Twilight was ecstatic. Finally a club that wasn't too put off by her 'creative' dancing. Most ponies learned quickly to just give her some space. Everypony in Ponyville loved the young princess, despite her questionable idea of dancing. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie both cheered her name, spurring her on further. A few ponies even joined her, not caring if they looked ridiculous. On very rare occasions when ponies felt frisky, they would be seen hip checking each other, or even the Princess herself would be seen bumping her hips. Stallion, mare, she didn't care. All ponies were hot in their own way by her eyes.

Up in the balcony overlooking the dance floor was the VIP booth. Sitting there, also watching the young princess 'discreetly' flirt with a young stallion, likely pushed into the dance floor by his friends if the blush on his face meant anything, was Starlight Glimmer, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy.

"Really? Hip checking and rubbing her tail across his flank? Is she trying to flirt?" Starlight asked, baffled by Twilight's dancing.

"That's how you flirt on the dance floor in Ponyville Star." Rainbow answered.

"Yeah! I've gotten loads of tail like that." Pinkie added. "Course I may have sweetened the deal by showing off my wet mare bits to those ponies."

"What?! Is that how you got those twins last month!?" Rainbow gasped. "You... I've been trying to get them for ages!"

"Two things Rainbow. 1: Your Pampered muscle massage last week ended quite 'happily' if I recall from our last Spa visit, with both Aloe AND Lotus; They're twins. and 2: Please. no more information." Rarity groaned.

"Ah agree. We don't care how many notches ya got in your bedpost. We came here ta drink and have fun." Applejack groaned.

"So Rarity, how is 'Rarity for You' doing?" Starlight asked, eager to change the subject.

"It's doing well darling. How about yourself? We haven't seen a lot of you lately."

"I've been around. Doing the occasional odd job here and there. I never really cared for being in the spotlight. Even with the Equality Village, I tried my best to stay out of the spotlight." Starlight said solemnly. "I'm just not the public type."

"What are we talking about girls?" asked an oblivious, buzzed and tired Twilight.

"Just catching up darling. What about you? Besides your questionable flirting."

"What's wrong with my flirting? They were hot!" The young princess complained.

"Honestly sug... sometimes y'all flirt a bit too much. Makes ya look... eh..." Applejack started.

"Makes ya look like Dashie; always chasing tail." Pinkie finished.

"Hey!" Dash cried.

"Frankly dash, you do chase ALOT of tail from what I'm told." Rarity added as Fluttershy gently sipped her wine.

"At least she's not a nerd with that group who believes some weird aliens lived here before ponies" Starlight grumbled, followed by a fake cough. "Double Diamond."

"I'll buy everyone in the club a round of drinks if you NEVER bring up that fringe group again." Twilight added.

"Done."

"Whoo! Drinks on the Princess!" Rainbow shouted, causing the entire club to burst out in cheers. Twilight rolled her eyes with an audible groan.

The night wore on. Drinks were shared, stories told, embarrassment ensued. That is until an off duty guard walked over to Twilight, who, unfortunately was a lightweight.

"Corporal! Glad you could make it! want a cider?" Twilight slurred.

"No thanks your highness. I came here because you have a visitor who requests your presence; immediately." the guard responded, a hint of drowsiness tainting his voice. "She said it was urgent that she speak to you."

"This pony can wait. It's the Princess's night off." Rainbow cut in, causing the other mares, excluding Twilight, to agree.

"She said to say... 'Remember the Sun Temple?' Whatever that means." the Corporal said drowsily. After the words 'Sun Temple left his mouth, the mares fell silent.

"... Girls... I think we have a VERY important guest waiting on us..." Twilight said quietly. "Thank you Corporal. Please go home and get some sleep."

With a quick and dutiful salute, he trudged off.

"Sun Temple? I'm lost." Starlight said, breaking the tense silence.

"We'll discuss it once were out of here." Twilight slurred with authority. "This pony, like you hates the spotlight. And officially, she doesn't exist." Twilight said as they walked out the door. "I just wonder what kind of trouble she got herself in this time."

"Um... maybe she just wants to talk?" Offered Fluttershy meekly.

"Honestly Fluttershy, I doubt it." Applejack answered.

"Maybe she's going to ask us for help on her newest adventure!" Dash exclaimed hopefully.

"Don't get your hopes up Dashie." Pinkie said wearily.

"Okay so we're in private now. Who is this non existent pony?" Starlight inquired.

"Shes-" Dash started before Twilight shut her mouth with her magic.

"Not yet. There's paparazzi nearby." The young alicorn growled, before sending a small bolt of electricity into a nearby bush, causing a burly stallion, almost Big Mac's size, to jump and yelp like a filly and rub his cutie mark in pain. around his neck, was a camera.

"What was that for!?" he barked.

"Even Princesses require privacy. You can keep the camera, this time. But if I catch you back here again eavesdropping, I'm destroying it." Twilight growled, not in the mood to deal with him.

"How did you know I was there anyway?" The pap asked nervously.

"Try a different cologne Darling. Juniper Pheonix tends to stand out." Rarity added.

"Besides, y'all are gonna have enough of an issue with the itchin'." grinned Applejack.

"Itching?"

Pinkie giggled. "That was a poison oak bush silly!"

"WHAT?!" He shouted.

