//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Reluctant Dungeoneer // Story: It's Only a Game... Isn't It? // by Ganondorf8 //------------------------------// It's Only a Game... Isn't It? By Ganondorf8 June 21, 2016 Chapter 2: The Reluctant Dungeoneer. " This is its manifestation, it is your own life force. This is condition green, the next stage is amber and on condition red you are in grave peril, for this is no game of numerous lives. Here, you have only one." ~Treguard~ Warning teams about their Lifeforce in series one and two. " Yes, I said which one of you is going to become the dungeoneer, and retrieve one of the four classic quest items." Treguard answered. " I'm sorry, but I think you have us confused with someone else." I said. " I don't see how that's even possible. You were watching this show when I observed you earlier, and you clearly possessed a strong desire to take on the challenge presented to teams here at the castle. Despite being older than most teams, I can give you a fair shot at achieving glory. I'm surprised that the magic door I placed in your world brought you here instead of outside, but I suppose that magic wasn't as powerful as it once was." Treguard said. " You brought us here?" " All I did was provide the means to reach this castle. You came here of your own volition." " Hold on! How did you know we were watching? Also, how can you possibly do that?" " What people in your world see is merely an illusion designed to provide them with entertainment that keeps them wanting more. They believe that everything is real when in fact nothing here can harm those who come here." Treguard answered. I couldn't believe what he was telling us. He brought us under false pretenses or rather we brought ourselves, yet he was intentionally avoiding my questions about how we knew we were watching--my friends more so than myself. I had every mind to walk up to him and give him a stern shouting, but then Treguard's expression changed. " In reality, the greater game is very real. When dungeoneers perish, they truly meet their end, but we use powerful magic to bring them back to life, and return them home without them ever realizing it." " Why tell us this? You're kind of ruining the magic of television." " That's because you four are different from the other teams who have come before you." " Is it because of our skin?" " No. I can sense powerful magic coming from you, and it's something I've never seen before. The teams who have come to this castle only bring their wits and the belief that they can conquer what has proven to be a difficult challenge. Had they possessed what you have, they would have survived the truly terrifying trials of the lowest level." Treguard answered. " How did you watch us despite being in an old program from over twenty years ago?" " That's a question only you can answer." I had to refrain myself from rushing forward and throttling this Treguard character. He deliberately avoided answering my question by giving me a lousy excuse, but then it made me think about his words. What if he didn't have an answer? Was he trying to have us come up with a credible answer? Those questions were nothing compared to the bombshell he revealed about the true nature of this show. Everything that existed in the dungeon below was real and not the result of primitive--by today's standards--computer technology. I supposed this was done to appease to the youth who came on in an attempt to win this game. If they found out that things were real, it would have scarred them knowing their lives were in actual danger. Since my friends and I were much older, we were more capable of handling the truth. Our own experiences against fighting evil magic also gave us an edge compared to those kids. Once I had calmed down and gotten my mind wrapped around everything Treguard said, I thought about the door we entered that brought us here. I should've realized that it had been created by magic. The aura that exuded from it was obvious enough for any self-respecting magic user to figure out, yet I remained ignorant and never questioned it. I had to give him credit for being able to conjure up a door in a place where my friends and I happened to be. It takes a lot of concentration to be able to do something like that. Treguard obviously possessed some arcane skill in magic, as I doubted that he could've asked an actual magic user to create the door for him--I was later proven wrong. Looking around to see what my friends were up to, Rainbow Dash dashed about like she were an obsessed child, pandering over everything that we were surrounded by. She needed some self control before she did something that could cause us to be thrown into the dungeon. I understood that she had dreamt about coming to Knightmare Castle--even if said dream had only been in her mind for the last week or so--and was over the moon, but she wasn't doing us any favours by acting like a fangirl. Pinkie Pie was arguing with Treguard's assistant over food, and wanting access to their kitchen. I knew Pinkie was passionate about cooking, but her approach clearly wasn't working. If that woman, Majida--I think that was her name--was a genie as she claimed, Pinkie could be turned into something should she annoy her long enough. The only one who wasn't really in over her head, was Twilight. She had since sat down on the bench that was next to Treguard's throne, and had been feverishly writing down on her notepad pausing every few moments to observe our current