Dr. Caballeron and the Magic Flower
Doctor Caballeron was not an archaeologist. Somepony who has never been well informed in the field could be forgiven for thinking he was, but any true archaeologist could tell he was just a treasure hunter. True, his team had picks and shovels, but they only had one per pony. They also didn't have any of the finer tools needed for sifting through debris without harming delicate artifacts.
On a less professional level, the fact his cutie mark was a golden skull certainly implied a preference of gold to historical artifacts. And the rest of his team had the look of thugs. But one should endeavor not to judge a book by its cover, so let's take a look into how they treat each other.
"Hey boss, can we slow down a little? I don't think we can carry this stuff as fast as you can walk." The speaker was Biff. He was a young light brown earth pony stallion with a dark brown mane.
"No! If we don't hurry then Daring Do will finish up with Ahuizotl and come try to stop us. We have to do this quickly. I'm not letting her have the Flower of Life!" Caballeron set off even faster than before, leaving his team in the dust.
"Maybe if you helped carry the tools, then we could go faster," grumbled Biff.
On the other hand, we build the associations of appearance for a reason.
"At last!" cried Doctor Caballeron. "I've finally done it!" He was standing in the mouth of a cave, staring at a cave in. The whole thing was set in the side of a mountain. "This must be the entrance to the hidden temple of the Marechu Picchu volcano! And with Daring Do busy foiling Ahuizotl, nothing can stop me!"
Doctor Caballeron looked around him at the dense jungle. "As soon as I find where my henchponies set up base camp." A monkey threw a stick and hit him in the head. "And the first thing I'll have them do is get rid of you!" he shouted at the monkey, who scurried up the tree and out of sight. "That's right, run away! And don't come back!"
He headed back into the jungle in search of his camp.
After several hours he had found a stream, several crumbling statues, and not a single sign of his henchponies or their camp. He was beginning to think he had gotten turned around when he saw something that would change his life. It was the secret entrance to the Marechu Picchu temple. The same entrance he had been elated to see just hours before now infuriated him. "Now now," he said to himself. "There's no need to panic. I'll just set up a campfire. That way they can come to me."
He began collecting fresh green wood to make an extra smoky fire. That way he wouldn't have to wait for nightfall to send the signal.
Fizzlepop Berrytwist was a mess. She had lost track of how long she had been lost in the jungle. She had set out to find the Flowers of Life, a powerful breed of flower that was said to be able to cure any ailment. She didn't care how long it took, or how many ferocious beasts she had to fight, she would find them. On the plus side, all the beast fighting had taught her how to use her broken horn to attack her foes.
She was collecting water in her bottle when she saw a trail of smoke rising to the east. "Who would be out here in the middle of the jungle? Unless they're here for the flowers too!" She looked down at herself. Her coat was as brown as it was purple, and matted everywhere. She had scratches all over her body and she hadn't been full for over a week. "I might as well see if they'd be willing to help me. I've got nothing to lose."
After around half an hour of hard marching through an uncooperative jungle Berrytwist heard screaming.
"Henchponies! Biff! Anypony! Help!"
Berrytwist took off at a run towards the cries. She found a brown earth pony stallion running from a jaguar. She stood her ground and lowered her head as the stallion ran past her. Just as the jaguar leaped at her she released a powerful magic blast from her broken horn. It hit the cat square in the chest and sent it tumbling backwards. The cat stood up and jumped into the bushes. "Are you ok?" asked Berrytwist, looking at the stallion.
"Yes, thanks to you," he said. He had an accent she couldn't place. "Say, I could use a powerful pony like yourself. Would you be interested in a job miss... ?"
She opened her mouth to say 'Fizzlepop Berrytwist' when a thought occurred to her. She could say anything to this stallion and he would never know anything was amiss. "Tempest Shadow. And I'm on a quest to find the Flowers of Life, I don't want anything but one of the flowers."
"That's perfect then, I am also looking for the Flowers of Life. In fact, I already know where to find them. I just need somepony to help clear some rubble and we'll be set. Do you think you can blast rocks as well as you can jaguars?"
"I'll break anything in my way."
"So, is that a yes, you'll take the job?"
"Yes."
The Stallion began walking back the way he had come. "This way to the temple of Marechu Picchu! For it is within those buried halls the Flowers of Life grow." The newly christened Tempest Shadow followed him. "By the way, I am Dr. Caballeron. If you see a yellowish-orange pegasus with a gray mane, shoot them and alert me."
"Why's that?"
"Because that is what Daring Do looks like. I don't think she is in this jungle, but she has a habit of taking the treasures I find. And if you see four idiots with gear for an expedition they're my team. They got lost in the jungle this morning."
