Prologue A thief ALWAYS covers their tracks
I could feel my hooves cracking on the hard snow of the cave that surrounded my new area. My mane and tail was covered in snow also and my once blue mane and dark green coat was pure white and with each breath mist coming from it. I shook off the snow shivering as each flake came off and then fixed my saddlebag up and also my worn out coat. I don’t care much about anything else and continued my trek to find what I sought, the one thing that I have seen searching for. The phoenix gem was the most powerful artifact that I could ever sought in my life. Now after 5 years of searching and false leads I was close to it. Throwing my last flare down the cave I noticed it as the flare began to move and then it was gone and the cave became darker once again. Looking at the edge right before it feel I saw the flare down on what looked like the ground and knowing no other way around unless I back tracked (which would take forever) I would have to get down their and explore.
Moving my wings I stretched them to get them ready and then jumped and used my wings to hover me downwards toward the unknown, I looked and noticed what looked like inscriptions on the wall and from my reading it described a warning of a strange and mysterious danger that would come from the removal of it. (Or if that’s what the 2,000 year old manuscripts on the frozen walls was really telling me.) shaking my head I hovered and pulled out my notebook from my saddlebag and used my pencil to write down the inscriptions and then continued downwards. Upon continuing down I reached the bottom and then kept walking for about a good 2 hours seeing more warnings and symbols. Some I was able to decipher, while others I couldn’t as I couldn’t understand it or the words were badly damaged. After that I found a door covered in a golden rim and my eyes
perked with excitement as the relic was had to be behind this door I rushed to it bot wondering if traps were set in place to protect it. (As the legend stated) Checking for a way to open it, I noticed a sort of keyhole there and noticed it to be the shape of a dragon. “What mystery do you pose?” I said not caring on who or what heard me and reached into my bag and pulled out a similar piece that was almost the same as the keyhole and inserted it and then tuned the dragon to hear a loud clang noise. The place rattled from it and ice shards fell down from the resulting noise and soon after the door moving and then stopping a little bit and had enough space for a small stallion to fit. Using my strength I moved it a little bit and then pushed myself into the small gap and then squeezing through I made it through. I was enthralled at the sight of the room and the beauty inside. Gems the size of ponies laid inside and the room was warmer then any day of the summer I had ever
known. The snow almost immediately melted off my skin and coat and I took it off to dry while I continued to explore. I began to grab some gems and other things as a “reward” for my actions and skills. As a prized thief I deserved a cut of whatever I got. But every trinket was not enough for what I saw. At the end of the room mounted by 2 birds was a golden gem brighter than even the Celestial sun, the brightness I couldn’t even stare at even with my sun resistance goggles on. This was IT the Phoenix gem I had found it, after 5 years of failure I did it. I flew up and felt the warm heat to be overwhelming but I used my strength to fly upwards and then began to grab it to pull it out. I felt as if doing it fussed the place to crumble but I continued knowing THIS was what I came here for. I felt as the place got colder and with one last pull I yanked it out and felt a magic leave the room and then then it became immensely cold… colder then the winter days from
my younger years back home. “What have I done?” I said holding the gem and watching it as the gem seemed to hum weakling and then turned darker then the moonlight and then the place began to fall apart. I ran to my entrance and then saw it get crushed by a pillar and began to worry and turning around I began to try and find another way out. I then noticed a wall and from it a gust of wind which shined a weak light on the ground. Putting the gem in my bag I rammed into the wall which made me fall down and I recollected myself and began to fly and then saw the edge and felt a gust of wind underneath push me upwards and I flew up and crashed into the ground. But there wasn't no grass in sight.
It was snow, bright white snow. I rubbed my hooves into it and shivered from the immediate cold and wondered why it was like this. It was in the middle of the summer and to see snow here when I came in it was grassy made me both worried and confused. I pulled the gem with my wing and held it and it was still dark even with the sun barely hitting it, the gem refused to shine or make a shadow. I put it back inside and then continued to walk and saw the snow reach the trees and even the creeks and puddles seemed to be frozen over. NO not seemed it WAS frozen, solid my hoof banged the ice and it didn't crack or even splinter. I began to trot slowly while I kept looking and then upon reaching a cliff end, I looked and was shocked at what I saw.
