//------------------------------// // In and Out the Temple // Story: Justice Ponies // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// Daring Do led the ponies, Spike, and the Justice League through the jungle, while making sure to keep an eye out for any unwanted attention. "So what is it you're after, Daring Do?" Hawk Girl inquired. "An artifact known as the Emerald Lotus," she began, "The temple in which it is said to be in is on the other side of this jungle." "And that's why we need to get there fast before Ahuizotl gets there." Rainbow added. "Ahuizotl?" Lantern asked. "My arch enemy who also intends on collecting rare artifacts like myself." Daring explained. "You don't suppose he and Luthor are working together do you?" Flash asked. "It wouldn't be illogical." Batman answered. "Who is this Luthor?" Daring asked. "He's there arch nemesis." Applejack answered. "He came with us to this world, and we've been desperately trying to find him so we can bring him back with us." Superman explained. "Of course, we still need to find a way back." J'onn added. "But as long as we got Luthor under our custody we can be less stressed." Flash explained. "Hey look at that!" Pinkie called. They all went up ahead and saw a temple from a cliff side, "Is that the place?" Rarity asked the adventure pony. "No doubt about it." Daring answered. "So what're we waiting for?" Rainbow said, as she was about to zip off, only for Superman to grab her by the tail keeping her in place. "Hold it, Rainbow. You know rushing into these things is a bad idea." the man of steel explained. "Superman's right, we need to be cautious about this." Twilight added. "Agreed, so let me lead the way." Daring said, as she flew first, while the league flew the non fliers behind her. When they reached the entry of the cave, Batman reached into his belt and pulled out a bat flare to give them light. Daring led the way and spoke, "Stay close, it can be easy to get lost in here." Flash accidentally stepped on a tile that launched arrows from the walls at them, "Look out!" Lantern used his ring to project a barrier around them deflecting all the arrows. Lantern lowered the barrier, as Daring scowled at Flash, "And it's just as easy to set off a trap." "Oops." Flash said sheepishly. "Come on." Batman said, as they pressed on. They continued through the temple, before they stopped and saw a table loaded with multiple tiles out of place, "Looks like we got us a little puzzle here." Daring said. "And the only way to get to the next room is if we solve it." Twilight deduced. "How hard can it be?" Flash asked, as he took a look at the puzzle as if trying to solve it. The girls watched thinking he knows what he's doing, until he spoke up, "Yeah, I got nothing." they all face faulted. "Let me." Batman said, as he looked at the puzzle as if really analyzing it. Suddenly he started moving the pieces to match them up. Daring whispered to the group, "He looks like he knows what he's doing." "Bats is an expert with solving stuff." Rainbow boasted for him. Batman suddenly moved the last tile to reveal it was in the shape of a lotus blossom. Suddenly they saw a passage way open up, "He did it!" Fluttershy gasped. "Of course he did." Flash answered. "Let's go." Daring said, as they continued onward. They walked down the path, until they saw a light at the end of the tunnel, "That must be the way out." Twilight gasped. "Come on, yall." Applejack called, as they hurried to the end. When they reached the end of the tunnel they found themselves in an empty room with an open ceiling high above them, "There's nothing in here." Diana said. "On the contrary my dear, there is plenty." a voice called out. "What was that?" Superman asked, as they looked around. Daring looked above and saw Ahuizotl looking down on them, "Ahuizotl!" she frowned. "That's Ahuizotl?" Flash asked. "Correct, and I have with me an acquaintance of yours." Ahuizotl said, as Luthor stood by his side. "Luthor!" The league called. "Nice to see you all." Luthor chuckled. "So that's Luthor?" Twilight asked, finally seeing him up close. "Get him!" Superman called, as they were about to fly up. "Not so fast!" Ahuizotl pulled a lever, and suddenly a passage opened up, and he and Luthor went into it. "Come on!" Daring called, as they flew to the lever and pulled it. The passage opened and they went in only to discover it was a slide with them sliding down it. The group screamed, cheered, and cried as they slid down a lot of zigzag turns. Finally they crashed at the bottom, and Rainbow popped up, "Whoa! Yeah! Who's up for round two?!" when she received glares in respond she looked sheepish, "Ok, maybe not." "Come on, we got to catch up to them." Daring said, as they hurried. Meanwhile inside another chamber, Ahuizotl walked up to a pedestal containing the Emerald Lotus, and used his tail to swap the relic with something else so quickly he wouldn't trigger the trap. "Yes, the