//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 - 2/2 
// Story: Daring-Do and the Griffon's Goblet 
// by Creative Charmer 
//------------------------------//

	Daring-Do's eyes shifted away from the goblet for a second, as she noticed the area around the goblet had gotten darker. In that instant, she knew that there was someone behind her. Not wasting any time, she leapt up into the air, just out of the way of Griison's talons. She landed on the opposite side of the goblet pedestal, and faced her attacker, whom, to her moderate surprise, was Griison.
"Who are you?" Griison exclaimed in great anger. "What are you doing here? Answer me!!"
Daring gulped, feeling intimidated by Griison's presence and harsh tone. But, she knew she had a duty to fulfill, so she mustered up as much of her boldness as she could, and prepared herself to face down Griison.
"My name is Daring-Do. I am a pony adventurer from a faraway land, and I have been sent here to retrieve this very goblet so it can be displayed in my museum."
Griison still looked quite angry. "I may not know what this 'museum' you speak of is, but if you think my goblet is going to be moved from that spot, you have made a very erroneous choice. Just the mere mention of seizing my goblet is a greatly punishable crime in my mountain!" Griison stopped talking for a moment, staring at Daring-Do with his menacing gaze, whilst Daring was trying as hard as she could to not look frightened of him.
"So, little pony; are you going to leave here and never return? Or do I have to personally rid my perfect mountain of the imperfection that is you?" As Griison said this, he took a few steps towards Daring, and, in turn, she took a few steps back, showing her fearfulness to Griison. She turned her head back and looked down over the ledge. She actually started to contemplate flying away, with fear taking over every fraction of her being. She then looked back at Griison, whom was still staring intently at her with the same frightening look.
Thoughts were racing through Daring-Do's mind: Should she run away? That felt like what she wanted to do..but..she would be letting everypony down; and not just Inquirer; every single pony, young and old, who lived in the valley would be denied their freedom from tyranny, and would feel betrayed by Daring's cowardice. No...she could not do that. She would not do that. She would never do a thing such as that! Daring was suddenly struck with a whole new level of tenacity. This new confidence inspired her not to give up on those ponies, as helping them was far too important to go and quit on them. She had to stand up to Griison right here and now, and nothing he would do or say would make her leave!
"No!" Daring shouted as she stood up. "I won't do it! I won't leave and I won't be intimidated by the likes of you!"
Griison looked absolutely astonished to hear Daring-Do talk in such a way to him, since she had not sounded nearly so valiant before. "H—how dare you! You can't speak to me in such a way!"
"Oh, yes I can! For it's not just my voice that is speaking out against you, but the voice of every single pony down in that valley! It is for them that I am taking your goblet! For every time you terrified them! For every time any of your ancestors tormented any of the ancestors of those ponies! And nothing you do shall prevent me from taking this goblet so that you will leave this mountain and never bother the valley ponies again!!"
Griison was supremely flabbergasted. He could not think of any kind of a response, as there was not a single other being whom had ever talked to him like that before. He had actually felt a tiny bit intimidated by Daring-Do. But then, he realized something: Is he going to let himself be frightened by some little pony? Why should he? She was just a pony, and he is a griffon.  She was small, and he was big. He had great strength, and she had nothing. Griison was the most powerful creature in the whole entire valley, and he was going to let this little pony know that, once and for all.
Griison pulled himself back into his previous intimidating stance. "Do you really think I'm going to be scared by the likes of you? I am Griison!" he exclaimed as he pounded one fist on his chest. "A descendant of the mighty Griifious, an all-powerful griffon! And griffons don't let themselves be told what to do by pitiful little ponies."
During this onslaught of daunting words, Daring-Do did not let herself back down, even a smidgen. She was still strongly firm in her desire to help the valley ponies, and was still not going to let them down.
Griison paused for a few moments to see if Daring would show a fearful response in any way. "So, what say you, pony?"
"...I say...this goblet's mine!!" Daring-Do suddenly leapt towards the goblet to try and make a grab for it. At that instant, Griison roared in anger and flew at Daring to stop her. With fleet speed, Daring closed and her wings and landed on the ground, ducking under Griison as he flew over her and down over the ledge. After watching him go over, Daring flew up and grabbed the goblet. After flying upwards a few feet, she stopped in midair and looked at the goblet, admiring every part of it and feeling very proud of herself for finally obtaining the treasure. But this moment of satisfaction didn't last long, as right then, Griison came smashing up through the walkway's ledge, heading straight for Daring-Do! Now, Daring was frightened, so she took off flying, would Griison hot on her hooves.
"You cannot flee from me! I will get you and I will regain what is rightfully mine!" Griison hollered adamantly. And with those words, the chase was truly on.