The battle of Daring Do
There were only two possible ways to go inside the temple: a door in the bottom of the lower floor, and, a door in the balcony, on the upper floor. And, in both cases, the door lead to a straight forward hallway. Butit was too dark to see where it lead, exactly.
Fi and Midna floated to the balcony, then, the Twilight Princess made a sign to the young hylian to follow them. With a grin, Link took his clawshots, and climbed behind them.
“I admit that those weirdos helped me big time, but, come on! Ahuizotl is my enemy, it was up to me to take care of him!”
“Don’t worry about them. What you were saying about being our guide?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, right, follow me.” said Daring Do, walking through the door. “So, what are you planning to do with that gem, anyway?”
“Well, use them to defeat the Titan who lives here, of course!” assured Rainbow with proud.
Daring Do looked at the girls confusedly. “Titan? What are you talking about?”
“Wait, you didn’t see anyone inside?” asked Twilight.
Daring Do shook her head.
“Beside monsters, you say?”
“There wasn’t any bigger, sentient monster?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“Not that I know.” shrugged the adventurer.
“Maybe the Titans appear only before us.” guessed Twilight. “Since it’s our test, it’s only logical.”
“Okay, that would be interesting novel material.” said Daring Do scratching her head. “Anyway, follow me this way, girls.”
The adventurer lead, the way, and soon enough, Epona joined her on the front. Riding her Spinner.
“Hey, I’m leading the way.” protested Daring Do.
“I know, I’m only the first line of defense.” explained Epona.
Daring made a nod, and opened the door to the next room, as Sweet Fog, on the back, prepared his dagger, in case something happened.
And, as soon as she opened the door, Daring Do lashed her whip toward a strange creature, a strange-looking skull, floating in a fiery blue aura. But he wasn’t the only one, the entire room was a nest of those creatures, ‘bubbles’. One of the most annoying monsters from Hyrule. Daring Do began to attack, destroying all the monsters she could to clean the Bearers’ way. But, soon enough, she was overwhelmed by the number of creatures floating around the room. Luckily, Epona joined her, using her spinner’s speed and capability to attack multiple targets.
The girls shielded themselves behind a column, but, unfortunately, the scandal called some keeses’ attention. Sweet Fog took his dagger, and began to destroy the keeses.
After a while, they finally managed to get rid all the monsters.
“Yeah, last time I got into this room, was the exact same thing.” explained Daring Do. “But it is easier to run away when you’re alone.”
“Luckily, you have me on your side!” bragged Epona.
“Yeah, right! You’re way too loud! Not only had you attracted more monsters toward us. But, imagine what could happen if there’s another treasure hunter on the area! Those mean lots of trouble.”
“Back home, the only idiot who gets into dungeons is Link.” said Epona with a shrug. “Besides, a basic rule for dungeons is, the biggest or most important rewards are where the monsters are. Oh, and the more complicated dungeons.”
Daring Do’s eye twitched.
“Are you alright?” asked Rainbow.
“Yes, but I have years of experience in equestrian dungeons! I don’t allow anypony to give me lessons!”
Ignoring Daring, Epona took a good look of the room. As all the other buildings in Cloudsdale, the entirely of the structure seemed being made out of clouds. But, Epona put a hoof over, and felt there was something solid behind.
“I think there’s something hidden behind the clouds!” announced the hylian mare.
“Are you sure?” asked Twilight.
Epona nodded. “There’s something hidden behind the clouds! I feel solid.”
“Okay. Dash, Fluttershy, the Princess and I will take the clouds away. Step aside.” Commanded Daring Do, angry that the stranger found something before she did.
But, ignoring her again, Epona took something from her saddlebag, a strange-looking boomerang, and threw it to the walls.
Daring Do was about to mock her about it, but, following the boomerang, there was a small tornado that removed the clouds, revealing a brick wall, with multiple designs of a rainbow-colored lightning bolt coming from a cloud. Rainbow Dash’s Cutie Mark.
“Huh, interesting.” said Daring Do. “Why did somepony built a brick wall in Cloudsdale?”
“Obviously, it’s a puzzle.” answered Epona, pressing one of the designs, that seemed slightly out of place.
Immediately, a chest materialized in the middle of the room. And inside the chest they found…
“Bits?! Not again!” complained Daring Do.
“Did it happened to you before?” asked Rarity, annoyed as well.
“Only on this place. I’ve been here the whole day, remember? I’ve found like three chests like these.”
“A’ still don’t get why are ya’ so upset about the money.” said Applejack, taking a few bits for herself.
