "Sure. The boss says he wants to meet you, but we can go after breakfast, if you want to." Amalia made her way to the exit, and motioned for Rainbow to follow.

        Dash looked back at the dozing Rarity and felt a smile forming on her face as she fluttered into the air to follow the girl.

        "So... what's for breakfast?"  Dash asked as she floated behind Amalia.

        "Do pegasuses like pancakes?" Amalia looked back with a genuinely confused face.

        "Do we!" Rainbow drooled. "Just let me at them. I'm so hungry I could eat a barn!"

        Amalia giggled as she opened the door to the mess hall and walked over to the kitchen. "Just sit anywhere, I'll be back with your food in a bit."

        "Thanks." Rainbow sat at the edge of the table and waited, drooling with anticipation.  "You know, I was kinda worried humans would eat strange stuff and that we would be stuck eating grass or flowers or something."

        "Well, there are some humans who eat pretty weird stuff, but usually we have a normal diet." came the voice from the kitchen, accompanied with the clattering of pans. "You know; fruits, veggies, meat and all that stuff."

        "Cool, you eat meat?" Rainbow perked up, "I had a gryphon friend before, and she invited me to a weird gryphon restaurant some times to try some meat dishes."

        "You don't eat meat normally?" This time there was sizzling coming from behind the kitchen doorway.

        "Well, most ponies don't. I thought it tasted okay, but cooking it is a pain, so I just stick to easier stuff." Rainbow shrugged

        Amalia came out of the kitchen with a glass of milk and a stack of cupcakes bathed in strawberry jam and honey, and placed them in front of the wide-eyed pegasus.

        "Please tell me if you'd like seconds, okay?"

        "Yes, please!" Rainbow almost jumped at the pancakes and they were gone in a matter of seconds, along with Dash's decorum. "Those were awesome!" Dash exhaled happily and licked her lips.

        Amalia stared in shock before she started chortling and walked back to the kitchen. "Well, I can't say no to someone who likes my cooking that much!"

--

        After Rainbow had attacked stack after stack of pancakes (and just about made a mess of the place), Amalia brought her back to the door at the end of the main hall.

        "Um, boss...? I brought Rainbow here like you asked."  the girl said as she knocked on the door.

        There was some sudden coughing heard from inside, "You brought what now?" a gruff voice asked.

        "Rarity's friend?" Amalia pressed her ear against the door. "Are you okay in there, boss?"

        Some more coughing came from the other side, "Yes, yes, of course! Send her in and be on your way."

        Rainbow looked at Amalia with a raised eyebrow, "So... I just go in there?" She looked at the snake sculptures with an excited smirk, "Or do I have to solve some puzzle with these snakes to open the door? Do I have to get a torch?" she looked around excitedly.

        "Oh, um, no." Amalia giggled as she opened the door for her, "Just go right in."

        "Oh." Rainbow's ears dropped a little. Boring. 

She trotted into the room and heard the door closing behind her. She could see smoke wafting through the air up to the ceiling, and traced it back to a man laying in his bed, inhaling from a hose connected to a red glass vase filled with water.

        "Welcome, miss. I hear you caused quite a commotion yesterday." he said as he took another puff.

        "Uh, hello? And I guess we did shake up some people yesterday." She scratched her chest with her hoof and inspected it coolly, "Nothing we couldn't handle."

        Jaffar chuckled as he exhaled more smoke. "Ah, yes. Your friend Rarity did speak fondly of your bravado..."

        Rainbow perked up, "Really!?" She caught herself blushing, and forced a cough, "Well, I am pretty brave." she said with a proud smile.

        Jaffar stared at her blankly. "That's not what... " he cleared his throat, "At any rate, have you decided about what you will do now?"

        "Well, not really. Rarity's still sleeping, and I was just kind of planning on waiting for her to wake up." she shrugged.

        Jaffar smiled as he stroke his chin. "Tell me, Miss Dash, what do you know about the Thieves' Guild?"

        "Well..." Rainbow looked up in thought. "I know that you guys helped Rarity cure me." She paused, "Oh, thanks, by the way." She sat on her haunches as she tapped her chin with a hoof, "Other than that, nothing, I guess."

        Jaffar took another puff of the hose. "And did your friend tell you about the cost of that help?"

        "What?" Rainbow flew up to him and fluttered just away from the smoke, "I think she said something about a debt, but she never told me what she meant."

        "I see." He exhaled. "You see, Miss Dash, there is a reason why I decided to lend the guild's help to you." The old man watched as the smoke lifted into the air, "A trusted member of the guild suggested that your friend should join us... and I'm inclined to agree with him."

        Rainbow flew closer, flapping away the smoke with her wings. "What!?"

        "Please, Miss Dash, sit." He motioned to the other end of his bed and presented her the hose he was smoking from, "Would you like to try the shisha?" 

        "Uh, maybe later." She shook her head, "Now what was that about making Rarity a thief?"

        "I assure you that theft is hardly all our guild ever does. Perhaps you already heard of our relation with the Assassins' Guild?"

        "Oh, well, as long as she also gets to murder stuff, I guess that makes it all better." Rainbow glared at him.

        "Again, a harsh generalization." he said with a chuckle. "The guild handles many types of jobs, and while robbery and... intimidation are some of our more famous services, we deal with more... shall we say, agreeable jobs as well." He closed his eyes as he smoked more. "We are often hired for the more furtive skills our members are famous for; things like espionage, dungeon sweeping for traps, or recovery of artifacts from ancient places, among others."

        Rainbow perked up, "What was that last one?" she asked with a trembling voice.

        "Hmm? Oh, yes. Many researchers come to us to hire members to scout ancient ruins too dangerous or unknown to send some of the more fighting-oriented mercenaries, since we train our members in more... survival oriented skills." he said with a grin.

        "And what if we don't wanna join your guild?" Rainbow questioned, looking at him directly in the eye.

        "Nothing. Your friend does the job she owes us and you get to go on your separate way." Jaffar shrugged. "However, you would no longer be allowed to stay in our hideout." 

        Rainbow didn't reply, only looking away to contemplate her options.

        "But," Jaffar started in a friendly tone, "If you decide to become members, you would not only be able to continue using our facilities, we could also instruct you on some of the skills that make us famous." He gave her a smile as he motioned towards his decorations and laughed, "Not to mention good thieves make very good profits!"

        Rainbow shifted on her seat. "I... I'll talk to Rarity about this, I won't decide until we go over it together." She sighed, "Besides, we have to do a whole lot of things that would probably keep us away from here."

        "You don't have to worry about your freedom to roam about. The guild only asks for a cut of the profits you make under our employment, as well as loyalty between members and... well, you'll find out if you decide to join us." Jaffar took one last puff of his hookah before laying down again. "That was all I wanted to say for now. Tell your friend to come see me about that debt when she's ready."

        "Can... can I do that job instead of Rares? I mean, you just need somepony to pay you with work, right?" Rainbow fluttered above the lying man.

