> Fraternal
>  by Melody Song
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Daring Do...Needs Help
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring Do trekked through the swamps near the southern side of the Celestial Sea. The air was hot and muggy, and bugs flew around her face. Daring waved her wings and reached with her hoof to pull her pith helmet down over her eyes.

"Finally. All of this will be worth it..." Daring panted, grabbing her machete from around her waist. "Sorry Fluttershy, I know I promised not to harm the forest, but this swamp has so much greenery, and I need to get out of here."

Daring swung the machete and cut apart the vines and branches. She was so dehydrated, even swinging the machete was a workout. The vines were sliced to bits and Daring gasped for air as she tumbled onto the sandy beach

"Now, at last, the key to the Crystal Sphere of Khumn!" Daring cried, dropping the machete and digging through the sand. "If the rumors Ravenhoof heard are true, then the entry way should be right here."

The sun beat down above her as she dug, sand hitting her face and getting in her coat. Daring used her wings to block the sun as it warmed her back a little too much. Daring spat out a mouthful of sand and kept going. She began coughing as the sand was flung into her face.

"Ugh. This stupid sand. Wish I had my canteen." Daring grunted, but she kept going. "Finally-cough-the ability to heal any ailment...is just under..." Daring swept the final bit of sand away.

There was nothing there. Just muddy, wet sand. Daring felt the bottom for something, anything. But the only thing there was a small puddle of water, which you'd find in all holes in the sand. Her efforts had been rewarded with nothing.

"A muddy sand pit...I walked through hours worth of swampland for a muddy sand pit?!" Daring shouted, dropping onto her hindquarters and sighing, pulling off her pith helmet. "I'd better make the long flight back home. And start my research all over again."

As Daring stood she couldn't help but feel like this wasn't another dead end. "But there's nothing here. I've really been off my game for the past few...months. I need a break. Maybe...somewhere peaceful." Daring thought to herself, trotting into the waters of the Celestial Sea to cool off and clean her sandy hooves.

"Come to think of it, I've never asked Rainbow Dash where she lives. Wherever that is, I bet it's more relaxing than this place. It's not an emergency but it couldn't hurt to drop in for a visit." Daring said to herself, closing her eyes and letting the water soothe her, the way her Uncle had shown her during their quest for the Eternal Flower.

"It doesn't have to be strictly business all the time with her." Daring assured herself as she stood up in the shallow water, stretching and extending her wings before taking off, water flying from them "At least, I hope not. Because I could use some laid back, regular hang out time with my friend. I am still young, for all I've accomplished."

Daring Do flew back to the beach, only to grab her pith helmet and machete, along with her saddlebags of food. Daring picked up the bags and weighed them in her hooves

"Pretty light." she muttered to herself, opening the side where her rations were. "Almost empty. Well, Horseshoe Bay isn't far from here. I can make it by nightfall and find an Inn to stay for the night. I'll grab some food and water supplies in the morning and look for Rainbow Dash then."

So, Daring headed north, where Horseshoe Bay was. She made it as the sun set and the moon began to rise. Daring landed just outside and pulled on her AK Yearling cloak, then trotted into town. Daring wandered around the town, looking for an Inn that was open. Most of them didn't have vacancies, since it was so last minute. Eventually she was forced to pitch a tent outside town and settled down for the night.

"Ugh, I'll be glad to find Rainbow, just to get some sleep on a real bed. And eat real food." Daring muttered as she ate the last of her apple biscuits, which were now dry and hardly edible. She forced herself to eat the food, then laid down for an...uncomfortable night's sleep.

The next morning, Daring got up and stretched, yawning. She cracked her back, which was stiff from her long night. Daring then went into town and bought some food from the market.

"Right, now, where do I find Rainbow." Daring said to herself, taking off and flying over the swamps.
> Meet Up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow was flying through the skies above Ponyville, doing some leaps and spins. She was doing a double loop and was considering a Sonic Rainboom, just for fun.

"Woo hoo! And for her next trick, the amazing Rainbow Dash will do her legendary...Sonic Rainbooomm!" Rainbow said, pretending to be an announcer, since Scoot wasn't around.

Rainbow flew up high and hovered in midair, then dove down, pushing as fast as she could. The sound barrier began to form around her as she dove down, wind whistling in her ears. Rainbow was almost there, just one more push should do it. But then, her wings stiffened, the way a Pegasi's wings do when they're being overused.

"Shoot." Rainbow muttered, before she was hurled backwards by the sound barrier. Rainbow recovered quickly, having been trained on the Dizzitron, but was forced to land on a cloud to relax her wings. As she was massaging the feathers, a familiar raspy voice-raspier than usual, but still familiar-came from somewhere.

"Do you talk to yourself often?" Rainbow looked around and saw a cloaked pony flying up to her, a grin on her face and in her eyes.

"Daring! What're you doing here?" Rainbow asked, smiling at her.

"Answer my question first." Daring responded slyly. Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"Okay bossy. No, I don't, I was just filling in for my number one fan, she usually acts like an announcer when I'm flying, but she's not here."

"What about the nearly crashing part?"

"That's...normal." Rainbow sighed "But only when I'm doing a Sonic Rainboom!" she added hastily

"Sonic Rainboom? You mentioned that you could do that once, but why did you mess up?"

"Even I can't do it right every time Daring. I try to practice it pretty often, and a lot of times something happens that causes the sound barrier to push me backwards. I'd get technical about it but I don't want to sound like Twilight. Plus I don't know the technical stuff." Rainbow replied, and Daring snickered.

"I'm guessing the recovery was planned though, if you expected to not get it right."

"Yes, it was. My wings stiffened, probably because of Wonderbolt training on top of Weather Patrol duties." Rainbow explained, as Daring settled onto the cloud beside her.

"Wonderbolt training? Is that what taught you to do a spinout recovery? I've been an adventurer for so long, I've gotten used to recovering from things like that." Daring said, pulling the hood down on her cloak due to the heat.

"Yep, they've got this machine called the Dizzitron that's used to train recruits and Wonderbolts themselves for spinouts. It whirls you around and then releases you."

"Wow, that sounds tough."

"Actually, I set the record for fastest recovery, only six seconds." Rainbow boasted, and Daring chuckled

"Based on what I just saw, I don't doubt it."

"But what are you doing here? I've answered like, all fifteen hundred of your questions, what about mine?"

"Fine, but you do know how to count, right?" Daring asked, nudging her in a teasing way.

"Of course, but answer me!"

"Fine." Daring sighed and looked around "Are we alone?"

"No one up here but us, though I can't guarantee that somepony won't come looking for me, the Weather Patrol isn't allowed to do anything without running it by their leader."

"Then can we go to your house? Where do you live anyway?"

"A cloud home not too far from here. My wings are feeling better, so we might as well head over there now." Rainbow said, standing and extending her wings, flapping them a few times to get the feeling back.

The two mares took off and Rainbow led Daring to her house. She could predict Daring's reaction before it even happened. Rainbow knew where Daring lived, in a run down old cottage in a forest. To her the most basic of hotels would seem a luxury. And besides, she was on the road so much Rainbow wouldn't be surprised if Daring was tired of Inns and camping.

"This place is huge."

"I know. Most of the other Wonderbolts have houses like this, except Fleetfoot, but her parents are making her pay them back for all they spent on her when she was living with them, so she doesn't have a house. Not that it matters, since she stays at HQ with Spitfire, the captain, to help with paperwork and stuff. She doesn't even need to help, that's Soarin's job as co-captain, I actually think she's just finding an excuse to stay with Spitfire."

"Are they a thing?"

"Sort of? I'm their friend, so I should know, but they haven't really defined their relationship yet. I know at least one of them wants them to be a couple. Enough about that, how'd you find me anyway?" Rainbow asked as she unlocked the door and let them in.

"I got your address from my publisher, he's the one that figured out where to send that first edition of Ring of Destiny."

"Thanks for that, by the way, a signed first edition and with an original cover? I know I saved your life but that was a little much."

"Not really. I knew you'd like it, you seemed to be a pretty big fan. And you were nice enough to rescue me even after I treated you badly."

"To be honest, I almost didn't. I thought I'd messed up and was being awful to you, I just wanted to leave. Then my friends helped me, and you know the rest." Rainbow replied "But can you answer my question now?"

"Yes, if you're going to be that impatient. You brought up this conversation after all." Daring said, sitting beside Rainbow on the couch.

"So?" Rainbow pressed, and Daring sighed

"I came to talk to you because I need a break. From everything, really."

"What's going on? You don't give up easy, I know you too well to believe that this is for no reason." the concern on Rainbow's face was so obvious Daring was touched that she even cared.

"I had just discovered a breakthrough in my research on the Crystal Sphere of Khumn, but when I reached the location all I got was hours' worth of sweat, probably heat stroke, and a pile of sand. On top of that my food rations had nearly run out and I had to make camp for the night. I woke up with a sore back." Daring explained

"You're making it sound like you're older than you really are, you know that, right?" Rainbow asked, and Daring swatted her playfully "Okay, okay, I'll stop. Sensitive much? But what does that have to do with you being here?"

