> Series 1) Daring Do and the Alicorn Secret Saga
>  by AlmanacP
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1) Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone


As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle, the wet heat sapped her energy and slowed her every step. If only she could escape this oppressive atmosphere and fly up into the cool blue sky. But her crash landing in the jungle had injured her wing and she was grounded for a few days. Few days... it might as well be a few months, or a few years!
The mosquitoes buzzed loudly. The macaws cried from the high trees. Yet all of these distracting noises were not enough to cover the sound of the predators following her every step.
As a glimmer of sweat crawled its way down her muzzle, Daring Do turned to survey the area, coming in direct contact with an orange beast. A tiger with black stripes and orange fur, large jagged teeth that were like knives that glinted in the light of the tropic air as it snapped at Daring Do. A well placed duck saved her tail, as well as dodging back over a log nearby to put some obstacle and distance between her and the animal.
This might actually be interesting, with a damaged wing it would be difficult to get out unscathed, but what is adventure without some risk. The very thought itself raised a smile to the mare’s face; a smile admittedly that didn’t last long as suddenly the other predators caught up, and she found herself confronted at her flank by a ferocious panther! 
Turning for a way out, she found yet another danger in her path, a lynx with a menacing yowl, swiping at the air in warning for her to not get too close. And as she turned to assess her last exit of escape, Daring Do saw a third beast join the fray, as a deadly spotted cheetah landed nearby.

Blocked on all sides with little to no escape, it was a single ‘meow’ from nearby that gave the opportunity. Daring Do turned to see a last chance, a single direction only blocked by a small white housecat that seemed to be attempting to mimic the large beasts in ferocity, and only succeeding in becoming slightly cute.
Dashing rapidly over the housecat, Daring Do charged down a slope, dodging and weaving the trees and jungle foliage, all the while, keenly aware of the chasing predators behind her. The chase was on, and it was exhilarating!
Just when things seemed to be almost fun her path was blocked once again by a stroke of bad luck. A huge gorge lay before her, the ravine seemed to be up to twenty meters long, far too far to jump, but all was not lost.
As the beasts approached, she made a quick calculation of what needed to be done, and diving off headfirst, her muzzle latched onto a vine that hung long and low into the ravine, soon followed by her hooves wrapping tightly around her saviour. Glancing back with a profound smirk at the shocked looks upon the predators faces, she gave them a salute as she swung across the entire gorge!

Safely landing on the other side, Daring finally allowed herself a moment to breathe. She turned around to find herself face to face with the long lost temple that she had sought tirelessly for over sixty days and nights!
The smell of decay and danger hit Daring Do as she peered into the dimly-lit entrance of the ancient temple.
From the corner of her eye, slight dashes of red here and there were seen from the blackness within the skulls that lined the walls, blood red, like the glowing eyes of deathly monsters!
Walking along the dusty floor she looked up and down the ancient walls, a few things did not sit right. For starters, the torchers lighting the ancient temple were lit, a factor that not only filled Daring with concern, but also excitement of what she might discover.
Bugs littered the ground as the smell turned from decay to the old stale scent of dust, and with each step the dust got worse as more and more was kicked up from the slightest movements. It was one of those movements that seemed to almost seal her fate!
A trap below her hoof was set off, and with reflex’s that surpassed even the best of ponies, and experience which was coveted by many an adventurer, Daring Do ducked. Three sharp battle-axes suddenly flew from a trap in the wall, striking a few short distances from Daring, right where her head had been. Just as she tried to reassess her situations, shocked at how her life had almost been forfeited, the floor gave way!
The tiles below slid out of place revealing a chasm below, diving forward away from the chasm proved a smart move as the hole was suddenly engulfed in flames. But this was only the beginning of her troubles; the moment she landed from her jump, the corner of her eye and instinct told her to duck once more, slamming herself to the ground she looked up into the snapping jaws of three monstrous alligators. Determined not to be dissuaded from her mission, she crawled below them out of reach, their breath fouling the air with its stench and droplets of their saliva messing her mane. The moment she found herself clear she realised her trials were not yet over. Jumping high to avoid a slicing pendulum from the ceiling she landed only to duck as a dart from the holes in one wall almost struck her muzzle, as another sliced near her feet she clambered over it, keeping her head down as another dart struck overhead. As three more darts came her way, she jumped on the first to hit the wall and used it as momentum to jump out of the way of the other two, landing and turning, poised to fend off any more dangerous foes that may challenge her. But with a quick glance she saw just in time a circular area on the floor near her back, a rapid arch of her spine allowed her to narrowly avoid a large black spike that could have done her some nasty harm.
To her dismay the floor was riddled with spikes, jumping frantically to avoid one after another, she saw at the end of this corridor was a stone door that was open…but rapidly closing!
Realising she didn’t have much time, Daring dashed forward and galloped for the door!
The spikes were fast, forcing her to weave left and right, but her fear soon turned to an adrenaline fuelled determination to exceed and surpass such obstacles, and with a final light jump, she landed on her back, skidding in the dirt and coming to a halt halfway through the closing stone door. With only a single moment’s pause, she looked up to see the stone baring down on her face, several tons of stone death that would have ended her adventure permanently, were it not for her fast reflexes and managing to pull herself from under the door at just the last moment.
Taking a single moment to breathe easier she wiped the sweat from her brow, feeling mighty pleased with herself. This may be a heavily fortified ancient temple with traps and dangerous foes, but for Daring, it was just another day on the job!
Smiling smugly she began to take a step before suddenly the place erupted in tremors, stone and rubble falling from the ceiling she looked around and couldn’t help but let out a groan of frustration, simply wanting the traps to be over. A part of the ceiling caved in and vicious monkeys hung down on low hanging vines from the roof, crawling out of the new hole. Daring tried to dodge the rubble as the monkeys shot darts at her, she dashed for the door, and flipping up her hat she used it to take the hit of several darts, carrying it in her teeth as she galloped through the door just as it closed. Sighing she brushed the darts from her pith helmet, annoyed at the holes that her favourite attire now sported.
Her hat was something she didn’t like being messed with, so by this point she felt herself becoming rather annoyed with this particular temple, but as she was already well on her way through the ancient structure, she had to continue the adventure, so found herself turning around to look at the room.
As she turned her head, as if guided by a force unseen, the light from an oculus hole in the ceiling glided its way along the room and coming to rest on the pedestal in the centre, the pedestal harbouring what she had been searching for all this time.
Daring Do stood at the entrance to the central temple chamber. At last, she was face-to-face with the legendary Sapphire Statue!
She was about to take a step before she stopped herself and looked down at the ground. Of course, another trap. The ground was bronzed and littered with a cross section design, with each square in the cross section harbouring a different image.
Looking around for signs of what the trap might lead to, she saw holes in the walls, likely more darts, and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to dodge them all this time. To test her theory she looked by her feet and found a small rock or piece of rubble, its origins didn’t matter; it would be useful as a test. Kicking it into the room she watched as it activated one of the floor stones. With a mechanical whir the stone sunk into the ground and arrows shot from the wall in the hundreds. She looked at the result of a wall covered with arrows and realised she would have to figure out the proper way to get through this trap rather that galloping headfirst. Looking down at the images on the ground she tried to assess the possibilities.
“Huh, there must be a pattern here.” She found herself saying aloud, looking over each of the pictures. “What do all these animals have in common?” She asked to herself, she could see there was something, and it didn’t take her mind long to piece together the clues. “Ah hah!” She cried joyously at her own skill. “These animals are all predators!” She remarked, looking over the pictures on the ground until she found one in particular. “Except…RATS!”
Putting her theory to the test she eagerly sent her hoof down to the nearest stone with the depiction of a rat, slowing her hoof at the last second out of hesitation she gently tapped the stone, and applied pressure.
Sweating profusely in nervousness, fear and quite a bit of excitement at the adventure, she breathed a sigh of relief when the rat stone held her weight and set off no traps, which in and of itself was a nice change considering the last fifteen minutes of darts and alligators.
Climbing onto the stone entirely, keeping all four hooves in line, she looked for the nearest other rat stone, and jumped to it confidently, making sure she kept her balance. Precision leaping wasn’t usually an issue, but with a damaged wing her balance was off, and while she found herself doing well, she felt a little more unsteady than usual.

Hoping, skipping and jumping from one to another she found the gaps between each rat stone getting larger and larger, almost overbalancing herself at the last she leapt onto her front hooves and kicked off, and flipping in the air to land with graceful poise on the steps nearby in safety.
Despite the unusual difficulty of such feats without the balance of her right wing, she found herself grinning through the sweat that slid down her face, knowing that even with a broken wing, she was still awesome!
Arriving face to face with the blue sparkling statue she observed it. The blue sapphire sent shimmers of reflective light over the ground and walls, the twin jackal design was elegant and fierce…and the pedestal was OBVIOUSLY booby-trapped.
But how to get the statue without setting off the trap? That was always the hardest part.
Rubbing her hooves together she looked around the pedestal and took a deep breath, wiping her brow she prepared to commit the hardest act her adventure would likely conjure up. She took a deep breath, smiled slightly…and yanked the statue away in her maw. Stashing the statue in her pith helmet her smirk faded when she turned to the pedestal. A long piece of the rock in a perfectly cylindrical shape rose from where the statue had once sat. It shook for a moment before falling through leaving a circular hole in the top of the pedestal.
The place erupted in quakes!
Realising the place was about to come down on her head she tried to run the way she’d came, only to find the floor break away at her touch to reveal boiling lava. The heart permeated the entire room and made it hard to breath, her mane was singed slightly just from being so close and for a single moment she felt concerned she may not make it out of the temple.
The lava began to rise and backing up on the stairs she realised that it was getting increasingly difficult to find a way out, the roof was caving in, the heat made it hard to think and boiling magma didn’t do good for the complexion of mares such as Daring Do.
Jumping to the top of the stares and even climbing onto the pedestal seemed to best case as the lava rose ever higher and concerningly fast.
Opportunity and sheer luck however changed her fate as a pillar from the wall became loose and fell, smashing into another to create a decent climbable structure near the oculus in the ceiling.

The heat was unbearable, the air was barely able to be breathed, and with a broken wing she had little balance, constant pain and sweat hanging from her brow making her feel stuffy and constrained. But every inch of her was determined to survive!
She dived onto a nearby fallen pillar and from there to the other fallen one near the oculus. She ran up it and gazed up into the freedom the oculus provided, if only she could reach it.
Just as the last edge of her safe heaven on top of the fallen pillar became engulfed by the lava, Daring jumped!
She dived for the oculus and with quick reactions caught on the edge with her teeth and muzzle, struggling momentarily only before pulling herself up out of the stifling heat and into the jungle air, but as she was about to pull herself from the oculus entirely, a backdraft eruption of volcanic pressure rushed up from below her, launching her into the air. She fell a short way away, landing face first, the sapphire statue falling from her hat and landed in a standing position nearby. She looked up, feeling dazed only to find before her the being known as Ahuizotl blocking her way.
His voice struck the air like the chords of a deep musical instrument, but the melodic words were all but poison to Daring’s ears.
"You thought you could evade me and capture the relic for yourself, but you are sadly mistaken, Miss Do. And now, you shall meet your doom!" He says, grasping the statue Daring had only just acquired.
As Daring Do attempted to crawl towards him, Ahuizotl blew on a whistle in the shape of a ginger cat, a high pitched whistle sounding out into the forest.
In less than a second the mare found herself surrounded on all sides by the monsters pets, the lynx, cheetah, tiger and panther, all harbouring weapons in their muzzles, weapons like clubs, ropes, and flails. Even the small white housecat was there, snuggling up against the tiger’s feet, the great orange beast paying the kitten no mind as he glared at Daring, growling darkly.
With a dark and menacing laugh, Daring Do knew she was captured.

Lying upon the altar of an ancient temples main chamber, Daring Do struggled with her bonds.
“You won’t get away with this, Ahuizotl!” She shouted, glaring at her captor.
With a sneer her captor simply shrugged.
“But I already have.” He said nonchalantly as he turned towards a wall, grasping a red handled lever and pulling it down with a mechanical click.
The ground began to rumble and shake and dust fell from the ceiling as it felt like once again, she was in a collapsing temple.
“Ugh, not again!” She huffed in frustration as Ahuizotl took it upon himself with his pets to leave the central chamber with a wave to Daring Do, whom he assumed was about to meet her doom.
The walls at either side of Daring Do suddenly erupted in huge spikes and both walls began closing in on the mare at rapid pace. Trapped in a shaking temple, dust and rubble falling down, tied to an alter while spiked walls came at either side was not usually the kind of adventure Daring Do wanted to have, but it was unfortunately a reoccurring scene in her chosen profession.
As if that wasn’t enough, as the spikes got closer, spiders began to crawl out and around the spikes, all of which venomous, and out of a hole in an ancient design on the wall near her head, cobra’s slid out and into the room. Trapped on all sides by spikes, closing walls, and deadly creatures Daring couldn’t find a single way she’d be able to escape this, and only hoped that like in the previous chamber, an escape would present itself of its own accord.
As though the universe were trying to simply make it seem completely hopeless, the final nail to seal the desperation of the moment occurred when Daring realised the altar was sinking.
“Quicksand!” She exclaimed, looking down to see the evidence of her own words. As the sand rose higher and higher, and the walls got closer and closer, she tossed and turned to try and find a way to break her bonds, her hat falling onto her chest. She thought for a moment and looked around, looking at the spikes and the stone design where the snakes had come from.
Realising she only had one chance to pull this off; she hooked her lower hoof into the pith helmet and latched onto the other side with her teeth. Stretching the hat like a rubber band she aimed and let it go. Bouncing off of a spike at the perfect angle it flung at the design, striking it and spinning momentarily from the collision, the hat fell, striking another spike only to bounce off and hit another. As though with a perfect pinball effect the hat flung around the room as the chamber got smaller and smaller with each passing moment, Daring found herself being forced to hold her breath before she became engulfed by the suffocating sand.
The hat managed to bounce just right and strike the same handle Ahuizotl had used, switching its position. The walls rapidly retracted once again enlarging the room, the alter rose from the sand and with a gasp of air she wrenched herself up and out of her bonds, spitting sand to the ground. Knocking sand from her ears she looked to a stone door that rapidly opened to reveal a perfect blue sky and jungle beyond. She found herself smirking.
“Another day, another dungeon.”

Meanwhile, stroking his white housecat who purred happily in his lap, Ahuizotl laughed to himself as he relished in his belief of Daring Do’s demise.
“With Daring Do out of the way, the world will suffer mightily at my hands.” He said mirthfully. “I am Victorious!” He shouted happily, cackling to himself as he held the twin jackal Sapphire Statue up with his tail.
It was during such a laugh that suddenly the statue was taken from his tail, with the words, “I’ll take that!” Punctuating the air as Daring Do used a rope to swing away with the prize.

“What?” He called out as she landed a distance off on a ledge. “No!” He called out after her, shaking his fist in rage.
With a prideful smirk Daring Do looked down upon her foe.
“Better luck next time Ahuizotl!” She shouted down to him after stashing the statue in her bag. With a tip of her hat she galloped away to the resounding cries of her enemy behind her. “Curse you Daring Do!”
And so, with Ahuizotl defeated, and the sapphire statue secured...the world was safe and sound once again, thanks to Daring Do!


The End!

> 2) Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Daring Do and the Griffon’s Goblet




As a little filly Daring Do gazed down at the school book in front of her staring at the smaller strip of paper she had tucked away and hidden from the teacher’s eyes. The paper was a clipping from the Fillydelphia Times detailing an interview with Bravely Blue, an adventurous mare that had braved an underwater sunken city, fought off greedy pirates and bandits and managed to bring back a golden tablet!
Daring stared at the image of the tablet hungrily, in the centre of it there was a design surrounded by the ancient text that littered its surface. The symbol was a lightning bolt!
Feeling almost like squealing in excitement, the young Daring read the article for the fourth time, she swung her legs paying no mind to the school work she should be doing.


‘The beautifully brilliant Bravely Blue battles battalions of bold bandits and bad pirates with barely a rope and brings back a beautiful golden block.
Coming back with barely a scratch and donating the ancient relic dating over a thousand years old, she once again lives up to her reputation as perhaps the greatest adventurer and treasure hunter Equestria has seen.
The relic is plated in solid gold with strange symbols over it, much of the language is written in ancient Equestrian and the parts that are legible seem to be part of an old legend or poem “…cærulei ad circuli sinus. Patera possessor est cordis Magnus scriptor magicae custodiam vasi unguibus. SPATALIUM in A ter clusit et…” The rest is completely illegible but Bravely Blue believes that the closest translation from the original ancient Equestrian is, “…the blue at circles bay. A goblet holder of the heart, Great magic’s vessel with talons guard. A bangle locked and sealed in…” and she also believes the poem to be part of a much larger text that gives clues to how to access other great treasures of the past. In her interview she went on to say-’


Daring was yanked from her reading by a loud voice next to her.
“Miss Diane Daring Danger Do, what do you think you’re doing?” A voice said from overhead as the paper was pulled away.
Daring looked up and eeped as she came face to face with Mrs Blossom, the violet teacher of the class.
“I…I…” The young foal stuttered, trying to find an excuse.
“You should pay attention Miss Do, or the world will be mine!”
“But I was just...what?” The filly looked up in confusion and her eyes widened as what had been Mrs Blossom before, suddenly became the monstrous ape-like form of Ahuizotl!
His callous deep laugh echoed around the room darkly as his claw raised, the young filly screamed as the claw struck down towards her!

Daring Do launched herself up from her sleeping bag yelling into the night, her yell joined by the flash of lightning and a deafening roar from thunder overhead, it was raining, and the only protection Daring had from the cold wetness, was a thin sheet of tarp propped on sticks.
“It…was just a dream.” She said to herself. Thunder struck overhead once more, making her twitch. Still feeling jumpy after the nightmare, she sighed and lay back down.
She’d been on the trail of this ancient artefact for a while now; in fact it was the longest she’d searched for anything. Daring had entered the tropical jungle, four hundred miles due west of where she had acquired the Sapphire Statue, the jackal formed jewel that now sit securely in a high security museum up the country. But these jungles were thick and the constant rainfall had made her trek more difficult. She’d thought about flying above the clouds now her wing had long since mended, but the cloud cover was so bad that she wouldn’t be able to search for the artefact from up there. She was once again forced to be grounded, and this time it wasn’t for just a few days….she hadn’t been able to fly for fifteen weeks!
Three and a half months had passed on this journey, three and a half months of being grounded, and three and a half months of dankness, rain and a stifling heat under the moisture that felt suffocating. It was reaching the point where Daring was considering turning back, but then again, she had a reputation to think of. Daring Do never gave up! But such thoughts were easy in the beginning; they were always easy to be cocky, to be the best. She had worked hard at being the best, but there comes a point in every pony’s journey when their resolve was truly tested to the limit; Daring figured this was her test.
She WOULD pass it!
She was Daring Do!
Danger was her middle name…literally.
With confident resolve she packed up her stuff and sealed her saddle bag, glaring into the foliage she gave herself a small smirk and galloped into the rain.
The brambles scraped at her hooves and muzzle as she pushed and ran through the thick jungle. Dashing over roots and fallen trees, she braved the jungle with a fierce grin. She’d been at this too long, spent too many bits and ran through far too much of her reserves to back down now, she would find that temple!
Daring often frequented temples in her treasure hunting, but lately it seemed to be quite the tradition. The legend said that an ancient temple had been swallowed by the jungle and held an item said to be the holder of some of the greatest magic in the world!
Such an object would likely be very dangerous. She couldn’t let anyone else take it and use it to hurt somepony. It needed to go to a museum.
So she ran, furiously determined to make as much progress as possible.
As she galloped she skidded uncertainly a few times due to the muddy ground, looking down for a moment to make sure she was still stable she nodded to herself before looking up with a smirk. The smirk didn’t last long as Daring heard a loud yelp sound out of her own mouth and felt her own eyes go wide before her brain even caught up to what was so surprising. There was a slope. She tried to stop in time but her attempts seemed to be in vain as she slipped and went over. The world seemed to slow as she fell before she struck the cold muddy floor.
Groaning, she tried to get herself to a standing position before suddenly the ground gave way. She grasped hold of a root as darkness erupted below her as the ground of the jungle seemed to crumble into a chasm below!
Her hooves began to lose their grip as she slid down; terror gripped her as she began to slip down further and further.
Daring Do suddenly lost her grip and fell down into the darkness below, but she would not let this defeat her. As the rocks crumbled and fell around her she flapped her wings, guiding her decent at a nearby wall, bracing against it she kicked out into the darkness, striking the hard floor, rolling and landing on her hooves. The sound of crumbling settled as the cave-in finally ceased. She looked back and saw what her rapid aerial acrobatics had saved her from. The way was entirely blocked; giant grey boulders blocked all but a sliver of light from a few cracks. She wasn’t getting out that way; she hoped the cave lead to a way to the surface.
Looking around, the light from some of the gaps in the rocks seemed to reflect off of something in the corner. She approached it and found the glinting object buried into the wall and covered in soil. She began to dig at the rock and soil with her hoof until the object came free, kicking it slightly with her hoof she noticed its weight, but managed to manoeuvre the object into a dim beam of light.
Daring gasped as she stared down onto the surface of a broken solid gold tablet. It had inscriptions over it, and in the centre there was a deep engraving of a triangle within three circles. She looked over the inscriptions and found most of them illegible. She found a small paragraph near the bottom that was almost able to be read:

“…SPATALIUM in A ter clusit et signavit,
Sequuntur videlicet sola mures.
Cornu sense de osse manet,…”

Her eyes widened and she considered the small poetry extract for a moment before something clicked.
“‘SPATALIUM in A ter clusit et signavit’? I’ve read that somewhere.” She exclaimed aloud. “But where?” She asked herself, unable to recall why it seemed so familiar.
She looked around the cave but unfortunately it was difficult to see, guiding the golden tablet she angled it to reflect the light, using it as a torch. She ran the light over the walls until it rested on what seemed to be an old fire torch. Daring grinned, packing the tablet into her bag she approached the torch; pulling a large match from her saddlebag she lit the tip on the wall and set the torch alight.
At once the cave was illuminated by the bright flame, the dancing lights flickered over the rock walls, and a quick glance told Daring that at the very least…she wasn’t trapped.
There were two directions to go, one nearby that led into the darkness, and another dark passage at the other end. Standing between them she looked them both up and down, thinking about it.
Daring chuckled and just closed her eyes, spreading her wings she waited, focusing. Pegasus wings were very sensitive to air currents, they had to be. All she had to do was wait for a light breeze…THERE!
Daring ran down the left passage rapidly. The breeze had flicked her left wing, telling her that the air was flowing in this cavern. That meant it had to be the way out!
She turned a corner, following the breeze, her wings slightly unfolded to catch the air currents. Turning another corner she stopped, blinded by a sudden light, shielding her eyes with her wing. When her eyes adjusted she moved her wing away, and came face to face with an entire golden city!
The city was under a huge dome of earth, and at the top was an oculus hole that let the light glare down.
“Wow…” She said, her voice echoing out around the cavern. “It’s…it’s the lost city of Eldarodeo!” She exclaimed. This was not what she had planned to find, a temple or two would have done her well, the jungle in this part of Equestria was full of them, but an entire golden city!
Daring stepped forward and began looking over the buildings, walking through the empty streets. The place was very bright, the gold reflecting the light from the oculus above. The streets were gold, the houses were gold, and the towers were gold. Everything shone and gleamed perfectly, time never having dulled the metal’s gleam. Daring Do approached one of the buildings and looked closely at the shiny surface, her reflection perfectly presented in the gleaming metal. As she looked something behind her dashed by, she turned to face it, glaring, looking left to right, but only still gleaming buildings met her gaze.
“Who’s there?” She called out firmly, her eyes narrowed as she gazed around her, listening carefully. But she couldn’t hear anything, which suddenly felt so odd. She couldn’t figure out why till she looked at the oculus. The large circular hole in the roof was bright, it looked like sunlight was glaring through…but wasn’t it raining outside? If so, why wasn’t the rain falling through the hole?
Forgetting the movement she’d seen, Daring Do readied herself to fly. It had been too long and her wings had started to cramp. Stretching them and her hind legs she dived into the air, her powerful wings launching her.
The thrill of flight hit her hard, the air soaring through her grey-scale mane as the adventurous mare dashed airwards for the large hole to solve the mystery it seemed to keep.
She burst through for the second time into a glaring brightness; she was momentarily blinded before she hit a wall. Momentarily dazed she fell down onto her back, the world spinning. Perhaps it really had been too long since she’d flown; that was a rookie move. Chastising herself mentally she climbed to her hooves and shook her head, the world slowly coming to a standstill. She sighed and looked around her. The room she was in was smaller than the cavern below, but still the walls were solid gold, but these ones were readily lit by fire torches. Looking around herself she noted that the room was perfectly circular, the walls reflected the fire so much the place seemed a lot brighter than the cavern below.
Daring sighed, the room not looking anything special, until she turned to see the wall she had struck mid-flight.
Daring Do’s eyes widened as she gazed upon a wall of ancient text, in the centre where five slots, two of which occupied by golden tablets, and three where missing.
Daring do gazed over the text, and found that the tablets all had writing in ancient Equestrian. Daring began reading the two tablets, but found they made no sense; she couldn’t understand what they were talking about before an idea struck her. Taking out the golden tablet from her pack she’d found in the cave, she slotted it into one of the gaps where some tablets were missing; it took her a few tries before she found the correct place. It was a poem!
Daring began to read aloud.

“Septem Objecta insunuent,
Magia dirigi ad divina,
Bullas est senex et plenus mendaciis,
Quibus videlicet ius aliud quod dividit.
Draconum invenitur in templis avaritia,
Sed ubi deficiunt venator mures succedunt.
A clavis aurea viam reseret,
intra-”

She stopped there as some of the text went onto one of the missing tablets, looking down she continued reading out what she could make out of the other parts.

