The air was cold, and the forest was damp. Various animals could be heard in the distance, but the sounds seemed to get quieter as night fell. Squirrels began to return home after looking for food and birds returned to their nests to feed their young. But there was one animal that wasn’t ready for rest. One pony who had been waiting for the right moment to spring into action.
Daring Do stood in front of the ancient wall. She had been standing there for nearly 3 hours, and was beginning to get impatient.
“Come one, sun! Go down already!” Daring snapped, annoyed at how early she had decided to come. She had been told by a bartender that the forest was dangerous, and if one wished to get to the wall before nightfall, they had to enter at dawn, otherwise it would be impossible to reach the wall in time. The bartender had obviously never heard of the legendary Daring Do and believed her to be yet another treasure hunter trying their luck at finding the brush. But Daring Do was no ordinary mare. She had solved puzzles that would have stumped Canterlot’s most brilliant minds and performed feats that would leave even Princess Celestia’s royal guards speechless. Her confident and brash attitude was known throughout Equestria!
“Hmm, it should be about time now.” thought the treasure hunter. She reached inside her saddle bag and pulled out a small bag. In it were three gems: one blue, one white, and one purple. Daring examined the large stone wall. It had 3 diamond-shaped holes carved into it. At the top of the wall was a purple orb. Daring noticed the sun was going down quickly. She put the bag down, took out the gems, and inserted them into the diamond-shaped holes, one by one. Noticing the sun’s position, she ran back a few feet.
The sunlight hit the purple orb as Daring watched hesitantly. The light reflected off the gem, basking Daring in an array of purple light. She watched anxiously, biting her lip. After a few seconds, the sun’s beam of light left the orb, and darkness engulfed the forest.
“…..WHAT!? The guy back at the bar said this was supposed to work! He ripped me off!” ranted Daring. “I paid 30 bits for these gems! And for what? Standing out here in the cold for Celestia knows how long!?” Daring looked back at the wall. “Screw you, wall!” Daring yelled, kicking the wall with her hind legs.
The ground suddenly began to shake. Daring jumped and retreated to the trees not far from the wall, but of course not too close either. The legendary treasure hunter watched as the wall began to sink into the ground. The rumble seemed to wake up the forest animals, as the forest suddenly began to awaken with sound once again. The wall continued to sink, and did not cease until all but the purple orb was completely underground. The ground in front of the wall began to drop, revealing a staircase of stone with strange carvings on it.
“Yes! Maybe that guy isn’t so worthless after all.” Daring said to herself as she began her descent into the dark hole. Daring could barely see, but she noticed a door at the bottom of the stairs. Perhaps there was a torch she could light in there.
Daring Do opened the door. Suddenly, all the torches in the room suddenly lit up. It took only a few seconds for Daring to gather her surroundings. The room was a long one, with torches lined up on the walls. The ground was covered in dust, most likely due years of being locked away. There were statues of ponies, four on each side, and all were unicorns. But this wasn’t Daring’s main focus. What Daring was staring so intensely at was what was at the end of the hall.
There, on a pedestal, was the legendary Platinum Brush. Said to have once been owned by Princess Platinum herself, the brush was said to have the ability to put even the most willful of ponies into a deep, brushie state. Legend says Princess Platinum had it locked away shortly after the founding of Equestria, fearing somepony would one day use it against her. Daring had been hoping to add it to her collection of rare artifacts for years, and there it was in front of her. Still, she was hesitant. It all seemed too easy, too straightforward. If there was one thing every treasure hunter should know, it’s that nothing is ever so simple. She slowly began walking to the pedestal, looking side to side and listening for anything and everything.
Daring Do was in front of the brush, examining the pedestal carefully for traps. Suddenly, she heard something behind her. It sounded like…hoofsteps. With lightning fast speed, she grabbed her whip out of her saddle bag and turned to face her guest.
“Well, that isn’t very nice.” said the blue unicorn standing on the other side of the room. Her mane was blue and white, and she seemed to have an hourglass as a cutie mark.
“Wait, I’ve seen you before…” said Daring, spitting the whip out of her mouth. “Weren’t you in Canterlot three months ago during the Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant?”
“Wow, quite the impressive memory. My name’s Colgate. And let me just say it is an honor to meet you, Daring Do.” replied the mysterious mare.
