Daring Dash and the Eye of the Star Spider

“There it is...the crescent moon canyon…” Twilight Sparkle said, looking through a pair of binoculars.

“Honestly, to me it seems more like a question mark rather than a crescent moon,” Rarity commented, looking through her own pair.

“Or one of those cane candies!” added Pinkie Pie.

“To me it seems more like an apple branch…”

“Everything seems like apples to you, dear.”

“Well excuse meeeee!”

“Anypony wants to know what it reminds me off?” Fluttershy whispered as her friends keep arguing.

Twilight Sparkle shook her head and apologized to Princess Amira for the spectacle. “Your friends are simply being like you describe them to me in your letters, Twilight,” she replied. “They don´t bother me, what does worries me much is if Blaze is already on our trail or, even worse, has already figured out how to reach the Jewel.”

“Again, your highness. No need to worry, Blaze may have followed my dear...colleague´s steps,” Don Caballeron said. “But he lacks both his finesse and research that princess Twilight has well secured. Speaking of that, perhaps I may take a look at her notes and figure out where exactly the door to jewel´s chamber is…”

“I think not,” Twilight sad, magically sealing her saddlebag and Caballeron shrug, still smiling smugly.

“Twilight Sparkle, perhaps Caballeron can offer some helpful insight.”

“Please Amira, don´t be offended but I don´t trust that stallion. I still believe you made a mistake calling him here,” Twilight said and then noticed how much her comment affected her friend. Basically, Twilight just insulted her and she disliked that. “When we reach the end of the canyon, then I would need some help figuring the last pair of clues…” she conceded.

“That´s fine by me,” Caballeron replied and joined the rest of the expedition.

Twilight saw Amira leaving as well and sighed, feeling really tired with the whole ordeal. So distracted was Twilight that she failed to notice several pairs of eyes spying on her although, in her defense, so did the rest of the arabian knights.

Standing on a nearby mountain, Calf-I Aba and his goons along with two new pony recruits, observed the expedition.

“The Crescent Moon canyon, uh? The fools are walking into a dead end, we have searched this place dozen of times with no luck…”

“That's because your king lacks any creativity,” a grave voice said behind him. “but the princess´ committee holds the keys to victory.”

Blaze appeared in a spectacle of flame and smoke, scaring the bejeezus out of the oxs. Even Rainbow as a bit intimidated and she had already faced the guy.

“That´s Blaze? The wanted portraits were generous on him,” Flash Sentry whispered to her.

“Trust me, Flash. Guy is even uglier up close and personal,” she said. “Hey, we have hiv right here, why don't we jump on his back and capture him?”

“The Royal Guard manual is against sneak attacks…”

“Your serious? We already disguised ourselves as thieves and got involved with a criminal gang, I think the royal manual is more like a guideline by now!”

“Still, it´s a bad idea to attack him in the open and with so many other opponents. Calf-I agreed to work with us only for the promise of more gold but, knowing his kind, he could betray us in a moment's notice…”

And just then, Blaze make delvit to the bull to a bag full of rubies and sapphires. “These little rocks hold no value to me, compared to the jewel´s worth but if you remain at my service, you´ll have a reward tenfold.”

Calf-I took a look at the bag, his eyes getting wider with eh promise of a bigger reward. Then he looked at Flash and Rainbow, staring right at them. The pegasi got tense, waiting for the inevitable betrayal but Calf-I was ambitious, not dumb. They have promised to recover his treasure and the zebra was untrowhsoethry so he decided to stick with them for now…

******

After a few hours of travelling, Twilight's group reached the end of the canyon where there was nothing but a big naked rock blocking their way.

“That´s it?” Pinkie asked, looking around.

“I´m just as disappointed, was expecting to find something, an old castle for example, rather than just...more rocks…” Rarity added.

“Maybe there´s a secret entrance or something?” Fluttershy suggested.

“Well, in Rainbow´s novels, there´s always something like that…” Applejack pondered.

