Chapters Daring Do and the City of the Dead
Chapter 2: The Story of Mumma-Ra
Charming Thunder knocked on the door to Daring Do's house and waited to see if she would answer it. The door opened and Daring Do was standing there as she answered the door. "Charming Thunder!!" Daring Do said as she gave him a tight hug. "It is so good to see you again." She released the hug and turned to see Danny standing next to him. "And you must be his brother."
"A pleasure to meet you, Daring Do," Danny said.
"Come in. I'm sure you got my letter, Charming?"
"Indeed I did," Charming Thunder replied. "So what's this about?"
"I was hoping that you could see what I found. Wait here." Daring Do then flew to the next room as Charming Thunder and Danny waited for her to return.
"Well she's excited," Danny said.
"I noticed," Charming Thunder said. "Last time I went on an adventure with her, it was the day I moved to Ponyville. We bumped into each other along the way. I must say, when Rainbow first saw her, she was so excited to meet her."
"I'm sure she was." Daring Do returned to them holding an item with hieroglyphics all over it. Charming Thunder levitated it to get a closer look at it.
"Where did you get this?"
"Found it during my last adventure," Daring Do explained. "I recognized the markings on this thing and I have come to a conclusion on a theory." Charming Thunder noticed that it is turn able and decided to turn it clockwise. It then opened up like a flower and a piece of paper was inside of it.
"Daring?"
"Yes?"
"I think you did find something." Charming Thunder levitated the key and placed it on the table. He opened up the paper which appears to be a map and then firmly placed it on the table.
"It's a map," Danny said. "It looks ancient."
"My theory was correct then," Daring Do said. "It is Haygyptian."
"Haygiptian?"
"A language that is used in Haygypt," Danny explained.
"You see that location there?" Daring Do pointed to a location on the map that was on the lower right corner. "That is Hamunoptrot."
"Hamunoptrot? You mean the city of the dead Hamunoptrot?"
"Exactly."
"There has been a rumor that there are treasure beneath the city and I wish to find it. There is also a legend." Daring Do flew to a bookshelf and grabbed a book then flew back down to open it up on the table. "It began at the pharaoh's crown jewel city called Thebes. Home of Mumma-Ra, the pharaoh's high priest and keeper of the dead. Birthplace of Nephitaph, the pharaoh's mistress. No other stallion was allowed to touch her. But for their love, they were willing to risk life itself. When the pharaoh came to Mumma-Ra's chambers and found her there, he wondered who touched her when Mumma-Ra suddenly drew his sword and Nephitaph stabbed him in the back. They killed him as the pharaoh's bodyguards breach the door. Mumma-Ra resisted on leaving without the love of his life. So he swore that he would resurrect her. In order to resurrect her, Mumma-Ra and his priests broke into her crypt and stole her body. They raced through the desert taking her to Hamunoptrot, ancient burial site for sons of pharaohs and resting place of the wealth of Haygypt. He dared the gods anger by going deep into the city and took the Black Book of the Dead from its resting place. Nephitaph's soul was sent to the dark underworld with her vital organs removed and placed in five sacred jars. Before Mumma-Ra can complete the ritual, the pharaoh's bodyguards arrived to the scene and stopped him. His priests were condemned to be mummified alive, but he was condemned to endure the Hom-Dai. The worst of all of ancient curses and so horrible it had never before been bestowed. As the scarabs scurry on his screaming wrapped up body, he was sealed inside a sarcophagus for all of eternity." Daring Do closed the book and puts it back on the shelf. "I intend to find the Book of the Living and maybe deliver it to a museum."
"Where exactly do we come in?" Danny asked.
"I was getting to that. I was hoping that you can tag along. It would be like old times, Charming."
"I would love to come along and go on another adventure with you," Charming Thunder said. "What about you, brother?"
"Why not," Danny replied.
"And I think I know a couple of my friends who might want to come. Danny, you think Rainbow would be up to it?"
"She is actually busy taking care of Sonic. She can't just leave him alone."
"Good point. Pinkie and Fluttershy are also out of the question since they now have dates planned. Twilight would be busy with her royal duties. Sunset will be helping her out. Perhaps Rarity and Spike could?"
"I'll see what I can do about them. I was also thinking of bringing your apprentice Moondancer and maybe Applejack."
"Good idea. Moondancer loves history and I'm sure that she will be interested. I'm sure Applejack won't mind tagging along as well if she is not busy. Maybe I can bring Khem along as well."
"Then it's settled," Daring Do announced. "We will form an expedition team to Hamunoptrot. Once you are ready, we can take a train to Manehattan so we can take a boat to Haygypt." Charming Thunder and Danny nodded and Charming Thunder hoof bumped with Daring Do as their quest will soon begin.
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
Chapter 3: Deaparting to Haygypt
Everyone met up in the castle after they agreed to come along with Charming Thunder and Danny. Spike carried Rarity's things as he carried his big bag on his back. From what Danny heard, Spike had an aged accelerated a lot to make him look like an adult. Applejack had her saddlebag on her back as Moondancer did the same full of books on ancient Haygypt. As for Khem, he needed nothing but his vibrosword. He already got acquainted with the rest of Twilight's friends while Charming Thunder and Danny were away. Charming Thunder remembered that Daring Do told him to meet her at the Ponyville train station so that they can go to Manehattan. When everyone was about to leave, they heard a familiar roar of a engine. They all looked and see a familiar red ponylorian armor stallion with a cyborg pony. They jumped from the landing platform that was extended while the ship was still flying. They did some stunts on the way done but they landed safely and unharmed on the ground. "Showoffs," Danny said with a smile.
"Long time, no see; Brother Danny and Cousin Charming," Phantom Lord said as he took off his helmet, revealing his face. He pulled something out of his bag and toss it to Danny, who held it and looked at it, completely shocked.
"Where did you get this? I thought you weren't into treasure hunting."
"We found one of our targets recently was a treasure hunter," Mako replied. "We managed to take this and we were amazed by the price of it."
"Bro, my twin and his assistant found a relic of the past. The headpiece from the Staff of Ra." Danny showed Charming Thunder the piece and was amazed with seeing the relic.
"{Is this intruder a friend of yours, your highness?}" Khem asked.
"It's fine, Khem," Charming Thunder reassured.
Phantom Lord noticed that the group had packed bags and asked, "What's with the bags?"
"We're of to Haygypt to join Daring Do an expedition to Hamunoptrot. I knew that these markings on this relic were similar to the last item I saw. Perhaps you would like to come along?"
"Is there a payment involved after the expedition?"
"There is treasure hidden in the ancient city," Rarity explained. "I'm sure that will be enough."
"I'll be the judge of it when I see it. Mako, why don't you stay here in Ponyville to keep an eye on the ship while I am away?"
"No problem, boss," Mako replied. She then walked back to where the Ebon Hawk landed as Charming Thunder and the crew headed to the train station.
Arriving at Manehattan, the boat prepares for its departure to Haygypt as Charming Thunder and the others approach to board it. They showed their tickets and walked up the ramp to board as they carried their luggage to their rooms. Danny had a room with Charming Thunder and Khem to guard his master at all times, Rarity with Spike, Applejack with Moondancer, and Daring Do with Phantom Lord.
After departure, Danny was playing holo chess with Phantom Lord while Charming Thunder was talking to Khem and Applejack, Daring Do with Moondancer reading books on ancient Haygypt and learning the language, and Rarity was also reading a book while sitting next to the edge to get a good view of the sea. Spike dropped his bag on the table which startled Rarity a little. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he said.
"It's fine, Spikey," Rarity said. Spike then opened up his bag which revealed Zebra tech, weaponry, and plasma grenades. He then sat down across from Rarity and checked his weapons. "What's all this for, love?"
"Just for safety precautions. In case anything comes between us."
"I've been hearing chatter from Charming Thunder and Daring Do about finding an artifact there. Well kind of an artifact. I think it was called the Book of the Living."
"And the fact that it is probably made out of pure gold, right?" Rarity was surprised with Spike's knowledge.
"How do you know that?"
"Just a hunch." Spike began to polish his Plasma Repeater as Rarity continued to read her book. Charming Thunder was next to Applejack as Khem was now with Danny and Phantom Lord as he watched them playing holo chess. Applejack blushed a little as Charming Thunder stared off to the sea.
"The last time I went to sea, was when I had to do a peace treaty with the Mon Calamari," Charming Thunder said. "But now we're taking a boat to Haygypt. A place I have never been to before. Hopefully I'll get home on time for me and Twilight's anniversary."
"I'm excited as much as you are," Applejack said as she hid her blush.
"You feelin' okay, AJ?"
"I'm fine. Really. I just uh, need some rest that's all." Applejack then walked away to go to her room. Charming Thunder knew that it was a lie and Applejack never lies. He decided to let it slide and met up with Daring Do and Moondancer. Danny was furious that he lost to his twin on the game of holo chess.
"This was the third time I lost," Danny said. "How did you become a pro at this?"
"Played it so many times with Mako in case we get bored or wait for another bounty to be posted," Phantom Lord explained. "I would suggest that you rethink your strategy in order to beat me."