“-SPATALIUM in A ter clusit et signavit,
Sequuntur videlicet sola mures.
Cornu sense de osse manet,
Equestri coloribus cæruleo queritur.
Ultimam partem, non dici potest,
Sed ab iis inveniri-”

She stopped as the rest was missing from the final part. She sat back on her rump and looked over the poem again and again; there was one part that stuck out in her mind.
“’Draconum invenitur in templis avaritia,
Sed ubi deficiunt venator mures succedunt.’?” She said to herself, thinking. Daring Do wasn’t the best with ancient Equestrian, but she was sure it was something like ‘A Jackal found in temples greed, Where hunters fail but prey succeed’, she was sure that was the closest translation.
“Could that be talking about the Sapphire Statue?” She asked herself, remembering how in the final and most important test of the temple, she had been forced to step on only rats, because the other stones on the floor had been predators, and stepping on a predator meant the stone would break and the result was a little more than a bad case of hot-hoof.
A clambering noise behind her made her turn towards the hole in the centre of the floor; she popped her head down and saw something run from one of the golden buildings to the other. She couldn’t tell what it was…but she could tell it had wings. Big black wings.
Daring turned back to the wall, she wanted to keep the poem, feeling that it was important somehow. She got an idea and pulled out some rubbing paper from her saddleback. Pressing the paper with one hoof over the poem, she used the other with some chalk to rub over the paper, at once the rubbing started working. She was getting a perfect copy of the ancient Equestrian poem!
She grinned as she looked at her finished work. “I am so awesome.” She told herself, chuckling as she put the rubbing in her saddlebag. Glancing over the hole again she saw no movement, jumping down she glided and landed deftly on the top of a building.
Looking around Daring tried to see a way she could escape the large cavern, the breeze she had felt before had to have come from somewhere. She spread her wings and moved left and right, the moment she picked up the breeze she flew in that direction. A corner of her mind still pondered about the strange winged creature that had moved among the buildings, but she figured it was a mystery she didn’t really need to solve. The way out however, that was a mystery the mare desperately wanted to know.
Daring Do raced between the buildings, searching for the origins of the air currents; spinning around a tower she shot under a bridge and soon the gaps between the buildings grew wider as she reached the outskirts of this city of gold. Ahead she saw an opening in the side of the cave, it looked dark and dangerous, but Daring Do could tell it was where the air was coming from, and the air had to be coming from somewhere, right?
She flew towards it and landed just before the opening, gazing now into the dark depths of the cave. Putting one cautious step in front of the other, Daring walked through the opening and into the blackness beyond, aware that with every step, she could be walking towards her very doom!
The darkness surrounded her, but still she walked, making sure to keep close to the wall, her wing gently sliding over the rock to make sure she didn’t lose her way. The air seemed to get less stuffy and Daring gasped as she found herself in another smaller cavern than the last, but this one wasn’t filled with an ancient golden city from Equestrian legend, it was filled with stars!
The walls twinkled and shined like a hundred constellations, shining brightly in the most beautiful of ways. Daring couldn’t help but stand and admire the beautiful sight, but it was as she admired the view, that something moved in the darkness.
Daring, being a seasoned adventurer, was on guard instantly. Dangers lurked around every corner for a mare like Daring Do, and the grey-scale maned pony was always at the ready for such surprises.
Listening to the darkness, Daring Do stood still, looking for any movement in the blackness around, any sound that reached her senses, and any motion that stirred the air. A roar tore through the cavern and Daring Do dashed to the side, rolling on the hard rocky floor as the ground shook from the impact of a great claw!
Something, black as a shadow and as large as a manticore, stood before her; reflective eyes glowing in the dark and a low rumbling growl that stood the fur on Daring Do’s flank on end.
A claw struck down and Daring was forced to back off, jumping out of the way as rubble exploded from the huge talon that struck the ground. A loud primal screech filled the room, rebounding off of the walls and hurting her ears. She saw in the darkness the outline of the enormous beast, but she also felt a breeze from behind her. She turned and ran, using her wings to guide her through the dark, following the breeze that fluttered her feathers. She yelped as a sharp rock hit her right wing, biting her lip and running despite the now throbbing pain. Bursting out into a larger cave she gasped, looking around at the ceiling that still resembled stars in a beautiful night sky, even if it was really just glowing crystals in the rock.
Knowing what it was didn’t take away its beauty though, and for a moment Daring Do found herself admiring the view before a loud screech from the tunnel behind her made her remember the danger. She dashed for another tunnel to her left, jumping over a fallen stalactite and bounding round a corner to see a glowing light in the distance. Picking up the pace she dashed through the opening and into a smaller chamber, but it wasn’t empty.
There in the centre of the chamber was a pedestal, and on that pedestal, glowing gently in the dull light, the walls sparkling with starry crystals, was a silver cup.

Daring Do approached the object gently, looking around for any sign of traps, but there didn’t seem to be any. She circled the goblet. Could this be what she’d been looking for? But how could something like this be the holder of ancient power? Sure, goblets hold stuff, like water or wine or apple cider but that didn’t mean they held POWER.
The roar behind her snapped her attention back to her pursuer, she wondered what the beast was, but it was always too dark to see it properly. She grabbed the Goblet in her maw and stuffed it in her saddlebag before heading back down the tunnel she’d come from; sadly, there wasn’t another way out. She reached back into one of the open caverns and saw the outline of the black beast nearby, she dashed for another tunnel.
Daring could hear the approach of the great beast as she burst out into the light of the golden city, glancing over her shoulder she saw that despite the light, the monstrous creature chasing her was still dark, as though made of the very night.
She galloped around a corner and dived through a low window, hiding on the inside. Her heart pounded in her chest as she panted, she could hear the soft clatter of approaching talons on the golden cobbled streets.
When she heard it go past, she glanced out of the window and looked at the beast properly for the first time.
It was a griffon, but a griffon the likes of which she had never seen.
Black feathers donned the giant beast that was more than twice the size of any griffon Daring Do had ever seen, the talons alone were as large as a pony’s head and the eyes glowed brightly in a way that sent a shiver down the adventurer’s spine.
She backed away from the window and turned around, the inside of the building was still gold, but tattered. It looked like it had once been lived in, golden tables and chairs that were huge in size. She noted a griffon’s bed; they were always easy to spot, large things made out of wood and always gnawed at the edges, a habit of griffons in their sleep.
Daring Do felt the pieces fit together in her mind. The Ancient Golden City of Eldarodeo had once been inhabited by griffons!
And if the bed was any indication…big ones.
Daring Do would wager that the ancient city had once been inhabited by griffons like the one outside, big and black, but if that’s the case, then how had it been down here so long?
It was a mystery she wasn’t sure she could solve, but what she knew she really needed to do was get out of here. She prepared herself and dashed out of the window. Her wing had still been hurting where she caught it but it wasn’t actually damaged, so biting through the odd sting she forced herself out as fast as possible.
She heard a terrifying screech behind her and the griffon was on her tail!
She dashed round several corners as the beast gained on her, but Daring Do could only grin.
“You think you’re faster than me, do ya?” She said before angling her wings, catching the gust and rocketing forward as fast as she could, pulling away from her adversary. She went into a tunnel, turned a corner, entered a cavern, turned another corner, dodged a stalagmite and began to see a light ahead!
Daring Do heard a crash behind her as the griffon began flying down the tunnel loudly; the sharp rocks above her began to fall!
Spikes lashed down powerfully and Daring had to dodge back and forth, ducking under one and round another, her tail getting clipped painfully but soon she burst into the light! It blinded her for a second; she spun in the air, dived to the floor and landed in a cloud of dust. She grinned. “Another day…another adventure.” Sitting back she sighed gently.

The ground shook beneath her as a claw wrenched up and slashed at her, she dashed back and the tip of her hat was sliced open. She stepped back as the giant black griffon crawled its way out of the ground, the floor crumbling behind him. He screeched and ran at her, claws waving viciously, she leapt to the side as he ripped right through a tree that had been behind her. She charged at him, her right forehoof pulled back for a strike when he turned and lashed at her, striking her and sending her sprawling across the hole in the ground and against a tree.
The large griffon began to approach, and Daring noticed the ground beginning to crumble near her. She narrowed her eyes and grinned, the beast charged at her, and at the last second, she dashed to the side, turned and bucked out with her hind hooves.
Daring’s powerful kick hit the griffin in the side, causing the beast to stumble perilously close to the edge of the hole. Daring turned to the beast and smirked.
“Next time, pick on a pony less awesome than me.” She sneered before stamping her hoof once, causing the rocks to split. The ground caved in, and the griffon shrieked as it fell to its doom.
Daring Do finally allowed herself a moment to relax, she turned away and began walking. Within a day she reached a town and her informant. She passed on the goblet to be placed into a safe place when a purple Pegasus flew up; his name was Swiftcall and constantly delivered her important news when she needed it.
“Daring Do! I have urgent news!” He landed nearby and out of breath.
“What is it?” Daring Do asked rapidly, her eyes wide. There wasn’t usually an emergency unless…a certain someone was involved.
“It’s the Sapphire Statue!” He yelled. “It’s been stolen!”
Daring Do felt the fur on the back of her head stand up.
“W-who?” She hesitated, already feeling she knew the answer.
“Ahuizotl!” He exclaimed.
Daring Do narrowed her eyes.
“I knew it.” She said. “But why?” She said loudly. “Why would Ahuizotl steal the Sapphire Statue again? Why would he go through the trouble and take the risk? Why does he need it so badly?” She asked herself. But as the creeping up her spine continued, Daring Do got the distinct feeling, that those were questions she’d find out the answer to….very, very soon.

> 3) Daring Do and the Search for the Golden Key
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Daring Do and Search for the Golden Key




Walking upon the cobbled ground beneath her had never before been so unnerving and daunting to Daring as it did today. The Pegasus closed her eyes, the deafening sounds around her were both familiar and alien after so long. 
Daring Do opened her eyes and gazed up at the college of her past.
This was where she had learnt her trade.
This was Clopsdale Academy of Archaeology!
There was a certain someone here that she needed to see.
Entering the door Daring Do found her way through the corridors to her old classroom, the place even smelled like it used to, a mixture of sweat, old socks, and the thirst for adventure and discovery (which weirdly smelled like cinnamon).
Peering through the door window Daring looked upon a lecture, the room was filled with teen fillies and colts, all rapt to attention at their teacher’s words. Daring listened to the lecture, and smiled as she found it to be one she had heard before.
“What is your most important tool to have with you in a dangerous tomb?” The teacher’s voice asked loudly with the hint of a smirk.
“A flashlight!?” A young filly asked loudly.
“Your whip!?” A colt answered with an unsure voice.
“A sword!” An enthusiastic young pony called from the middle.
“Your notebook.” Daring Do chimed in from the door, walking down the side of the lecture room, all eyes turning towards her. “Well, two things really, your notebook, and your quill.” She grinned, looking to the shocked expression on the teacher’s face, a face that soon softened into a smirk.
“Why a notebook?!” Said the enthusiastic pony, sounding offended.
“Because if you’re smart, you’d have already filled your notebook with all the information you could find out about the tomb, letting you be ready for anything you might find inside.” She said, smiling at the teacher. “A true adventurer always knows that their knowledge and mind must always be sharper than any sword to survive.”
The teacher turned away from Daring and looked to the rest of the class. “I want a two hundred word essay by next week on the dangers of being unprepared, and the importance of information, titled, ‘The Quill Is Mightier Than the Sword’. Dismissed”
Daring watched as the students file out and soon they were alone.
“Diane.” The teacher smiled.
“Beatrice.” Daring greeted before the ponies embraced each other as old friends.
“How have you been?” The teacher asked softly.
Daring Do looked her up and down to see how the years had affected her; her blue coat had lost a lot of its shine, but a spark was still within those yellow eyes of hers. Her red mane still swayed down her shoulders, lush as it ever had been, but now sporting small grey hairs.
This was Beatrice Bravely Blue, this was the legendary adventurer that had inspired many a colt and filly into the field of archaeology, this was Daring Do’s old teacher.
“Pretty good, got myself some new pieces lately.” She smiled, seeming to be proud of herself.
Bravely Blue smirked. “So I’ve heard.” She said as her face twisted into a knowing smile that made Daring uncomfortable. “A nice answer to the class question by the way, too bad that lesson didn’t serve you on your trip through the jungle a few weeks ago.”
Daring’s heart stopped and suddenly she felt her cheeks warm as shame made her flush pink. “Oh…you heard about that.”
Bravely Blue nodded.
“You went running straight after a rumour, right after handing over a priceless artefact, didn’t look after said artefact leading it to get stolen, while you yourself spent months soaked in a monsoon, eating berries, and eventually falling into an ancient city where you were almost killed by a black griffon.”
Daring shuffled her hooves nervously; Bravely Blue always had a way of making her feel like a young filly again.
Daring sighed, shook her head and pulled herself up. She was a great adventurer now; her name was on the lips of hundreds of thousands of ponies worldwide! She wasn’t a filly anymore.
“I’m not a filly anymore.” She said, her voice squeaking more than she’d meant it too. Clearing her throat she looked to her old teacher. “I’m a great adventurer; sure I could have prepared a little better, but I came back with the prize, discovered an ancient long lost city, and found something that I think you might be interested in.”
Bravely Blue just smiled. “Well then young mare, let’s see if you can peak my interest.” She said, the soft smile once again turning into a smirk.
Daring took that challenge and pulled out the rubbing of the poem she had found in the ancient city.
Laying down and weighting down each corner of the rolled up paper she let Bravely Blue see the rubbing. Her old teacher’s eyes lit up upon seeing what was before her, her lips moving as she read silently.
“It’s Ancient Equestrian as I’m sure you can see, but I can’t read it personally. I can only make out bits and pieces, I figured with you being the foremost expert, you could help out.”
She chuckled. “Of course I can, no one beats me in translations.” She said grinning. She laid out the paper and began to read aloud. Halfway through she stopped and looked over the rest. “Some is missing, but I recognise some of this. Let me continue.” She said, reading the rest of what was written. She paused afterwards and hummed gently.
“This doesn’t make sense…unless…”
Bravely Blue turned to Daring.
“The surface you got this from? Was it a collection of golden tablets?” She asked curiously.
Daring nodded. “Yeah, they were all positioned together and on a wall.”
Bravely Blue grinned and ran to a cupboard; opening it up she dove in and began throwing out artefacts, a vase of untold price smashed nearby and Daring grit her teeth at the carnage. Soon there was a loud “Gotcha!” and she burst out, dragging with her a golden tablet.
Daring suddenly remembered it; this was the artefact Daring had seen in the newspaper clipping when she was just a filly!
Bravely pulled out a pen and paper, began analysing both, there were several “Aha!”’s and soon the page was filled. “I got it!” She grinned. “You have two thirds of a poem here. This is it in Ancient Equestrian, as best as I can manage.

“Septem Objecta insunuent,
Magia dirigi ad divina,
Bullas est senex et plenus mendaciis,
Quibus videlicet ius aliud quod dividit.
Draconum invenitur in templis avaritia,
Sed ubi deficiunt venator mures succedunt.
A clavis aurea viam reseret,
Circulos intra cæruleum ad Sinum.
Patera possessor est cordis
Magna est scriptor magicae custodiam vasi unguibus.
SPATALIUM in A ter clusit et signavit,
Sequuntur videlicet sola mures.
Cornu sense de osse manet,
Equestri coloribus cæruleo queritur.
Ultimam partem, non dici potest.”

Daring do stared at her; her Ancient Equestrian really wasn’t very good.
“And all that means?” She asked curiously.
Bravely Blue once again smirked.
“You really should have paid attention in class.” She chuckled.
Clearing her throat, Bravely Blue looked at the notepad and began to speak.

“Seven items must entwine,
For magic to steer towards divine.
An amulet old and full of lies,
Another that’s right which wit divides.
A jackal found in temple’s greed,
Where hunters fail but prey succeed.
A golden Key to unlock the way,
Within the blue at circle’s bay.
A goblet holder of the heart,
Great magic’s vessel with talons guard.
A bangle locked and sealed in thrice,
Follow the wit of the lonely mice.
A horn of old from bone remains,
Equestrian colours, the blue complains.
The final piece cannot be told,
But found by those of bravely bold.

“…and that’s where it ends, Diane. It looks like there’s a final verse, but we’re missing the piece.” She said, turning to Daring Do. Daring pondered over the poem.
“What’s it sound like to you?” Bravely Blue asked. The air was thick with the buzz of excitement. Daring Do looked over the poem on the notepad, and looked back to the rubbing she’d made, a grin spreading slowly over her muzzle. She knew exactly what it sounded like. It sounded like ADVENTURE!

Daring Do looked at the large ship before her, she grinned to herself.
“Another day, another adventure!” She said, running towards the ship and charging up the walkway and onto the deck.
After much deliberation, Bravely Blue had figured out that the Circles Bay reference was in fact the ancient sunken city of Circulos Cæruleum, originally known as the Blue Circle, and the location of where Bravely Blue had found her own golden tablet all those years ago.
There had been an ancient temple, locked and bound and covered in ancient writing that had been too damaged to translate, and Bravely Blue had never been able to gain access. But Daring Do was sure she could.
Why?
Because she’s Diane Daring Danger Do, explorer extraordinaire, and professional adventurer. She’d make her hoofprint in Equestria greater than Bravely Blue’s ever had been!
“I’m gonna be the best there ever was!” Daring shouted out for all to hear, proclaiming her glory. “Better than Bravely Blue!” She shouted confidently.
“Hello Diane, dear.”
The voice behind her made the young mare squeal in fright and turn to face her old teacher now standing before her.
A flush boiled up in her cheeks as she looked at her teacher and the smirk on her face. “Erm, s-sorry.” She said, shuffling her right forehoof sheepishly.
Bravely Blue didn’t say anything; she simply turned with a swish of her tail and left Daring Do to feel embarrassed and awkward.
The awkwardness didn’t last long as the sea air blew through the pony’s mane as the ship set sail. Daring grinned, ran along the deck, right to the edge and jumped!
The air soured around her body, her wings set out and for the first time in a long time, Daring Do enjoyed a flight!
Salted air blew through her mane as she skimmed the water, running rings around the ship, testing her speed, her manoeuvrability, going faster and faster and FASTER!
She charged up, let herself fall and landed perfectly on the deck of the ship.
“This is gonna be awesome!” She shouted at the top of her lungs.

Daring spent most of the ship ride in the dining area with Bravely Blue, her pith helmet on a chair nearby as they talked excitedly about the upcoming trials. Bravely Blue shared her knowledge of the dark caves and underwater caverns that awaited them, as well as the many traps and how to get past them. They were ready and better prepared than Daring Do had ever personally been.
With Bravely Blue and her invaluable insight and experience with where they were going, Daring Do was certain that they could not be beaten.

That night Daring Do crawled into her hammock, her pith helmet on the table beside her. Daring closed her eyes and allowed sleep to take her, dreaming of the adventure to come. But little did she know that dark shadows had crept into her room the moment her eyes had closed, silent and dark they crept through the night, closer and closer to where Daring Do lay.
Suddenly there was a bang; one of the shadows had knocked the pith helmet to the floor.
Her eyes had opened and just in time, as a rope swung out to bind her, she dodged up, the rope passing under her, she dashed to the side, only to be faced by one of the shadows, there was a deep growl and Daring found herself gazing into glowing yellow eyes as she was backed into a corner. She couldn’t see a way out, and indeed, for once, there wasn’t one.
The rope bound her wings and hooves down, and she was dragged from the room.
Daring Do was pulled up onto the main deck; shadowy shapes surrounded her until lightning struck as a storm raged around the ship. Hard rain now battering down, and within the light of the flash Daring Do looked up into the ape-like face of her arch enemy, Ahuizotl!

His menacing grin stared down at Daring and she began to fight, trying to get free of her bonds.
“I’ll get you for this, Ahuizotl!” She shouted.
“Don’t struggle girl, you may have bested me last time, but now I have leverage.”
He waved his claw towards the rest of the deck as lightning flared up again and Daring’s eyes widened. The entire crew had been taken hostage! And among them, bound tightly and gagged, was Bravely Blue.
“Beatrice!” She shouted and glared up angrily at Ahuizotl. “You won’t get away with this!” She shouted menacingly. Ahuizotl laughed in time with a lightning flash, his figure shadowed in the glaring light for an instant.
“But I will, and you’re not going to stop me. You’re going to help me.” He smirked.
Daring Do looked up at him and her face twisted into a grim smile. “Help you? Why would I ever do that?”
At another flash from the sky Ahuizotl’s monstrous animal pets surrounded the captives, the lynx flashing a sharp claw near Bravely Blue’s wide eyes.
Daring Do gasped. “N-no! Don’t hurt them! I’ll do it!” She shouted in panic. The animals stopped and turned to Ahuizotl who then turned to Daring Do, his face drawn into a wide grin.
“You’ll what?” He asked coyly.
Daring lowered her head and resigned herself to the moment. “I’ll help you.” She said softly, the words bitter in her mouth.

Daring Do looked down at the water.
The storm was over, everything seemed calm, but the blissful blue sky couldn’t alleviate the dark in Daring’s heart.
Behind her, her mentor, friends, and compatriots in this adventure were bound and staring at her. Bravely Blue shook her head, begging for Daring Do silently to not to give into Ahuizotl’s plan. He wanted Daring Do to go down to Circles Bay, find the ancient temple, and retrieve whatever lay inside. According to the poem, it was some form of golden key.

Ahuizotl was behind her; he leaned in, his stinking breath upon her face. “You could never beat me Daring Do; I will rule the world. And now I have your friends, you will help me make that happen.”
Daring Do glared. “Why do you want what’s in the temple, anyway?” She asked.
“You mean the Golden Key? Well, keys may come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have a singular purpose, and what is that?”
Daring Do cocked her head. “They open things?” She asked hesitantly, feeling this might be important.
Ahuizotl cackled. “That they do…now go!” His foot struck her flank and Daring yelped as the water rushed up to meet her as she fell.
The icy cold ocean surrounded Daring as she sank deeper; she forced herself not to panic and just swim down.
Circles Bay loomed before her, a grand sunken city with an old temple in the centre. She guessed that’s where she was meant to go.
Bravely Blue had told her of each trap, every obstacle, she could make this, she could bring back the key!
First there were sharks!
When they came at her from all sides, she glared and swam down. They instantly gave chase, but Pegasus wings worked underwater too. She used them to pull herself along, diving under where the second obstacle would be; an underwater rope trap. She grabbed it and tugged, causing a large round boulder to be launched from a tube to sail through the water, striking one shark in the side and knocking it into another. Daring Do used this opportunity to get down to street level. She was running out of air so she stopped off at a corner, unstrapping a rope that had been attached to her pith helmet. Keeping a hold of it with her hoof she leaned up. She’d trapped some air in it, making sure to clog the holes first, but kept it strapped to her head so it didn’t float off. It was a personal air supply…but it was only good for one deep breath. She took that deep breath, put the hat back on and swam as fast as she could towards the temple.
The great building loomed before Daring, a great monolith that was a testament to the ingenuity of a time long past. Daring tried to admire the building’s form but she didn’t have time, heading quickly for the entrance she gazed over the writing that covered the door and walls.
She couldn’t figure it out. She thought back to the poem.
‘A golden key to unlock the way,
Within the blue at circles bay.’
Her brow furrowed. ‘“Within the blue”?’ She thought, ‘that’s a strange way to say it.’
She smirked; there were blue spots all over the designs, and over one was a black mark that might have been missed, but it was surrounded by blue. It looked almost like a drawing of a miniature black door.
She smirked as best she could under the water and pressed her hoof on the spot. The door began to open and suddenly she was pulled in!
The door opened and then closed again, the inside filling with water and Daring flew in, only to cough and splutter. The inside of the temple was dry! Or at least, had been until she opened the door, but still…there was air. Stale, disgusting, dusty old air…but it was air nonetheless, and she breathed it generously.
Daring Do looked around her, there was no smell of dark decay within this place, and it smelled almost clean. Old, but clean. She began headed towards a single opening surrounded by designs of griffons. A curious design, she noted.
Walking into the darkness, it opened up. Several of the traps outside Bravely Blue had thankfully dealt with on her first escapade here all those years ago, and the good thing about tombs is that old traps don’t reset themselves. But no one had been in this tomb, the traps hadn’t already been set off, and there was every chance she was walking into grave danger.

There was a dark tunnel before Daring Do, and every step felt dark and oppressive. She felt a single bead of sweat glide down the nape of her neck as she placed one hoof in front of the other. 
Suddenly a bright light flashed and she had to shield her eyes, gazing into a great hall where there was a singular pedestal in the centre of the vast room. She began to take a step, and then stopped herself with a roll of her eyes. She looked down, and smirked.
“How original.” She scoffed out loud, grinning.
The ground was covered in squares like back at the sapphire stones temple, but instead of animals, these depicted simply, large blue rings that overlapped other squares. There seemed to be a pattern and she grinned again. “This is easy; I just need to stay on the blue.” She placed her hoof down on one of the squares that had part of a blue ring on it, the slab fell away instantly and she barely caught herself from stumbling forward. The floor had given way to a huge chasm below. She gulped and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Okay, that is original.” She said, wiping her brow. “So if it’s not the blue circles…then what?” She sighed, stroking her chin with her hoof. “A golden key to unlock the way, within the blue at circle’s bay….within the blue…within? As in, inside?” She said, the pieces clicking together. Within each circle was a single slab that wasn’t touched by the blue rings, she stepped on that one next, her eyes clenched tight in fear before she noticed it was taking her weight. She had to be on the slab INSIDE the circle…she had it! She climbed into the circle, and jumped to the next one, this was much easier than it had been at the sapphire statue’s temple; this time her wings were working perfectly, and she had perfect balance. She could fly over to get the key for sure, but this air had no draft or breeze to use, so she’d have to flap a lot harder to get the lift she needed. In addition to that, she was already tired and heavy with moisture in her fur from swimming in the ocean water; she couldn’t guarantee she had the energy to make it all the way. So she hopped, skipped and jumped from place to place, getting closer and closer.
Daring Do landed, breathing heavily as she reached the large slab of the pedestal. She approached and looked at the Golden Key.
It was, of course, gilded with gold and embroiled with patters and designs, but it was such an odd shape.
Daring Do picked up the key without much thought, but then the temple began to shake, the roof crumbling in and ocean water pouring into the room!

Ahuizotl watched the water from above; he turned back to his captives.
“Soon Daring Do will retrieve the key, and then I will be one step closer to my ultimate goal. And then, all the world will bow.” He said, cackling. “Tell me, little Bravely Blue, do you think Daring will manage?” He asked. The pony tied up in the corner shrugged; she didn’t seem very distressed. “Undoubtedly. I may be a good adventurer, but that mare’s always had luck on her side.” She said confidently. “She’ll be back, and with the key.”
“You said it, sister!” Daring Do’s voice shouted out, from the masts up high she swung down on a rope, her hooves out as she struck Ahuizotl, his shocked face knocked back as her rear hooves dug into his face with great force. Ahuizotl was sent flying back, his claws scratching along the deck to slow his slide. He looked up and glared as Daring Do hurried to Bravely Blue.
“I’ve got you!” She said, untying her friend. She smiled.
“Thanks, Diane.” Bravely Blue smiled. Daring Do turned back to Ahuizotl.
“Now to take you down!” She shouted before a sudden and shooting pain flashed over the back of her neck, causing her to fall down. She looked up hazily into the face of Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue, her friend’s face pulled into a dark smirk.