“Now, will be a good time to take a look at that research, don´t you agree, Princess Twilight?” Caballeron said, smirking.

Twilight growled but, upon Amira´s insistence, shared the papers. They took a look at them and the read out loud, “A star hidden in dark grounds, light the way with the fire of ancient times. Those who hoard the secret treasure, have the key to unlock the barriers. One breath away from opening the star spider's lair.”

A moment of silence before they all groaned in defeat.

“Well, that´s one complicated riddle if I ever heard one,” Rarity said.

“All those years of travelling ´round and this is all Daring Do could get? Gotta admit, is a bit disappointing,” Applejack said.

“Ancient texts are often confusing and frustrating. For the time they would have been obvious answers but now, they are anything but clear,” Amira said, similarly perplexed.

“Any bright ideas, Caballeron?” Twilight said, intentionally trying to expose the crook explorer but Caballeron didn´t answered. He was struggling to get to an answer and then sighed, frustrated. Caballeron put his head on his hooves, he hate to admit it but Daring Do was always better at solving puzzles, had she been there, she would have surely had solved it by now.

Meanwhile, Blaze had camouflaged his goons with a magic fog that nopony seemed to notice.

“He´s not making any move,” Flash commented.

“Classic Caballeron tactic, keep waiting for Daring to solve all the puzzles and then come in to snatch the treasure at the last moment. This Blaze guy is just like any second rate villain, “Dash responded and Flash laughed.

Blaze was clearly losing his patience, judging by his growl.

Just then, Spike, who was getting tired and hungry, spotted a black rock next to him. It wasn't coal but rather onyx. A ree and precious rock, the kind that Spike had never tasted and the dragon was not one to shy away from new experience. Sadly, his stomach disagreed and his response was a loud, burping burp of flames.

“Sorry. Thought that was chocolate candy rock…” he said, embarrassed.

“That's it!” Twilight said, clapping her hooves. “Ancient flames, hoard, all those clues refer to dragons! A dragon´s flame must be exactly what is needed to open this entrance!”

“That´s the answer indeed! Now, kidnap the youngling!” Blaze roared, really confusing Calf-I. “...the dragon, you imbecile!”

And with that order, the oxs attacked the arabian stallions. The result was quite a brawl, something that actually made Applejack and even Rarity happy, an excuse to move around and do something, other than hearing Rarity complained about getting sand on her mane.

“Hey! It´s a big problem!”

“Rarity! Pinkie! Has anypony seen Spike?” Twilight yelled, blasting oxs left and right when she saw a pegasus snatching the little one. “Stop right there!”

Flash actually obeyed, betrayed by years of royal training and then his attachment to the princess prevented him to take further action. Rainbow luckily came to his aid, kicking Twilight away.

“Keep your head up, soldier boy! Remember the plan!”

“Was it really necessary to kick the princess?”

“Relax, she´ll be fine!” Rainbow said, grabbing Spike and actually, she was right. Twilight had landed precisely on one of the carriages, suffering no damage. Twilight noticed that, wondering who the masked pony who “attacked” her was.

“Quick, servant! Use the dragon´s fire to open the path!” Blaze roared and as much Rainbow hated taking orders from him, there was a plan to follow.

“Sorry Spike…” she whispered and before the dragon could recognize the voice, a sudden tug to his tail made him release a huge fire torrent. The fire interacted with the rocks and after a few seconds of silence, it opened a passageway to the interior of the cave.

“My treasure is at hooves reach! Calf-I, keep them for entering the breach!”

“That means keep the horses and ponies from the entrance, boss!” Rainbow explained and flew right after Blaze along with Flash.

“I got that...but thanks…”

“Twilight Sparkle, you and your friends can move past these criminals. We will keep them occupied!” Amira said and Twilight nodded.

She took the time to thank the princess with a nod, even with their previous disagreement, they still have their best interests in mind. Twilight and Fluttershy grabbed one friend each and then Twilight teleported them all behind the line of oxs.

