Treasure hunters of Equestria

Chapter 6 - The Ancient Solar Empire

(From the perspective of Daring Do)

(From the perspective of Dart)

  I woke up to her kissing me. It took me a few seconds to realize that it wasn't a dream, and I pulled away, gasping for air. She laughed at me.

"Don't do that ever again." I said.

"Man do you sleep like a log! It's the only way I could get you up!" I would have protested but my family used to have to dump cold water on me, so this was still an improvement. "Besides," She continued. "We need to leave like, RIGHT NOW. We're going to miss our train!" I checked the time to verify this. It was true. I jumped out of bed. We grabbed our saddlebags and raced out the door to the train station.

     "Two tickets to the closest station to the Solar Desert please!" I announced to the pony manning the ticket booth. He practically did a double-take in surprise.

"Kid, do you even know where you're going? The solar desert is no place for little colts!" I pointed to Daring Do, and he didn't feel the need for further explanation.

"Oh! Ms. Do! Pleasure to see you here again, ma'am.Two tickets, coming up!" I glared at him. Does she really look that much more accomplished than me? He hoofed me the tickets, and the train arrived shortly.

(From Daring's point of view)

   The train was going pretty fast, but it just wasn't fast enough for me. I just couldn't stand waiting another second to be on another adventure with Dart! Adventures had always been my hobby, but having a companion makes them about 20% better. I looked over at Dart, who was staring out the window, lost in thought. He didn't look too good, something was bothering him but I couldn't tell what. Suddenly his gaze averted to his hooves, and I begun to understand. Perhaps he was thinking about when those ponies in red called him a monster, though in all fairness if they were trying to summon Discord they don't exactly have their monsters right. I started a conversation to get his mind off of it.

"So," I leaned in close to him. "What do we know about this temple?" This cheered him up quite a bit.

"Nothing!" He shouted, a little too loud. "That's why it's going to be awesome! Nopony has explored it yet!" Enthusiasm and excitement were leaking out of every pore, this is where he truly belongs.

"Oh yeah," I remembered. "I found this picture in your house, who's this?" I dug the picture out of my vest and showed it to him. He sighed. "Is it your old filly friend?" I asked.

"No, that's my cousin, Rosemary. She moved to Fillydelphia that night, I haven't seen her since." Ooh, bad subject. He still seemed pretty psyched about the adventure though, so I brought the conversation up a bit.

"So, want to go out with me when we get back?"

He laughed at me. "NOW you're asking? Daring, you practically forced me to move in with you, I don't think I have much of a choice."

I blushed, I hadn't really thought of it that way. "Is that a yes I hear?"

He tossed his hoofs into the air to signify his giving up. "Sure, why not?"

"It's a date then?"

"Yup.....Hey, it looks like we're here." I glanced out the window to see what he was talking about. We had arrived at the frontier town of Appleoosa, at the edge of the solar desert. The rays of sun cut the sky like knives, without a cloud in the sky.  The only plants nearby were cacti, though supposedly there was a small apple orchard somewhere around here. The train came to a halt, so Dart and I hoisted on our saddlebags and exited.

   We didn't linger in Appleloosa, almost the moment we got off the train we soared off towards the ancient temple, donning our robes mid-flight. According to Dart, out flight would be a grueling 45 minutes long. My wings hurt just thinking about how we'd have to fly back when we're already tired from the trip. I could fly faster than Dart, but he had a lot more stamina. We had to stop every 20 minutes or so for me to catch my breath. Dart, on the other hoof, seemed completely unfazed. Sometime during the last stretch of the flight, I asked him about the ancient solar empire.

"The ancient Solar Empire is the first known civilization in Equestria, long before the days of that silly story they tell on hearth's warming eve," Dart Explained. "Nopony really knows much about it other than that they worshiped Celestia like a god. Reporters and archaeologists have tried to ask Celestia about it, but she claims to have nothing to do with it."