"I need some quiet time, I thought maybe I'd catch up with you." Daring replied

"If you came for peace and quiet you came to the wrong place. Something crazy happens in Ponyville every other week. But I guess we could hang out, Wonderbolt training ended for the season, so I'm not doing anything." Rainbow agreed

"Great. So, can I get some food? I'm starving."

"Yeah, sure, just to warn you though, I can't cook to save my life." Rainbow said, standing.

"You want some help?"

"You can cook?"

"I'm an adventurer, when you live like I do, you need to know how to cook for yourself, so you know what you have while on the road." Daring shrugged.

After they ate, Rainbow showed Daring a guest room she could stay in.

"Thanks Rainbow, for this."

"No problem."

"About what you said earlier, do you know how old I am?" Daring asked.

"Not really, I just assumed you're young." Rainbow admitted.

"Well, I'm sort of young, I'm 21."

"Oh, really? Me too. I guess that explains why we're such good friends even when we hardly see each other. So, you wanna hang out a bit?" Rainbow asked.

"How do you do that?"

"Sweet Celestia, didn't you ever have any friends when you were a kid?"

"Not really. My parents used me to get rich once I got my cutie mark. I got used to being alone."

"I have so much to teach you."
> Hang Out?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So...how does this work?" Daring asked as she sat down on Rainbow's bed. Rainbow sat down next to her.

"It's called twenty questions, I think of something and you have twenty questions to figure out what it is." Rainbow explained.

"Sounds like it's gonna get boring fast."

"Yeah, well, Twilight said when she played it with AJ and Rarity it was fun, but I agree." Rainbow shrugged.

"How about a twist. Instead of thinking of something, how about we ask each other questions?" Daring suggested, and Rainbow agreed.

"Me first. What's your favorite food?"

"Apple tarts." Daring replied "They're really good for long trips, they keep for weeks."

"Cool."

"Okay, my turn. What's your favorite drink?"

"Easy, Sweet Apple Acres Cider, non-alcoholic." Rainbow replied

"Why? You're 21, like me."

"Yeah, but I prefer non-alcoholic, just because. Me next, what's your favorite drink?"

"Cider too, and to be honest I like non-alcoholic myself, it keeps better than the usual kind of cider." Daring said. "What's your favorite thing to do, besides read my books?"

"Fly with my friends on the Wonderbolts. Now, who's your favorite villain to beat up?"

"Caballeron. Who's your worst enemy?"

"Lightning Dust." Rainbow spat, then shook herself. "Forget about her. Anyway, let's do something else." Daring was about ready to agree, but she put her hoof to her mouth and yawned hugely.

"Alright. How about sleep?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. The rough night she'd had the day before and all the flying she'd done to find Rainbow was wearing her out.

"You can't be tired yet!" Rainbow cried.

"Well, I was traveling a long way Rainbow." Daring replied, stretching and yawning.

"Yeah, I guess so. Good night Daring." Rainbow said as she left Rainbow's room. Daring went into the guest room and collapsed on the bed, falling asleep within a few seconds

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Daring woke feeling more rested than she had in a long time. Rainbow was walking by the still open door, and glanced in.

"Hey Daring, you sleep alright?"

"Yeah. I didn't think cloud beds would be so soft." Daring said, poking the puffy mattress with a hoof.

"You've never slept on a cloud before?"

"No. My mom's a Unicorn and my dad's an Earth Pony, I hadn't touched a cloud until I landed on one while flying. The whole adventure in Cirrostrata was pretty new for me, walking on the clouds like it was nothing."

"How can a Unicorn and an Earth Pony have a Pegasus daughter?"

"I always figured one of them is related to a Pegasus, so I never really questioned it." Daring shrugged, jumping off the bed and stretching her legs. "What are we doing today?"

"I dunno. Usually I'd go down to Ponyville on breaks, or go flying with Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Soarin from the Wonderbolts. But since you can't be seen out of your disguise, we can't go into town." Rainbow responded, and Daring felt a little guilty for depriving Rainbow of her favorite activities.

"I don't have to go with you, you can hang out with your friends."

"No, I want to hang with you Daring. You came here to relax and take a break, so I'm here to help." Rainbow replied. Daring nodded in silent understanding. She opened her wings, stretching them until the tips ached.

"Then let's go flying, together. I need to stretch my wings. Usually I'm only flying to get out of danger, this will be a nice change." Daring suggested.

"Alright, let's go as soon as we eat." Rainbow said, her stomach growling in agreement. They both laughed and headed towards the kitchen.

After eating, the two mares went outside, and Rainbow lowered herself into a professional takeoff position. Daring tried to mimic her stance, but was less successful.

"Maybe you should start from standing up? It might be easier." Rainbow said gently, and Daring nodded, straightening.

"First one to that cloud wins?" she asked, and Rainbow smirked.

"You're on." Rainbow seemed to like a good competition.

"Okay, in three...two..." they both tensed their muscles and prepared for takeoff.

"One!" they shouted together. They took off, flying straight at the cloud. Rainbow won easily, landing perfectly on the fluffy surface. Daring stumbled a little on her landing, falling onto it and landing at her friend's hooves.

"And Rainbow Dash wins again." Rainbow said, grinning. Daring laughed loudly, Rainbow joining in. Their laughs were strangely similar, short bursts that seemed loud and soft at the same time.

"I haven't had this much fun since...ever." Daring said breathlessly, wings fluttering.

"Get ready for a lot more then, let's do freestyle flying." Rainbow answered

"What's that?" Daring wondered if maybe Rainbow was making it up as she went.

"Spitfire does it sometimes during practice. We're flying in formation when she suddenly blows her whistle and yells 'freestyle!' Then we all can fly however we want. I think she does it because it's fun to see how differently we fly from each other when given the chance." Rainbow explained

"I'll try that, I guess." Daring agreed, and they took off again.

Daring felt the wind whipping her mane and whistling in her ears. She let out a whoop of joy and turned a flip in midair. She could see Rainbow nearby, doing lots of tricks and flips. She seemed to like going fast, and going high. Daring tried to copy some of the moves, just to see if she could. Daring did manage a few, but Rainbow was better. She looked up, gasped, and suddenly swerved, pushing Daring into a nearby cloud.

"What-?"

"Just stay down, and keep your head low." Rainbow replied, voice low. She then straightened up as a figure flew up to her. "Hey Spit."

"Hey Rainbow. I was wondering if you wanted to come flying with me and the others. We can go get Fleet and Soar."

"That would be great, but I've got some...weather duties to do. I need to take care of them." Rainbow replied

"Oh, alright. I guess just the three of us can hang out."

"Make it two, then you can finally tell Fleet how you feel." Daring could practically see the smirk on Rainbow's face.

"Sh-shut up, we're just friends. See you later Crash." the mare must have flown off, because Rainbow turned back to where Daring was hiding.

"She's gone."

"Who was that?" Daring asked as Rainbow helped her stand, she still wasn't used to moving around on clouds.

"Spitfire, my Captain, and friend. Don't ask why she called me Crash, it's a long story."

"We've got time."

"Okay fine, I just don't want to tell you." Rainbow admitted

"Come on, tell me." Daring urged, but Rainbow shook her head.

"No way. Anyway, we'd better head back to my house, unless you want your cover blown..."

"You're right, we should go."

Once they had made it back to Rainbow's house, Daring went into her room while Rainbow went to shower. Daring picked up her pith helmet from where she had put it the day before. Daring put it on, then grabbed her saddlebags, digging through them for the map Ravenhoof had given her when he told her about the rumor.

"Maybe now that I've got a clear head I can figure out where I went wrong."
> Back on the Job
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring went into the living room and stared at the map, trying to find out where she could have gone wrong. Rainbow came in with a towel around her neck and her mane still dripping from her shower.

"What are you doing?" Rainbow asked, sitting down by her friend.

"Trying to make sense of this map. The path I followed ended with nothing. There's got to be something I'm missing, some clue, something." Daring muttered. Rainbow leaned over and looked at it too.

"I've seen that writing before." Rainbow pointed to what Daring had thought was meaningless scribbles on the corner. "It's Old Ponish, Twilight's obsessed with it."

"Do you think she could translate it?"

"Of course. She brags about it." Rainbow rolled her eyes. Daring stood and rolled up the map.

"I'll fly down and find her. I assume she lives in the big crystal palace?"

"Well, she is a Princess." Rainbow replied. Daring went to grab her cloak and left for the castle.

--------------------------------------------------------

Daring entered the royal castle. She looked around and went down the hallway, peeking into a room to find Princess Twilight reading in the library.

"Princess?" she looked up

"Daring! What are you doing here?" Princess Twilight asked, putting her book aside.

"I need your help. Any idea what this says?" Daring held it out.

"Well, let's have a look." Princess Twilight took the map and scanned the writing. "Well, this is pretty simple-to translate, that is. It says: beyond the secret grotto there will be a treasured globe. It will be buried beneath two beams, that only the foretold two may lift without harm. Take the path until you reach a stone hinge."