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
Chapter 4: Night Boarders
The moon shone on the desert of Haygypt as three boats with armed warriors. One of them had a hook as he sat on the boat in the middle while the other skiffs head to the boat that is making their way through the river.
On the boat, Charming Thunder, Danny, Phantom Lord, and Spike were alone playing a game of sabacc. Khem stood next to Charming Thunder as he was seated on his chair. Charming Thunder eyed Spike and showed his cards to everyone. They gasped as Charming Thunder won the pot. "That was a fair game," Phantom Lord said. "How about we make a bet. First one to the city will be rewarded one hundred bits."
Danny nodded and replied, "Alright. You are on." The group then heard footsteps and turned to see a wet trail of hooves on the wooden floor. Charming Thunder looked over the railing then looks back to the trail and is now on alert.
"We are boarded," Charming Thunder said. "Spike, go find Rarity and make sure she's alright. Danny check on Moondancer. Phantom, you go to Daring Do. Khem, you're with me to go check Applejack." The group then began to split up to check on their friends and hope that the boarders haven't reached them.
Applejack stood in front of the mirror as she brushed her mane. She then dropped her brush and turned to see a pony with a hook who then grabs her. "Where is the map?" he demanded.
"I-it's not here," Applejack said as the hook is under her muzzle.
"Then where is the key?"
"What key?" The wall bursts open and Khem grabbed the hooked pony then Charming Thunder came through the door. The candle flickered and Charming Thunder turned to see a pony firing his blaster at the unicorn. Charming Thunder returned fire and shot him on the head. Khem held the hooked pony up high and waited for his master's orders.
"Do what you want with him," Charming Thunder ordered Khem. "Just meet up once your done." Khem growled at the hooked pony as Charming Thunder and Applejack left and pinned him to the floor.
"{With pleassure,}" Khem said. He then opened his mouth and took a bite on the pony's flesh as he screamed in pain.
Spike and Rarity raced out to the deck as blaster fire was heard. "Hold this," Spike said as he handed Rarity his weapon bag. He turned on his Plasma Repeater as blaster shots attempted to hit Spike. He then got out of cover and fired his repeater at the shooter and exchanged some gun fire. His plasma weapon hits the shooter and and puts it on his back as Rarity and him reached to the railing of the boat. "Can you swim?"
"Well of course I can swim if the occasion calls for it," Rarity replied. Spike then picked her up and walked to the railing. "Don't you dare, Spike. It'll ruin my mane."
"Trust me. It calls for it." Spike then threw Rarity to the water and climbed it as he readied to jump to follow her. He was suddenly grabbed by a pony and got dragged to the wall. Danny and Phantom Lord suddenly arrived and tackled the pony away from Spike and worked together as a team to beat the attacker. Darring Do and Moondancer arrived after Danny pushed the pony off the boat.
"What do we do now?" Moondancer asked.
"We jump to the water and swim to shore."
"I'll er, fly instead," Daring Do said as she flapped her wings and flew off the boat. Danny did the same as Phantom Lord activated his jet pack and followed. Spike and Moondancer jumped into the water and began to swim to shore.
Charming Thunder and Applejack arrive to a crossfire between western ponies and the boarders. Khem arrived as well as he wiped off the blood off of his face from eating the hooked pony. "{What next?}" Khem asked.
"Take Applejack to safety," Charming Thunder ordered. "I'll help the rest of the passengers." Khem picked up Applejack and jumped into the water while Charming Thunder stepped into a room and turned into his Wirewolf form then burst through the wall to take out the rest of the night boarders. He grabbed one of the rifles and hits one in the face like a baseball bat. He was suddenly shot and slowly turned to see the western pony who shot him and growled.
"Sorry, partner," the stallion said. Charming Thunder then transformed back to his normal form.
"That was a very good show. I suggest that we jump or we will be sunk with this ship." Charming Thunder dove into the water as the others followed him. Once he reached to shore, he walked up to Daring Do and the others. "You got everything we need?"
"Map is burned up, but I might know the way," Daring Do replied.
"What about the others?" Applejack asked. "They looked like that they were from Appaloosa."
"They made it off safely." Charming Thunder then turned to see the boat burn up. "Lets hope that something like that will never happen again."
"It's unfortunate that we lost everything," Rarity said. "All our equipment, all our tools, and all of our clothes."
"Sugarcube, how many times do we have to explain this to you?" Applejack said. "We. Don't. Normally. Wear. Clothes."
"So what now?" Danny asked.
"We find a shop and buy some raptors to ride on to go to Hamunoptrot."
"{Be on your guard if anything like this happens again,}" Khem said. He then leaned down to Charming Thunder and asked, "{What's a velociraptor?}"
Charming Thunder rolled his eyes and said, "You'll see."
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
Chapter 5: The Journey to Hamunoptrot
At a trading post, Spike and Charming Thunder were talking to the raptor merchant as they offered to get eight velociraptors. Charming Thunder gave the merchant the bits and grabbed the reins with his magic. Spike then saw Rarity wearing a sun hat over her head approaching them. "That's new," Charming Thunder said. Rarity smiled and turned to Spike and walked past him with a gentle nudge.
"I just couldn't believe the price of these reptiles," Spike said.
"If Fluttershy were here, she would be mad for making that comment." Charming Thunder petted his raptor as it gave a friendly growl.
In the middle of the desert, Daring Do led the way to the ancient city on her raptor with Charming Thunder and the others following behind. "Never did like deserts," Rarity said. "There's nothing but sand and heat. All that....nature. "
"At least we have water in case we get thirsty," Danny said.
"Don't encourage her, brother," Charming Thunder said.
"What? What did I say?" Charming Thunder's velociraptor hissed a little. Spike whistled a tune as the group went deeper and deeper into the desert. They journeyed through sandstorms and traveled days and nights.
Camp was set up in the middle of the desert as the raptors ate their food given to them by the owners. Charming Thunder and the others sat around the campfire as Danny told a story about a prank he made on Charming Thunder. "Then I revealed myself to the stage and man my brother was shocked to see me alive," Danny said. Everyone except Charming Thunder laughed after the story ended.
"It was not funny," Charming Thunder said. "I nearly risked my life in that fun house."
"I'm sure that it wasn't that bad," Spike said.
"Oh, really? How about animatronics that come to life at night and try to kill me until six in the morning?"
"Charming, it was just a prank," Applejack reassured as she placed a hoof on Charming Thunder's shoulder. "I'm sure he didn't mean to scare you." A sound was heard echoing the desert as the group got a little scared of what it is. Applejack and Rarity hugged together as they were scared. Spike had his Energy Sword active as he looked around for the source of the sound. The sound also startled the raptors a little and kept their guard up.
"What was that?" Rarity asked.
"That was the sound of the Tusken Raiders," Charming Thunder explained. "I've dealt with their kind before. They are pony like us but different."
"{Sand People here in Equestria as well?}" Khem asked himself. "{What have I been missing for the past years?}"
"For now let us get us some sleep," Daring Do said. "We are almost to Hamunoptrot. I can feel it in my gut." Daring Do entered her tent with Applejack and Rarity as Charming Thunder along with Danny, Phantom Lord, and Spike entered theirs. Khem decided to stay outside for a little while to make sure nothing destroys the camp.
Charming Thunder yawned as he rode his raptor following Daring Do through the desert. His raptor snarled as Daring Do and the others stopped to look at nothing but sand. "What are we doing?" Phantom Lord asked.
"Patience, my friend," Daring Do reassured. "Patience."
"Remember our bet, Charming Thunder. First one to the city gets one hundred bits."
"Get ready," Daring Do said.
"For what?" Spike asked.
"We are about to be shown the way." The sun started to rise in the distance as the group sees something appear. It looks like a city slowly falling down from the sky as a mirage, but Charming Thunder knew what it is and leaned towards his raptor's ear.
"Would you look at that," Danny said.
"Well I'll be," Applejack said.
"Hamunoptrot," Moondancer said.
"Here we go, boy," Charming Thunder whispered to his raptor. As the city appeared in the distance, the group then took off and began to race towards the city. They jumped over rocks and many other obstacles in their path. Charming Thunder was up in front followed by Phantom Lord who was starting to catch up. Applejack's raptor then dashed past him and rode next to Charming Thunder. He looked at her with a smile as the wind blew in Applejack's mane. She then rode past Charming Thunder as he became amazed with what he is seeing. Somehow her raptor seemed faster than his. Rarity cheered for her as she arrived to the front of the city. She was the first pony to set foot in the city and won the bet. the others arrive along with her as Danny stopped next to Phantom Lord.
"Looks like you owe her one hundred bits," Danny said. Now the real work begins as the group dismounts their raptors and unpack their stuff to set up camp at the ancient city before they start digging.
A few hours later, Daring Do was examining a statue as Charming Thunder ties a rope around a pillar to go down in an opening. Moondancer rearranged some mirrors that were set up next to the hole. "According to the book Moondancer read, the base of the statue of Anubis has a secret compartment," Daring Do explained. "Maybe it contains the Book of the Living."