"Are you implying that Celestia isn't telling us everything?" I asked, surprised. He did his best to shrug while flying straight.

"Who knows? Nopony has really ever gotten much information about the history of Equestria out of here. I don't think anypony even remembers how she became our princess."

"Didn't she over-throw Discord?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Nopony is even sure where that story originated. For all we know, Discord really is just a statue." I'm not really one to believe in conspiracy theories, but it was a little odd that Celestia has never personally shared the history of Equestria with us.

    Eventually, we arrived at the temple. It was a large golden pyramid shaped structure with a giant statue of the sun on top. I was just amazed that nopony had explored it yet, considering it's massive size. Dart unearthed some old maps from his saddlebag.

"According to these, it also has a large number of under-ground chambers, and traps," Dart warned.

"I'm beginning to see why it's unexplored."

"Not for long!" He rolled up the map and put it away. We entered the pyramid.

   It's nothing I haven't handled before, traps, puzzles, and treasure. Upon entering, I can see that this is the very definition of adventure. The first room seems harmless enough. The light from Dart's torch is reflecting off of various shiny surfaces around the temple.

"Something's wrong," He says suddenly. I look around, I don't see anything wrong.

"What is it?"

"The light. It's reflecting off of mirrors and gold."

"Yeah, light does that."

"Maybe, but shouldn't this stuff be a little rusty?" He had a point. As far as I can tell, this temple is thousands of years old. How could the surfaces still be so shiny? This doesn't bode well. The temple is much cooler than outside, so we take off our robes. Under it I have my vest and hat. I could never go adventuring without them. As I take a closer look around, I can see that everything is booby-trapped. There's holes in the walls up ahead that I assume darts will fly out of, a few spike traps on the floor, and a GIANT trap-door on the ceiling, I can only imagine what will fall out of that. Dart and I set to work immediately. When I first met Dart I assumed he just used TNT for every trap, but I can see now that isn't the case. He hurls a rope around a spike, and tugs hard. It comes free, and he tosses it over to the platform with the dart launchers. Turns out, they're spear launchers. Large javelins go flying this way and that, and soon the trap runs out of ammo, making it safe to pass.

   I'm not going to waste any time either, so I get to work. Instead of finding ways to deactivate the traps like Dart does, I prefer to get past them using my own skill. There's usually some way to turn them off at the other side anyways, and sometimes I can reach that using a lasso or slingshot from the other side of the trap. With these spike traps, however, it seems that isn't an option. I charge past the emptied javelin trap, and towards the spikes. It doesn't take me long to figure out that they go off one square on and in front of wherever you put pressure, and soon I'm racing through, by stepping on one section then jumping forward diagonally. It's an annoying process, but eventually it pays off as I reach the other side. Sure enough, there's a small lever to deactivate the spikes. I pull it, then drop a nearby mirror onto the floor of the trap to make sure. Sure enough, it shatters, but no spikes. I whistle to Dart, and he walks over slowly, admiring the ruins and broken traps as he goes.

   Suddenly, something grabs me from behind, and gags me before I can scream. I try my hardest to warn Dart, but he's looking at some ancient painting. Something pokes into my skin, and I feel myself falling unconscious. I stomp my hoof once before giving in.

(From Dart's point of view.)

    "Daring? Hello? Where'd you go?" This isn't good. This isn't good at all. I had been admiring an ancient panting depicting Celestia in full battle armor and a sun shaped chariot, when I heard a loud stomp. When I turned to look at Daring, nopony was there. I was already been suspicious that somepony must still be residing here when I saw the polished mirrors, but I hadn't expected them to be kidnappers. Or worst, murderers. No. I can't think like that. I'm sure she's fine, I just need to find her, and no amount of traps and puzzles can get in my way!