“Wait dear, where´s Pinkie?” Rarity asked and just in time Pinkie appeared, being brought by the box themselves. “Mosh pit!” she yelled as they delvit her right into the cave.

Nopony questioned that, except Calf-I growling at his goons.

The Mane Five rushed to get into the cave and found the fabled jewel resting in a spire, right in the middle of an underground lake, like all the legends said. However, Blaze had already beat them to the treasure and was about to claim it for himself.

“Stop right there, Balze!”

“Cursed pony princess, no matter what wizardry or enforcers I use, she always escapes…” he growled. “Pony servants, do your work and kept away the pony princess!”

Rainbow and Flash, still in disguise got in position to face the ponies but Twilight was already one step ahead. “All yours, girls!” she yelled and teleported at the last second, letting the other ponies jump over the pegasi.

Twilgitbappreaed right in froynt of blaze who respodned, throwing a flask with a magic powder, meant to put the princess to sleep. Blaze was smirking but then Twilight responded throwing a flask of her own, which counteracted the magic.

“Instructed in the zebra´s ways? That´s clever! But against my years of training you are hardly a challenger!”

Twilight got ready for whatever Blaze got under his sleeve, or hood giving his attire but the moment never came. isntead, a whip suddenyl asnatched the diamodn from Blaze´s hooves. The author however was not the brave pulp novels heroine but a far more sleazy individual.

“Caballeron?”

“Ah, i knew all those years of getting whipped by Daring will come in handy. One learns after all…”

“You simpleton fool! You have no idea what the jewel can do!”

“On the contrary, my striped friend. I know more about this jewel than any of you. I admit it, I´m not as clever or resourceful as dear Daring or even the princess here but I WAS head of archaeology of Fillydelphia university for years and I do know how to work my way around texts, enough to tell what the real power of the jewel is!” and saying that, Caballeron, raised the gem so it reflected with the light coming from the entrance.

The light then reflect across the room, hitting everypony. At first it seemed like nothing had happened but it had and the first to notice were Twilight and Blaze.

“A-ha! Now let´s see who the real culprit is!” Pinkie declared, taking away the scarf from Flash. “Flash Sentry? But why were you and Rainbow trying to scare us away from the old cave?”

“We were not trying to scare you away. We were trying to trick Blaze! Fluttershy, get off me…” Rainbow said.

“If your little charade is over,” Rarity said while Applejack untied Flash. “It seems like Caballeron is back to his treacherous ways and so Twilight needs our help.”

“On it!” Rainbow said but when she took off, she crashed right into a column. “Hey what gives?”

“Same problem here, partner! Looks like we´re a bit off our crew ´ere!” Applejack said, struggling to get free since she somehow, got tangled with her own rope trying to free Flash.

“What have you done?” Blaze roared but he didn´t sound as intimidating as before.

“That´s the secret of the Spider jewel. Everypony was mistaken about it, it doesn't bring a curse, at least not in traditional sense. Is a cutie Mark remover!” Twilight sentenced, showing her now blank flank.

“more of a cutie mark suppressor, Princess, “Caballeron added. “The magic properties of the jewel make our talents fade away, as long as the light of the jewel hits us, of course.”

Blaze growled while Twilight asked Caballeron what were his intentions with removing his own talent.

“Well, princess, while is true that without my cutie mark I´ll lost my special touch when it comes with negotiating and acquiring treasures, my desire for retirement was since if not in the way I worded it. Now that I have the jewel I´ll have no more reason to go into the field anymore, because every rich client in Equestria will pay me fortunes to keep this item secure. Even the princesses wouldn´t want this in the wrong hooves, won't they?”

“NO! I shall have the jewel, no matter what!”

“Oh please, what for, it will be totally useless in your hooves. Or rather, make you useless…” Caballeron smirked.

“Arrogant idiot! Even if my magic is cancelled by the jewel, my bag of potions and tricks will get done the jo-”

“No, it won't!” Spike yelled, carrying the bag away, having taken the opportunity to sneak the zbra and stole it.