surroundings. I didn't know what she was writing down, but I did know that it was to further her own understanding of how everything worked around here. Me? I took a break from speaking to our host and took another look around the room. What struck me the most from my observation was a series of paintings that hung on a wall in a hallway that connected to this room. I couldn't tell what they were, but the paintings looked more like photos of kids. I doubted that Treguard was willing to explain, but I had someone who could give me an answer. " Rainbow Dash!" I said, grabbing her by the shoulder as she ran by, bringing her to a stop. " I'm kinda busy right now gushing over how awesome everything is." Rainbow Dash said. " Do you have a few moments to answer a question?" " Depends on what it is." " Those paintings hanging in that hallway over there. Do you know anything about them?" " Huh?" Rainbow Dash said. She looked in the direction I was pointing in, and immediately began to squeal so loud, I had to cover my ears to avoid getting a headache. She followed that up by jumping up and down a few times before she grabbed my shoulders firmly. " Don't you know what that hallway is, Sunset?" I shook my head, prompting Rainbow's jaw to drop and her eyes to widen. " I can't believe you don't know about the hall of winners! The teams who succeeded in conquering the dungeon were forever immortalized in that room! Just being among them is enough to inspire anyone to want to succeed." " So all the winning teams are in there?" " Yep! They're the best of the best and the ones most people remember." " Since you appear to be so eager about it, you should check that hallway out and gush over your idols." I said. Rainbow Dash let go of my shoulders, and immediately dashed off in the direction of the hallway. The sounds of her squeals echoed throughout the hallway, reverberating in this room, her noise attracting Treguard's attention. He walked over to me using lengthy strides, but I wasn't sure if he was going to scold me for allowing Rainbow to go off on her own--even if she was only in the adjacent hallway. " I see your friend has taken a shining to our hallway of winners." Treguard said. " She's the true fan of this world. My other friends are interested in this for their own reasons, but I just don't see the point of it. I mean, I appreciate you wanting to provide kids with such an impressive immersion that tickles their imaginations, but I've seen the real thing when it comes to magic and monsters. Sorry for giving your hopes up, but we came here to ask you to send us back home." I said. " You've seen magic and monsters in your world?" " Where I'm personally from, I grew up on it." " Ah, so you were a wizard in your youth." " No, a unicorn." I said. The moment I said that, Treguard's mouth dropped in disbelief. He wasn't the only person I've encountered who gave me that exact expression. Many people I've met had looked upon me that way, and doubted my claim that I was from a world of magical equines. I lacked proof of my claim, but my words were the only thing I had that could explain how I was familiar with things most others couldn't understand. " My friends may be impressed with what you have, but I'm not like them in that regard." I said. My next thought involved gathering my friends together and demanding that Treguard send us back home, but instead he chose to keep silent before turning his back to me. I knew he was thinking about what I told him. Judging from his initial reaction, he had probably seen and heard some pretty strange things during his lifetime. He told us that during those ten years of self-exile from his homeland, he travelled about as a mercenary for hire before ultimately deciding to go back and claim his birthright. A world like this was filled with arcane creatures, powerful magic, and perhaps some things that didn't even exist in Equestria. Despite everything Treguard had experienced, was my claim enough to push him over the edge? Or, did he truly believe that I was what I said I was. " So, you're actually a unicorn?" " Yes." " That makes you the rarest individual who has ever graced these castle walls." Treguard said. It sounded like he believed me, but I couldn't drop my guard just yet. Before I had a chance to ask him to send us home, he turned towards me, a sharp piercing gaze came from his eyes, piercing my skin. " You can be sent home to where you come from, but not in the way you are thinking of. In this game, the only way you can return to your world is either conquering the dungeon, or perish within it." " Then I guess--" " And I wouldn't think about simply entering the dungeon and killing yourself in the first room. The powers that be shall prevent that from happening. You would also be doing yourself a great disservice by choosing to act in a manner that goes against the Adventurer's Code." Treguard said. " What's that?" " Seriously!?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her jaw dropped and eyes widened again. Before she answered my question, she ran up to Treguard, bowed before him a couple of times, and covered my mouth with her hand to prevent me from saying anything else. " I'm so, so sorry that my friend is slow on the uptake." I tried saying something in response to her insult, but her hand limited me to a few incomprehensible mumbles. " Sunset's usually a lot smarter than this!" She then looked at me with disdain in her eyes. " Everyone who's been here knows about the Adventurer's Code! 