    I make my way over to where she disappeared, hurrying but still trying to keep calm. I find her hat still lying on the ground, and pick it up. I slip the hat on, since I don't want to carry it around or wrinkle it by putting it in my saddlebag. She was right, the hat really does make you feel more adventurous. I step into the next room, and to my dismay, there's a split path. I try searching for clues, listening for sounds, and all of the like, but there's no hope. I have absolutely no way of telling whether she went left or right, but I'm wasting time here. No time for regrets, I head to the right.

  As I'm sprinting down the corridor, something drops from the roof and lands in front of me. It's a..... I don't even know. I can only describe it as a blue monkey mixed with a jackal. It also has a hand on it's tail, which is kind of creeping me out.

"Hello, Mr. Dash. I've been expecting you." The monkey Jackal talks in some foreign accent, it sounds familiar but I can't quite put my hoof on it. "My name is Ahuizotl."

"Sorry, Aweezoitell, I'm in a bit of a rush, we can get tea or something next sunday. Bye!" I try to run past him but he blocks me.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll leave this temple right now."

"I can't, I've got some unfinished business here."

"So be it." He blows a cat shaped whistle, and immediately different predators from places all over Equestria appear behind him. I do the only sane thing, and run in the opposite direction, back to the split path. I go to the left this time. Judging from the map, all the passages connect at more than one point. There's a good chance that if I keep searching and running I can evade this guy and find Daring. I soon realize that this could very well prove difficult as I notice that up ahead there's nothing but traps. So many traps.

   Okay, let's take this calm and collectively. First off, throughout the entire hallway are those annoying giant blades that hang from ropes and swing back and forth. Man do I hate those. At the beginning of the hallway, there's a checkerboard pattern of tiles with suns and moons and obvious shooty holes. They seem too small for spears, but too big for darts. Past that is a few statues of armored ponies with swords, I don't quite like the look of it. And finally, at the end there's a complex machine that launches and catches a single razor blade from multiple slits in the wall, the problem is that it goes fast and I have no idea where it will be launched from next, since there's at least 8 different slits I've already noticed. I can hear Ahuizotl's minions coming around the corner. It's now or never.

   All the paintings in the temple depict Celestia as some god of war, so I'm going to have to go with the moon tiles on the first puzzle. As I'm running, nothing fires at me, so I suppose I'm right. I duck to dodge a pendulum blade. Surprisingly, the armored ponies don't attack me. I grab the shield off of one and use it to block the razor blade, which lodges itself into the shield. Hearing the predator cats coming, I dislodge the blade and chuck it backwards. It cuts the rope of one of the swinging axes, causing it to fall on an Everfree jaguar. No time to look back though, the broken axe set off the shooty holes (which turned out to be crossbow bolts), and it should keep the other cats occupied for a while.

     The next room doesn't look so good either, it's full of very angry looking ponies with weapons. If I had to guess I'd say they're mercenaries, due to their weapons as cutie marks. Just who is this Ahuizotl guy anyways, and how could he afford this many hired arms? Either way, they don't look too happy with me, some of them are getting ready to charge me. There's nowhere to run, no surrendering, no tricks. I put my head down and prepare to charge.

     Well maybe that would have been a good idea if not for the incredibly surly earth pony charging me head on. I change my mind about the no tricks thing. With a hop, skip, and a jump, I land behind him and continue running. Almost to the exit, a green unicorn blocks me and his horn starts to glow. No time to figure out what he's doing, I plow into him and leave the room. The other ponies seem reluctant to follow me.

"Get him!" One yells.

"And follow him into THAT room? Are you crazy!?"

"That THING will kill him anyways, just leave him," Another points out. I can hear their laugh echoing through the tunnel as I run. But whatever is in that room can't be worst than 15 armed mercenaries....right?

   Once I cease to hear their voices, I take a break and open up my map. After this, there's only one room I haven't explored. That's the one Ahuizotl blocked me from, but this room has a back-door to that one. The upcoming room is very long, and only widens a little from the hallway. Could it just be another trap hallway? I hope so, I can deal with those.