"If they got lost, shouldn't we try to find them?"
"I'm sure they'll be fine, and besides, you've got to look after yourself. In the end, you are the only person you can trust completely. Others might be stupid, lazy, or ignorant. You are limited only by your intellect and cunning. Others can be useful, but in the end it comes down to you, and you alone."
Tempest thought about that. She had already lost her friends. She wasn't sure why she had been trying to help others when they hadn't helped her. "You're right. I don't need friends. I used to think I did, but no more. From now on it's strictly business."
"Well then, let's get ourselves some flowers."
Once they reached the fire Caballeron put some more wood on it to ensure it would burn through the night. "We'll wait here until dawn. Get some sleep so we're ready to tackle the temple at our best. It's full of booby traps, but I know how to get past them."
"So, why do you want the flower?" asked Tempest as she sat by the fire. "I want it to restore my horn, but you seem healthy."
"Ah. I just want to sell it and become rich."
"I see," said Tempest, a hint of displeasure in her voice.
Caballeron grabbed some berries and set them on the ground in front of Tempest. "Here, eat."
"Really, for me?"
"There are plenty of things to eat here for somepony with a degree in botany, such as myself. And you look half starved, I don't want you fainting in the middle of something important. Your welfare is in my best interest. That's how teams work."
"Ok." Tempest tore through the berries, finishing them off in seconds.
"If you're still hungry there are more on that bush," said Caballeron pointing. "Make sure not to eat any other berries. Some look rather similar but are toxic."
Tempest began picking berries from the bush. "So your degree is in botony? Seems like an odd choice for a treasure hunter."
"I minored in botany and geology, my major is in history. And I wasn't always a treasure hunter, I used to be a history professor. Then I went on an archaeological dig. That's where I realized how much more money some ponies will pay than the museums. I think I might go back to teaching history in a decade or two. It doesn't pay as well, but it was fun. And it's a lot less physically demanding. A perfect job to keep me busy in my golden years."
Tempest listened to his tale with some interest, and nodded politely when he was finished. Then they went to sleep, both anticipating what tomorrow would bring.
Dr. Caballeron and the Magic Flower
Out of the Jungle, Into the Volcano
Dr. Caballeron was having a lovely dream about teaching history while sitting on a golden throne when he was startled awake by a loud panting. He opened his eyes and looked around for the source. On the other side of the clearing they had spent the night in Tempest was doing pushups. She was breathing heavily and had worked up a lather. Dr. Caballeron looked up at the sky. It was beginning to lighten but dawn had yet to arrive. He had wanted to sleep in today but the look of sheer determination on the mare's face made him decide against it. She seemed like the sort who would rather run herself into the ground then take a break, and he didn't want her deciding to go without him.
He got up and dusted himself off. "Go ahead and grab some more of those berries. It could be a while before we get to the flowers."
"Yes sir," Tempest said as she stopped doing pushups and went over to the bush.
"How many pushups did you do?" he asked as he began collecting fruits he knew were good to eat. It would be nice to pin down the capabilities of this headstrong young mare.
"Fifty two. I've been doing fifty five every morning for a while now."
That meant she was probably stronger than him, despite being an underfed unicorn. "Alright, I think we have enough food. Why don't you go unblock the entrance?" Dr. Caballeron took a long stick and wrapped some vines around it. Then he lit it in the campfire. No point in exploring a dark tunnel without a source of light.
Tempest walked into the cave. Then there was a bright blue flash that shifted into purple before fading away. Dr. Caballeron ran over to the entrance. The pile of rocks which had been blocking the way were smashed to smaller pieces and knocked over so the way was cleared. "How's that?"
"Perhaps a bit much, but the roof seems to be holding. Let's get going." And with that he raised the torch and led the way further into the tunnel.
"So, how much do you know about the Flowers of Life?" asked Caballeron after they had been walking for about five minutes.
"Not much. I know they need to be eaten to be effective, and that they can heal any injury or disease."
"Both true, but not complete. They must be made into tea which is then to be drunk, petals and water alike. And they don't just heal, they can also raise the dead, according to some legends. And they only grow in partial shade. Which is why they are in the caldera."
"What's a caldera?"
"A caldera is the depression in the top of a volcano. The edges would keep the flower in the shade most of the day, but it would get sunlight in the middle of the day."
"Wait, this is a volcano? Then where's all the lava?"
"Volcanoes normally don't have any lava. That only happens right before an eruption. I doubt this volcano will ever erupt again, and I know it hasn't done so since I was born. We have nothing to fear from the fact it is a volcano, only the traps it may possess."