        "No." he didn't even open his eyes, "The deal was with your friend. She may request your help if she so desires, but the job is for her." He waved her off, "Now go. Your wings are disturbing my... meditation."

        Rainbow left with a huff and made her way back to the women's quarters.

--

        Rarity's soft snoring was still in the air, and Dash flew over to her sleeping friend, a familiar warm feeling growing stronger inside her the closer she got to the sleeping unicorn. Why is the feeling of your Element so strong lately? Is that what's getting me to act weird around you? 
What would you even say if I told you joining their guild sounds awesome? ... Though I guess it'd be asking too much of the Element of Generosity to become a thief... Rainbow sighed and sat down, keeping her eyes on Rarity. You'd probably join up if I did, too. You're kinda overprotective that way. Rainbow chuckled as Rarity continued snoring peacefully.
Whatever. I'll be on your side no matter what, Rares. You'd do the same for me.

        Rainbow looked around the room to see if they were alone, and when she didn't find anyone, she snuck back into bed. I always think more clearly after a good nap, anyway. She scooted closer to Rarity and closed her eyes, a wide smile adorning her face.

--

        Rarity was in a dark cave, with the only source of light being a strange orange glow coming from the ground. She could feel the ground shaking under her hooves as a swarm of fabres at least twice her size moved towards her, and all over the cave, she could see the figures of giant flies hovering in circles above her; there were blots of slime dropping from the ceiling, with a huge blob crawling through it towards her.

        She looked back to see a bottomless pit just inches away from her, its edges crumbling from the tremors.

All was lost. She wouldn't get to see her friends nor family again, and she would be eaten by the disgusting creatures closing in on her.

        "Rarity!"

        A familiar voice was climbing from the pit, and she looked down in hopes of finding any sort of salvation. All she could see was a red light, growing bigger and brighter ever so slightly.

        "Hold on, Rarity! I'm coming!"

        She could almost believe it...

        Rarity gulped when she looked at the advancing swarm; the monsters were inches away. The ground gave way and she fell, but the creatures kept chasing after her and they fell too, like they were hoping to have the satisfaction of squishing her when they hit the ground. And then something suddenly happened: the red light from before was now falling beside her, and it started changing colors as it shot up into the air, slamming into the creatures, which vanished to the light's touch.
        The flies went after the light next, and soon surrounded it. Globs of the slime fell upon the mob, completely obfuscating the light. Rarity felt her face becoming damp, and saw as her tears stood behind while she continued her fall. She closed her eyes, but a bright light shone through, and when she opened them again, she saw the same light from before rushing towards her, only now she could also see 4 more lights behind it, though farther away and they were all a white color.
        The red light caught up with her, and she felt as she stopped falling, and was floating in the air now, instead. She started moving; flying up higher and higher! She could almost reach the lights, but she felt a sudden pang on the ear, and something wet running down it.

--

        Rarity opened her eyes, and her vision was filled with blue. Cyan, to be precise. She could still feel something stinging in her ear and brought a hoof up to investigate, only to feel something slimy and wet running down into her mane...

        A shrill scream filled the entire hideout, and a pair of ponies suddenly found themselves on the floor.

        "Eugh, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity glared at the stupefied pegasus laying on the floor, "That's disgusting! Now I'll have to take another bath!" Rarity huffed as she made the bed with her magic.

        Rainbow was still waking up, and could only make out something about gross and baths. She felt something running down her mouth and into her chin, and wiped the drool away with a hoof.

"Oh, like you weren't going to take a bath right after waking up, anyway." she said with a yawn.

        "Well, be that as it may, waking up with drool all over my ear and mane isn't exactly the way I like to start my day!" Rarity fumed as she made her way to the bathroom.

        "Heheh. Sorry." Rainbow chuckled nervously. "You're not gonna have breakfast? Or lunch? I think it may be lunch, it must be way past noon already."

        "Oh, I'm starving, but I simply won't eat with drool all over my head." She gave Rainbow another glare, "I'll eat after I take a shower. You can go ahead if you wish." Rarity said coldly as she entered the bathroom.

        "Well, horse-apples." Rainbow made her way out into the main hall. Note to self: Drooling equals death-glares. She walked dejectedly into the mess hall, and found another human in there, though she hadn't seen the man with the red hair before.

        "Who're you?" she asked vaguely, not really caring for an answer at the moment.

        "The name's Brad." He looked up at Dash. "And I'm guessing you're Rarity's friend. What was the name again? Rainbow... Rainbow Trash?" He gave her a smirk.

        "It's Rainbow Dash, funny guy. And I doubt "friend" is the word Rarity'd wanna use right now."  she muttered. "So, what's for lunch?"

        "Well, the menu at the moment is: whatever you can make out of the stuff in the kitchen." He shrugged as he kept eating. "Amalia's busy right now, so she won't be cooking anything soon."

        Rainbow Dash sighed, "Great."

        She walked over to the kitchen, where the floor changed again; it was a shiny, clean tile floor this time, and she entered a wide room with various shelves on the walls holding pots, pans and many other cookware of different sizes. There was a countertop next to a large stove near the wall, both sparkling clean.

Well, not like I felt like cooking anything, anyway. Dash blew a raspberry.

        She saw a large fridge on the back of the room, and flew straight to it. She rummaged through its contents and grabbed a couple of carrots along with some apples, and made her way back to the mess hall, sitting directly in front of Brad, and began munching on a carrot.

        "So, I take it you're no cook?" Brad said as he looked at Rainbow's meal.

        "I usually just order out back home." Dash shrugged. "And what about you? You make some soup and suddenly you're a chef?" she pointed at his food accusingly.

        "First off, it isn't soup; it's stew." He looked down at his meal, "Second, I didn't cook this, Amalia did. I just reheated it."

        "Then why the snarky comment?" Dash asked impatiently as she chewed on a carrot.

        "Well, I was just disappointed, I guess. I was kind of expecting some exotic meal from another dimension, or something." Brad shrugged and finished his meal.

        Rainbow snorted. "Well, though luck. Maybe Rarity will cook something up, but I don't think she's ever been that much into cooking, either, to make something "exotic"."

        "Oh, well. I'm done anyway, so I'll be seeing you around later."

        "Wait!" Dash got up to stop him. "I wanted to ask about something..."

        "Well, I'm sorta busy, can't it wait?" he sighed impatiently.

        "I was just wondering... do you often go out on jobs to, like, ancient ruins or dungeons and stuff?" Dash rubbed the back of her head while looking away. "I just heard that you guys usually handled those kinds of jobs."

        "Ah, the boss already talked to you?" He grinned, "Well, I haven't done any of those jobs in a long time. Most of us avoided them since they're pretty dangerous most of the time, or the pay isn't that good..."

        "Wait, so you get to pick your jobs?"

        "Well, of course. Who'd wanna join a guild where they force you to do something you don't feel like all the time? Us thieves aren't known for our uniformity." Brad mock-gagged.

        "Huh..." Rainbow looked down at her food in deep thought.

