Daring Do and the Soluna Stone
Chapter 6: Finale
-Soluna Stone Antechamber-
"Twilight, it's them! I saw those two outside the tent last night! They're working for Ahuizotl!", shouts Spike.
"That's what we wanted you to do. You go to the ruins expecting us, but then we deceive you so you can finish the trials and we snatch the stone away from you!", says the griffon.
The whole group raises a brow as to why they just tell them their plan.
"Why would you tell us that?", asks Daring.
The unicorn slaps the griffon for being idiotic.
"You moron! Why would you tell them our plan!", asks the unicorn.
"But, you said that's what you told me what we're going to do.", says the griffon.
"Yes, but not to the other ponies!", yells the unicorn.
The whole group is scratching their heads as to why Ahuizotl hired these guys.
"Trixie thinks Ahuizotl must've been very cheap as to not hire proper treasure hunters.", says Trixie.
"Yeah.", says her friends.
The unicorn gets annoyed from this.
"Hey! We may not look like much, but we're famous!", yells the unicorn.
The unicorn gives a gesture to his accomplice to do something, but the griffon then nods back. The unicorn and griffon get back to back and posed with their front legs in the air.
"We're Team Grifficorn. Hairy and Maximus!", they yell in unison.
The whole group stands there in silence with the only sound being the wind blowing by.
"Ever heard of them Daring?", asks Twilight.
"They're nothing. They are just a bunch of D-Rank treasure hunters. They've never gotten any treasure before and have tried making a name for themselves around their base of operations in Baltimare.", explains Daring.
"So nopony treasure hunters?", asks Twilight.
"Hey! We'll be big after this run!" Now move over so we can switch the stone with this sandbag.", says Hairy the griffon as he holds up a bag of sand in his claw.
Maximus then groans under his breath and says, "Hairy, I swear you, once we get back to Baltimare..."
Daring gets the idea the stone is booby trapped.
"So the stone has a weight mechanism. Now where have I seen that before.", says Daring in a exaggerated tone.
"What do you mean?", asks Twilight.
"The mechanism is meant to bury the temple if the stone got stolen. Only something of equal weight can trick the trigger from activating.", says Daring.
"So what do we do then? We can't move it.", questions Twilight.
"Just move!",yells Maximus.
The two groups then stare down as to not give up any ground.
"Hey guys, I've got the stone, let's go!", yells Spike.
Spike is on top of the tower with the Soluna Stone in his claws. Both groups have their jaws to the ground.
"What's wrong? Let's go!", questions Spike.
Daring is wide -eyed and quickly asks Spike, "Spike put it back fast before..!".
It is too late. The whole temple starts shaking with stones falling from the ceiling. Both groups starts panicking. Spike topples down the steps with the stone still in his claws.
"Hurry Maxy, let's go back through the hallways that opened up when them ponies finished all of them trials.", says Hairy.
Maximus groans at his partner, "I swear, one of these days."
Both of them run through the hallway that the group came through.
"Hurry everypony, through the hallway and back to the entrance!", shouts Daring.
Spike gets on Sandy's back with the Soluna Stone still in his claws. They all go through the hallway to get back to the entrance.
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-Entrance-
They all manage to get back to the entrance. There were no signs of the treasure hunting duo, they must have escaped outside. The group grabs their bags next to the door. The whole temple is still shaking as debris fall to the floor and cracks are forming on the floor.
"Hurry, through the entrance!", shouts Daring.
Twilight and Trixie go through the hallway to the entrance as Daring and Sandy, with Spike on her back, following respectively. As Daring is about to go through the hallway, a huge crack forms on the floor and swallows up Sandy and Spike. Daring sees this and dives right after them. She grabs both of them just in time, but just barely holding on. Sandy and Spike are holding on for dear life, but below them is the Soluna Stone on a little ledge.
"Hold on you two, I've got you. Quick and pull yourselves up.", asks Daring.
Sandy and Spike see the Soluna Stone and try to get the stone with their open claw/hoof.
"Don't do it you two, forget it.", asks Daring.
"No, I can get it. I can still get this for you.", says Sandy.
"It's not worth your lives", plees Daring.
"If it's to make you happy, I will get this and make you the most famous mare in Equestria. I promised to help you, didn't I?", says Spike.
Daring then says in a calm comforting voice, "Spike, Sandy, please let it go. You two mean the world to me more than any treasure I will ever find."
