The Forbidden Tombs

Rainbow Dash couldn’t sleep all night up in Cloudsdale. She’s been clinging to her bed all night, waiting for her moment to arrive. She looks at her alarm clock constantly, waiting for it to buzz.

“AHHH! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!” she cries in excitement, “I GOT TO GET DOWN THERE EARLY, NOW!”

She then rushes to her bookshelf and grabs one of her Daring Do books that was recently released. She rushes out the door, flying with incredible speed. The look of excitement was stuck to her face.

Discord was by the Friendship Castle, setting up a floating mirror as he brushes hi mane and straightens a formal suit he wears. Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity then approach behind him. Twilight sighs, and comes by the draconequus.

“Might I ask what the special occasion is?” she asks nonchalantly.

“Just trying to do a peace offering to other creatures, just to prove myself.” he tells them.

“For the throne I presume?” Twilight sighs.

“Yep…” Discord answers, “And to convince some old enemies to reform so there could be better… harmony… as you always call it. I’m thinking of starting off with the Diamond Dogs.”

“THOSE FIENDS?” Rarity shouts, “The only thing I remembered about them is that they kidnapped me!”

“Which is why I’m going to try and help them see their errs.” Discord adds.

“Discord… this is no way to get a throne…” Twilight tries to explain, “There’s more to it than just…”

“This is MY way, Twilight.” Discord snaps back, “And I will make sure this reformation works on those poor pups.”

“But Discord, you’re not ready yet…” Fluttershy insists.

“After…” Applejack starts to say.

“The betrayal to Tirek… I know…” Discord mumbles, “But I HAVE reformed, and if I do good things to receive a throne, THIS IS my only good way.”

The ponies groan.

“Fine… believe what you will…” Twilight sighs, “If you really think that’s how you’ll earn one…”

“Thank you very…” Discord starts to thank.

CRASH!

“OW!” he yells, suddenly falling down.

“Sorry!” Rainbow Dash appears, accidentally sitting on him, “I can’t help it, I’m just so hyped up!”

“Please… it’s not like you’re seeing Daring Do…” Discord moans.

“THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT’S HAPPENING!” Rainbow beams, “Daring Do is showing up AS HERSELF, the author of HER BOOKS, right at the Ponyville Bookstore TODAY! I’m going to see her myself and get her autograph in one of my books! SQUEE!”

“Oh…. boy…” Applejack sighs, “Another fantasy thinker…”

“Um… Rainbow…” Fluttershy asks, “Don’t you think you should calm down? You might creep anypony out if you… act like that…”

“As if you’re obsessed.” Spike said.

“Okay, okay…” Rainbow Dash said, controlling herself, “I’ll try and act calm, I promise…”

“Well, good luck…” Discord sighs, getting up from the ground, “I’m going to go do my thing…”

“Maybe it will help if me and Fluttershy come along!” Pinkie volunteers, “Just so we can spread more love too, MAYBE A PARTY!”

“Well, I suppose that will be nice.” Fluttershy grins.

“Sure, sounds cool.” Discord shrugs.

“And… I feel like coming too.” Rarity volunteers, “Just so I can confront my fears, and show you these dogs… aren’t easy to reason with.”

“And I’m going with Rarity because I’m worried about her.” Spike adds.

“Well, okay then.” Discord grins.

“Pfft. Do whatever you guys want… whatever it is Discord is up to. LATER!” Rainbow smiles.

She then zooms off, as Twilight and Applejack see Discord, Spike, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity head towards the stone hills.

“I… think we should join Rainbow Dash…” Twilight hums to Applejack, “Just to make sure she keeps her… self-control…”

“Good idea…” Applejack agrees, “If there’s one thing I learned from her, it’s that she’s scary when she’s hyper…”

The line at the Ponyville Bookstore was quite long,  as a couple of police ponies stand by Daring Do as she signs autographs for her fans when they meet her at the table. A sudden couple of pushes finally zoom through the crowd, as the sounds of “OH MY GOSH!” is repeated. Daring Do sighs, knowing who it is already.