"What does it have to do with these mirrors?" Phantom Lord asked.
"They're ancient mirrors," Moondancer explained. "It's an ancient Haygyptian trick. You'll see what I mean later."
"Rope is ready," Charming Thunder said. The group approached as he repelled down the rope to enter the city. Spike steeped up with Rarity as they watched him go down in the hole and safely made it to the ground.
"Ladies first?" Spike asked Rarity.
"You're a kind dragon," Rarity said. "That's what I like about you."
"Will you be fine guarding the area, Khem?" Danny asked.
"{It's what my master would want,}" Khem replied. "{I'll make sure no one interferes with your expedition.}" He then drew his vibro sword off of his back and walked away from the hole.
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
The group repelled down on the rope as Daring Do held a torch in her hoof. "Do you realize, we are standing inside a room that no one has entered in over four thousand years?" Daring Do asked.
"Is that supposed to scare me?" Charming Thunder asked. "All I see are just cob webs." Moondancer notices one of the mirrors and brushed off the cob webs. She then rearranged the mirror so the sun can reflect to the other mirrors.
"And then Celestia said let there be light," Moondancer said. The room became brighter and revealed a chamber.
"That is a neat trick," Phantom Lord said.
"This must be a preparation room," Daring Do said.
"Preparation for what?" Charming Thunder asked.
"Probably for entering the afterlife," Danny said as he let out a ghostly woo to his brother. Charming Thunder didn't like it and pushed him away a little.
"This may be the place where they make mummies as well," Moondancer added. The group entered a hallway as they followed Daring Do. Charming Thunder had his DL-44 pistol drawn as Spike had his Plasma Repeater out. They then heard something and stopped. Some of them were scarred as the rest only looked around. Once the sound faded away, Applejack began to shake with fear as she wrapped her hoof unexpectedly around Charming Thunder. She then looked at him in the eye and released him as she blushed.
"What was that?" Rarity asked.
"That sounds like....bugs," Daring Do replied. That gave Rarity the chills and stood close to Spike so he could protect her in case any bugs would come. They exit the hallway and up to the foot of an enormous half-buried statue of Anubis. "This must be the legs of Anubis. The compartment should be around here somewhere." They then heard pebbles falling and stopped to look around. Applejack looked down to see some sort of crack on the ground and decided to investigate it. It was no ordinary crack that she has seen before.
"Looks like there is more to this place," Spike said.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Charming Thunder said.
"Charming Thunder, why don't you take Moondancer, Danny, and Rarity to explore deeper into the ruins and if you find anything, contact me on your communicator," Daring Do said. "I'll stay here and read the hieroglyphics on the statue.
"You've read my mind." Charming Thunder then leads his group through the halls to explore deeper into the city and hoping to find where the pebbles land.
Below the room where the statue is, Charming Thunder used a sledgehammer against the ceiling while Moondancer gently uses a tiny chisel to chip away. "I swear if the statue collapses over us," Charming Thunder said.
"I'm sure there is something else other than the statue aside from the book and treasure," Moondancer said. Rarity used her magic to levitate a chisel to Charming Thunder while Danny uses the sledgehammer.
"I only hope that Daring Do can find what she is looking for," Danny said.
"Don't you even think about wandering off, Danny," Charming Thunder said. "I know that you might plan on putting on another prank on me anytime soon."
"Come on. You know that I would not do that right now."
"Riiiight."
After Daring Do found a possible spot for the secret compartment, Phantom Lord decided to use a crow bar and try to open it, but was stopped by Daring Do. "Careful, Phantom," she said. "The pharaoh was no fool to just let us get it that easily. I've heard of things like this happen before."
"Are you that worried about me or something?" Phantom Lord said. Daring Do blushed a little with that comment.
"Not really, but I have an idea. Why don't you use your grapple to pull it open from a safe distance?" Phantom Lord looked at the crow bar and back at Daring Do then removed the crow bar from the crack on the statue.
"Whatever you say." Phantom Lord and Daring Do took a few steps away from the statue and he aimed his left hoof at the statue. He then fired his grapple and begins to pull with all of his strength. Applejack and Spike helped him out and pulled the rope harder. They successfully pulled it open and were lucky to not to get hit by the trap that erupted like dust.
Back in the room below, Rarity used her magic to play with the sledgehammer and hit pebbles like a golf club. Charming Thunder looked at some symbols on the wall as Moondancer sat with Danny explaining some things. "Let me get this straight," Danny said. "They ripped out your guts and stuffed them in jars."
"They will take out your heart as well," Moondancer added. "You know how they took out your brains?"
"Moondancer, I don't think we need to know this," Charming Thunder said. Moondancer ignored him and explained it to Danny.
"They'd take a sharp, red-hot poker, stick it up your nose, scramble things about a bit, and then rip it all out through your nostrils."
"Ouch that's gotta hurt," Danny said as he felt his nose.
"It's called mummification. You'll be dead when they do this."
"Hey Rarity, if l don't make it out of here, don't put me down for mummification," Charming Thunder said.
"Likewise," Rarity said as she hits another pebble which then caused the ceiling suddenly collapse and drop a massive stone casement. She then slowly turned to see it as the rest walked up to it.
"Is this what I think it is?" Moondancer said. "It's a sarcophagus. Buried at the base of Anubis. He was either someone of great importance. Or he probably did something very naughty." Daring Do an the others arrive to the scene. Spike was relieved to see Rarity alright while Applejack was surprised to see a sarcophagus. Moondancer cleared the sand off of it revealing a single, ominous hieroglyph.
"Who is it?" Daring Do said. Moondancer adjusted her glasses and read the symbol.
"He that shall not be named." Charming Thunder dusted off a spot which appears to be a lock.
"There's some sort of lock here," Charming Thunder said.
"Whoever's in here, sure wasn't getting out," Rarity added.
"Yup. Hopefully we can get this open if we have a key."
"A key?" Applejack said. "A key! So that's what he was talking about." She then went through the bag to take out the puzzle box and opened it.
"What do you mean?" Phantom Lord asked.
"That stallion with a hook said that he was looking for a key."
"You are a genius, Applejack," Charming Thunder said as he patted Applejack on the back.
"I hate to break it to you but...." Rarity said before she yawned. "It's probably getting late. Can we open it tomorrow?"
"We should head back to camp then," Danny said.
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
Chapter 7: Tusken Raider Attack
The group sat around the campfire while Khem stood to keep an eye out for anything approaching. Rarity was wrapped around in a blanket sitting next to Spike. Applejack sat next to Charming Thunder a little nervous next to him. "Did you find that compartment at the statue?" Danny asked.
"We have," Daring Do replied. "Good thing we avoided the pressurized salt acid trap."
"Maybe this place is cursed." A gust of wind suddenly blew through the camp which gave the group the chills. Charming Thunder looked at Danny with anger in his eye.
"Not helping!" Charming Thunder said.
"What? You don't believe in curses, huh?"
"No. I believe if I can see it and I can touch it, then it's real. That's what I believe."
"Yeah sure," Spike said as he loaded his Carbine.
"Care to have some apple cider?" Applejack said as she took out a bottle out of her bag. "I saved this for a very special occasion."
"Don't mind if I do," Charming Thunder said before taking a swig. "Thanks." Spike turned as he heard something in the distance. It sounded like a group approaching.
"Take this, Rarity," Spike said as he gave her his Carbine. "And stay here!" He then ran from the camp which concerned Rarity.
"Wait for me, Spikey," Rarity said as she got up holding the weapon.
"Rarity!" Danny said. "Didn't the dragon said stay here? Rarity!" The group got up to follow Rarity to the ruins while Applejack caps the bottle and puts it down.
A siege broke down as a group of Tusken Raiders attacked the camp with their staffs. Massif dogs came along and confronted the velociraptors. The group arrived to the scene and some of them took cover with their blasters and some stood out of the open with their lightsabers. Spike fired his Plasma Repeater at the attackers while Danny chopped some of them down with his lightsabers with Moondancer and Khem. Rarity saw one charging at her with a staff and shot the Carbine at it then collapses to the ground due to the impact of the shot she fired. Charming Thunder fired at the Tusken Raiders who were in cover with their rifles firing at them. Phantom Lord flew in the air with his jet pack and used his flamethrower to burn the attackers around him. Once it was clear, more suddenly came along with their chieftain as they let out a battle cry. Charming Thunder transformed into his Wirewolf form and attacked them to lower their numbers. The chieftain hits him in the back with his staff and suddenly got grabbed by Charming Thunder and got lifted up in the air then throws him back to the ground. He transformed back to his normal form and shouted, "ENOUGH!!!" The fighting stopped as the attackers look at Charming Thunder. He then spoke their language asking them why they have attacked the camp. The chieftain responded in the same language with a warning. The chieftain then signaled the others to stand down and ran off to the distance. Charming Thunder then walked up to the others while Spike helped Rarity up.
"What did he say?" Daring Do asked.
"Their chief said that we must leave this place or die. Something about it being cursed." Charming Thunder then sees Rarity as she was helped up. "You alright? That was a good shot."
