"Hmm..." The researcher looked the tablet over and over to try and understand the language inscribed on it. She looked at her guide to dead languages which she had written herself so she could get each letter perfectly right. "According to my guide, the translated text on the tablet is saying that Quetacotl was revered as a great leader, and was loved by his people. It also says that—"
"Hey, Inquirer!!" Daring-Do shouted as she bursts into the room, surprising the researcher and making her drop her magnifying glass. "Oh, whoops! Sorry about that," Daring said sheepishly.
"Oh, it's quite all right," Inquirer used her magic to pick the magnifying glass back up. "It's not broken, so no harm done."
"Phew! That's good. So, how's everything going?"
"Well, I was in the middle of translating this tablet that came from the ruins of Qoatlesi. It has some very intriguing information on the city's greatest leader."
"Qoatlesi, huh? I remember that place. It had some pretty cool architecture. It was too bad there weren't any treasures for me to get, though."
"Well, Daring, treasure for you may be in the form of an item or any such thing, but treasure for me is the knowledge and history behind all these ancient civilizations. It is truly fascinating to know so much about these different places."
"Well, I still personally prefer treasure hunting and discovering lost civilizations, but I do enjoy bringing the items back to you since you enjoy studying them so much. And I also don't mind getting paid for the artifacts, either," Daring chuckled.
Inquirer chuckled as well. "Well, it's worth it to get new additions to the museum. Especially because the items you bring are always the best we ever get."
"Well, only the best items should be given to the museum of my good friend!" Daring exclaimed as she put her hoof around Inquirer's shoulder.
Inquirer smiled. "Well, I'm glad you think so, because I've just learned of a new artifact that would be perfect for the museum!"
"Well, lay it on me! I'm ready for another adventure!"
"Okay. Follow me," Inquirer led Daring over to her desk, and she used her magic to pull out a book on her desk and open it up. She flipped through the pages quickly. "Hmmm...here it is!" Inquirer stopped the pages and pointed her hoof at a picture in the book.
"A golden cup?"
"This isn't just your average everyday golden cup, Daring. This is the Griffon's Goblet!"
"What's the Griffon's Goblet?"
"Well, let me tell you the history of the goblet," Inquirer began to read the passage of the book out loud to Daring-Do. "Over 300 years ago, there lived a griffon in a far-off land. His name was Griifious, and he lived on a mountain named Griifious Mountain."
"The mountain was named after him?"
"Yes. That is because he thought he was the highest of all creatures in the land, so he thought of himself as a king, and acted like he was better than everyone else, belittling them and making them feel inferior to him."
"Boy, what a rude guy. I'd hate to live near him."
"Everyone living around the mountain felt the same way. And to make himself seem even more superior to all others, Griifious demanded that a special drinking cup be made for him, as he thought he deserved to drink out of only the best, most magnificent cup. He called upon a very talented pony blacksmith, who was named Blacksmith, to make him a truly superlative drinking cup. Blacksmith worked for many weeks to make the cup just right. He chose the goblet design to be best one to use. The goblet was made out of pure gold, and it was studded with one of each type of precious jewel: diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, and aquamarine. Griifious was quite pleased with Blacksmith's work, and said this goblet was the perfect cup for someone of Griifious' 'stature'. Griifious paid Blacksmith for his work, and then sent him off. Griifious adored his goblet, and loved to drink out of it whenever he could. It became his most prized possession; more prized than anything, whether it be an object or living creature, could be."
"Wow...makes me wonder how he could part with it?"
"Well, that's what Griifious thought of. He knew he couldn't' live forever, so he had to have a child that would inherit the goblet, because he did not want it in the hands of anyone who was not in his bloodline. Unfortunately for Griifious, he was the only griffon on his mountain, so he called out for a female griffon to come to his mountain, and one did: Grifielle. Together they had one son, Grofion. When Grofion got old enough, Griifious told him to cherish the goblet with his life once Griifious could no longer do so. And he also told Grofion to make sure to do the same with his own children, so the goblet will always belong to a member of the family. And over the centuries, the children of each bearer of the goblet passed on the instructions of what to do with the goblet to their own children, and it's been that way ever since."
"Wow, that is one incredible story, Inquirer. So where is the goblet now?"
"Unfortunately, this book didn't catalog the current owner of the goblet, as this book stopped at the previous owner of the goblet. I had to send one of our pegasi, Pryer, to ask around the mountain to find out who it is."
"Well then, who's owner this time around?"
"According to what Pryer told me when she came back, the goblet is in the possession of a griffon named Griison, Griifious' most recent grandson."
"Does he have any other family members with him?"
"No; he is the only griffon on the mountain, so it doesn't look like he's decided to look for a female griffon yet; which is good, because it means you only have to deal with one griffon."
"That won't be a problem for me!" Daring said as she tipped her hat forward.
"Well, don't get too overconfident; remember, griffons are much stronger than ponies."
"Don't worry, I won't forget," Daring said smugly. "So, where is this guy's mountain?"
"Here, let me show you," Inquirer took out one of her maps and showed Daring the exact location of Griifious Mountain.
Daring studied the map carefully. "Okay, got it! I can get there myself now!"
"Very good, Daring," Inquirer said as she put the map back. "Let's go outside so you can get ready." Daring agreed, and the both of them headed to the outside of the museum.
Outside, in the back of the museum, Daring-DO was all ready to take off.
"Everything ready, Daring?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Is there something troubling you?"
"Well, I've just been thinking: doesn't it seem like actual stealing to take an artifact from someone who's still alive? I mean, I know I've taken artifacts from other places, but those were from civilizations that didn't exist anymore."
"I thought you might ask that, Daring, and I'll tell you all about it," Inquirer cleared her throat. "When Pryer went to the mountain to learn about Griison, she mentioned to the inhabitants how we wanted the goblet, and the inhabitants around the mountain told her that they wanted us to take the goblet, so then Griison would have no reason to live at the mountain and would leave them all in peace. So you see, it'll be doing good for everyone if we get the goblet. We'll have an artifact, and the inhabitants will have their peace. Nobody loses."
"Oh, I see. Well, you can count on me!"
"I know I always can!" Inquirer said optimistically. "Good luck, Daring-Do!" Daring saluted Inquirer, and she took off into the sky as fast as she could, with Inquirer waving until Daring was out of sight. and then she returned to her study room in the museum.
As Daring was flying, she thought to herself, "Inquirer said nobody loses if I get the goblet; I just hope that getting the goblet won't hurt Griison too bad..."