Sandy and Spike are both shocked to hear Daring say a very gentle and kind gesture from her. Moved by her words, they gave their open claw/hoof to Daring to help themselves up. Then all three of them see the Soluna Stone fall into the abyss after being pulled up from the crack. Daring is disappointed the stone is gone forever, but happy that her friends are alive, leave towards the entrance. Sandy and Spike leave ahead of her.
Daring gets one last look behind her and sees the guardian spirit pony giving a gesture of farewell.
"Farewell fellow adventurer, none of us knew what true treasure and power is, and that is the magic, of friendship.", says the guardian ghost.
With a smile on his face he then disappears for good. Daring then runs back toward the entrance as the ruins finally fall to the ground and is buried forever.
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-Outside-
The ponies are all exhausted from the running and are catching their breath.
"Daring, thanks for saving us. We would've fallen into that crack if you didn't convince us so.", says Spike.
"Same here Honey, I tried to prove myself by helping you, but all I want now is to be truthful and do things for myself.", says Sandy.
"Don't worry Sandy, I know you'll have an excellent life by making truthful books.", says Daring.
Twilight has noticed that neither Daring or Spike had the Soluna Stone with them.
"Daring, Spike, where's the Soluna Stone?", asks Twilight.
"That's what I want to know as well.", says Ahuizotl as he approached them all.
The two treasure hunters that were in the ruins with them are right next to Ahuizotl.
"It's gone. It fell into an abyss back in the ruins. It's gone forever.", said Daring in a depressed voice.
"NO! Now no one has the treasure, and nopony will have proof of it.", says Maximus.
"Not quite.", intervenes Twilight.
Twilight then takes out her notepad out with writings and drawings in them.
"I've made records ever since I came to Saddle Arabia, up until this very moment.", says Twilight in a happy tone.
Everypony is awed by Twilight's reveal.
"Alright Twilight!", happily shouts Daring.
"Now I can write a record book on these notes.", says Sandy.
Ahuizotl then sighs as he takes a look at a pocket watch from his front shirt pocket, obviously to check the time. He then begins walking off and then looks back to Daring.
"Ah well, better luck next time for me. Although neither of us got the treasure, I was entertained none the less. I know will we meet each other in the future. Until we meet again Daring.", says Ahuizotl as he left.
"Wait, wait, wait! What about our pay!", asks Maximus as he and Hairy run after him in the distance.
The group then smiles at this victory and knew they have obtained something in the end, their renewal in their friendship.
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3 days later...
-Manehattan Library-
After giving the notes to Sandy after their expedition, Daring and Sandy had some parting words and said their goodbyes. After Jarvis got them back to Manehattan, Daring went back to the museum to prepare a special exhibit in the future based on the records they took for the Soluna Stone. Trixie went back to her normal business, or what her friends considered normal. Finally, Spike and Twilight go back home and settle down after their hair raising adventure. Spike then gave up on reading the books as they were nothing but fiction, and he wants to know the real Daring, here and now. After days of resting, Twilight figured now's a good time as any to write a letter to the princess.
"Spike take a letter for me will you?", asks Twilight. "Sure thing Twilight." as Spike takes out a scroll and quill.
Dear Princess Celestia,
On my trip to Saddle Arabia, my friend Daring and her friend Sandy learned a lesson on friendship. Daring and Sandy learned on how to respect one's feelings and to believe in themself. Although one may seem fine on the outside, take the time to know them on the inside, and you may know some problems they have that may have them doubt themselves. Having confidence not only in yourself but in your friends will bring you through in yourself and your friends to the end. Coming to terms with your true self will make you a better pony in the future.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
Spike then rolls up the letter and blows fire at the letter with the ashes flying out the window and going to Canterlot. There's a knock at the doors of the library. Her whole group of friends come into the library one by one. Octavia, Blossomforth, Orange Sherbert, Trixie, and Daring Do(disguised as Honey again), all go towards Twilight.
"Good morning Twilight, I hope our forthcoming hasn't gone unnoticed.", asks Octavia.
"No Octavia, you haven't. In fact, I just got the new rough draft of the new Daring Do book.", says Twilight.
"Oooh, what is it called darling?", asks Sherbert.
"Here it is girls.", says Twilight as she shows them the front title cover.
Daring Do and the Soluna Stone: Based on true events.
This title put a smile on Daring's face now that she knows her friend will start telling the truth more often. Not as often knowing her friends imagination. As Twilight turns the page, the first page says it dedicates this book to her best friend Honey Do.