She had been betrayed.

Daring Do woke up on a raft; she looked around, alone out in the ocean.
The ship was gone, her satchel was beside her, but all it had was a compass and a note. Everything else was gone, including the Key. Daring took out the note and blinked hazily to read the words.

‘Dear Diane Daring Danger Do,
It is with great regret that I bring our friendship to a close. You see, you can no longer offer me what I seek.
Ahuizotl has promised me what you cannot: the ultimate knowledge. And knowledge is our trade, is it not, young filly?
I do hope you understand. Consider me leaving you on this raft a kindness; I could just have easily let you drown.
Yours sincerely, faithfully, and nevermore,
Beatrice Bravely Blue

PS: Thank you for telling me on our journey the location and whereabouts of the Goblet, I doubt you realised it was one of the pieces, but it is in fact the most important. Goodbye.

Daring Do looked at the paper, letting it go to sail into the wind. She closed her eyes.
Bravely Blue, her friend and mentor, had joined Ahuizotl. She didn’t know what to do….no. She knew EXACTLY what to do!
She was Daring Do! She would find out their plan, find the pieces that the poem spoke of, and stop whatever Ahuizotl was planning! She’d done it before and she’d do it again!
Another day, another adventure, another journey, another challenge, another chance to prove herself!

And so Daring Do resolved to continue and overcome her hardships, because that’s what an adventurer does! When the going gets tough, an adventurer takes it head on! She braves the storm! She leads the way!
Daring Do would never back down!

> 4) Daring Do and the Amulet of Serra
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Daring Do and the Amulet of Serra




Many ancient myths surround the mysterious Princesses of Equestria. Alicorns have always been a constant topic of concern, awe, and even fear, none more so than Princess Celestia, and her alleged sister Princess Luna.
Legend has it that Princess Luna turned dark and became the feared Nightmare Moon; locked away on the moon to forever look down upon the children of Equis.
No one knows if these are true, no one save for Celestia herself who sits aloft in her castle in Canterlot, ruling the kingdoms and raising both moon and sun with each dawn and dusk. No one else has such a living memory that long or the years in which to tell the story.
But the tale of the ‘Mare in the Moon’ is not the only tale told about those sisters, nor the only legends of Alicorn might.

They are but the surface.


* * *


Daring Do Looked over her notes; she had been trying to remember the poem to recreate it somehow and bring back what had been taken from her:
A chance.
As she worked, memories of what had befallen her constantly ran through her mind. How she had braved an underwater city, how she had uncovered a strange glowing key, how she had delivered that very key into the hands of Ahuizotl…and how she had been betrayed by the one mare she’d always though she could trust.
Bravely Blue.
Bravely Blue.
The name set a hard lump in her throat and a knot in her stomach. She would get even; she would get the Key back, and the Statue.
Daring turned and looked beside her at the gleaming silver Goblet she had procured so many weeks ago in the jungle. In that cave.
Daring froze.
Black griffins.
How had that griffin survived for so long in such a place? And then there was its size. She had never seen a griffin so huge.
She looked down at her notes, gazing at what remained of her memory of the poem.
“…A goblet holder of the heart,
Great magic’s vessel with talon’s guard…”
Those tablets had been very old, and it made reference to talons, like the talons of a griffon. And the ancient city of Eldarodeo had been littered with large buildings that harboured large furniture, all stereotypical of a Griffon society…but of immense size.
The only explanation she could see was that the black griffons had once inhabited that place, and judging from the poem, they had been guarding that Goblet.
So the black griffin she’d faced had to have been THOUSANDS of years old!
She shook her head. Griffons weren’t that long lived, they had similar life spans to ponies. There was no reason that Griffon should have been able to have survived that long…without help. She sighed and rubbed her temples. She was missing something, something important, and it was something that Ahuizotl knew and she didn’t. That was an advantage he had over her, and she didn’t like it when the enemy had the advantage.
She remembered another part of the poem and wrote it down, feeling like she’d managed to get most of it done.
“…A bangle locked and sealed in thrice,
Follow the wit of the lonely mice…”
She looked at what she had and smiled to herself. It was actually pretty good.
“Seven items must entwine,
For magic to steer towards divine.” She halted, unable to remember the second line of the poem.
“A jackal found in temple’s greed,
Where hunters fail but prey succeed.
A golden Key to unlock the way,
Within the blue at circles bay.
A goblet holder of the heart,
Great magic’s vessel with talons guard.
A bangle locked and sealed in thrice,
Follow the wit of the lonely mice.” She froze again, the next line once again eluding her. She continued with mild annoyance.
“The final piece cannot be told,
But found by those of bravely bold.”
The very last part still eluded her, the last two lines of the poem, the last stanza, the last verse…the last clue. She sighed, wishing that she had some reference of what she was looking for next. There was something about the first set of lines she’d forgotten…an amulet? Something about an amulet, she was sure of that. This was going to take research.
Daring Do put on her hat and turned to face the room she occupied.
It was a study, she had went back to the Clopsdale Academy of Archaeology in a vain effort to find some clues and pieces among the remains of her old mentor’s stuff. Bravely Blue’s office had thankfully not been cleaned out, and Daring Do had thankfully found herself acquiring both journals and records of the blue mare’s goings on. She’d managed to find maps, references, and a few old tickets, but nothing that made her able to decipher where her and Ahuizotl may have gone.
She sighed, realising that she had come to final choice. A final decision that was her only chance at regaining what she’d lost.
She’d have to visit…him.
Leaving the office, Diane Daring Danger Do began walking down the corridor, approaching the large door at the end of the hall. It was the principal’s room. The principal was said to be old and wizened, ancient and powerful in his knowledge. She herself had never seen him, but he had trained Bravely Blue. He had made the careers of hundreds of famous adventurers; his name was listed not only as the greatest, but also the founder of the archaeology hall of fame.
But he never left his room.
Daring raised her hoof, preparing to knock when a voice called out from within.
“Come in.”
Gulping and mounting her courage, Daring Do entered the room, pushing open the door to reveal the domain beyond.
The room was ornate with golds and browns, the carpet a lush red and everything seeming almost kingly and regal in nature. She took in the room with awe and looked towards the extremely large and expensive desk that adorned the centre of the room. A chair was behind the desk, its back to Daring Do, making her unable to see its occupant.
“P-Professor?” She asked hesitantly.
“Come closer, Diane.” Said the disembodied voice from the chair. Daring felt a chill run down her spine as she approached; it felt like going before a king and queen. 
“You are fraught with much confusion and fear, young Diane.” He said, his voice seeming almost kindly. But the soft nature didn’t stop anger from blazing in Daring’s heart.
“I’m not afraid! I’m not afraid of anything!”
“Then why do you tremble, child?” He said, turning in his chair.
Daring’s eyes widened. She had expected an old and aged pony, but the one that she saw, while later in his years, did not seem nearly so old as she had expected. In fact, there was still the glitter of youth in his eyes.
The pony before her was grey maned, his fur was the dark purple of plums and his eyes were a sparkling yellow. He wore bridged glasses on the tip of his muzzle and a rather smart jacket.
“You’re…” She began, not really sure what she was going to say.
“Not ancient? Well I may not be in years but by Celestia I feel it.” He chuckled and stepped down from the chair; he clopped round the table and sat down in front of her. A hoof extended. “Professor Abraham Ravenhoof, at your service. What can I do you for you, Diane?” He queried.
“Erm, call me Daring.” The mare said hesitantly. “Didn’t you teach Bravely Blue?”
The stallion chuckled lightly and smiled before speaking. “Indeed.”
Daring Do shook her head and sighed. “But…you don’t look that old, how could you? I mean…” She stuttered, not really sure how to describe her confusion. It took years to master archaeology, let alone get good enough to teach. This stallion looked barely older than Bravely Blue herself, so how he could have taught her was quite the confusing idea.
“I did indeed teach her. I am fifty-three years old my dear, and a very quick study. I mastered archaeology in my twenties and have been teaching it ever since. But let us put aside the subject of age and talk about the real reason you have come to my door at this hour.” He said, his eyes showing a warmth and kindness that allowed the adventurous mare to relax a little.
Daring approached the table and laid down her notes on the poem and the journals of her mentor, and now betrayer, Bravely Blue.
“Bravely Blue has joined Ahuizotl, they seem to be after items listed here in this ancient poem. It’s translated from ancient Equestrian, I can’t remember all of it, but I think I have most of it. I don’t know where she’s gone, where’d she’d start and even if I did I’m not sure how to stop her.” She said exasperatingly.
“Why would you want to?” He asked softly from beside her.
Daring Do turned to him with a confused expression. “What?”
He seemed to shrug in response. “Why would you want to stop her?” His voice wasn’t threatening, simply curious.
Daring Do glared. “Because when Ahuizotl gets involved, people get hurt. And I won’t let that happen.” She said fiercely, looking at him with a glaringly confident expression.
The professor looked a little stern for a moment before he simply smiled. “Very good answer, I needed to know if you were doing this for the right reasons.”
She looked confused. “What other reason is there?” She asked.
“Personal gain, to steal the treasures they wish to seek, many would.” He smiled. “It is wonderful that you seem to have a personal loyalty to the ways of good. Equestria needs more of your kind Daring Do, there are so few left these dark days.” He said, walking to the window. “And these days ARE dark…and the darkest yet are still to come.” He turned to her. “Bravely Blue will seek out the items each in turn as they appear in the poem. Tell me, which items does she so far possess with this Ahuizotl creature?”
Daring Do looked over the poem. “The Sapphire Statue and the Golden Key, she doesn’t have the goblet yet though. That’s with me.” She said firmly.
The Professor clopped over and looked over the poem. “You are missing the piece she is after. What line is supposed to be here?”
Daring Do looked at where his hoof was pointing. “That part’s something about an Amulet, and…something that lies and something else that’s right.” She sighed. “I don’t remember it exactly, and I don’t know what it would mean even if I had all the pieces. It was one of the more confusing ones.” Daring said, rubbing her temples with a light groan.
The Professor looked over Daring Do with a smile. “I know where she is.” He said simply and walked behind his desk. Daring Do was shocked, looking at the professor wondering how he could suddenly know such a thing. “Where?” She asked heatedly.
The professor smiled with a charming glint in his eyes. “There is an ancient maze to the east, deep into the wastes of the desert. It is known as the Maze of Truth.” He said simply. “It is a place that no pony has ever entered and escaped alive. It is most dangerous.” 
Daring Do glared. “I can make it.” She said firmly.
“And why do you say that? They say only truth can light the way in the maze. What truth do you hold that will allow you to accomplish what hundreds before you could not?”
She smirked. “I’m Diane Daring Danger Do, I’m the best archaeologist and adventurer in the whole of Equestria, I’m awesome, and I can’t lose.” She said firmly. She meant what she said. Daring thought to herself about what was at stake, what it was that would occur if she failed. Likely the whole of Equestria could be in trouble. She had to win, she couldn’t lose, she WOULDN’T lose!
Professor A B Ravenhoof looked the mare over, smiled stoically and nodded. “I’ll take your word for it.” He said, pulling out a map. “Here is a map to the maze. I hope you achieve what you hope to.” He nodded. “And remember, honesty and loyalty to your cause are paramount to your success. The Maze of Truth will try to tempt you away from your Quest. It will lie through the truth. Do not give in to temptation.” He warned.
Daring Do nodded and thanked the stallion before running out; she was glad that she had gone to him for advice.

Daring Do stood upon the hill of sand, looking out along the desolate plane with a tight lipped grin. Opening your mouth in the desert was never good; she’d already inhaled more than enough sand to last her the rest of her life, and she didn’t care to inhale anymore.
The mare began to walk, heading in the direction shown on the map but still not seeing the Maze. She had a few supplies on her, but she had no idea how long they’d last or how long this journey would take. She could very well get lost out here…never to be found again.
Daring Do kept moving, refusing to think negative thoughts and focusing on the journey instead, walking firmly ever forward. Her hoofprints pressed into the sand with every step as she wandered the desert wasteland.
The Maze was said to drive ponies mad, using their fears against them. She wouldn’t let such a thing happen to her. She would find the maze, and retrieve the amulet inside.
Making her way across the desert, a harsh wind whipped at Daring Do’s face, making her grit her teeth and wonder if she was ever going to make it. But suddenly upon the horizon, something shimmered. She looked at it more firmly but found it disappeared before her eyes. She cocked her head and turned away but saw it once again in the corner of her eye. The maze…wasn’t visible when looking directly at it. This was the strangest magic Daring Do had ever encountered. But she was at least glad to have reached her destination.
As she approached it became easier to see, until she could finally look upon the giant maze itself. The walls were stone, the same colour as the sand, almost camouflaged against the background of the desert dunes. There was however, a slightly sweet scent coming from it, and she realised it was a scent that was missing in the desert.
The scent of water.
Light moisture. And now she knew why ponies got lost in there, they would go in in search for the water, but likely had only found their doom.
Daring Do steeled herself for the moment and stepped in, knowing that it was her only chance to retrieve the amulet and stop Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue.
Looking around she pulled off her pith helmet, she looked over her favourite garment and ran her hoof over the scratch that was now permanently bore deep into the surface; the scratch that the black Griffon had caused with his huge talons.
Daring Do gazed at the hat and just sighed a sad smile. Her mind thought back to how she’d gotten it, the memory burning brightly in her mind. She’d been just a filly then, full of hope and wonder at the world, wanting to be a great adventurer. She’d met Bravely Blue on a school trip, seen her greeted her, spoke to her. And on that day her idol had given her the hat and told her to always aim to be the best that she could be, in whatever she wanted to do. She put the hat back on her head, narrowed her eyes and took a step forward into the maze. It was time to face Bravely Blue, it was time to find this amulet, and time to get rid of Ahuizotl!
The maze was huge; massive stone walls blocked her way and led her off in different directions. She smiled. There was a trick to every maze. Always follow the left wall. Admittedly it was the long way round and it guaranteed going throughout every part of the maze, dead-ends and all, but eventually reaching the end. She didn’t know if she had the time, so she decided to take a more direct approach. Daring Do jumped up and began to fly before something stopped her. She struck something like an invisible wall; the moment she came into contact an electrical force washed through her body, making her yelp in shock before falling back to land on the floor with a groan.
“Ouch.” She sighed. “Well, not that way.” She shook her head to clear it, eeping at her singed fur.
She was right though; she didn’t have much time for taking the long route on the left wall, but what she didn’t seem to have was a choice. She began walking, hoping she’d make it in time, or perhaps a quicker way would appear.
She turned into a dead end and she followed the wall out and round another corner. Something flashed at the corner of her eye; she turned and her eyes widened. There was someone there, silhouetted in the gloomy shadow of one of the sandstone walls.
“Psst, I know the way through.” The mare said before rushing down a turning. Daring Do didn’t think, she just raced after the pony. She turned the corner and saw a flitting shape turn right down a smaller avenue in the maze. She turned down to follow. Left, then right, then another right and then a left; she tried to keep track but soon enough she’d lost her way and found herself alone in the maze, wondering where the mysterious mare was. A voice from her memory came unbidden, and Daring Do sighed in frustration.
How could she be so stupid!
“The Maze of Truth will try to tempt you away from your Quest. It will lie. Do not give in to temptation.” And that’s just what she’d done. It had tempted her with an easier solution, following someone else. And she had taken it. She sighed. The maze was just trying to fool her.
“But you are a fool. Aren’t you, Diane?”
The voice came from behind her. Turning, her eyes widened at the sight before her.
“M-Mum?” She said hesitantly. 
Before her was a pony with a similar shade of brown coat as her own was, but with a plum coloured mane.
“You were always a fool, dear. Always running around with a toothbrush digging in the garden, trying to find tombs and bones and chests and adventure. And look at you now; running around the world after dusty things that only mattered to ponies long since dead.” She smirked. “You were always such a disappointment.” She said with a sad look in her eyes.
“No…you’re wrong, I’m famous now…” She said hesitantly.
“Famous because you lie.”
The words struck Daring hard.
“What’s it you call yourself? Daring Danger Do?” She said with a chuckle. “Dear, your name is Diane, the Daring and Danger were titles I blame your uncle for.” She said scornfully. “But how Daring or Dangerous are you? Most traps in old places don’t even work anymore. You barely ever really get attacked, and what have you really accomplished? Who have you saved? How many times have you thought you saved the world…but really only saved yourself?” She said with a hollow laugh.
Daring lowered herself to the floor, her head swimming with negativity, her hooves landing on her ears as she shook her head, trying hard not to cry.
“They say only truth can light the way in the maze.”
She stopped shivering.
Daring Do took a deep breath and stood up; she looked at her mother and smiled softly. “You’re right.”
Her mother actually looked shocked.
“I know Ahuizotl is bad, and he’s trying to destroy or control or just take over everything. But I don’t know for sure if he’d manage, do I?” She sighed.
“I say I’ve saved the day. I say I’m awesome but really I’m just a good flier and a bit clever on my hooves.” Daring shrugging apologetically.
“I have a long ways to go, a lot of growing up I need to do. And maybe I’m too arrogant sometimes. But I also know this is important.” She said, almost pleading to her mother.
“If I don’t stop Ahuizotl, then Bravely Blue is smart enough to really do some damage at his side. Whatever they’re after, it’s big. I don’t know if I’m the pony for the job, I don’t know if I’m good enough and I may just fail. But I can’t let fear or doubt stop me. The world needs me right now, so I’m going to do my best.” She said with a soft sigh. Her mother vanished in a wisp of smoke before her eyes, but not before giving Daring a kind and motherly smile.
She extended a single wing, pressed it lightly against the wall on the left side, and just began walking. There were a few movements at the corner of her eyes, but this time she didn’t follow them. She just walked, following the wall. Within the hour Daring Do had finally reached the centre. Having walked for what seemed to have been hours, she tried to school herself into remaining patient. She finally reached the centre and the maze opened up on a large temple in the middle. The walls where huge, but the doors were strangely average sized, each with a face on it.
Daring Do approached the doors curiously, looking over the strange markings and architecture. It was strange; the faces on the doors seemed so…lifelike.
One of the faces breathed in a sudden deep breath and Daring jumped back with a yelp and wide eyes, her hooves up as though to fight.
“What the..!”
The face looked at her and grinned.
“Hello, little pony.” It said.
“Yes, hello!” The other face said suddenly, making Daring yelp once again in shock.
“Wow, we have a frightful one, don’t we?” The left one said before they both began sniggering. She approached and looked them over.
“This is the weirdest magic ever.” She said, shaking her head softly.
“And how do you think we feel? Stuck on the front of this door for two thousand years. I say, you are slightly rude girl, come closer, speak up and tell us what you want.”
Daring Do wasn’t enjoying the faces attitudes so she just looked between them. “I need to get in, so erm…if I could just enter, that would be great.” She said, trying to be polite whilst speaking through annoyed and gritted teeth.
The right one chortled softly before giving Daring Do a small smile.
“No. I think not.”
Daring Do’s eyes narrowed as she considered bucking the doors open, but she had a feeling that it wouldn’t work.
“Why not?” She asked, feeling there might be some trick to this.
“Well.” Began the left one. “You have to get past us first, little mare.” He said.
“And we’re not easy to get past. No sir.” The other one agreed, nodding his strange head.
“Well, how’s it done?” She asked, figuring that this might be some kind of puzzle.
“Oh just a question.” The left one said. “One to each of us, mind you.”
“Only one.” The right one chimed in.
“That’s right, only one. Oh, but there’s something you should know. Erm…what was it again?”
“The poem?” The right one offered hesitantly before the left one nodded in agreement.
“That’s right, the poem. Erm, how did it go again? It’s been so long.”
“You couldn’t even remember it last time.” The right one scolded before sighing. “Here it is:
“One of us will tell you true,
One of us will always lie.
Just one question each you’re due,
And just as much reply.
One right answer gets you through,
Which door will you try?”
The right one finished the poem while the left one simply watched her smugly; obviously feeling she wouldn’t be able to get in.
Daring Do sat back on her rump, thinking carefully about the answer. It took her a moment before she figured out what to ask them.
“Okay, you, mister...erm...Right.” She said with a shrug. She thought for a moment, certain that she had figured out an ingenious answer. She grinned at the right one who suddenly seemed to look nervous. She opened her mouth and said, “My name’s Diane Daring Danger Do. What’s my name?”
The face seemed to draw a blank and clamp his mouth shut. He seemed confused and also enraged. “Its…D-D-Daring Dame…” He said before sighing and looking down. Daring smirked.
“So, you’re the liar.” She grinned and turned to the left one that looked utterly shocked. “Are you the right way I need to go to get into the castle to find this Amulet?” She asked, making sure to be as specific as she could.
The left one nodded and looked down. “Yes.”
She grinned. “Then you’re the door I’ll choose.
“But that’s not right!” The right one shouted. “That’s not the question you’re supposed to ask!”
Daring turned to stare at him. “What do you mean?” She asked, feeling somewhat confused by the statement.
He glared. “You’re supposed to ask one of us if the other one of us would say that he was the right way or not!”
Daring Do stared, feeling a little confused.
“How does that work?”
The right one seemed exasperated now.
“If you ask me if what he says will be that he is the right way then I have to tell you a lie. And if I’m the liar then I would have to lie about what he would say. And because he would have told you the truth, I would have to lie about it. But, if he were the liar and not me, he would have obviously lied, but then I would have to answer the question truthfully which would in fact be the lie from him.  So no matter which one of us is the liar and which one of us is the truth-teller, the answer that you would get would have one and only one lie in the answer. So you’d only need to take the other door.” He said, taking a deep breath after explaining it.
Daring just stared.
“I don’t get it. I still have my answer.”
Daring headed towards the door and reached out to open it before the right one shouted out. “Wait! But you got it wrong!”
Daring froze and turned to the right face. “So that’s not the right way? No lies, your riddle’s done.” She said with a glare.
The face sighed. “Yes it is but you got the riddle wrong, you gave the wrong answer to the riddle!”
“But I got the right answer to the question.” She argued.
“That’s not the point!” the door face yelled, obviously very exasperated at this point. Daring glared.
“I’m an archaeologist, I’m used to ancient riddles, and I’ve often found that riddles have more than one accurate answer, while only having one correct one. So while I didn’t give you the correct answer, I still gave you an accurate one. And I got an accurate answer. And that’s all I need. So deal with it.” She said smugly before opening the door and heading inside.
Feeling particularly proud of herself, Daring Do entered the temple and looked around.
She thought she should be more shocked. The place was old, but also hollow; the outside of the temple merely a shell as the inside was nothing more than a huge hall. But in the centre of the room was a massive pyramid with a crystal cap.
She would have been shocked and in awe a few years ago, but she was used to such things by now. The ancient equestrians certainly had weird taste in décor.
She approached before she stopped. Looking at the face of the pyramid her eyes finally did widen in awe. There upon the stone surface were carvings, one of a moon, the other of a sun, and something above them connected by a single carved line from each. A half-moon harbouring a circle inside it; half of the circle was emblazed like the sun.
Around them were what looked to be flying Alicorns.
She approached the entrance and looked inside; it was then that something rushed out from the darkness and struck her hard. Daring gasped as the breath was knocked from her and she fell out into the large hall, sprawling on the dusty floor. She looked up with dazed eyes and gasped as Ahuizotl stepped out, grinning as beside him Bravely Blue exited the pyramid. Around her neck hung a golden amulet in the shape of the symbol on the pyramid, the sun within the moon.
“So you found us out. Too bad, the Amulet of Serra is ours, Diane.” She grinned.
“Amulet of Serra?” She asked, not yet having heard that name. Bravely Blue looked at her before breaking out into laughter.
“You didn’t know? That’s so like you Diane, Always rushing in without the proper information.” She grinned. “And that’s why you’ll lose. Now, be a dear and head home, do some research and come back when you pose a proper challenge. Or better yet…just die here and now.” She said with a cold voice. Ahuizotl rushed forward, claws raised high above his head before he lashed down. Daring Do dived between his legs and bucked back, smashing against his rump with her back legs, sending him against a wall. She ran to a wall and jumped; latching onto a groove she began to climb up the face of the wall. 
“Get her!” Bravely Blue shouted.
Ahuizotl rushed at her, jumping and digging claws into the wall he began laughing. “You will be mine Daring Do; I will render you lifeless and use the Legend of Serra to rule the world!” He cackled loudly.
She smirked. “Not today Ahuizotl!” She dove and caught onto a vine hanging low from the roof. Swinging low, Bravely Blue looked shocked as Daring’s hoof shot out, grabbing onto the amulet before she flew on and landed on a ledge on the opposite side of the room.
“You have no way out, Daring Do!” Bravely Blue shouted, seeming almost hysteric.
Daring smiled. That was the first time Bravely Blue had ever called her that. That meant a turning of the tide. A level of respect, even fear. Too bad it came at the end.
“Yes there is.” She smirked. “Didn’t you always say these places were unstable?” She said mockingly before she bucked out, the rocky wall behind her caved outwards and stones began falling. “So long, Bravely Blue!” She laughed before she dashed out into the sunlight. She opened her wings and flew away, beating her wings fast as the temple behind her began to cave in. She felt a pang of guilt that she might have just seen the end of her mentor Bravely Blue, but it was quickly squashed by the feeling of triumph and satisfaction. She had the Amulet, and the world was now truly safe.
She hoped.

Many questions plagued the mare’s mind. The Amulet was placed under lock and key, as was the goblet. The bodies of Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue had never been recovered, and there was no sign of the Golden Key or the Sapphire Statue.
Daring Looked at the Goblet. She had taken to calling the Griffon's Goblet, as she was sure she’d practically stolen it from the final black griffon left.
She looked from the Goblet to the Amulet, locked behind their glass casings. She wondered what they could have been on about. She had to find out, even if they were gone; the world would never be safe truly until she could make sure this legend could never any one, pony or otherwise.
She turned around and headed for the one place she often avoided, sighing before walking into the library of the Clopsdale University. Daring Do had some studying to do!