“Rainbow Dash…” she moans.

The cyan pegasi then barges through the rest of the crowd, finally in front of her idol. The other ponies are getting up, annoyed and upset of Rainbow’s eagerness. Rainbow then pressed the book against Daring Do’s face in excitement.

“Um…” Daring Do tries to start, as she pushes the book down.

“REMEMBER THAT TIME WE FOUGHT AHUIZOTL AND FOILED HIS EVIL PLAN?” Rainbow beams.

“Yes… I remember…” Daring Do sighs, “You know, you didn’t need to barge through the line.”

“Sorry, I just got excited.” Rainbow Dash apologizes, “I couldn’t sleep all night because I waited for this moment.”

“I can tell.” Daring Do mumbles.

“Can you sign?” Rainbow asks, holding up the latest book.

“Yes…” Daring Do said, as she autographs the cover.

Rainbow then hugs it in joy!

“Can we hang out soon?” she asks.

“Yeah… sure.” Daring Do shrugs, “First I have to meet all the other ponies. Now please… leave them alone. You’re disturbing them.”

“But…” Rainbow stutters.

“You heard her.” a police pony said, escorting Rainbow out of the bookstore, “Time to go…”

“Awww…” Rainbow Dash whines, as she finally is out of the bookstore.

Twilight and Applejack then see Rainbow heading toward a street bench, and sitting on it. The pegasi rocks back and forth, as she waits impatiently to get her chance to meet Daring Do again. Twilight just shakes her head.

“Just like Discord.” Applejack snickers.

Just then, Twilight hears a chariot going through the Ponyville streets. In the chariot being pulled, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna look around the streets with their guards. Twilight smiles, and she and Applejack walk up to meet them.

“Hello Princess Celestia.” Twilight greets, “What brings you here?”

“We’re just inspecting the other pony villages and cities.” Celestia tells her, “There have been recent reports that there have been various kidnappings around Equestria.”

“WHAT?” Twilight gasps.

“There wasn’t any abductions here.” Applejack tells here.

“Good.” Luna nods, “But so far, ten gone missing in Appleloosa, twenty in Manehatten, and fifty in Vanhoover. Some were griffon citizens as well.”

“Griffons too?” Twilight said in shock, “Has Rainbow Dash’s friend Gilda gone missing?”

“We haven’t gotten that information yet.” Celestia tells her, “But we’re having more guards posted at all cities to keep sight in case they catch more kidnappers.”

“This may be a job for you and your friends to take part of too.” Luna said.

“We’ll tell Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy about it when they get back.” Twilight tells them.

“Where are they?” Celestia asks.

“With Discord…” Twilight sighs, “He thinks having the Diamond Dogs befriend the ponies can earn him something.”

Celestia put her hoof on her head.

“I see…” she moans.

“Well… we’ll just have to cope with his egotism.” Luna mumbles

Rover, Fido, and Spot are currently looking for new gems in their cave. Their guards also keep digging to look for any rare kinds with their pick axes. Spot, the youngest one, bites on one of the gems to taste its strength.

“ICK!” he belches, “Not worth anything!”

“That’s only diamonds…” Fido suggests, “Those stones fool anypony that they’re worth something.”

“Then find more!” Rover recommends, “We can finally make sweet bits with whatever is left!”

“You sure they’ll trust us after we kidnaped that unicorn that one time?” Fido asks.

“Forget that mule! She probably forgot to tell on us!” Rover snaps, “Just inform some of our guards to take some gems outside.”

“You heard him!” Fido yells at the other dogs, pointing towards the exit.

The guards shrug, pulling carts of the remaining gems they could find. They walked down at least a couple minutes through the carved hall of the cave. They then make a curve, turning right.

BLAM!

A sudden explosion emerges, as the Diamond Dog soldiers are blasted back. As the three of them struggle to their feet while the guards are knocked down, two mysterious figures storm into the room. A big red hand then grabs Rover by the neck, dragging him to his face.

“Wait… you look familiar…” Rover said in suspicion.

