The Cutie Mark Crusaders and the Architect's Birthstone

by MyHobby

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Rumble, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Pipsqueak, Twist, Dinky Hooves
Length: 8288

When the Cutie Mark Crusaders read the latest Daring Do novel, their imaginations go wild at the possibility of an adventuring cutie mark.

When the Cutie Mark Crusaders read the latest Daring Do novel, their imaginations go wild at the possibility of a treasure hunting cutie mark. With the right equipment, know-how, and directions, they're sure to make their way through the Everfree Forest unscathed. At least, that's the plan.

Adventure awaits the fillies, and they will not go forth alone. They'll need all the help they can get to find the one artifact that Daring Do could never get her hooves on: the Architect's Birthstone!

Published 2013-05-15 04:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-21 23:38:47 UTC

Daring Do and the Architect's Birthstone

Daring Do and the Architect's Birthstone

Daring Do clamped her mouth down on the rope as she dangled above a gaping precipice. She had managed to grasp the rope just before the bridge fell out from under her. The tattered remains of the rope bridge hung limply on the other side of the chasm, much like her injured wing flopped painfully against her flank.

Sweat poured down her neck as she stared up the rope to the ledge above her, her lifeline wrapped precariously around a wooden stake. She looped her end of the rope around one mustard-colored hoof and pulled tight. Using the new-found leverage, Daring Do slid her teeth along the rope, getting a little higher up the sheer rock wall. Switching between her hoof and her mouth, she inched upwards.

She sighed with relief as her hoof reached the top of the chasm. She pulled herself up with her strong legs until she reached safety. Taking a moment to push her sweat-soaked grayscale hair out of her eyes, she set forth towards the ruins that awaited her.

The Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters loomed before her, dark, gray, and foreboding. She raised a hoof to her pith helmet as she entered the front entrance, casting her gaze around for any traps. Loose stones clattered underneath her hooves, and cobwebs stuck to her tail like ghostly specters. Brave though she was, a chill ran down her spine as she stepped into a large chamber, tattered by time and nature. A pedestal lifted five round stones aloft in the center of the room.

Daring Do trotted past the pedestal, looking for the small door described on her map. She found a discolored stone in the wall, sitting on the far side of the room. She pushed it in until it clicked, and a portion of the wall fell away. She ducked into the new portal quickly, casting one final glance at the decrepit room behind her.

The tunnel was narrow and low, barely enough room for the full-grown pegasus mare to fit. Years of training and dozens of adventures kept her from feeling claustrophobic, though mild panic set in every time she got stuck. She wiggled herself loose every time her progress was halted, and she proceeded fairly quickly down the rabbit hole.

The tunnel ended in a dead end, or so it seemed. Daring produced a small trinket out of her shirt pocket. It was shaped like a key, and crafted from iron. She brushed a cobweb away, revealing a subtle indent in the middle of the wall. The adventurer placed the key against the indent and gave it a soft whack. The wall swung open, and Daring Do leapt through.

Inside the new chamber stood a shining, priceless jewel: The Architect’s Birthstone.

Daring Do approached the gem slowly, circling from every angle. Finding no tripwires, axes, or other implements of anti-adventurer technology, she grasped the sizable trinket and stuffed it into a satchel on her back.

Wicked laughter filled the tunnel, laughter that could only belong to the most devious, nefarious, downright dirty villain in the history of Equestria. “Ahuizotl!” Daring shouted. “How did you find me?”

A lithe, catlike body appeared out of the gloom. Ahuizotl’s blue fur rippled with glee as he faced down his mortal foe. “Daring Do! You should know by now that I never do any work that I don’t have to!”

His long, toothy face drew close to the pegasus, and his foul breath activated her gag reflex. “I followed you all this way.”

His tail snaked around, a small hand-like appendage attached near the end. He grasped the Birthstone and removed it from her satchel. “What once vas yours is now mine, again. Haaa heh heh heh!”

His screeching laughter was accompanied by several large jungle cats pouring into the room, as well as one small tabby. They surrounded Daring, their claws inches from shredding her face. She gulped as she was backed into a wall. “You’d better be careful, Ahuizotl…”

He grinned as he admired The Architect’s Birthstone. “And vhy is that, Daring Dooo?”

She produced a stick of dynamite from her pocket. “Because if you don’t let me go, I’ll blow us all sky high!”

Everyone’s attention was on Daring Do and her explosive. Just to prove that she wasn’t kidding, she lit a match and held it up next to the dynamite. Ahuizotl’s mouth fell open. “You would destroy a historic monument like this palace? Vhat kind of archeologist are you!?”

Daring Do grinned as her match lit the wick. “I’m not an archeologist, I’m a treasure hunter!”

The room filled with hissing light as Daring tossed the bomb towards the back of the antechamber. Ahuizotl’s minions flew through the tunnel, leaving their commander alone. He smashed a paw down in an attempt to crush Daring, but she dodged to the side. She raced around and netted the jewel with her satchel, dragging it out of the villain’s grip. He towered over her, claws outstretched to snuff out her life for good.

Then the dynamite went off.

The explosion threw Ahuizotl and Daring Do against the wall. Rocks fell and the earth shook as the floor crumbled beneath them. The catlike creep screamed in terror as he lost his footing and tumbled down into darkness, a large chunk of the roof following after him.

Daring Do got a foothold on the edge of the tunnel as the ground fell away. The satchel caught on a rocky outcropping, fighting Daring’s every attempt to pull it free. Looking around at the crumbling castle, she decided that her life was more important than the untold riches promised by the giant jewel.

Daring let the satchel fall into the abyss and scrambled up the tunnel. She reached the large room just as the narrow portal collapsed behind her. The entire palace tilted on its side as she raced for the Everfree Forest, and freedom. Boulders smashed down as she ran, pebbles flew and struck her face, and the loose stones caused her to stumble.

