Daring Dash and the Eye of the Star Spider

“This is unacceptable!” Rarity said, magically shaking a spoonful of sugar. “These are claryl coffee spoons, not teaspoons! What sort of table manner sod they have here!”

“Would ya knock it down a notch, Rares? Yah´re getting free food and shelter, that´s no way ta be a guest!” Applejack retorted.

“I´m just saying that for a royal palace this type of table arrangement is simply unacceptable.”

“That should be my line!” Twilight Sparkle shouted, making everyone stop in the middle of their lunch.

“Whatever you mean, dear?”

“Us, here, this whole situation, how did this even happened? Our ship was taken down by a magic that was obviously conjured by magic but not any magic I know of, leaving the six of us stranded in the desert; and you two are more worried arguing over petty things!”

“Table manners are hardy a petty thing, dear…”

“As being a good guest,” Applejack added.

Twilight Sparkle sighed. “This is exactly how we found you two, fighting over a rock in a pit of sand.”

“In my defense, dear...I thought we were in a spa and Applejack was taking my cucumbers,” Rarity sheepishly said.

“It was a mirage, Rarity. The desert made you two have hallucinations,” Tiwlgiht Sparkle explained and Applejack joined Rarity in blushing.

“Twilight, we all made it safe and sound, shouldn't you be grateful of that?” Fluttershy asked, trying to calm down her friend but instead she got a fierce stare.

“Don´t think i forgot that I said, the six of us,” Twilight said, pointing at Spike, who was busy stuffing cookies on his mouth. “Spike was supposed to stay home, away from all the dangers!”

“But Twilight, I just...I just couldn't say no to him, could you?” Fluttershy said, holding Spike who was making his best sad puppy face.

“Ugh, I can't believe you all...nor can I believe that Pinkie Pie just landed in a cave filled with treasures,” Twilight added, pointing at Pinkie Pie who wa still wearing the crown and cape she brought along with all the treasures she found, thanks to pure luck or simply being Pinkie Pie.

“I´ll said it was most fortunate she did, our explorers have been looking for our stolen treasures for months,” a soft voice said and the princess of Saddle Arabia walked into the room.

“Princess Amira,” Twilight said, bowing to the tall horse who vowed back.

“Speaking of luck, just our pony luck that ya happened to send a search for us, yer highness.”

“That was no coincidence, Applejack. Princess Twilight asked me to secure your arrival and we kept good look of the skies expecting you all,” Princess Amira explained.

“Princess Amira and I became pen pals after her visit to Ponyville. First thing I did before taking flight, was sending a missive explaining her what was going on,” Twilight added.

“And a good thing you did, my friend. The Eye of the Star Spider is a most powerful item, it should not fall in the wrong hooves.

“That is true, Amira but, being completely honest, I´m glad I got a chance to finally visit you. Wish it was in better circumstances so we can take that trip to the royal library you promised me…”

“If everything goes smoothly, we will! And I´m dying to take you to the local market place and show you the flying carpets!”

“I can't wait to ride one! I always wonder how it'll feel flying!”

“Don ´t you already know how that feels?” Amira joked and Twilight folded her wings, blushing.

The whole comely atmosphere made the other ponies feel a bit uneasy.

“Is anypony else a bit intimidated by princess pen pal?” Applejack whispered to them.

“For once, your brutal honesty has hit the mark, Applejack,” Rarity said.

“For once?”

“Girls, Twilight having another friend is nothing to worry about, we should be happy!” Fluttershy said. “Besides, Spike already knows about it so he can tell us how close they really are,” she then added, slipping that she wa also a bit hurt.

“Of course, all of Twilight´s letters go through me!” Spike proudly added. “Except those she sent to Princess Amira, she said she wanted to handle them herself. And those she sent to the official ambassadors to neighboring kingdom...and those she sends to Cadence...and those she sent sto Celestia now that she's no longer her student...and the orders for the library…” Spike couldn´t finish cause he break almost in tears.

“Well done, Applejack!”

“How's this mah fault!”

“Spike, calm down-...girls, help me…”

The only pony not worry by any of this was Pinkie Pie who was simply arranging all her treasure.

******

Meanwhile, in the uncaring sands of the desert surrounding Saddle Arabia, a group of furious bandits, composed of mostly oxs and bulls was roaming through the desert, carrying around a cage with two pegasus locked there.

“This is so exciting!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“I beg to differ…” Flash Sentry said, rubbing his hurt head. “We're prisoners to a group of criminals who are taking who knows where in the middle of a desert with no way to reach our crewmates.”

“Ah relax, soldier boy. This is exactly what happened to Daring Do when she traveled to the Eastern Kingdom of Dragons, escaping here will be a piece of cake.”

“So, why aren´t we escaping then?”

“You kidding? We´re being captured by a band of criminals being dragged who knows where with no way to reach our crewmates... this is perfect!”

Flash Sentry didn´t share Rainbow´s enthusiasm, nor he appreciated her shoving her face into his.

