Daring Do and the Soluna Stone:
Chapter 4
"Ahuizotl!", gasp both Spike and Daring.
Ahuizotl, the main villain of Daring's books, is standing in front of them. Spike might have figured he would've been make believe like the rest of the books. Seeing him in person and not make believe sends Spike in a fit of fury. Spike then lunges at Ahuizotl, begging to attack him.
"Arrragh! You won't hurt Daring, Ahuzotl!", yells Spike as he lunged towards him.
"Spike, wait!", yells Daring.
Right as Daring yelled, Ahuizotl grabs Spike lunging toward him, with his tail hand. Ahuizotl chuckles at Spike with a smile.
"Ha, ha, ha! My, what a rambunctious boy you are.", giggles Ahuizotl.
"Let me go, let me go, let me go!", yells Spike.
"Spike, calm down. He's not a bad guy.", says Daring.
Spike stops right away confused. As he stops struggling, Ahuizotl puts him down and pats him on the head, which makes Spike groan. Twilight and Trixie are also confused at this.
"I'm guessing you read Daring's books too, right?", asks Ahuizotl.
Everypony nods. Ahuizotl sighs and rubs his head. He then sits down on a cushion getting ready to speak.
"I guess I need to explain myself.", says Ahuizotl.
"We don't need to talk to a meany like you!", yells Sandy.
"Only because you make him the meany in your books to begin with.", groans Daring.
Twilight is trying to remember something, then it hit her.
"Oh yeah! Sandy writes the books right?", questions Twilight.
Daring nods.
"Then why does Sandy hate Ahuizotl by making him the bad guy?", asks Twilight.
"Because he always steals my friends prize!", pouts Sandy.
Ahuizotl chuckles at that outburst.
"This stealing is not in my dictionary. I simply make it into a friendly competition.", says Ahuizotl with a smug grin.
"You always make them for profit instead of history!", yells Daring.
"Would somepony explain to The Great and Powerful Trixie on what the flipping hoof is going on?", asks Trixie.
Daring sighs and sits down on a chair, "I'll explain everything.".
-------------------------------------------------
When every time I got a job to go after an artifact, Ahuizotl comes to steal all my thunder. Ahuizotl is a businessman of sorts. He also specializes in archaeology, but goes to make a profit. He hires several ponies, griffons, goats, centaurs, minotaurs, whatever. Anypony to hire under his belt. I first met him during my search for the Sapphire Stone. You guys know the book of how I broke my wing and went through tooth and tail to get the stone. Of course, the book like all the others, are far from the truth. Ahuizotl came by during my search, and introduced himself to me. He hired goons to take the stone from me before I did. Ahuizotl got the stone, but I managed to grab it back, and bring it to the proper museums. Ever since then, I told Sandy what happened. I guess afterwards, she made him the main villain of her books because of what he did to get the treasures at all costs. After that, Ahuizotl and I always compete for an artifact afterwards, but I always preferred preserving history than having bits any day.
------------------------------------------------
Daring finishes her explanation afterwards and everypony is silenced. Twilight is relieved that this misunderstanding is from the books again. Trixie is still unimpressed. Spike is embarrassed of what he was going to do to Ahuizotl. Sandy is still in a grumpy mood. Ahuizotl then gets up, and proceeds to leave the tent.
"Thank you Daring dear. Now if you excuse me, I need to see my treasure hunters.", says Ahuizotl as he left.
"Good riddance. I don't want that meany anywhere near us again.", says Sandy.
"Honestly Sandy, you are acting so immature.", says Daring.
"I just want no one to mess my Daring.", pouts Sandy.
"You know, you two act like sisters. In fact, you both look like you can be related.", says Twilight
Twilight, Trixie, and Spike all look at both Daring and Sandy. They both have the same build, size, and almost same mane style.
"That's because I adore Daring like a sister to me. That's why I changed my mane, to look a lot like her. Now why don't you all stay the night and get ready for tomorrow morning.", says Sandy.
"Fine by us, we need to relax before the big day. Plus I doubt Trixie wants to go back outside.", says Twilight.
"I happily agree, that I, The Great and Powerful Trixie, don't want to sweat again.", says Trixie.
"Very well. Let's unpack first.", says Daring.
-------------------------------------------------
-Later that night-
After the sun went down, the weather got intensely cold outside. Trixie wondered why it was cold in a desert. Daring explained that the heat stored in the desert is released when the sun goes down, and the absence of heat makes the area cold. After that, they all ate dinner. Daring had a pony send a message to Jarvis to let him know that they'll be staying with Sandy for the night, and to just stay on the zeppelin as to not waste bits on a hotel. As that happened, Daring and Sandy were catching up as Spike wanted to catch up on the conversation. Twilight and Trixie in the meantime were getting ready to sleep.
"So you made the books for your admiration of Daring, Sandy?", asks Spike.
"That's right Spike. During my spare time while not doing expeditions, I read up on Daring's trips and find an inspiration for her adventures by making them into books.", says Sandy.
"Yes, about those.", as Daring interrupts.
Sandy and Spike both look at Daring with concerned looks.
" I think we need to talk about the books.", says Daring.
"I thought we went about this already, Daring.", says Sandy.