Ice and snow covered the land and I could see gusts of wind blowing harder than anything that was even possible. "What did I do?" I turned my head to continue to examine everything that was a result of whatever I did. I then noticed that crops were frozen and not even the hard warmth of the sun could melt them.... it was horrible, I tried to find a way to fix it, but I had done enough. I just walked away knowing that I had came here to do what I needed to, get the artifact and sell it to the highest bidder. I flapped my wings and flew straight up and began my trip back home not looking back at the world or even homes that I ruined.
Chapter 1 The golden eye of Mount Aris
Author's Note
If any of you are wondering about where this chapter takes place upon the prologue.
This chapter takes place 2 months after the prologue. (So a LOT of times has passed)
Enjoy either way.
Chapter 1 The golden eye of Mount Aris
If there is 1 thing about the daring adventurous named Daring Do. She was either hoof deep in a abandoned temple, in search of ancient long forgotten relics. Or she was in search of something new to do at her ol’ place she called home. But for Daring during the warm summer days she was beginning her search on for the golden eye of the long forgotten Hippogriffs on top of Mount Aris they lived before they disappeared. How or why was a mystery that daring wished to answer with this newest discovery she was about to make. All her leads and preparations lead her to believe that it was inside of the old home of Queen Novo. If that wasn’t her name she wouldn’t know clearly what her name was. The ancient monuments from the howling depths of Griffonstone were over 4,000 years old. If they were even properly deciphered or possible to see cause of the age was gonna be very slim for her. Daring ate the last apple in her ration bag and sighed at the
sight of not having anything else to eat. Though satisfied to have ate something to quell her stomach from grumbling. She had nothing else to eat if she got hungry or even to last her on the trip back. Sighing she put her mind to ease and began to focus on the bigger matter at hoof, to find the relic she was so happy to finally find. Venturing past the rocky waves and high clouds she made it to the entrance and walked inside. The place was as it said in the old books, it was abandoned with what looked like no pony had set a hoof here since before they “disappeared” Daring set her eyes on a golden statue of a queen lying in the middle of the courtyard that she predicted was where she was. Upon walking closer and clearing the shrubbery that covered it. She noticed a name inscribed into it in golden letters. “Here lies Queen Novo, a wonder to all and a courageous leader to the very end.” The statue finished its quote right at the word end and she let out a quick chuckle. “I
was right!” She said jumping up and down yelling not caring on who or what would’ve heard her. For once the clues pointed right and the name Queen Novo was here. Many ponies and archeologists told her that the name was a griffon and to hear that for a good time her gut was right was a relief. She began her journey trotting through the endless buildings and abandoned shops, until she passed and noticed a large stone building a good distance away. Upon getting a closer look she noticed the building to be a old ruins. Daring walked inside not sure on what awaited her and began to observe her surroundings from. the walls to even the floor. The one thing that caught her was another statue of the queen standing at other side of the room.
The golden colours were dimmed and made the already beautiful statue looking less than what it would if it was in the light. The idea of it being here and just being at the end posed a idea for daring that this place was a puzzle. (Or something that needed protecting.) Upon this daring walked one step and then heard a creaking noise and then when she looked down a loud gust of wind passed her ears and than a loud clang came next. Upon daring looking up she noticed a axe the size of her wing spread out edged into the wall leaving a good mark on the wall. Daring got off the plate that she stepped on and upon that heard a metallic noise and the plate shot back up again. “It’s a trap.” Daring said and then grabbed her composer and then tried to look for anything that could mark a way forward. Every slab was tainted and didn’t pose any clues… they were just old regular slabs that you would find in any home. But one thing stuck to her mind and it was
something she read back during her investigation. The hippogriffs were known for their excellent acrobatics and even their agility. She knew that each slab looked more spaced out upon looking ahead and thought that maybe “this” was the answer to not getting a axe to her face and becoming a darekabob. But finding out which one was the right one and the wrong was another problem she had to find the answer to. She took her thoughts and looked and then noticed that the lights were dimmed on the end then here with it was brighter. And upon a clear look with squinted eyes, she noticed claw scratches on different ones. Curious she turned off the lights by using her hat as a means to knock the torches out and then the room became dark. But then a light appeared and it was a blueish Colour one that illuminated everything else. Then daring could see what looked like a bunch of scratches on different slabs and taking a leap of faith (literally) jumped and landed on one
of the slabs and expected the worse. To her amazement nothing happened and she was safe. “Right, now to continue with this… careful on each step.” Daring said sweating as she jumped for each step and then making her way over to it using both her front and back hooves to gallantly make her way across. When she reached the end of the tunnel she sighed and then came to the statue and upon closer inspection noticed that it lost all of it's color. Daring then used her hoof to dust off it and then notices a message carved into it. "The queen will protect us, from the one of storms." Daring read as she wrote it down in her notes and as she moved her hoof she heard a click sound and the statue moved. She turned around and noticed the statue had a opening underneath and her not knowing this made Daring feel a little naïve at first. She began her decent into the unknown in search of a possible clue or even the treasure she was bent on finding.