“And I’ve been through hell trying to get out of Tartarus!” the red beast said, “Now I’m going to get even with Equestria for good.”

“Hey… you’re that Tirek guy!” Rover whimpers.

“Why do you want him?” Spot demands, “Let him go!”

Another figure enters the room, suddenly knocking down Fido and Spot.

“Temper temper little ones.” the next stranger said, extending it’s hand on it’s tail, “We don’t want to give any spoilers.”

The cat looking beast then throws a ball on the ground.

“GRAB THE REST OF THEM! LEAVE THESE TWO! THEY’RE WORTHLESS!” Tirek said to his unknown accomplice.

Spot squints through the fog to see the cat looking beast with the handed tail.

“DO NOT STARE AT AHUIZOTL!” the stranger finally reveals, knocking the last two diamond dogs unconscious with his fist.

Fido and Spot then go into a deep sleep, as the two real villains leaving the cave kidnap their friends.

Discord looks around the diamond grounds he, Fluttershy, Rarity, Spike, and Pinkie are now entering. He snaps his fingers to present a gift basket as a token welcoming gift. He even makes a monocle for his eye.

“You’re overdoing it…” Rarity hisses.

“This is to impress Celestia and Twilight that I have good intentions…” Discord insists, “So get used to it.”

“Fine…” Rarity gives in.

“Wait… what happened here?” Spike said, as he points at the rubble and debris near the cave.

Cries and whimpers are then heard, as the gang squints to see Fido and Spot struggling to get through the cracks of the giant rocks that blocked the cave. The five friends then rush over in shock, helping them down from the wreckage. As the diamond dogs are helped down, they pull their paws away.

“What are YOU doing here?” Spot asks.

“You’re welcome…” Rarity snarls.

“What happened?” Discord asks.

“Our… friends… have been kidnapped for some reason…” Fido tells them.

“KIDNAPPED?” Fluttershy squeaks, “How awful!”

Discord then switches into a superhero outfit.

“NEVER FEAR! I’LL SET THINGS RIGHT!” he cheers, “WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?”

“That beast… Tirek…” Spot tells them.

Discord then changes back immediately, becoming stone cold. Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike drop in fear too. Discord then shakes his head.

“That’s impossible.” he stutters, “He’s imprisoned in Tartarus.”

“Well, he kidnapped our friends…” Spot insisted with truth.

“And he had a friend… Ahuizotl… I think the name was…” Fido remembers, rubbing his head.

“WHAT?” Spike yelps, “That’s Daring Do’s enemy!”

“I’ll…” Discord sighs, “This is not my job anymore. I’ll let Twilight know about this…”

He snaps his fingers, suddenly transporting her, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash to the location he and his friends are at this very second.

“DISCORD!” Twilight shouts, “What is the meaning of this? WHY ARE WE HERE?”

“Another throne attempt?” Applejack snarls.

“Not… anymore… I’m giving up on that today…” Discord whimpers, “They need help.”

He points at Fido and Spot.

“THEM?” Twilight yells, “THEY’RE OUR ENEMY!”

“No they’re not…” Discord insists, “They said their friends are kidnapped by Tirek…”

Twilight jumps in fear when hearing that.

“Is that true?” she asks the dogs.

The two of them nod.

“That could explain the other kidnappings…” Applejack thinks out loud, “Tirek may have escaped to select certain ponies.”

“But why you dogs?” Rainbow Dash asks.

“We’re innocent this time…” Spot sobs, “And we don’t know.”

Twilight now feels bad calling the two dogs their enemy at this point.

“Tirek wasn’t alone either…” Spot adds, “There was this guy named… Ahuizotl that knocked us down…”

“AHUIZOTL?” Rainbow Dash gasps, dropping her jaw, “DARING DO’S ARCH ENEMY! OMIGOSH! OMIGOSH! OMIGOSH! OMIGOSH! I CAN’T BEIEVE IT!”

“The second worst villain team up involving Tirek…” Applejack sneers, then looking up at Discord in embarrassment, “No offense.”