'Your Quest is for Truth and Justice. Attempt to remain true to them'. 'Aggression breeds aggression. It is best not to attack anything unless it appears to be attacking you, or threatening to do so'. 'Do not attack superior forces when your wits can serve you better'. Those are just three of the ten rules that make up the code." " Mmph!" I said, trying hard to speak. " The pressure of being here is slowly rotting her mind. She'd gladly read the Adventurer's Code if you happen to have a copy." " Mmph!" " There is a book over there on the table, but I think your friend isn't the only one who needs to read it." Treguard said. At that precise moment, I finally managed to get Rainbow's hand off my mouth by pulling it away with my own hands. I couldn't believe she did that to me! I also couldn't believe she insulted my intelligence just because I wasn't as interested in this show as she was. Before I could shout at her for being so immature, a book was thrust into my hands, and I looked at the cover to see what it was. The title was called "The Adventurer's Code: The Guide to Being a Good Adventurer". I had no intention of reading something trivial, so I tossed it behind my back, but Pinkie Pie caught it before it landed. " What are you doing!? Rainbow Dash said. " I'm not interested." " But you have to read it if you want to play." " Who says I have to?" " Duh! If we want to go back home, we have to play the game. You heard what Treguard said, Sunset. The only way we can go home is if we win this game, and that means playing by the rules detailed within that book. If I were you, I'd sit on that bench and read those rules until they've buried themselves in your brain." Rainbow Dash answered. The look in her eyes told me that she was dead serious. Whenever she was passionate about something, she would let you have it were you to insult it. I didn't want to destroy my friendship with Rainbow over something so petty, so I quietly took the book from Pinkie, walked over to the bench, sat down, and started reading. Everyone else then looked at Rainbow in utter shock, and she slapped her forehead knowing that she made a blunder. Without saying another word, she walked over to a corner of the room, and beckoned Pinkie and Twilight to join her much to their displeasure. Treguard and Majida remained where they stood, and I focused on reading the code. Despite my initial hesitancy of this game, I had to admit that the rules of the adventurer's code were written with the utmost detail. It also served as a reflection of the kind of person I used to be. When I was a bully, I manipulated others without remorse. I had no conscious telling me that what I was doing was wrong, so I kept on going until I was finally shown the error of my ways by Princess Twilight and my friends. Writing those rules gave me a sense that perhaps I could do more, and strive to truly be heroic. In the meantime, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight talked amongst themselves. Despite their best efforts in keeping their conversation private, I was able to hear them from my current sitting position. It paid having been a unicorn, as my ears were sharper than most humans. " That was quite the outburst you had against Sunset, Rainbow Dash." Twilight said. " I haven't seen you this mad since the time I accidentally burned one of your soccer balls in the oven." Pinkie Pie added. " Why did you do something like that?" " It was going to be a birthday surprise. I wanted her to have the bestest cake imaginable, and I thought to combine her soccer ball with some cake mix to make something she would never forget." Pinkie Pie answered, her face blushing for a few moments. " Unfortunately, things ended up going wrong when I was told that you couldn't put a soccer ball into an oven even if you had placed it into a batch of cake mix." " Sorry I asked." " Can we please focus on what's important here?" Rainbow Dash asked. " Having some guilt over how you treated Sunset?" " Guess I did go too far, but she was ridiculing something I'm passionate about." " That's because she's seen things the rest of us cannot even begin to fathom. A show like this merely tries to imitate what it can be like to experience a world full of fantasy, yet she's experienced the real thing." Twilight said. " Still, she could've at least been more enthusiastic." " You're up to something, Dashie." Pinkie Pie said. " Oh yeah? What makes you think that?" " Eh, just a hunch." " We know now that the only way we can go home is to play the game of Knightmare, right?" Rainbow Dash asked. Both Pinkie and Twilight looked at each other for a few moments before turning their gaze back to Rainbow and shrugging their shoulders. She sighed knowing that she had to once again explain something that was deemed simple. " Treguard has the magic that can send us home, but he won't use it unless we become a team who attempts to conquer the dungeon." Again, both Pinkie and Twilight looked at each other before looking back, but this time Twilight decided to speak up. " If this is true, then we need to quickly overcome our differences." Twilight said. " Our little spat aside, I think we'd make for an awesome team!" " Uh, but you're the only one who has read the adventurer's code, Dashie. Neither Twilight or I have even read let alone glanced at the cover, so how can the two of us hope to do anything without reading something that's so vital?" Pinkie Pie asked. " Don't worry about that. I already have an idea in mind." " Why do I have