> 5) Daring Do and the Tri-Lock Bangle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Daring Do and the Tri-Lock Bangle




With her head buried in a book, Daring Do remembered why she hated studying so much.
So much reading!
And it wasn’t even about interesting stuff, like adventures or even a little romance…ANYTHING would be better than volume after volume of information and history.
But, she had found out some interesting things, sadly they didn’t give any answers, simply raised more questions. Several books gave accounts of Black Griffons, the ancient giants of their race that were said to be servants of an ancient Queen.
Queen Serra.
There were several extracts which gave reference to a Queen, but only one that referenced her by name.
Queen Serra ruled Equestria before Princess Celestia had even been born and no matter how much Daring looked, not a single other reference was found that could give her more information; just that single name. It was then that something clicked in Daring’s mind. She ran out of the library, through the university and back to her office. She went to the glass cabinet; unlocked it and pulled out the amulet. Faring turned it over curiously. There in the back was a single word in ancient Equestrian.
Taking out a book, she began her work on translating it. Her skills weren’t very good in this area sadly. She was capable of course, just not nearly as masterful as some. Daring sadly still required the use of reference books for translation so in the end it took over half an hour to figure out what the word meant.
Serra.
This amulet had belonged to her. 
Bringing out the book with the reference, next to the name Serra was a picture of a lightning bolt. She turned to the silver goblet that she had found in the ancient caves. Memories of that dangerous Black Griffon still haunted her dreams sometimes, and the scratch that was now forever engraved into her pith helmet was a constant reminder of the danger’s she had faced. Looking over the goblet she found imbedded on its side was a purple amethyst lightning bolt.
They were all connected.
Daring Do pulled out the poem and began to read, nodding her head. They were all linked; every single item on the list had once belonged to this Queen Serra.
If Professor A B Ravenhoof was correct, then the next item on the list to hunt down would be the Bangle.
“A bangle locked and sealed in thrice,
Follow the wit of the lonely mice.” She read to herself. Looked like she had another adventure ahead of her! Daring Do grabbed her pith helmet, her hoof running gently over the scarred front, her eyes narrowed in determination and fitted it on top of her head.

Despite lots of research, Daring Do had to admit that she had no idea where to begin, but amongst the confusion was a thought that might be able to help her, a though that might grow into the beginnings of a plan.
Ahuizotl had a habit of waiting for Daring Do to retrieve items, only to snatch them back. All of the gritty, dirty work of getting by traps and the perils of the old tombs he seemed to leave for Daring Do to brave and venture through. But this time, she’d do it their way. They had Bravely Blue, and that mare would undoubtedly want to find the treasure herself, and Ahuizotl would need to go with her. So if Daring tracked them down, she might well be able to find this bangle too. Using Ahuizotl’s own tactics against him for once had the mare’s smirk widening eagerly.
Daring Do left the university grounds and took to the sky. The breeze flew through her wings and she took a deep breath of the fresh air as she soared. Sailing towards the other end of town where she landed in the park.
“Where is he?” she asked herself, scanning the tree line until her eyes fell upon a purple stallion. He had long blond hair that slightly covered his shifty red eyes. His plot was marked with a speeding cloud cutie-mark. His name was Swiftcall.
Swiftcall was employed by her once in a while when it came to information, both in delivering it to her and gathering it. It was often said the Pegasus knew more than he let on, and that he was actually the enemy of quite a few notorious groups in Manehatten, but they couldn’t touch him because of what he knew. Most would say such rumours were probably false, but Daring Do had known Swiftcall for a few years now. She knew better.
He was a small stallion, and a little awkward at times…but he was smart.
She approached, waved a wing at him casually. He looked startled and backed away, obviously a little skittish. She sighed and kept moving towards him.
“Don’t bother, I know that look, I’m not saying anything, it’s not worth it...just...just leave it alone, Diane.” He said rapidly, turning away.
Grabbing his wing she pulled him back to face her.
“My name is Daring, you know that, use it.” She said firmly. “Now, where is he?”
Swiftcall turned away.
“How could I know? I don’t know anything.” He said rapidly, too rapidly in Daring’s opinion.
Daring Do walked up to him, stared him right in the eye and smirked. “You’re lying.” She said firmly. “Come on, spill.”
The stallion sighed.
“Fine. There’s a rumour that they’ve been seen in Prance, the Alps.” He said before backing away. “Can I go now?”
At Daring’s nod he flew away rapidly. She wondered why he hadn’t just told her in the first place, why he had tried to hide it. But then he’d always been a bit shifty.
But now it was time for adventure!
Prance, she had never been to Prance, and if there was one thing this mare loved more than anything. It was new places, and new adventures.
Taking to the air again, Daring Do headed east towards Prance. It was going to be a long flight, she could go to the carriageport and get a lift, but she didn’t want to use official means of transportation. That might alert Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue that she was there, and right now. Stealth was her ally.

She spent some time gathering supplies and plotting her course for the long trip, heading off when she felt she was ready. When she felt she was ready, Daring Do found herself looking up into the sky, breathing in deeply before her wings spread and she soared upwards. This was going to be a long flight.

Daring Do had been flying for days. It was a six day journey and by day three she was utterly exhausted. But she knew that Bravely Blue and Ahuizotl had an early start ahead of her, and she had to catch up to them before they got away. As she flew, she occupied her mind with thoughts of the items she had discovered, the goblet, the statue and the others. The name Serra seemed to have some significance behind it and was seemingly attached to each item. She had been a queen, and a queen of Equestria usually meant Alicorn. But she had very little knowledge of any Alicorns other than Celestia and her recently returned sister, Luna.
But perhaps that was the key. Maybe she ought to speak to these princesses, but she wasn’t so bold as to approach royalty just for a chat. She was pretty sure there was a law against that kind of thing.

Prance came into view some days later after a few rest stops. She landed gratefully, got herself a bed in a hotel and some sleep. She awoke feeling refreshed the next morning and promptly set about her business.
Talking to the locals revealed that there had been some sightings of Ahuizotl in the low lying mountain regions of the Alps. It wasn’t that hard, there weren’t many of his species around and he tended to stand out.
She began heading for the snowy peaks in the distance. 
The Alps were huge, covering a colossal amount of ground. Daring had no idea how she was going to find Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue without a stroke of luck but she knew she had to try. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that everything that was happening was very dangerous and much larger than herself.
Daring Do got closer to the summit of the mountain. The cold wind bristled up her fur. She had dressed herself in a warm coat and scarf, but even that couldn’t get rid of the bone chilling cold that burrowed to her marrow. She got to the base of the mountain and began flying around, paying attention to the snow. It wasn’t snowing and hadn’t recently, so tracks would be easy to spot. And sure enough she found some. Hoof and claw prints burrowed deep into the snow heading up a part of the mountainside. Grinning, Daring Do began to follow the footprints. She was sure that they were of Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue.
As Daring Do followed the tracks, a small trail seemed to show itself, which she followed. Landing on the stone and snow she began to trot, flying in this weather was making her wings freeze and she needed the warmth. She slipped her wings into the wing-sheaths of her jacket and trotted up.
After about an hour or so she was tired and cold. Her body was almost frozen as she climbed up and over a particularly steep ledge, looking over the edge she saw a cave and smiled. Thankfully the tracks lead into the dark recesses and hopefully it’d be warmer in there.
Daring headed for the cave entrance and began to enter. The pitch darkness engulfed her and she slowed her walk to a careful step so she didn’t run into anything.
As she got deeper her eyes widened as a dim glow shone in the distance. Heading towards it, she turned the corner eagerly before halting, wide eyed and backing up slowly in caution.
An Ursa Major and Ursa Minor lay sleeping, cuddled close together in the large opened cavern.
Their bearlike starry features cast a dull blue and silvery glow over the rocky walls of the cave that was quite beautiful. They were also temperamental creatures; intelligent, but also dangerous.
Daring Do was not up for tangling with such a creature. She began to turn around to head out of the cave when she noticed something through the Ursas translucent bodies. She carefully and quietly trotted to the side to get a better look, only to find a passage behind them. She sighed. No doubt that was where she had to go.
Moving over the tangle of massive limbs that was the Ursas bodies, she edged closer to the passage. Upon entering it she breathed a sigh of relief, stepping forward she stepped on something that lowered into the ground, making a loud cracking sound. Her ears stood on end and her body clenched in fright, turning on the spot slowly she eyed the Ursas, praying that they didn’t wake. A snort from the Ursa Major made her meep slightly, but thankfully the being seemed to stay asleep. Breathing out in relief Daring Do tipped her pith helmet respectfully to the sleeping Ursa and turned back to the passage, she took a single step forward, her weight leaving the stone that had lodged into the ground.
The floor below her gave way and she was falling. Yelping out loudly she felt the breath pushed out of her when she landed on a solid surface. Suddenly she was sliding down and realised it was curved like a massive slide in an amusement park, although it should have been thrilling, she had a feeling this wasn’t built to provide entertainment. Squealing as she span round loop-the-loops and corkscrews, her stomach tossed and turned, threatening to bring up her breakfast as she was lifted up and the slide came to an end. The mare was flung off into the darkness and then she was in free-fall. Her wings batted heavily against the wind and she finally began to slow.
When she finally stopped falling she was left panting and shaking. Her eyes opened and Daring Do meeped as the point of a spike was inches from her face. The floor of this massive hole was covered in spikes and bones. Evidently this had been a trap, one that had gotten the best of many a pony in the past; if all the bones were to be believed, anyway. Looking around, Daring Do spotted a passageway to her right. Not wanting to spend any more time around sharp pointy things, she flew into it and rested on the cold stone ground, sighing.
That wasn’t the kind of excitement she usually enjoyed. Adventure was one thing, near impalement was another. But then again, these old temples did seem to like their spikes.
Daring Do shook herself and sighed, looking down the corridor, she glared at a dim light that hung in the distance, showing this particular passage seemed quite long.
With a light smirk touching the corners of her mouth, as she pulled the brim of her hat down and began walking.
More aware of where she was stepping now, she felt a small touch of something near her hoof and made herself stop. Looking down there was the slightest glimmer and shine of a hair-thin thread of silver string.
A trap.
She narrowed her eyes and stepped over the wire, ducking below another one, she turned and raised her flank, her hind legs gently climbing over one at her rear. The adventurous mare had to jump the next and land in a duck to avoid setting off another right above her head. She grinned when she finally left them behind, turning to head back down the remainder of the passage, her stomach dropped and she froze. Her right hoof had just snapped a wire she hadn’t seen.
Daring Do dived and galloped for the end, not giving herself time to think about what kind of trap she might have just set off. The walls began to shake with a low rumbling. Daring Do looked around as she galloped as fast as she could; the echoing of her hooves on the ground was as loud in her ears as her own pounding heart was in her chest. As she pushed for the end of the passage, she began to notice that the passage was getting narrower. The walls were closing in!
Her eyes widened and she put on a burst of speed, trying to get as far as she could. At the very last second Daring Do dived and just managed to get through the end of the passage, her tail getting caught in the stone caused her to stop and fall to the ground with a pained yelp. She looked back and sighed, the tip of her tail trapped in the closed walls. Pulling herself free with a firm tug she looked at her tail, pouting at the frayed and damaged tips. That was going to take some fixing when she got out of here. Not that she was a very vain mare, but even an adventurous mare like herself had some level of self-consciousness in her looks. Sighing to herself she studied her surroundings, finding the room she was in to be curious at first, tedious at second.
The floor was similar to what she’d found in Circles Bay and the Sapphire Temple. The walls were bronzed and crumbling but the floor was ornately designed with a cross sectioned pattern revealing many stone slabs decorated with animal designs. She didn’t even think about it. This one seemed almost identical to the first one she’d found, complete with many pictures of rats. She chuckled and stepped on the first one, as there were so many rats on this one, she figured that unlike the first time, this was going to be easy. But then again, not having a broken wing this time probably would help.
Stepping onto the first slab it sank in, she yelped and pulled back as arrows and darts suddenly struck the slab and struck the stone powerfully. Her eyes were wide, her breath laboured and her body shaking in both shock and fear.
Daring Do took a deep breath to compose herself and looked them over. “Okay…so not rats this time.” She sighed before she noticed something strange. These ancient builders seemed very good at duplicating designs. All the animals looked exactly the same as each other, each line matched perfectly between every lion, wolf and all the others. But in this one, only a few of the rats seemed to match. The others seemed different, shorter noses and larger ears and…they weren’t rats!
“Mice.” She said in an un-amused voice. “A bangle locked and sealed in Thrice, Follow the wit of the lonely mice.” She recited aloud. “Well someone should tell whoever built this they suck at drawing mice.” She grumbled irritably.
Well, at least now she was sure she was on the right track. She’d come here looking for Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue and instead stumbled upon the place she needed to be to find the Bangle anyway.
Daring supposed she should consider it a stroke of luck, but a prickle on the back of her neck told her that it was far too easy.
Stepping forward cautiously, she hovered a hoof over the nearest stone depicted what she hoped was a mouse, and then gently applied pressure.
The stone held her weight; she let out a breath of relief and moved to the next one, jumping deftly. This was significantly harder than the first two times. At a distance it was difficult to tell which ones were rats or mice, so she was forced to take her time.
Daring Do was halfway when she made her first mistake. She jumped to a stone she thought was a mouse, only to have the stone slam into the ground. She yelped and jumped away quickly. Suddenly she couldn’t find the mice, and arrows and darts where coming in from every angle.
Daring Do galloped, heading for the door at the end as the stone slab above the huge stone door began to close. Arrows and darts clattered about her and a sharp pain struck her rump as she dived and slid under the door just before it closed.
Daring Do gasped for breath, panting before looking at her rump. In the very centre of her compass cutie-mark was a dart that had red quill feathers on the end. She rolled her eyes, grabbed it with her muzzle and pulled it out with a yelp. She shook herself, got up and took a single step forward before the room began to sway. She tried stepping forward again but her hoof didn’t seem to want to move. Collapsing to the floor she began panting and sweating.
Poison!
Shaking her head to try and clear the mental fog, Daring Do tried to crawl forward. The room she was in was dark, but in the very centre, something caught her fuzzy gaze.
The room slipped in and out of focus before she finally realised it was a pedestal. On that pedestal was a bangle with three latches. She began to crawl towards it.
Pulling herself slowly to her hooves took an enoemous amount of effort, but Daring Do refused to give up. She reached up, her hoof inches from the bangle before it was suddenly plucked from the pedestal with a clawed paw.
“Did you think you could honestly win, Daring Do?” A deep, growling voice sounded from the darkness. Ahuizotl approached and looked down at her, clutching the Bangle in his claw.
“What is the matter, Daring Do? Are you feeling weak? Are you about to DIE!?” He cackled loudly. “Good. It is a fate better than you deserve.” He shoved a single foot forward and gestured to his leg. The base of which was furless and scarred. “This is what I was left with when you collapsed that temple on us, Daring Do. This is why you will pay.” He glared and raised his claw.
Daring Do’s vision faded as she glared at Ahuizotl, but she noticed something strange, the scar on the apelike creature’s leg was slowly fading...healing.
She cocked her head and widened her eyes. A lashing pain struck down her back, forcing her to yell out in pain as Ahuizotl’s claws struck her. Using the last of her strength, she did the only thing she could think of. She launched up with a single powerful wing-beat and touched her hoof against the bangle. Suddenly it felt as though invigorating energy washed through her. Her back felt fine, her dizziness disappeared and suddenly she was completely aware.
The Bangle had healing powers!
Daring Do purposely dropped on her back and lay still. Ahuizotl dashed back and stared at her, his eyes narrowed. “A last vain attempt I see...but you are too weak, and now you have fallen Daring Do. And as you fall, I shall rise. I shall now control the world!”
“We.” Said a firm voice from the shadows, a blue elder mare stepping into the glow of the oculus in the ceiling. “We shall rule the world you mean.” She said with an eager grin.
Bravely Blue approached the still form of Daring Do, looking down at her smirking. “A shame, you were such a good student.” She said with a mock sigh.
“Better than you’d think.” Daring Do said confidently before she suddenly grasped Bravely Blue’s legs and swept them from under her, pulling the mare onto her back. She yelped in shock, Ahuizotl gasped and Daring Do jumped on top of the pedestal to dive at him. Grasping the Bangle in his paw, she kicked out with her hooves and sent him smashing into a wall.
She carried the bangle in her muzzle and dived back onto the pedestal and jumped up, her wings beating as she tried to head for the oculus in the ceiling, the large hole leading to the outside was perhaps to be her salvation.
Her legs were suddenly caught in a powerful grasp, she yelped in shock, dropping the bangle as she was slammed down into the ground with a thud. She gasped from the force and reached out, grabbing the bangle and rolling away just in time as Ahuizotl’s claws dug harshly into the ground where she had just been. “Give it back! You shall not defeat me Daring Do!” He charged at her, his menacing claws raised for a devastating attack!
She turned and ran towards a wall; he was catching up with her. With an almighty flap of her wings, Daring Do flew up at the wall, kicked off and turned, her hind legs kicking out. She struck Ahuizotl’s face, and sent him sprawling backwards.
Jumping for the oculus she almost reached it when a rope suddenly coiled around her and restricted her wings, she grasped onto the oculus ledge and yelped as she was almost pulled down, struggling to climbed up through the hole as Bravely Blue began to pull her down from below.
“You are not going anywhere!” She shouted menacingly, a vicious grin spread across her old mentor’s muzzle.
Daring Do glared back at her. “Fine!” She dropped the bangle just at the edge and let go of the oculus, she flew down, Bravely Blue widened her eyes and Daring smirked as she hurtled at the mare. Striking her hard, she drove the mare into the ground and against a wall, knocking her unconscious.
This gave Daring the perfect opportunity.
She flew right through the oculus, grabbed the bangle and jumped away just as Ahuizotl’s claws struck at the edge. He climbed through the hole and glared at her menacingly.
“Give me the Bangle, Daring Do.” He said in a low voice, his large form approaching slowly.
Daring Do had often bested the ape-like creature, but he had always been a tough opponent. He was best taken by surprise, a full attack his strength was much greater than hers, and those claws were very deadly.
Daring Do looked around, for anything she could use as a weapon; she barely had time to search before he suddenly charged at her. She yelped and dashed to the side just as his claws struck into the mountainside rock.
The oculus opened up into a small clearing halfway up the mountain, the view was rather breath-taking, not that Daring Do was here for sightseeing.
She looked about her, desperate to figure out what she could do before an idea struck her.
“Hey Ahuizotl, do you like the cold?” She asked with a smirk, her voice calming down from her panic as her plan took form.
He gave her a grin and flexed his claws. “The fur of my body gives me plenty of protection my dear, much more than that of your pony hide.” He said with a glare. “Give me the Bangle.” He said again in a menacing tone.
Daring Do shook her head. “Never.” She suddenly bucked out and struck the mountain rock behind her as hard as she could. There was a deep boom a deafening crack and everything went still.
Ahuizotl just looked at her and laughed, grinning as he gazed down at the mare. “And what were you trying to do?” He asked in a mocking tone. Daring Do simply smirked and pointed above his head. A low rumbling met their ears and Ahuizotl cocked his head gormlessly before looking directly up.
“Oh.”
A massive avalanche was suddenly hurtling down from the side of the mountain towards them. With a scream he was pounded with huge blocks of snow and ice, forcing him back down the mountain. Daring Do flew high and watched with a satisfied smile as Ahuizotl was buried beneath the tonnes of snow.
The mare became very aware of the bitter cold biting at her, so she turned and began flying back towards town, needing a hot cup of cocoa.

With a delicious cup of cocoa in hoof -with marshmallows of course-, Daring Do sighed in her hotel room, wondering if she’d ever see Ahuizotl again after this latest bout. She had a strange feeling that she would. Turning over the bangle she gazed over the three catches, a tri-locking system inside that would allow it to attach to a hoof. On the underside was an inscription in ancient Equestrian.
Pulling out her books she began to study, humming as she worked.
Usually this kind of work was boring and tedious, but after the latest events it was a nice change of pace and a pleasant distraction.
When she finally managed to translate it, she cocked her head and leaned back.
Reading the inscription again and again didn’t change what it said, and she couldn’t help but feel almost numb in shock.
The inscription read:
‘To My Beloved Daughters, Celestia and Luna.
For You,
Love,
Your Loving Mother, Serra.’
Serra had been the princesses’ mother…the ancient Queen of Equestria.
Daring Do had never been as bold as to approach royalty for a chat -of this she was very adamant. But now it seemed that there was only one place she could go. She could no longer defend Equestria from Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue alone, this was obviously much bigger than herself.
Daring Do was going to Canterlot.
Daring Do was going to visit royalty.

> 6) Daring Do and the Legend of the Alicorn's Horn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring Do and the Legend of the Alicorn’s Horn



Diane Daring Danger Do was a golden furred mare with a passion for archaeology and adventure. Renown across Equestria as one of the most prominent figures in the archaeology scene, and right now, she was one very confused young lady.

Daring Do sat with a sigh, looking around herself she wasn’t really sure what to do. She knew where she needed to go, but how would you walk up to a princess and tell her ‘hey, Miss Ruler-Of-All-Equestria, hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been collecting your stuff that you hid away a thousand years ago, and I think it was from your mother the ancient Queen, and hey, I might need to find this last piece of the puzzle which is supposedly some kind of horn. And if my suspicions are correct, it might be the horn of your mother, ya know...from her BONES!’
Because that would go down fantastically!
She sighed and laid back on her bed.
Daring Do faced dangers on every adventure; she faced horrors and possible loss of life, the fate of Equestria often resting on her shoulders. Her mentor, from whom she had always drawn strength, had betrayed her.
She only really had one friend left and she really needed to see him.
Climbing out of her dorm and heading down and out into the campus, she headed for the cafeteria. She knew where he’d be. He was always there.
He went in and sure enough, there he was.
Caffeine Remus Kick, or just Caffeine Kick as he preferred to be called, was a proper sort of pony. He was an intelligent unicorn, working as a substitute for many teachers at Clopsdale Academy in almost every subject. He was very formal to most ponies, but Daring Do had been his friend since day one of the Academy so they had something of a casual rapport.
He was also the best coffee maker on campus!
She approached him from behind. “I need a-“
“Double Espresso Latte with chocolate sprinkles.” He cut in, finishing her sentence. He turned to meet her eyes and smiled, handing her a readymade cup. “For you,” he said, smiling.
She smiled and graciously accepted the cup before sitting down at a table. He sat down on the opposite side from her. The buzz of the cafeteria around them seemed to be drowned out by the silence that ensued between them. It wasn’t an awkward silence, it was more, expectant. The kind of silence that would be followed by a much needed vent of conversation, but for now was simply settling, and acclimating to the atmosphere.
When the silence had gone on a little too long, Caffeine Kick cleared his throat and looked at her expectantly.
“Sorry.” She said with a sigh, breaking the silence that began only moments ago, but seemed to last hours. Daring Do leaned back, stared at the ceiling and let out a long, frustrated groan as she wondered where to begin.
She told him everything; The Sapphire Statue, the Griffon’s Goblet, The Golden Key. When it came to Bravely Blue, the great Daring Do almost broke into tears. She hadn’t let it affect her, hadn’t let herself feel the stress and the worry of everything that had happened, bottling it away. But she felt it now. The emotions weld up before she could really stop them. Bravely Blue had almost been a second mother to her. She had been everything Daring Do had needed. More than a friend, a rock, stability in a world that often seemed far too big for her to carry.
Daring Do was afraid. With every word she felt her eyes moisten and her lip tremble a little more, she tried to hold her composure, but soon she couldn’t manage any longer.
Daring Do spent half an hour against Caffeine Kick’s shoulder, crying into his jacket.
When she looked up, the cafeteria had cleared itself and they were alone.
“S-sorry.” She said, still choked and hiccupping slightly.
He chuckled and handed her a tissue.
“Wow, the great Daring Do, crying. Never thought I’d see it, Diane.”
She glared. “Tell anyone, I’ll kill you, Remus.”
He looked down at her, sadness in his eyes and softly he chuckled, hoofing over a tissue.
“I’ll have you know I rather like my middle name. Better than ‘Danger’ anyway.” He grinned.
Daring Do just laughed and shook her head. “No it’s not. Remus, really? Were your parents cruel?” She smirked and laughed loudly, feeling a little better from the light teasing. He just chuckled pleasantly before looking back at her with a soft sigh, the humour leaving his eyes, as a look of contemplation spread across his refined features.
“So about your problem; how do you propose we handle such a feat? You need to get to Canterlot, and you require an audience with royalty, the Princesses no less. Hardly an easy thing to accomplish.”
The golden mare nodded. “That’s why I came to you.” She said softly. “I know you have contacts. Please?” She said, looking up at him from his shoulder.
Daring Do had always been such a strong mare, always independent. Caffeine Kick sighed at the now helpless look in her eyes.
“Fine, I’ll see what I can do.”