“Well, sorry kid, I’m not signing autographs right now. It’s dangerous down here and you shouldn’t be out in the forest so late.” Daring said looking around, making sure Colgate hadn’t accidently triggered a trap that she had missed.
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ve had my fair share of adventure. I am merely here for the brush.” Colgate said, a sly grin on her face.
“Sorry, no can do. I found this thing first. Finders Keepers.” Daring looked suspiciously at the mare. She didn’t seem like the adventurous sort.
“Aw, but I wanted to give it to my friend Rarity for her birthday. She’s a direct descendent of Princess Platinum, you know.” Colgate frowned.
“Yeah, if I remember correctly, the mare who played Platinum in the Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant was named Rarity. Well, I’m sorry, but I’ve been hunting this down for years, and I’m not about to let this be a part of somepony’s make-up kit.” Daring said forcefully. She had just realized Colgate was walking toward her the entire time, only to stop about two feet away.
“Darn it. Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do for it? Anything at all…?” Colgate took a few steps closer.
“Uh, nope, sorry. Heh, I kinda, uh, want it.” Daring was beginning to feel uncomfortable. This mare was quite attractive, given that Daring Do was a lesbian, but she couldn’t let her feelings get in the way of her calling.
“Oh, I think there’s something else you want a little more.” said Colgate seductively. She looked Daring in the eye, and kissed her.
“…………….! What am I doing!? I can’t do this! Not now!” Daring exclaimed, moving a few steps away from Colgate.
“But why not? You liked it, didn’t you?” asked Colgate, walking closer to the sweaty mare.
“No! Well, kinda…whatever! That’s not the point! I gotta get out of here before I do something I regret.” Daring said as she grabbed the brush with her teeth and put it in her bag. She began walking toward the exit.
“Regret? Like what?” Colgate said, following her with a seductive look on her face.
“Nothing, never mind! Just…stop following me. And don’t look at me like that!” Daring said, looking away from Colgate.
“Look at you like what?” Colgate asked, stepping in front of Daring Do.
“No…please…just don’t” Daring turned around.
“Don’t wha-“Colgate was cut off by Daring suddenly turning around and kissing her on the lips. Daring pressed her face against Colgate’s as she stared into Colgate’s dark blue eyes. Daring turned away suddenly.
“I’m…I’m sorry. I couldn’t control myself….I should go.” Daring began towards the stairs.
“Uh, excuse me? You still have the brush.” Colgate stated, watching as Daring began to leave.
“Yeah, so?” Daring looked nervously at Colgate.
“So, Colgate doesn’t come free! You owe me that brush.” Colgate said with a cold stare.
“Whatever. I don’t owe you nothing.”Daring turned to leave again. Suddenly, the brush flew out of the bag!
“What!? Give it back!” Daring said, following the brush in the air.
“Sorry, no can do.” Colgate said as she began brushing Daring’s mane with the brush.
“No! No…..n……”Daring went silent as the effects of the brush began to set in.
“Good mare. Now you wait here while I write my letter to the princess.” Colgate said, still brushing Daring.
“N…..hfg…..an….”Daring muttered, unable to think under the effects of the brushie.
Colgate brought out some paper and a quill from behind one of the pony statues.
“Dear Princess Platinum,
Today yet another treasure hunter attempted to make off with your sacred brush, but I stopped them yet again. While it does grow tiresome, I know it is my duty as one of your royal Time Lords to do protect the brush at all costs.
Your faithful subject,
Minuette Colgate”
The paper was suddenly engulfed by an hourglass and disappeared through time.
“There we go.”Colgate said, pleased with herself. She looked to Daring, who was still mumbling to herself. “Now, what to do with you…”
“Ugh, my head.” Daring said, waking up in a bed. She looked around. She recognized the place. It was the old hotel room she stays at when visiting Ponyville. “Ugh, how much did I drink last night?” Daring mumbled. She looked to the nightstand. There were three gems: one blue, one white, and one purple. “Huh? These aren’t mine. I wonder whose they are. Well, I guess I can sell them for a few bits.” Daring said to herself.
THE END
[This is my first story. I know it's short, it was sort of a way to test myself. Please tell me what you guys think!]