Twilight's smile grew almost sadistically. "Yep. It was either Poison Oak or Blackberry, but Blackberry would have been too obvious. Now you'd best get home and pray that the leaves didn't get somewhere 'special'."

And with that, the stallion bolted, a worried look on his face. No pony needed to ask why Twilight planted a huge poison oak bush around her castle, as they were all in on it. Any paparazzi from the city quite often mistook it as a decorative bush, thus serving as an excellent repellent for the paps. Manehattan, Neigh York, San Fransicolt, Las Pegasus, all sent paparazzi to the newest princess's palace in droves. All came back with no photos and extremely itchy, covered in a horrible rash. Even Pegasi often times hid there, and when they flew up to a window, they were to distracted scratching an itch(literally) to bother taking photos.

"Dern city slickers. Don't they know that if it has three leaves to let it be?" Applejack groaned.

"No. No they dont AJ. Because they're city slickers, they've never seen poison oak before." Rainbow chuckled.

As they walked up to the doors, the two Thestral night guards stood at attention. "Welcome back Princess. Your guest is in your Library." the right guard droned.

"Thank you." Twilight responded. "Come on girls. we shouldn't keep our guest waiting."

As they entered the castle, Twilight sighed. "Now Starlight, I know this might seem... far fetched, but please, keep this all to yourself."

"Sure. But what exactly is it I'm keeping secret?"

In response, The doors to the Library opened, revealing a tan Pegasus. With a similar build and eyes to Rainbow Dash, but that's were similarities stopped. Her mane and tail were monochromatic, rather than Rainbows prismatic style, and on her flank, a compass rose. Looking up from the globe, she spotted the group, and smiled.

"Hello Princess. It's been a while." she said with a gentle smile.

"Indeed it has." Twilight smiled in kind

"And I haven't forgotten about my number one fan. How are you Rainbow? Wonderbolt's treating you well?" Daring asked offering a hoof.

"Oh yeah. how have you been Daring?" Rainbow responded, bumping her hoof to Daring's, making a hollow 'clop' sound.

Starlight's jaw dropped. "Your real!?"

"Princess? I thought we agreed my existence was confidential." Daring asked, keeping an eye on Starlight.

Twilight nodded. "It still is. Starlight here can certainly keep secrets."

"So, who are you?" Daring asked with a smirk. "The princesses secretary and secret lover?"

Both Starlight and Twilight blushed. "No. She's my student."

"Relax girls I'm playing" Daring chuckled.

"So, Darling, what exactly is it you called us here for?" Rarity asked taking a seat on one of the futons in the room.

"Oh right. Well, I may have a proposition for you." Daring started. "I believe I found something out east. Something big. No Rainbow this probably wont include booby traps and what not; and I'm certain Caballeron and Ahuizotl wont be interested so no epic battles to save the world, this time."

Starlight couldnt help but tilt her head, before a copy of 'Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny' floated over to her.

"Darn it." Rainbow grumbled.

"But I have reason to believe that I have stumbled across the remnants of an ancient civilization. Last month I was out east, and found the remains of what appeared to be a house. I don't know exactly who or what used to live there, but it was definitely not equine. The doors were too tall, almost Princess Celestia tall. It wasn't big enough to fly through. It had the usual furniture set up. Couch, sofa, yadda yadda, an advanced type of typewriter; It'd be better if I could show them to you in pony, as I don't carry a camera usually." Daring explained.

"So, you, Daring Do, are inviting ALL of us, to go with you, to investigate a possible lost civilization?" Starlight asked wearily.

"Yes. Yes I am." Daring smiled. "And if you want to bring Spike that's cool, but I don't recommend it." Her smile faltered. "The Eastern lands haven't been very hospitable, and I don't mean vicious animals. The last explorers to go there was over 450 years ago, and they all died three days to a few years after they returned; Terminally ill, manes and coats falling out, coughing up blood... from the reports I read they looked like death warmed up. However, I have reason to believe that whatever caused that illness has long since passed and MAY not affect us. We'll go over rules in the morning If you choose to go. I suggest you sleep on it, since you all smell like booze."

Starlight smiled. "I'm with Daring on this. Bed sounds good."

Daring looked at the mares, all of whom were looking at each other, as if silently conversing about if they should take Daring up on her offer or not.

"We'll think about it." Answered Twilight. "I haven't heard good tales of the east either. Not even dragons go there. Legends about great spears of the Sun living there or something. And every pony who's tried has come back ill, or as you mentioned, dying. No pony has gone there since those last explorers. But what makes you think the contagion has passed?"

"They put up a sign saying there was a dangerous contagion beyond that point. I went beyond it, came back and had a full medical exam in Canterlot. I'm clean. Their journals all noted flu like symptoms before their fur started to fall out, along with extreme shits, vomiting, general dehydration, and exhaustion. Their autopsies report that most died of cancers, and had a really low blood cell count. Both white and red." Daring explained. "Again, think on it. This isn't to be taken lightly."

The mares nodded. Then Twilight spoke up.

"Daring, I have plenty of spare rooms. I'd be happy to take you to one of them."

Daring smiled. "Thanks Princess."

Author's Note

Hopefully I'll be able to see this fic through to the end for once. I'm not giving up on the others, just... stuck. Bad writers block. Fun. Don't expect frequent updates though. Unfortunately that's because I live in the middle of nowhere and have loads of work. Took me long enough to just write this chapter, so updates wont happen every week or so. Sorry.