*


Daring Do had no idea what strings Caffeine Kick had pulled, but the next morning she found a royal invitation slipped under her hotel room door, requesting the honour of her company in Canterlot Palace. With her bags packed as she climbed upon the train that would take her to Canterlot. She had to admit this, he may seem pompous, but he was the best friend she could hope for right now.
Daring sat by the window, watching the world go by, contemplating everything.
She was a brash mare, cocky and full of bravado. For the last two days Daring had become a shell of her former self, the world had taken its toll. Her mentor against her, the world at stake, and this mare was sat on a plum coloured train, embarking on a journey that would bring her to the halls of the Palace, before the most powerful mares in Equestria, both in magic, and in influence. She was both excited, and terrified in equal measure.
The ride from Clopsdale took several hours. She passed the time reading through her notes and diagrams of the other pieces like the Sapphire Statue. In an effort to keep them safe, she’d stashed them in a personal safe she had back at the Academy.
They should be safe there…she hoped.
By the time that she reached Canterlot, Daring Do had become so exhausted she’d fallen asleep, only to be awoken by a kind member of the strain staff so she didn’t miss her stop. Embarking off the train she looked around her.
Canterlot was new for her. Of course she’d been here before, but only once as a filly, and looking around the place now she saw the towering buildings and the quaint poshness of the city that kind of made her want to gag. She received several bad looks from some of the snobbish mares and stallions of Canterlot as she walked the streets in her ripped shirt and tattered saddlebags, but she didn’t care for them, she had bigger issues.
Like meeting a princess!
Daring had been recommended to wear something formal. Instead she had decided on her usual adventuring gear. They would simply need to accept her as she was. Besides, if she was allowed to go into the ancient tombs of the Alicorn Royalty, she had no doubt that it wouldn’t be as simple as approaching a sarcophagus.
Nothing in Daring’s life was ever that simple.
The steps to the palace were kept by Royal Guards, their lances blocking her as she approached. She produced the invitation and the guards gave her a dubious look before letting her through.
The great palace was shining with pearly whites and gold’s, with a few midnight blues. She suspected that they blues were a new addition due to the recent return of Princess Luna.
As she approached the main hall, she heard a muffled voice within. She opened the large ornate door before her and walked in slowly, the sound of a stallion reached her ears.
“My Princess, I MUST be allowed to go in pursuit. Crimes have been committed and will continue to be committed until he is brought in for justice.” The stallion speaking was a white and blue maned grey stallion donned in the ornate, gold armour of the Royal Guard. He was large, strong, and large wings adorned his back.
The princess above him looked regal on her throne. Her waving mane streaked with all the colours of the sky, blew behind her in beautiful majesty, looking all the makings of a ruler.
Though with a mane like that, Daring felt her own grey-scale one might be in need of a wash.
“You may go then, and bring him to justice by whatever means you see fit, so that he may answer for his crimes.” She said firmly. Her eyes seemed hard, which made Daring Do gulp slightly. She had never met royalty before, but Her Grace gave her the impression of somepony that could be surprisingly stern when she needed to be.
The stallion bowed and turned sharply, walking past Daring Do. Their eyes met for a brief moment before he continued and went out the door.
After the heavy doors creaked to a close, it suddenly dawned on Daring that she was now alone with the princess.
Daring Do and Princess Celestia.
AND Princess Luna!
Daring Do felt guilty for not noticing the second mare on a cushion beside the great throne, while not sitting on a throne of her own, she was every bit as beautiful and regal as her sister.
Looking around herself as she approached, Daring Do took a moment to look around. The main hall was breath-taking in its beauty. The windows were stained glass depicting key moments in Equestrian history, many of which Daring Do could name, but some of them she struggled to recognise. They refracted the light into a kaleidoscope of colours that touched the ground in sparkling hues that looked like sparkling stars shining despite the day.
“Approach, my little pony.” Celestia’s voice rang out.
Daring Do jumped slightly in response. She approached and looked up, finding a surprising gentleness in the Princess’s eyes.
One of them anyway.
Despite the hardness Daring had seen before, Celestia now looked down with gentleness in her eyes, much unlike her younger sister whose eyes only flickered with curiosity and sternness. She didn’t know who would be easiest to convince, Celestia, or Luna. 
The golden mare couldn’t help but feel rather awkward in the presence of royalty as she looked up. Reaching up she removed her pith helmet respectfully and looked between the sisters.
“I received word that you wished for an audience with us. I was assured it was of the utmost importance.” Celestia said; while her eyes were kind, Daring noticed her voice was challenging.
She had to say this right.
“I need to see your mother’s tomb.” She said hurriedly before biting her lip.
Luna gasped and glared down at the little pony, fire in her eyes. Celestia’s kindness had vanished leaving a horrified expression. She seemed to control herself though, her brow furrowing as she looked at Daring with a judging gaze.
Well, that certainly WASN’T the right way to have said it!
“Please explain yourself.” Celestia stiffly demanded, her stern voice booming around the room. The Canterlot voice was something that was often used as a display of power in the old days, but these days the princesses were rumoured to use it anger. Which didn’t bode well for Daring in this case.
Daring Do shuffled her hoof nervously on the ground before she opened her mouth, and she began to ramble, trying to talk away the awkward situation she just put herself into.
“I found the other pieces. I know about the Sapphire Statue and the Golden Key and the Goblet, and I even have that bangle and stuff, ya know the stuff that your mother Serra gave you. Well I kinda need to get into her tomb to try and take her horn from her bones. But I don’t want to just steal it, ya see there are these bad ponies coming to steal it and I need to get it before they do.” She said before smiling, her mouth turning into a grin with a light squee.
A silence descended around them, she’d never felt so miniscule in her life. Talking had never really been her strong suit.
“Leave.”
It was Luna that spoke, but her sister didn’t challenge it. He feared that Celestia had simply chosen not to answer. He couldn’t blame her. Daring Do looked between them, Luna was glaring at her angrily, and Celestia’s face held a warning that Daring did not want to challenge.
She sighed and nodded, walking out and leaving the palace.
That couldn’t have gone much worse. Well, she supposed it could’ve, she could have been thrown in a dungeon.
Well, Daring may not have been able to explain it properly, but she knew that even without permission she had to get that horn!
If she didn’t, the whole of Equestria was in danger!
The problem was Daring Do had no idea where the Royal Tombs actually were.
“Psst.”
The sound came from an alleyway nearby between two buildings. A stallion stood within the shadows, his fur so dark Daring Do could barely tell he was there at all.
“Come here.” He whispered. “I can help you find the tomb.”
Daring Do’s eyes widened. How had this stallion known that’s what she was after, how on Equis did he know that she actually needed his help, and how did he know where the tomb was?
Countless questions ran through her mind but she approached anyway. She stayed in the light though, she knew better than to step into the darkness with a stallion she didn’t know. She wasn’t a sillyfilly.
“I know how to get you into the tomb, Daring Do. Would you like my help?” He asked. His voice seemed calm, charming, and even hypnotising. He had a way of pronouncing his words that made her feel almost at ease. Like she could trust him.
“Yeah, how do you know me? And how did you know that’s what I was after?” She asked curiously.
“I know many things, and I have many eyes and ears.” He said cryptically. “And one of those eyes has seen you, and one of those ears had heard your need. Do you still wish to save Equestria by obtaining the horn?”
Daring Do nodded nervously. At this point she was going to need all the help she could get.
“Come with me.” He turned and leapt, wings erupting from the darkness, large and dark and soon he was flapping up into the sky.
“Wait up!” She called out, unfurling her own wings and taking to the sky. She smiled a little at the feeling of the breeze in her feathers, and focused on following this mysterious stallion.
They flew for an hour, away from the palace. She had heard tales that the tomb was under the palace, so why they were heading away from it? Daring Do had no clue.
“Hey, why are we heading away from the palace?” She called out, flying next to the dark maned stallion. The Pegasus had dark purple fur and a purple and black mane. He turned to her and smiled.
“The tomb is under the palace for sure, but the only way to get in is through the palace cellars, and that is too hard. We will use the back door.”
Daring Do cocked her head at the words. There was a back door?
She followed the Pegasus. Without his smooth words in her ears she was starting to feel uneasy. It was never a good idea to trust strangers, but she could hardly turn back now. The fate of Equestria could hang in the balance, and she had no options, but this strange stallion was offering her one. The least she could do was give it a shot.
They flew for twenty minutes until they finally reached the edge of Canterlot. Below them was a large courtyard made from large white marble slabs and decorated with silver railings, the edge of which looked out over the entire Equestrian kingdom. The cobbles below were stylised with the sun cutie-mark of Princess Celestia. Further below them, the currents of the beautiful Canterlot River washed over the edge in an endless waterfall. The strange pony flew over the edge and Daring followed curiously. We flew down to the mouth of the waterfall.
Daring looked to her new companion she was following, wondering what was going on. He simply smirked and drove head first into the waterfall’s mouth and disappeared in a splash. Daring Do’s mouth dropped open as she watched.
“What the-?”
She approached the waterfall and took a deep breath. She pushed through into the opening, the water pummelling heavily down at her fur before she pushed through the other side. Daring Do looked around once through, shocked at the sight before her.
“A secret passage, hidden here all this time?”
The waterfall erupted from only the top of the tunnel, the ground inside, while a little damp, was rather wide and very long. It seemed it was split into two tunnels, one that spewed the water out hiding the other from view below it. She looked around and turned to try and find the stallion that had brought her here.
But, he was gone!
The place was dark. Refracted light shone through the water that covered the entrance, sending beautiful colours across the tunnel, but the Pegasus was nowhere to be seen. She didn’t even manage to get his name, Daring Do realised with a sigh.
Daring Do sighed to herself. She pulled her pith helmet off to try and rinse the water off, her hoof gently sliding over the scratch on its surface. The scratch caused by the griffon.
Replacing the helmet upon her head, she headed off down the tunnel. She noticed it seemed to be following the piping of the Canterlot River. So she was directly under it, and if her memory served her correctly, the river ran all the way back to the palace.
Daring Do began to walk down the tunnel; her hooves clopping on the damp stone floor, echoing loudly around her. It looked like it had been cut out of the rock, not unlike the cave tunnels that she had went through at Eldarodeo. 
Daring reached the end of the tunnel; it turned both left and right, a T junction. She remembered this is where the river split in the market district, and circled the main square, so it shouldn’t matter which route she took, they met each other at the end.
She turned left and entered the darkness. Without the light from the waterfall entrance, it was extremely dark down here. She reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a torch, striking it against the wall did nothing as it failed to light, causing her to grumble in annoyance. It seemed the stone was too damp to spark. She sighed and sat down, holding the torch in her back hooves, she pulled out of her saddlebag a flint and sparker and lashed them together. The sparks ignited the torch and she smiled triumphantly, stood up and continued moving, her way now illuminated by the flame of the burning torch. The flame barely penetrated the darkness, the constant drip of the river above in the tunnel, made the place dark and eerie. A light chill ran down the mare’s spine, and had the foreboding feeling that everything that had happened was simply too easy.
CLICK.
She froze at the sound, looking about her for the source. Looking down she gulped, noticing what had happened. She’d stepped on a hooftrap. The stone had slipped into the ground and there was the sound of stone grinding on stone behind her. Daring turned slowly, her ears folding back as her eyes widened.
A massive boulder was suddenly crashing towards her towards her. She yelped and turned tail, galloping away from the rolling rock. She moved as fast as her legs could carry her, galloping through the tunnel as the carriage sized boulder rolled ever closer to her. As she screamed through the tunnel underneath the marketplace in under nine seconds flat, almost slamming into the wall as she turned a corner, she slammed to a halt. Before her was an immense pit, full of sharpened stakes!
There was very little air current down in the tunnel, flying would be difficult, but with the boulder rumbling ever closer, she had no other choice. Stashing the burning torch between her teeth, she ran head first at the pit of spikey death, leaping with all her might as she reached the edge. Her wings spread to aid her in the length of her jump, the golden furred mare smiled as she saw the edge getting closer and closer. But suddenly she began to lose altitude. She looked down, and to her horror, all she saw was an inky black abyss. There was an even deeper pit and the spikes were simply lining the edges. The icy, cold air below her was causing a pressure drop; she couldn’t maintain altitude in air of this density.
Suddenly she was falling.
Her hooves lashed out and just managed to grasp the edge! Daring Do hung there, a flaming torch in her maw, trying to pull herself up in time as the giant boulder rushed towards the gap, ready to crush her into a pit of spikes. She pulled herself up just in time and rolled, the fiery torch snuffing out on a wet patch on the floor as she rolled, just as the loud rumble of the boulder fell and lodged itself into the pit, effectively blocking the tunnel forever. Well, she wasn’t getting out that way now. She had no choice but to continue.
Daring Do pulled out the flint again and lashed them together in an attempt to relight her torch, but no matter what she did; it now refused to light as the tip had become soaked.
“Just great.” She grumbled to herself, wrapping the wet tip in a towel she stuffed it into her bag. Looking ahead of her, the adventurous mare a dim glow at the end of the tunnel, she walked towards it and turned the corner, to locate the source of this mysterious colourful light. Her eyes widened. The entire room shone with crystals, there were the same starry crystals as she’d seen in the griffon’s cave of Eldarodeo.
She smiled at their presence as they were comforting after all the darkness. Apart from the crystals imbedded in the walls, the chamber before her seemed completely empty apart from a tunnel towards the end.
Daring Do was not such a sillyfilly as to attempt running through. There was no doubt in her mind that this place was also booby-trapped.
Daring Do took a single step into the tunnel, moving carefully and paying strict attention to everything around her, but…it seemed nothing was happening. She cocked her head and took a few more steps in. There didn’t seem to be any traps at all. This, strangely, is what worried the mare the most.
No traps? There had to be one, she just wasn’t seeing it.
She began to trot, trot towards the opening, her ears poised, her eyes darting around suspiciously, waiting, just in case. Suddenly the doors slammed closed at both ends of the room, sealing her in, leaving her in almost complete darkness. As the dark settled she looked around, listening carefully, the soft glittering of the crystals in the wall making it seem almost like a night sky was around her, but none of the glittering light could dispel the dark that hung around her forebodingly.
Daring Do looked around. There was a movement in the dark; something was in here with her. She could see it pass in front of the glittering stars a few times, but she couldn’t tell exactly where it was, or what it was. Something was suddenly behind her! She could feel it. Her body reacting without her mind playing a part, she dived forward as something struck the ground right where she’d been, shattering stone and flinging dust and rocks into the air. She looked back at the cracked ground, hoping to catch a glimpse of what wielded such raw power, but whatever had done it had already slinked back into the shadows. The golden mare looked around. She couldn’t tell where it was or where it was coming from, but maybe she could hear it. Closing her eyes she concentrated, slowing her breathing, trying to focus. There was something there. A shuffle, a light step, a single movement of air that gently caressed her wing…HER WING! Something was to the right of her and in pure instinct she dived to the left, raw power smashed into the ground again, even more viciously than the first. She turned and turned to face her adversary, it had crept out of the gloom to face her, Daring’s stomach lurched as it dawned on her.
It was a pony, a dead pony. Long dead by the look of it.
A zombie!
The shambling corpse was mummified, its skin shrunken to the bone and its eyes were nothing but blank sockets filled with an eerie blue glow.
It had been a Pegasus in life, its large wings now reduced to the remains of skin and feathers clinging to whatever bones remained. Silver armour that still gleamed, reflecting the sparkles from the crystals, hung from its form, its design not unlike that of a royal guard. The helmet of which was emblazoned with the lightning symbol on the front of the goblet, the symbol of Serra. This had been one of her royal guard. But what magic was strong enough to give life to the dead?!
That was a question best left for later as the zombie approached her. In its mouth it held a flail, a vicious piece of antiquated weaponry, liable to do a lot of nasty stuff if it hit her.
When Daring Do’s stomach stopped roiling, she simply smirked; she knew she could out pace this glowing guard with her wings tied behind her back!
With a hollow growl, the zombie cocked its head and swing, the strike would have been devastating if it connected, but Daring was too quick. She ducked under the swing and dove at the walking corpse; it collapsed under her with a sickening. Her hoof smashed down and its head burst into century old dust, a wisp of blue spiritual magic spraying out and floating through the ceiling.
Daring Do breathed a sigh of relief.
Heading to the door she looked it over and smiled when she saw what looked to be a keyhole in the shape of a lightning bolt. Before she left, Daring Do had made a caste of the goblet, just in case something like this was found. She dropped her saddlebag and began looking through it. A sudden ‘crack!’ echoed around the room, she turned and her eyes widened as there, in the dull light of the crystals, hooves burst out of the ground and rotting remains of ponies began to crawl out of the ground and walls, the dull blue glow in their eye sockets littering the darkness as their numbers increased!
Daring Do yanked out the moulding, shoved it into the socket and turned. The door opened up quickly, she dived in and turned, scrabbling on the door frame, looking for some way to close it again, but there was no keyhole this side. She grabbed her saddlebag, flung it onto her shoulder and ran.
Daring Do galloped fast. She knew she could take on a zombie, maybe even two or three, but a whole horde?!
Questions ran through Daring’s mind. Who in Celestia’s name would cast a spell to protect something with an army of zombies? And who was strong enough to cast that spell?
Well the answer was simple, it was Queen Serra. But the biggest question that she didn’t know the answer to was ‘Why?’.
The tunnel opened up into a room with three other tunnels. She had to try and focus on the map of the river. She knew she was close, she remembered that the river split off in three ways. Two that went around and circled the palace and one that went through and under. She had to take the middle!
She crammed the map back into her bag and prayed that she was right. Daring Do ran into the middle tunnel, galloping into the darkness, the clank of armour, scrape of fleshless hooves and the groan of vocal cords long rotted seemed to grow louder no matter how hard she ran! Could zombies even gallop?!
She didn’t look back to find out.
Daring Do was so focused on running; she didn’t see the tripwire until her world suddenly flipped upside down and she was crashing into the ground, skidding down a slope into a dimly lit room. She looked up and around her, the glare and brightness making her unsure of what was going around her, so used to the dark her eyes were almost blinded by the bright light.
She heard the moaning, looked back towards the tunnel. They were closer! They were almost on her! She’d be eaten alive!
BANG!
A door hidden in the ceiling slammed shut, sealing the tunnel and the creatures behind her, leaving Daring Do to sit there, shaking.
“It is good to see you again, Daring Do.” Said a booming melodic voice behind her.
She glared, shaking her head. It was a voice she knew far too well. Turning her head, she looked up, squinting in the brightness at Ahuizotl. They were in a large cave room, a massive burning chandelier up at the roof, illuminating what seemed to be a large room here within the tunnels.
“Sorry, I can’t say the same.” Daring retorted to his comment as she got to her hooves, dusting herself off. Ahuizotl’s chuckle sounded out and he climbed down from the pedestal rock he had stood himself on.
“Aren’t you going to thank me? I am sure I just saved your life.” He grinned at her, his apelike features smirking down at her, showing off his sharp teeth. His Daring Do grimace slightly.
“Don’t you ever take a bath?” She asked, waving her hoof in front of her to waft away the smell. Ahuizotl glared, obviously not amused.
“How does it feel to not even know what it is you are after Daring Do? Would you like to know?” He asked with a grin, walking past her. He pulled a flaming torch from the wall and brought it over. “Here, snuff out the flame.” He challenged, offering the torch.
Ahuizotl was fast and strong, and he was a skilled fighter, but it was always through luck and his angry mistakes that Daring Do was able to best him in the past. But now he was calm, and in such a small area, rocks and unfamiliar ground, she knew better than to try her chances. Besides, it would be best to see if he’d reveal his plans.
She took the torch and stubbed it into the ground, but the flame continued. She cocked her head and stamped on it, yelping as she burnt herself. She tried blowing on it with her breath and wings, but to no avail. Eventually she pulled out a flask of water and doused the flame, but it suddenly sparked back into life.
“It is called Everflame. It is created by sparking it alight using the Sapphire Stone.”
He reached into her saddlebag before she could stop him and brought out her sodden torch stick she’d failed to light earlier. He brought out the sapphire statue and smirked. Raising the jackal shaped statue to the light from the chandelier, Daring Do watched as the light refracted through the jackal statue into a beam of light that struck the torch, bursting it into flame.
“This flame can never be put out.” He said purred. “It does not grow; it remains controlled, and can never be undone.” He said proudly.
The flame reminded her of the temple from which she’d taken the Sapphire Statue from, the flames there had still been burning even though centuries had passed since anyone had been inside. She had thought they’d been lit by someone else, but with all the traps intact, it was obvious she had been the first to enter in a very long time. All those torches must have been lit with Everfire.
“Each of the items has a power, Daring Do, but I doubt you know why.” Ahuizotl said, turning to her.
Daring Do just glared. “And you are just going to tell me?”
Her words made him chuckle. Ahuizotl turned away from her and began walking around the cave.
“Seven items must entwine,
For magic to steer towards divine.” He began to recite.
“An Amulet old and full of lies,
Another that’s right, which wit divides.
A jackal found in temples greed,
Where hunters fail but prey succeed.
A golden key to unlock the way,
Within the blue at circles bay.
A goblet holder of the heart,
Great magic’s vessel with talons guard.
A bangle locked and sealed in thrice,
Follow the wit of the lonely mice.
A horn of old from bone remains,
Equestrian colours, the blue complains…” He turned to her and smirked, approaching her slowly.
“The final piece cannot be told,
But found by those of bravely bold.” He said, and Daring’s shocked face brought an arrogant smile to Ahuizotl’s muzzle.
“Once together time stops its song,
As Alicorn secrets to the bearer belong.”

HE KNEW THE REST OF THE POEM!
The revelation shocked her, as did the words of the poem. Alicorn secrets? What Alicorn secrets!
“H-How do you know the last parts!?” She demanded angrily.
Ahuizotl simply chuckled. “I have my sources, little pony. And I would hardly share them with you.” His smug expression really ticked her off. How could he just stand there and be like that, how could he be so far ahead of her! How was she losing! Because she WAS indeed losing. Ahuizotl had been ahead of her at every single point, and it was a fact that tasted sour in her mouth.
“Let us review my dear. You hold the goblet, the amulet and the Bangle. I hold the Sapphire Statue, and the Key. I want what you have.” He growled sinisterly.
She shook her head. “I didn’t even bring them with me, I took casts just in case, but I figured I’d find you here. Not like I’m gonna be running towards you holding them in my satchel now, am I?” She said a little smugly.
He nodded. “Oh yes, for sure, but how safe are they at that academy, in that safe in that office?” Daring Do’s blood ran cold. “As we speak Bravely Blue is emptying that safe, and will later deliver to me the remainder of the items I seek.”
Daring Do had failed completely. Ahuizotl was going to get them! But it seemed this final piece, the Alicorn’s Horn, was extremely important to whatever was going on. If she could just get that, she should be able to prevent Ahuizotl from completing whatever it was he wanted to do.
She looked above her at the ceiling. The pipe for the base of the river travelled the length of the ceiling, and a few places looked a little weak. She began to move casually, walking innocently towards the pedestal rocks he had been on. She climbed onto the lowest one.
“I must say, I’m impressed.” She said, shrugging, climbing up onto the second. Ahuizotl’s eyes watched her, wondering what she was doing.
“I did not do all of this to impress you.” He said firmly. She shrugged again, trying to seem casual.
“And why did you do this? You said you were going to tell me what this was all about? What Alicorn secrets?” She asked, trying to keep him talking as she climbed onto the larger rock, gesturing about her as she spoke, subtly surveying her surroundings.
“I suppose you will find out in time.” He said, hinting darkly. “But its power is more than you can comprehend. I will have the world, Daring Do. It WILL be MINE!” He demanded viciously. “I will not be denied.”
Daring Do climbed onto the highest pedestal, looking directly across at the large chandelier.
“Yeah ya will.” She mocked, diving at the chandelier with her wings open.
The hot air surrounding the flame pushed her up; using her tail as she rose, she wrapped it around the edge of the chandelier and flipped it up. It struck the ceiling and cracked into the rock and piping hard, Daring Do smirked as a few drops of water dripped through the cracks.
“And what was that supposed to do, my dear?” He grinned. “Your efforts are futile; you really believe you could stop me with such a stunt? What did you expect?” He asked with a cackle, Daring Do just smirking as the crack began to drip and creak a little. “Did you expect that the chandelier might fall from the ceiling onto me? It was a pathetic mov-oh.” He said as his ears folded back as a loud CRACK erupted through the room.
Water suddenly burst through the crack in the ceiling, rubble splashing down as Ahuizotl squealed in a mareish fashion as the torrent struck him, smashing him back into a wall with a pained yelp.
Daring Do stayed in the air. The air pressure should do the job, she just had to wait. The door at the other end of the room was sealed. As the water filled the room, the air pressure should push into the water, making the water push back. The more pressure, the more chance of an escape. Hopefully the door would cave under it and she’d be able to swim her way through the water to her goal. But as the pressure rose Daring realised a flaw in her plan. As the pressure rose, so did the denseness of the air and soon she was finding it hard to stay in the air, panting heavily from the effort of flapping her wings. The room filled up faster as more of the ceiling caved in, suddenly her ears popped and she yelped, falling into the water. The room was running out of air, she was sputtering water, before suddenly there was a rush of current. The door had caved in and the water poured into the tunnel beyond. She yelped as she was pulled under and through the door, trying her best to hold her breath as she was pulled through the tunnel. Rocks scraped at her wings and back, making her gasp under the water and take in gulps of the Canterlot River. Daring Do tried to close her mouth again but as her back struck a rock again hard, she yelped loud and water flowed in down her throat. Daring Do panicked and tried to breathe, feeling her lungs fill with fluid and the world became fuzzy. Suddenly there was a bright light and right on the edge of unconsciousness, a burst of air erupted around her and she gasped and spluttered, bursting out of the water into a much larger chamber, the water flowing down vents carved into the rock about her. The water was now only knee height and she was coughing hard as she shook, whimpering from almost drowning.
Daring Do recovered and simply stood there, her clothes and fur sodden as she shook from the fear and adrenaline. When she felt like she could go on, she looked up and saw what looked to be a sealed door with an inscription on the far wall.
Approaching slowly, she looked over the Ancient Equestrian, but her mind wasn’t up for translating the writing. She saw a keyhole in the shape of a lightning bolt and pulled out her moulding. She unlocked the way, the door’s ear splitting scrape filled the room as they rumbled open.
Inside was a tomb. There was light and stairs at the far end which was likely the main and official entrance. She had used a secret entrance.
Daring Do walked in, closing the door. She looked around the tomb. There were quite a few caskets, tombs of branches of the royal family, including some so ancient and decrepit, she had trouble reading the names, let alone recognising who they were.
Daring Do began walking through the tomb. It seemed to be coloured differently and designed differently the deeper it went. Closer to the stairs were dark obsidian and jewelled blue’s, golden ingrained Ancient Equestrian covering the pillars on either side, but as she reached the deeper areas, the tones turned to lighter sky blue’s, and then vibrant silvers that while majestic and regal, seemed to add an icy temperature to the air. It wasn’t long before Daring found her breath forming in wisps of vapour before her eyes.
Moving deeper she found a particular room, there were others even deeper but she didn’t need to go much further. This was what she had come to find. She knew this because above the arch of the entrance was the same lightning symbol as she had seen now countless times to represent the ancient Queen. She entered the area and descended down some steps to what lay inside. It was a solid silver casket, surrounded by burning torches that were likely Everfire. She walked over and kneeled.
“Your Majesty, Queen Serra,” she began, directing her eyes at the floor. “I know what I’m about to do is wrong, but sometimes I guess you have to do the wrong thing to save what you care about. “If I leave you, they’ll find a way in, they always do. So I have to take it, I have to take it so they can’t, and keep it from them.” She looked up. “I hope you can forgive me for this.”
Daring Do stood up and walked to the casket. It looked solid silver, embroidered with her simple and the depiction of a beautiful sleeping mare of great silver majesty, her mane flowing behind her.
Placing the mould in a lightning shaped keyhole on the engraved side, she turned it. The casket burst with dust and slid open in two parts.
Diane Daring Danger Do looked in, gazing over the remains of the once Queen of Equestria, Serra. Time had stripped her of her flesh and left nothing but a beautiful white skeleton that looked almost as though it were made of silver and marble as it gleamed in the torchlight. Even in death she was majestic.
On her head was her horn, attached to her skull. Daring Do grimaced at this next task, reaching out and pulling it from the skull, there was a slight flash of light but then it was done. She closed the casket and stowed away the horn in her saddlebag. Daring Do sighed, not happy about what she had done, but it was necessary. Turning to make her way out, she re-entered the secret tunnel. She swam, much easier now back into the chamber with the broken ceiling, pulled herself up and swam out of the hole, into the river. Shocked ponies were watching as the river seemed to have whirlpool in it as the water filled the cave below. Daring Do pulled herself out a little further away so as not to attract attention. Sighing softly she felt it would be best if she headed back to the academy.