As she made her down the stairs and past the endless hallways that surrounded her new surroundings. Daring came across a golden door and upon examining it, noticed that the door required a key to open it. Daring pulled out a little machine which was meant to pick locks, that had costed her 20 bits and a couple of her rations but at this moment she knew that it was worth it. Daring inserted it inside the keyhole and watched as it did the job it was designed for opening it. Upon it clicking and the door opening daring walked inside to find whatever secrets lied in front of her. But to her shock. she found herself in the once place that made her entire trip here worth it.
Gems, gold, historic books and even old portraits. It was a archeologist dream as Daring stared up and down excited to be the first to read or even find any of this stuff. She began to look at the many books unaffected by the age of time or decay and scrolled through the pages enticed in the contents that they held. But nothing of these caliber could change than the bright object that was held by 2 wings of what looked Pegasus's or even Hippogriffs. Upon closer inspection the item appeared to be a orb a golden orb incased with inscriptions and even markings. Daring took her notebook out and began to draw the marks and even what it looked like in order to make sure that she knew what it was in case this was the last time. She tried to pull it out and upon that she could feel it begin to vibrate and the shock caught Daring off and it fell out of her hooves onto the floor.
BANG! That was the first noise that caught to Daring and when she opened her eyes from it she saw the orb on the ground and when she was about to grab it, a torch fell and the orb lit on fire. "NO!" Daring yelled in fear as she tried to smother the flames to preserve the relic, only to see a bright orange light appear above her. Daring observed the light as it began to form what looked like stars, but not ones you would see in the sky at night. The stars looked almost like a message engraved within as many texts that daring used to read within the old text books before she began her search for the Sapphire Stone about 4 years ago.
Chapter 3 Searching for new clues
Passing scaling mountains and deep lush forests, Daring had explored many of the unknown areas that most of ponykind has left untouched or even unexplored for many generations. Daring had gone underwater to find ancient temples, flew to the sky to find a city quite literally in the clouds and even went into a active volcano to recover stolen relics. But Daring's journeys usually had her have the assistance of somepony to be her almost guide or supporting piece of information to find what she was seeking. But for Daring most of them either were retired or came as a one trick pony and never appeared again. None stood more like these words for Daring than a long forgotten adventurer named Shadow Hoof who was shrouded in more mystery than his name spelled it out for Daring. Daring only met him when she had to fight her way out of a sticky situation from a archeologist tried to rip daring off about the eye of mount aris. He helped her get out and in return of all her reserves.
Shadow gave Daring the map she used to find the eye... and now Daring needed to know if he had the info she desired to find this supposed phoenix gem that Caballeron was trying to acquire. Daring landed by the old mill near Appleousa and threw a old cloak she had packed into her saddles bag and then walked through the dirt and unpaved roads. Daring never liked to be around other ponies and felt unsecured and even unprotected. But as she walked looking for Shadow, Daring noticed ponies gawking at her and even could hear some talking behind her tail. "Look at her walk, you think she is another of those tomb raiders." One said and another groaned as she put her basket of bread down and looked at her friend. "That's just great, as if we didn't need another." Another pony muttered as Daring continued but not wanting to attract any problems, left it alone. Daring asked around hoping that the ponies here would be kind enough to guide her. "Excuse me ma'am, do you know where I can find Shadow Hoof?" Daring asked a young mare with a light blue mane and tail who was the same eye length to her expression she got worried and ran away.
