Chapter 8: "Lost In Translation."
Daring Do and Professor of Atlas only made it about halfway towards the entrance hall of Baulkham University, before they were surrounded by burly looking security ponies, and being ordered to turn over any and all stolen property before being escorted off campus.
"Well...that was fast." Daring said calmly, as two security ponies blocked her way.
Professor Atlas did her best to explain the situation, but security wasn't hearing any of it.
"We don't have time for your fantasy stories, Professor. Just give us the dialogue and you can be on your way." One security pony said, eyeing the two of them.
Daring raised an eyebrow. "That's funny. How do you know it was the dialogue we took?" She questioned him, making him narrow his eyes.
He stepped toward Daring. "Just give it to us." He warned in a menacing tone. But Daring was less than intimidated. She stepped forward as well, locking eyes with burly security pony.
"And that's another thing: I thought the dialogue was a myth. I thought you said you didn't have time for fantasies!" She questioned, giving a sly smile and narrowing her eyes at them.
Two more security ponies blocked the entryway behind them.
"This is your last warning. Give us the dialogue, or we'll be escorting you out even more violently than need be." Another warned menacingly.
Daring only smiled. "Try it." She challenged.
As Daring and the security ponies were about to duke it out, Professor Atlas stopped them.
"Wait! Please, T-There's...There's no need for violence." She said calmly.
"We'll give you the dialogue." She added sadly.
Daring whipped around and stared at Atlas "What!? Are you crazy?" Daring exclaimed.
"After all that, were just gonna hand it back to some snooty, stuck-up university who don't know the first thing about-
"Daring. Please. Just...give it to them." Atlas said calmly.
"But...Professor-
"Please."
Daring looked down at the ground sadly. She swallowed her pride (Which was quite alot to swallow) reached into her satchel without looking back, and handed the dialogue to the nearest security pony.
And by handed, she thrust the document so hard into his chest she literally knocked him over. Daring stepped over him than trotted in a huff out the door, with the professor in tow.
Outside on the university lot, Daring laid into Atlas.
"Are you out of your mind!? How could you just let them intimidate you like that, again?" She exclaimed.
The professor looked back to make sure they weren't followed.
"I could've taken those losers down with both hooves tied behind my back! Why did you have me just hand over the only thing that can lead us to Atlantis?" Daring asked inquisitively.
"I didn't."
"What? What do you mean you didn't?"
The professor smiled as she reached into her satchel, and produced the Lost Dialogue, still laminated and untouched, from her bag.
Daring was speechless. "B-But, How did-
"I switched the dialogue in your bag with a form from my bag. In case somepony tried to take it back from us." Atlas explained with a wide grin.
Daring was more than impressed. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, still amazed.
The professor smiled."I didn't think it would be very convincing, unless you believed that you had actually given it up."
She looked down at her feet. "Sorry, for worrying you."
"Are you kidding?! That was amazing!"
Atlas blushed.
"You've definitely got the makings of a true adventurer, professor! No doubt." Daring said smiling.
Atlas smiled back, and chuckled to herself. "We should get going." She said calmly.
Daring nodded, and the two hurried away from the campus.
But Daring stopped and turned to the professor. "By the way...
"Yes?"
"If you had the dialogue, then what did I hand to that security pony?" Daring asked curiously.
The professor smiled slyly. "My resignation. I think I'd like to try a career change."
Daring smiled back, as the two continued to trot off towards the library.
Fillydelphia Public Library (Historical Records)
Herpy was a quiet lad, who rarely rose his voice all that much. But this wasn't the case when Daring had shown up in the historical records section of the public library, bearing Plato's Lost Dialogue.
"You found it!" He exclaimed, making several librarians shush him quickly.
Daring chuckled as she handed the parchment to him. "It was actually a little easier to get to then I had thought." She explained.
Herpy took the parchment and looked it over carefully.
It was clearly centuries old, judging by the faded foreign script and the crinkled and worn state of the parchment itself. The lamination protected each page from harm and kept it dry and intact. It also made a few lines of script easier to see.
The script was early Greek, and had been hoof-written. Broad elegant strokes, and not a single dab of ink out of place. There was no doubt. This was Plato's Lost Dialogue.