“I don’t blame you…” Discord sighs, “I’ll… transport us to Canterlot so…”

“Yes… good idea.” Twilight nods, “Since Tirek escaped, we must let Celestia know about this matter.”

Discord then snaps his fingers, sending the gang of ten to Celestia’s throne room.

Celestia was pacing around with Shining Armor and Luna, as they go through the reports with their guards. A flash is then shown upon them, as Twilight and the others appear in the room. Celestia then grimaces at the diamond dogs.

“Why are THEY here?” she asks.

“Tirek kidnapped their friends…” Twilight said in fear.

Celestia widens her eyes. She then sighs, and looks at the papers and reports with Luna. She then approaches the dogs and ponies in sadness.

“Yes… we just received information that Tirek had escaped…” Celestia said in anger, “Somepony broke him out, and… we have concluded that this unknown accomplice and him have kidnapped the first number of victims I’ve told you about Twilight Sparkle. I’m just feel horrible and confused to why they kidnapped diamond dogs.”

“Believe me, we are too.” Rarity said, “But… they still are creatures that need our help.”

Celestia nods.

“I’ll… leave you to your…” Discord whimpers, as he starts to leave.

“Discord… you’re part of…” Celestia starts to say.

“No… I don’t want to be…” Discord said in silence.

Celestia seethes.

“Look… Twilight told me about your crazy determination for a throne…” Celestia mumbles, “So if you help, we’ll give you the stupid chair…”

“I DON’T TO EARN IT THIS WAY!” Discord screams in fear, “There… has to be another…”

He then drops.

“No… I give up… I can’t face him again…” Discord weeps, “What I get tricked into betraying you again? What if he kills me? What if anypony I don’t want to drag with me gets killed first?”

The other ponies then change from irritation to sympathy for Discord at this very moment. Tirek is their threat too after all, and they are also afraid. Fluttershy and Twilight then come up to him, rubbing him softly.

“We understand…” Twilight said, “And we’re glad you’re being selfless at this point. And… we’re afraid too. But this something we have to learn to cope with together.”

“I don’t want to prove myself this way.” Discord sobs.

“Sure you can.” Fluttershy encourages, “And we’ll do it together.”

The other ponies and Spike then walk up to help Discord up.

“Tirek is our enemy altogether.” Applejack concurs, “So we’re going to find out where he is, and rescue the others.”

“This is our fight too…” Spot said, as he and Fido approach them, “We want to come too.”

“But…” Rarity protests.

“Rover is our friend…” Fido insists, “We can’t forgive ourselves if he gets tortured.”

“Well… okay…” Twilight smiles.

Celestia then sighs, smiling at the group that’s being formed.

“I have to admit, this team formation is very unusual…” she said, “But… it’s good to give you a second chance Discord. And I’m glad you and your friends are going to stop Tirek, Twilight”

She then hands a box to her.

“You may need to use the contents of this Rainbow Power again at all costs.” she advises, “Make a thorough plan before you use it on Tirek with contact.”

She then looks up at the rest of the group.

“This may be more dangerous than you’ll anticipate…” Celestia warns, “So you need to know how to find him before he invades another region.”

She then hands out a floating red diamond.

“This was saved for emergency purposes when dangerous enemies are on the loose again.” she tells Twilight, “The guards use them often, but this will lead you to Tirek.”

“Um… some guy named Ahuizotl is involved too…” Spot adds.

“Ahuizotl?” Celestia asks.

“That reminds me…” Rainbow beams, “Don’t leave yet, I’ll be right back!”

She then flies out the door.

“I think I know where she’s going…” Pinkie grins.

Daring Do’s house needed spring cleaning, since she lived in the Everfree Forest. The adventurous author kept organizing her bookshelves and cleaning up pieces of scrap paper that fell on the floor. Just then, a knock is made on her door.

Daring Do then trots over to the door, and opens it.

“Um… Daring Do…” Rainbow said, grinning.

“Okay… now you’re just stalking me…” Daring Do sighs.

“Please… I know I’m awkward… but… this is important…” Rainbow begs.

Daring Do sighs.