"I'm alright, darling," Rarity replied while she fixed her mane. "Just need to get the sand out of my mane before I get some sleep."
Daring Do and the others were asleep except for Charming Thunder and Applejack looking at the stars. "You see that one?" Charming Thunder asked as he pointed to a star constellation. "That is the constellation of Scorpio."
"Wow," Applejack said. "I never knew that stars could be this beautiful in Haygypt. How do you know the constellations?"
"Twilight showed me with her telescope and taught me what they symbolize."
"She can be really smart when it comes to her studies sometimes." Applejack and Charming Thunder laughed then sighed as they continue to gaze at the beautiful night sky. "Charming, there is something I need to get off my chest that I have been keeping for so long."
"And what's that, AJ?"
"I just want to confess that I have been in love with you the whole time when you were married to Twilight." Charming Thunder was a little shocked as Applejack continued her explanation. "I was jealous until I heard about the Equestrian Law."
"Let me guess; Danny?"
"Eeyup. I thought that this would be the right time to tell you and hope that you will accept me. I love you. I always have."
"That explains why you were nervous around me. You were just afraid to say it. Until now."
"To be honest sugarcube, I was afraid that you would reject it and just accept me as a friend. Now that you have Sunset...." Charming Thunder placed his hoof on her lips to stop her.
"It has been difficult I know. I appreciate you telling me this. I had feelings for you as well ever since I first moved to Ponyville. You are the Element of Honesty as I am the Element of Courage. You were once a commander of the Equestrian Empire before the Lunar Republic fell and fought bravely like me. You work hard as a farm pony with your family. You faced many monsters, prevented the end of the world, etc. And most importantly, you--"
"Charming, you talk to much. Shut up and kiss me, your highness." Charming Thunder smiled and pressed his lips to Applejack's. Danny who was eavesdropping while using his ghost powers smiled and then walked back to his sleeping bag.
"Finally she confessed," Danny whispered.
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
The next morning, the group returned inside the ruins to continue their investigations. Khem helped Daring Do reach into the secret compartment and carefully placed an ornate chest to the floor. Daring Do dusted of the sand on the chest and hieroglyphs were then shown on it. "It's a warning written on this chest," Daring Do explained. "In these hallowed grounds, that which was set forth in ancient times, is as strong today, as it was then."
"What does it say though?" Phantom Lord asked as he and the others gathered to read along. Daring Do cleared her throat and started to read.
"Death will come on swift wings if he would ever return." A gust of wind suddenly blew in the room and flickered the torches and Daring Do held on to her hat. When it faded, she then continued to read. "If he would be brought back to life, he will kill all those who stand against them and assimilate their organs and fluids. And in so doing he will regenerate. And no longer be the undead, but a plague upon this earth."
"Then I guess that we should make sure that we don't bring anypony back from the dead then," Applejack said.
"Khem, if you would do the honors with opening this chest?" Daring Do asked.
"{With pleasure,}" Khem replied. He then grabbed the lid and used his strength to open the chest. He pulled the lid off and dropped it on the ground.
Charming Thunder and Moondancer levitated the second sarcophagus that was inside the stone coffin and sets it up to the wall. "I'm so excited," Moondancer said.
"I'm sure that you dreamed about discovering dead people," Danny said sarcastically. Charming Thunder opened up the key and placed it on the slot.
"Look, all the sacred spells have been chiseled off. Whoever this is, this stallion was cursed or doomed."
"Yes, I'm all tears," Rarity said. "Let's just see who is inside shall we?" Charming Thunder twisted the key to open the lock on the coffin. Danny then helped Charming Thunder open the sarcophagus while the others took a step back. It suddenly popped open and revealed a most hideous, infested, rotten corpse pop out. Everyone jumped behind the stone coffin and popped out their heads shaking. "I HATE IT WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN!!!" They then slowly walked back to the deformed corpse and examined it.
"Is he supposed to look like that?" Charming Thunder asked.
"No," Moondancer replied. "I have never seen a mummy look like this before. Normally I see the ones covered with bandages, but this one is still....oh how do I put this?"
"Juicy," Danny and Charming Thunder said.
"Yes. He must be more than three thousand years old and from the looks of it he's still decomposing." Rarity looked at strange markings on the lid of the inside of the coffin.
"Look at this," Rarity said. The others then looked at the strange markings as Moondancer examined it. Blood was all over it and hoof marks like someone was trying to get out.
"It looks like he was buried alive. And he left a message. Death is only the beginning."
"That doesn't sound promising," Danny said as he looked back at the corpse.
"If he ever wakes up, I'll shoot it," Charming Thunder added.
Daring Do slowly stepped up and reached inside the box then unwraps a heavy burlap bag. She slowly pulled out a book that was stored inside the bag. "{So it does exist,}" Khem said. "{The Book of the Dead.}"
"What about the treasure?" Phantom Lord asked.
"This is treasure for now," Daring Do said.
"Have it your way."
"Perhaps we should check on Charming Thunder and the others," Applejack suggested. "I've been wondering what he's been doing. He's been saying something about a sarcophagus."
"No need for that," Charming Thunder said. "We just found ourselves a nice gooey mummy."
"Well congrats," Daring Do said. "And I have found one of the books."
"Tell me more once we get back to the surface," Danny said. "I'm interested with what else you discovered."
The group sat around the camp fire after Daring Do explained a warning that was written on the chest she and the others found. "The chieftain maybe right about one thing then," Charming Thunder said. "This place might be cursed."
"Do you think that mummy we found is Mumma-Ra?" Danny asked.
"I don't know," Daring Do replied. "But we will find out once we bring the corpse back to the lab and examine it." Moondancer walked up and sat down with the group levitating bug skeletons and show them to everyone.
"What is that?" Charming Thunder asked a little scared.
"Scarabs, flesh eaters, I found them inside our friend's coffin," Moondancer explained. "They can stay alive for years living off the flesh of a corpse, or in this case famished."
"Somepony threw those in before burying that stallion," Phantom Lord said. "So they ate him alive?"
"Very slowly. I have come to a solution that he suffered the Hom-Dai. It's the worse of all ancient curses reserved only for the most evil blasphemers."
"{So it is Mumma-Ra,}" Khem Val said.
Yes. I believe so. It is written that a victim of the Hom-Dai should ever arise, he would bring with him the ten plagues of Haygypt."
"All of them?" Danny asked.
"Yes. All of them."
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
Chapter 9: Awakening Mumma-Ra
Having just freshened up for bed, Moondancer sneaks out of the tent with the Book of the Dead and placed it on a stone where Charming Thunder and the others slept. She then went through the bag to look for the key. "That's called stealing, you know," Charming Thunder said as he slowly opened his eyes.
"According to you and your brother it is called borrowing," Moondancer said as she opened up the key.
"It could be dangerous. You sure you want to be playing around with that thing?"
"Oh come on. It's just a book. What harm can come from reading a book?" Moondancer unlocked the book with the key and when she opened it, the fire flickered and they shared a nervous look.
"So what does it say?" Moondancer began to read a page in ancient Haygiptian.
Inside the ruins, Moondancer's voice echoed in the Mumma-Ra's ear. When it finished, his eyes glowed red and awoke in his coffin from the dead and roared .
Khem Val bolted up from his sleeping bag and looked at Moondancer who was reading and shouted, "{What have you done? You mustn't read from the book!!}"
"SHE DID WHAT?!!" Daring Do shouted. Everyone woke up after hearing what happened and a sound was heard in the distance. It came louder and louder when suddenly in the distance, a swarm of locusts came into the camp out of the darkness and engulfed the camp. The group then began to run from the swarm and raced into the ruins hoping that it will go away.
"Did you see that?" Phantom Lord asked. "That was a swarm of grasshoppers. Was that one of the plagues?"
"No." Daring Do said. "It's generational."
"I'm sure it will go away," Moondancer said. The group continued to move through the labyrinth with Daring Do holding the torch. Once they were deeper in the ruins, the ground suddenly shook and a swarm of scarab beetles burst out of the sand. Charming Thunder screamed and ran for his life through the halls. "SCARABS!!" Daring Do and the others leaped to a pedestal while Rarity jumped into a narrow grotto on the other side of the stairway. The scarabs scurry between them while Spike aimed his Plasma Repeater at them to make sure one of them won't get to hem. Rarity suddenly fell backwards through an opening and it closed as the scarabs finally left the room. The group sighed with relief including Charming Thunder who was still shaking with fear.
"I didn't know you were scared of scarabs," Danny said laughing a little.
"Shut up!" Charming Thunder said. "I just don't want to get eaten by those scarabs."
"Wait a minute, where's Rarity?" Spike said.
"She was across from us a second ago," Applejack said. "Oh no. Phantom Lord is missing as well."
Rarity sat up shaking the sand out of her mane and looked around fearfully. The room was almost pitch black so she used her magic to light the way. She then rounds a corner where the moonlight shone through the crack on the ceiling. She then heard footsteps approaching and looked around on alert. "Who's there?" Rarity demanded. "Spike? Charming? Whoever you are show yourself." She backed up and bumped into something. "Spike is that y---" She turned around to see the molten fleshed Mumma-Ra growling at her. She screamed and slowly backed away from the creature until she stopped at the wall. Mumma-Ra's eyes widened as he looked into Rarity's sapphire eyes.
