*CANCELED*

Chapter 1

Canterlot City, 1914, 14 years after Luna’s comeback, Star Swirl the Bearded Institution.

The Star Swirl the Bearded Institution is one of the most recognized institutions in Equestria. Dedicated to the most famous pony in history, Star Swirl, the institution holds more than 1,000 objects describing every single event in pony history.

The museum is usually a bit loud, but not too loud. Just quiet enough that if you listen carefully, you might hear the humming sound of the generator in the basement.

That’s where Daring Do works.

“Good morning, gentlestallions. First off, I would like to thank the board for agreeing to propose this meeting. Now, we all heard of the legend of Atlantis, right?” Daring Do said, to the crowd of ponies. “A continent possessing tech far greater than our own,” She continued. “Then, according to our friend right here Plato,” she pointed her stick to a bust of Plato, “A cataclysmic event that came suddenly and sank it to the bottom of the sea.”

“Now there are many questions we have about Atlantis,” Daring said, picking up a set of cards. “What was it? When did it exist? What tech did they have that was beyond ours? Well, I might have the answer,” she said, showing the first card to the crowd. “Some 12,000 years ago, before the Egyptians, was Atlantis, having tech that was, again as I said, greater than our own!” She lectured as she flipped through the cards. “They had found medicine far before the Egyptians did, made vehicles even before we did! But they also found energy,” she flipped to a card with a picture of an engraving, which showed some ponies worshipping some light. “Energy, that was greater than coal, greater then magic, even greater than our magic engines!” She calmed down a bit.

“Now, I believe that I had finally found a way to Atlantis, and the explanation of why ponies had not found the lost empire yet.”

She scooted out from behind the stand, struggling a bit before she popped herself out. She pointed to the chalkboard. “Now, ancient Atlantean runes tell us that the Clover’s Journal, written by Clover the Great, was to be found in Ireland. Now, in case if you didn’t know (I’m pretty sure you don’t), the Clover’s Journal was a map to Atlantis, but it was written in Atlantean, the language of Atlantis. Now, according to this…” She bent over, and tried to pick up a shield that was far too heavy for her. She finally picked it up, and adjusted it in her hooves. “Viking shield…*grunt* I found, that one of the runes, was mistranslated. Now, by changing the ‘R’ in Ireland…” She carefully removed one of her hooves carrying the shield, and erased the “R”. “… To a ‘C’… It turns out to be…” She wrote a “C” in place of the “R”. “Iceland.”

“Any questions?” She looked around. “Nope? Ok…” With that, she carefully put down the shield, and brushed her hooves together. “Now-“Before Daring Do could go on, a ring interrupted her. “Uh, excuse me,” she said sheepishly, and climbed over the board to where the telephone was. She picked it up. “Hello there, Daring Do here, how may I help you?” She said into the phone.

After a few moments, her face turned into a slight frown. “Ok, I’ll check the boiler.” She hung up, and turned on the lights. The crowd of ponies turned out to be mannequins just set up to resemble ponies. She walked over to the boiler, and took one of the pony masks. “Sorry,” she murmured, and threw it into the boiler. She adjusted some valves, and the boiler made a groaning noise. With a CLANG! The boiler stopped groaning and a small BOOM could be heard.

She flew over to the telephone, and said, “It’s all fixed. Yep, no problem,” and hung up.

"Now, I propose that I take a group of ponies, and journey to Iceland to retrieve the Clover's Journal. Questions?"

A bell rung, signifying the end of the speech. "Finally," she said out loud. She flew to the altar stationed on a small table hidden away. She carefully opened the doors, and a bright light came out. Inside was a safari hat that looked well worn and around it were some candles, big and small. She smiled sadly, and gently grasped the hat and put it on. Still fits, she thought. Daring looked towards the small picture frame next to the altar.

On the photo was a old pony, with graying hair, but he was dressed in safari clothing. Sitting in his lap was a foal, not much older then nine years old. "I promise," Daring said quietly to herself. "I'll find Atlantis for you. I promise, dad..."

With that, she gently put the frame in her satchel and other papers in before closing it up. It's almost time to go, she thought, and began to leave, but a puff of green smoke appeared in front of her. "Whoa!" She shouted out, startled.

The message floated for a few moments before Daring held her hoof out and caught it just before it fell. "Message..? Right now? It's almost time to go to the meeting..."

She shrugged. "Wouldn't hurt to read it right now," she said, and untied the ribbon that tied the message together.

" Greetings, Daring Do," She read aloud. " Your meeting time had been moved from 5:25 to 5:15."

She looked towards the clock. It read 5:20. "What..?"

Just then, another puff of green smoke appeared in front of her. Daring caught it and ripped it apart.

" Greetings, Daring Do. Since you were absent, the board has denied your proposal. Have a nice day." she read aloud again.

She figured what was going on and screamed, "They can't do this to me!!"

"I swear, that mare can't stop ranting on about Atlantis!" a voice said aloud. Along with that voice were many others.

"If I hear the word, 'Atlantis' again, I jump in front of a chariot!" A few chuckles rang out.

"Ha! I'll push you!" A stallion said, shoving the stallion who said the joke. Now everypony in the group was laughing now.

"Sir! Sir! Oh, there you are!" Daring Do's voice rang out from the end of the hallway. The ponies in the group stopped laughing and started running.

"How did she find us?" A board member said as he locked himself in a room. The others went and locked themselves in a room as well. The only one left was the board president.

He looked around in panic, and he found a small tree to hide behind. He tried to hide himself behind a small tree, but to no avail.

"Uh, sir?" Daring's voice said, as she spread out the branches, finding the board president hiding himself. He looked, and in reaction, smiled and opened his umbrella in front of Daring. This distracted the mare for a few seconds, just enough for the stallion to run out of the doors of the museum, and into his awaiting chariot.

Daring caught up and slammed right into him, pushing the stallion further into his chariot. "Oh, sir! Here you are! Just hold these for me and-" Daring said.

"You! I told you, Atlantis is not real!" The president shouted.

"But I can prove it!" Daring replied. "Atlantis exists!"

"You want to fund a expedition? Just stay here and tend the boilers," he replied, and his chariot took off.

Daring quickly flew after him. "Sir, the map is located in Iceland! Just fund-" She shouted into the chariot until he pulled down the blind. It didn't last, though, as Daring planted herself in front of the window of the chariot.

"Ugh! Sir, this is... A letter of resignation! If you don't fund my expedition-" The chariot cut her off by swerving and throwing her off.

"I'll quit!" She shouted. The chariot stopped, and rolled back. "Sir, if you don't fund my expedition-"

"Daring! How many times do I have to tell you? Don't become like your father," He said sternly.

"But sir! Atlantis does exist!" She said, hoping it would change his mind.

"You want a fund?" The president said, annoyed. He picked out a 10-bit and threw it to the ground in front of Daring. "Here! Jump into the Maretomic and jump in! Maybe the cold water will clear your head! Driver!" He flew off, going over a puddle and drenching Daring.

She gasped, and looked at her resignation letter, all wet.