a feeling Sunset isn't going to be liking it?" Twilight asked. " Okay! The way this works is that three of the four team members will be the advisors. They sit on that bench Sunset's sitting on, and they guide the fourth team member around the dungeon as their eyes and eyes. They see everything and the dungeoneer's limited to what's at their feet." Rainbow Dash answered. " It must get pretty boring staring at your feet." Pinkie Pie said. " Anyway... One of us is going to have to become the dungeoneer." " Who did you have in mind?" Twilight asked. Rainbow then folded her arms behind her neck and grinned slyly before looking in my direction. Pinkie Pie and Twilight then looked in the same direction, their eyes opened wide in shock over what she was planning. In the meantime, I looked on with sweat dripping down my brow. Whenever Rainbow had that smile on her face, you knew that she was up to something. Despite getting into a petty argument over an old television show, I still valued her as a good friend whose loyalty remained impeccable. She annoyed me at times with her ego, but she had come a long way since the early days where it ballooned out of control to the point of sheer ignorance. I resumed reading the adventurer's code, my mind focused on both the rules and wondering what Rainbow was planning. I should have stopped reading there and then, and confronted my friends over what Rainbow's plan was. Had I done that, I wouldn't be where I was now. Eventually, my friends finally came out from their corner and approached Treguard, who had been acting very patiently up to that point. I thought he was going to lose control of his composure and come down on us for wasting his time, but he simply stood there and waited for something to happen. I couldn't say the same thing about Majida, however. She had lost interest the moment Rainbow lead Pinkie and Twilight aside to discuss things, yet she kept herself busy by practicing some magic on her own. " Have you all managed to come up with something?" Treguard asked. " We have!" Rainbow Dash answered. " And what would that be?" " We've decided to take on a quest for one of the four items you seek. I know Sunset agrees with me despite not having discussed it with us, but she knows that the only was for us to return home is by playing the game and either succeed or fail." Rainbow Dash answered. In most situations like that, I would have protested against such a ridiculous notion, but I knew that Rainbow was right. There was no other choice. We had to play this game of Knightmare. Still, I should have said something before Rainbow Dash announced her big unveiling. " Excellent! I knew you four would be the kind of team who wishes to play not just for the glory, but for the chance to fight in the name of truth and justice. Now then, before we can get you started on the journey that lies ahead, have you decided on your dungeoneer?" Treguard asked. " We have." " So, who has been designated as the dungeoneer?" " Sunset Shimmer!" I immediately did a double-take upon hearing Rainbow's sudden announcement. I had just been volunteered to become a dungeoneer--I still didn't understand what that was. Had my friends suddenly chosen me without asking my opinion? Why would they do something without consulting me? I felt like I had been singled out all because of my lack of enthusiasm towards something that Rainbow was passionate towards. " An excellent choice." Treguard said, his expression clearly showing excitement. The feeling wasn't mutual from my perspective. " The three of us will act as her advisors." " Hold on!" I shouted, getting up from the bench, dropping the adventurer's code book, and walking over to my friends. " Don't I get a say in this? I think it's unfair that you decided to thrust something on me without asking if I actually wanted to. You know full well that I'm not interested in this game, and simply want to go back home where we belong. If anyone should be playing this game, shouldn't that someone be you, Rainbow Dash?" I had a valid point. Rainbow had been going on and on about how awesome this show was to the point where I couldn't take much more of it. She wasn't so much as being passionate as she was trying to repeatedly drill her knowledge of Knightmare into my skull. Since she knew everything there was to know, making her the dungeoneer would have been the obvious decision. I actually thought she wanted me to become the dungeoneer as a way of getting back at me for my sudden outburst. However, there was a logical reason behind why she convinced Pinkie and Twilight to agree with her decision--I still thought it was cruel. " While that's true, I'm not the one who can do it." " And why not?" " Just being in this castle is enough for me to feel content." " That's not a good reason, Rainbow Dash!" " I know that, so let me give you one. Sunset, you're the only one who's seen an actual fantasy world with her own eyes. Heck! You lived in one for the first fifteen years of your life according to what you wrote down in that secret journal." Rainbow Dash said. She was using my personal experiences as an excuse to get me to go through with being the dungeoneer, a clever tactic, and certainly something I wasn't expecting from her. There had to be more to it than that, and sure enough, there was. " Pinkie Pie wouldn't be a good choice because of how random she can be. Can you imagine how she'd react to the fantasy world?" " Hey!" Pinkie Pie shouted, feeling offended. " I doubt the characters