Daring Do set off, her body wet, and her saddlebag now containing the Alicorn’s Horn.
The Sapphire Statue created Everfire, a flame that never died. The Tri-lock Bangle could heal anything. And the Griffon’s Goblet somehow, had kept a single being alive for hundreds of years. Such powers in themselves were very strong magic. What other secrets would be in store for her? What other discoveries would she make?
And what did the poem mean; that the final piece could only be found by those of bravely bold?
Alicorn secrets, brave and powerful possibilities, Daring Do didn’t know what awaited her in the future. But one thing was certain.
The fate of Equestria truly did hang in the balance, and it was up to Daring Do to save it!


> 7) Daring Do and the Orb of Prophesy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring Do and the Orb of Prophesy



Hiding was never Daring Do’s style.
But that’s what she was forced to do.

She had went before the crown, asked to desecrate a beloved tomb, only for them to find out hours later, that the tomb had been desecrated, even though the crown had refused Daring Do’s request for permission.
Likely they blamed her.
And they’d be right.

She sat there, staring at the horn in front of her.
It was a ghastly thing to consider.
She had broken into a tomb, faced off revenant royal guards and broken a horn from a unicorn’s skeletal skull.
The thought made a shiver run down the mare’s spine.
Diane Daring Danger Do sat back, looking up at the stars. She was camping out in the deep reaches of the Everfree Forest. She knew most ponies would refuse to look inside here, which made it safe for her. Even though the place was infested with monsters, Daring Do knew she was strong enough to protect herself. Besides, she had business nearby.
Ponyville nearby had a train station, she planned to use it to get to Manehatten. She had a friend there that could help her disappear.
Daring Do sighed. Unfortunately the heat of pursuit was still strong enough that she feared leaving the forest.
Upon entering the forest Daring had been forced to face off against a manticore, but that had been pretty easy compared to what she was used to. Her domination of the beast seemed to have driven off any other predators. Some growls in the darkness told her that some Timberwolves were watching her, but so long as they kept their distance, she didn’t really have a problem with them.

Daring Do curled up in her tent, still looking at the horn.
Alicorn magic was the strongest magic in Equestria, apparently. However if a horn retained its magic after being removed from the body, she didn’t know. She wasn’t a mistiquologist.

The moon above shone brightly and lit the floor with its comforting glow, and Daring Do shivered, feeling that somehow Princess Luna would find her and take her in. The princesses were powerful and when angered, dangerous.
But even they weren’t omniscient. They didn’t know everything that happened at every moment, at every time. Some ponies had to deal with things themselves, like Daring Do always had to. The mare found herself sighing again, a habit she had been doing a lot lately.
Her body felt weary, felt achy.
Closing her eyes she relaxed and tried to just sleep for a little while.
THUD!
The sound erupted nearby and had Daring Do jumping out of her tent, poised to attack or run.
Looking around for the source of the noise her eyes finally fell upon a bush, it rustled, it moved, and a dark shiver ran down the mare’s spine.
Her body tensed, her back legs poised and wound like springs, ready to either dive at the foe, or run away as fast as she could. The slightest droplet of sweat ran down the side of her muzzle before suddenly something burst from the bush!
Daring yelped as she was struck; rolling, she felt something roll with her. The clouds covered the moon darkening the area as she kicked and bucked, trying to get the weight off of her body, but it only pressed down against her, kicking and bucking back. She was blind, the darkness crouching in as the figure was above her, blocking out the moon. She kicked out and suddenly it was off her, flying away and landing in the mud with a dull groan. A groan that sounded…like a pony?

Daring Do cocked her head and waited for the clouds to clear. When they did, the moonlight shone down and glinted off of golden armour. Her eyes widened and suddenly she sprang at the pony as fast as she could.
His armour was golden, his mane white and blue, and he looked like a Pegasus. There was a star on his chest and golden armour that showed he was a Royal Guard, which therefore, right now, made him her enemy!
She grasped him and pinned him down.
“How did you find me?!” She shouted, looking into his startled blue eyes.
“Wow! Wait!” He gasped when her hoof found his throat, pressing on it firmly.
“I won’t be taken away, I’m not a bad mare, and I’m doing this to save everyone!” She said harshly, making sure he couldn’t breathe or speak. She didn’t plan on holding his throat for long, maybe enough to make him pass out. She wasn’t a murderer.
Hooves suddenly found their way on her stomach and the force of his kick sent her back and landing with a dull thud on the ground. Harsh coughing sounded out as the Royal Guard gasped and cleared his throat, taking in deep breaths.
“Are you crazy!?” He shouted hoarsely, coughing and grumbling. He turned to her and glared. “Why in Equestria would you attack me like that?” He demanded.
A question like that seemed…strange.
Why would he ask that if he was sent there to bring her in?
“I…aren’t you here to arrest me?” Daring Do asked in confusion.
The Royal Guard looked at her with a weird incredulous look.
“Why would I? What have you done?” He asked in confusion, his eyes betraying his honesty.
“Oh…erm…nothing.” Daring Do said with a smile. “Sorry I attacked you, I was…er…just spooked…yeah spooked by the forest. This IS the Everfree Forest after all, can’t be too careful!” She said with a light squeeful grin that she hoped was convincing.
The guard didn’t look like he bought it at first before he shrugged. The male Pegasus looked around confused for a moment before it seemed something occurred to him. His back straightened, he stood himself upright in a show of dignity and cleared his voice. “I...er…I am on a mission. I am sorry for diving on you like that. I thought for a moment you were someone I have been looking for.” His voice seemed to have changed and taken on a slightly more authoritive tone. Or more accurately, it sounded like he was TRYING to be more authoritive.
Daring actually found it a little cute.
“And who did you think I was?” She queried curiously.
The Guard turned away. “That’s classified.”
“Oh. Well can I at least get your name?” Daring asked curiously.
“Of course, I am Cloud Zapper. 45th Inquisitor Squadron of the EUP Royal Guard.” He said officially. “I am sorry to have startled you mada-ouch!” He yelped, holding a hoof to his jaw, stroking it as he grumbled. “That hurts…”
Daring could see a slight bruise forming where she’d hit him once during the scuffle. She blushed and bit her bottom lip. “Sorry about that.” She said, trying not to chuckle.
The guard cleared his throat and tried to brush it off. “Oh I am a royal guard; we are trained to be able to handle such minor-ouch!” He gasped, holding his cheek again. “Okay...that really-ouch!” 
Daring chuckled and approached, pulling some salve from her bag with a cloth. “Come here.” She said with a smile. Dipping the salve onto the cloth she stroked it over his cheek as he winched.
“It’ll help stop the swelling.” She said with a smile, sighing softly.
Daring wasn’t a sociable pony, she was often on her own and liked it that way. But here in the darkness of the Everfree Forest, even she wasn’t going to turn away some company; especially when that company was amusing.
“So, what made you crash, you look like a strong flyer.”
Cloud Zapper shrugged. “I was actually trying to land to see who you were, but I admit, I’m not used to landing in wooded areas.” He said with a slightly bashful look. “Hit a tree branch on the way down that I didn’t see in the dark.” He sighed softly. “You hit pretty hard by the way.” He said with a light grumble.
Daring Just chuckled and finished up with his cheek before sighing. “Well I was just about to get some sleep for the night and then head into Ponyville in the morning. So if it’s okay, I’ll be hitting the hay.” She smiled. “You are welcome to stay, but when I move in the morning, I move alone.” She said, turning her head and looking at him firmly. A little company wasn’t bad, but she wasn’t going to be TRAVELING with a Royal Guard. That just spelled trouble and would be the most stupid thing she could do.

Cloud Zapper seemed to take the invite and curled up nearby on the ground, curling up under his wings in a slightly foolish way that had Daring Do chuckling before she rested for sleep herself.
A sleep that was haunted by dreams.

There was a glowing, and a dark voice that sounded out, the sound of rhyming, the sound of echoed words. She couldn’t hear the words; she couldn’t…see the words. They were there, like smoke, whispering into the wooded air like leaves blowing in the wind…so gentle to the sight, but almost impossible to catch.
There was gold there too, gold in her life and part of her future, and blackness, a darkness cast over the ground. A shadow, and a puppeteer...something above it all, something there, something threading the darkness and the events like thread through the eye of a needle, sewing the seams of a twisted plan to gain everything...to play the game.
But what game? What was the game, was it chess...a form of chess, a way that things could break and bring back, something that was lost, something that’s gone.
Something that was stolen.
A laugh pierced the darkness before Daring Do woke up, sitting bolt upright the mare found herself panting. Her body ached, she felt slightly sick, and every inch of her body told her that despite sleeping she had received no rest in the night.
The sun was high and it looked to be already nearing noon.
So a lack of a restful sleep, an over-sleep at that, and barely any time to make the train. Today seemed to be going just swell.
Daring Do grumbled and packed up her tent and things, Head down the trail. The soft patter of hooves behind her made her stop and grumble.
“I said I would be walking into Ponyville alone.”
Cloud Zapper stepped into view and shrugged. “I figured I needed to head to the train station too.” He said with a grin that wasn’t very convincing.
“Really, so where do you plan on going?” She asked in a challenging tone.
“Why? Where do you plan on going?” He asked curiously and evasively.
“Manehatten.” She said through gritted teeth.
“What a coincidence, that’s where I’m heading too.” He said, trotting past her a little gleefully.
Daring found herself growling low and stamping a hoof on the ground before she stalked after him, grumbling the entire way.
In hindsight she probably should have pestered him to tell her his destination before offering her’s. She was sort of stuck with him now as it was.

When she’d first saw the Royal Guard, she’d found him cute.
Now he was annoying.
He just kept talking.
His ramblings went constantly on about his time in the guards and Captain Sunride and the different kinds of Guard there were and how he had originally wanted to be in the Militia Guard but apparently he wasn’t good at their kind of orders and often overstepped his grounds and HE JUST DID NOT SHUT UP!
“Will you be quiet?!” She demanded from him when she’d had enough, panting heavily enough for her nostrils to flare.
Cloud Zapper seemed somewhat shocked at her outburst. “Well that was very rude. Here I am trying to just engage in conversation and there you are shouting at me. It reminds me of this mare I once knew-” He said and his words began to once again drown out into nothing but rabble.
Daring gritted her teeth, growled loudly and stalked onwards, trying her best to ignore him as he gave constant anecdotes and random information and told more stories than she thought possible for a pony of his age to even have yet.

Ponyville was a welcome sight when it came into view.
Daring turned to Cloud and shoved a hoof at his muzzle to quieten him.
“I want to get through this town without attracting attention. So I need you to do something for me, think you can do me a single favour that would help me greatly?” She asked, her voice almost seeming sweet. His nod made her smile before she yanked him closer. “Shut….up.”
Letting go of his muzzle she walked past him and into town, taking off her pith helmet and jacket, stuffing them into her saddlebags. Rummaging in the left pocket she pulled out a shroud and wrapped it around her neck, making sure it covered her rump and cutie-mark before covering her face slightly.
Daring began moving, making certain to move her left leg a little further than usual when she walked, making her gait a little awkward and different from usual.
This was all part of the disguise. Making sure her walk was different, her appearance, no cutie-mark on show meant that anypony that might be able to recognise her, would second guess themselves if they saw her, and hopefully, think she was somepony else.
Daring Do walked through the town, looking around and gritting her teeth. This was one of those boring dull towns, one where absolutely nothing happened, there was nothing special, and everyone in it was just either cheery or grumpy. She had never really been to Ponyville before, but she’d seen a hundred towns just like it.
Not bothering to focus on surroundings, she followed street signs to the train station and stood waiting.
Feeling she’d got through without drawing any attention to herself she smiled, before feeling a little confused. Despite her looking like a normal pony, and rather inconspicuous, ponies where still looking in her general direction.
Was her cutie-mark on show? Was she recognised? Did she do something to draw attention?
Looking to her right her eyes widened.
Cloud Zapper was next to her still in full glorious golden royal armour.
She face-hoofed.
“Why-” she began through gritted teeth, “are you still wearing that armour?”
He looked at her with a smile. “Because its mine silly.”
Daring felt about ready to blow. “I told you I needed to get through unnoticed. This is a small town, do you really expect they won’t notice a royal guard walking around in full armour?!” She said in a harsh whisper.
He looked confused. “But you didn’t tell me I needed to take it off.” He said in his defence.
She face-hoofed again.
“I didn’t think I had to.” She grumbled as the train arrived, climbing onto it.
This stallion would be the death of her.

The train ride was silent, thank Celestia.
It seemed Cloud Zapper figured he’d annoyed her.
“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t get it. Why are you trying to hide anyway?” He asked curiously. “Did you lie when you said you hadn’t done anything wrong?” He asked with a grumble, it didn’t seem to be a threatening way of asking her, it seemed he felt almost disappointed that she might have lied to him.
He was a very strange pony.
Daring Do sighed. “I am hiding, because everpony thinks I did something wrong and I guess I did, but I did it for the right reasons. I’m trying to save everyone.”
Cloud Zapper nodded. “Well then I won’t arrest you for it, I’ll just help you.” He smiled. “And then when you save everypony, all will be forgiven. So what you do? And what’s the danger?”
Daring Hesitated. “It’s…not that simple.” She said softly.
He might think he could handle it, but what she’d done was worse than he likely imagined. She’d desecrated the body of a long forgotten, but still extremely important member of the royal family. Not the kind of thing that gets easily overlooked.
“I probably shouldn’t say.” Daring Do turned away, avoiding his eyes, “maybe some other time.” She said dismissively.
Daring hoped that in time, he’d just forget to ask her, and by the time they made it to Manehatten, she could give him the slip, and hide from him, like she planned to from everypony else.
The problem was she had no idea what to do from there.
Hiding was never her style, but she had to. As long as she held one of the seven items, Ahuizotl couldn’t complete his plans. But that meant he’d hunt her. Hiding was the best way to keep the horn, and the world, safe. But how she would ever stop hiding wasn’t something she had a plan for.
Was this to be her life now?
In the shadows?
No. She wouldn’t let it be.
She was Daring Do!
She’d find a way!

Daring had managed to send word ahead by courier, so hopefully a certain pony would be waiting for her.
When she arrived at the station, she got off and looked around, biting her bottom lip.
“Diane!” A voice sounded out before a green and lime Pegasus speared her to the ground, pushing the air out of her as she was hugged tightly.
“M-Melody...let me breathe...Melody!” She gasped before the other pony finally let go and seemed to bounce around.
Daring gasped and stood up, coughing. “That wasn’t fun. But it’s good to see you.” She smiled.
Melody Hollow grinned at her.
Melody was a mare with a lime coloured coat, and a two tone green mane and tail. Her cutie-mark was a stylised semiquaver. Her talent was playing the Cello, and she had one more skill that Daring hoped to put to good use.
The young mare was also a nomad by nature, jumping from town to town with no real home, she had a knack for knowing places in each town or city a pony could stay and not get bothered.
She was good at hiding, which is exactly what Daring needed.
“Alright, no stuff with you? That’s fine; we can get you some new clothes. We can go now if you waaaaHHIIII.” She said, her voice sounding suddenly different, higher in pitch and her eyes wide with a silly smile on her face.
She’d just laid eyes on Cloud Zapper.
“Okay…who’s the cutie?” She asked in a hushed voice at Daring.
Daring sighed, glancing at Cloud Zapper’s big smile. “An annoyance. Can we just go?”
Melody smirked. “Is he coming with you? Are you and he-”
“NO!” Daring yelped out loudly suddenly making several ponies turn their heads. She flushed and leaned in. “N-no...certainly not, in fact, I don’t want him coming along, I want to lose him. Can we just go now?” She asked hopefully.
Melody sighed and nodded, “you take all the fun out of it.” She grumbled as she took to the air.
Daring jumped and followed behind her, but the movement of the air suggested another Pegasus was behind them. She turned and saw Cloud Zapper following. She let out a groan of frustration.
“Leave me alone! Stop stalking me or I’ll buck you to the moon!” She demanded before flying past Melody as fast as she could.
Melody yelped. “Wait up!” She called, following as fast as she could. Cloud Zapper it seemed, willingly just let them go, much to Daring Do’s delight. It felt good not to have the stallion on her tail anymore.
Well...kinda.
The company hadn’t been that bad. Yeah he’d talked a lot and was annoying, but Daring was often very alone on adventures. It didn’t feel bad to have someone there to talk to.
Shaking her head, Daring cleared her mind of such thoughts and focused on following Melody to the safe-house.
The two Pegasus flew side by side, barely speaking for about an hour before they finally reached what looked like a hotel. But it had been shut down years before. Using a fire escape they got into one of the rooms, and Daring was surprised to find it was decently furnished.
“Oh, this is better than I expected.” She said with a pleased smile.
“Don’t I always deliver?” Melody said with a chuckle. “There’re still some candles, and the shower works too.” She said, with a pride filled smiled.
Daring sighed and pulled the mare close, holding her. “Thank you for this Melody.” She smiled. “Remind me to come to a concert of yours sometime, I’d love to see you play.” She said tenderly, letting the other mare slip out of her hooves.
“Okay, well I gotta get going.” The lime mare smiled. “If you need anything, just ask.”
Daring nodded and watched Melody fly away.

Fire doth grow and the puppeteer pulls……
The strings give way and cackles sound……
From the darkness it crawls……
In the light it grins……
And you CANNOT STOP IT!

Daring Do sat bolt upright, panting and sweating as she looked into the darkness of the room.
The dreams were getting more frequent.
Were they just dreams, or were they maybe something more?
A vision?
Shaking her head she sat up and pulled up her saddlebag.
Taking out her stashed pith helmet she looked at it curiously. The scratch was gone.
The scratch on her pith helmet that she’d received from the black griffon was simply no longer there, the helmet looked pretty new actually. Had it been switched?
Shrugging she put it to the side and went back to her bag.
Rummaging through it she took out the Alicorn horn.
Slightly desensitised to where it had come from by now, Daring Do took a closer look. Horns weren’t made of bone like some uneducated ponies thought; they were a build-up of keratin over smaller bones on the inside.
Keratin was made up of the same stuff that made a pony’s mane, basically hair, compacted and pressured into a much harder point and full of nerves.
She wasn’t really sure how the magic part worked though. She ran her hoof over it gently and side, placing it beside her on the bed where it rolled and fell to the floor, spinning for a bit until it slowed to a stop.
She sighed and picked it up and put it on the bedside table instead, where it suddenly turned, span once slowly and stopped, pointing in the exact same direction it had before.
Daring Do cocked her head.
Picking up the horn she placed it on the floor, and this time she spun it with her hoof on purpose. It did at least six revolutions before it suddenly stopped, facing the exact same direction as before.
It was pointing her somewhere!
Was this the power of the Alicorn’s Horn?
Was it just something to point the right way?
That somehow didn’t seem right, like she might be missing something. Surely the removed horn of a long forgotten Alicorn Queen would do more than point a direction.
Daring Do sat back, staring at the horn.
What did this mean for her?
Should she decide to leave and follow the horn?
Or would that just lead her back to Ahuizotl and give him the chance to take the horn from her?
Daring groaned. All these questions were giving her a headache.
It was then that a thought occurred to her.
If she was having visions of the future, and was unsure of what path to take…why didn’t she just go to a prophetess, a pony with the gift of foresight, of delivering prophecies and legends of future events?
They were rare, but they were certainly out there. Many a war had been prophesised in the past.
Daring waited until Melody returned later that day before she told her of her plan, and asked if she knew of any pony that might be able to help.
Sadly, she didn’t.
But a particular someone occurred to Daring Do. She knew exactly who she could call.
“Melody, I need you to send a message.”

Swiftcall was extremely nervous.
He didn’t like large cities; he didn’t like much of anything.
He was a courier of information and often served Daring Do on her adventures.
At the speeds he could fly, he was there before nightfall, looking around the rooftop of Manehatten where he was asked to meet Daring Do.
Landing on the rooftop the stallion looked around, biting his lip awkwardly.
“I’m right here.” Said Daring’s voice from the shadows of the roof access door as her head poked out into sun slightly. “I need some information.”
Swiftcall gulped. “I…I might not be able to help.”
Daring sighed. “You never used to be like this, Swift. Before I went after the Sapphire Statue you were more confident, a little jumpy still bit never this skittish.” She said softly. “And you’d always help me. I need my friend right now, I need you and I need what you know.” She said gently, looking at him in a pleasing way.
Swiftcall gulped before slowly nodding.
“Good.” Daring said softly. “I need to find a prophetess, the best one you know of. I have some questions that I think only someone with that ability can answer.”
Swiftcall’s eyes widened. “N-No! I can’t!”
He suddenly took off. Daring gritted her teeth and flew right after him, grabbing his tail and yanking him back. “I NEED this, Swift! Please!”
He looked around, and seemed to be shaking. “R-right here…in Manehatten. On the outskirts. A hut, to the east. Edge of the forest.”
It was all he said before he shot around her faster than she could catch him and flew away.
Swiftcall had used to be one of her dearest friends, but lately he’d changed. And Daring Do found herself longing for the friend she’d once had.
But at least she now had the information she needed.
Dropping off at the hotel room to grab her bag with the horn in it, she raced to the east side of town. On the outskirts there was a wide forest, so Daring skimmed the tree-line until she found a path.
Entering it a little way she came across some smoke in the distance, from what seemed to be a chimney.
Daring Do approached cautiously, ever aware of possible traps that could erupt from the darkness, but she need not have feared, for as she came through to a clearing, she was confronted by what seemed to be a modest little hut.
Smiling at the fortune, Daring Do headed over and knocked on the door.
“Who be knocking at this hour?
And is your business sweet or sour?” Said a thick accent from the other side.
“Erm, I’m…Diane.” She said, not giving her more famed name. “I’ve come to see you with some questions and…erm…I suppose its…sweet?” She said, sounding very unsure.
The door opened a crack and Daring got the slightest glimpse of glittering gold jewellery.
“Diane be the name from a mother bestown
But not the one for which you are known.” The voice said firmly, the words bringing a lump to Daring’s throat and a little sweat glisten on her brow.
“Relax my child, you seem full of fright.
Come in and I will share your plight.”
The door opened wide and Daring entered.
The inside was strewn with animal bones and herbs and strewn masses of green.
“My place is not a sight to behold,
Or entered by those but the brave and bold.”
The thick accent rang out behind her as the door clicked shut. Daring was overcome with a bit of déjà vu. ‘Behold, bravely bold, this prophetess rhymed like the prophecy was written. She wondered if that meant anything.
It was then that her host walked into the light, and a starling white with black markings met her. This mare was a Zebra. Her mane was coloured like her body, and hung down one side of her face, covering her eyes. She had hoof bangles and neck bangles, and a spiral tribal cutie-mark offset by three dashes that might look like sun streaks.
Daring couldn’t help but ask the question that suddenly burned inside her. “Who are you?”
“A Zebra I am, and Hamara be my name.
If you’ve met a Zebra before, some say we look the same.” She said with a slight chuckle.
Daring had yet to actually meet a Zebra, but she had seen a few pictures, and she had to admit, they did look pretty much the same. Which she realised would be a horribly prejudice thing to say.
“N-no...I find you very…unique.”
Hamara chuckled. “Your lies are welcome,
But no need to flatter me,
You came with a purpose,
Now what can it be?”
Daring gulped.
“I need to know…about this.” She pulled out the Alicorn’s Horn, the Zebra’s eyes widening slightly before nodding.
“A powerful item you know this may be,
We must consult the Orb of Prophesy.”
Hamara pulled back on a cloth in the corner covering a table. The cloth had been flat on the table and the table empty, but the moment the cloth was pulled away, suddenly there was an orb on it, inset into what looked like the skeletal remains of a Griffon’s claw. And judging by the size, it might have once been a black griffon.
The ball itself wasn’t normal either, black crystal stared out and a chill ran down Daring Do’s spine just from looking at it.
“What…is…that?” She asked with her eyes wide and her hooves rooted to the ground in what felt, strangely like fear.
Fear?
Why was she afraid of a crystal ball?
“An ancient item I discovered deep,
In an ancient abandoned cities keep.
Locked and sealed away in dark,
I rescued it from its lonely hearth.
It shows the past, the present and future, things that are and what may be.
Its power is needed for us to know, what it is you wish to see.”
Daring gulped. “I’m not too sure about this anymore.”
“Do not be afraid little Daring Do.”
Daring’s eyes widened. This Zebra knew who she was. She had hinted that she knew her name earlier, but the fact that she defiantly did, didn’t ease Daring’s growing fear at all.
“No harm yet will come to you.” Hamara said softly.
“Sit.”
The word was spoken and Daring sat down automatically, staring at the ball. It had power, dark power, and Daring suddenly wanted nothing more than to get out of there.
Hamara soon began humming, and the tone seemed to reverberate within the crystal, a singular point of light began to glisten inside its murky blackness and suddenly Daring felt herself become light.
Her vision blacked out.
A rush of bright light erupted in the darkness and the voice of Hamara sounded out, and it spoke the prophecy once more.
“Seven items must entwine,
For magic to steer towards divine.
An Amulet old and full of lies,
Another that’s right, which wit divides.
A jackal found in temples greed,
Where hunters fail but prey succeed.
A golden key to unlock the way,
Within the blue at circles bay.
A goblet holder of the heart,
Great magic’s vessel with talons guard.
A bangle locked and sealed in thrice,
Follow the wit of the lonely mice.
A horn of old from bone remains,
Equestrian colours, the blue complains.
The final piece cannot be told,
But found by those of bravely bold.”
Daring’s vision was suddenly erupted in fire as she saw the entire of Equestria in darkness, there were rings, rings that were on a pedestal, and Ahuizotl, facing entire armies and destroying them. Then suddenly things began to grow old and decay around him while he remained the same, laughing and cackling as things crumbled and rusted and died and grew and died again surrounding him.
As though he were immune to time!
“If brought together at the right place and hour,
These items bestow and Alicorn’s power.” Hamara’s voice rang on.
“Immortality will be shown,
As part of what each power is known.
The world will glow in a blazing pyre,
As statue’s light creates Everfire,
The horn will always show the way,
And can fix the broken with one touch they say. 
The bangle heals and the goblet extends,
And the Amulet ensures that strength meets no end.
And the key will always unlock the way,
Ensuring no obstacle can stop by the light of day.”
Each item flashed before Daring’s eyes as it was described. Things became clear.
Her pith helmet had been fixed by the horn when she’d pressed them together in the bag after she’d stashed it away in Ponyville.
The Griffon had survived so long by drinking from the goblet, extending its lifespan.
The bangle had healed her cut, and she’d seen the statue create Everfire which was why the temple’s tortures had still been lit when she’d went through it, even after a thousand years.
And the key?
Ahuizotl possessed it. That was how he had stolen everything from the safe at the university. He hadn’t needed the combination, he could unlock anything.
And the Amulet?
Bestowed strength?
That meant he was going to be an extremely dangerous foe in the future.
But when all of them were brought together, they bestowed the one thing Alicorn’s had above everypony else.
Immortality.
Daring’s mouth went dry. This was bad news.
Suddenly everything hurt and Daring screamed before she felt a hard floor beneath her.
She was standing in a hall.
“The Orb of Prophesy requires a trial,
A payment for what has been learnt.
Defeat its champion with wit and guile,
And freedom you will have earn't.” Hamara’s voice cackled in the air as suddenly a large Minotaur appeared from the shadows.
“Oh, hey.” Daring said with a shrug. Minotaur’s were big, strong, but surprisingly rather gentle at most times. “Is everything okay?”
The Minotaur looked at her, turned away for a moment as though hesitating before it roared and charged. Daring Do’s eyes went wide.
She dived out of the way as the creature attacked, its horns smashing through a rock pillar nearby. Daring raced around the ring. “Why are you attacking me?” She asked with wide eyes.
“Because I have to!” He shouted, charging again.
Daring tried to dive again, only to have her tail caught in in his large hands, throwing her hard against a pillar.
She shouted as a crack sent pain through her wing. It seemed it was broken.
Always the same wing!
He charged again, his hooves smashing down at her. She dived to the side and lashed up with her own hooves, bucking him hard in the chest. He flew back into a pillar, grunting.
Daring Do looked around, wondering what she could do. She had an idea.
“Come get me!” She taunted.
The Minotaur charged at her, and at the last second she dived. His horn’s smashing right through another pillar.
Daring Do moved further away and taunted him again. “Come on ya big lummox.”
He got enraged and charged again. When she moved she got him to smash through two pillars, dust raining from the ceiling.
“One more.” She muttered as she headed for another pillar nearby. Suddenly her foe grabbed her from behind causing her to yelp. He clenched her and her broken wing erupted in pain that had her screaming.
“I will be free!” He shouted and threw her.
His words confused her, but she didn’t have time to ponder them before she struck the pillar and went through, gasping for breath.
But as she went through, the roof lost support and suddenly caved in, and the rubble fell on the Minotaur, burying him.
Daring’s pains suddenly ended and she sat bolt upright, in perfect health, gasping and looking around. She was on outside of where the hut should be, but it was now gone, with Hamara with it.
Daring Do was panting, looking around.
She could still feel the ache of the fight, she was here, and she hadn’t dreamt that. It was some kind of Zebra Arcanum magic. There was more to Hamara than she had discovered, and she had a strong feeling that she would be seeing that Zebra again before long.