   As I enter, the first thing I notice is that it's filled with water, with a narrow wooden bridge that has very few supports and no hand-rails. The water is calm, but it's so murky I can't see into it. The room has a high ceiling though, so as long as my wings stay dry I can always escape via the air if something happens to the bridge. The moment I step out over the water, the entire room begins to shake, and the water gains a nasty current.

"WHO DARES TO INTERRUPT MY SLUMBER?" Says a booming voice from the water.

"Sorry!" I reply. "Just need to pass through here real quick, okay?"

"Pass!? NONE SHALL PASS THROUGH MY DOMAIN!" Okay so negotiations didn't work, time to go with the usual strategy, and run for it. However, before I can get very far, a GIGANTIC green sea serpent rises from the water and smashes the bridge in front of me. No time to stop, I jump, using my wings for an extra boost. I land safely at the next intact part of the bridge, and continue sprinting to the other side. "YOU THINK YOU CAN OUTRUN ME, MORTAL? YOUR IGNORANCE KNOWS NO LIMIT!" This time he rises up from under the bridge, smashing it like it was made of tissue, and looks directly at me, while blocking my way forward.

"Um....hi."

"Any last words, mortal?"  I felt the need to say something witty, but nothing came to mind. Actually, something else entirely comes to mind. It's like I never thought of it, but it's there and I need to say it.

"זוז מהדרך שלי" ....What did I just say? I didn't even know I could physically pronounce that. The sea serpent looks amazed, I was kind of hoping he'd laugh or something that would give me a chance to slip by. He examines me up and down a few times.

"You bear the marking of the hero." What marking, my cutie mark? Somehow I feel like treasure doesn't represent heroes. I make sure I heard him correctly.

"I bear.... the what?"

"Be careful, hero. If you stray from your path, the blessing shall become a curse." Curse..Is that what this is about?

"You mean my hooves?"

"No, I do not recognize that enchantment. Whatever is inside your hooves is currently dormant. I'm referring to the amulet." I retrieve the amulet from my saddlebag. I sure am glad I brought it. It seemed to have become shinier while residing in my bag, and is now giving off a golden light. "Hold on to it, hero. The amulet will guide you to what you seek, as long as it is within your reach." And with that, the serpent ducks back into the water, and the room stops shaking. I shudder to think what would have happened had I forgotten about the amulet, though I suspect the idea to bring it along popped into my head the same way that weird language had. I slip the amulet around my neck. If it's going to guide me, now would be a good time. Sure enough, the light concentrates on the doorway ahead of me. I could have figured that one out by myself. Time to get a move on.

(From the perspective of Daring Do.)

   I wake up to a massive earth-quake, that shakes the entire temple. I'm stuck to the wall via some sort of chains and cuffs, and my upper legs are really starting to hurt from being stuck above me.

"You're finally awake, Daring Do." Ahuizotl stands in front of me. I should have guessed.

"Ugh. I knew you'd be back. You're annoying like that."

"Now now, do be polite. I even left your colt-friend unharmed." Another tremor shakes the room. "Though my sea serpent pal causing a ruckus up there might not have the same philosophy." I glare at him, but he pretends not to notice. I need to escape and help Dart before Ahuizotl's minions get him! But how....?

"What are you doing in the middle of the desert anyways, Ahuizotl?"

"If you must know, I've been looking for an ancient sun talisman, and it just so happened that you walked in while we were investigating this temple. It sure provided a nice chance for revenge, I hired some mercenaries but your colt-friend was enough of a distraction that I didn't even need them!"

"You'll pay for this, Ahuizotl." As suddenly as they began, the tremors stop. Ahuizotl chuckles.

"It looks like the serpent has gone back to sleep. I suppose your friend has been....disposed of." For the first time, I feel worried. What if it really did get Dart? How can I live with myself if he dies after I pull him on this stupid adventure? No. I have to find him and make sure of it myself. I need to break these chains, somehow!