        "I mean, sure, reject many direct jobs from the boss, and you'll probably get kicked out of the guild, but that rarely happens anyway." Brad shrugged. "Why? You wanna join? We don't accept just anyone, ya know?" He scoffed.

        "Oh, please, Rarity told me about her tests. I could do that stuff in my sleep." Dash's arrogance was almost palpable.

        "Yes, you can definitely do a wide manner of deeds in your sleep. Some of them rather disgusting." Came an annoyed voice from the entrance on the hall.

        Rainbow shrank when she recognized Rarity's voice approaching. She didn't dare meeting her gaze, and hastily brought an apple to her mouth.

        "Well, good morning, sunshine."  Brad started as he looked back at Rarity, but was shocked at the sight, "Whoa! What in hel happened to you?" She was no longer the messy unicorn with a dirty gray coat and a limp, greasy mane; instead, there stood a shining mare with bouncy, lustrous curls and a sparkling white fur coat.

        Rarity giggled at the gaping human, and struck a pose while bouncing her curls. "Well, dear, a bath does wonders for one's appearance. Maybe you should try it more often."

        Brad didn't respond for some time, he was stuck gaping at the completely changed mare.

        "Uh, whatever. I've got stuff to do, I'll see ya later." He finally said and left in a rush.

        Rarity giggled some more as she walked towards Rainbow, "Well, it would seem I still have it, even with these humans, no, dear?"

        Rainbow blushed and muttered something unintelligible as she talked with her mouth full.

        "Ugh, really, Dash. Are you just going to try grossing me out all throughout the day?" Rarity chided jokingly.

        "Sorry." She gulped. "About before, too. I just fell asleep right after dropping you off on your bed, and I guess I was too tired to move to another bed." she lied, forcing an embarrassed chuckle to mask it.

        "It's quite all right, dear. I'm sorry for making you carry me off to bed after I fell asleep on the bath." She gave her an embarrassed smile, "And thank you for the dry-up and coiffing, too."

        Rainbow blushed, "Y-you were awake for that?" she asked with a nervous grin on her face.

        "Well, no. But I can tell, dear." Rarity ran a hoof down her curls, "Have you ever gone to bed with a wet mane? The next morning is simply a disaster." she shuddered.

        "Really? I sleep with wet hair all the time." Rainbow gave her a questioning look.

        "Of course you do." Rarity sighed, "Anyhow, is that what you're having for lunch, dear?" Rarity rose an eyebrow at the chewed carrot on the table.

        "I had some apples, too!"  Rainbow defended.

        "Seriously, dear. You are such a child some times." Rarity giggled and made her way to the kitchen. She looked back at Rainbow, "Why don't you show me where you found that, Dashie?"

        "Sure, mom." Rainbow stuck her tongue at Rarity, where some chewed apple still lingered.

        "Eugh, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity looked away with disgust.

        Rainbow snickered and flew next to Rarity. "Sorry." So not sorry.

--

        Rarity cooked up a simple salad, all the while explaining the simple steps to Rainbow Dash, who entered autopilot mode as soon as Rarity began explaining the process.

        "Then you simply add sour cream and sugar, and it will give the fruits an exquisite flavour!"

        "Uh huh."

        "The last step is the simplest: You throw the contents on the bowl at the inconsiderate pegasus, and decorate as desired."

        "Uh huh-wait, what?" Rainbow dropped to the ground covering her face when she saw a blur move towards her, only to look up at Rarity giggling while looking down at her with an amused stare.

"Very funny." she deadpanned.

        Rarity continued giggling, "I thought so, myself."

        They made their way back to the table, and ate quietly. But Rainbow kept catching Rarity stealing glances at her.

        "Oh, yeah. The boss guy says he wanted to meet you about that debt." Rainbow shifted on her seat, "Said to go as soon as you were ready."

        "You talked with Jaffar?" Rarity looked down and sighed. "...did he tell you that he wants me to do a job for him?"

        "Yeah. Also said something about joining the guild." Rainbow said nonchalantly. "Said some pretty interesting stuff, actually."

        Rarity brought her hoof down on the table. "Rainbow Dash! Do not tell me you are actually considering becoming a thief!"

        "Whoa, calm down, I'm just saying they have some interesting things you should hear too!" Rainbow backed away.

        "I will not be a thief, Rainbow Dash! Even if they gave away diamonds!" Rarity looked away in anger, but felt a hoof on her shoulder.

        "Listen, Rares, I just think they could help us out more if we join... but," Rainbow turned Rarity to face her, "I'll go with your choice: if you decide to join, I will too; if not, then I won't! Easy as that."

        Rarity looked at her friend in the eye, but said nothing.

        "I've got your back, no matter what, okay?" Rainbow gave her a nuzzle and broke away.

        "Thank you, Dash." Rarity closed her eyes and sighed, "... I will consider it."

        "For now, let's go find out what that man wants from me, shall we?" Rarity made her way out the mess hall.

        "Right behind you." Dash fluttered after her.

--

        The ponies stopped before Jaffar's door, with Rarity tentatively knocking at the door. "Jaffar? It's Rarity, my friend said you wanted to see me?"

        "I still say these statues probably do something." Rainbow looked into one of the snake's mouths, "Maybe they're traps and they spit fire on whoever tries to attack this guy." she poked the snake with a cautious hoof.

        "Then maybe trying to activate them is not such a good idea, darling." Rarity smacked the prodding cyan hoof away, and turned to knock harder on the door.

        "Yes, yes, come on in." Said a slurred voice suddenly from inside.

        "Sorry, dear, did we catch you on meditation again?" Rarity giggled to herself.

        Jaffar yawned, "No, this time it was a legitimate nap." He rubbed his eyes and did a double-take on Rarity, "Well, I certainly expected you to look better after rescuing your friend, but I wasn't prepared for this." Jaffar smiled as he got up from bed.

"Do you think I can convince you to pose for a portrait? ...Yes, such fine scenery..." he mumbled to himself.

        Rarity felt her cheeks reddening slightly and giggled. "Flattery will get you very far, dear, but I believe there is business to attend to."

        Rainbow felt a pang on her stomach, "Yeah, stop trying to butter her up!" she said as she leaned closer to Rarity and glared at the old man.

        "I assure you, I was being sincere." He walked over to some cushions laying on the ground. "But you are right, of course, let's talk business. Seat, please."

        Both ponies made their way to the cushions, Rarity admiring the room again as she went.

        "Very well, here's the deal:" Jaffar began, "I need you to inspect the Sphinx for me."

        "Excuse me, the what?" Rarity interrupted.

        "Sphinx as in big stone lion with a pony face, or the smaller-but-still-big lion with a pony face and wings that will eat you if you don't answer a riddle?" Rainbow asked excitedly, causing Rarity to give her a look like she suddenly grew an extra pair of wings.

"What? They both show up in different Daring Do books." she shrugged.

        "It would be the former, only with a man's face instead of a... pony's..." Jaffar muttered, "Though it's not the statue itself that I want you to inspect; the sphinx is merely the entrance to a deep underground dungeon." he got up and walked towards one of the paintings on the wall.