emerald lotus is mine." Ahuizotl cheered, as he placed it in a bag. "Good for you, now let's get ready, they should be here any moment." Luthor said. "You talking about us?" Flash asked, as the group entered the chamber. "Ahuizotl, I'll be taking that now." Daring told him. "And give yourself up, Luthor." Superman ordered. "Sorry, Superman, but I have no intention of surrendering." he answered. "And neither do I." Ahuizotl said, as he snapped his tail's fingers and many of his guards came out of hiding, as did multiple changelings. "Attack!" Luthor ordered, as the henchmen went on the attack. "Scatter!" Daring ordered, as they separated. The ponies and the league fought both Ahuizotl's guards and the changelings, while Daring and Superman went for Ahuizotl and Luthor. Daring flew circles around Ahuizotl to confuse him, "This is not like you to be seen with a whole group, Daring Do?" "What can I say? I've learned to appreciate company." Daring answered smugly. "Then you can go down together." Ahuizotl said, as he tail whipped her. Daring was almost sent crashing into a rock, until Flash zoomed over and caught her, "You ok there?" "Don't worry about me." she flew out of his embrace and went back to fighting Ahuizotl. Meanwhile, Superman and Luthor were throwing punch after punch, as the man of steel spoke, "You've been causing our pony friends a lot of trouble with their own enemies." "Even so, their failures were just as worse as the others I've foolishly thought I could depend on back home." Luthor replied. "Then why stick around with them?" Superman asked, as he slugged Luthor into a wall. "For good measures." Luthor answered, as he jumped away from the wall and fought Superman. Batman while fending off against some changelings, saw Ahuizotl holding the bag containing the relic Daring was after. He whipped out a batarang and threw it cutting the bag opened. "NO!" Ahuizotl saw the emerald lotus fell out of the bag. Lantern quickly used his ring to catch the relic with a green energized hand and brought it over to him, "I got it!" "Good job, Lantern!" Daring smiled. Ahuizotl called, "Get him!" His guards tried to attack Lantern, but the others defended him, until Flash saw the pedestal with the substitute on top of it, "Hey, Ahui, what happens if this came off?" he bumped the substitute off. "NO, YOU FOOL!" Ahuizotl called. Suddenly the whole temple started shaking, "What's happening?" Fluttershy cried. "I don't know, but I don't wanna be in here to find out!" Applejack called, as the place started coming down. "We need to get out of here!" Batman ordered. "Allow me." Hawk Girl swung her mace to the ceiling putting a giant hole in it. "Let's go!" Twilight ordered. "What about Lex?" Diana asked, as they saw Superman still fighting Luthor. Superman had nailed Lex into a wall again, and was about to grab him, until Batman called, "We need to go now!" "But Luthor!" Superman reminded him. "Don't worry, we'll see each other again soon." Luthor said, as the changelings used their magic combined to teleport themselves and Luthor away. Superman looked displeased, but went back to join the others who escaped from the hole, as the temple caved in. As they flew off Ahuizotl emerged form the rubble, "I'll get you next time, Daring Do!" Soon they returned to the cliff in which they could see the ruins of the temple, "Good news is we got out with our lives and got the artifact." Flash said. "Bad news is Luthor got away." Superman said in disappointment. "Don't worry, Superman, we'll get him next time." Twilight promised him. "Twilight Sparkle is correct," J'onn agreed, "I feel we will see him again soon as he said so himself." "That's what scares me." Superman admitted. Lantern handed the artifact to Daring Do, "Thanks for you help, guys. Believe me when I say I really appreciate this." "No problem, that's what friends are for," Flash answered, until he asked, "You do consider us friends don't you?" Daring smiled, "You bet." Rainbow squeed in joy. Daring flew up, "Well, the artifact has been found, Ahuizotl's been defeated, all that's left is to start on my next book." she said before taking off, as they bid her a farewell. Back at the Changeling lair, Luthor was meeting with Chrysalis, "Your so called source was an utter failure!" 'Yes, Ahuizotl has been known to blunder on certain occasions. I guess we caught him at one of those times." she replied. Luthor frowned, "Do you think this is funny?" "Check the face. Do you see me laughing?" Chrysalis asked. "I need some time to myself." Luthor said as he stormed off, past the rest of his supposed Injustice League of creatures who knew better than to get in his way. Luthor was outside the cave and pounded a wall, "Failure after failure! These fools are no better than the ones back home. But still Chrysalis and her changeling's magic is very powerful when fueled by enough love. Maybe I should instead harness it for myself." he smirked.