Pulling out her pith helmet, she ran her hoof over where the scratch had once been and she smiled, placing it on her head.
The moment she’d woken, information had flooded her mind.
She knew where Ahuizotl would need to go; she knew where the items had to be assembled.
Daring Do was going on another adventure.
Daring Do was going to the Tower. 

> 8) Daring Do and the Trek to the Terrifying Tower
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring Do and the Trek to the Terrifying Tower



The Tower went by many names.
The Dark Tower.
The Fateful Tower.
The Terrifying Tower.

All amounted to a rich sense of foreboding that had Daring Do sweating where she stood. As the birds flew overhead, Daring Do looked up at a murder of crows flying by. It felt like she’d swallowed a stone. The gold coated mare sat on the grass, looking through the treeline of the nearby small wooded area near the Clopsdale Academy.
She had no idea why she had returned here. She had no idea what she meant to find.
She’d left a note for Melody letting the poor mare know she’d left and thanking her dearly for her help. But Daring couldn’t keep her in danger.
Sneaking into Clopsdale had been slightly difficult, but Daring was pretty good at disguises, so she had managed it without too much attention being drawn to herself. Hiding among the treeline, the mare reflected on what had happened to her thus far.
Searching an ancient temple she had found the Sapphire Statue; a jackal headed pure sapphire sculpture with the ability to create Everfire from its refracted rays in strong light. Everfire…a flame that never died.
Her journey through the same jungle had lead her down into the caverns below, where she had retrieved the Griffon’s Goblet from the clutches of a monstrous and ancient Black Griffon that had protected it fiercely.
The Griffon’s Goblet…it granted extended life to any who drank from it.
Her research had then lead her to the side of her once mentor, Bravely Blue, who had helped her find the location of Circles Bay, an ancient city that had sank beneath the ocean. A city where she had found the Golden Key…a key that could unlock anything. And then she had been betrayed by Bravely Blue.
Aiming to track down and stop her foes, she had found herself in the ancient deserts. Her travels took her to a cursed maze, where reflections of her family and past had challenged her own self-worth. But she had overcome the obstacles, managing to reach the centre just in time and retrieve the Amulet of Serra. This amulet granted great strength to its wearer.
Her adventures after that had led her to the Alps in Prance, where she had faced down Ahuizotl. But whilst she had gained the Tri-Lock bangle, a bangle that healed the wearer, she had lost her other finds. As Bravely Blue had used the Golden Key to unlock the safe back at Clopsdale Academy and steal the other artefacts away.
And finally, she had braved the ancient tombs beneath Canterlot and stolen the Horn from Queen Serra’s tomb, desecrating her resting place and placing Daring Do as a criminal in the eyes of all Equestria. The horn could fix the broken, and point the way to where one needed to be. And right now, the horn had pointed her back to Clopsdale Academy.
The Orb of Prophesy had told her that her destiny led to the Terrifying Tower; it had said other things that did not yet make sense. But Daring Do knew she would have to go to that place, that dark and foreboding place.
So why had the horn taken her here?
Pulling out the horn from her saddlebag, Daring looked it over, holding it in her hoof. The horn shone a slight yellow before spinning once and pointing once again at the Academy.
Was there something here she needed?
Daring looked around, shoved a dress over her hindquarters, and placed a beret on her head before walking out and heading straight for the correct building. They key to not being noticed and getting away with almost anything is to not look like you are doing anything wrong. It was to act like you had the right to be there.
Entering the main building she consulted the horn as stealthily as she could, it pointed her down the left hall. Stashing it away, she turned and began trotting in that direction.
Looking around gave her a nervous feeling.
What would she find? Would it be something she needed?
She hoped so.
Daring was…
She didn’t want to admit it. She was Daring Do, she was strong and fearless…she was supposed to be fearless.
But Daring Do was scared.
Terrified to go to that tower, terrified of what might await her, and terrified she might be doing the wrong thing. She didn’t want to hide forever, she didn’t want to have to stay held up in some hovel, waiting for Ahuizotl to find her and take the horn from her.
He had the Amulet; he was stronger than ever before. He had the bangle, he could heal himself. He had the key; there were no locks that could stop him. He had fire that could not be extinguished, and no matter how long she waited…he had a drink of life that guaranteed she could never wait long enough.
Ahuizotl was dumb, slow and stupid. But he had teamed up with Bravely Blue. He had her smarts on his side, and that made them extremely dangerous.
Daring was scared.
She was scared if she went to that tower…she’d lose more than artefacts. She was scared she’d lose her life.

Diane Daring Danger Do froze on the spot, her breath coming in short gasps before she shoved herself into a janitorial closet. She was panting, she was hyperventilating. There was a mirror nearby and she turned to it. Her eyes were wide, sweat poured from her face profusely, and the sound of students hooves outside drummed in her head painfully loud, drowning out any thoughts she tried to have, and any attempt to call reason to her fears.
Daring began to lower herself to the ground, clutching at her head. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t see, the world was spinning and Daring felt tears pouring down her cheek.
The world looked to her to save it, and the weight of that bore on her shoulders so suddenly it felt like her back might break, like her wings might be crushed. She couldn’t stand it…
…since when did the world become so heavy to bear?

The sound of the door clicking open had her screaming suddenly, backing away against the wall and looking up as the door was thrust open. For a split second, the light that shone through and gave a silhouette of darkness, of broad shoulders and she screamed again.
Ahuizotl had found her!

“Shhh, it’s okay. You’re safe.” Said soft wise words before hooves encircled the mare.
Professor R B Ravenhoof wrapped his hooves around Daring as she curled up and sobbed, fear and misery gripped her and had her struggling in his grasp, fighting him. It took a few minutes for her to calm down, a few minutes for her sobs to quieten as she curled up against him. And for these moments, Daring Do was little more than a filly, needing to feel safe.

*

The couch was comfy.
Its soft pillows pressed against her cheek as her eyes opened and she looked around.
“You’re awake.” Said a kind voice as Professor Ravenhoof padded over with a warm smile. He placed a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top in front of Daring who let out a croaked, “thank you.”
He smiled and sat down opposite her in his leather chair.
Looking around Daring noticed the scents of cinnamon in the air, before noticing it was the log fire in the corner that burned warmly and comfortingly. The warmth was nice but the brightness had her twitching. It reminded her of Everfire, and she couldn’t help but be slightly afraid.
“You cried yourself to sleep.” The professor said softly.
Daring didn’t answer, and instead forced herself to drink the hot chocolate, ignoring the burn on her tongue and lips as it clearly hadn’t cooled down enough. Better to let her mouth sting a bit than to talk right now.
“What has you so scared, my child?” His voice was melodic and comforting. It made her feel safe.
She didn’t answer, she turned away.
He chuckled softly.
“The brave and strong Daring Do. Your name is one on everypony’s lips at this academy.” He began. “You are renowned in Equestria and beyond. I even gather they might have heard about you in Marên-an-Gwlas. So what is it that has the great Daring Do so frightened she cannot even speak?”
She gulped down more hot chocolate, her hooves shaking until she slipped and the cup fell to the floor, spilling its contents over the rug.
“S-sorry…” She leaned down to pick up the cup when her hoof was grasped. She eeped in panic slightly before looking up, Professor Ravenhoof’s eyes staring firmly into her own. His other hoof placed on top of the one he had already grabbed, and patted it slightly, a warm smile touching his lips.
“Fear is not a weakness, Diane.”
His words left a stone in her throat.
“I’m supposed to be brave.” Daring managed to croak out.
Professor Ravenhoof just smiled and stroked her cheek.
“Dear Diane. Don’t you know?” He asked softly and kindly, looking into the golden mares eyes. “When fear grips you…is the only time you can be brave.”
Daring had no doubt that if she had tears left to shed, they would already be running down her cheeks as she threw herself against him, hugging herself to him tightly.

Daring Do finished her new cup of hot chocolate.
“Thank you.” She said softly to the professor who simply smiled.
The mare was feeling much better now, but she wasn’t really sure what to do.
“C-can...you give me some advice? Or just...some ya know...tips or something on overcoming this…fear.” She said, still feeling ashamed of herself.
He smiled. “Do you feel you need such…tips?”
Daring sighed. “I’m afraid that if I go as I am, I’ll just freeze up and get myself killed.”
The professor chuckled slightly. “I do not think you will be killed, Diane.” He said with a warm smile. “I think you will be fine. All you have to do is remember why you are fighting, why you are there, and why you cannot fail.” He said softly.
His words made sense to Daring, and she knew they were right because they were obvious. It was the same mantra she had used for years. The same life lessons she had taught herself.
But the world had never seemed more real than it had right now.
Never more dangerous.
Daring wondered if she’d really just needed someone else to tell her, instead of her own mind. It was like she couldn’t trust herself anymore.
“I can see your shame by the look on your face. Needing help once in a while isn’t a sign of weakness, nor is refusing to ask for help when it’s required a sign of strength. In reality both are similarly a sign of stupidity.” He chuckled. “If you need help, ask for it, if you refuse to ask for it, then you are simply dooming yourself to failure. And is your image really so important as to demand your life in sacrifice of an ideal? The ideal that the great Daring Do needs no one? Or does the world mean more than your ego?”
His words froze her. He was right; she was being selfish and egotistical.
“Are you saying I should ask you for help?”
He laughed. “Goodness no, I am no use in a fight. But I imagine you know a few ponies that are.” He smiled and went to his desk.
Daring knew it was a sign to leave so she stood up and stretched. “Thank you for your help Professor Ravenhoof.”
She began to walk out before she stopped; she walked back over to his desk, hesitated for a moment before taking off her pith helmet and laying it on his desk.
“Take care of this for me; I’ll want it back when I return.” She smiled softly.
He nodded wordlessly before she turned and left.
She got outside and consulted the horn, this time it showed a different direction. It seemed the horn didn’t base its direction on where she needed to go to complete any specific task or mission, but instead pointed to where she needed to go for herself.
It was an interesting distinction.
She was still scared, but she was ready. And she knew who she needed…which kinda sucked as he was REALLY annoying.

Cloud Zapper had enjoyed Manehatten. This was more than he expected. Canterlot was a regal place filled with modest buildings and skyward spires. But Manehatten had been entirely different. Large glass rectangular buildings that grazed the clouds and made him feel extremely small wherever he went. It had felt vibrant and restless…but also stressed.
He had enjoyed it, but was rather glad to be away from it all.
The birds flew overhead as he stalked through the forest, looking around contently. He had no idea where his quarry had gotten, but he felt his hunting could take a small break.
He breathed deeply before a rustling bush caught his attention. He watched it curiously, showing no outward signs of tenseness, but for all his meek exterior, he was a Royal Guard, and what was not seen was that every muscle was poised and ready for fight or flight if it was necessary.
The sound of hoofsteps approaching reached his ears, the bush rustled and slowly it parted.
“Hello Cloud.”

Daring Do flew overhead and looked around; it took her a little bit to consider that maybe the Pegasus had not stayed in the same place as before. He seemed to not really be the type to like the bustle of a large city such as Manehatten, so maybe he had moved on.
The nearby forest would be a good place to scout, and it wasn’t long before she found an abandoned campsite where a pony had stayed recently before moving on. She was willing to bet that it was who she needed.
Unfortunately for Daring Do, while the Horn was very good at pinpointing locations, it was a big world, and general direction doesn’t help when tracking particular ponies, especially if they were moving too.
Making her way through the foliage she tracked the Pegasus. He was obviously not used to living in the woods; he left a very easy trail to follow.
Daring walked for about an hour before the tracks became very fresh, and the mare found herself smiling as she began pushing through the trees. She walked up behind a bush, and as she pushed through she smiled confidently, having found who she needed.
“Hello Cloud.” The voice drifted up into the air and its words sounded eerily familiar.
Cloud was facing away from her, and as she arched her head to gain a better look, she saw somepony else in the clearing, just walking out of the forest foliage and standing in front of the armoured stallion.
The stallion was another Pegasus.
A long deep purple and black mane wisped in the air around the head of a purple coat adorned with what seemed to be a large paw print cutie-mark. Deep purple eyes shone brightly from his smug expression, and the way he held himself struck a chord with Daring Do.
He was the Pegasus from Canterlot, the one that had shown her the entrance into the catacombs.
Daring smiled and was about to step out and greet them both. If this other stallion was a fighter too, maybe they could both help her. Though she had to admit, this new stallion was a little smaller than Cloud Zapper, and he didn’t look physically strong.
She would tackle that issue, if it was one, when they spoke.
As she took a step forward Cloud suddenly dived at the other stallion.
A blade erupted from a hidden scabbard on Cloud’s golden armour, it flashed as it span up, clenched in the Royal Guards teeth as a look of rage passed over his muzzle. The purple stallion was slammed with a gasping sound as the air was forced from his lungs. His back forced against a tree, the blade resting at his throat as Cloud pinned him.
“Tell whe why I shouldn’t kill whu.” He growled around the hilt of the blade clenched between his teeth.
The other stallion just laughed.
Daring couldn’t just stand by, she dived for the pair. Striking Cloud in the chest, she forced him back, freeing the purple stallion from the Royal Guards clutches.
Cloud gasped. “What are you doing?”
“He helped me! You back off!” She demanded fiercely before suddenly a weight was on her back and a sharp blade was at her throat. She was grasped round the front and keenly aware that one wrong move and her throat would be slit.
A soft voice rang out at her ears. “Thank you for that dear, I hadn’t expected him to attack so suddenly, at least, not before I’d had my say.” He chuckled.
His voice wasn’t too bad; it was soft, gentle, and almost melodic. In many ways it was actually pleasant. But the laugh…the laugh had an edge, an edge that cut deep and brought a shiver to her spine. It was a laugh she could never trust.
“Why are you doing this?” Daring asked, gulping slowly. In front of her Cloud was starting to stand up, glaring at the pony that held her.
“Because you are a stupid mare, as I knew you would be.” He chuckled again. “So Cloud Zapper, I have a message for you.”
Cloud just glared.
“Not so talkative today I see. Well no matter. You only need listen.” His voice was touched by the edges of a smile, and it sounded sinister. “The words I say you need to heed,
If your goal is what you need achieve.
A darkness embrace and rings of power,
Fall upon your lonely hour.” His melodic voice was very well suited for the poem, but Daring couldn’t let herself simply enjoy the words. They had meaning, by this time she had become accustomed to paying attention to poems when she heard them. More often than not, it seemed they were prophecies.
“Some want to rule,
Others wish to sell,
Others desire their enemies fell.
Others desire justice,
Above the fall,
With one in the middle of it all.
A puppets dance,
A blaze of fire,
All marionettes within the pyre.
Know the way and know the price,
Only solved by sacrifice.”
Daring Do did not like the sound of this particular poem.
His breath was suddenly in her ear.
“I know what you dream and the darkness is coming, Diane.” His words made her go suddenly still and cold. “All your fear is true. And all your dread is real.” He continued. His words were barely a whisper on the wind to her ears, but so clear all the same. “And blood will be spilt before this is over.” He said before the blade was taken away in a flash, a hoof thrust her into the dirt and the beating of wings was heard. The flapping unsettled the grass and ruffled her mane as he flew away, her eyes following him for a moment before she tried her best to get to her hooves.
Cloud Zapper was suddenly next to her, helping her up.
“Are you alright?” He asked, his tone authoritative and strong.
Daring Do nodded, getting up only to find her entire body shaking.
“Wh-who was that?” She asked, feeling a chill run through her even though she knew it was actually a warm day.
“He had a different name once. But it has been lost for a long time. He calls himself ‘Shadow’ now.” He sighed. “It’s a dramatically egotistical name for a pony who thinks themselves more important than they actually are.” He grumbled sorely.
“Sorry for pouncing you like that…I thought he wasn’t a bad pony.” She sighed before looking him over. “Are you okay? You seem different?”
Cloud turned away. “I am in situations like this.” He said softly. “The stallion you knew before as Cloud Zapper is simply the pony I am when off duty, relaxed and trying to make friends.” He shrugged. “Not like it works, but it does make ponies take me less seriously, which has its advantages.” He said simply, picking up his sword and sheathing it away. “Because of how I act it makes many ponies forget that I am in fact a Royal Guard.” He said firmly.
Daring had to admit, he looked good when holding himself in a stronger pose. His voice no longer had that annoying edge, and she started to see just how strong Cloud was…a strength he had hidden so well before.
“Why are you here?” He asked curiously.
The question threw her off a little and she had to gather herself before she could really answer. “I, erm, I need your help.” Cloud sighed and turned away. “I think you’ve done enough helping for the both of us.” He chastised.
Daring’s eyes widened before lowering into a glare, the mare suddenly jumping up and landing in front of the royal guard.
“Now you listen here, mister.” She demanded. “I’m sorry I messed up with that ‘Shadow’ guy, but I have the fate of the world on my shoulders right now and you are gonna help me!”
“And why should I do that?” He countered.
Daring took a step back. “Because you are a Royal Guard and if you don’t help me, your Princesses will be in as much danger as every pony else.” Her voice was soft, but her words had a slight bite to it. “I need you.”
Cloud looked at her hard for almost a full minute before sighing and nodded with a gruff huff, obviously not pleased with the arrangement.
Not like Daring was pleased with it either, she wasn’t exactly fond of the Royal Guard.
“So where are we going?” He asked with a resigned tone.

*

“WHAT?!” He shouted, shaking his head. “Oh no, no way in Tartarus, I am NOT going THERE!”
Daring sighed. “I kinda need to. Not like we have much of a choice.” She demanded with a grumble.
He sighed and turned away, starting to pace about the clearing.
“This is…this is suicide!” He shouted, rubbing his temples with his hooves.
Daring knew she was asking a lot. It wasn’t exactly like this was a mission they would easily come back from. She wasn’t even entirely sure what would happen when she got there.
“Look, I’m sorry, but this is what we have to do. I’d bring some other ponies if I could, but I don’t know any. You are the best help I can get.” She said softly.
Cloud grumbled again, which she was starting to find more annoying than the constant talking.
He nodded in agreement, though obviously not happy about this.