        "Now, when you say "dungeon"... you mean the kind of dungeon with traps and danger behind every corner?"  Rainbow was having a hard time keeping her excitement at bay.

        "The very same." Jaffar took the painting off the wall, and pressed some random spots on the wall, which soon gave way to reveal a secret compartment, "Too dangerous to go in unprepared." Jaffar took out a couple of scrolls from their hiding place, and walked back to the ponies.

        "These scrolls were written by some of the masters of the Thieves' Guild of old... reading them should teach you a thing or two about the skills you will need to survive in that place." Jaffar sighed and presented the scrolls to Rarity. 

        "But... why would you trust these to a complete stranger? Surely, you could send someone already experienced for such a job?" Rarity looked at the scrolls tentatively.

        "Ideally, I would get one of our Senior members to accompany you for this task... however, we lost many of our members to Satan Morroc's attack, and many more went with the army to fight against him..." Jaffar looked away and sighed. "What you see here in the hideout is what's left of the guild, aside from some stragglers wandering the land."

        "Why do you wanna send Rarity at all if it's so dangerous? Why don't you go yourself or send that red-haired guy?" Rainbow asked accusingly, pointing at Jaffar with her hoof.

        "We have to stay inside the pyramids. There are... things to be looked after." he said in a serious tone. "Things actually worse than what is on the sphinx, though of a similar nature..."

        Rarity perked up. "What exactly do you want me to do in this dungeon?"

        "The breaking of the seal of Morroc has disturbed similar seals in these very pyramids. I have been working along with Brad to fix some of the runes in here, but we haven't had an opportunity to look at the seals on the sphinx." Jaffar sat down in front of the unicorn. "I would have you investigate the runes in there. There are many placed along all five levels of the dungeon."

        "And what if they're broken?" Rainbow asked.

        "They can be repaired... which is where Rarity really comes in." Jaffar smiled.

        "M-moi?" Rarity asked nervously.

        "I know you can use some manner of magic; to levitate objects and such." Jaffar nodded, "The runes could have been disturbed, and fixing them becomes much easier with actual magic."

        "B-but I'm no wizard! I'm a fashionista!" Rarity stammered.

        "I'm not a wizard either, but I still can use a little magic." Jaffar grinned, "One of the scrolls I gave you contains details on the runes, it should be easy enough to fix them with that in hand. Or hoof, I suppose." Jaffar chuckled and got up. "I advise you study as many of those scrolls as you can today, since I won't be here to explain any doubt you should have tomorrow. I would also ask that you depart tomorrow at the latest; should we let the sphinx unchecked, even more disaster could strike the town of Morroc."

        "What, that's it?" Rainbow flew up to Jaffar and hovered in front of him. "You're just sending us in without any equipment or, I don't know, stuff?"

        "Stuff?" Jaffar mimicked.

        "You know! Ropes, or torches! Maybe something to defend ourselves with?"

        Jaffar raised an eyebrow, "You are welcome to take anything from the armory, within reason, of course."

        "Oh. Okay, good!" Rainbow flew back to Rarity, triumphant.

        "Wait, how will we find the runes in the first place?" Rarity shot up from her seat. "And we don't even know where this Sphinx is!"

        "Oh, I nearly forgot." Jaffar walked back to the secret compartment, and rummaged through its contents until he came out with a new set of scrolls, "The sphinx is actually not far away from here. It's about one hour away on foot, directly to the south of here. Just ask Umar to point you in the right direction when you leave."

        "Whoa, whoa, wait! How are we even supposed to go south? Is there like a tunnel or something?" Rainbow asked with a puzzled look on her face.

        "What? No, you can just walk there. Or fly, in your case." Jaffar explained, slightly confused.

        "Huh?" Rainbow stared on with an even more puzzled look.

        "Just let me handle that, Rainbow, dear." Rarity sighed and shook her head.

        "At any rate, this is an old map of the sphinx dungeon; the different runes are marked in here." He handed Rarity the scrolls, "Morroc's Guard doesn't post people on the actual sphinx, since they usually just get men up on their watchtowers back by the western wall, so you shouldn't have any trouble as long as you have these... and you keep an eye out for monsters and traps, of course."

        "What sort of monsters are we talking about, actually?" Rarity asked with a slight tremble to her voice, "If this... thing was sealed away like the one that attacked us..." She shuddered.

        "Don't worry, Rares, I'll be there to kick anything's flank this time." Rainbow gave her a confident smile as she placed a comforting hoof on her friend's withers.

        "I assure you it is nowhere near the power of Satan Morroc, dear lady." Jaffar looked over at Dash, "However, if the seals really are weakened, some very troublesome monsters could be running about unchecked... I would advise caution and stealth, instead. It is a job for a thief in mind, after all."

        "Who needs to be stealthy when you're too fast for them to see you coming?" Rainbow bragged as she pawed at the ground, as if preparing to take off.

        "We will be careful." Rarity rolled her eyes, but couldn't keep a smile off her face.

        "I would expect so." Jaffar sighed, "Well, that is all I had to discuss for now. Come report to me after you deal with the sphinx, or if you need help with the scrolls' teachings." He ushered them to the door, "Good luck."

--

        The two ponies went back to the sleeping quarters, with Rainbow openly strutting with excitement at the idea of a new adventure in a different place.

        "Seriously, Dash. This could be very dangerous." Rarity dropped on her bed.

        "I know! Isn't it awesome!?" Rainbow buzzed around her friend. "So, is there anything interesting in those scrolls?"

        "Well, I only skimmed through a few of them when Jaffar gave them to us..." Rarity perked up, "Ooh, maybe that trick to detoxify is in here!"

        "Eh, I'm hoping for something more awesome. I bet they have all sorts of sneaky tricks for fighting!" Rainbow smiled mischievously, "I bet I could pull some awesome new pranks out of that!"

        Rarity was skimming through a scroll dealing with venoms, when something caught her attention, "Rainbow, dear, you might want to take a look at this..." She passed the scroll to Dash.

        "Envenom?" Rainbow read out loud, "By making their body used to poison, aspirants with magical expertise may learn how to call the venomous essence in their body to strike at their foes. After many blah blah blah..." Rainbow looked up at Rarity.

        "But I don't have any "magical expertise"; I'm not a unicorn, Rares." Rainbow said flatly.

        "But neither were the humans who wrote this," Rarity looked into Rainbow's eyes, "Besides, you do have your weird pegasus magic that lets you walk on clouds."

        "It's not weird," Rainbow mumbled, "And I don't really know how I do that; I just do it!"

        "You could just try reading the scroll, see if it makes any sense to you." Rarity sighed and looked down to another scroll, "Besides, it would be nice if you got something out of almost getting killed by that poison."

        "I guess." Rainbow shrugged. "It would be pretty nice to give that dumb monster a taste of its own medicine."