“Wonder who this guys are…” he asked, looking at the rough group of bovines.

“What, you never heard of Calf-i-baba and his gang of thieves?” Rainbow asked, genuinely surprised.

“Can't say I have…”

“Ah, there are the villains of Daring Do and the Market Marauder, she sneaked into her group and recovered the Gleaming Pineapple from their cave. It was one of the short stories included as bonus in book five.”

“You don't say…”

“yeah, so you have nothing to worry about, boy scout! These guys are so lame they don´t even got a full book for them!”

“Quiet!” a giant bull with a scar roared, obviously the leader of the gang. “I do not want to hear anymore about that scoundrel Daring Do!”

“Still sore she didn´t gave you a longer story?” Rainbow mocked him much to Flash´s displeasure.

“Grrr, I should've been in the cover of the book. My handsome feature should never get ignored...right?” he roared at his oxs who were quick to agree.

They kept going through the desert for a couple of horus, Rainbow Dash never losing her huge grin at any point of the journey and Flash just sighing along until they reached a giant cave, hiding behind a sandstrom, obviously planted by pegasus beforehand.

Calf-I lead his oxs to the entrance of the cave who was blocked by a giant rock, to big to be moved even by an adult dragon. He raised his hooves, ready to say the magical words that would make it move.

“Milkshakes!” Rainbow suddenly shouted, ruining the whole dramatism of the scene.

Much to Flash´s surprise, the giant rock did move, opening the entrance. Flash turned to ask her how she figured this out but she just said “Book five…”

“That daring do!” Calf-I shouted and dragged them inside.

“Now get prepared, soldier boy, you´re gonna see a place full of wonders,” Rainbow said as the oxs were letting them go from the cage” .. filled to the roof with coins, crowns, jewels and...rocks?”

Truthfully, the place was nothing but barren rocks and shy bats who ran away at the sight of the house owners showing up. Calf-I was barely making any sound while Flash moved forward and picked up a note next to a batch of cupcakes.

“Dear Mr. Thief, I found your cave and made a hole on the ceiling when I cave in. So sorry for that. Was about to repair it but Princess Amira´s soldiers said you stole all this treasure so when I met with Twilight and the others, I draw the soldiers back here and they took everything back to its rightful owners. Stealing is wrong but I feel like coming back and didn't all your stuff gone, even if it´s not exactly your stuff, must feel really really bad, so I made you this batch of cupcakes for you and your friends so you don´t feel so bad, even if you stole all those things. Yours truly, Pinkamena D Pie.” he read out loud.

“That thief...how dare she steal from me? Pinkamena D. pie, you have made yourself a powerful enemy!” Calf-I roared.

“Isn't this Pinkamena…” Flash asked Rainbow.

“Yup.”

“Well, at least we know now that Princess Twilight and the others are fine. We should escape from these scoundrels and try to get back to Saddle Arabia´s capital…” Flash murmured to her.

“Would you stop spoiling the fun? How many times in life you get to roam around with actual desert thieves..even if they´re this band of losers?”

“I don´t wanna roam around with dessert thieves! What if someone back in the Crystal Empire finds out, it would ruin my perfect score with the guard!”

“Jeez, what a buzzkill. No wonder Twilight likes you…”

“I`´m not a...Princess Twilight said that?” Flash said, blushing a little.

Rainbow couldn't help but smile. Kid was a bit of a stick on the mud but was also kinda cute. SHe then blushed, shaking her head to take that thought way. She wasn't a romantic type of pony and this was no time for that! Even if Daring bothered to include a romantic subplot on the Easter Dragons novels but still…

“This is just great! Not only we have to deal with Blaze jerk trying to boss around but we got all our stuff stolen!” Calf- I complained, ,catching Rainbow´s attention.

“Hey, you just said Blaze?”

****

Back in the Saddle Arabia palace, Princess Amira had brought all the information they have over the Star Spider Jewel. Much of that was simple fables and old mare´s tales but there could be some real information regarding the jewel.

“Daring´s annotations should help us pinpoint the exact point in the desert where the jewel should be..” Twilight said, comparing notes. “I just hope we get there before this Blaze character gets there.”

“We heard many things about that zebra,” Amira said. “He´s one of the most dangerous criminal in the continent. the zebras expelled him because he was a practitioner of dark arts and has been plaguing several kingdoms since then.”

“Yeah, we ourselves hgota  taste of that stirpped jerk when he tcaputred us,” Applejack addded. “That no- gooder was quite a troublesome fella, wish we had captured there and then.”

“Luckily, I prepared myself for a rematch. Zecora has been training me on zebra´s potions and magic, even handled me a few powders to repel zebra´s magic that unicorn magic is useless to.”

“Well, you certainly prepare yourself for this adventure,” Rarity complimented her.

“Of course!” Twilight chirped but her happiness was soon gone. “But even with all my preparations, Blaze still got us by surprise. I should have done something to stop that storm.”