She yelled as she launched herself out of the front door, just as the palace fell into the earth behind her. She lay motionless until the ground stopped rocking, her heart beating a thudding tattoo in her chest.

When the forest fell silent, she looked over the destruction that she had caused. She breathed a sigh of relief, while glumly cursing her bad luck. “Drat! That was gonna be the big one! I woulda been set for life!”

Daring Do grumped as she sat backwards on a chair. “I had it, Heavy! I had it in my hoof!”

Heavy Tomes sighed as he scribbled notes in his book. “I told you the Dynamite was a bad idea, but you never listen.”

She stuck her tongue out at her friend. “Yeah, whadda you know?”

Heavy slapped his book shut and turned to Daring. “I know that you could use a night on the town. What do you say we get a drink?”

Daring Do lowered her head and said nothing, but Heavy ducked down to grin at her. “You know, a drink?”

Daring shook her head, but couldn’t help smiling back as Heavy Tomes led her out of his office and out into the town.

“That was awesome!”

Scootaloo leaped into the air, wings buzzing as she slowly fell back to the ground. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle matched her excitement with a hoof bump.

Apple Bloom pumped her foreleg up and down as she laughed. “That was fan-tastic when she tossed that stick ah dynamite at those darned cats!”

“It was so sweet for Heavy Tomes to take her out,” Sweetie cooed. “Do you think they’ll get married, now?”

“Yuck! No way,” Scootaloo gagged. “He just buys treasure from her; he doesn’t need to be her… Sweetie-Pie Smoopy Do.”

Sweetie pouted out her lower lip. “Well, I think it’s sweet.”

Apple Bloom carried the book, Daring Do and the Architect’s Birthstone, across the library to Twilight Sparkle. The librarian smiled as she approached. “Hello Apple Bloom, did you and the girls enjoy the book?”

“An’ how!” she answered. “It was the best yet!”

Twilight chuckled as she shelved the book. “I’ve always thought that the first was the best, but this one was pretty great.” She threw a sly smile Apple Bloom’s way. “Unlike how the book ended, the palace is still standing pretty firmly.”

Apple Bloom tilted her head to the side. “Wait, the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters really exists?”

“Oh yes,” Twilight nodded. “That’s where we found the Elements of Harmony.

“Most of the Daring Do novels take place in real locations, and all of her treasures are based on real life myths and legends.” She began writing a checklist as she talked. “The Griffon’s Goblet, for example, belonged to the griffon king in ancient times.”

She tapped her quill against her cheek, accidently leaving a black mark on her face. “Though… it probably didn’t have the power to control the world’s weather...”

“C’mon Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo called from the doorway. “We’re gonna miss half-off ice cream if we take too long!”

The apple sibling’s eyes grew wide. “Uh, see you later, Twilight, thanks!”

Sweetie and Apple Bloom climbed into a red wagon, connected with a rope to Scootaloo’s scooter. The vehicle had been affectionately dubbed “the Scootsmobile,” and the rattle of its wheels had become synonymous with the three fillies’ mishaps. The Scootsmobile served as an escape vehicle more often than not, when their efforts to earn a cutie mark grew out of control.

Apple Bloom buckled her helmet securely, settling down behind Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo turned to them with a grin. “You guys ready for this?”

With an affirming nod from her friends, Scootaloo’s wings began flapping hard. The cart moved slowly at first, but moved quicker as momentum kicked in. Ponies dodged for cover as they rolled past, though Scootaloo was careful to keep to the center of the road. “Looks like our reputation precedes us again.”

They rolled to a stop in front of Sugarcube Corner. Sweetie Belle read the sign sitting out front. “’Ice cream half-off all afternoon…’ Looks like we made it!” The three of them cheered as they disembarked the Scootsmobile.

They trotted into the bakery and were met by the sight of a swarm of colts and fillies waiting in line for their sweet treats. Lifting their heads, they could see Pinkie Pie filling out orders behind the counter. “Rocky Road Rumble!” Ice cream flew through the air as she flipped the dessert into cones. “Peppermint Twist!” The line moved fast, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were soon enjoying their favorite flavors. “And one Neapolitan!”

A group of their classmates were sitting together at a table. One pegasus colt waved them over. “Sweetie! Scoots! Bloom! Over here!”

“Hey, Rumble.” Scootaloo took a seat beside the colt. “’Sup?”

“Ith cream’th up!” A red-maned filly, Twist, sat across from the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “I got my favorite, Peppermint Twitht.”

A skewbald colt sat next to a purple unicorn filly. “Chocolate, matey. Pure an’ simple. Wot do you have, Dinky?”

The unicorn looked down at her treat hungrily. “Vanilla, it’s got blueberries mixed right in. Try some, Pipsqueak!”

“No thanks,” Pipsqueak declined hastily, cheeks blushing. “I’m fine.” He turned to the new arrivals. “So where have you lot been all day? Haven’t seen you around much.”

Apple Bloom grinned. “Reading a new Daring Do book, The Architect’s Birthstone.”

Rumble took a lick of his ice cream. “That’s a good one.”

Twist nodded. “I like how Heavy finally taketh her out.”

Sweetie nudged her with an elbow. “I know, right?”

Pipsqueak looked back and forth between the other foals. “Wot? Am I the only one who hasn’t read that one yet?”

“I haven’t,” Dinky shook her head. “What’s the Architect’s Birthstone?”

“It’s this big, ginormous gemstone,” Scootaloo replied. “It was supposedly used as the capstone for some princess’s palace.”

“Not the capstone, Scoots,” Rumble corrected. “The cornerstone, the first one that was laid.”

“Oh.” Scootaloo examined her ice cream for a moment. “Then what’s a capstone?”

“Oh, I know this one!” The entire table looked to Dinky, who proceeded to shrink down bashfully. “Er, it’s, um, it’s the highest stone on the building. It’s sometimes the last stone that’s laid.”