        The pair kept reading, or at least Rarity did, often calling her friend over when she found something the rough pegasus might like. While Rainbow paid attention to some of the pointers her friend read out loud from the scrolls, different thoughts were stuck on her mind, keeping her distracted.

        They only stopped when Amalia announced that dinner was ready, and they silently made their way to the mess hall.

        Upon entering the mess, the pair was greeted by one table filled to the brim with so many different salads that it looked more like a colorful garden suddenly sprouted from the stone table. 

        Both ponies stood unmoving in awe with mouths agape, exchanging looks between the table and the cook, only mumbling, incoherent noises escaping their mouths.
        
        Amalia blushed and looked at her feet, "Well, Miss Dash said that you both liked salads, and since you have such a big day tomorrow, I thought I'd whip up something good for you..." She glanced anxiously at the pair, "So I went into town and got as many fruits, vegetables, nuts and cheeses as I could find, and even got some good recipes from a couple of merchants!"

        "Do you like it? I hope it wasn't too much..." she said with a nervous smile.

        Rainbow shook her head and zipped to the table, "Wow, you did this all by yourself!?" She looked at the food with eyes huge as platters while her mouth began watering. "I haven't even seen some of these things before!"

        Rarity trotted over and stood before the table. "Like it?" she looked up at Amalia, "Darling, this is simply marvelous! To think you would go to such lengths for us... I don't even know what to say!" 

        Amalia beamed at the praise and sat down, "You don't have to say anything, Rarity, just eat as much as you can!" she giggled and moved a plate next to her.

        "Don't mind if I do!" Rainbow shot up and put different bits of all the salads into a plate, ending with a tower of greens nearly as big as her.

        "Darling, you must simply tell me all about how you made such amazing dishes!" Rarity sat next to Amalia and began serving them small portions of the many salads.

        Amalia blushed under the attention and shyly started talking: "Well, the hardest to make was the cactus salad; I couldn't find any place that already sold the pieces prepared..."

        The three of them enjoyed their food with light banter, mostly of Amalia telling them about the different recipes and Rarity asking about any exotic vegetable she came across, while Rainbow simply enjoyed the company as she stuffed her face with every different salad she found.

The trio had almost finished most of the food on the table, but even Dash wasn't able to go on in the end.

        "... and splitting the coconut is a bit hard to get right, but it's totally worth it when you get both a dessert and a bowl for it in the same move!" Amalia giggled as she stacked the leftover plates.

        "I agree, it was simply divine, my dear!" Rarity got up and took the stacked dishes into the kitchen with her magic. "Rainbow, be a dear and help me dry the dishes, will you?"

        A muffled grunt was her only answer as Rainbow lay asleep on the bench, snoring peacefully with a bulging belly.

        "Really, such manners...." Rarity sighed.

        "Don't worry about the dishes, Rarity, I'll take care of them." Amalia walked into the kitchen after her.

        "Nonsense, dear. You worked so hard and this is really the very least I can do. I will not take a no for an answer." Rarity giggled, "Just make sure Rainbow doesn't drool all over your floor."

        Rarity hummed happily as she washed the dishes, not even noticing that Amalia was watching her from the door, until a loud sniff caught her attention.

        She turned back to see the young girl with a few tears running down her cheeks, but a smile on her face. "D-darling, what's wrong!?" Rarity galloped to her.

        "O-oh, I'm sorry... it's just... you remind me so much of her like that..." She sobbed quietly.

        Rarity nuzzled her stomach and nudged her towards the door. "Why don't we go take a bath, darling? That always calms my nerves when I get upset." She quickly galloped over to the snoring pegasus on the table and levitated her into her back, she never noticed the sudden jump Amalia gave at the mention of a bath. 

        "I swear, Rainbow Dash, if you get the smallest drop of saliva onto my coat, I will bite your wing off!"

        "But Rarity, I'm not into that kinda stuff..." the mare slurred in her sleep, causing Rarity to turn a vibrant red.

        "Eh heh heh. Such a silly thing to say in one's sleep." she looked at Amalia, who was smiling wider now, though Rarity could still see some sadness in her eyes when she looked away.

        They walked back to their quarters in silence, only sudden snores and mumbles from Dash broke through every once in a while.

        After dropping Dash in bed, Rarity nudged Amalia into the bathroom.

        "Come, dear, I shall do your mane. I know you'll look just lovely in braids!" Rarity practically skipped into the locker room, but turned back when she didn't hear Amalia's footsteps anymore.

        The young girl was standing at the entrance of the room, a faint red on her face and she wouldn't meet Rarity's gaze.

        "Come along, dear, a relaxing bath awaits!" Rarity pleaded gently at the strangely flushing girl.

        "I-I'll be there in a second, just let me change, okay?" Embarrassment was evident in her voice, though Rarity couldn't figure out why, and simply decided to humor her.

        "As you wish." Rarity moved straight to the showers, and began combing her mane. As she was about to turn the faucet, she heard delicate steps behind her, and turned to look at Amalia draped in a towel.

        Rarity stared blankly at the sight, blinking in disbelief. "Uh, are you okay, dear? It might be hard taking a bath with a towel around yourself." Rarity tapped her chin, "Oh, or is that some manner of human custom?"

        "Uh, yes, a human custom." The poor girl was almost shining red under the unicorn's inspecting gaze.

        "Well, come then, darling. Let me brush your hair." Rarity patted a seat in front of the shower and looked at Amalia with a big smile.

        After Rarity brushed her hair, they both took a shower, with Amalia being strangely adamant about declining the unicorn's offers to wash the girls back. They finally moved onto the bath, and Rarity moved closer to the girl with a serious face.

        "Now, do you wish to talk about what happened in the kitchen?" She brought a hoof to the girl's face, "Who do I remind you of?"

        Amalia looked down at her reflection thoughtfully. "It's just... you act a lot like my mom."

        Well, at least Rainbow's not here to make fun of me for that... "I've been told I am rather... motherly some times." Rarity softly patted her on the back.

        "No, I mean... the way you talk and act... it's just exactly like I remember her." Amalia chuckled sadly, "So proper and classy... even to the point where it's a bit silly."

        "Well, I never!" Rarity feigned indignation, but looked back at the girl with a smile.

        "Yes, just like that!" Amalia giggled.

        Rarity looked away. "And your mother isn't... around anymore?"

        "No..." Amalia looked down, her eyes watering again.

        "I'm sorry, dear..." Rarity looked back at her, "Was it Morroc?"

        "Oh, no... I lost my mom many years ago..." Amalia looked up at the rising steam from the bath, "We used to live much further to the north... I think I was about nine or ten when the orcs attacked our caravan..."

        "Orcs?"

        "Huge, ugly green monsters that hate humans... or just about anything that doesn't obey them." Amalia nearly spat the description.

"They would have killed me, too... but, strange as it sounds, I was saved by a thief." Amalia chuckled, "A thief that had been tracking down the caravan, and was planning on stealing from us..."

        "And that's how you ended with the Thieves' Guild?" Rarity moved closer to her.

