Chapters Daring Do and the Ghost of Somnambula
After several more hours of listening to the ghost's stories, the ghost retires to her hauntings for the night and Daring Do finally gets some much-needed sleep. She can't believe she actually talked with a ghost. She's still trying to wrap her head around the thought. She can focus more on that in the morning, however, because right now, all she wants to do is sleep. Her eyes soon close and she turns over onto her back. She then begins to snore. She's out cold. As she sleeps, she can't help but dream about Somnambula's ghost.
Meanwhile, Somnambula's ghost is looking over the hill at the town that holds her name. "Ah, my old village, my old family, and friends, I wonder if they miss me," she sighs. "I wonder if they know I'm even gone. I know old Crocus Apple does. He is the town historian after all." She then turns and looks toward the pyramid. A tear then falls from her eye and lands on the ground. She misses her fellow ponies and wishes she wasn't gone, dead, out of their lives. After all, she sees how much she meant to them. She sees the statue of her decorated in Glopaz and another tear falls from her eye. "I miss you." She says hauntingly. "If only you knew how much." She then fades back into the ghostly plane. There, she'll join up with the ghost of her lover, the prince and they will look over the ponies from the ghostly plane smiling all the while.
Daring Do and the Ghost of Somnambula
The next morning, Daring Do wakes up, rubs her eyes, and then stretches her hooves and wings before going over and checking her satchel. To her surprise, there is indeed Glopaz in her bag. The visit from the ghost was actually real. Then again, she kind of expected that because she knows she's not crazy. She then grabs her satchel, goes downstairs, pays for her stay, and runs off towards the town of Bay Dusk. She can't wait to tell Mr. Halohoof about her newest experience. After all, not only is he the curator of the museum, including the Daring Do Wing, but also a father figure in Daring's eyes.
A few minutes later at the museum, Daring Do explains everything to Mr. Halohoof. "I was in the town of Somnambula when her ghost came by and visited me and gave me these Glopaz jewels as a thank you. At first, I thought it was all a dream, but when I woke up, I found the same Glopaz in my satchel. The visit from the ghost was real."
"Well, Somnambula is famous for being a haunted Egyptian town in Southern Equestria. I guess it's true," replies Mr. Halohoof as he looks over the Glopaz Daring just placed in his hoof. He's fascinated by the story and the precious gems. After all, a ghost sighting is something he hasn't heard about in a long while. After a while of close study, he looks up and asks Daring the most important question she's heard in a while. "Do you mind if I put these Glopaz in a special display in the Daring Do Wing for Daring Do Appreciation Day?"
"Of course I don't, keep them," replies Daring. Daring then gives him a hug and then leaves the museum and returns to the town of Somnambula. She wants to have a chat with the town historian Crocus Apple to learn a little bit more about Somnambula.
Daring Do and the Ghost of Somnambula
Later that afternoon in the village of Somnambula, Daring sits down to lunch with Crocus Apple. "So, can you share some more about Somnambula with me?" asks Daring inquisitively.
"Of course," replies Crocus Apple. "I'd love too. You see, Somnambula was a kind-hearted pony ever since she was a filly. When she was a filly, she'd share her snacks and toys with her friends. She got along with everypony. As she grew up, she shared her things with more and more ponies. This caught the eye of the prince. He watched every day from his palace as she'd share her bread with the other ponies. One day, he came and visited her at the bread stand and thanked her for her good deeds. That afternoon, the prince faced off against the sphinx and stood up for his people. The Sphinx then got mad and captured him. None of his soldiers volunteered to go save him, but realizing the kindness he showed her, Somnambula agreed to go save him. She then took off in full flight towards the pyramid. She then landed inside the pyramid and asked for the Sphinx's riddle. Knowing the answer to the Sphinx's riddle, she replied 'hope'. Furious, the Sphinx huffed and refused to release the prince. Instead, the two made a deal. Somnambula would walk across the rope bridge blindfolded, wings bound to her body by magic, to save the prince. Led by his voice, she successful freed the prince and was rewarded with a shining string of Glopaz which began to glow around her neck lighting the entire kingdom. A few days later, the prince took her as his bride and made him his princess. He then named the town after her and commissioned the statue."
"Wow! That's fascinating!" replies Daring. "I'm so glad to know more about her."
"Well, I'm always glad to share our history with ponies eager to know it," replies Crocus with a smile. He then finishes his hay ale. Daring thanks him for his time and then returns to the Get On Inn. She wants to know more from Somnambula's ghost now. Hopefully, she can manage to get in contact with the ghost once more.
Daring Do and the Ghost of Somnambula
That afternoon back at the Get On Inn, Daring returns to her room and begins to call out to the ghost. "Somnambula! Somnambula! Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I'm glad you have returned Daring Do," replies the ghost before she appears right in front of her. "What can I answer for you now?"
"How did you die?" asks Daring.
"Do you really want to know that?" sighs the ghost.