"Great, that gets me nowhere. Back to the drawing board." Daring sighed. She took a quill and spare piece of paper from the inner pocket of her cloak and jotted down the riddle.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be more help."

"It's not your fault."

"Would you like to stay here? I may be able to help."

"No, I'm staying with Dash. She was the one who figured out this was Old Ponish, maybe she has some ideas." Daring replied, tucking the map safely back into her cloak.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring went into Rainbow's house instantly, too frustrated to worry about possible visitors. She flopped down onto the couch and pulled the map back out.

"Stupid directions. What the hay is 'stone hinge' supposed to mean?"

"Did you say Ponehenge?" Rainbow asked, coming in. She had a book tucked under her wing.

"No, stone hinge. Princess Twilight translated the writing, but it's just a weird riddle-type thing." Daring explained, taking out the paper she'd written the translation on and tossing it to Rainbow. Rainbow looked down at it and then back up at Daring.

"What's so difficult about understanding this?"

"It's not that it's difficult...it's just... I get the instructions, but the 'foretold two' and 'stone hinge'. I guess my heart's not in it."

"Daring Do, you have rescued countless ancient artifacts from the grips of countless villains! You can handle a little map!" Rainbow said, shaking her.

"Okay! Okay! I'll look at it again just let go!" Daring said, voice shaking. Rainbow let go of her.

"Sorry." Rainbow said, and Daring sighed, straightening her shirt.

"It's fine. Now, what the hay do you think this means?" Daring asked

"Maybe the stone hinge is supposed to be a stone in the ground. That's a doorway into where the Sphere is." Rainbow suggested

"I think you're on to something. You don't happen to have a map of Equestria, do you?"

"Maybe? I borrowed one from Twi a while back to see where The Mustang Marathon takes place. I don't remember if I returned it, one sec." Rainbow sped out of the room and returned with a rolled up map. "I did have it. I should probably give it back."

"Let me see it." Daring unrolled the map and laid the map to the Sphere on top of it, lining up the landmarks so they fit together. "If you line up the maps with each other, and angle it to point North..." Daring began, turning both maps.

"Then the destination would be..." Rainbow added. They both laid their hooves on the same spot.

"Here!" they cried, looking at each other and laughing.

"So, where in Equestria is it?" Daring asked, lifting the map to the Sphere to see where the spot would be.

"The edge of Horseshoe Bay! Right at the hooked part near Hayseed Swamp! That's why I didn't find anything! I was in the wrong place!" Daring exclaimed, flopping backwards into the couch.

"So, how soon do you set out for the treasure?!" Rainbow asked eagerly.

"You mean; how soon do we set out for the treasure." Daring replied with a grin, and Rainbow gasped.

"Seriously?! You'd let me come along?"

"Sure, you helped me with this, and you've saved my flank more than one time." Daring replied

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" Rainbow squealed, grabbing onto the mare and hugging her tightly.

"You're welcome. But we'd better rest up tonight, looks like we have a long flight ahead of us." Daring replied, chuckling.
> To the Crystal Sphere of Khumn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring felt an eerie sense of deja-vu as she whacked the vines and branches of Hayseed Swamp out of the way. Sweat poured down her face. This time, however, there was a rainbow-maned mare behind her, helping to swat away the foliage.

"How much farther?" Rainbow asked

"Not too much, if the map is right," Daring replied, glancing down at the map in her hooves. "Let's see. We just need to go a little farther-" Daring's hoof caught on something, sending her falling forward.

"Daring! You okay?!" Rainbow asked, and Daring grunted, sitting up.

"I'm fine. What did I trip over?" she asked, looking down. "Well, that's one way to find a stone."

The stone was insignificant to any other ponies who happened to trip over it. But to Daring, it was a sign. The markings were similar to the ones on the map. It had hinges on it too, so small that they would be easily looked over unless you had an eye for small details. Which Daring did, so long as it led her to treasure.

"The stone hinge." Rainbow breathed as Daring brushed some dirt off the ancient stone.

"Yep. Now, how to open it." Daring muttered

"Will this help?" Rainbow asked, pulling a book from her saddlebag. Daring read the cover and smiled.

"Now you're thinking like an adventurer." Daring grinned

"I borrowed it from Twilight. Since the map was written in Old Ponish I figured the stone might have Old Ponish writing on it too." Rainbow shrugged, and they opened the book.

"It says there's a way to open the stone. But the rest is too faded to read." Daring sighed, placing her hoof on the writing. Rainbow put her hoof on the writing too. There was a sudden, soft click.

The stone slid to the side, revealing a hole just large enough for a pony to slide into. A soft blue glow shone from inside. Rainbow and Daring looked at each other. Daring reached into her saddlebag.

"We should think this through-"

"Last one in is a moldy carrot!" Rainbow called, then dove straight into the hole.

"Rainbow Dash!! Oh, imma kill you." Daring muttered, jumping in after her.

She immediately felt herself land on a slippery tube. Daring could hear Rainbow shouting and laughing ahead of her. It was like a slide, and surprisingly, enjoyable. She whooped and raised her hooves in the air. There was a dripping sound coming from below them.

"Is that...water?!" Daring thought.

"Rainbow! Hold your breath!" Daring yelled, right before she was plunged into water.

------------------------------------

Rainbow resurfaced and gasped, looking around.

"Daring?!" Rainbow called, and the mare burst out of the water, coughing.

"I'm here!" Daring assured her, reaching for her pith helmet. She put it on and looked around.

"Where are we?" Rainbow asked, swimming closer to Daring.

"Looks like an underwater cavern," Daring replied, and Rainbow gasped.

"This is why you could never find the Sphere! The entrance was underwater!" Rainbow cried

"Of course!" Daring said, slapping the water with her hoof. "Why didn't I figure it out sooner?!"

"Well, come on, we've got a Crystal Sphere to find!" Rainbow cried, about to dive down. Daring grabbed her by the mane and hauled her back.

"Hold it Rainbow. Did you forget that we can't breathe underwater?"

"Um, yeah. Thanks." Rainbow said sheepishly. Daring pulled her saddlebag out of the water and opened it.

"Well, the map is ruined." Daring sighed, holding up the ink-stained paper that had been their map.

"Well, there were no directions on what to do once we found the entrance, so it's pretty useless now." Rainbow shrugged. Daring took a calming breath and dug through her saddlebag some more.

"Alright, well, we need something to get us down deep."

"To bad we're not merponies." Rainbow said

"Let's just dive as deep as we can, and look around as long as possible. But first, we should see how much of this cavern has air pockets." Daring swam further out and looked around. "It looks like it goes on for a little while. Let's go."

"Wait, there's a ledge over there, we should put our bags there so we don't lose them." Rainbow said, pointing.

"Good idea." Daring agreed, swimming over.

As it turned out, there actually was a ledge underneath the slide that had spat them into the water. It was the top of a rocky underwater cliff, and seemed like a good place to set their things.

"We must have been going too fast on the slide to get stopped on the ledge." Daring commented, pulling off her bag and placing it on the ledge. Rainbow did the same.

Then, the two dove underwater and swam further out. Rainbow swam ahead of Daring and looked around, beckoning her forward. Daring followed her and her eyes widened at what she saw. They swam upwards and resurfaced.

"Did you see what I just saw?" they asked each other, then laughed.

"Yes, I saw it." Rainbow said

"I can't believe it was there this whole time."
> The Lost City
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring dove under again to get a better look.

Towering white pillars were stacked on top of each other. Crumbling statues and houses were inside the circle of pillars. Parts of the pillars had broken off and were scattered around on the sea floor. The whole place had become an artificial reef. All sorts of fish were swimming around. Coral and sea plants were growing on the wreckage. Daring rose up again and gasped for air.

"The Lost City of Foalantis. After all these years...I finally found it." Daring breathed.

"So, where are the two beams the legend says it's buried under?" Rainbow asked

"To find out, we'll have to swim out to the City. But we will have to leave the parts where there's air. Meaning we'll be holding our breath for a long time. You up for it?" A familiar determined gaze grew on Rainbow's face.

"Let's do this."

--------------------------------

The two mares dove under the water and swam towards the underwater city. Daring pointed to Rainbow and then to her left. Rainbow nodded and swam in the indicated direction. Daring swam the opposite way and searched around, lifting pieces of rubble carefully. She swam under one and pushed some seaweed to the side. As she reached the other end, she saw Rainbow coming from the other side. She swam upwards and back to the cavern, Daring following.

"Did you see anything?" Daring asked

"Yeah, I saw something glowing, near where we were."

"Well, now that we know the direction we need to swim, we won't waste time. But we need to figure out a way to get deeper without running out of air." Daring said

"It's too bad we don't have Silverstream's necklace." Rainbow sighed

"Who's what?" Daring asked

"Silverstream is a Hippogriff at Twi's Friendship School. She and the rest of her kind have these special necklaces. Each one contains a piece of the Pearl of Transformation. She can switch between Hippogriff and Seapony as she pleases."