Sadly, in his rush to escape, Spike trip with a rock and fell down a hole. Twilight immediately disregarded the two stallions and jumped to get Spike to safety. Lacking her teleportation talent, Twilight grabbed Spike mid-air and her lack of flight training made both crash in eh ground.

“Sorry, Twi…” he said but Twilight answered giving him a hoof.

Just then, the battling forces outside finally made it inside the cave. Calf-I saw the zebra and the pony struggling to get the jewel.

“Ox, do your work and stop him!”

“No, get him away from me and I´ll get you ten percent of what I´ll get!”

“I´m tired of every horse bossing me around!” Calf-I yelled and then rushed like a true bull at the two of them. The two villain had but a moment to realize the charging bull heading towards them, a moment too late...

“Ouch, they´re gonna feel that in the morning…” Pinkie Pie said.

******

“The spider jewel was the source of many fables and warnings and indeed, is the source of a powerful and dangerous magic or rather...was,” Amira said, looking at the perfect two halves of the jeweled, that got most of the imports from Calf-I.

“The effects of the jewel went off the second it got broken but any handy jeweler could get it back in one piece,” Twilight commented.

“I'm aware, this item is too powerful to be hold by anyone. We should dispose of it.”

“I think we got lucky getting the jewel broke in half. Not sure we can replicate it and broke it, once and for all,” Twilight said, taking a look with a magnifying glass.

“Then what do you propose, Twilight?”

“We got two perfect halves here, maybe we can split it. Your kingdom can secure one and Princess Celestia will find a place to hid the second one, that way also not one kingdom will have a superiority over the other...not that anypony sees your kingdom as a threat or anything,” Twilight added, blushing, but Amira laughed.

“You still have much to learn about politics, my friend. Maybe we can arrange another visit for you in more...pleasant circumstances…”

“That sounds...great. We should schedule one, soon.”

The ponies looks at the princess talking and they all got that sam poke expression.

“You know, if I didn´t know Twilight any better…” Rainbow said. “Maybe you should look other mares around, soldier boy,” she said, nudging Flash but when she noticed he was blushing, rushed to add “I didn´t mean me! I mean,..you know...stop staring at us!”

The other ponies shared looks, except Spike who was distracted by a free meal of onyx. Sure, it made him burp but was worth it.

*****

“So that´s the end of it,” Daring Do, in her guise of A.K Yearling said, still with her leg on a cast and looking the jewel in a display. “Caballeron, Blaze and all of Calf-i  with all his goons are imprisoned and the Spider Jewel is all secure. Sounds like a happy ending to me.”

“I think is kinda lame,” Rainbow said. “At the end, I didn´t do anything. Twilight ended up being more of a heroine than me. Heck, even Spike did more.”

“Hey Rainbow, you do know that my stories are a little...embellished, right?”

“:..”

“That means exaggerated.”

“I know what it means! You mean you lied, right?”

“Not like that,” Yearling said, moving away from the display. “Bit you know, I didn´t always saved the day all by myself or even got away just like that. You saw Calf-I, you can guess how easy was to bribe the bouffon to get the password of his secret passage. Also, I didn´t shared the location of the cave, even if that could get the guy arrested…”

“Yeah, I noticed that. But you kinda owned him a favour when he helped you escape from saddle arabian dungeon, right?”

“More like a local cell but yeah, my point Rainbow, is that I´m the heroine of my stories because I write them but in your story, is only you who is the heroine?”

Rainbow thought for a moment and then concluded “Nah, we´re a team effort. Daring Dash and her sidekicks!”

“Haha, that's a nice title! Want me to write the account of this adventure?”

“Sure! as long as I´m on the title first. Oh and in the cover too!”

Yearling laughed, seeing so much of herself in the enthusiastic pony and they left, leaving the jewel of fables and legends resting alongside other treasures, like nothing more than another piece of jewelry.