"Yes, I do!" replies Daring.
"Fine," sighs the ghost of Somnambula. "Not long after I married the prince, his first wife got jealous and poisoned the both of us, thus killing us. It's the classic story as old as time. Alas, that's how we went."
"That's terrible," replies Daring.
"Yes, revenge is a terrible thing, a horrible thing, an unforgivable thing," replies Somnambula. "I'm going to go now." She then fades back into the ghostly plane. Daring Do then leaves the room and goes to the Get On Restaurant in the lobby of the hotel. She can't believe Somnambula was killed out of cold blood. Then again, Southern Equestria is basically Egypt, so it is understandable. She can't help but pity the ghost now. If only she could find Hassan's first wife and give her a what for.
Daring Do and the Ghost of Somnambula
A week later, Daring Do returns to her home and begins to write her newest book titled The Truth of Somnambula and Her Amazing Deeds: A Biography. She smiles as she readies her hooves and begins to type away on her typewriter. She works on the book for hours and even into the night, finally finishing the introduction and the early life section of the book. Tomorrow, she'll start on the real meat of Somnambula's tale.
The next morning, Daring Do is up with the sun and begins to write and write and work and work on the next section which details how Somnambula saved the ponies from the Sphinx as well as all the events prior to that and what happened after that, including her marriage to Hissan. She then gets into the next chapter and by the end of the day and into the morning of the next she has finished the near majority of the book. Satisfied, she begins to work on the final five sections of the book which she has finished by the end of three months time. Once she's sure the book is done, she takes it and publishes it for the world to see and to read the true story of such an amazing pony. Soon her name is known far and wide but not just as Daring Do but also as the first pony to give a fully written account of the amazing pegasus mare Somnambula. Daring Do, pleased with her work, gives one first edition copy of the book to the Bay Dusk Museum where they put it on display for all ponies to see. Somnambula's legacy is sealed and it is all thanks to the daring hero, Daring Do herself.
The End
Daring Do and the Ghost of Somnambula
Not long after the events of Daring Done, Daring gets a visit from the Ghost of Somnambula herself. This is that story.
It was midnight at the Get On In and Daring was settling comfortably into her room, when she heard the voice. "Daring Do, thank you for what you did for my people," said the voice. "Thank you for replacing the statue, fixing your mistakes, and putting Caballeron behind bars for good."
Daring looks around confused. She doesn't see anyone but she hears the voice. "Who is speaking to me?" she asks. "Who is there?"
A ghost soon appears in front of her. The ghost is a pegasus mare with a salmon pink coat and a blue mane and tail in a beautiful lace ensemble. "Somnambula," stutters Daring Do. "Is that you?"
"Yes, it is I, Princess Somnambula," replies the ghost. "Thank you for saving my city."
"No problem," replies Daring Do. "It's just I've never talked to a ghost before."
"It's okay," replies Somnambula. "I promise I won't hurt you. I just wanted to thank you for returning our Glopaz. Here, have this Glopaz token I give you in thanks." Daring takes the Glopaz necklace and tiara from the ghost and puts them into her satchel.
"Uh, thanks," replies Daring Do. "But I had a question, how was the temple still cursed? Is the Sphinx still alive or something?"
"No, she doesn't have that long a life," replied the ghost, "Sphinxes have only nine lives just like any other cat. I don't know why the spell stayed cast inside the pyramid. That spell should have dissipated years ago."
"Huh, then I guess that pyramid magic will just remain a mystery," replies Daring.
"I guess it will," replies the Ghost of Somnambula.
The two then turn their nightly talk to the ghost sharing her tales of saving the prince, about her becoming his right-hand mare and eventually his bride, and so many more. Daring listens contently. She could get used to this even if it is a little odd.
Daring Do and the Ghost of Somnambula
A few days later, Daring Do returns to Somnambula for the annual Somnambula Festival. She happily joins in the fun alongside the townsfolk. Even the Mane Six decided to show up for the festival since they were told they could come along. All of them have a blast as they dance and hear stories of Somnambula's great deeds.
A few minutes later, they all take a break and drink the town's national drink: crocus and honey cider. As she sips her glass, Daring Do pokes up every few minutes to talk with Pinkie, Rainbow, and the rest of the Mane Six. She's glad they came along with her to the event. After they finish at least five glasses a piece, they get back to the fun of the event. They even have a nice group conversation with Crocus Apple. They all talk about Somnambula's importance and about the significance of her rule.
That night after the festival comes to an end with a bright and spectacular firework show, Daring Do and the Mane Six turn in for the night at the Get On Inn. While the Mane Six sleep in their rooms, Daring continues to read up on the history of Somnambula. She wants to know as much as she can about this amazing mare and nothing is going to stop her from learning as much as she can thanks to all the interviews with ponies and her own research she does in her spare time. She can't wait to publish this biography about a spectacular pony for that day is not that far around the corner.