“Aww don't be sad face, Twi! We know when the time comes, you´ll show that jerkface who's the superior sorcerer-ess!” Pinkie said, placing a cape over Twilight.

“Thanks, girls. I still can´t help but worry, especially since Rainbow Dash and Flash Sentry are the only ones not accounted for from our group. It worries me those two are together…”

“It worries you, uh?” the other girls said, leaning over Twilight.

“What? No, I misspoke, I meant...you know Rainbow and if Flash is anything like I think then...shut up!”

“I´m worried as well, if Blaze has any knowledge of the true nature of the Jewel, we all shall be in troube…” Princess Amira added, ignoring the girls Twilight.

“Well then, your highness. Let´s hope that's not the case,” a stallion voice said behind them and when he entered all the girls and Spike gasped.

****

“Happened a few months back, he simply showed up in this ehre cave, took down four of my best oxes and then demanded that we helped him,” Calf-I explained to Flash and Rainbow, who were sitting along with the bulls like  they were all friends. “He told us about a jewel, a jewel that was worth more than all our treasure together…”

“The Star Spider Jewel, that´s what we came here looking for!” Rainbow said.

“We heard legends about the Jewel, we also heard that is not worth getting…”

“How come?” Flash asked.

“The jewel is cursed. Anyone, either pony or not, that touches it will become cursed forever. Only a fool like that Blaze guy or even Daring Do will dare trying to claim it for treasure…”

“Hey, Daring is no fool! Besides she doesn´t want the jewel for herself, she´s planning to donate it to the museum or something…”

“Then he´ll curse all of Equestria with her. Listen kid, I can tell you admire her, but that mare´s hubris is gonna be her downfall. You shouldn't just read her novels but try to meet the real Daring Do.”

“Okay, first, I don't know what hubris means Second, I met the real Daring Do, she´s the one who sent me in this mission! And third…” Rainbow started but Flash interrupted her, taking her away. “Hey, what gives, soldier boy?”

“Listen, Rainbow, I don´t know you very well but I heard about your adventures, how you helped stop Nightmare Moon and Queen Chrysalis…”

“Among other things…”

“Then tell me, what´s more important, getting that jewel back or stopping the Blaze fellow?” Flash asked and Rainbow, much to her annoyance, had to agree.

“Fine, you got a point. But at the same time, aren't they the same thing? he´s going after the jewel anyways!”

“Maybe so but Blaze ignores that Princess Twilight has the information needed to find the Jewel´s location. Even so,  I doubt he´ll be dumb enough to just dig around the desert, if he tried to recruit these fellows he must know he needs extra power to get in.”

“Okay, so what do you suggest?”

“We should talk Calif-I into accepting Blaze´s offer to work for him. We´ll infiltrate in his band and wait for the opportunity to arrest Blaze.”

“Look at you, soldier boy. All ready to blend in with a band of thieves,” Rainbow smirked.

“I´m simply following the Royal Guard Manual. Section 8 clearly states that a guard must adapt to every situation, I´m just following its advice.”

“Still, you´re willing to bend more rules that Twilight will approve off. I kinda like aht on you,” Rainbow said and immediately backed down. “I mean, it´s kinda cool...uh we sould...we should talk to horn head here…”

“...yeah, we should.”

****

“Don Caballeron! What the haystacks is he doing ´ere?”

“Don Caballeron is our estimated guest,” Amira explained. “He arrived shortly before you all and has offered his archaeological knowledge to assist us in the search for the jewel.”

“He arrived shortly before us? How so, did he took an expresso ship here?” Rarity asked.

“Yeah, there was no espresso in our ship!”

“Not what I meant, Pinkie…”

“Princess Amira, this man used to be a known thief and stolen arts dealer, how could you let in so easily?” Twilight asked.

“I´m aware of his criminal records, Twilight, he was since about them. But at the same time, I have word your Princess has granted him a full pardon. Isn´t her word enough?” Amira asked and Twilight kept quiet.

“Princess Twilight, I assure you that my intentions are noble. I was sincere about giving up my villainous ways and even archeology altogether but I can´t in good conscience let that fiend Blaze get a hold of such a powerful time.”

Not very convinced, Twilight returned to the girls and whispered, “I hate to judge a pony by his looks but Caballeron still seems suspicious to me.”

“We´re right with ya, Twi!”

“But Princess Amira trust him..” Fluttershy said.

“Amira has a heart as kind a s yours, Fluttershy,” Twilight said,a comment that her friend didn't quite liked. “Unlike us, she hasn't seen him in action so I suggested we keep an eye on him, agreed?”

“Agreed!” they said and Pinkie make sure to keep her recovered treasure away from him.

****

Meanwhile, in a dark and hidden cave, a grinning zebra was next to a bonfire. He took a look at a collection of voodoo dolls, representing all the players in the game and in the center, a shine red jewel representing the prize he wanted to get and was willing to do anything for….