“Hmm,” Pipsqueak mused. “Wot was the palace?”

“Th’ Palace of th' Royal Pony Sisters,” Apple Bloom replied. “It’s that one in th’ Everfree Forest. What’s left of it, anyhow.”

“Hey, thath the one where your thister got the Elemenths of Harmony, right?” Twist giggled. “Talk about a thmall world.”

“Hay, that’s right!” Sweetie squeaked. “I’ll bet Rarity’s been on more adventures than Daring Do ever did, and they’re all real.”

“I should ask Applejack more about her adventures,” Apple Bloom smiled. “I think we could get a real great series of books just writin’ down her stories.”

“Blimey, I can see it now!” Pipsqueak held out a hoof. “The next bestseller: The Elements of Harmony: Friendship is Magic!”

“Pip,” Dinky whispered. “You told my mom you wouldn’t use that word anymore.”

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

Scootaloo finished off her cone with relish. “Now that hit the spot, what do you guys think?”

She was answered with a chorus of “yeps,” “uh huhs,” and “ayes.” Apple Bloom stood, followed by Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Saying their goodbyes, they exited the bakery and started towards Sweet Apple Acres.

The orchard played home to the Cutie Mark Crusader Headquarters, a tree house sitting in a stocky apple tree. Scootaloo parked the Scootsmobile outside the entrance while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle trotted up the steps to the door. When the pegasus joined her friends, they were already deep into the process of brainstorming.

“We could try fer a construction cutie mark, Fluttershy’s chicken coop needs repairs.”

“I already tried building the sets for our show, that didn’t work out very well.”

“I guess a singin’ cutie mark is outta the question then?”

“You can say that again.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes as she cantered over. “I think I busted some eardrums last time.”

“Yer singin’ ain’t that bad,” Apple Bloom reassured her friend. “You just need a little… practice is all.”

“Practice?” Scootaloo asked. “You know what the definition of insanity is?”

When Apple Bloom shook her head, Scootaloo gestured to Sweetie Belle. The unicorn sighed as she answered. “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” She was quick to amend, “But practice is about getting better every day. Like with my magic, and your flying.”

“Fine,” Scootaloo sighed as she sat. “You practice singing; I’ll be doing wing exercises.”

“How ‘bout somethin’ else then?” Apple Bloom crossed several lines of text off of the brainstorming page. “Somethin’ like… Oh, saaay!”

Sweetie and Scootaloo raised an eyebrow in concert. “What?”

“What if, just hear me out…” Apple Bloom’s grin went from one ear to the other. “What if we got cutie marks in adventurin’?”

Scootaloo’s smile slowly grew to match her friend’s, but Sweetie Belle was unsure. “I don’t know, Apple Bloom. I promised mom and dad that I wouldn’t do anything dangerous.”

“No, no, I like where this is going,” Scootaloo interrupted. “Nopony says it has to be dangerous.”

“But isn’t that what an adventure is?” Sweetie squeaked. “Boldly going where no pony has gone before? Isn’t that bound to be a little dangerous?”

“Depends on what we do, where we go,” Apple Bloom’s pencil scratched against paper as she scribbled furiously. “Maybe we should try to be a specific type of adventurer, like Darin’ Do.”

“Cutie Mark Crusader Treasure Hunters?” Scootaloo hovered in the air as the possibilities filled her mind. “The daring Scootaloo, and her sidekicks Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, on a world-spanning, epic adventure!”

“I am not gonna be a sidekick,” Apple Bloom groaned. “C’mon, let’s think about this fer real. We gotta figure out what we’re lookin’ for.”

“Wait, did we just decide this?” Sweetie looked askance. “Tell me we didn’t just decide this.”

“Don’t worry Sweetie,” Scootaloo said as she hugged the unicorn. “We’ll find something local to explore. We can’t just go trekking through the crystal caves under Canterlot.”

“And we can’t go into the Everfree Forest, right?” Sweetie bit her lower lip. “Remember what happened last time?”

“I wouldn’t worry none ‘bout that, Sweetie.” Apple Bloom dotted an “I” as she finished writing. “If we go back in there, we’ll be better prepared.”

“Back in? Hold on-”

Sweetie’s comment was interrupted by Scootaloo once again. “Come on, the cockatrice thing was months ago, we’re older and wiser now.”

Sweetie stuck her tongue out. “Wise enough to stay away?”

“Not hardly.” Apple Bloom presented the list to her friends. “I got it! We gotta find all the information we can get about The Architect’s Birthstone, that's nice an' local.”

Scootaloo read over the list. “And find out how to get to the Royal Pony Sister’s Palace, find out the right foods to eat, find the right equipment…”

“And find the minds you two lost!” Sweetie leapt between her friends and pushed them apart. “Listen to yourselves, you’re actually going into the Everfree. To get a cutie mark. In the Everfree.”

“Sounds about right,” Scootaloo nodded. “But add a dash of adventure and treasure hunting.”

“You know what our parents will say,” Sweetie cautioned. “And what your brother and sister will say, Apple Bloom.”

“Don’t have to tell ‘em.” Apple Bloom trotted over to the back of the tree house to grab scissors. She cut the list into three pieces and gave each crusader a piece. “At least, we don’t have to tell ‘em everythin’.”

“Yikes, dishonesty, peer pressure…” Sweetie took the list and glared at it. “You two are acting like the set up for a bad Saturday morning cartoon.”

Apple Bloom stopped short of putting the scissors away. “Aw gee, Sweetie Belle, you’re right.”

Scootaloo sat down hard. “We’re kinda being a little stupid, aren’t we?”

“That’s right!” Sweetie exclaimed. “You should be ashamed of yourselves! If our siblings could hear us now, they’d be-”

“Sweetie Belle, dear!” A voice called from outside the tree house. “It’s time to go home, now!”