“Is not bad, I mean, all of us can use some extra bits.” said Rainbow taking a bunch of coins as well. “But you know we must get the Dungeon’s Map, and the Boss Key in order to move forward to the next Temple of Harmony. Luckily, we already have the treasure.”
“And, the map.” said Daring Do, taking the scroll from her saddlebag. “I found it like two hours ago. Who’s the best adventurer in Equestria now, huh?”
“I would say my Link.” Shrugged Epona. But, at Daring Do’s glare, she simple smiled to the adventurer. “Don’t feel bad, once we save this world, and the Twilight, we’ll go where we came from. And you can be the greatest adventurer in Equestria all over again.”
Daring Do groaned, but, she remained silent as she unrolled the map. There were far too many areas on the map, but, Daring Do have marked with red several.
“Okay, the red areas are the ones I’ve explored already. I was leaving, since I have found the treasure, but then, Ahuizotl ambushed me and took the gem from me, but then you came and you know the rest.”
Rainbow Dash examined the map. “Okay, according to this, you haven’t explored the center room of this temple. That’s where my Titan must be!!”
“Have you find anything else, like a big key or something before we came?” asked Twilight.
Daring Do shook her head. “Nope, only small ones to open doors inside this temple.”
“Okay, at least we know we don’t have to explore the entirely of this temple, and Link and Midna are exploring as well.” said Epona.
“But, still there are a lot of rooms.” said Daring Do. “Okay, whatever. Let’s find the boss key, whatever that is.”
And, with the map under her wing, Daring Do leaded the way again, and Rainbow Dash joined her proudly.
“So, what’s with you guys? Why do you have to get into this place to save Equestria?” asked Daring.
Rainbow sighed. “It’s a long story, but all started when two strangers appeared in Ponyville…”
And she told Daring Do everything that happened to them since their little fight with Link, Epona and Midna, the weakening of the Three of Harmony, and their mission in order to restore its power. At the end, Daring Do nodded thoughtful.
“So, basically, this mare over here,” she looked at Epona, still riding her Spinner, “and the two alien creatures who scared Ahuizotl are helping you to save the world.”
“Not just our world, theirs in danger as well.” clarified Rainbow Dash.
“Oh right, the Realm of Twilight…” said Daring Do thoughtful.
“And what about you, Miss Do?” asked Pinkie Pie happily. “How did you ended up here?”
Daring Do scratched her head. “To be honest, I have no idea. All I know, is that, I woke up this morning, and suddenly, I knew I had to be here. But nothing else, I was guided by a feeling.”
Twilight frowned, this could mean something. Something important.
“That sounds just crazy!” protested Applejack.
“I know it’s strange, but it’s the truth!” insisted Daring. “Most of my adventures start that way.”
They got to another room, and just like the other one, it was a big empty hall.
“Great, what now?”
“I would say, remove the clouds all over again.” said Epona, throwing the Gale Boomerang to the wall.
And, like the last time, the boomerang impacted on the wall, and returned to Epona, as a small tornado pulled appart all the clouds, revealing a wall behind them. It was empty.
“Okay, let’s try again!”
Daring Do remained silent, no wonder why most of the place was empty when she explored it the first time. Why did she forgot something as basic, as check behind the walls? Something was very wrong with her.
Rainbow Dash nodded, removed a few clouds by hoof, revealing a series of buttons engraved on the wall behind.
“Ha! I found it!”
“Great, Rainbow Dash!” congratulated Pinkie Pie. “Now, which one should we press?”
“I… have no idea.”
“Maybe all of them, like a combination.” wuggested Daring Do.
“I don’t think so, this may be a lucky guess.” argued Sweet Fog. “I mean, this is a really common trap in Hyrule. If you press the right button, the path would be reveal to you, but, if you choose wrong, you may summon a bunch of monsters.”
“Let’s try it! If that happens, all we have to do is fight, right?” said Twilight.
Epona and Sweet Fog nodded, preparing their weapons.
“Choose any button, Rainbow.”
“I don’t like this.” shivered Daring Do.
She was right, as soon as Rainbow pressed the button, four carnivore plants grew from the ground. Those were pretty simple, a blue head, a long green tongue, and a big mouth expelling some kind of purple poison around.
“Deku Babas?!” asked Epona.
“How do we get rid of those?” asked Daring Do.
“Well, during the Battle of the Crossed Eras, Lady Midna used arrows.” explained Sweet Fog. “But, we don’t have those here, right?”
“Oh! I think I have the answer for that!” smiled Rarity, shooting a spell to the nearest plant.