"So you're saying that if we had one, we could turn into Seaponies and breathe underwater?"

"Yeah. Silverstream's pretty much like Pinkie Pie, if we asked she'd probably hoof it over. But she's not here and I didn't think it'd be literally underwater so there was no point in asking at the time." Rainbow said

"I can understand that. Maybe I have something in here." Daring turned back to the ledge and swam over.

"Why can't we just go back and get something from Horseshoe Bay? Maybe there'll be something useful there." Rainbow suggested

"But we can't guarantee there will be anything helpful. Besides, we don't know if the way in would close again, and I have no clue how it opened in the first place. So if we leave, we would either find what we need and have no way back in, or we wouldn't find anything useful and still wouldn't have a way in."

"It'll be better than staying here!" Rainbow objected, and Daring rolled her eyes, turning back to her.

"Rainbow, who's been doing this longer?"

"We're the same age, you admitted it!"

"I meant how many times have I adventured?"

"Lots of times." Rainbow admitted

"Then let the more experienced pony here handle it." Daring snapped, turning to her bag and digging through it. She pulled out her whip and set it to the side, followed by ruined snacks and such.

There was a splash from behind her, which Daring ignored. She then turned to Rainbow's bags. She pulled out a few more food items and a sleeping bag, but not much else.

"Great I came all this way...I was so close. I'm so stupid, I should have thought this through!" Daring thought, slamming her hoof in the water and turning back to Rainbow. Only to find she wasn't there.

"Rainbow?" Daring asked, turning around "Rainbow?!"

The mare came out of the water a little bit away from Daring, holding something in her hooves.

"You scared me, where did you go?!" Daring asked as Rainbow came closer.

"I was trying to help. Here." Rainbow shoved something at Daring and swam back to the ledge. Daring looked at it and saw some shells and seaweed.

"How...?" Daring asked, turning back to Rainbow.

"Put the seaweed through he shell and it becomes a breathing mask." Rainbow explained.

Daring did as she said and slipped it on. She dove under for a few seconds and realized Rainbow was right, she could breathe. It probably wouldn't work for long but it would work.

"Thanks." Daring said, then moved closer. "I'm sorry I snapped at you Rainbow, I didn't mean it."

"I know you didn't. I should have just agreed. You're the adventurer, you know more about this than I do."

"Well, you were right about the shells. We're in this together, I should listen to your ideas as much as you do with mine." Daring objected

"How about we both agree to be more considerate. Friends?" Rainbow asked

"Always. Now, let's go find that sphere!" Daring said, slipping on the breathing mask.

--------------------------

They swam down to where Rainbow saw something glowing. There it was.

A huge clearing that looked like it had once been an arena stood before them. Where there was probably once grass there were seaweed. In the center of the clearing there were two statues of identical ponies. They stood on their hind legs and reached up with one foreleg. Together they held up a shining blue orb trapped beneath two stone pillars.

The two of them swam closer, in awe of the majestic statues. Daring gestured for them to resurface. They swam back to the air pocket and came up to talk.

"The Sphere is trapped under the pillars, just like the riddle said." Daring said

"I know. But didn't it also say something about the 'foretold two' being the only ones who can lift them up?" Rainbow asked

"Right." Daring sighed, then brightened "Well, what's life without a little risk?"

"You are my new best friend." Rainbow gasped, and Daring shook her head, laughing.

"Well, let's go." 

They dove down once more, swimming confidently back to the arena. Daring swam forwards first and took the end of one pillar, motioning for Rainbow to take the other. Rainbow grabbed it, looking to Daring for the signal. Daring raised her wing and held up three feathers.

"Three...two...one." Daring counted in her head, folding down her feathers at the same pace.

Together they each lifted one of the pillars off the sphere.  A strange blue light seeped from the orb and onto the pillars.

"Oh no! What is it doing?!" Before Daring could motion for Rainbow to drop the pillar, something magical happened.

The blue light wrapped around their hooves. The part near Daring turned gold when it touched her hooves. The pillars suddenly became much lighter, as though they were made of air. They saw their chance. Daring kicked her back legs, lifting the pillar completely off and tossing it to the side. Rainbow did the same and they moved as one to the Sphere. Both reached out at the same time...and touched the Sphere.

Daring felt the magic heal her old injuries, and could see Rainbow relax slightly as the Sphere likely healed whatever injuries she had too. Daring and Rainbow grabbed the Sphere and swam out of the arena. Out of the Lost City of Foalantis.
> The Crystal Sphere of Khumn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

They resurfaced and heaved the huge Sphere onto the ledge where their saddlebags still lay.

"What was that? That magic stuff?" Rainbow gasped

"I have no idea. I've never seen anything like it." Daring said

"Me neither, and I've seen a lot of crazy stuff."

Rainbow put her forelegs on the ledge and hoisted herself out of the water. It was only then that Daring realized how cold the water was. She was so wrapped up in the adventure she hadn't even noticed. Daring shivered a little as Rainbow held out her hoof. Daring took it gratefully and got out of the grotto's water. They shook themselves like dogs, drying off as well as they could.

"Is it just me or did the water turn colder when the Sphere was taken?" Rainbow asked

"I think we were just to distracted to realize how cold it was. But it might be that the Sphere was keeping the grotto from having freezing cold water." Daring replied, shaking her mane out.

"Well, we'd better fly back out." Rainbow said, picking up her saddlebag. Daring did the same, then they both turned to the Sphere. Rainbow locked eyes with Daring. "Together?"

"Together." she agreed. They reached and scooped up the Sphere, flying up the slide and out of the stone door.

--------------------------------

Daring sat in front of a crackling fire, relishing the warmth. Rainbow was sitting next to her, holding a stick with a carrot out into the fire. Rainbow had flown to Horseshoe Bay and bought some more food. Their sleeping bags and tent were hanging on a rope on the other side of the fire, drying.

"This is what I expected from an adventure." Rainbow said, pulling the carrot out and testing it. She bit into it.

"Really?"

"Well, not really, but still." Rainbow replied, taking another bite of her carrot.

"Did you feel that magic heal you?" Daring asked

"Yeah. I wrenched one of my muscles at practice a few months ago, it feels completely fine. Heck, even the injury from when I clipped my wing at Wonderbolt Academy is gone."

"I guess that's proof it really can heal any ailment."

"Are you going to give it to Mojo now? Like you promised in Marked Thief of Marapore?"

"Yeah. I'll let him touch it before I take it to a museum. But I'm going to give him another month, so he can finish righting all his wrongs. Besides, Ravenhoof will want to examine it, seeing as how we've been hunting this thing for years."

"What's the plan?"

"We make camp for the night, then fly back to your place in the morning. We never finished our hangout time." Daring replied.

"Fantastic. I still have a whole lot to teach you." Rainbow replied
> The Dream
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later, their tent and sleeping bags had dried out. The two set them up so they could finally get some sleep. Daring settled down and fell asleep quickly. But Daring had a strange dream.

"Come on, we've got to get pawst da monster to the Wondewrbolt Medallion! Wet's go bwave adventuwer!" a filly, who Daring couldn't make out, called. She was viewing it from a filly's body.

They raced under a table and crouched down, huddled together.

"On Thwee, we jump out and catch him!" Daring's dream form said in a baby voice. Then, they heard ponies talking.

"I can't do this anymore. I can't!" a stallion cried

"You know that I'm always here for you. But what else can we do?" a mare's voice responded

"Well, they love playing with their Uncle..."

"You're not suggesting that you give them to him? They're your children!"

"I won't take them both. Just one. She reminds me too much of her mother anyway." the stallion replied. The filly Daring was seeing this from turned to the other foal.

"Which one of uws is gonna be taken away?" she asked

"Don't matter, we're gonna protect each other! It's what we're aposed to do, we wov each other! Now let's go get da monster!" the foal raced out from under the table, Daring's form following. She caught a glimpse of a rainbow mane just before she woke up.

----------------------------------------------

Daring sat up in her sleeping bag and gasped. It was still nighttime.

"A rainbow mane? But how is that? Was I seeing one of Rainbow's memories?" Daring muttered to herself. She turned and shook Rainbow. "Rainbow, wake up!"

"Huh? What is it? Is Caballeron here?!" Rainbow asked, jumping up.

"No, I-I had a dream..."

"You woke me up for that?" Rainbow fell back down into her sleeping bag.

"No, Rainbow. The dream was a memory...and you were in it." Rainbow shot up again.

"Why did you dream about a memory with me in it?"

"That's just it , I don't know. I was seeing it from the perspective of a filly, and there was another foal with me. I think we were playing. Then, I heard a stallion and a mare talking about giving one of two foals up. The pony I was asked if we were going to be separated. The other foal promised that neither of us were going to be taken. Then we ran out from where we were hiding and I saw a rainbow mane."

Rainbow stared at her, then stood up and began tossing her things into her bag.

"What are you doing?"