"Yes, but this time, I need to put my hoof down.", says Daring.
Sandy is shocked at this.
"I may like how you write books for me, but I need to address parts that are far from the truth. You make me look like I'm very arrogant and in your face, which I'm not. You also make people you don't like the villains, without giving concern of their feelings. Also, you make my adventures seem more action packed. It's time I become more honest with my life. I may like the attention from the fans, but to hide my identity during everyday life is almost unbearable! Ever since I met Twilight and everypony else, I decided I wanted to be more honest with my life, and the first thing to do is to come and see you. So for once Sandy, you need to grow up and tell the truth!", huffs Daring after her long rant.
Spike is shocked to see Daring like this, but turns to see Sandy in tears. Sandy starts crying out loud that causes Twilight and Trixie to come out of the other side of the tent.
"What happened?, questions Twilight.
"What's with all the crying?", questions Trixie.
"I'm so sorry Honey.", bawls Sandy as she calls out Daring's real name.
Daring is shocked to hear friend call out her real name. In all the times she first met her, she never heard her call out her real name.
"I'm very, very, very sorry. I've always wanted to be an adventurer like you Daring. Ever since our foal days, I've always wanted to be brave like you.", says Sandy still sniffling.
"What's she talking about?", questions Spike.
Sandy wipes her tears away and calms down, "Alright, I'll tell you all.".
----------------------------------------
Back then during my foal years, I could never fend for myself since I was always scared of every little thing that startled me. So I was always the target for bullies because of my reputation of being a bookworm. The one subject to always keep me calm and collected was history. I always though of being brave like the ponies that trekked through many lands and discovering new places. I never had the courage to do it. Then one day, when I was being bullied, Honey Do came by and helped me out. She got the bullies in trouble, and ever since then we both became friends. Honey Do was a foal who would do anything daring for a bit, and would do it without having a second thought, even if it did cost a hoof and a wing. We both had the interest of history and archaeology, so we often talked about the same subject. I always thought of making adventures of a pony like the ones in my history books. While Honey always wanted to see the worlds outside Equestria, and see what no pony has ever seen. Then one day, we both got our cutie marks, thanks to our interest in archaeology. My cutie mark represents my knowledge of lost civilizations, and Honey got hers for learning to trek through the harshest of environments, relying only on her instincts. Eventually, we both grew up, and I gave Honey her the nickname, "Daring", after her daring nature into the unknown of adventure. She went on to become an archaeologist, and I became one too, but also became a fiction writer. After hearing her adventures of she's been doing with her life over the years, I decided to write books on her many adventures. I've always admired her as more than a friend, but like as a sister to me. After meeting her again after our initial research on the Soluna Stone, I wrote all of my books about her. Since I was always mesmerized by her personality, I changed her attitude in the books. If there was anypony against her, I made them the villain so as to not bully her like they did to me. I always felt like making these books were a way for me to repay her, and for a way I could have been the pony I could never have been.
--------------------------------------------
Everypony is stunned to hear Sandy's revelation. Sandy begins tearing up again. Just then Daring goes to hug her. Sandy stops crying and sees Daring hugging her.
"I'm sorry I made you feel like this. I didn't know you held in you for so long. You don't have to repay me anything. I'm happy to be your friend, and that's enough for me. So please, don't hide stuff like this again.", says Daring in a very comforting tone.
"Thank you Honey, I promise to be more thoughtful and truthful with myself.", says Sandy still sniffling.
Daring smiles as the rest of the group begins to huddle together and hug Sandy as well.
"Thank you everypony. I'll start writing Honey's books differently from now on. I'll stick to fiction writing, but more to the truth of her adventures. The first book I'll write on is an autobiography and the real adventures of Daring Do!", happily says Sandy.
Everypony then all hug together and are happy for each other.
-------------------------------------------
-Midnight-
Spike wakes up in the middle of the night when everypony else is asleep. He goes to get a drink of water, but sees two shadows outside the tent. He then goes outside and sees a griffon and a red unicorn heading towards the ruins. He figured these were the treasure hunters Ahuizotl hired to get the Soluna Stone for him. Spike then goes back inside to go tell the others, but sees Sandy in the middle of the tent packing a sack for herself. Sandy gasps at the sight of Spike.
"What are you doing, Sandy?", whispers Spike.
"I'm sorry Spike, but I want to help Daring more than ever now. The first thing I'm going to do is get the Soluna Stone before Ahuizotl does.", whispers Sandy.
Spike looks like he is going to tell Daring or Twilight, then Sandy stops him with a gemstone. Spike is awed by the sight of the stone.
"Please, don't tell anypony I went to the ruins, please.", pleads Sandy.
Spike looking back at his friends and the gem back and forth gets him thinking.
Then he hesitantly says, "Just be careful, okay.".
Spike takes the gemstone and takes a bite out of it. As he did, he immediately goes to sleep.
"Sorry Spike, I put some 'sleepy time' dust on the gemstone. You won't wake up till morning.", apologizes Sandy.
She then goes toward the front of the tent and looks back at Daring fast asleep, and with a tear in her eye.
"Goodbye, Honey. Thank you for everything. I'll make this up to you, I promise.", says Sandy as she goes into the night.