Sweetie gasped. “That’s Rarity!” She ran out the door to meet her sister. “See you guys at school tomorrow.”

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo waved goodbye from the house’s window. “Later, Sweetie!”

The two fillies knelt down beside the checklist, grins returning in an instant.

“We can find out about the birthstone from Twilight’s library…”

“I can ask Rainbow Dash to tell me where the palace is…”

They plotted late into the day, splitting duties and deciding where to get the equipment and information they needed. Applejack was the next pony to call her sister home. “Best get tah bed afore much longer, Apple Bloom, you got school tomorrow!”

Apple Bloom nodded and skipped out of the tree house. Applejack raised an eyebrow at her sister. “You look mighty happy, what’s got you so smiley?”

“Oh, just a surefire way to earn my cutie mark,” she replied.

Applejack frowned, but decided to play along. “Really, now? What’s this ‘surefire way?’”

“You’ll find out,” Apple Bloom teased.

“I’d better,” Applejack said. “Or you’ll be in a world of trouble if’n it gets outta hoof.”

Apple Bloom fell silent, and her older sister sighed. “I’m just worried about you, is all. I don’t want you tah get hurt.”

“I’ll be careful, Applejack, I promise.”

“Pinkie Pie Promise?” Applejack rubbed her sister’s hair.

“Cross mah heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Apple Bloom went through the motions, sincerely hoping to avoid danger of the bone-breaking, life-threatening variety.

Hoping. Really.

Scootaloo sped home on her trusty scooter, leaving the wagon safely parked at the tree house. She waved to her mom in the garden as she trotted into the house to grab a bite to eat. She peeled a banana and went over her portion of the list. “Map, directions, equipment… Hmm.”

“Heya, chickarino, I’m home!” Her father walked into the kitchen, holding his forelegs open to receive a hug from Scootaloo.

“Daddy!” She ran into his waiting arms. “You’re home!”

“How are you doing, Scootaloo?” he asked. “Any more progress on that cutie mark?”

She glumly examined her rump. “No sign of one yet, but I’m not giving up!”

“That’s my girl,” he laughed, chucking her chin. “I found some new flying exercises for you to try out, they look pretty intense…”

“Gimme!” She leapt up on his back and dug through his saddlebags. One book lay separate from his usual collection of tools. “‘Updrafts and How to Ride Them?’”

“Ah, that one’s for later.” He held the book up to the light. “Rainbow Dash recommended it for when you can hold your hover for a little longer.”

“Sweet.” She continued digging until she uncovered two pamphlets. “Here they are!”

He chuckled as her face lit up. “I think you’ll get really strong practicing these.” He knelt down and touched her forehead with his horn. “I love you, chicky.”

She nuzzled him in return. “I love you, too, daddy.”

As night fell, and Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom were tucked into bed, plans were formed. Two of them chuckled in their sleep as they imagined the adventures that awaited them in the Everfree; while one hoped, rather morosely, that her friends weren’t planning on doing anything stupid.

“Hey, Pipsqueak!”

The earth pony colt looked over to where the voice had come from. “Oh, hey Scootaloo. Wot’s up?”

The orange pegasus filly grinned as she matched the colt’s pace. “Not much, I was just wondering if you had a map of the area I could borrow.”

He shrugged. “Sure, wot for?”

“Uh,” Scootaloo thought hard. “Just a side-project for school, it’s about the Everfree.”

Pipsqueak squinted at her. “Why do you need me for the map? You could get one at Maps and Coffee Mugs.”

“Well, you’re real good at directions,” she replied. “I was hoping you could help me find a specific spot based on somepony’s directions.”

“I don’t see why not,” he walked off a bit faster. “See you after school!”

“Sounds good!”

“Hay, Twist!”

The red-maned candy maker turned at the sound of her name. “Oh hay, Apple Bloom! What bringth you here tho early?”

Apple Bloom trotted up and motioned for Twist to come closer. Twist complied, and Bloom whispered in her ear. “You know about any high-energy food, like the kind mountain climbers eat while they’re climbin’?”

“Yeah,” Twist nodded. “Why are we whithpering?”

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to reply, but her mind went blank. “Huh. No reason, I guess.”

Sweetie Belle walked into the library with saddlebags overflowing with school supplies. She glanced at the clock; there were still a few minutes before she had to be at school. “Miss Twilight? Are you here?”

“Not today,” came the reply. A pudgy baby dragon waddled into view. “She’s in Canterlot for some magic business. Whadda yah need, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie frowned. “Have Apple Bloom or Scootaloo come in and asked any… odd questions today, Spike?”

Spike shrugged. “Nope, and that’s the weirdest question I’ve been asked all day.”

“Ah huh.” Sweetie turned to leave, but stopped herself. “Hay, do you have any books on The Architect's Birthstone?”

“Probably a couple.” He walked over to the historical section of the library. “What do you need them for?”

“Oh, I just finished reading Daring Do and The Architect’s Birthstone.” She smiled sweetly. “I wanted to compare notes.”

“Tell you what,” Spike said as he pulled a ladder over to the shelf. “I’ll look for the books while you’re at school, and you can come by later today to pick them up.”

Sweetie Belle chewed at her bottom lip. “That sounds… great, Spike. See you later.”

“Later.”

Sweetie ran towards the schoolhouse as the first bell of the morning rang out. It was going to be an adventure in itself to keep her friends out of trouble.

Author's Note

Indiana Jones references notwithstanding... What do you think?

Preliminary titles for this story included, but were not limited to: The Cutie Mark Crusader's Last Crusade, The Cutie Mark Crusaders and the Search for The Architect's Birthstone, and The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Equestria's Birthstone.

You're free to be wrong if you think one of those is better. :pinkiehappy:

The CMC and the Interrupted Camping Trip

The CMC and the Interrupted Camping Trip

“And that, students,” Miss Cheerilee finished. “Is the story of how Promise the Colorful created the first rainbow.”