Tempest Shadow and Caballeron were standing at the edge of a glassy stretch of rock about thirty feet across looking at a pool of lava beneath it. "Let's see. It's full of traps, lava only happens right before an eruption, you doubt the volcano will ever erupt, and 'We have nothing to fear from the fact it is a volcano, only the traps it may possess'. I haven't seen any traps and yet here is a pool of lava. I thought you were a rock doctor."
"The traps will be further in. This pool presents no obstacle, we can walk right over it. And this isn't lava, it's magma. Lava is what it's called only once it reaches the surface."
'If it's the same thing, why does it need two names?' thought Tempest. 'It sounds like he just can't admit he made a mistake. I wonder if he's making that whole magma concept up.'
After they rounded a bend they saw that the floor ahead transitioned from smooth unbroken rock to cobblestones. Caballeron stopped moving and held his torch, which was now only about two thirds as long as when he had made it, out in a sweeping motion. "Here are the traps! I told you they would be further in."
"I don't see any traps."
"Of course not," said Caballeron with a sigh. "Look, just watch my steps and don't step on any cobblestones I don't step on, ok?"
"Alright, lead away." Tempest followed Caballeron. It took them several times longer than Tempest felt was necessary, but eventually they reached a large set of doors. They had a set of circles of various sizes in the center. Each circle had symbols engraved on it.
Caballeron took a piece of paper out of his tan jacket and looked at it. Then he started turning each of the circles. Tempest didn't notice any sort of pattern, but he must have known what he was doing because after about three minutes the doors opened towards them. "We're getting close. Keep following my hoofsteps, there might be more traps." Tempest noticed the doors appeared to have the same circles and symbols on the back. After a faster walk than the one leading up to the door they found another cave in. This one had bits of light peeking through. "I believe this is your department. You can walk freely here."
Tempest walked up to the blockage. This was it. The last obstacle. After this she would finally have a way to restore what she had lost. She let loose a peal of bursts from her jagged horn. The blockage shattered to pieces and Tempest stepped into the afternoon sun. She looked at the rocky caldera before her. There were chunks of rock and lots of ash. And in the center lay the treasure she had been seeking for months. A beautiful golden flower with crisp green leaves. That's when two things hit her. One was that there was only one flower. The other was a head sized rock held by Caballeron. As she blacked out she heard him say "Thank you so much for your assistance, but I regret I must inform you the legends speak of one flower, not one type of flower. A pity, I rather liked you."
Dr. Caballeron stepped around the prone form of Tempest. It really was too bad they couldn't both get what they wanted, she had proven herself more capable then the rest of his team. Alas, it looked like their partnership would end here. At least he had the Flower of Life. It would make all the effort and betrayal worth it in the end. He took the base of the flower in his teeth and pulled. The lower stem snapped and he tucked the flower into his jacket, its head just barely poking out like a bowtie. He headed off at a quick trot, grabbing the torch on his way into the tunnel. He didn't want to be around when Tempest came to.
Once he reached the doors he pushed them closed behind him. Then he spun the circles into a random position. He was confident that Tempest had not memorized the key and did not understand the symbols. The lock would buy him enough time to escape easily before Tempest escaped, either by checking every solution to the circle puzzle or by climbing out the steep caldera walls.
When Tempest woke she knew she hadn't been out long. The sun was still beating down on her and she wasn't thirsty. She looked over at the place she had seen the flower but all that remained was the lower stem. That traitor Caballeron must have taken it. She stood up and ran back into the tunnel, heedless of any traps, making her horn spark and snap so she could see.
Fortunately for her there didn't appear to be any traps until she saw the circle doors up ahead. One of the circles stopped moving as she approached, so she knew Caballeron was right behind it.
Dr. Caballeron was almost to a bend in the tunnel when he heard a tremendous crash. He looked behind him and saw the doors flying off their hinges and Tempest standing in the doorway, sparking and seething. He put his torch in his mouth and took off at a run. He triggered every trap he saw, hoping they were all designed to take out ponies heading into the temple, rather than those fleeing it.
Tempest saw Caballeron turn to see her and then run away. She ran after him dodging a spear that shot out of the ceiling. Once she reached the corner he had disappeared around she saw that there were traps springing out everywhere. She blasted a swinging axe in her path and ran through a section where darts had riddled both walls. She leaped over a pit full of spikes and kept pushing forward, trying to close the distance between her and Caballeron.
Dr. Caballeron would have been impressed if he wasn't so terrified. Tempest was mowing through the traps almost as fast as he could spring them. Then he hit the edge of the cobblestone. He could still hear explosions coming from behind him as he stopped looking for traps, dropped his torch, and just ran as fast as he could towards the exit.