"Packing so we can leave first thing tomorrow morning. If there's one pony who can figure anything out, it's Twilight."

-------------------------------------

The next day, Rainbow and Daring headed back to Ponyville, where they landed outside the castle.

They headed inside, where they found Twilight reading in her library. It was almost as though she hadn't moved since Daring had visited days before.

"Twi?" Rainbow asked

"Oh, hello Rainbow, hi Daring. Did you find what you were looking for?" Twilight asked, standing and trotting over to them.

"Yes and I'll tell you all about it in my next book, but that's not why we're here." Daring replied.

"Okay...?" Twilight said. "What are you here then?"

"Well...it's kind of hard to explain." Daring said

"Daring had a really weird dream where she was a filly talking with another filly and right before she woke up she saw a rainbow mane." Rainbow blurted out. Twilight blinked.

"Well, what's so weird about that?"

"The way I was talking in my dream, it sounded like I knew the filly, like we grew up together." Daring replied

"And?"

"Why are you not freaking out?" Rainbow asked

"Because then there would be two crazy ponies in this conversation. Also, it's fairly simple to understand."

"It is?" both Rainbow and Daring asked together

"Yes, of course it is. Daring knows Rainbow on a personal basis, thus a version of her was manifested into Daring's dream. Seeing yourself as a foal symbolizes a great stress, thus returning your brain to a gentler state of mind when nothing mattered. By that, I mean the innocence of childhood."

"But that doesn't make sense. I'm not stressed about anything, I was actually really happy that I'd finally found what I was looking for."

"Well, that is a little weird. But still, having that dream is perfectly logical." Twilight's reassurance didn't do much for the mares. When they left, Daring spoke.

"You know, I wonder why I dreamt about a stallion and mare talking. It felt more like a memory, really." Daring said

"Could you recognize either of them?"

"Not by hearing their voices. With my talent, that means they aren't ponies I've ever met before. I mean, I can usually tell friend from foe just by how they talk and their actions. But in the dream, I got mixed readings about both of them."

"How?"

"The ponies sounded familiar, like they were ponies I knew and trusted. But the tones of their voices told me they were trying to act against me. It was really confusing." Daring said, rubbing her temple.

"Maybe you just need some more sleep." Rainbow suggested, and they took off, heading for her house.
> Meetings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow pushed open the door to her house and was tackled by a white blur. Daring backed away, leaving with a flap of her wings. She pressed against the outside of the house, listening.

"Rainbow, where have you been, we were so worried about you." a stallion said

"Correction. Soarin was worried about you. Fleet and I were a little concerned, but you're a grown mare for Celestia's sake. You can take care of yourself."

The mare who said this was Spitfire, Daring recognized the voice from her near encounter with the mare. The other two must be the stallion and mare Rainbow had mentioned, Soarin and Fleetfoot. She smiled a little at the part about a stallion being worried about Rainbow. Even though she had never mentioned liking anypony, Daring was sure that the hug Soarin had pulled Rainbow into meant something was going on between them.

"Well, thanks for being worried about me. E-especially you Soar. But I was fine." Rainbow said.

"Who wath the pony you came in with?" another mare asked. Daring assumed this was Fleetfoot. 'Fleet' was probably a nickname.

"Oh, um...that was one of my other friends."

"Her coat was too dark to be Fluttershy, and none of your other Ponyville friends can fly." Spitfire reasoned.

"Did I say she was from Ponyville?"

"No. But who else could it have been?"

"Seriously Rainbow, where were you?" Soarin asked again.

"I-I was visiting the pony you saw, I asked her if she wanted to come see Ponyville." Rainbow replied

"You know what I love about you Rainbow?" Spitfire asked

"I thought you loved-" Rainbow tried to respond

"Metaphorically speaking." Spitfire interrupted before she could finish.

"That I'm a really good flyer?"

"No. That I can tell when you're lying."

"I'm not!"

"Really? If that friend of yours was just visiting you, then why'd she run away?"

"She, um...she's shy."

"Dash..."

"I can't tell you, okay!" Rainbow blurted out. Daring shook her head.

"Geez, she's bad at this." Daring thought.

"Then I'll go out there and find her myself. She can't have gone far. Come on Fleet." Spitfire said.

Daring almost gasped before remembering to be quiet. She opened her wings, preparing to take off. Hoofsteps sounded, and she rose into the air, trying to stay out of sight. She saw two mares leave the house. One was obviously Spitfire, her coat was yellow, and her mane was the color of fire. The other mare had an ice blue coat and a snowy white mane.

Daring pulled up into the air, but the Sphere was still in her saddlebags. She had managed to balance herself previously, adjusting to the weight in one side of her saddlebags. But now that she took off without a single thought other than to get out of there, the bag slipped. Daring snatched for it but it fell straight past the two mares. Daring dove down after it, unfastening her cloak before diving so she could go faster. A rainbow blur joined her, and she knew Rainbow had followed. The two friends reached and grabbed the saddlebags just before it fell through the trees, lifting it as one.

"I could have grabbed it myself." Rainbow said as they flew back up to her house.

"You were busy distracting them. You're a terrible liar, by the way."

"Am not!" Rainbow protested as they reached just below her home. They hovered in midair, debating the topic.

"Please, even I wouldn't have bought that lie, and it was about me." Daring scoffed

"Sheesh, you know I could let go of this. Or better yet hurl it into oblivion."

"You wouldn't dare."

"You're the one with 'dare' in her name. You tell me." Rainbow replied mischievously

"Daring Do?" Daring swore under her breath and glared at Rainbow.

"Don't blame me, you heard our conversation. I didn't say anything."

"What is a fictional character doing here? Did Twilight mess up another spell?" Spitfire asked

"No." Daring was a little offended

"Guys, she's real. A.K Yearling's the made-up one." Rainbow explained as they set the saddlebags down at the hooves of the mares and stallion.

"Pseudonym." Daring supplied. Rainbow cocked her head, making Daring roll her eyes. "It means fake name."

"Right. That." Rainbow said

"I don't buy it." Spitfire said

"If you're really Daring Do, then who'th your wortht rival?" The other mare asked. Her lisp was obvious, but Daring didn't give it a second thought.

"I'd say Caballeron poses the biggest threat ever since we both swore to stay away from Ahuizotil's jungle." Daring replied smoothly. The mare's eyes widened.

"Thweet Celethtia." she breathed

"Daring, this is Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Soarin." Rainbow told her, and Daring nodded to them.

"Is this where you've been Rainbow?" Soarin asked, looking at her.

"Well, yeah. Daring wanted some help looking for this treasure, so since I helped her figure out where it was, she asked me to come along."

"How do you know her?" Fleetfoot asked

"We met about...maybe two years ago?" Rainbow asked

"That'th about the time that Ring of Dethtiny came out." Fleetfoot recalled

"Rainbow and her other friends helped me destroy the rings." Daring explained

"What were you looking for thith time?" Fleetfoot asked

"Does it have anything to do with why you flew after a saddlebag that's easily replaceable?" Spitfire asked

"The saddlebags are replaceable, sure. But this..." Daring reached in and lifted out the Crystal Sphere of Khumn "Is definitely not replaceable."

"The Crythtal Thphere of Khumn!" Fleetfoot exclaimed

"The what?" Soarin and Spitfire asked

"They don't read the books." Rainbow explained to Daring.

"Well, in that case, allow me to fill you in:" Daring shifted the sphere in her hooves. "This is the lost Crystal Sphere of Khumn, which has the power to heal any ailment."

"Tho the legend ith real?"

"Yep. Hey Spit, remember when I clipped my wing during Trials Week at Wonderbolt Academy?"

"Yeah...?"

"Well, it's perfectly healed now." Rainbow said, extending her wing.

"You got to touch it?" Fleetfoot asked

"We kind of had to in order to get it out of where it was trapped." Rainbow shrugged.

"So what are you doing here. Shouldn't you be on your way to a museum?" Spitfire asked

"Well..." Daring looked away.

"Let's get the sphere inside. We'll explain there."
> Rainbow's Friends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So that's what happened." Rainbow finished. The two were facing Soarin, Spitfire, and Fleetfoot. All five ponies were seated on the couch.

"There'th no way it'th 'jutht a dream'. Princethth Luna would have thtopped it if it wath."

"Yeah, but it is weird." Spitfire looked between the two mares. "You said there were ponies talking in the background. Can you remember what they were saying?"

"Well...I know one was a stallion, and the other was a mare. They were talking about giving up somepony. The dream ended a little bit after."

"You said that your dream form asked who was being taken to the foal Rainbow. What if they were discussing you two?" Soarin asked

"I-I don't know...anything is possible, but...I just don't know." Daring sighed.

"I thought maybe she just needed more sleep. But maybe it is a memory." Rainbow suggested

"Why would you need sleep?" Spitfire asked

"Well, it was already pretty late after we'd found this and set up camp." Rainbow said

"We can leave if you guys want to sleep." Spitfire suggested. Daring shook her head.

"I need to examine this anyway." Daring said, nodding to the Sphere.