The tower stood in the centre of an island. Surrounded by tropical forests, the island was small. The tower was always surrounded by a storm, and the island itself showed no mercy to anypony who braved its shores. No one had ever actually reached the inside of the tower, it was said there were great trials to overcome.
The storm unfortunately declined them the luxury of flying. A bolt of lightning wasn’t a good thing for any Pegasus to deal with making boats the only means of reaching it relatively safely.
Trying to get over her queasy stomach, the Pegasus mare rowed along with Cloud Zapper, braving the stormy seas in their attempt to reach the island. The waves battered them, and the cry of the waves rushed around them as they attempted to ride it out. The island came into view eventually, but even when it seemed so close it took several hours to reach the sand.
Daring Do arrived on the shore with Cloud Zapper, panting softly and trying to wring the salty water from her mane, nearly an impossible task due to the rain that still fell upon them.
When feeling ready she gulped and took out the horn. It span once before pointing directly into the jungle of trees before them. Her eyes followed its gaze and sure enough, there on the horizon, illuminated by a flash of lightning, was a single tower, half-hidden by the surrounding trees.
She sighed and nodded.
“What’s this place called?” Cloud asked over the gale of the wind.
Daring Do shook her head. “It doesn’t have a name, ponies were always too afraid to name it.” She answered eerily.
“Why would they be too afraid to name a place?” He asked, looking confused, passing his eyes from her to the distant tower in the trees.
“If you name a place, you can more easily put it on a map, and even if you say it’s dangerous, some ponies will still go looking for that taste of adventure.” She said, her voice sounding hollow. “It wasn’t named to try and save lives.” She finished, walking ahead of him.
The wind and rain pelted down on both her and Cloud, the soft tanging of the rain splashing his armour was actually a nice sound, but it didn’t feel nice. This was heavy rain, and she was worried there might be flooding.
Heading into the jungle foliage Cloud Zapper let out an exasperated sigh.
“Can’t we just fly overhead? It feels so difficult down here just walking.” He grumbled.
“If we fly, any entrance to any caves or places me might need to go could be hidden by the jungle trees, and the storm is pretty bad, you are wearing metal. You wanna be struck by lightning?”
Cloud grumbled. “Good point…so are you forced to walk often?”
Daring let out a mirthless chuckle, “far more than you’d expect, and far more than I’d like.” She sighed.
Continuing in, she kept an eye on the guiding horn, but they were apparently going in the correct direction.
It was only after around twenty minutes of walking that they stumbled into a clearing and found what they were looking for.
Daring had expected a jagged cave, but this was a perfect square cut into the ground with steps going down, and for some reason, no rain was falling here.
Daring cocked her head, none of this felt right.
She headed down and looked in. There was a large hall, and fires lit on all the walls, illuminating the place. The walls were perfectly sleek and smooth, only marred by the scribing’s of ancient Equestrian, but the writing and pictures seemed to be depicting some kind of history. Pictures of the tower were there, as though it were far older than she had imagined. The pictures had ponies running away from it, suggesting the place had always been considered a terrifying domain.
Something glinted at the far end of the room, and there on a pedestal sat the Sapphire Statue.
“Why would they leave it?” She didn’t get an answer. With that she took a confident step forward, only to leap back onto the stairs with a yelp as the slab on which she had stepped gave way into a deep chasm below, sending up dust and a wave of cold air.
Daring looked around. There were multiple pedestals littered throughout the room, at least five others.
“I don’t get it…”
Cloud shrugged. “This is why we have wings.” He grinned before spreading his wings.
“NO!” She shouted as he rose from the ground with a bat of his feathered appendages, his eyes widening as he was suddenly forced down through the floor below into the chasm. Daring Do reached down and grasped his tail in her maw at the last second. With a grunt of effort she slowly pulled him back and up onto the steps and to safety.
Cloud Zapper’s eyes were wide and he was panting. “W-what happened…?”
“Didn’t you go to flight school?!” She shouted at him, panting for breath. “That’s a chasm down there, it’s too deep, and air pressure and all that won’t allow it. We can’t fly over this thing. It’s basic flight 101.”
Cloud blushed and looked down. “Sorry, I forgot.”
“Forgetting basic things in this place will get you killed.” She flared. “Now this is a puzzle so we need to figure it out.” She sighed and looked around. “There is obviously a safe path that won’t crumble away, but how are you supposed to know where to step?” She asked herself, looking around. “These stones are very reflective…” She remarked curiously, tilting her head at an angle. “Except…these ones.” She noticed there was a path of stones that just didn’t reflect the light very well. They were very dull.
“Well this was easy, I don’t see why-” Then it dawned on her. “Oh…oh no.”
“What’s ‘oh no’?” Cloud Zapper said uncertainly. “I don’t like that ‘oh no’…can we not have ‘oh no’s’?”
Daring sighed and pulled a small drinking cup from her saddlebag and headed outside, Cloud watching her go curiously. She came back with a cup full of rainwater and approached the nearest torch.
“What are you doing?” He asked curiously, “don’t we need that light?”
She suddenly splashed it and the fire puffed out.
“Great…why would you do that?” He asked curiously.
Daring just watched the smoking torch before it suddenly erupted into flames again.
“Wow…what was that?”
Daring sighed before she answered. “Everfire.”
She looked across the room. “These were lit by the Sapphire Statue. Which means there was no light down here when Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue got here, they had to light the torches with the Sapphire Stone to reveal the way, and I’m willing to bet that door over there only opened when the statue was placed on that pedestal.”
Cloud listened and shrugged. “So we can now move ahead, we know the path now…right?”
Daring nodded. “Yeah, we know the path for this one.” She said softly. “But I’m willing to bet the next trials are going to be more difficult.”
Cloud Zapper shrugged. “What makes you say that?”
“Because using the Sapphire Statue for this first one, likely means that the other artefacts are needed for the other trials. And in case you lost count, we only have one of them.”
Cloud Zapper went silent. “So…how will we solve the others?”
Daring closed her eyes and let out an audible sigh. “Good question.”
It wasn’t hard following the path, it just required a bit of turning your head for an angle at the reflections.
Soon they made it across.
“Well that was easy.” Cloud said, trotting for the door.
“Wait, don’t just gallop in. we need to go together and be careful.” She walked in and was thankful to see an already lit room. If the first room had been the one for the statue, then when it was built that room was likely the last to be built, which made sense if the rest of the rooms had been lit by the Sapphire Statue with Everfire before the final room had been extinguished and the pieces taken away.
However what was revealed was not what Daring wanted to see.
The entire room was covered in a massive thorn forest. The thorns were close together, some up to a foot in length, and others seeming almost seated in nature. Their thick brambles glistened in the light of the torches, and were likely quite deadly, and extremely sharp.
“What artefact would get you through here? Looks like this place would tear you to shreds if you tried.”
Daring shook her head. “That’s the idea.” She said gently. “This is meant for the Tri-lock bangle. It heals whoever is wearing it. You aren’t meant to get through here unscathed, just alive.”
“So how do we get through?” Cloud said softly.
Daring pulled out the horn and looked at it. “We need the easiest and least deadly route.” She said not entirely sure if she was speaking to herself, Cloud, or the Horn.
She bit her lip slightly before the horn began to glow, it span and pointed. She sighed with relief.
“Follow me, and do exactly as I do.” She demanded, heading for a part in the thorn brush.
Lowering herself to the ground as far as she could, she began to shimmy inside. This part was thankfully a bit wide, but she yelped as her leg was cut slightly. Grunting from the pain she managed to get through to one part, consulting the horn it showed her to turn left. She climbed over a thick branch, careful of where some thorns might be pointing, and barely managing to get over it; Cloud himself was doing well, though it seemed his armour was useful here. Any cuts he might have gotten were hindered by the metal adorning him.
She was told by the horn to actually head away from their destination slightly, she hesitated before obeying and climbing under a particularly sharp thicket of thorns before smiling at what looked like a smaller thorn trail that arced round. Following it she was told to the head to the right, she had to crawl very low for this one, barely managing to get over one part. 
The hardest part arose in front of her. She would have to jump over a part that was particularly high.
Gulping she jumped, kicked off one thorn, flipped and arched over and onto the other side, gasping as one thorn scratched her arm. Gritting her teeth she watched Cloud Zapper do the same, his leg caught slightly. He had a few cuts, but none were too bad.
She brushed herself off and was thankful to find the doorway; beside the doorway was a pedestal that had a long stone cylinder on it, the bangle latched around it into a groove.
Obviously needed for the door to be open.
Daring Do reached out and pressed her hoof to the bangle and sighed as her cuts were healed. “That’s better. Touch the bangle, it’ll heal you.” She smiled and watched him obey, smiling when it was done.
“Well that’s useful.” He chuckled.
Daring nodded before heading into the next room.
This room was interesting; it seemed to be filled with chains and ropes attached to large rocks and boulders. They seemed required to place them into particular areas, but they looked heavy.
“Ah, this must be for the Amulet. Thankfully it looks like it’s been done for us.” She smiled.
She also noticed that as it went along, each artefact had to be left behind. This meant that Ahuizotl could no longer heal, he could no longer create Everfire, and he was no longer super strong. This had Daring Do smiling.
Ahuizotl was losing his advantages.
She passed a Pedestal with the amulet on it, Feeling curious she approached it and picked it up, only to watch a large stone door slam down rapidly and crash to the floor, blocking off the door. Her eyes widened before she put the amulet back, and the doorway opened again, that was good, it had her smiling. There was no way to take them back, so she knew they’d be safely out of reach of Ahuizotl.
This room was filled with transparent doors. She could see right through them to the other side of the room, unfortunately these doors were locked and adorning them were faces…and they were talking to each other.
Daring Do sighed.
“What’s going on here?” Cloud asked curiously.
“These are riddle doors. You can either guess the right answer to get through, or you can unlock them with the Golden Key.” She grumbled. “I’ve encountered them before.”
She approached the first one.
They noticed her and smiled.
“So let me guess, one of you lies and the other tells the truth?” She asked curiously.
They laughed. “You mean like our cousins in the Maze of Truth?” Said the one on the right.
“As if, none of us are that easy.” Said the left one with a chuckle, his nostril door knocker dangling back and forth as he chortled.
Daring grumbled. “Fair enough, what is it?”
The right one huffed. “In a hurry I see. Well then, fair enough.” He smiled.
The left started:
“What’s known as murder?”
“And flies on wings?” Said the right.
“What eats decay, and cries all day?” Asked the left.
“But cannot sing?” The right one finished.
Daring shrugged. “A crow. That one’s easy.”
Cloud looked at her curiously. “How’d you get that?”
Daring shrugged. “A group of crows is called a murder of crows, and crows don’t have a bird song unlike most but they certainly cry enough.” She said as though it were obvious. “Did you really NEVER pay attention in school?” She asked incredulously.
The door swung open and Daring entered smugly, heading for the next door.
“So then, what’s your riddle?” She replied.
This door looked grumpy.
“Oh, a challenger, not like the last chap with his shiny key just walkin’ in.” He grumbled. “Ya want a riddle?”
Daring shrugged. “If you’ll open without me answering one, go for it, but if you got one I need to answer then bring it on.”
The left one seemed to have been a sleep. It woke up. “Oh, hello there, dearie.” It said in a female voice. “Oh Right, stop being such a grump and give the nice mare her riddle.” It said with a kind motherly smile.
The right one just grumbled. “Fine. A natural state, I’m sought by all.
Go without me, and you shall fall.
You do me when you spend,
And use me when you eat to no end.” He finished gruffly.
Daring Do just stared and sat back.
“I, erm…” She gulped.
“Balance.” Said Cloud’s voice to her left. She looked at him with her eyes wide before looking back at the back at the door.
“Yeah…right.” The door grumbled unhappily before opening.
“How’d you know that one?” She asked before Cloud just smirked.
“I paid attention in school.” He said before walking ahead of her.
“Oh…sorry for those remarks. I didn’t mean to put you down.” She said softly, trotting to keep up as they approached the next door.
He smiled. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
They reached the next door and sat, waiting.
“Oh, a new couple. Don’t you two look handsome?” Said the left one.
Daring shook her head. “Oh Tartarus no would that ever happen. Just give us the riddle so we can move on.” She said dryly.
“Oh that’s not very nice. I think you’d be fantastic together.” Said the right one in a flamboyant tone.
“Riddle…please?” Daring said grumpily while Cloud just blushed.
“Oh fine. Here it is:
In a pond there are some flowers with some bees hovering over the flowers. How many flowers and bees are there if both the following statements are true?
1.	If each bee lands on a flower, one bee doesn’t get a flower.
And 2. If two bees share each flower and there is one flower left out?”
Daring just sighed. “This one’s easy. There are four bees and three flowers. That way if they were all sharing, one flower would be left out, and if they all had only one flower, a bee would be left out. That’s not much of a riddle.”
“Well excuuuuuse me.” Said the left door indignantly before they both flew open.
There was one final door blocking their way out of this room.
This one only had one face. And it looked old.
“W-what…asks...but never...answers?” It asked, getting straight to the riddle without being prompted.
Daring sat down and thought about this one.
“Got an idea?” She asked Cloud before he shrugged.
Daring tried hard, her brain wasn’t working right now. She placed her hooves on her temple and grumbled, trying to think. Questions…questions…what? When? Why? How?”
Her brain clicked.
“Who?” She said to herself. “Who…who! And Owl!”
She said excitedly. The door took a deep breath and nodded before it opened with a loud creek.
Daring smirked and walked through, Cloud Zapper following.
“Good answer.” He praised.
“Thanks.” She smiled as they saw the pedestal with the Golden Key slotted into it.
They walked through the open door to the next room and their next trial.
This time they were met with walls and a smaller room. She poked her head through and found a long corridor leading one way, and then another.
The light fell on what seemed to be a wall in front of her, crumbling slightly, but thick and strong, it only had a single small entrance and a wall just beyond that. She knew what this was.
It was a stone maze.
She smirked.
This was it.
“They’re at the end of this maze.” She said softly.
“How can you tell?” Cloud asked softly.
“Because this maze is meant for the Alicorn’s Horn.” She said, pulling it out.
Before this point she had already consulted the horn in private. She had told him she had an artefact, but she hadn’t showed it him, kept it under her coat…but now he saw it.
“This is the artefact?” He asked, his voice dropping low.
Daring nodded. He knew they’d been using an artefact, he’d even seen glimpses of it, he didn’t know what it was though, and she had purposely not told him. But it was time, and the way his eyes bore into her own she knew his reaction wasn’t a good one. But maybe it was one she deserved.
“That’s the horn of royalty isn’t it…from the tomb that was desecrated.” He said softly. “You defiled a royal tomb and desecrated the body of an ancient Queen.” His soft voice took on a hard tone. “So you lied when we first met.”
Daring Do gulped. Cloud seemed to have become like a cold statue.
“Are you going to stop me now?” She asked softly.
Cloud slowly shook his head. “I thought I could trust you. I believe your motives are just and this is to save Equestria…but I cannot condone what you have done.” He said firmly. “Lead us through this.”
He said, walking past her coldly, his posture had assumed that of a Royal Guard once again, not her companion.
His friendship was gone…and she couldn’t blame him.
Letting the horn glow and point, she began walking in silence. The maze was bigger than she first thought. The walls went to the ceiling so it was impossible to look over, simply go through, so she had no idea how to judge its size, but it seemed to be utterly massive.
It took them almost half an hour before they finally managed to get through.
“What if we made a mould out of the rocks?” A voice said from the clearing ahead. The voice of Ahuizotl.
“Don’t be stupid. It’ll likely need to detect the horn’s magic. I doubt a mould will fool the pedestal.” Said the voice of Bravely Blue.
“Just calm yourselves. I’m sure she will be here soon, and then all we need do is to take the horn from her.”
This voice was from neither Bravely Blue nor Ahuizotl.
That was the voice of Shadow.
Cloud’s eyes widened, stepping back his armour hit the wall with a soft clink, making both him and Daring Do freeze.
“What was that sound?” Bravely Blue asked curiously.
Daring motioned for Cloud Zapper to follow her back into the maze but the Pegasus shrugged her off, suddenly his sword was drawn and he burst out round the corner into the opening. His blade glinted and he dashed right for Shadow but suddenly something wrapped around his throat, and flung him back, smashing him against the stone wall of the maze. Ahuizotl holding him there by his tail.
“And who is this little morsel?” His dark voice asked with the hint of a smile.
“His name is Cloud Zapper. Me and Cloud are old buddies. Right Cloud?” Shadow asked, approaching him with a smirk.
Cloud glared and lashed with his sword cutting into Ahuizotl’s tail with a vicious downward swipe causing Ahuizotl to throw Cloud back with a primeval strength in pained retaliation, the closed door to the final room stopping Cloud’s path as he struck the stone hard, gasping as he fell to the floor, the sword clattering to the ground.
“Ahuizotl here is a little stronger than a pony, so you might not want to make him so mad.” Shadow said mirthfully, chuckling softly. “Nice of you to join us though, seriously, I was getting bored with miss know-it-all and mister know-nothing.” He grinned as both Bravely Blue and Ahuizotl glaring at Shadow for the remarks.
Daring Do tried to stay hidden, listening to the carnage, hoping Cloud was safe.
“I’m surprised you are here alone, I mean, I know you hate partners, but how’d you get past the thorns or riddles?” Shadow asked. “Let’s face it; you aren’t exactly the sharpest blade in the armoury.” He chuckled. “You could never catch me after all.” He seemed to be pacing a bit by the way his voice changed in distance. “But then again, maybe you aren’t alone…” He said curiously, looking back at the maze, smirking. He turned to Ahuizotl and nodded to him.
Heavy footsteps came closer to Daring Do, she meeped and ran into part of the maze, turning left.
Ahuizotl entered and the sound of him taking a deep breath was very audible to her, even as her heartbeat drummed in her ears.
“I can smell you…I know you are here...Daring Do.”
His voice made her shiver. But she had faced him before; she knew she could beat him. She just needed a good place to ambush him.
Daring Do headed a little bit further into the maze, knowing he was following and tracking her. His footsteps ever in her ears. She hid around a particular corner, smirking to herself.
“I can smell your tension, Daring Do.” His droning voice sounded out, his accent sharp to her ears. “Do you plan to ambush me?” He asked with a chuckle. “It would be a mistake…it is true that I no longer wear the amulet that provides with strength. But did you know that such strength is not immediately taken away?”
Daring Do’s blood suddenly went cold.
“I have had to save it, so it does not deplete entirely. I could have used it many times to achieve what I want…”
Daring’s heart pounded louder and suddenly she was terrified again, her breathing was burning in her throat before suddenly the wall she had her back to exploded as claws burst right through the stone and grabbed her, yanking her by the throat, the stone, rubble and rock falling down cutting at her body before she was slammed with great force against another wall, pinned there by the monstrous beast that was Ahuizotl.
“…I was saving it for you.” He said with his foul breath filling the air as his yellow eyes bore into hers, his sharp toothed maw menacing as he grinned.
He threw her.
She gasped, striking another wall and falling down, shaking as she looked up. He approached, walking on his legs and his knuckles in gorilla fashion, his smirk searing her to the bone with fright.
“I am going to make you hurt, Daring Do. So very much.” He said with a chuckle. His voice was filled with a malicious mirth that sent shivers through her with every syllable.
Daring looked around, hoping for anything that could help her.
Ahuizotl unfortunately, didn’t give her much time before he charged. Doing the only thing she could, she turned and flew, swiftly round a corner while his body crashed through a wall and charging after her. She twisted and turned in the maze, his form bursting through wall after wall, erupting dust and rubble into the air as she fled for her life.
Ahuizotl seemed to be slowing down, each wall exerting more and more effort.
Daring noticed this and she suddenly smirked. Some sliver of her confidence seemed to come back as a plan finally formed in her head.
Flying faster she put as many walls between her and Ahuizotl as she could.
It was finally in Daring Do’s favour, when the ape-like creature Ahuizotl, ran out of strength. He struck a wall, his head snapped back and his eyes crossed, falling back unconscious.
Daring approached him and smirked. “What’s wrong Ahuizotl? Headache?” She chuckled before walking away, heading back to the door. The sound of clanging and clashing reached her, she galloped and found herself watching as Cloud Zapper and Shadow fought.
Shadow wielded a curved blade and Cloud Zapper used his straight guard sword.
Swords were not the tradition weapons of choice by ponies, they were usually left for Minotaurs and Griffons, creatures with opposable fingers and thumbs and hands instead of hooves. But some ponies could learn to specialise in the sword, and it seemed both Cloud and Shadow were masters. Holding the blades in their maws, the swords were designed with a special round pommel on the hilt, allowing it to be gripped and swung around by the mouth.
Shadow was fast and precise, whilst Cloud was strong and brutal. His onslaught was mostly dodged, Shadow obviously not trusting his ability to block the blows, but his attacks were always guarded by Cloud who didn’t seem to ever rely on dodging, simply pressing the attack.
Daring looked to the side and watched Bravely Blue watching the scene. She approached.
Daring snuck up and suddenly pounced, Bravely Blue moved; her hoof came up, grasping Daring Do by the head and smashing her into the floor, holding her there.
“I taught you everything, Diane, including how to fight.” She smirked. “I may be getting on in my years, but I used that nice Bangle and now I may look like I’m old, but you’ll be surprised what this old body can do when healed of all the afflictions of age.” She laughed.
Daring Do kicked out, landing a blow on Bravely Blue’s stomach, knocking her back.
“That’s going to cost you darling.” She glared.
Daring Do got up.
“You can’t win Bravely Blue, you won’t gain immortality!”
Bravely Blue laughed. “Oh wow, this is rich. You finally did your research and all little too late. What are the odds that the when you finally learn something from me, you use it against me.”
Daring glared. “I learned plenty from you.”
The golden mare dived on the sky blue mare, her hooves lashing out. Daring was surprised at how strong Bravely Blue had become, it was as though she were in her prime, rather than getting on in her later years.
Bravely Blue managed to wriggle out of Daring’s grasp and deliver a powerful blow which had knocked Daring to the ground with a thud. The Alicorn’s Horn rolled out of Daring’s saddle bag.
Their gazes snapped to the object, their conflict momentarily forgotten in favour of the Horn. They both dived for it, hooves grasping frantically. Daring grabbed it before a hoof struck her gut, the horn slipped from her grasp as the world went a little darker, the wind having been knocked from her. Bravely Blue picked it up, ran to the door and thrust the tip of the horn into a hole in the side of the pedestal.
The door, with a mighty groan, slid upwards, revealing the room beyond. Daring Do dived at her; Bravely Blue removed the horn and dived through the door.
Daring struck Bravely Blue and they both fell into the dark room just as the door slammed shut, cutting them off from everyone else.
Bravely Blue groaned, she’d struck her head against the ground from Daring’s tackle and was obviously dazed. Daring Do got up and looked around.
The room was like a smooth dark cave, covered in the same crystals that had littered the Griffon’s caves back in Elda Rodeo. The place was huge and travelled up for miles. The inside of the Tower was just hollow, and they were at the base. At the very top was a single oculus hole in the spire of the Tower that let down a solitary bright ray of light that landed on what looked to be a silvery pool of water in the centre of the room.
Daring approached and reached down, her hoof pressing on the water and into it, but no ripple was caused, and it didn’t feel like…anything. It was like the water wasn’t there.
She looked around at the designs along the side of the pool, carved into the rock and cocked her head.
“I don’t get it.”
Suddenly a flash of pain lit Daring’s eyes up with stars and she fell down, looking up at Bravely Blue holding a large rock.
“That’s because you are stupid.” She pulled out from her saddlebag the Griffon’s Goblet. 
The goblet was silver, shimmering in a fashion similar to the water.
“The water can only be picked up by the Goblet.” She smiled, reaching down and filling the goblet with the silvery liquid.
“Drinking from the Goblet extends life, but it takes many drinks and can deteriorate the mind of the drinker over time whilst keeping the body strong. But one drink of this water in the goblet, and immortality is bestowed on the drinker.” She said, her words an awe-filled whisper. Before she pressed her lips to the edge of the Goblet.
Daring’s eyes widened before she launched herself up, striking the Goblet from her hooves, sending the Goblet flying and landing into the pool.
“NO!” She shouted as she struck Daring Do to the ground. “How dare you!”
“Why do you want to live forever?” Daring Do said, climbing to her hooves and backing away. “Don’t you get it? You’ll see your friends, your family, all waste away without you. You’ll be alone. Do you have any idea what that will be like?”
Bravely Blue scoffed. “I am OLD Daring Do. I may have been healed of aches and pains but I am still OLD!” She shouted. “I am past the halfway point of my life. I am white maned when I was red in my youth!” She shouted heatedly. “I am old and one day I shall die!”
“We all die…it’s the way things are.” Daring Do said softly, finally seeing why all this was happening.
Bravely Blue was no longer brave.
She was terrified.
“I won’t let that happen to me.” The blue mare said with narrowed eyes, jumping into the pool and fishing around for the Goblet underneath.
“Bravely Blue don’t!” She shouted. “Life isn’t meant to last forever! We only have so much time and that’s the point! Nothing lasts forever and that’s what makes time precious! Time with loved ones, time with those we care for and those that love us. Time for friendship. Life is supposed to end so all that stuff has meaning…what meaning would it have if it lasted forever? What meaning would it keep if it was always there? It would be part of the background, part of nothing special…” Daring implored. “Please…don’t do this.” She ran at Bravely Blue who pulled a whip from her saddlebag and lashed it out, Daring’s hooves were suddenly tied and she found herself falling against the edge of the pool.
As her eyes opened groggily she noticed a single depiction, a pony standing in the pool drinking the goblet, and the next picture looked like…
“BEATRICE WAIT!” Daring shouted as the blue mare lifted the cup to her lips. “NOT IN THE POOL!” She begged as Bravely Blue took a large gulp.
“It’s done…I’m immortal...” She said and smiled, turning to Daring Do, her eyes glistening with tears of pure joy. “Now I’ll never be afraid again.” She said, her eyes wide, her pupils dilated…she looked insane…she looked broken and lost. Fear had changed her.
For a moment nothing seemed to happen until Bravely took a single step towards Daring. Confusion passed over her features, and then once again, fear clouded her eyes as she looked down.
“W-what the…” Her hooves were turning grey, cracking lightly as she tried to pull it from the water, her eyes widened in terror. “Wait...no!”
Bravely Blue was screaming now as her body slowly began petrifying to stone.
“I tried to warn you…There are seven items that must entwine, yet the poem only mentions six. The final item is Reason.” She said softly. “Only found by those bravely bold…those that are willing to take the leaps of faith, but are smart enough to know when to jump.” She said softly.
“You weren’t brave or bold...you were terrified and rash.”
Daring Do felt tears come to her eyes; Bravely Blue’s cheeks were also stained with tears as they ran down her features
“You did learn from me after all.” She said softly. “You were such a good student, Diane.”
Daring looked up at her, both of them staring at each other, a soft pathetic smile touching Bravely Blue’s muzzle. 
“I’m sorry.”
Then she was frozen, her face turned grey and her eyes closed as her entire body turned to stone. A statue of Bravely Blue stood there now, one hoof off the ground holding the Griffon’s Goblet, looking on with a soft smile, forever to remain.

The ground suddenly began to shake and rumble, vibrations running up through the stone that sent a panic through Daring Do. She knew what this was, she’d felt it often enough. The place was coming down!
Daring rushed to open the door from the inside, the way was clear of any foes and Cloud Zapper lay in a heap on the ground, but he at least seemed to be conscious. Daring pulled Cloud up from the ground, spread her wings and shouted to him over the rumbling earth.
“Up there!” She called, pointing to the oculus. “Go!”
Her own wings beat heavily as she left the ground with a burst of speed, heading for the hole and her salvation from the falling rubble. It was as she and Cloud made their way to safety that the walls and seals fell in and the tower collapsed in on itself, filling the air with dust that must date back to the dawn of Equestria.
The rubble blew out and when it was over, the sky began to clear of its storms. The magic this place had held must have caused the storms, and now it was over.
Daring Do landed with Cloud and walked up through the rubble. There was no sign of Shadow or Ahuizotl, maybe they had escaped. But there in the centre, was a singular statue among the rubble with not a mark on it. Perhaps it could never be destroyed, an immortal statue.
Bravely Blue’s soft and maybe prideful smile looked out at Daring Do as she gazed at the stone, Cloud Zapper beside her.
“She was special to you wasn’t she?” Cloud asked softly.
Daring nodded.
“She was my mentor.” She answered softly, walking towards the statue something clinked against her foot. She moved a piece of rubble and picked up what looked like a wooden box, seals ran along the outside that seemed to hum with a single touch.
“What’s that?” Cloud Zapper asked hesitantly, to which Daring Do simply shrugged.
She pried at the lid but it wouldn’t open.
“I’ll find out at home, for now...I think this adventure is over.” She said softly.
*

Daring Do and Cloud Zapper decided to stick together for a while, especially if Ahuizotl and Shadow were still alive . Daring wanted to be alone, but for now, it seemed their needs aligned.
Retrieving the Horn from the rubble had been difficult, but they’d managed. Daring offered it back to the Princesses who pardoned her after Cloud explained what had happened and why Daring had done the crime.
No one punished her.
They were told of what happened to Bravely Blue, and the statue was brought to Canterlot for study by the Mystic Guard for a way to perhaps return Bravely Blue back to normal.
Apparently the Goblet would have worked, but only if the drinker wasn’t standing in the pool at the time. A simple mistake, a stupid idea. But she hadn’t been standing in the pool the first time she’d tried to drink from it; it was Daring Do that had knocked the Goblet away.
It was Daring Do’s fault.
Everyone was avoiding her, as if knowing that any punishment for her crime they could bestow would be nothing compared to how she punished herself for the loss of her mentor and friend.
Daring took off into the skies once more to clear her head, hopefully riding the air currents and enjoying the sun on her coat could relieve the aches of her adventures, but before long she realised her wings had taken her back to Clopsdale.


Professor R B Ravenhoof entered his office that morning with a yawn. He walked to his desk, put down his coffee and slumped into his chair, a second yawn caught in his throat as he froze. Where the pith helmet had been there was now simply a note.
It read:
‘Dear Professor Ravenhoof.
Thank you.
I could not have faced what I did on that island and in that tower without your advice on conquering my fears. You are wise and I can see how your words helped Bravely Blue become the mare she was.
She was strong and wonderful, smart and beautiful, and above all, she was the bravest mare I have ever met.
The world is darker without her, and I will miss her more than I can say.
I have taken back my pith helmet, thank you for looking after it.
She gave it to me. Did you know that?
It was hers, and she gave it to me when I didn’t think I could stand up in the world. When I was afraid.
She taught me to be brave.
I don’t know when I’ll see you next, but I have a feeling my adventures are going to take me far from here. I’m going to start researching more, and be more like Bravely Blue. I’m going to be bold, I’m going to be strong, and I’m going to be brave.
Because life is too short. It doesn’t last forever and it shouldn’t, it’s because things don’t last that they become precious.
And this life is precious to me, so I’m going to stop those that might try to ruin it for me, or other ponies.
That’s my duty.
That’s my destiny.
Yours sincerely,
Diane Daring Danger Do’