down there could handle her. Twilight wouldn't be a good choice either, as her smarts would be better as an advisor. Plus, I think she'd be more focused on documenting every last experience without actually trying to progress through the quest. Me? I'd love to be the dungeoneer, but I'm gonna have to pass in favour of you. There! You wanted me to give you a 'good reason', and I just did." Rainbow Dash said. " What about you, Pinkie? Twilight?" I asked. " Rainbow Dash is right about how I'm likely to want to spend my time learning everything I can about this place." Twilight answered. Stars then appeared in her eyes, and I knew that she was envisioning herself winning some kind of award for her research. " I'd have way too much fun in the dungeon! I'd throw party after party for everyone who lives down there!" Pinkie Pie said. " So what I'm saying is, you're it, Sunset." Rainbow Dash said. " But--" I said, unable to finish my sentence. " We could argue about this all day, but we really need to get things going here. I doubt Treguard and Majida want to see us arguing over who should be the dungeoneer. We've chosen you to be the one, so you've gotta go and do it." Rainbow Dash said. " But, I--" " We're ready to go!" " But, I don't--" I said, still unable to complete a coherent thought. I really wanted to protest this decision my friends had made, but my mouth simply refused to cooperate with my brain. Instead, I just stood there, eyes opened in disbelief, my mouth struggling with saying even simple words. I didn't want to do it! I just wanted to go back home! However, Rainbow quickly walked up to me and whispered something they had also discussed. I didn't like what she said. The only way we could go home was by winning Knightmare, or dying somewhere in the dungeon. The latter wasn't an option. If this was indeed real, and not the fantasy world the show portrayed before its audience, simply failing wasn't going to work. That meant only one thing... I was going to be the dungeoneer, and I was completely against it. My friends forced the decision on me because I was a pony. They used my own experiences against me. I felt violated. Treguard, who finally started moving after Rainbow whispered in my ear, laughed heartily and walked over to his throne. He rummaged behind it before coming back over with what appeared to be an old-school backpack--it was the kind you sling over your shoulder--and a shield that had a red eyeball on the front. It gave off an eerie stare that made me uneasy, but Rainbow slapped me in the back, her geeking out now becoming annoying rather than charming. I wanted my brain to tell my arms to reject these two items Treguard presented me, but my brain refused to listen to my thoughts. " Then it's time for Sunset Shimmer to be properly equipped for the journey that lies ahead." Treguard said. " Hmph! It's about time these four finally came to a decision." Majida said in a huff. " Not now, Majida! We need to get this quest underway before something goes wrong." " Do you really think this Sunset Shimmer wants to go through with it?" " It's not like she has any choice in the matter now, does she?" Treguard asked. That was his way of saying that I had a chance to back down before he gave me the items he brought from behind his throne. Had I taken it, we'd be back where we started, arguing over what to do to get ourselves out of our predicament. Instead, I just kept quiet and stared off into the distance, my mouth still trying to say something. " You are most fortunate, Sunset Shimmer. You won't be going into the dungeon completely without aid. Here is the knapsack for food, and remember that only food may go into it. Don't put in any clue objects otherwise they will be consumed, and can't be used." Treguard then slung it over my shoulder. While it did look rather tacky, I supposed it was better than going in without anything. " This. Is. So. Awesome!" Rainbow Dash said, her excitement becoming harder for her to contain. " And this, is the famous Eyeshield. You cannot see with this yourself, but it will show us the path you take." Treguard said. He grabbed my arm and slung the shield onto it before turning to face Majida. " The helmet... Where is the Helmet of Justice?" " You mean, it's not present?" Majida asked. " Well of course it's not present! We need it otherwise Sunset Shimmer won't be getting very far in the dungeon now, will she?" " So, I should get it?" " Yes!" Treguard answered. If I didn't know any better, I swore that he and Majida didn't always get along. She then walked off to another corner of the room without looking back at him, and he turned his attention back to me. " I apologize for the unexpected delay. I thought the helmet was with the other essential items of dungeoneering. Strange, as usually it would materialize along with the rest whenever a previous quest has ended--be it a good or bad ending." Majida could be heard cursing to herself as she rummaged a large pile of helmets that had been stacked up in the corner she walked towards moments ago. Why Treguard had a pile like that in this important room of his castle was something I didn't know, but I was content with not knowing. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, wanted to go over there and check out the helmets, but was refrained from doing so by Treguard. A couple of minutes later, and Majida returned with a helmet. It didn't look very impressive. Aside from the oversized horns that flanked each side of the helmet, it looked really uncomfortable to wear. Not only that, but there was no visor to see through. How was anyone supposed to see where they were going using a helmet like that? " Here we are, Treguard!" Majida said, handing the helmet over to him. " This is the original Helmet of Justice." " Are you surprised?" " As a matter of fact, yes." Treguard answered, turning towards me and my friends. " You see team, Majida was the one who introduced a new Helmet of Justice because she claimed that the old one had started to become well known to those who dwell in the dungeon depths. Apparently, she decided that Sunset Shimmer would be better off wearing the original helmet, and I can't say that I don't disagree with her choice. Still, the old one works just as well even if certain sight spells can't be used." " Maybe Sunset should have the new helmet?" Twilight asked. " Are you kidding, Twilight!? This is the classic helmet that most of the great dungeoneers who ever played the game wore!" Rainbow Dash said. " I can't deny that piece of information, but if you say so, Rainbow Dash, then I guess it will do." " Perhaps Hordriss may be willing to impart the appropriate sight spell upon Sunset Shimmer should she survive long enough to meet him." Treguard said. He raised his arms above my head, light shining off the helmet from several torches on the wall, and slowly placed it onto my head. My vision instantly vanished--I felt claustrophobic--but then I noticed that I still had some vision. It's just that it was restricted to the immediate area where my feet were. On the outside, all one could see was the lower half of my face, and the back of my hair protruding out from the helmet. " Our rules compel you to walk in danger without sight of anything but the nearest objects in front of you." Treguard said. " I'm not sure if this is a good idea." Twilight whispered. " She has to wear it! It's part of the rules." Rainbow Dash whispered. " I want to wear it!" Pinkie Pie whispered. " Advisors, you may take your places over there on the bench provided. You will also discover writing materials and the means to write down any information that Sunset Shimmer will learn throughout the course of her journey." Treguard said. I couldn't see my friends walking over to the very bench I sat on to read the adventurer's code, but I did hear them walk over to it. Each footstep they took echoed inside of the helmet, my eyes ringing out in slight pain, but that was minor considering my vision was reduced to what was beneath me. Despite it looking like a knight's helmet on the outside, it was actually rather comfy on the inside what with appropriate padding. Was this in an effort to prevent a dungeoneer from suffering some kind of trauma to the head were they to be struck by a blunt object? I hoped that was something I never discover. " You ready, Sunset?" Rainbow Dash asked. " I... I... I'm not sure if I should be doing this." I answered, finally managing to finish a sentence. " You could always refuse the quest." Treguard said. " But I thought you said that I didn't have a choice when you got me this equipment." " That was just for an added effect to improve morale for the team. Now, remember, Sunset Shimmer, that your advisors will be both your eyes and ears throughout your journey, so be sure to listen to their advice. Their voices can and will reach you through the helmet so never assume otherwise." Treguard said. " What about the quest object?" Majida asked. " Ah, yes! I failed to ask what you will attempt to reclaim, so now we shall rectify that problem. There are four classic quests that you can take part in, team, but you can only choose one of the objects: the Sword, the Shield, the Crown, or the Cup. Make your choice now." Treguard answered. " Can I still quit?" I asked. " It's too late for that, I'm afraid." " Fine! I guess I've got no other choice but to go through with this. Well, Rainbow Dash? You're the one who has the most knowledge among us regarding this game, so why don't you choose what object we go after." I said. Unlike the previous decision where Rainbow convinced Pinkie Pie and Twilight to agree with her over sending me into the dungeon as the dungeoneer, she knew exactly what quest object we were to pursue. Fortunately, I knew what she was going to say. I might have ignored much of the ramblings she spewed forth about Knightmare, but I paid close attention to what she said about the objects, especially the one no team had ever won before. Unlike most people who want an easy challenge, Rainbow was compelled to go for the challenges that were almost impossible to overcome. " We'll go for the cup." Rainbow Dash announced. " But, Treguard... No team has ever won the cup before." Majida said. " Maybe so, but perhaps this team will finally break that streak of unfortunate luck surrounding it." Treguard said. He then walked behind me, placed his hands on my back, and began pushing me forward in the direction of what I assumed was the entrance to the dungeon. " Let me guide you for the first, and last time, Sunset Shimmer. There is a portal before you, but which path it will put you on we cannot say, for these things act randomly. Your journey will be long and perilous. Advance now, and be ever cautious." Treguard said. Without saying another word to him, I began to walk forward in the direction of the dungeon entrance. In my mind, I was panicking not because of what I would encounter, but because I was unable to see anything. What had Rainbow Dash gotten me into?