Herpy carefully set the manuscript down. "I have so many questions."
Daring smiled. "Well, ask them, after you get this translated." She said eagerly.
Herpy gave a weak smile. "About that...
"What? You can translate it, right?" Daring asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course I can! It'll just take some time. Plato probably wrote this in some form of ancient code, or perhaps in some early greek dialect that'll have to be translated to Equestrian. Its going to be a while."
"How long?"
"Oh, um...All night?"
"All night!?"
"I'm sorry Daring! But my hooves are tied here. I can only work so fast, and this is something that's going to require time." Herpy explained calmly.
Daring sighed. "Alright. I guess we'll be staying in Fillydelphia for the night. We don't have time to head back to Canterlot, and it'll be night soon anyway."
The professor spoke up. "I know a very nice hotel downtown. I stayed there sometimes when I was doing research, to get away from the university. She explained.
"That'll work."
"Whoo! Room service!" Swift Wing cheered.
Late Evening ( The Trottingham Hotel, Room 218)
Herpy watched rain fall down outside from his bedside. Professor Atlas and Daring had gotten a room together, while Herpy and Swift had gotten separate rooms. Herpy didn't mind. He would need plenty of room to work on the dialogue.
He was more than eager to get to work on translating it. Odds are he wouldn't be sleeping much tonight anyway. Storms always made him restless, and this one was particularly fierce.
He opened his copy of Early Greek to Equestrian Translation and got to work.
It took him an hour, but he managed to translate the first quarter of the manuscript. He noted that several details were not exact, and the Old Greek measurement system had been incorporated in numerous ways that did not translate well to base equestrian measurements.
Herpy read the first few paragraphs to himself.
Hemocrates
In shame, I hereby do recant the time and place whereof Criterias spoke. In rendering Egyptian into Greek, he made a tenfold error.
Instead of lying 3,000 hence, Atlantis may well have been 30,000 leagues away. Or perhaps it was less than 300 paces from our own shores.
Likewise, it may be that the Lost Kingdom held away as many as 100,000 moon's ages, or as few as 1,000.
Socrates
If a kingdom arose on earth beyond anywhere ponies might travel, then we would never hear of it. We ought to accept the lesser figure.
So glorious, Atlantis founded two colonies, the lesser, 240 leagues north of the city, and the greater, 490 leagues to the south.
Gates of the kingdom opened only with special stones.
At many outposts, a sun-stone sufficed if morning light warmed the tall horns.
At the greater colony, a moon-stone was also needed with the sun dying as a new moon is born.
To approach Atlantis itself, a world-stone was required as well with darkest night soon to rule the western sea.
Final entrance yielded only to contrary minds.
And it is said that dwellers in Atlantis had no wings, nor any need of them.
Orichalcum, the metal that glittered like fire, this they had instead. They cast it into shining beads and used them as we do minted coins, paying statues to do their work by magic.
When their colonies were falling, wise ponies carved strange devices out of amber to search for the metal, but only proud Atlantis ever yielded a supply.
Socrates
You have called the kingdom wealthy,but surely this is absurd.
As the waters rose around their city, the Kings Of Atlantis, one after another sought to hold off fate.
Knowing mortal equestrians would never rule the sea, they planned a huge colossus which by use of ten beads at a time would make them like the Great Queen herself.
Na be-Al Sam was one such king. He it was, say the wise ponies of Egypt, who first put equestrians in the colossus, making many wrongdoing of nature at times when the skies were well aligned.
Socrates
This I doubt. We are hearing a foal's tale.
As Herpy began to work on translating the rest of the manuscript, He heard something move behind him.
He quickly turned around, eyes wide in fear. "Hello? Is anyone there?" he called softly, his eyes darting around the room.
He waited for a response. When none came, he got up from his seat and began to look around the room for any sign of intruders.
Herpy was no Daring Do, but he could put on a brave face when he needed to. He searched the kitchen, the living room and even checked under his bed, but found nothing there.
"Huh. I guess it was just my imagination."
A flash of lighting and thunder made him jump, half a foot in the air.
Taking a minute to calm himself, Herpy decided that he was alone, then returned to his desk.