After about a minute the explosions stopped and he heard Tempest shout "Caballeron! If you don't stop right now and hand that flower back I will kill you!" He had no breath to answer her with, yet somehow he found within himself the strength to run faster than ever before.
In another minute he heard her hoofsteps round a corner, giving her a straight shot at him. He heard her horn send off a bolt, and for a moment he thought he was a goner. Then he saw the bolt hit the ceiling in front of him and start a cave in. He barely made it under the first rock, and the rest fell on top of it forming a wall between him and Tempest. He didn't stop though. He had already underestimated her once, he wouldn't survive doing it again. In just moments he heard an explosion behind him, but he was already out of the straightaway.
After several more minutes he had escaped several smaller bolts that had hit the walls, ceiling, and floor around him. Tempest must have decided to lessen her power to avoid causing another collapse that would slow her more than him. He had just made it to the glassy stretch when another bolt shot by. This one hit the glassy rock and made it begin to shatter. He made it to the halfway point and leaped just as the rock began to fall away beneath him. He barely made it to the far side, his back hooves mere inches from the open air behind him. He continued running in case she tried to shoot him again, but there was no way she could clear the gap.
Once he reached the next curve he dove behind it and peered around to see what Tempest would do. He saw her approach the pit without slowing. Sure she was strong, but nopony could jump that far, except for Princess Celestia. Tempest took a flying leap and fell below the lip of the pit, but her front hooves latched onto the edge. Dr. Caballeron took off running once again. Just who was this Tempest Shadow? She had the most powerful magic of any unicorn he had ever seen, she could jump further than anypony he'd ever met, she woke in minutes from a blow that would've killed an ordinary unicorn, and she flew through every trap in the temple like a specter of death. He had thought he could outpace her in the jungle, since she was clearly out of her element. But as the chase had continued he was beginning to doubt both if that was true and whether he would last long enough to find out.
After a few more minutes of running Dr. Caballeron began to see light up ahead. But just as he made it into the clearing a bolt of Tempest's magic hit him in his left back leg and sent him tumbling to the ground. He tried to stand up but his body would not move. Too exhausted to flee, he looked back at his pursuer. Tempest Shadow was panting heavily, but she was still on her feet, slowly walking toward Dr. Caballeron.
"You really shouldn't have betrayed me. I just wanted the flower, but now? Now I'm going to make you pay for your treachery!" Tempest lowered her sparking horn and Dr. Caballeron closed his eyes and waited for death.
But then something strange happened. He felt something pull the flower from his pocket and heard Tempest shout, "NO!"
He opened his eyes to see Tempest leap into a nearby tree after a monkey holding the Flower of Life in one of its paws. Dr. Caballeron began crawling away while Tempest was distracted. Nothing, no matter how richly he would be paid for it, was worth fighting that mare. He only hoped the monkey would last long enough for him to escape.
Tempest Shadow never did catch the monkey. She had followed it for about a minute before it lost her among the trees. After about an hour trying to find it she started trying to catch Caballeron, but he too had eluded her. She had spent so long in the jungle, and now she had nothing to show for it. No, not nothing, she realized. She had learned to fight. She had grown strong. And most importantly, she had learned not to care about anypony but herself. She would find another way to restore her horn. And then she could track down this 'Dr. Caballeron'. As she sat alone in the remnants of the camp they had once shared as allies, she swore she would recover both her horn and her dignity. Nopony would best her like this again.
Two days later Dr. Caballeron found his way back into the village he and his team had left on their ill fated expedition. He had found a series of arrows pointing towards town dug in the mud and followed them. Once in the small village he found Biff sitting next to the road with all the gear.
"Dr. C! I'm glad you made it back! Did you find the arrows I made to guide you here?"
"Yes Biff. They were quite helpful."
"You look awful down. Didn't find the temple?"
"Oh I did. I found the temple. I found the flower. I even brought the flower back out into the jungle."
"Then why are you upset?"
"Because a unicorn with the strength of a yak and the speed of Daring Do took it! She tried to kill me and I barely survived!"
"That sounds really bad, all right."
"Where are the others?"
"They all quit around noon yesterday. But I stayed loyal! I even kept the gear safe."
"Biff. How would you like to be my official second in charge?"
"Do you mean it sir?"
"Yes. There's just two things you must always do. Make sure I can find the team, and warn me if you ever see a purple unicorn with a broken horn."
Author's Note
I actually felt sad writing the part where Tempest Shadow sits in the camp and thinks about her time in the jungle. It really hit me just how much she'd been through, only to have the goal plucked right out of her grasp. She didn't even do anything that bad yet at this point in the story. I never intended this story to be that sad, but I think it fits well with how she is next time we see her.