(From the perspective of Dart)

   The next room is empty. Completely. But I know better, empty rooms are the best places to hide things. The talisman shines it's light on a tile in the corner of the room with a sun marking on it, I stomp it as hard as I can. As I expected, a section of the ground slides away, revealing a stair case.

   Guarding the entrance to the final room, Ahuizotl's two remaining cat minions, a lion and a snowy white tiger getting ready to pounce on me as I enter. I dodge the tiger, but the lion hits me, knocking of Daring's hat, and we go rolling backward, I jab him with my right hoof, then kick him off with my back legs. While the lion recovers, the tiger pounces again, but I'm ready for him and buck him into the lion with perfect timing, rendering them both unconscious. The sun talisman's glow increases, and I know that Daring is in the next room. I retrieve the hat, then slide my ear up to the door, and I hear a bit of their conversation.

"-my revenge has taken it's toll Daring. Once I find it, you'll be left in this temple to rot with the remains of your colt-friend. Such a fitting ending for an annoyance like yourself."

"Celestia will find out, Ahuizotl, and you'll answer to her!"

"Celestia? I do not fear Celestia! That old mare hasn't moved from her throne in 50 years!" I've heard enough. I slam the door open, nearly breaking it against the stone wall of the temple.

   I had expected Ahuizotl to be frightened, and Daring to give me her usual smile, but the opposite is true when they see the talisman around my neck.

"Foolish stallion! You have delivered me the talisman I seek!" He grabbed a spear, and pointed it at Daring. "Give me the talisman and you can both leave alive," He offered.

"Bite my plot," Was my answer. He had put the spear a little too close to Daring, she clenches it with her teeth, and before he could try to free it from her grasp, I tackle him to the ground. Unfortunately, Ahuizotl is much larger than me, and throws me off fairly quick. He grabs the spear, and points it at me.

"Looks like I'll have to deal with you first!" He lunges, but I duck and the spear impales itself through Daring's hat. Realizing that I can't beat him in a fight, I take the amulet off and hold it my mouth.

"Giving up, are we?" Ahuizotl taunts me as he removes Daring's hat from his spear head.

"Hardly." I throw the talisman on the ground, and smash it with my hoof. I'm not really expecting any big opening or anything, but it's at least worth it to see his reaction.

"You....YOU SHATTERED THE SUN TALISMAN!" Before I can respond, the entire temple begins to shake, causing Ahuizotl to drop his spear. I grab it, and use it to break Daring's shackles. I think I can hear the sea serpent freaking out on the floor above, but there's no time to worry about it. Daring grabs her hat and saddlebag while we flee the room, a look of shock still on Ahuizotl's face as a falling piece of the temple lands between us.

This entire place is going to collapse if scaly up there doesn't calm down, which I sort of doubt will happen. So much for the mark of the hero. We race up the stairs, and return to that fork in the path where Ahuizotl had blocked me, dodging falling bricks and pieces as we go. Back at the entrance, I get my rope and lasso the picture of Celestia in battle armor as a reminder. After all, how can I leave without taking any treasure?

   Back outside, we took a moment to rest. The adventure had ended, and it was time to head back to Appleloosa. I sat down in the sand and dug out my water bottle. I took what I thought was a quick sip, but when I looked down it was empty. I guessed I had been thirstier than I thought, how long had I been in that temple? Daring casually sauntered over to me, and sat down. Her hat had a big hole in it from the spear, and her mane was messed up. I couldn't imagine that I looked any better. She gave me a quick nudge with her elbow.

"Hey, you saved me back there. Thanks."

"Yeah, I suppose I did. What's with the monkey guy?"

"You mean Ahuizotl? He's an old rival of mine. He's always after the craziest ancient artifacts."

"Ya think he's dead?" She shook her head.

"Doubtful. He always finds some way out and comes back with more cats." I leaned back until I was laying down on the sand.

"So.....How about that date?"