The bell rang, signifying the end of the school day. Students began to file out even as Cheerilee shouted homework instructions. “I want a full page on the effects of the rainbow on modern weather care handed in by Wednesday! Spelling counts!”

Scootaloo’s pencil scratched as she walked. She held her notebook in place with one wing, barely holding it steady enough for legible writing. If I can get this done now, she thought, I’ll have the whole week to work on the adventure!

She was already fairly familiar with how rainbows worked; she had her idol to thank for that. Maybe I can include a quote from Rainbow Dash in it, I’ll be sure to get an “A!”

She glanced up as Sweetie Belle ran past, eyes downcast. The unicorn filly moved quickly for the exit, and was gone before Scootaloo could get her attention. I hope Sweetie isn’t still sore from last night.

Apple Bloom passed next, saluting as she exited the schoolhouse. Scootaloo saluted in return, then left through the doorway herself. She ran straight for the near side of downtown Ponyville, to the semi-permanent address of Rainbow Dash’s cloud house.

Said home floated two stories above the ground. It was, as the name suggested, crafted entirely out of clouds that were fashioned into familiar shapes by pegasus magic. Rainbow Dash told her that she made it herself, all the way back to the basic designs. The weather-crafted building was a labor of love, and evidence of the pegasus mare’s lifestyle; stable and loyal, yet ready to move in an instant.

“Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo called out. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!”

Sounds of scuffling, and at least one plate breaking, filtered out of the house. “Shucks!” Rainbow swore before she could catch herself. “I-I mean, shakes. Yeah, shakes.”

The mare’s rainbow-maned head poked out from the edge of her cloud house. She caught sight of the orange filly almost immediately. “Oh, hey Squirt. What’s up?”

“I’m doing a school project on the Everfree,” Scootaloo lied. “And I was just wondering if you had any stories about it?”

“Do I ever!” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Just a sec, Scootaloo, I’ll be down in a minute.”

After a moment of listening to glass being swept away, Scootaloo saw Rainbow Dash leap out of the cloud house. She grinned as the older mare preformed a loop-de-loop before setting down on the grass. “Awesome…”

Rainbow Dash sat, thrusting her chest out proudly. “Now, what sort of spectacular, radical, and/or epic adventure do you wanna hear about?”

“Just one, really,” Scootaloo said, producing a fresh page of paper. “That first adventure into the Everfree, the one where you fought Nightmare Moon!”

“Ooh, fan of the classics, huh?” Rainbow grinned. “It all started one Summer Sun Celebration a couple years ago…”

Apple Bloom stotted up to Twist’s family’s candy shop, a few doors down from the famous Sugarcube Corner. The reason for the spring in her step had as much to do with her upcoming adventure as the sweet, succulent fumes flowing from the shop’s ovens. Her mouth watered as she opened the door of the Bon Bon, and the sight of millions of candies came into view.

“Good aftahnoon,” the shop’s proprietor spoke in a nasally New Jockey accent. “Welcome tah da Bon Bon, can I help yah, hun?”

“Hey, is Twist back from school, yet?” Apple Bloom asked. “I was gonna talk with her ‘bout somethin’, an’ missed her.”

“She’s in her room, dearest.” The shop owner’s voice had switched to a proper Trottingham style. “No doubt working on her homework.”

“Thanks a bunch!”

Apple Bloom ran to the back of the shop and up a flight of stairs. Twist was in her room, as promised, though she wasn’t working on her homework. “Hi Apple Bloom, I got that litht for yah!”

“”Bout the food?” Apple Bloom asked, examining the list.

“Yup. Ith not everything,” Twist said. “But ith a thtart.”

She squinted at Apple Bloom through her glasses. “Tho, what’th thith all about?”

Apple Bloom shrugged. “Whadda yah mean?”

“All thith…” Twist glanced to the left and right, only continuing once she was certain that they were alone. “Thecret thtuff.”

“I ain’t got nothin’ tah hide!” Apple Bloom would have felt her pants catching in fire, had she been wearing any. “It’s just this little project I’m workin’ on with Scootaloo an' Sweetie Belle.”

“If you don’t have anything to hide,” Twist grinned. “Then what’th with all the thecreth?”
“Look, if I tell yah, do you promise not tah tell?”

At Twist’s emphatic nod, Apple Bloom leaned in close. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders are gonna try for an adventurin’ cutie mark.”

“Really!?” Twist exclaimed a little too loudly. “Thweet!”

“Hush!” Apple Bloom glanced at the bedroom’s door, almost expecting a hoard of parents to burst through for a scolding. “We don’t want just anypony knowin’ about it, on account of us goin’ into the Everfree Forest.”

“The Everfree!?” Twist’s glasses slid down her nose in shock. “But that’th dangerouth in there!”

“I said hush!” Apple Bloom planted a hoof in her friend’s mouth. “We know it’s dangerous, that’s why we’re preparin’ for it.”

Twist eyes narrowed in thought. After a moment, she pulled away from Apple Bloom. “Ath long ath you’re sure it’th safe…”

“Sure it is,” Apple Bloom grinned. “We got a whole list full of equipment an’ knowledge!”

She adjusted her giant bow, nodding all the while. “Sure, it’ll be a walk in th’ park…”

“And then, out of absolutely nowhere, a gigantic river serpent splashed out of the raging river!”

Scootaloo wrote furiously as Rainbow Dash related her tale. She had heard the story a million times, but she had never realized all of the dangerous stuff that happened in the Everfree. Routinely. Manticores, bottomless chasms, flesh-gnawing trees, poison joke, it was a madhouse of flora and fauna.

I wonder where I can get some tranquilizer darts on the cheap? she wondered. Maybe a magic missile launcher or two…

She glanced down at the list that Apple Bloom had made as Rainbow Dash went on. I’m gonna need better equipment than a couple of bungee cords if we wanna get through the forest in one piece.