        "Uh-huh... I wanted to thank the man who saved me, and I ended up coming to Morroc searching for the guild. I even took a job as their caretaker in hopes of meeting him again, but I don't even know what he looked like below the hood..." She sighed, "I thought I had gotten over it... but I guess seeing you triggered my memories..."

        "You know, you actually remind me quite a bit about my little sister... she's probably a few years younger than you, though." Rarity looked at Amalia with loving eyes, "She always tries her best to help however she can... even if she is a bit clumsy at times." She giggled, "I never really saw eye to eye with my parents, we're much too different... but I wouldn't change my sister for anything in the world."

        Rarity leaned on Amalia. "I miss her quite a bit, you know? I can't even remember what was the last thing we talked about... probably something silly, or something about her cutie mark..." Rarity sighed.

        Amalia raised an eyebrow, "What's a cutie mark?" 

        "Oh. I suppose humans don't get one." Rarity giggled and stood up, turning around to show Amalia her flank. "It appears on a pony's flank when he or she finds their special talent. Mine represents the very essence of fabulousity given a lustrous diamond shape." she gushed as she struck a pose.

        "It appeared after I found a rock filled with all sorts of fabulous gems, and used them to make the most dazzling repertoire any school play had ever seen!" Rarity struck another pose as her pride soared through the skies, and looked back at Amalia, who had turned slightly red again.

"Are you okay, darling? Maybe we should leave if the hot water is getting to you."

        "Y-yeah, that's probably a good idea." the crimson girl stammered.

        The now shining clean pair walked back to the locker room to dry themselves off, and Rarity thought up of one good gift she could give her new friend.

        "Say, Amalia..." She walked over to where the girl was standing, but the girl immediately squealed and hid behind a wall as she walked in. 

        "It's just me, darling, no need to be shy." Rarity approached further, "I was thinking... I may be too young to replace your mother..." Rarity put a hoof on the girl's shoulder, "But I would love to have another wonderful sister." She closed with a hug, and felt as Amalia relaxed in her hooves.

        Too relaxed. She released the hug to see the girl had passed out. Oh, poor dear. The excitement must have been too much for her! Rarity giggled as she carried her to her bed. At least she finally got rid of that silly towel... if I didn't know any better, I would think she had a problem with nudity!

        Rarity walked towards the familiar sound of Rainbow's snoring, and saw the mare splayed over the bed, trembling slightly and muttering something unintelligible. Oh, I guess I'll sleep on my own tonight, then... She sighed as she covered her friend with a blanket. I rather liked having somepony reliable to wake up with... even if she is kind of messy... oh, what am I saying? I almost sound like I have a crush on the dear. Rarity's cheeks turned a faint red as she walked away.

        The unicorn climbed to the top bunk, and levitated the scrolls into her bed. I better read through the rest of these... I won't let some dungeon catch me unaware.

--

        Rainbow Dash was flying near the ceiling of an ancient temple; hordes of mummies below her covered all of the ground except for the pools full of a shining green acid that stood flanking the long corridor she was in.

        The stinging on her side was making it hard for her to keep her path, flying lower and lower as the pain spread throughout her. She could see her goal starting to form ahead of her: The biggest diamond to have ever existed, easily bigger than a pony, and shining so bright it even kept the mummies away, burning any that got too close.

        She could make it. She just needed to fly faster; to ignore the aching on her side! Rainbow bit her lip and pushed her wings to their limit, she would have to use the rainboom, even if it risked destroying the temple!

        Her wings started beating harder and harder, and she could feel the wind resistance mounting up, but a sudden chill overtook her body and her wings wouldn't respond; she was falling towards the mummies and she closed her eyes. It was all over.

        She fell to the ground and skidded to a halt in front of something dry and rough, and looked up to see a mummy staring at her; it's eyeholes empty and dark, staring deep into her soul.

        "Gah! Don't come near me you dumb monster!" Rainbow tried kicking it away, but her hooves wouldn't respond.

        "Why do you fight? You are already one of us..." a voice rumbled through her mind, and the stinging chill from before spread all throughout her body. She looked at her hooves as they dried up and became a sick purple color, and mummies started surrounding her, wrapping old and dirty bandages around her whole body.

        She tried to scream, but all that escaped her mouth were rumbling moans. She could see herself standing up and began shuffling towards the diamond against her will; it didn't burn her like the rest of the mummies, instead she could feel a soothing warmth coming from it.

        She reared up to the diamond and she felt the warmth change into a painful sting on her forehooves as they started glowing a shining purple through the bandages, and when she touched the diamond, it shone purple as well, and then it crumbled and melted away...

--

        Dash woke with a start. She could feel sweat running down her face and started breathing heavily.

        Last time I go to bed right after eating so much... She made her way to the bathroom, and after freshening up, she walked back to her bed to notice Rarity asleep on the top bunk with many scrolls lying around her.

        Maybe she thought sleeping like Twilight would help find her. She snickered and lied down on the lower bunk, but sleep wouldn't come back. She kept seeing her shining purple hooves destroying that diamond whenever she closed her eyes.

        She got up with a huff and left the room. She was making her way to the kitchen, when she heard noise coming down the hall.

        Not like I have anything better to do... Rainbow walked towards the guildmaster's room, and knocked hard on the door.

        "Yes, come in." said Jaffar's slightly panting voice behind the door.

        "Hey, what's up with the noises?" Rainbow walked in nonchalantly, only giving the man inside a confused stare when she saw him standing in the middle of the room with strange blades in his hands.

        "I was preparing for my trip to the lower levels of the pyramids. I didn't realize I was being very loud; did I wake you?"

        "Nah, I couldn't sleep, so I was just looking around when I heard you." Rainbow pointed at the blades on his hands, "What's that? It looks kind of weird for a weapon."

        "These are called katars, Miss Dash. They are a bit of an exotic weapon, true, but they're the favorite weapon of the Assassins' Guild. Not many weapons are as fit to our more agile combat styles."

        "Wait, so you're an assassin? I thought you were a thief." Rainbow moved in to take a closer look at the strange weapons, "Besides, agile how? Those things look like they'd be awkward to use."

        "I was an assassin before, but when the opportunity came along to become the Guildmaster of the Thieves' Guild, I simply couldn't resist. I always missed the simpler days of grand theft and thrilling jaywalking." Jaffar looked around his room with a thoughtful smile as he let out a happy sight. "As for how they work in combat, would you like to see for yourself?"

        "What, you mean like fighting me?" Rainbow scoffed, "I don't know, I wouldn't wanna hurt an oldtimer."

        "Oh, it would be just a simple spar. Come, humor an old man." Jaffar grinned and signaled at Rainbow to attack.

        "Fine. But I don't want you pulling your back out, okay?" Rainbow charged at him, carefully avoiding her better speeds, but when she was about to hit Jaffar, she instead flew through, and only narrowly avoided crashing into his bed.

        She looked back to see Jaffar standing calmly and looking at her.

        "No need to hold back, Miss Dash." He grinned.