"You guys don't have to leave, I'm not that tired anyway." Rainbow said, but stifled a yawn. Soarin smiled and leaned forwards to brush his muzzle against hers.

"Rainbow, just go sleep, we'll stay if you want us to." Soarin said. Rainbow blushed, and Daring snickered.

"I don't want to be rude guys." Rainbow murmured, looking away. Spitfire, who was also grinning, stood up.

"You won't be. Maybe we can help Daring." Spitfire suggested

"Thanks for the offer, but this is pretty dull work. All I'll be doing is examining it for magical properties. That's why my books usually end when I've found the treasure. No one wants to hear about cataloging the find or anything." Daring replied. Spitfire stepped forward to whisper to her.

"I know, but Soarin will stay anyway, so Fleet and I need an excuse to stay to tease Soarin about his crush on Rainbow." Spitfire muttered

"Oh, got it." Daring smirked at the mare, then cleared her throat. "Actually, on second thought, I may need some help. There are so many rumors about the Sphere it might take more than one pony to figure out which ones are true."

"Well, if you want to stay..." Rainbow shrugged, then yawned. Soarin smiled kindly at the mare.

"You want me to carry your saddlebags?"

"Thanks Soar." Rainbow blushed as she agreed.

Soarin lifted the bags off her back, then followed Rainbow towards her bedroom. The two began talking to each other as they walked. Once their voices died away, Spitfire and Fleetfoot began giggling.

"Rainbow Dash and Soarin Skies, sitting in a tree." Spitfire said between laughs.

"You two are D-E-A-D!" Soarin called back, which just made them laugh harder.

"Firtht cometh love-" Fleetfoot began, raising her voice now that they knew Soarin and Rainbow could hear them.

"DON'T SAY IT!" Rainbow shouted.

"What are they doing?" Daring thought, confused

"-then comes marriage..." Spitfire added

"If you finish that rhyme, Celestia help me!" Rainbow yelled

"Then comes the baby in the baby carriage!" both cried together, and Daring joined in their laughter, finally understanding the joke. Rainbow and Soarin didn't respond, but they heard a door slam.

"Well, that was fun, but we probably just chased them both into Rainbow's room forever." Spitfire said, turning to Daring. "Why didn't you join in?"

"I-I haven't heard of that rhyme before." Daring said

"What? But foalth thing it all the time, you had to have heard it once."

"Actually, I never had much of a childhood. I earned my cutie mark at a young age, so my parents made me go on adventures since I was...maybe ten? That's why there's so many Daring Do books even though I'm only 21. I would just write it to look like I was older in the books." Daring replied, looking away.

"Wow. They sound like jerks." Spitfire commented.

"Oh, no. I love my parents, they always looked out for me when I was little...until I started going on adventures...then they only cared about the treasure." Daring realized, eyes widening.

"They don't sound like real parents. My mom raised me on her own, and she always made time for me. When I became a Wonderbolt I would give her money if she needed it, but she never forced me to." Spitfire said

"But my parents...why wouldn't they love their own daughter? It doesn't make sense." Daring said

"Lots of parents don't like their kids." Spitfire replied

"Maybe they don't like me because I'm a Pegasus." Daring muttered

"What doeth that have to do with anything?" Fleetfoot asked

"My mom's a Unicorn and my dad's an Earth Pony." Daring explained "I thought maybe they were related to a Pegasus."

"But you're not sure?" Spitfire asked

"No, I'm not. Why?"

"Well, I mean, that sort of thing is possible, but...have you noticed how similar you and Rainbow look?" Spitfire asked

"No..."

"Well, if you haven't hung out in a while I guess you wouldn't. But...Fleet, might need your help."

"They're both adventurouth, and brave, and loyal." Fleetfoot replied.

Daring was reminded that Fleetfoot read her books, while Spitfire did not. So of course she would need Fleetfoot's help to make comparisons between the two's personalities.

"Right. Your argument earlier pretty much proves you both make similar comebacks. Also, Rainbow didn't see the Sphere fall but she knew it did, she knew that you were in danger of being revealed. It was like she could predict your actions. Even then, you mentioned earlier that you were twenty-one, just like Rainbow."

"That is weird." Daring admitted, then remembered something. "But...I think I know why she was able to predict my actions."

"Why?" Spitfire and Fleetfoot asked together.

Daring flew into the guest room Rainbow had let her use. She had left behind her ancient texts and scrolls, just in case she lost her saddlebags or something. Daring pushed aside document after document, until she found what she was looking for. It explained everything. Daring looked up, eyes shining with fervor.

"Let's go get Soarin and Rainbow, then I'll explain."
> The Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring opened the door to Rainbow's room, then stifled a laugh. Spitfire and Fleetfoot stepped up next to her and giggled. Rainbow was sleeping on her bed, and sprawled next to her was Soarin. The stallion was asleep too, but had a wing over her body, forelegs positioned as though he'd been holding her hooves in his.

"Wake up lovebirds, Daring has something to tell us." Spitfire said, raising her voice.

Rainbow stirred, saw them, then looked down at Soarin. Rainbow scrambled up, her hoof banging into Soarin's muzzle. He woke up with a yelp of pain, sitting up as well.

"OW." Soarin groaned, rubbing his chin. Rainbow mumbled a quick apology, blushing hard.

"What did you want?" Rainbow asked

"I think I know why you knew that the Sphere was falling." Daring said, holding out the paper. It was the scrap of paper she'd written the translated riddle on. "The foretold two."

"What? It's a part of the riddle, right?"

"Yes, but Rainbow, the foretold two are supposedly the only ones who can lift the sphere without harm. We lifted it up easily, remember? It was like the sphere was helping us."

"You mean with the weird magic that helped us lift up the beams? I remember that."

"Remember how the magic turned gold when it touched me? And then it went into us." Daring said. She then turned and yanked a feather out of her wing.

"What are you doing? Doesn't that hurt?" Spitfire asked

"Extremely." Daring spat her feather onto the floor, then held out her hoof. "Rainbow, take my hoof, I want to try something."

Rainbow now shared the confused looks of Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot. She reached out anyway and took Daring's hoof. A strange blue light shone from her hoof, onto Daring's. It weaved up to her chest and onto her wing. Rainbow yanked back her hoof in surprise, and Daring showed them her wing, flexing it. The feather had been replaced.

"What in the name of Celestia-?" Rainbow gasped. Daring began pacing.

"The magic of the Sphere is that it can heal any ailment. These 'foretold two' are the only ones who can remove it from it's pedestal without being injured. We lifted it and the magic turned the color of my coat when it touched me. Of course the magic didn't change colors when it touched you, your coat is blue, like the magic. I wonder if the color changing is a sign that the magic is responding to the pony's touch." Daring looked at Soarin. "Rainbow accidentally kicked you when she sat up, right?"

"Yes." Soarin said, rubbing his jaw.

"Rainbow, try to heal him like you did me. Touch his hoof." Daring ordered. Rainbow reached and took Soarin's hoof gently. There was no glow.

"What happened? Why didn't it work?" Spitfire asked. Daring closed her eyes, then gasped.

"Because he isn't one of the foretold two." Daring ran out of the room and came back with her machete.

"What are you going to do with that thing?" Fleetfoot asked

"Relax, I'm just going to make a small cut on Rainbow's hoof. I'd do cheek but I don't want to hurt her eye." Daring said. Rainbow held out her hoof and Daring pricked her hoof gently with the blade.

"And what was the point of that?" Spitfire asked. Daring grabbed Rainbow's hoof.

A golden light the exact color of Daring's coat shone off her hoof and moved to Rainbow's. The light surrounded the cut and sealed it up. When Daring pulled back, it was as though the machete had never come into contact with Rainbow.

"Just as I thought. The magic only works for us because we were the only ones to remove the Sphere from it's place." Daring   realized.

"So you're saying that when we lifted up the Sphere, we became the 'foretold two'?" Rainbow asked

"No, we never became the foretold two, we are the foretold two." Daring replied. There was a long silence.

"But...why us?" Rainbow asked

"Maybe because you two are practically identical." Spitfire suggested

"We are?" Rainbow and Daring said at the same time. They looked at each other.

"Yeah. Apart from coat and mane color you two look the same. Well, your cutie marks are obviously different, but still." Spitfire explained

"Now that you mention it, they both have magenta eyes, and their manes have the exact same pattern, Daring's is just gray and black." Soarin added

"That's not something the Sphere did, my mane's always looked like this." Rainbow and Daring said together, once more.

"That'th a little creepy." Fleetfoot whispered, stepping closer to Spitfire. She blushed when the mare grazed her flank with her own.

"Are we stuck this way?" both Rainbow and Daring asked each other. "Okay, stop talking." Both mares fell silent.

"Did it work?" Spitfire asked

"Yes." they said together. "Stop it!"

"Sonic Rainboom!" Rainbow suddenly blurted out, "There. I knew you wouldn't say that."

"Thank you." Daring sighed. "But why did that just happen?"