"Nephitaph?" the creature said as he snarled.
Spike hits a wall in an effort to break it down. "Darn it!!" Spike said. "It's a trap door."
"Then there must be a switch around here somewhere," Charming Thunder said. Before the group started to look, they heard Phantom Lord's jet pack approaching and fly towards them.
"Don't just stand there," Phantom Lord said. "RUN!!"
"Not again." The group then ran as the group of scarabs return and follow them down the stairs and hauled out of the room hoping to find Rarity along the way.
Mumma-Ra stepped forward to Rarity as she shook with fear. The sand seems to be magnetized to his rotten flesh. "Kadeesh pharos Nephitaph." Charming Thunder suddenly entered the room to find her.
"There you are," Charming Thunder said relieved. "Quit playing hide and seek and lets get out of here." Rarity continued to stare at Mumma-Ra as he turned to see him. He jumped with shock and drew out his blaster pistol. Mumma-Ra growled at his presence and slowly approached them.
"Rarity!!" Spike yelled. Mumma-Ra then turned to the source of the voice. Spike entered the room with the others and stopped with shock and dropped his weapon. The creature then turned back to Rarity and Charming Thunder and lets out a loud screech at them. This gave Rarity the chills but Charming Thunder was not afraid and fired his blaster at him.
"MOVE!!" The group followed Charming Thunder to get out of the ruins while the walking corpse slowly got up fixing his broken jaw. With the swarm cleared, the group took a breather and they were relieved that they got away from the monster.
"What was that thing?" Spike said.
"I think that was Mumma-Ra," Daring Do replied. "I suggest we get away from here before the monster gets us."
"Relax, Daring Do," Charming Thunder reassured. "I got him."
"No mortal weapon can kill this creature. He's not of this world."
"He's immortal then," Danny said.
"Exactly. This creature is the bringer of death. He'll never eat. He'll never sleep. He'll never stop."
"{Until he is fully regenerated,}" Khem added.
"What do you suggest we do?" Phantom Lord asked.
"I suggest we flee to a town and try to find a way to kill him," Daring Do said. "Hopefully that he won't follow us." Everyone agreed and rushed to mount their raptors to flee the ancient city. As they made their way out of the city, a hoof popped out of the sand and a roar echoed the city.
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
At a fort in Haygypt, Charming Thunder walked around in the room while Khem stood guard at the window and Applejack sat on the bed with concern with why Charming Thunder was angry. "At first I didn't believe in this stuff 'til now."
"Having an encounter with a three thousand year old walking-talking corpse tends to make you believe in these myths," Applejack said trying to calm Charming Thunder down.
"Forget that. We're out the door, down the hall, and we are leaving."
"Oh, no we are not."
"Oh, yes we are."
"No we are not. We woke him up, and we must try and stop him."
"We? What we? Moondancer read that book. I told her not to play around that thing. Did I tell her not to play with that thing?"
"Oh so you are blaming her for her curiosity? Rarity did try to stop him."
"I'm not blaming anypony. You heard Daring Do no mortal weapons can kill that guy."
"Then we'll have to find some immortal ones."
"{There's that we again,}" Khem said.
"Moondancer's explanation about the curse was made clear to us. Once this creature is reborn, his curse will spread and as he grows in strength, so will his curse grow, infecting the people until Equestria is destroyed. It's everyone's problem. Don't you understand, Charming. Don't take your frustrations on Moondancer. Take it to the creature."
"You're right," Charming Thunder said. "I'm sorry for yelling."
"{We may need to hurry, your highness,}" Khem said. "{Look.}" He then pointed out of the window towards a storm that is approaching. Charming Thunder's eyes widened as he realized what the source of the storm is coming from.
"He's here."
"Who?" Applejack asked.
"Mumma-Ra."
Moondancer calmly steps into a courtyard carrying a handful of books on her back. A blast of lightning scared made her jump and drop some of her books. "Moondancer!!" Charming Thunder shouted as he rushed to her.
"What is it?" Moondancer asked concerned.
"We've got problems." When Charming Thunder was about to explain what's going on, a barrage of fire and hail began to fall from the sky and hit the courtyard. Some ponies ran away from the storm while some got burned by the rain of fire. Once it stopped, Charming Thunder took a breather and suddenly heard a familiar roar coming from the room upstairs. Him and Moondancer raced upstairs when they encountered Spike holding his Plasma Repeater and Rarity approaching. "You heard it too?"
"Yes," Spike said. "Less talk more action." Spike then kicked the door open while Charming Thunder drew his blaster pistol and helped him clear the room. They then spot a pony or what was left of him lying on the floor with his body drained of all organs and liquids. A loud moan was then heard in the room and they aimed their weapons at Mumma-Ra who is now regenerating. A thick skin forms, his tendons ripple, and his bones began to bulge and reform.
"We are in serious trouble," Charming Thunder said. Mumma-Ra began to walk up to Charming Thunder and Spike as they fired their weapons at him. No matter how many shots they give him, it has no effect on him. Danny and the others arrived to the scene while Khem dashed at Mumm-Ra with his vibro sword and pierced him in the chest. He then stares at it shocked as his weapon gets stuck in the creature's chest. He pulled it out and Mumma-Ra's chest degenerate and decay. He then kicked Khem across the room and hits the wall. He then charged at Charming Thunder and Spike and pushed them across the room and impacts on Daring Do and the others. Mumma-Ra quickly turns to Rarity as she backs away to the wall as he approaches her.
"You saved me from the undead," Mumma-Ra said. "I thank you." Charming Thunder got up a little dazed to see Rarity is in trouble. When Mumma-Ra leans in to kiss her with his decayed face, he heard a cat's meow and turned to see a cat walking on the piano keys. He shrieked and spun into a blast of wind and sand and swirls out the window. The others got up and looked at the window with a confused look.
"What the heck just happened?" Charming Thunder asked himself.
Moondancer was reading a book while Daring Do and the others discuss about their encounter with Mumma-Ra. Two of Charming Thunder's red royal guards arrived in their room and stood guard at the door while they listened to the conversation. "You were right, Daring Do," Spike said. "No mortal weapon can kill this guy."
"There must be an immortal one," Applejack said.
"What about the Book of the Living?" Moondancer asked.
"That could kill him, but that's the myth," Danny said. "We searched at the statue of Anubis, but the Book of the Dead was the one we found."
"What's up, Rarity?" Spike asked. "You sounded quiet since we got here."
"I was just thinking about something," Rarity replied. "When me and Mumma-Ra first met, he called me Nephitaph." The group looked at Rarity a little thunderstruck. "And earlier in that room, he tried to kiss me."
"This is not good," Danny said. "This is not good at all. It appears that he has chosen a sacrifice to bring his lover back from the dead."
"{We may need to stop him fast,}" Khem said. "{I sense that his powers are growing.}" The group looked through the window to see the sun is now going into a full eclipse.
"We need to stop him before he fully regenerates," Phantom Lord said.
"Question; why doesn't he like cats?" Charming Thunder asked.
"Cats are guardians of the underworld," Moondancer explained. "Mumma-Ra will fear them unless he is fully regenerated."
"{He will then fear nothing,}" Khem added.
"We need to find a museum," Daring Do said. "Only then we can find out the true location of the Book of the Living."
"Right," Charming Thunder said. "Rarity stays here and everyone else comes with me."
"And who says that I am not going?" Rarity asked. "You can't just leave me behind like a suitcase." Spike sighs and picks her up and carries her to the bedroom. "Spike, what do you think you are doing? Put me down at once."
"Sorry, love," Spike said. "It's for your safety." Spike dropped her on the bed and walked out of the room while Rarity tried to get out, but the door closed in front of her. Charming Thunder then used his magic to make the bedroom magic proof to make sure she doesn't teleport out while Spike locks the door. Charming Thunder then gestured to his guards and they stepped up to him.
"This door does not open," Charming Thunder said. "Nopony goes out and nopony goes in. Got it?"
"Yes, your highness," the guard said. The guards then stood guard at each end of the door while Charming Thunder and the others left the room.
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
The next morning after escaping the mob, the group arrived at Hamunoptrot on their raptors. They got off and walked towards the entrance to the city. "So is there a plan?" Charming Thunder asked.
"We find the Book of the Living, kill Mumma-Ra, and leave this place," Daring Do explained. "Simple enough, right?"
"Got it." Daring Do held the torch as she led the others through the halls of the city.
"Any idea what this Horus guy looks like?" Applejack asked.
"Big fellow with pointy ears and a head of a falcon."
"Right. Got it." The group then came across a collapsed doorway and Charming Thunder along with Applejack, Phantom Lord, Daring Do, Khem, and Danny began to dig through it. Moondancer looked around while she waited and noticed an amethyst scarab on the wall.