“You wanna know what they said? They said they needed the best flyer in all of Equestria!” Rainbow Dash giggled at the memory. “That meant me, naturally.”

So what do I got? Scootaloo went over the checklist she had put together based on Rainbow’s story. Crumbled cliff, manticore nest, evil trees… Wait, were the trees before or after the river?

“You okay, Squirt? You look kinda lost.”

Scootaloo looked up and realized that she had been frowning deeply. “Oh, oh sorry, Rainbow Dash. I just need to make sure my notes are…” She thought for a second. “Noteworthy?”

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo shared a locked gaze as the elder attempted to guess the younger’s intentions. Dash was about to speak when the two were interrupted by a third party.

“There you are, Scootaloo!” A skewbald colt ran up to the two girls. “I brought that map you wanted!”

“Map, huh?” Rainbow Dash asked as she eyed Scootaloo. “What’s the map of?”

“The Everfree Forest,” Pipsqueak replied. “Scootaloo wanted me to help her find a location on the map.” He glanced at Scootaloo’s notes and smiled. “So you’re getting directions from Rainbow Dash? Fantastic!”

“Directions, huh?” Rainbow Dash’s danger sense was tingling like mad. “Directions to where?”

“T-to the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters,” Scootaloo gulped. “Heh, I just wanna be able to mark the location on the map?”

Her comment was phrased like a statement, but sounded like a question; she wanted more information. Rainbow Dash carefully weighed the possibility of learning more about the filly’s plans with the probability of getting her into a ton of trouble. “So, is your report on my adventure, the palace, or the forest?”

“A-actually,” Scootaloo, as always, thought quickly on her feet. “It’s about the Architect’s Birthstone, from the new Daring Do book.”

A smile sprang unbidden to Rainbow’s lips. “That’s a good one. Do you really think Ahuizotl’s gone for good?”

Scootaloo sighed inwardly; glad to be out of the spotlight. “Naw, he’s just biding his time.”

“So,” Pipsqueak mumbled, holding his map up for all to see. “What’re we going to do about all this, then?”

Scootaloo ran over to his side, giving Rainbow Dash her best grin. “Yeah, Rainbow Dash! You gonna help me make this the best report ever?”

“Why not?” Rainbow shrugged. She spent the next few minutes working with Pipsqueak to find the palace, and pinpoint its location.

“The Architect’s Birthstone is a precious gem used as the cornerstone of the old palace,” Sweetie Belle read aloud. “Nopony knows what type of gemstone it is, nor where it’s located.”

She closed the book and tossed it into a pile. “I could have told you that.”

“Sorry,” Spike said. “These are the only books I could find that mentioned the Birthstone.”

Sweetie laid her chin on the chair’s armrest. “Great, that’s a whole lot of nothing.”

She jolted upright, eyes widening. “Unless…”

She got Spike’s attention with a bump to his noggin. “Hey, do you have any books on the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters?”

He stood from his position beside the chair. “Yeah,” he replied. “Just a sec.”

He set about digging through the annals of the Ponyville Public Library. “Canterlot Castle… Crystal Palace… Here it is!” He held a book up for Sweetie Belle to see. “This book’s got the history of the palace, anything specific you want to see?”

She trotted over, a smile on her face. “Is there a chapter about building it?”

Spike flipped through the pages. “Yep. Commissioned by Celestia and Luna… located in the Everfree… designed by Stellar Integrity…”

“’Designed by Integrity,’” Sweetie Belle repeated. “What does it say about him?”

Spike read further. “Stellar Integrity was an architect who worked in early Manehatten. Celestia approached him about designing a permanent palace for the princesses.”

“Anything about the Birthstone?”

Spike turned the page. “Nope, just that he had a daughter named Charity.”

“Drat,” Sweetie grumped as she sat back down in the chair. “So much for, uh, my report.”

Spike wasn’t giving up easily. “What about this, it says that the first part of the palace that was built was the throne room…”

“So?” Sweetie asked as she rolled over onto her back.

Spike grinned over the book. “So, doesn’t that mean that the cornerstone would be underneath the throne room?”

A smile slowly spread its way across Sweetie Belle’s face. She practically leaped off of the chair and over to Spike. “Thanks, Spike! You’re a genius!” She planted a quick peck on his cheek before racing out the library door, leaving the blushing young dragon alone.

In her haste, Sweetie Belle failed to notice the purple-coated unicorn filly walking past. The two unicorns collided with a crash and tumbled to the ground. Sweetie was the first to her feet, helping the other up. “Gosh, Dinky, I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay,” the petite filly answered. “I should have watched where I was going.”

“Me too,” giggled Sweetie. “Hey, what’s up with the bags?”

Dinky Doo glanced back at the bulging saddlebags hanging from her flanks. “I was getting supplies for the camping trip my mom, Cheerilee, and I are taking out by Fluttershy’s cottage.”

Sweetie blinked. “Camping trip, huh?” She pawed the ground in contemplation. “Who’s coming along?”

“A bunch of kids from school,” Dinky said. “You and the other crusaders can come too, if you like.”

“I’ll have to talk with my mom and dad,” Sweetie said as she gave Dinky a small smile, “But I’d love to.”

The fillies went their separate ways, Dinky with her supplies, and Sweetie Belle with her plots. Sweetie all but breathed a sigh of relief as she walked home. “Maybe we can get our adventuring cutie marks without getting into trouble.”

The Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse was a bustle of activity as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom gathered together their purchased equipment. Scootaloo held up a toilet paper tube to be converted to a dart gun, Apple Bloom rolled up a rope that was almost too heavy to carry, and they both poured over the map.

“Are yah sure that this is the right way?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I’m sure if Rainbow Dash is sure!” Scootaloo laughed. “I got this straight from the horse’s mouth.”