"No idea." Rainbow answered truthfully.

"Maybe we were right. It's got to be more than just a coincidence that you're so alike." Spitfire said

"But how do we know for sure that it's more than that?" Rainbow asked

"Well, you clearly look similar. You also get along with each other and yet still fight...which reminds me of the relationship between siblings more than friends." Spitfire listed. Daring and Rainbow's eyes widened.

"But I'm an only child." Daring objected

"Yeah, you've met my parents before guys, you know I am too." Rainbow added

"True, we've met your parents before. But why would your parents tell you you had a sibling if there was no point?" Spitfire asked "If they knew that you'd probably never meet your sibling then they might not tell you so you wouldn't have to stress about it."

"But my parents-" Daring began

"Aren't Pegasi. You said it yourself. It's probably highly unlikely that they would have a Pegasus for a daughter unless one of them had an immediate relative who was one. Yes, Rainbow, I'm aware that the Cake twins are an exception to that. But Mr and Mrs Cake at least were aware that they had Pegasi and Unicorn relatives. If Daring has never met or heard of any Pegasi relatives, then it still works." Spitfire explained

"That...actually makes sense." Daring said

"Yeah. But how do we prove it?" Rainbow asked. Daring looked to her.

"Easy. We ask them."
> "Them"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Who?" Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Soarin asked as one. But Rainbow knew who she meant.

"Mom and dad." Rainbow responded

"We should go now, before it gets much later in the day." Daring advised, looking out the window

"They're retired, it won't matter." Rainbow replied

"And they just love to see their daughter." Spitfire teased

"When are you going to get over that incident?" Rainbow muttered

"When you stop getting embarrassed." Spitfire responded. Rainbow took a breath.

"I have three words for you Spitfire: Equestria. Games. Tryouts."

Spitfire stiffened, then looked away, muttering under her breath. Daring was pretty sure she was swearing.

"Fine, I'll shut up. Happy?" Spitfire spat

"Yes. Sorry, I know you don't like being reminded of that." Rainbow said, leaving her bedroom. The others followed her. "Let's go Daring."

"We'll wait here for you two." Fleetfoot said, and Rainbow nodded gratefully.

Daring grabbed her saddlebag, putting her cloak inside it to use in case they needed to walk around out in the open. The two mares left the house, side by side. Rainbow took off and led Daring into the distance.

"Where are we going, exactly?" Daring asked

"To Cloudsdale, where my parents live. It's usually near Canterlot this time of year." Rainbow answered. They flew in silence for a while longer, until Daring spoke.

"Rainbow...what if we really are siblings? What happens then?"

"Then nothing changes, right? We'll still be friends, we'll just...be closer. You'll still get annoyed when I join you and then don't think. I'll still tease you for not being as good a flyer and not knowing how to relax. We'll act the same way we do now, but at least we'll know why we act this way." Rainbow replied.

"I wonder...if we're related, then which one of us is older?"

"Probably you. I give off more of a "little sister" air, don't I?" Rainbow asked, flipping onto her back. Daring giggled, then tried to copy her.

"But...wait, we're both twenty-one, when's your birthday?"

"September 5th." Rainbow replied. Daring's eyes widened. "What?"

"That's my birthday." Daring said, and Rainbow stopped instantly. Daring backtracked in order to stop beside her. "Rainbow...what if neither of us is older?"

"What are you saying? Foals can be different ages and have the same birthday. It's uncommon, but it can happen."

"But we're the same age Rainbow. And by that logic then one of us would have to be a month or two older, but if our birthday is the same day..."

"We need to talk to my parents. Now." Rainbow shot off without another word. Daring caught up with her as they neared the spires of Canterlot.

"Where's Cloudsdale? I don't see it!" Daring called as they flew.

"Around the other side of the mountain." Rainbow replied. They swerved around the mountain's peak and saw the city of clouds.

"Well...let's go." Daring said, taking a breath. She pulled out her cloak and put it on. Rainbow nodded, then flew down to her homeland, Daring following. Rainbow landed on the street, which at this time of day was mostly empty. She led Daring down one of the roads.

"Mom and dad's place is down this way. I take Scootaloo up here to visit them sometimes."

"Why?" Daring asked, voice muffled under the hood on her cloak.

"They like seeing her. Since she's my honorary sister, they treat her like their daughter." Rainbow replied

"So, they treat a filly that's not even biologically related to them as if she were their daughter, and yet if what we think is true, they gave up their own child?" Daring muttered

"Daring, we still aren't sure which one of us they gave up. For all we know, my parents adopted me, and your family is my real one." Rainbow reminded her.

"Either way, somepony's got a lot of explaining to do. Besides, I thought we'd already agreed that since my family has no Pegasi relatives that I know of, your parents must be my parents."

"Well, maybe your dream was wrong, and our real parents gave both of us away. My mom and dad would still know what happened though. Maybe that's the truth, because my parents would never give up their own child." Rainbow hissed

"Are you really so sure about that? In my dream I heard a stallion and a mare talking about giving somepony up to an uncle. My Uncle, Gallant True, looks like me, almost exactly. He's obviously my biological uncle. That means he must be related to one of your parents, and he's who they were talking about." Daring spat. Rainbow stopped suddenly and turned to glare at Daring.

"You take that back, my parents would never do that, and if they did it was probably the best thing!"

"Are you saying I deserved to be taken away?!"

"Of course not, I'm just saying they might have had good intentions!" Rainbow said, putting her head against Daring's.

"Rainbow Dash I swear, if you say anything like that again."

"Well, Daring Do, if you try to say those things about my parents again..."

"You'll what? Sonic Rainboom me?"

"It's not supposed to be a weapon Daring!"

"What have I told you about shouting my name?"

"The street is deserted."

"But the way you're yelling we could draw a crowd." Daring snapped, turning away from Rainbow, heading in the direction they'd come from. "Let's just go-"

"How long have you been standing there?" Rainbow interrupted.

Daring spun back around, her hood flying off as she turned. A Pegasus mare and a stallion were standing in front of them. The stallion had a purple coat, amber eyes, and a rainbow mane. The mare had a short orange mane, magenta eyes, and a blue coat.

"Rainbow, we saw you and wanted to say hi. Who is this..." the stallion trailed off as he noticed Daring's mane, eyes, and coat color. He and the mare both looked like they'd seen a ghost.

"Mom, dad, meet Daring Do."
> Care to Explain?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Daring, these are my parents, Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles." Rainbow introduced, the two's earlier argument forgotten. "Mom, dad, can we talk?" she asked the couple.

"O-of course honey. Come on." Windy turned and led them to a cloud house. Daring pulled the hood back up to avoid being seen. Rainbow walked beside her.

"I'm sorry." They whispered at the same time, and both smiled.

"I shouldn't have accused your parents like that Rainbow. It was wrong."

"Well, I shouldn't have gotten so mad about it, you don't know anything about them. I also probably shouldn't have mentioned Scoot, I should have known you'd be jealous."

"Not jealous...just a little angry." Daring corrected. Rainbow smiled at her again, then led Daring into the house.

"What are you doing here Rainbow?" Bow asked. Rainbow took a breath.

"I just got back from an adventure with Daring, she and I have been on a few before. During this one, we started to notice how similar we both are. We're the same age, have almost the exact same personality, and even look alike. Then Daring had a dream about something from her past, and I was in it." Rainbow began. "We were thinking that maybe you two knew something about it."

Bow and Windy looked at each other, then nodded. Windy stood up and flew out of the room.

"You're right Rainbow, we do know something." Bow sighed. He looked at Daring, who stared right back. "Daring, can you please take off that cloak?"

Daring tugged it off, revealing her olive green outfit. She then reached for her saddlebags and pulled out her pith helmet, placing it over her mane. Bow smiled softly.

"I swear, you're your mother's double." He said softly.

"What? Mom doesn't look anything like her." Rainbow objected. Bow shook his head.

"Windy's not your mother Rainbow." Rainbow's eyes widened.

"No way."

"He's telling the truth Rainbow." Windy responded, coming back with a picture. "I'm not your mother. She is." Windy held out a picture and showed it to them both.

The picture was of Bow Hothoof standing at an alter, gazing into a mare's magenta eyes. She had a orange coat that seemed almost golden. Her mane was gray and black, with just a hint of purple. The mare was wearing a white gown, and standing between the mare and Bow was a priest. They saw too, that next to Bow, was Windy Whistles. She was wearing a emerald green dress with gold lining.

"Who is that? Why does she look like Daring?" Rainbow asked.

"That, is Firefly Dash." Windy replied, smiling down at the picture. "She was Bow's first wife. And your mother."

"Both of us?" Daring asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or is Rainbow your daughter and I'm Firefly's?"

Windy did a double take, blinking.

"Daring, Windy was my best friend when we were foals. That's why she's the best mare in this picture. Firefly is the mother of both of you, yes." Bow answered. Daring cocked her head.

"Then what happened to her? And why didn't Rainbow know who she was?"

Bow sighed and took the picture from Windy.