"What have we here," Moondancer said as she used her magic to break it loose and levitates it to her hoof. "Everypony, come look at this." The cocoon broke and a live scarab beetle began to hiss and burrow into her arm. She screamed as the scarab crawls inside her. The group noticed her screaming and rushed to her.
"What?" Charming Thunder asked.
"MY ARM!! MY ARM!!" The group then noticed the scarab inside her arm as it continues to burrow up.
"Hold her," Danny ordered. "I got this." Charming Thunder and Daring Do held Moondancer still as Danny used his ghost powers to put his hoof inside hers and grab the scarab and threw it across the room. Charming Thunder took a few steps back in fear and hid behind a pile of rubble as the scarab tried to crawl back to them. Spike shot the scarab with his Plasma Pistol killing it in the process. Charming Thunder peeped his head out of the rubble and looked at Moondancer.
"Once again Moondancer, your curiosity got yourself into trouble," Charming Thunder said.
"Sorry," Moondancer said shyly.
A blaster shot echoed the cemetery as Mumma-Ra sets up the ritual and looked up angrily. Rarity smiled and whispered, "Spikey." Mumma-Ra reached into one of the jars and pulled out the dust of Nephitaph's remains and blows it to the mausoleum wall. He then read from the Book of the Dead and the wall suddenly began to moan. Two horrific looking corpses burst out of the wall and slowly walked up to Mumma-Ra.
The corpses then bowed to their high priest as Mumma-Ra pointed to a direction for them to go and ordered, "Kill them. And wake up the others." Mumma-Ra's priests walked away from him as they obeyed him.
Rarity was concerned about one thing and asked, "What does this ritual have to do with me if I may ask?"
"You are required for this ritual because you have a heart, brain, liver, intestines, and kidneys. You are my sacrifice to bring my lovely Nephitaph back to life." Mumma-Ra back hoofed Rarity to knock her out cold and he picked her up to place her on the altar and chained her front hooves up.
Charming Thunder was the first to squeeze through a small crevice along with the others and drops down into a dark chamber. He looked around and saw one of the ancient mirrors in the distance. He drew his blaster pistol and fired at the mirror to fix the mirror so the light can reflect to the other mirrors and light up the room. The room they are now standing in is full of treasure overflowing the room. The group was speechless while Phantom Lord bounced with excitement. They then slowly walked down the stairs as they looked at the sparkling treasure. "Guess it's your lucky day, Phantom Lord," Daring Do said.
"It's like our first adventure all over again," Charming Thunder said. A hoof popped out of the sand and Mumma-Ra's priests burst out of the sand. "Who on earth are they?"
"Priests," Danny said. "Mumma-Ra's priests."
"Fair enough." Spike and Charming Thunder fired their weapons while Khem and Danny drew their weapons and chopped down some corpses into pieces. Phantom Lord fired his missile from his jet pack and blew them up to pieces. The group then backed up through the halls leaving the treasure room as they continued to fire at the walking corpses. "This whole place is coming alive." They then entered the chamber where the statue of Horus stood.
"Hello, Horus ol' boy," Moondancer said. The mummies continued to walk through the hallways as they approached the group. Charming Thunder took out a thermal detonator and activated it.
"Time to close the door!!" Charming Thunder said before he threw it down the passageway. The group took cover and the detonator exploded causing a cave in and sealing the passageway with rock and dirt.
Rarity slowly woke up as she realized that she is now chained up tight on top of the altar. She stopped and noticed Mumma-Ra's mummy priests surrounding the altar and kneel down as they begin to chant. Mumma-Ra steps up to the altar carrying the Book of the Dead. Laying next to Rarity is a corpse of a pharaoh hound covered with bandages. Mumma-Ra opened up the book with the key and puts it away in his robes.
Phantom Lord fired his wrist grapple at the seam of the secret compartment of the statue while Spike and Charming Thunder kept an eye on the opening passageway. They then see shadows of more mummies heading their way through the halls. "Why can't these guys just quit while they have a chance?" Charming Thunder said angrily. Phantom Lord then began to pull with the help of Daring Do, Applejack, and Khem while Charming Thunder and Spike fired their weapons at the approaching mummies. The secret compartment opened and sprayed out salt acid. The group stood away from the blast and then rushed up to the compartment once it faded away. Spike laid a suppressive fire on the approaching mummies while Khem pulled a chest out of the compartment. Moondancer opened it up and reached in the bag to take out the golden book.
"The Book of Living," Moondancer said amazed. Spike's Plasma Repeater ran out of juice while Charming Thunder's blaster did the same. He then felt Khem's clawed hand on his shoulder and looked at him.
"{Save your friend,}" Khem said. "{Kill the monster.}" He then drew his sword and charged at the approaching mummies chopping them down one by one in order to hold them off and allow Charming Thunder and the others to escape. Charming Thunder activates another thermal detonator and throws it at a wall.
"Get down!!" Charming Thunder shouted. The group then ducked for cover as the wall blew up a hole on the wall for them to get out. "Let's go." The group rushed into the hole while Moondancer held the golden book following them.
Mumma-Ra reads from the Book of the Dead while the mummies rock back and forth chanting. A mist suddenly appeared and flew over the jars and Rarity then entered Nephitaph's skeletal corpse. The eyes glowed blue and she turned her head to face Rarity. Rarity screamed as she looked at Nephitaph and she starts to struggle. She then notices Mumma-Ra holding a sacrificial knife over her chest. "With your death, my love and I will be invincible!" He raised up the knife about to plunge it down, but was interrupted when he heard a voice coming from up top of the stairs.
"Looking for this, old stallion," Moondancer shouted. Mumma-Ra's eyes widened as he looked at the golden book that is held in her hooves.
"The Book of the Living!!" Charming Thunder, Spike, and Danny were hiding at each corner of the room. Charming Thunder held the Star Saber, Danny with his two Dark Sabers, and Spike with his Energy Sword as they waited for a right moment to strike. Once Mumma-Ra was about to walk up the stairs, they then ran out of the shadows and he turned to see the three approaching the altar. "Destroy them!!" The priests stood up and started to attack the trio. Spike slashed at one of the chains restraining Rarity as the others attacked the mummies. The room was now clear with mummy corpses lying on the floor while Spike slashes off the other chain restraining Rarity and helps her up. Moondancer hid from Mumma-Ra as he searched for her.
"Maybe if I read from the cover," Moondancer thought as she started to read an inscription. "Lets see....Rasheem oola Kashka!" Chanting was heard at the altar while Charming Thunder and the others turned to see a group of mummy soldiers approaching and turned to the trio aiming their swords and spears at them.
"This just keeps getting better and better," Danny said.
"Do something, Moondancer," Charming Thunder said.
"Me?" Moondancer said.
"You can command them by finishing the inscription on the cover in order to control them."
"Oh, right." Moondancer then ran off as Mumma-Ra turned his attention to the trio as they were backing away from the mummies. Nephitaph slowly got up from the altar and grabbed the sacrificial knife then approached Rarity from behind. She was then tackled by Daring Do as Charming Thunder turned to see her fighting Nephitaph. The soldiers then leap over the water and land in front of Charming Thunder, Spike, and Rarity. Phantom Lord then arrived to the scene and did a battle cry at them. The mummy soldiers roared back which gave them the chills and deflected their approaching strikes. Phantom Lord burned an approaching mummy with his flamethrower and then kicked him to the water. "Daring Do, I can't figure out the last symbol."
Daring Do wrestled Nephitaph as she asked, "What does it look like?" Danny used his ghost powers to posses one of the soldiers and control its actions to attack the others. He then got out of its body and used the force to throw the spear at the mummy he controlled.
"It's a uh, a bird. A stork." Charming Thunder blocked the strikes and countered with a leg sweep and stabbed the downed mummy soldier in the chest. Daring Do struggled to break free from Nephitaph's grasp while she tried to gasp out a word to Moondancer.
"Ahmenophus!!" Daring Do then shoved Nephitaph off of her and continued her fight.
"Oh, yeah. I see." Spike struck his enemies down with his Energy Sword and met up with Charming Thunder and the others who are now surrounded by the mummies as the group stood back to back. "Hootash im Ahmenophus!" When the guards were about to strike, they suddenly froze into place with their weapons pointed at the group. They then raised their weapons and stood their in place like a statue.
"DESTROY THEM!!" Mumma-Ra ordered. "I COMMAND YOU TO DESTROY THEM!!" Daring Do shoved Nephitaph away from her while Moondancer read another inscription.
"Fa-Kooshka Nephitaph!" The soldiers then turned and marched towards Nephitaph as they raised their weapons.
"NO!" Nephitaph turned to see the soldiers approaching her. This angered Mumma-Ra and turned to Moondancer. "Give me that book!!" Moondancer took a few steps back when a scream was heard from Nephitaph. "NEPHITAPH!!" Mumma-Ra watched as the soldiers stabbed Nephitaph and kill her. He became angry and grabbed Moondancer by the neck. "I'll kill you for this!!" Charming Thunder leaps in the air and chops off the hoof holding her. Mumma-Ra turned to face Charming Thunder as he kept his balance. He then stood on his hind hooves and grabbed Charming Thunder and threw him across the cemetery. He then grabbed his sliced off arm and took off his robe while he puts his arm back on.