The pegasus looked through the toilet paper tube, taking aim at a distant flower. “So, what are we gonna load this baby up with?”

“I dunno,” Apple Bloom said. “I only know th’ recipe for one potion, and I’m not sure I wanna risk that one goin’ off again.”

“Hey, girls!” Sweetie shouted as she walked into the clubhouse.

“Sweetie!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shoved their equipment to the side as fast as possible. “We didn’t know you were coming in today!”

Sweetie Belle tilted her head. “But I come in every day.”

The other two crusaders glanced sideways at each other. They turned back to Sweetie with practiced smiles on their faces.

“Oh, right,” Apple Bloom said slowly. “We knew that.”

“We were…” Scootaloo considered. “Just testing you.”

Sweetie raised an eyebrow at the stack of junk behind her friends. “Testing me for what?”

“Uh…” Scootaloo continued smiling as she nudged Apple Bloom.

“Fer…” Apple Bloom coughed. “Just makin’ sure you weren’t a changeling or nothin’.”

“Well anyway,” Sweetie Belle said as she walked around the others. “I think I’ve got an idea about how we can get an adventuring cutie mark without putting ourselves in danger.”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom continued to grin, sweat running down their faces. “Cool,” Scootaloo said. “What do we gotta do?”

“It’s a camping trip!” Sweetie squeaked. “Miss Doo and Miss Cheerilee are hosting it, and a whole bunch of kids from school will be there.”

“Where’s it at?” Apple Bloom asked as she adjusted her bow.

“Right around Fluttershy’s cottage,” came the answer. “Is that close enough to the Everfree for you crazies?”

Scootaloo considered her map and then turned to Apple Bloom, grinning wickedly. Apple Bloom returned her grin, before the both of them looked up at Sweetie Belle with pleasant smiles. “I think it just might be!”

“Are you sure you can carry all that?” Sweetie asked for the thousandth time.

“Yes,” groaned Apple Bloom for the thousandth time. She wound up carrying the lion’s share of the equipment, reasoned Scootaloo, because of how much stronger earth ponies were than pegasi. Apple Bloom figured that the excuse had grown old sometime around Smart Cookie and Chancellor Puddinghead’s time.

Scootaloo trotted past, carrying a significantly more reasonable load. “Come on, Apple Bloom, put your back into it!”

“I’ll put your back into it, feather brain,” rumbled Apple Bloom.

The fillies and colts walked two-by-two, with Ditsy Doo and Cheerilee leading the pack and Apple Bloom taking the rear. “C’mon kids! We’re almost there!”

“Um, mommy?” Dinky spoke with a soft voice as she pointed to the right. “That way.”

Ditsy looked in the direction she was walking, then over to where Dinky pointed, and started giggling. “Of course, muffin. We don’t wanna walk into the Everfree Forest, do we?”

The little filly breathed a sigh of relief as the trail of ponies switched course. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shot each other a sly look and noted the location for future reference.

Pipsqueak munched idly on a stalk of grass as he spoke to Featherweight, a skinny pegasus colt. “You don’t suppose we’ll run into any monsters out here, do you?”

Featherweight shrugged, the full extent of his opinions becoming apparent.

Rumble grinned from his place in line behind Pipsqueak. “You never know, Pip,” he said. “There could be a couple of cockatrices just around the bend.”

“Rumble!” Twist protested. “Thtop being tho thcary!”

“Don’t worry about it,” Rumble shrugged. “My big bro taught me all about the creature in the Everfree. Most of them are more scared of us than we are of them.”

Scootaloo giggled at the info. “Rargh! Here comes the almighty Scootaloo, come to scare all the manticores away!”

“More importantly, children,” Cheerilee interjected, “The monsters don’t usually come this close to the edge of the forest.”

Pipsqueak turned his flashlight on, cloaking his face in shadows. “But there’s always the exception that proves the rule!”

“Pip, be nice,” Sweetie Belle frowned. “Nightmares are the last thing I need tonight.”

“Alright kids,” Ditsy Doo called out. “Here’s where we’ll be setting up our campsite!”

“If you need any help,” Cheerilee continued, “Just ask me or Miss Doo. We’ll be right here the whole time.”

Apple Bloom collapsed to the ground, her saddlebags overflowing with survival gear. Scootaloo cantered up to the exhausted filly. “You want me to set up the tent?”

At Apple Bloom’s half-hearted wave, Scootaloo went about her duties. Within a few minutes, their corner of the campsite was complete. A small, three-pony pup tent stood a short distance away from the fire pit, decorated with the symbol of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Sweetie Belle unrolled her sleeping bag into the tent, a contented smile playing at her lips. “Now this is adventure!” she sighed. “Nice, safe, adventurous fun.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. She unpacked her favorite blanket and spread it out over her sleeping bag. As she looked up, she came face-to-face with a bespectacled candy maker. Twist smiled wide as she talked. “Tho, when are you gonna go into the Everfree?”

Scootaloo stuffed an orange hoof into the other filly’s mouth. “Quiet down! Who told you that?”

Apple Bloom rolled over, still lying on the ground in the same spot. “Sorry, Scootaloo, I had to tell her.”

Sweetie walked up to the exchange. “Tell her what?”

Rumble’s voice piped up from behind Sweetie Belle. “That you girls are gonna go into the Everfree Forest to find the Architect’s Birthstone.”

Scootaloo glared at Twist accusingly. “Alright, who else did you tell?”

Twist shook her head until Scootaloo removed her hoof. “I thwear I only told Rumble, honetht!”

“Great,” Apple Bloom sighed. She stood shakily to her feet. “Almost twice as many ponies know about our plans as before.”

“Exactly twice,” Dinky said from behind Apple Bloom. The farmer spun around before smacking herself with a hoof. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

“I did,” a voice with a lower Trottingham accent spoke up. Pipsqueak sauntered into view to stand beside Dinky. “You three are always getting into some kind of mischief.”