"Your mother was very determined. She was a descendant of General Firefly, and lived up to it, too. She was a Wonderbolt, just like Rainbow. I imagine that's where Rainbow got the talent. But your mother was the Captain of the team, unlike Rainbow. I'm sure by now, you've realized how you two are related."

"Fraternal twins." Daring replied immediately. "It's the only way we can be the same age, have the same birthday, and be so alike but look so different."

"Wait, what does fraternal mean?" Rainbow asked, and Daring sighed.

"It's another way to say twins that don't look alike."

"Got it. Sorry to interrupt dad."

"It's alright Rainbow. Now listen."

Bow continued his story, looking down at the framed picture instead of the girls.

"After Firefly gave birth to you, she returned to Wonderbolt training, the second you two could survive without her. Firefly was devoted to her team, but she was also devoted to her foals. She made time for you, no matter what. I remember one time she even brought you to practice with her. As I recall, Rainbow enjoyed the trip more than Daring." he looked up at them and smiled for a brief moment.

"So what happened?" Rainbow asked

"Firefly had never been the type of pony to admit something was wrong. You were about two when she got sick. I had no idea anything was wrong until a Wonderbolt came to the house to tell me Firefly had collapsed during practice. She was alright, but replaced by her Co-Captain so she could recover. Firefly took the time she was cooped up in the house to spend time with you both. She was around to hear your first words, watch you take your first flight, and more."

"But in the picture of me taking my first flight, mom-er-Windy, is in the photo." Rainbow said, stumbling over what to call the mare.

"Firefly was getting weak, she could hardly keep up with you two. I would often tag along with her and Bow when they took you two out, to keep an eye on you. The picture of your first flight was taken by Firefly, while I handled you." Windy explained.

"Firefly grew weaker until one day...she just stopped breathing." Bow continued. "Windy moved in here to help me care for you. After a while, it became something more."

"After you gave me up. That's what the dream was about. You were talking to each other about giving one of us up." Daring said.

"Yes, we were discussing taking you to your Uncle. I didn't know if Windy would stay with me if she was forced to take care of foals that weren't her own. Windy didn't know my intentions, of course, to make her stay. But either way, one of you had to go, I couldn't raise two foals, even with Windy's help.  Gallant True is Firefly's brother, and we knew we could trust him. I took you down while Windy distracted Rainbow. He said he knew some ponies that would take good care of you. Did they?"

"Sort of. After I got my cutie mark they only really cared about the bits I brought back." Daring replied.

"I wouldn't have given you up if I'd known-"

"It's okay. Even Gallant doesn't know they did that. I'm an adult now, they only wanted my bits when I was young." Daring explained.

"Are-are you two okay with knowing this? I know I'm not your real mother, but...would you forgive us?" Windy asked them.
> Our Choice
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring and Rainbow looked at each other, then back at their father and stepmother.

"I think we still need some time to take it all in." Daring said.

"I understand." Bow looked between his daughters sadly.

"Come on Rainbow, we should head back." Daring said, turning away from them and pulling on her cloak.

"Okay..."

Rainbow followed her, but then stopped. She turned back to them.

"But um...who's the older twin?"

Daring pricked her ears, eager to hear it as well. Of course, Rainbow was probably right, Daring was far too bossy to not be the older sibling.

"Well..." Bow smiled. He glanced at Windy, who grinned.

"You are Rainbow. Your mother used to laugh and laugh over the fact that Daring acted like the older, wiser twin. Even when you were babies Daring seemed to take charge of any mischief you got yourselves into."

"I guess I was wrong. Not the first time." Rainbow shrugged. Daring laughed softly before pulling up her hood and leading Rainbow out of the room.





"What now Daring?" Rainbow asked as they flew off.

"We go home Rainbow."

"Home...?"

"You to yours, me to mine." Daring explained. Rainbow bit her lip.

"But...I want to get to know my sister." Rainbow whimpered.

Daring stopped and pulled Rainbow by her hoof so they hovered in midair. Daring smiled softly at Rainbow.

"Rainbow, you already know me. I'll be with you, and you'll be with me. We're connected, by more than just blood."

"The sphere?" Rainbow asked, to be sure.

"Yeah. Anytime you need me, just use our...twintuition." Daring said, cracking a smile.

"Same to you."

Rainbow threw her hooves around Daring in a hug, and Daring hugged back immediately. The two embraced each other as sisters, then let go. Daring and Rainbow smiled at each other.

"It's a straight shot to my home from here."

"What about the sphere?"

"You helped me so much to find it. And as my sister, it's time you had the chance to turn an object over to a museum."

"Thank you." Rainbow smiled

"No problem. Princess Twilight should be able to help you if you have any questions."

"Yeah..."

"What's wrong?"

"I guess this is goodbye." Rainbow sighed.

"My uncle taught me, that we don't say goodbye." Daring said.

"What do you say?" Rainbow asked.

"We say: donec iterum. It means: until next time." Daring smiled. "It's the only phrase in Old Ponish that I know."

Rainbow laughed, then Daring hugged her once more, then turned. She flew off, turning to wave once more. Rainbow waved back, letting a tear fall.

"Donec iterum, sister."





Rainbow fell onto her couch with a sigh, and a groan came from the stallion next to her.

"Dashie I know you're excited but you nearly sat on me." Soarin whined, and Rainbow shifted, laughing.

"Sorry Soarie, I just can't wait to open it!" Rainbow held a paper-covered package in her front hooves.

"Then what are you waiting for? Open it!" Fleetfoot took a seat next to Soarin, Spitfire beside her.

"Yeah, now where were we?" Spitfire asked, gazing at the package.

"Well, you two were sitting over there, and it was a lot less squished." Soarin said dryly.

"Can it, Pie Boy." Spitfire shot back, as Fleetfoot leaned over him.

"Fleet!" Soarin yelped.

"What? I'm gay."

"But I'm not! Get off!" Soarin pushed Fleetfoot so she slipped from where she was perched on his lap. Spitfire glared at Soarin, who gulped and shrank into Rainbow for protection.

"Soarin!"

"W-well, what about Fleetfoot? Don't you care about your marefriend?" Soarin asked, and Spitfire turned red.

"She's not my marefriend!"

"Then why are you blushing?"

"U-uh...n-no homo?" Spitfire stammered.

"All three of you quit it!" Rainbow, waved her wing for silence and her magic from the sphere made it glow blue temporarily.

The group of friends fell silent and watched quietly. Rainbow ripped off the paper and gazed down at the book. The cover read:

Daring Do and the Scroll of Genealogy

The cover showed a long scroll of paper winding from the top to the bottom. Daring's magenta eyes were faded as though they were looking through the scroll at them. Another pair, slightly off-centered from Daring's, also gazed out at the reader. There was the barest shadow of a rainbow tint to a grayscale rainbow that looped over the title.

"Wow." Spitfire breathed.

"Scroll of Genealogy?" Soarin asked.

Rainbow flipped open the book to the first few pages and scanned it.

"Guys, look." Rainbow then read it aloud. "Rain Bolt spun on her hooves, coming face to face with Daring Do. She gave her a signature cocky grin and hugged her longtime friend..." Rainbow looked up at them.

"She revealed you...without revealing you? My head hurtth jutht thinking about it." Fleetfoot murmured.

"I'll have to thank her. After all, she was brave just to put this out."

"That was really nice of her." Spitfire said.

"Yeah."

"Have you two decided what you're going to tell your parents?" Soarin asked.

"Daring mentioned in her last letter that she knows avoiding them won't help. We've been thinking about trying to build up the trust they lost."

"Sounds reasonable." Spitfire remarked.

"Still, I wish it wasn't even necessary. You know, that they hadn't given Daring up in the first place." Rainbow said, as Fleetfoot took the book, and noticed something.

"Guyth, look in the acknowledgementth."

The other three stopped talking and looked over to where Fleetfoot had the book open. Rainbow took it from her and read the page.

To the one pony who never stopped believing in me and stuck by my side. She is a true sister and friend. This book is dedicated to the fastest Pegasus in Equestria, my spirit sister: Rainbow Dash.

"Spirit sister?" Spitfire asked.

"Somepony who is like your sister though they aren't related to you. I bet Daring is trying to stop ponies from connecting the dots between your name and the name she wrote in the story." Soarin said, putting his forelegs around Rainbow's body and laying his head on her shoulder.

"Yeah." Rainbow smiled, blushing slightly. "But nopony will anyway."

"Why not?" Spitfire asked.

"Because she didn't use my real name, and she knows it."

"How does she know? Also, Rainbow Dash isn't your real name?" Soarin asked, surprised.

"She knows because she mentioned that she looked up my address to find where I lived. That means she would have found out about my name, because my house is listed under my real name." Rainbow explained.

"So then what's your real name?" Spitfire asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it's really just my full name."

"Rainbow Dash isn't your full name?" Soarin asked.

"Nope. It's a shortened version my...'mom' came up with for me."

"Tho what ith it?!" Fleetfoot demanded. Rainbow grinned.

"It's...."