He heard himself gasp in horror as he returned to see Plato's Dialogue was gone, and all of his notes stolen.
Daring and Atlas's Room (Room 225)
The way Daring Do prepared for bed was rather unique.
For one thing, she didn't dress for bed. She kept her green adventurer's shirt and pith helmet on, tilting the helmet down over her face when she went to sleep.
She laid on top of the covers, and kept her wings slightly spread, so she'd be ready to move at any given moment, even if she was asleep.
When the professor questioned Daring as to why she slept this way, She chuckled and said "An adventurer needs to be ready to go at any given moment. I can't afford to get too comfy, even when I sleep."
The professor simply shrugged as she gathered a few of her books to be ready in the morning. She nearly dropped all of them in surprise as their was suddenly a volley of knocks at their door.
"Daring! Daring open up!" Came Herpy's frantic voice from behind the door.
Daring flew over and opened the door, letting Herpy stumble into the room.
"Herpy? Whats wrong?" She asked.
"Its the dialogue! it's gone!"
"What!? What do you mean it's gone?"
Herpy calmed himself so he could explain.
"I was in the room, when I heard a noise behind me. I thought someone was in the room, so I went to look around. "
"When I didn't find anyone, I returned to the desk and the dialogue was gone!"
Daring thought for a moment. "Your saying it just vanished?"
"I-I...I don't know!"
"Are you sure you were alone in your room, Herpy?" the professor asked, calmly.
"I-I didn't see anyone! It was just me, but-
"But something doesn't feel right." Daring said thoughtfully.
"Let's head over and see whats going on here." She claimed, trotting out the door.
The professor and Herpy exchanged looks, then followed Daring, leading them back to Herpy's room.
Back In Herpy's Room
"I...I don't understand."
When they returned to Herpy's room, he was shocked to see that the dialogue was sitting on his desk, right where he left it. His notes were also there, like nothing had happened.
"But-But it was gone! Really!" Herpy exclaimed turning to Daring and the professor.
The professor looked quite puzzled. "What do think this means Daring? Maybe Herpy was just seeing things?"
Daring thought for a moment. Then it hit her.
"Herpy."
"Yes?"
"You said the dialogue was gone right?"
"Y-Yes! It was gone from my desk, you have to believe me!" Herpy exclaimed.
"I believe you Herpy. But I don't think the dialogue was taken."
"Huh? Then how did it disappear?" Herpy asked, confused.
"Because they wanted you to think it was gone, so you'd come get us and we could all be trapped in this room."
Daring turned around and smiled. "Right, Moonbeam?"
Moonbeam smiled wickedly as she and her cronies stepped out from the doorway. They came into the room, closing the door and swiftly locking it.
Moonbeam clapped her hoofs. "Well done, Daring! Well, done indeed! You are indeed your father's daughter." She said mockingly.
Daring narrowed her eyes at the unicorn. "What do know about my father,Moonbeam?! What does he have to do with the Court Of The Dark Horn?" Daring demanded.
Moonbeam raised an eyebrow and gave a mocking smile.
"The Court of The Dark Horn?" And then she and her cronies laughed as if Daring had told a joke.
Daring and her friends looked confused. "What's so funny?" Daring asked.
Moonbeam stopped laughing and smiled. "Oh Daring, that's cute." She said smartly.
"Our organization hasn't been called that, in over 100 years." She explained.
Daring narrowed her eyes. "I read about it in a book detailing the history of your organization! It said you were called The Court Of The Dark Horn!" daring explained, getting frustrated.
Moonbeam chuckled mockingly. "The history, Daring. Today, my organization goes by a better name. A name that truly symbolizes our role and superiority in this world of ours."
Moonbeam paused for effect. "We are known as Altum Magicae."
It only took a moment for Daring, who had studied Latin since she was a filly, to translate what the name meant.
"Altum Magicae?...High Magic."
"Fitting, isn't it?"
Herpy spoke up. "But how did you make the dialogue disappear? I was right here, and I didn't see anyone!"
Moonbeam laughed again, making Herpy feel like he'd asked a dumb question.
"Oh please! Invisibility spells are beneath pre-school level spells to us! We were in here and out, before you even saw it had vanished." She mocked.
