Daring Do sat in the front row of her history class. History fascinated her. She loved all of the mystery and wonders that the world had to offer. She hoped to one day be an adventurer and discover such treasures. But she wouldn't do it for the money or the glory. She would simply do it for the Equestrian Museum Of History. She was also one of the top students in her class, receiving an A+ on everything. Today's lesson was a history lesson about a legendary artifact known as the Sapphire Statue. The name made Daring's eyes light up. The Sapphire Statue. It sounded amazing and mysterious. Two things that Daring Do loved about history. She leaned forward in her desk, thinking that the closer she was to the teacher the more she'd learn about this amazing statue. The teacher went on and on about the legend and it's last known location; the jungles of the Amazon. She was sure that others in her class had fallen asleep, but she wasn't going to let something like that break her concentration.
After class she went to the cafeteria and grabbed some food. She then sat down at an empty table and began eating. Just then her friend, Moonbeam, sat down across from her. She was a white unicorn with a blue mane.
"Hey, Daring." she said with a smile. "How was today's history class?"
"Amazing." said Daring with that special kind of enthusiasm. "We learned about the legendary Sapphire Statue."
"The Sapphire Statue?" asked Moonbeam. "What's that?"
So, Daring spent a good thirty minutes educating Moonbeam on the legend.
"...and I'm gonna find it." Daring finished.
"Good luck with that." said Moonbeam taking a bite out of her sandwich.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Daring asked, pushing her food tray aside.
"All I'm saying is that it's been lost for a while now. And, according to the legend, it's surround..." She took another bite. "by traps." she said with a mouthful of food. "And who's to say somepony hasn't already discovered it.?"
"Think positive, Moonbeam." said Daring, pulling her tray back n front of her. "Besides... if somepony had already found it don't you think I would've heard it or read about it?"
"Well, you are quite the historical bookworm." said Moonbeam, taking another bite.
"Just think." said Daring. "I find that statue. I get to go to the Amazon. I give it to the Museum. Everypony wins."
"Donate it?" asked Moonbeam. "Why not sell it?"
"Oh, please." said Daring. "Something as sacred as the Sapphire Statue must be preserved in Equestrian history forever."
"My friend, ladies and gentlecolts..." Moonbeam said in a fake announcer voice. "Daring the caring."
It was about 8:00pm when Daring finally got home.
"How was school?" her mom asked.
"Great!" said Daring happily. "We learned about the legendary Sapphire Statue! It was awesome! Well, I'm going to bed. I'm really tired."
She ran off to her room.
"She's so full of energy." her mom said.
"She sure is." her dad agreed. "I wouldn't be surprised if one day she became an adventurer."
Daring sat in her bed, reading a history book. It was a section of the Sapphire Statue.
"Just you wait." Daring said with a smile and narrowed eyes. "I'll find you." She closed the book and held it close to her chest. "I can just imagine all the adventure. All the excitement." She held the book out in front of her and stared at the cover. "It may take a few years, but I will you."
She set the book on the nightstand next to her bed and turned off the light. She thought about all the adventure she would undergo while searching for the statue. The thought made her smile. Soon, she was fast asleep, awaiting the next day.
Daring Do lay on a cot in the back of a large cargo plane, her hat over her eyes. The pilot set the controls to autopilot and headed back to see her.
"You couldn't have flown here, Daring?" asked the unicorn pilot. "You are a pegasus after all."
Daring lifted her hat with the tip of her hoof.
"I need to keep up my strength for the adventure." Daring explained. "I can't waste energy flying here. How far away are we?"
"Just approaching the drop zone." the pilot answered. "You should get ready."
Daring set her hat on head and dropped to the floor. She went to the side cargo door and looked out the window. The Amazon was coming into view. It looked beautiful. Daring smiled, marveled by it's beauty. But her amazement was short lived. A large boulder came flying from the trees, heading straight for the plane. Daring Do dove from the door as the boulder collided with the plane. The door flew of its hinges, flying towards Daring. She rolled to the side as the door struck the floor, and her wing. She let out a cry of pain as the door fell away. She stood up and tried to move her wing. It wouldn't budge. The pilot stumbled back into the cargo room.
"You all right?" he asked.
"My wing..." Daring whimpered.
The unicorn grabbed a medical kit from the wall and opened it.He then pulled out a bandage and wrapped it around Daring's wing. He then fastened it to her body.
"That should do it." he said. "How do you feel?"
"Better, Sunny. Thank you." said Daring with a smile.
Just then another boulder struck the plane, knocking the two over.
"We have to get out of here." said Sunny.
"No." said Daring. "You go."
"Daring, what are you--"
"I've dreamt about this moment since I was a little filly" Daring said with determination and passion in her eyes. "I'm not gonna leave when I'm this close." Sunny nodded. "Tell Moonbeam I'll be home soon. And that I'll be bringing back a souvenir."
Sunny headed back to the cockpit and took control of the plane. Daring stumbled tumbled to the doorway and looked down. They were pretty high up. The ocean was beneath them with the land getting closer. Another boulder struck the side of the plane, causing Daring to fall. She grabbed on to the edge of the plane and held on.
"BRING US LOWER!" she yelled. "LOWER!"
Sunny must've heard her because the plane started to dive. Daring struggled against the wind to keep her grip, which she felt slipping. Another boulder made contact, knocking Daring away from the plane. She let a scream that lasted until she splashed down into the ocean below. She quickly swam back to the top and gasped for air. She watched as the plane flew away. She then turned her gaze to the jungles of the Amazon. This was it. No turning back. She began swimming over to the Amazon, ready to start her adventure.