"I got the key, Daring Do." Moondancer rushed on over to Daring Do and gives her the key as she held the golden book.
"Keep him busy," Daring Do said. Mumma-Ra punched Charming Thunder and throws him back.
"Already ahead of you," Charming Thunder replied. Daring Do opened the golden book and flipped through pages to find a way to kill Mumma-Ra as Moondancer holds it for her. Charming Thunder tried to crawl away, but was grabbed by Mumma-Ra and lifted up.
"Looks like it's your turn to die now," Mumma-Ra said.
"I got it!" Daring Do said. "Kadeesh mal! Kadeesh mal! Pared oos! PARED OOS!!" Mumma-Ra looked at Daring Do and suddenly sees ancient Haygyptian spirits flying towards him and attacked him. They then took his soul back to the underworld and leaving him alive. Charming Thunder rolled away from him and stood up next to Daring Do and Moondancer. Mumma-Ra turned to them and slowly walked up to them.
"I thought you said it was going to kill him!!" Charming Thunder said. Mumma-Ra prepared his punch strike when a vibro sword suddenly stabbed him in the chest. Khem was the one who stabbed him and lifted him up with his blade.
"{You are mortal now,}" Khem said as he pulled the sword out of Mumma-Ra's chest. He held his wound as he collapsed to the floor. He then looked at the group and spoke in ancient Haygiptian as his body turned into dust.
"Death is only the beginning," Moondancer translated.
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
Chapter 13: Returning to Ponyville
Charming Thunder and the others were in the treasure room now that Mumma-Ra was successfully defeated. They gathered some gold and jewels and put them in their saddlebags. Charming Thunder however found three gold lapis and enamel revival scarab pendants and thought about who to give these to. He then turned to Applejack and walked up to her. "Hey, Applejack," Charming Thunder said.
"Yes?" Applejack asked.
"I found this and I wanted to give one of these to you." Charming Thunder then levitated one of the pendants and placed it around Applejack's neck. "Consider it as a gift from me to you."
"You are sweet you know."
"I know." Charming Thunder then kissed Applejack on the cheek and levitated the other two pendants into his saddlebag. Phantom Lord only grabbed as many as he could carry.
"I trust that your reward is satisfying, bounty hunter?" Daring Do asked.
"It's enough to make me and the crew rich," Phantom Lord said. "You know once I return to Ponyville, I am going to leave again and to tell you the truth, I am going to miss you." Daring Do hid her blush as she quietly giggled to herself.
"Maybe someday we can go on another adventure together."
"I'll keep that in mind." Rarity and Spike only picked up gems so that Rarity could use them to make dresses and Spike could eat his. Danny grabbed some treasure as well to make sure that he can prove to his wife that there was treasure buried in the ancient city. A scarab slowly approached Charming Thunder and he shot it without even looking.
"I hate scarabs!! " Charming Thunder said. "I hate 'em!!"
"Come on, brother," Danny reassured. "Where's your sense of bravery?"
Leaving the city with their treasure collected, Daring Do and the others were on their raptors riding through the desert as they made their way to a nearest town. "So what happens now?" Danny asked. "Write a story based on this adventure?"
"I have thought about that and I will write one," Daring Do replied. "I'll be sure to add all of you to the story for all of your bravery. I'll hold on to the Book of the Living and make sure that it is delivered to a museum in Equestria."
"The Book of the Dead will be safe with me back at the castle in case anyone tries to use it for evil," Charming Thunder added. "Our ride should be arriving at the town we are going to so we can fly back to Ponyville safely without any boarders." Charming Thunder then sees a Lambda-class shuttle fly over his head and going to the town. "And just in time as well."
At the castle in Ponyville, Sunset and Twilight were organizing books at the library. They then hear the doors open behind them and turn to see Charming Thunder with his saddlebags on his back and both rushed on over to him to give him a welcome home hug. "Welcome home, Charming," they both greeted.
"It is good to see you girls again," Charming Thunder replied.
"How was your adventure?" Sunset asked.
"It was a long one if you ask me."
"What makes you say that?" Twilight asks. "It is a desert you had to journey through."
"It's a long story. Danny is going to let Rainbow know how it went as well. I think that she'll be jealous. In the meantime, I have gifts for you. From the treasure chambers of Hamunoptrot." Charming Thunder then levitated out two black boxes out of his saddlebag and levitated it to Sunset and Twilight. They used their magic to open the boxes to reveal the scarab pendants. They were amazed with what they are seeing and levitated them out of the boxes to get a closer look at them. "This one is an anniversary gift for you, Twilight. I trust you don't mind if that it is a gift for you before our wedding, Sunset?"
"It's beautiful!!" Twilight said with excitement. "Thank you so much."
"I love it very much," Sunset said as she nudged Charming Thunder.
"There is something else you should know," Charming Thunder said as he levitated the Book of the Dead out of his saddlebag. "I need to seal this book away in the castle in case anypony tries to take it and use it for evil. I have seen what it is capable of."
"Would the vault in your chambers work?" Twilight suggested.
"We need to make the vault magic proof then, but good thinking." Charming Thunder then levitated the book to Twilight and allows her to carry it with her magic. She then walked away with the book before Charming Thunder stopped her for a brief moment. "And Twilight, do not read the book. Trust me." Twilight smiled and continued to make her leave from the library.
Inside the vault, Twilight Sparkle placed the black book on a stand and used her magic to make the room magic proof after she stepped out of the vault. The door of the vault then slowly closed as she left Charming Thunder's chambers locking tight automatically. A click sound was heard and a beeping sound was heard once the locking process was complete.
THE END
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
In the ancient ruins where the Phantom Lord once explored for a bounty for the Great Hunt, Charming Thunder explored as he looked for any artifacts hidden in the temple. He analyzed some hieroglyphics on some statues and walls. When he walked up to get a closer look, he stepped on a secret button which made him thought that its a trap. He jumped back and a secret passage opened up. He walked through the passage and reached to a room where he sees a strange tall creature with red skin with white detailing and wearing armor floating around in a stasis field. The creature then said, "{Translation: Ha! Fate is cruel to me, little one. But not as cruel as it is for you. You have made a mistake coming here.}"
Charming Thunder understood what it said and replied, "I know how that felt. Who are you?"
"{I am Khem Val, once a servant of Tulak Hord and Darth Nox. And I should ask you the same thing, little one.}"
"I am Charming Thunder, son of Sombra. King of Equestria and the bearer of the Element of Courage."
"{It doesn't matter who you are now. As I said before, you made a mistake coming here.}" Khem struggled to break free from the stasis. "{For that I now hunger.}" He then broke free and jumps down in front of Charming Thunder.
"Must this all end with violence?" Charming Thunder drew out his lightsaber and activated it as Khem drew his vibrosword and readied himself for combat. Charming Thunder leaps in the air and made his first strike. Khem blocked the strike and kicked him across the room. Charming Thunder shook his head and looked up to see Khem charging towards him. He timed it right and jumped in the air to dodge his strike which caused Khem to get his arm stuck in the wall. Charming Thunder then fired lightning at him and he collapsed to the floor. He looked up to Charming Thunder and slowly got up.
"{Ha! Defeated! Defeated! You did not come for me, did you? Why was I foolish enough so you can defeat me so easily?}"
Charming Thunder levitated Khem's vibrosword and levitated it to him as he said, "You're not from Equestria are you?"
"{I am not, little one. Perhaps I was wrong about you. You are strong just as my last master.}"
"Then I think it's time you leave this place."
"{Yes.}" Khem then kneels before Charming Thunder and pledges his loyalty to him. "{In my great weakness, you have defeated me. This means that I must serve you. That is the law that binds me for many years.}" Charming Thunder did not expect this. So he smiled and gestured him to rise.
"I shall take you to my wife's castle which is also where my throne is. There you will get acquainted with my friends. Just try not to scare the citizens there."
"{As you say, your highness.}" Khem followed Charming Thunder so that they can leave the temple and then head to Ponyville.
Charming Thunder and Khem left the Everfree forest after returning from the temple as they walked through the town. Charming Thunder explained everything about Equestria to him as they made their way to the castle. He was suddenly tackled by Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle giving him a tight hug. Khem would question what's going on, but he is not going to bother. "What's with all the excitement, girls?" Charming Thunder asked.
"We finally got our cutie marks!!" Sweetie Belle said. Charming Thunder was surprised to hear the news.
"That's great news. I knew you would find your talents." Charming Thunder sees that their cutie marks look the same but different symbols on the shield. "I like them."
"My sister was very proud she started to shed tears," Applebloom said.
"Mine too," Sweetie Belle added.
"Even Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo added.
"Has my brother heard the news as well?" Charming Thunder asked.
"He sure did while he was with Rainbow Dash."
"{So that's what it means to have a mark,}" Khem said. The three fillies became scared of his appearance and hid behind Charming Thunder's leg. "{Do not fear me, little ones. I will not hurt you.}"
"Who is this?" Sweetie Belle asked shaking in fear.