        Rainbow flew towards him again, putting a little more speed in, and turned around to kick him, only for her kick to miss entirely, and she felt a prick on her belly.

        "Hey!" Dash flew higher and glared down at the grinning man crouching below.

She swept down at him again, only to miss entirely, and she was rewarded with a prick to her flank this time.

        "Quit it!" She spun in the air to kick him again, only to come face to face with his blade, hovering just above her nose.

        "And that's how one fights with agility, Miss Dash." Jaffar drew the blade back and stared at Dash, "I can see you have great speed. But your attacks are blunt and direct; they haven't the slightest hint of finesse."

        "Eh. Who needs that when you're too fast for anything to react?" Rainbow waved her hoof, "Besides, I was holding back right now, and I can't really fight the way I like in such crammed spaces."

        "And I'm sure all the foes you will ever face will gladly agree to fight you in whatever conditions you find most pleasing." Jaffar chided. "You could do so much better if you thought out your attacks; that speed you have as well as an ability to fly could make you unstoppable if only you applied them properly..."

        Unstoppable... "Well... why don't you teach me?" Rainbow touched down in front of him, "I... know I'm too amazing already, but... if there's anything that can make me even better, why not try it, right?" she said with a nervous grin.

        "Teaching you to fight like an assassin is not something that can be done in what few hours we have available." Jaffar sighed, exasperated. "You need to learn subtlety, how to read your enemy, misdirection..."

        "So just give me a few pointers! Like you said, I'm pretty fast." Rainbow grinned, "And not only in speed, I'm a fast learner, too!"

        "Fine." Jaffar sighed and extended his hand towards her.

        Rainbow smiled and was about to shake it, but as she moved towards him, his hand flew straight for her face and smacked her on the forehead with enough force to shake her balance, only for Jaffar to sweep her other foreleg with his feet, bringing her to the ground.

        "First lesson: fake your movements to hide your true intentions." He snickered as Dash rubbed her head.

        "Nice." she said through clenched teeth.

        "Oh, that's just the beginning, girl." Jaffar grinned as he extended his hand to help her up.

        "...I'll get up by myself, thanks." Dash grunted as she got up.

        "Huh. You are a quick learner." Jaffar snickered, "Now, the easiest way to dodge is by knowing in advance where your enemy will attack..."

        The sound of a grunting mare and a snickering old man filled the main hall for hours to come...

--

        Rarity awoke to a noise of shuffling below her, and she peeked over the edge of her bed to see Rainbow Dash moving below, with light bruises and scratches all over her.

        "Darling, what happened to you!? Did you pick a fight with a cat?" Rarity jumped out of bed to inspect her friend.

        "Nah. I was just over at the old man's room practicing all night. You should see how he ended up." she snickered. And you will never see how I barely even touched him because he already left, so ha!

        "Old man? Do you mean Jaffar? But, darling, you look awful! Let me get Amalia's potions!" Rarity galloped to the locker room, but stopped once she was inside. "Actually, dear, why don't you come over for a bath!" she yelled.

        "I'm fine, Rares, don't worry." Dash sighed and rolled her eyes.

        "But I bet you could use a massage after doing such brutish training all night, darling!" Rarity called back, pitching her voice to make it sound more appealing.

        Rainbow's wings flared and a crimson blush instantly set on her face, "W...Well, it was kind of tiring showing up the old man..." she said as she walked to the bathroom with a slight bounce to her step.

        Rarity only grinned as she felt a faint heat to her cheeks. I'll have to thank Jaffar for that later... "I simply cannot work on you with all those scratches, though. I will get blood all over my beautiful coat." she brought a hoof to her forehead to emphasize her overly dramatic pose, while she brought out a red potion out of her pouch with her magic.

        "W-well, let me just drink a potion and then there's no problem, right?" Rainbow trotted next to Rarity.

        "Very well, dear. If you insist." Rarity giggled as she passed the flask to her friend.

        One session of rubbing and happy moans later, a beaming pegasus and a satisfied unicorn were walking down the main hall of the thieves' hideout, into the mess hall. They hadn't seen any of the members of the guild after their bath, and they only found a note and some food on the table:

        "I went out for supplies and won't be back until night; Brad and the boss left to check the runes on the upper and lower levels of the pyramid, and they likely won't come back for at least a day.
        I left you some pancakes and fruits prepared for breakfast, enjoy and just leave the dishes on the sink.

                Good luck, Sis.
                Amalia."

        "Sis?" Rainbow Dash asked out loud.

        "Long story, darling. Let's eat." Rarity wiped the tears forming in her eyes discretely, and sat on the table.

        They ate their breakfast while Rainbow gushed about her expectations of the sphinx: How she would fly fast enough to fool any trap, and she would deal with any monster that came towards them with her new moves; only vaguely admitting that Jaffar had trained her, saying how he was "Not too bad for an oldtimer."

        After eating, they decided it was best to leave with an early start, and moved on to the armory to look for anything that could help.

        “I suppose I could use a bow for defense…” Rarity mused as she browsed through the weapons and picked a quiver full of arrows. “I haven’t practiced in so long, though.”

        “Don’t worry about it; I’ll make sure you don’t have to use it, Rares.” Rainbow leaned on her with a smug grin.

        “Let’s just hope that none of what is over there fights like Jaffar, right?” Rarity rolled her eyes.

        “Uh…” Rainbow shrugged. “I guess it won’t hurt to be prepared. Heheh.” she looked away.

        “Are you not getting anything, Rainbow? You were the one who insisted that we be equipped, after all.” Rarity asked as she browsed through the weapon racks.

        “Oh, the old man actually gave me something pretty cool!” Dash perked up, “I’ll show you when we get back to the room!” she said with an excited smile.

        “How about a cloak? All those extra pockets could be very useful…” Rarity sighed, “If only it weren’t such a crude design…”

        “And have it get in the way of my wings? No thanks.” Rainbow stuck her tongue out.

        “I might be able to do something about that with my magic… And having a cloak to disguise ourselves could come very handy.” Rarity enveloped one of the thieves’ cloaks with her magic, “Yes, just let me work on it for a few minutes, darling.”

        “Just make sure it doesn’t mess up my flying, Rares. I’ll go get our stuff.” Rainbow flew out of the room as Rarity kept concentrating on the cloak, which suddenly flashed as a pair of holes were made on its sides. Rarity was panting slightly after using her magic, Strange... that felt like it took more magic than I meant to use... 

        “Now something to cover those wings…” Rarity mumbled as she tore some fabric from another cloak, which she mended into Dash’s cloak to hide where her wings should show; she made sure the fabric would be light enough that it shouldn't interfere with the flapping of the pegasus' most valued limbs.

        “Oh, Rarity, you’ve done it again.” She smiled to herself as she made her way out of the room.

        Dash was waiting for her on the exit at the end of the hall; she had a pair of strange metal handles strapped to her sides, and Amalia's pouch of potions as well as her own cloak were lying next to her on the ground.