“Fine…” she mumbles, letting Rainbow in.

Rainbow then tip toes slowly, as Daring Do closes the door.

“What is it?” Daring Do asks.

“Me and my friends need help…” Rainbow explains, “Tirek is on the loose, and…”

“TIREK?” Daring Do gasps, “I’m sorry, but THIS is WAY beyond my limits. No! I have no chance in trying to help…”

“You don’t understand!” Rainbow continues, “Ahuizotl is also working with him!”

That caught Daring Do’s attention very quickly. She then paces around in aghast, rubbing her forehead. She then looks back at the cyan pegasi.

“Do you know why they teamed up?” she asks Rainbow.

“No…” Rainbow shrugs, “But other ponies and innocent races are being kidnapped by them as we speak. And we’re hoping to find them before… they kill their hostages… probably…”

Daring Do sweats.

“This is… beyond what I’m prepared for…” Daring tells her.

“Please…” Rainbow begs, “If not for me, then do it for Celestia.”

“The princess?” Daring asks, “Really?”

Rainbow nods.

Daring Do never thought of doing something noble for the princess before. And it’s to save other victims in Equestria as well, those who wish to go home to their families. She then looks at Rainbow.

“I’ll guide you and your friends to where Ahuizotl might be.” Daring agrees, “Under one condition… you lower your constant visits to me, give me proper space during the adventure without smothering me, and IF you try to make me lose attention or one this close to killing myself in some accident, I’ll leave the mission, and you’ll have to fend for yourself.”

“Geez. That’s harsh.” Rainbow said, “In other words, stay calm, and do what you say without acting crazy.”

“Right.” Daring nods.

“Okay. Deal.” Rainbow agrees, as they shake hooves.

Back in the throne room, Rainbow Dash guides Daring Do inside to meet the rest of the gang. Daring is a bit suspicious by Discord and the dogs, yet they welcome her warmly. Daring then looks at awe to Celestia, not believing she’s seeing her for the first time.

“So… your Daring Do…” Celestia smiles, “Rainbow has been talking a lot about you.”

Daring then knells down before her.

“It’s an honor to go on a quest for you, your majesty.” Daring said.

“I’m sure you’ll be a great help guiding Twilight and the others to Tirek’s hideout…” Celestia says, “I have faith in all of you together.”

She then brushes her horn against Daring’s mane, giving her the encouragement of good luck. Daring then rises up, looking at Twilight and her crew with a smirk. She then looks at Celestia, with Luna and Shining Armor by her.

“I won’t let you down.” Daring promises her.

She then looks at Twilight and the others, and waves her hoof so they could start their quest. Eleven of them then get acquainted with one another, and Shining Armor meets up with Twilight before she leaves. He gives her a tight hug.

“This is Tirek you’re dealing with…” he advises, “Please be safe…”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.” Twilight guarantees.

She then heads out to catch up with her friends.

Outside the path into the Everfree forest, the dogs prepare their bags, as the ponies prepare their tools, gears, and weapons for the journey. Spike even carries the food they need when camping in the unknown. Rainbow then looks at Discord.

“Can you spaz us up some adventuring clothes.” Rainbow asks him.

“I’m not in the mood for chaos because of Tirek…” Discord refuses.

“PLEASE!” she begs, grabbing his dragon leg, “I want to look cool for Daring Do…”

Discord was reluctant, but sighs as he looks into her puppy eyes. He moans, having adventuring shirts and pants appear on each member of the gang, including Rainbow. The pegasi then hugs him, and rushes over to hug Pinkie, who also is excited for the adventure as well.

“I’m sorry…” Discord tells Twilight and Applejack.

“We are too.” Twilight mumbles, “We don’t know how long she’s going to control her obsessions…”

“All right, are you guys ready?” Daring Do asks, as she looks at the others.

They all nod.

“All right, the first areas in the Everfree Forest is very dangerous. We’ll then be heading deeper into the amazon regions. So stay close.” Daring Do cautions, “Let’s go.”

They then walk slowly into the darkness, ready for the green inferno ahead of them.