"This is Khem Val. I found him in the temple I was exploring."
"He looks scary and awesome!!" Scootaloo said.
"{I appreciate your complement, Scootaloo.}"
"We were on our way to the castle to introduce him to my wife and the others. Including Danny. Either way, I am so proud of you both." The three fillies waved as Charming Thunder and Khem walked to the castle.
Twilight and Sunset were having tea together as they had a little chat in the council room. The doors opened and Charming Thunder and Khem entered the room. They turned to see him and walked up to him. "You're home so early," Sunset said.
"Normally you would be out longer," Twilight added. "And who is this?"
"I was hoping my brother Danny would know what he is," Charming Thunder explained. "His name is Khem Val. I found him in stasis in the temple I explored. Don't worry. He is completely loyal to me. He will not hurt anypony." Khem bowed to the presence of the princess of friendship as she smiled. Danny suddenly entered the room with a letter in his hoof.
"Glad to see you're home, brother," Danny said as he approached him. "I received this letter from--" He then looked up to see Khem Val and gasped. "Is that what I think it is?"
"I was hoping to ask you what he is. I found him while I was exploring the temple."
"That's a Dashade."
"What's a Dashade?" Sunset asked.
"Dashades were tall reptilians with dark skin, lamprey-like mouths, and powerful claws. In addition to their partial Magic and Force-resistance, they were resistant to radiation. They also had an ability to dissipate heat which made them hard to detect using standard life-form sensors. Thanks to their Magic/Force-immunity, Dashade warriors easily found employment as combat instructors for the Jedi and assassins for the Sith. They also used their natural abilities to their advantage as elite assassins, mercenaries, and among similar professions. This one is Khem Val."
"I know his story," Charming Thunder said.
"{I am now completely loyal to him since he beat me in fair combat,}" Khem explained. "{It is an honor to serve him til the end.}
"You are very lucky to have him, brother," Danny said. "Twilight, remind me to teach you how to understand the Dashadi language as I write a report to the princesses."
"Anyways, what were you saying before you were talking about Khem?" Charming Thunder asked.
"Oh, yes. I received a letter from an old friend of yours. She was the one who helped you on a quest on discovering the Xenomorphs."
"Daring Do? She need help with something?"
"I don't know, but she asks us to meet her at her place. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you again."
"Yeah. Since Rainbow found out that she is the author of her adventure books; A.K Yearling."
"Shall we be off then? We do not want to keep her waiting."
"Khem, will you stay here and guard the castle while I am away?"
"{It will be a pleasure, your highness,}" Khem said as he bowed. Charming Thunder walked with Danny leaving Khem with Sunset and Twilight at the castle as they leave to go see what Daring Do wants.
Daring Do and the City of the Dead
Chapter 11: Crowd Control
In the streets of the town, Daring Do asked around if there were any museums in Haygypt. A stallion explained to her the directions to one of them and pointed to the direction. She thanked him and walked up to the rest of the group who was looking at some jewelry at a stand. "One of the citizens said that a museum is not far from the place we are staying at," Daring Do explained.
"Good thing too," Charming Thunder said. "At least that there weren't any problems." That was when the group heard a scream coming from the bazaar. "I spoke too soon." They then rushed to the scene where a crowd was surrounding something. They then got a better view when they entered a house and rushed upstairs to a window in order to get a good view of the situation. Down in the bazaar, the ponies took a few steps away from a rotten corpse. They also see the cloaked Mumma-Ra holding the Book of the Dead with his decayed hand. He slowly turned to see Charming Thunder and the others at the window and grins. He then unhinges his jaw and opens his mouth to release a swarm of flies towards them. Charming Thunder was quick enough to close the window with his magic and the flies slammed on the window. Ponies began to scream as the flies swarm around the bazaar.
"That was two so far," Phantom Lord said.
"Then he'll be going after....Rarity!!" Spike rushed out of the house along with the others to head back to check on Rarity before Mumma-Ra does.
The guards remained still as they guard the door where Rarity is locked up when they suddenly heard a gust of wind coming from the window next to them. They then slowly walked up to the window with their pikes aimed at the window. One of them peeped through the window as the wind quietly blew outside. He then turned to the other guard and said, "Must have been the wind." Suddenly, sand blasted out of the window hitting the guards. They were lifted up in the air as they screamed. Their bodies slowly shrivel with every twist and turn as their life is being sucked out. They were then thrown across the room and the sand formed the regenerated Mumma-Ra. His face is no longer decayed and looks almost normal. A scarab crawls out of his neck and into his cheek then Mumma-Ra slowly munches on the bug that is now inside his mouth while he walks over the shriveled bodies of the royal guards and approach the door.
Inside the bedroom, Rarity was sound asleep while sand began to stream through the keyhole pouring to the floor. She starts to toss and turn as the sand stops pouring to the ground. The sand then formed into Mumma-Ra who slowly approached the sleeping Rarity. He then smiled as he whispered to himself, "Nephitaph." He then leaned in towards her and pressed his lips to hers while she was sleeping. His lips and mouth started to degenerate and decay as Rarity woke up seeing him. The doors burst open as she pushed him away from her and Spike stepped up with anger in his eyes.
"HEY!!" Spike shouted. "Get your ugly face off of my mare." Mumma-Ra turns to face the group and slowly walked up to them.
"Khem!" Charming Thunder shouted.
"{Right,}" Khem replied as he tossed a cat to Mumma-Ra who catches it. He dropped the cat and shrieks then stumbles back towards the bed where Rarity hid. He then roared and transformed into a whirlwind of sand while everyone in the room covered their eyes as Mumma-Ra flew out of the window and closed it. Spike walked up to Rarity and helped her up.
"You alright?" Spike asked. Rarity nodded and gave him a tight hug.
In the museum, Daring Do and the others walked up the stairs to the top floor to find answers about the location of the Book of the Living. "Moondancer, are you sure about using the Book of the Living on Mumma-Ra?" Charming Thunder asked.
"Trust me," Moondancer reassured. "It will send him back to the underworld." Loud chanting was then heard outside of the museum as the group looked out of the window to see a group of Haygiptians covered with boils and sores chanting Mumma-Ra's name as they approached.
"Let me guess. Boils and sores?"
"Looks like it," Applejack said.
"I sense that they serve Mumma-Ra as his slaves," Danny said.
"So it has begun?" Phantom Lord asked. "The beginning of the end?"
"Not while I'm still standing," Charming Thunder said.
"Let's hurry," Daring Do said as the group rushed with her to an ancient stone tablet. Moondancer and Daring Do began to encrypt it as they tried to find the location of the golden book. Banging was heard at the door as they continued to read while Charming Thunder, Phantom Lord, and Spike kept watch at the door. "I got it. The Book of the Living is at Hamunoptrot in the statue of Horus."
"Guess that means we are going back to that dreadful place." The doors burst open and the group charged into the museum while Daring Do and the others made their way out avoiding the mob. They exited the museum through the back to encounter the mob who is now standing there surrounding them. Charming Thunder looked around to see if there was an opening and then it hit him. He smiled and turned to Khem and asked, "What was it you said you do to others?"
"{I consume them and spit out their bones,}" Khem said.
"Clear a path."
"{With pleasure.}" Khem drew his vibro sword and charged through the group and cleared a path for the group to get through. They punched them as they get through the mob. When they came across a dead end, Khem Val readied himself for combat as the mob approached. They then stopped and out of the mob came Mumma-Ra now fully regenerated.
"Come with me, my princess," Mumma-Ra said to Rarity as he extended his hoof. "I will spare your friends if you come peacefully."
"You are in no position to make demands, Mumma-Ra," Charming Thunder said.
"No," Rarity said.
"What?"
"I'll go."
"But, Rarity," Spike said trying to make Rarity change her mind. She then approached Mumma-Ra as Spike aims his Plasma Repeater at him.
"Don't."
"No!!" Danny shouted.
"He has to take me back to perform the ritual."
"She is right. If we leave today, we can fight tomorrow." Spike hesitated at first and puts his weapon away as he looked at Rarity.
Spike then eyed Mumma-Ra and said, "I'll be seeing you again." Mumma-Ra ignored Spike and turned away as he escorted Rarity out of the city. Spike attempted to go after her, but was stopped when he got tackled by Charming Thunder and Danny.
"Kill them!!" Mumma-Ra shouted to the mob. Rarity screamed as she got carried away by him as the mob slowly walked up to the group. Khem notices a manhole on the ground and pulls the cover off.
"Good thinking, Khem," Charming Thunder said. "Everypony inside."
"What about Rarity?" Spike asked worried.
"We'll get her back, Spike. I promise." Spike jumped in the manhole after Daring Do and the others did. He then looked at Danny and grabbed him by the tail. Danny hesitated as Charming Thunder tried to push him in. "Get in there, bro. I don't care what you smell!! " He then shocked Danny with his magic forcing him to get in the man hole. He levitated the lid with his magic as he entered and closed the manhole up. The mob closed in on the manhole and attempted to open it up, but it won't budge.