        "Here's your cloak, Dash. Try it on and tell me if it needs any adjustments, won't you?" Rarity looked at the weapons on her sides with a raised eyebrow, "Are those the things Jaffar gave you?"

        Rainbow grinned, "Sure are! They are actually pretty cool once you get used to them." She flew to the air and struck a pose with a weapon on each forehoof. "They're called katars, and they're supposed to be the best weapons for totally awesome masters of speed like me!"

        "Just be careful, dear." Rarity floated the modified cloak to her friend, "Let's just hope neither of us has to fight today. Though I honestly doubt it..." she mumbled.

        Dash flew down to her friend and wrapped an arm around her neck, "Don't worry, Rares, the old man showed me some pretty cool tricks with these babies. We're gonna breeze through that dungeon and those monsters won't ever know what hit 'em!"

"That would be nice..." Rarity watched as her friend took off her weapons and tried her new cloak.

        "Mmm... not bad." Rainbow flew up to the air, and began a series of back flips, barrel rolls and fast spinning. "It's great, Rares. Thanks!" she said as she continued hovering happily in the air.

        "It was my pleasure, darling." Rarity sighed, "I guess we should make our way to that sphinx now..." She began trotting down the path to exit the hideout, with Rainbow Dash flying quietly behind her.

        "Goodbye, Miss Rarity. Good luck to you both." Dirge said as he opened the door for them.

        "Thank you very much, dear." Rarity bowed and walked out the door.

        "Yeah, thanks, big guy." Dash said as she flew after her friend.

        The trip out of the maze was uneventful, and Rarity had already memorized a few of the turns of the diamond route. Rarity nearly jumped in panic when they could hear more of the plopping noises from before, much to the amusement of Dash; though the creature never actually appeared in their path. They recognized the spot on the walls where they had started a fire, which were slightly charred, though the actual structure didn't look like it had sustained any real damage.

        After a short gallop, they had finally reached the familiar rows of torches that signaled the exit to the pyramid.

        Rarity slowed her pace, "Now, remember, Dash, once we are outside, we could find some guards, so let's try to be careful." she reminded her friend with a hushed voice.

        "Got it." Dash ignored her as she kept hovering above without a care.

        Rarity peeked around the corner, and signaled for her friend when she was sure the way was clear. "Careful now..." she whispered as she walked quietly out the exit.

        The pair of ponies managed to sneak out without being seen, and spotted Umar reclining on a pillar bellow the shades, slightly nodding his head as he tried to fight off sleep.

        "Psst!" Rarity tried flashing her horn, but the bright sun outside made it useless. She groaned as she concentrated on the guard's spear, making it hover just a few inches over the wall to tap its owner.

        "Wha!?" Umar jumped at the sudden tap on his helmet.

        "Psst!" Rarity called again, this time waving her foreleg to catch his attention.

        "Oh... what's up?" Umar said as he walked up to the unicorn.

        "We need to go to the sphinx, and Jaffar said you would be able to show us the way." Rarity whispered.

        "Oh, sure." He pointed off into the desert, "Just head straight south from here; there should be a gate about forty minutes from here." He yawned, "If that's all, I'll just go back to duty." he turned around and walked back to his spot under the shades.

        "More like "back to lazing off"" Rainbow mumbled bitterly.

        "Thank you, dear. We'll be off now." Rarity nudged Dash along hurriedly, before her friend could get in another fight.

        They kept heading south for awhile, with only Rainbow's incoherent rambling about how nopony was making any sense with their directions of "going south", which Rarity decided to ignore for the sake of her sanity.

        The hot sun above them wasn't as harsh thanks to the cloaks, but the heat still made them sweat more than they would've liked.

        "I swear, the desert is absolutely no place for a Lady." Rarity started complaining to her friend, "We only just stepped outside, and already I feel like I should take a bath. Blegh!"

        "I don't know about a bath, but this lousy weather is really annoying." Rainbow looked up, "I guess not having pegasuses around to help with the weather must suck." She smirked at Rarity, "Aren't you glad Ponyville has such a pro as myself to take care of the weather?"

        "Well, I'm fairly certain the skies back home wouldn't be quite as delightfully overcast if it weren't for your love of napping on clouds." Rarity giggled, "So, yes, I am very glad we have you as head of the weather pegasi, Dash."

        Rainbow flushed at the backhanded compliment, though she couldn't decide if it was indignation or... something else, so she simply stuck with blowing a raspberry at her friend, who only laughed some more.

        They reached the gate shortly after, and after sending Dash to scout ahead for any guards, they walked through the empty checkpoint.

        Two great statues flanked the gate: both identical humans with their hands resting on their chests, crossing; each hand was holding a different emblem.

        "Just look at their hats, darling!" Rarity gushed, "These obviously are statues of ancient nobility of some kind to have had such interesting chapeaus!"

        "I'm pretty sure they're more pharaohs, Rares." Rainbow rolled her eyes.

        "Oh, but they have such style!" Rarity stared at the hats, "Why, I would love to meet one of these pharaohs if only to gaze at such headwear in all its glory!"

        "Maybe we'll find some in the dungeon, and you can ask them to give you their hats." Dash laughed.

        "Hmph! Maybe I will!" Rarity stomped on, whipping her head up in indignation.

        The pair walked on in light banter, with Rarity talking about how the different fashions she had seen were inspiring a whole new line of dresses, which Dash only half-paid attention to because of the happy enthusiasm on her friend's voice made herself smile. 

Before long, they started passing through various palm trees, and the ground beneath them grew more stable as they walked, with random patches of weeds and grass growing about.

        They walked up to a lake's shore, with a small island standing in the middle of the body of water, only connected to the rest of the desert by a thin stone bridge, which lead directly to a huge statue on the middle of the island.

        Rarity and Dash walked to the stone bridge. While crossing it, they could see the face of the sphinx, standing tall and proud, almost looking down at them. Old stairs of stone rose between the sphinx' giant paws, leading directly to an entrance on its chest. There were strange carvings above the entrance, placed below a symbol of a pyramid with an eye on the middle.

        "That's supposed to be the first rune..." Rarity flared her horn and concentrated on the symbols above, which soon flashed the same light blue color as Rarity's horn, only to erupt suddenly into a fiery red, before dying down again.

        "Whoa, the hay was that!?" Rainbow flew up to the carvings and passed a cautious hoof through them, but nothing happened.

        "Whew..." Rarity smiled, "That, was the rune showing it still works, darling. Which means that maybe this won't be so bad after all."

        "Great!" Dash flew down to Rarity, "One down, and... actually, how many of these are there?"

        "The maps said there would be five per level, and there's five levels, plus the one just here..." Rarity brought out the scrolls from her cloak to check again.

        "Okay, then one down, thirty to go!" Dash hovered and lifted a hoof in a triumphant pose.

        "Twenty-five, dear." Rarity quickly corrected.

        Rainbow Dash coughed and looked down at Rarity with an annoyed face, "Whatever, let's just go" she said as she flew into the entrance.

        "Let's." Rarity walked in, smiling with satisfaction at her friend's annoyance.