Sweetie Belle stepped into the middle of the crowd. “Hold on, we are not, I mean not, going to just tromp into the Everfree Forest!”

Rumble tilted his head to the side. “You sure, Sweets? ‘Cause Twist heard it straight from Apple Bloom.”

“Augh!” Sweetie stomped her hooves into the ground as she glared at the other two crusaders. “I can’t believe you two! Lying to me and going behind my back like that is just… it’s not nice!”

“Well,” Apple Bloom sat upright, her eyes downcast. “We really want our cutie marks, Sweetie Belle.”

Scootaloo matched Apple Bloom’s position. “You aren’t gonna tell on us, are you?”

Sweetie thought. “You haven’t broken any rules yet, besides being stupid.” She turned to the collected colts and fillies. “What do you guys think?”

“They’re cool,” Rumble smiled.

“It’s kinda early for somepony to be in trouble…” Dinky murmured.

“Pfft, like I wouldn’t have gone with them,” Pipsqueak laughed.

“I think they’re alright,” Twist shrugged.

Sweetie Belle shook her head at the two reprobates. “You two got off easy, you know that?”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom nodded, dispositions blue.

The day proceeded quietly enough. Once the tents were set up, Cheerilee and Ditsy Doo gathered the children around the fire for campfire songs. S’mores were inhaled more than chewed, and the foals had a wonderful time.

Night came, and the children gathered into their tents and sleeping bags. Many giggles rose into the night sky, but all good things must come to an end. One by one, they drifted off to dreamland, content that the fun would continue in the morning.

As the witching hour approached, and the night became darkest, a series of shadows slunk into the campground. One shadow turned to another, its voice accompanied by a series of eerie clicks. “Where’s the yellow one’s cottage, cottage?”

“The queen said it was right around here, round here…” the other replied.

“She didn’t say that we’d be tripping over a bunch of maggot ponies, ponies!” a third growled.

“Silence!” a deeper voice hissed from beyond the tree line. “Do you want the pony maggots to wake up? Keep your mandibles shut!”

The first shadow rolled its eyes. “Blah, blah, blah. It’s always the same, the same.” The shadow tiptoed around a sleeping Cheerilee. “Do this, don’t do that, keep your mouth shut, mouth shut.”

Its foot landed right in the center of the campfire’s hot coals. The shadow’s mouth was covered by the others before it could scream in pain. It whimpered as it moved its foot out of the heat, and onto the grass.

The shadow grinned sheepishly at the other’s glares. It backed slowly away, trying not to embarrass itself further.

In the next instant, several shadows let out a horrified gasp as the first tripped backwards over Sweetie Belle’s sleeping body. It found itself face-to-face with the awoken filly, and both let out a terrified scream.

Sweetie Belle was looking right into the face of a full-grown changeling.

The combined screeches woke Cheerilee and Ditsy immediately. The two adults sprang to their feet on opposite sides of the campsite, and their flashlights turned towards the invading pests.

Three changelings were sneaking through the campsite, one of which was screaming in the face of Sweetie Belle. Cheerilee’s eyes narrowed. “You have exactly one second to explain what you’re doing here.”

“Well, you see,” one changeling began.

“One,” Cheerilee said. She launched herself at the bumbling insectoid, slamming her heavy hooves down on its hard exoskeleton. It was knocked to the ground, rolling into another tent. The tent fell over, scattering the fillies resting inside. The entire campsite churned with panicking foals.

Ditsy flew above the chaos that erupted. “Everypony, come here! Keep together!”

Most of the foals obeyed, flocking to the pegasus mother like chicks to a hen. Sweetie Belle, however, was not quite in control of her actions. She shut her eyes and ran from the screeching changeling behind her, accompanied by her two best friends in the world.

Twist and Dinky were also running from a changeling, its maw open wide to grab their tails. Its head was forced into the dirt by the sudden weight of both Rumble and Pipsqueak landing solidly on top of it. The colts followed the fillies, trying to get as far away from the enemy as possible.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders collided with the other four with a scream. In their panic, the group of foals ran straight into the Everfree Forest, heedless of the monsters within.

Cheerilee gave the changeling another good smack, sending it sprawling into the hooves of the others behind it. “And don’t you ever come back, EVER!”

The changelings fled, tails tucked proverbially, and literally, between their legs. Cheerilee thought that she saw a fourth changeling in the trees, but hoped that it was a trick of the light. She took a quick head-count, speaking as she did so. “Do you all remember your camping buddies? Is everypony still here?”

Featherweight stepped forward, his face worried. “Mizz Cheerilee, Pipsqueak is missing.”

“Dinky?” Ditsy called out. “Dinky, where are you!?” She turned on Cheerilee, eyes wild. “My daughter! I can’t find my daughter!”

“I’ll get Fluttershy,” Cheerilee soothed. “She can go into town and round up a search party.”

She hugged the pegasus. “We’ll find them, Ditsy, I promise!”

Sometime later, the seven foals were resting beneath a scraggly-looking tree. They were thankful to find that it was not of the flesh-eating variety, and they gathered together in a bundle of shivering fur.

“You guys okay?” Pipsqueak asked. “B’cause I’m not sure if I can slow my heart down any.”

Dinky took in labored breaths beside him. “I-I-I-I-I’m scared.”

“I wouldn’t worry ‘bout any monsters gettin’ to us tonight.” Apple Bloom’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates. “On account of that patch of poison joke we almost ran through.”

The foals looked to the side, getting a good look at the bunch of blue-pedaled flowers a little further down the path.

Twist gingerly set her glasses in place in front of her eyes. “D-doth anypony know where we are?”

Pipsqueak stood and looked around grimly. He turned back to the others with a look of defeat in his features. “Right smack dab in the middle of lost.”

Author's Note

Let's get the real adventure started, shall we?