Atlas was confused. "But why make it invisible? Why not just take it?"
Moonbeam smiled at her. "Oh, excellent question professor! It's simple really."
She motioned for her goons to approach Herpy, making him back away slowly.
"We also need the page for it to be translated. So if you'll just come with us-
Daring moved to block the goon's path. "You want him, you'll have to get through me, first." She threatened.
Moonbeam looked at her for a minute. Before she smiled and said "Kay!"
Daring was lifted off the ground by magic and hung in the air, as Moonbeam and her goons approached Herpy.
Daring sighed. "Of course. Magic. right."
"You grab the page, I'll get the dialogue." Said Moonbeam to her goons..
They nodded and began to chase a fleeing Herpy all around the room, knocking over furniture in the process.
Daring squirmed in the air, as she struggled to free herself from Moonbeam's magic. "Run, Herpy! Don't let them catch you!"
"Wasn't planning on it!" Herpy exclaimed, ducking under a coffee table, as one henchpony dived at him smacking his head off the wall.
Moonbeam approached the desk, But Atlas moved to stop her.
Only to also be lifted into the air by magic.
Atlas looked sadly over at Daring, as they hung in the air.
"I tried."
"Same." Daring said with a smile.
"Don't worry, we'll think of something." Daring added confidently.
"Think all you like, Daring. "Moonbeam retorted a she held the dialogue delicately and looked it over.
"You can't bravado your way out this one."
Daring was about to retort, when they all heard a knock at the door. It was Swift Wing.
"Herpy? You alright in there? I keep hearing furniture being knocked around." She called from behind the door.
Moonbeam glared up at Daring and Atlas. "Not one word." She warned.
She motioned for her cronies to go out and take care of swift Wing.
Herpy started to freak out silently, but Daring only smiled.
Atlas looked mortified. "What in Equestria are you smiling about?" she whispered concerned.
"Just watch." Daring replied, watching as the two henchponies, quickly opened the door, and tackled Swift Wing.
Only to then be knocked back into the room, by a hard kick from the startled earth pony.
Moonbeam looked surprised as her goons struggled to get to their feet.
Swift Wing took one look around the room.
First at Daring and Atlas ("hey, Swift.)
Then at Herpy, who was peeking out from under the bed.
And then at Moonbeam, who was now glaring angrily at her.
"Did I...interrupt something?"
Moonbeam didn't give anyone time to answer as she used her magic to animate two armchairs and sent them after Swift Wing.
Swift yelped as she dove out of the way of one of the chairs, which moved and warped its body to resemble some sort of horrible chair spider.
While Swift wing fought off the spider chairs, Moonbeam tried to make her escape by blasting a massive hole in the wall to the outside, then spawning an evil pair of bat wings and flying out the hole.
Daring yelled out to Swift Wing. "Swift! Don't let her get away!"
Swift nodded, gave a hard two hoofed back kick to one of the spider chairs then dove towards Moonbeam as she took off, grabbing and hanging onto her back hoofs as they both flew out into the night.
Moonbeam swerved as she flew up to the sky. "Let go of me!" She yelled angrily at Swift Wing, who hung on tightly to her hind legs.
"Make me!" She dared. And Moonbeam did indeed try to make her, swerving and flipping every which way to knock Swift off.
Moonbeam's magic was no longer focused enough to keep Daring and Atlas in the air, as they fell onto the carpeted floor of the hotel room.
Daring brushed herself off, as Atlas caught her breath.
"Daring! Are you alright?" Herpy called out from under the bed.
Daring looked over to Herpy. "No time to talk, I gotta get after those two, before Moonbeam gets away."
"Or Swift crashes them into a billboard." She added as she unfurled her wings.
Daring turned to Atlas. "You and Herpy get out of here. Head back to Canterlot University, and me and Swift will meet you there." She said seriously.
Atlas nodded. "Okay. Just be careful, Daring. You know how dangerous that mare is."
"Oh I know."
Daring flapped off the ground and smiled. "But she has no clue, how dangerous I can be."
With that she took off into the stormy night, in pursuit of Moonbeam, Swift Wing and the stolen Dialogue of Plato.