It shook all over, and died on the spot.
“What?” asked everypony at the unison.
Rarity shrugged. “I am good at gardening, but only because I had years of practice. My first attempts were most likely Sweetie Belle’s attempt of cooking. And, I would never forget my first attempts to make fertilizer spells.”
“Okay… good to know. Keep doing it!” asked Twilight.
Rarity obeyed, and soon enough, the room was vegetation free.
“Try again, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow obeyed, and this time, a chest appeared, but, when they opened it, what they found were bits. Five hundred bits.
“Oh come on!” complained Daring Do.
Rainbow Dash pressed a third button, and this time, a new chest appeared before them. And this time, it had a small key.
“I wonder how Link and Midna are doing.” thought Epona.
…
Unfortunately for the two adventurers, the route they chose to explore, was composed, mostly, by rooms that Daring Do have already explored. But, at least they could have fighting monsters since Daring Do preferred to run, and avoid unnecessary comfrontation. But, Link liked adventure and risk, such as Midna. Besides, each monster they defeated could have something they were interested in, like rupees. Or bits, since they were in Equestria.
They arrived to a new room, and it was empty as well.
Fi popped out of the Master Sword, and bowed to Link and Midna.
“Master, Mistress, it seems that this room have been explored already. I highly recommend to keep going.”
Midna raised an eyebrow. “How did you call me?”
“Mistress. I consider it appropriate, since there’s a 65.14% chance that you and the Master…”
Midna blocked Fi’s mouth with her hand.
“Shut up. Just shut up.” asked Midna.
As for Link, he blushed, and kept going without another word.
But, empty room, after empty room, the warriors started to feel frustrated, when suddenly, they heard a big scandal on a nearby room.
“It seems we just joined the other group.” observed Midna. “Shall we go?”
“I don’t see why not. At least we can try to be useful by helping them.” suggested Link.
The Hyrule warriors ran toward they heard the fight, and kicked the door open.
What they found wasn’t pretty, it was the other group, doing what they could to defend themselves from a pack of the armored dragons from the entrance, Aerolfos.
Link didn’t thought twice, he gaily jumped wielding his sword, and, before the astonished ponies, an Aerolfo fell to their hooves, with its neck open.
“He killed it?” cried Fluttershy.
“Just in time!” congratulated Epona.
Link and Epona exchanged a look, and, together they started to dispose of the monsters. There were more than ten, something really unusual for monsters this big, but, they didn’t fear. With the help of Fi’s dancing skills, and Midna’s Mirror of Shadows, they quickly overpowered the monsters.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Is just me, or shall we worry that this kind of stuff doesn’t affect us that much anymore?”
“Speak for yourself.”said Rarity, looking at the trembling Fluttershy.
“We can get psychiatric help later, is not that bad.” shrugged Pinkie Pie. “A few sessions, a bunch of pills, and you’re as good as new!”
They all looked at Pinkie Pie, in astonishment.
“What? I am bipolar, wasn’t that obvious?”
“Pinkie…” said Rainbow Dash.
“Remember my birthday, and Gummy’s post-birthday party?”
“Huh, makes sense…”
Finally, the last of the Aerolfos fell dead, and a giant chest appeared on the middle of the room.
“I hope that it isn’t money.” mumbled Daring Do.
Rainbow Dash opened it, and showed everypony a key, with a pony skull on the top.
“Hah! It’s the Boss Key!”
“Now we can unlock the central room, I guess.” said Twilight.
The entire group cheered, and moved on to the center of the temple. Rainbow Dash carefully introduced the Key, and opened the huge door. It lead to an empty room.
“Come on!” complained Rainbow.
“Maybe you have to get in, in order to this Titan of yours come.” suggested Daring Do, taking a step inside.
Rainbow Dash followed her, when suddenly, the adventurer stopped.
“Daring Do?” asked Rainbow Dash.
The adventurer turned to Rainbow Dash, looking at her with empty eyes.
Rainbow shivered.
“What happened to you, Daring Do?”
“I am not Daring Do.” answered the adventurer. “I only borrowed her body, silently guiding her until she find you. Tell me, Dash, wasn’t too much of a coincidence that you found your friend in here?”
Rainbow Dash gulped.
“You are…”
“My name is Dasher, Titaness of Loyalty. And today, you’ll have to face me in order to recover your Element’s power!”
Rainbow Dash nodded, preparing the gem.
“Okay, but promise me that Daring Do won’t be harm!”
“That’s the thing. That depends entirely on you.”
And, with that, the battle started.