Not surprising Daring in the slightest she was tempted to ask another pony when she heard a slight voice. "Over here miss." A female voice said and when she turned her head around she noticed the same pony again in a alleyway waving her hoof for her. Daring trotted to her and slowly began to wonder to herself what she was even getting herself into. "You need to be more cautious when your around here miss and how your acting. Ponies here are very.. well lets just say they don't like your type." The mare said as she began to trot faster until Daring arrived at a building out in the edges of town. "Here you are, he's inside. Just be normal and don't say anything bad, we don't need anything to happen here." She said to Daring as she walked away humming to herself quietly and Daring looked at her until she left and then turned back to the building and walked inside.
It was just as Daring expected it to be... a bar, full of stallions. Daring felt out of place but then out of the corner of her eye. "I win, now for your payment." A stallion said in such a deep voice it could almost rattle the building. Daring knew that voice from anywhere. She stared at Shadow the pony in the black jacket and with his greyish coat and blue and red mane and tail. "You know Shadow, you need to take your skills and go somewhere else, it's getting old losing to you." Another stallion said and Shadow turned and gave a glare towards the pony and he stopped a single word from coming out of his mouth. As Daring walked closer Shadow gave her a glare that she could easily see until they were standing right beside each other. "BARTENDER! Another drink for our friend!" Shadow screamed and the bartender pony sighed as he levitated a bottle up to get the rest of the stuff for whatever Shadow had planned. "So you returned Daring?" Shadow said easily noticing Daring's disguise and she knew it, but refusing to take it off. "Take a seat, I am pretty sure you got questions for me, based on the fact that you are here." Shadow said and to Daring's distrust sat also but prepared herself mentally in case she had to fight her way out.
"That map you gave me, it was the right one. I found the eye." Daring said in a low tone keeping the other ponies inside from hearing her words as the bartender came, gave their drinks and Shadow gave him the bits. Daring watched as he chugged it down within 5 seconds, a record even she couldn't accomplish. "So, you found the eye huh.. and where is it per say?" Shadow said putting down the glass and waving for another. Daring looked down not wanting to admit it that she wasn't able to get it, but also on how to explain everything.
"So you weren't able to get it..?" Shadow said and Daring nodded wishing to not admit something like that. "The eye was set on fire when I dropped it and then when I checked there was a message." Daring said and Shadow's ears peaked from it as many tressure hunters do when they hear something like that. "A message and do you have this message on you?" Shadow said and Daring backed away thinking this was another trap to steal her info. "If you think I am merely here to chase you on it, don't worry I have no intentions to steal. My tressure hunting days are over now.
Daring kept distant until she pulled out her notebook and presented the markings. Shadow turned pale as white as soon as he saw it, he was unable to even process what it was. "Where did you get this!?" Shadow turned and yelled it to Daring's complete shock as she grabbed her journal and backed away. "You will NOT go searching for that, it's cursed you hear me... CURSED!" Shadow screamed and other ponies inside got even more hostile. "So you do know this, what is it?" Daring asked but Shadow was most likely having none of it. "I am not gonna send another pony on that suicide mission, to lose their life searching for something that doesn't exist!" He yelled and the others got closer, to Daring's realization that she was really going to have to fight to get out of here either by fighting or running. "I'm finding that relic, with your help or not" Daring said with a stern look and after a minute of complete quiet, Daring could hear laughter. From around her. "Oh Daring, you remind of myself when I was younger, always eager for adventure even if you knew how hard it was." Shadow said.
Daring looked confused at this as it felt so sudden for the emotional change but she was glad at least that the place wasn't any or more hostile. "So, what do you know about this?" Daring said with a look of curiosity. Shadow went over grabbed a new drink and handed one to Daring which Daring declined to Shadow's shock. "Well, that notes you see are actually a map, to the legendary relic that I and friends have sought for years. The phoenix gem." Shadow said and Daring's eyes widened as Daring smiled and looked with complete eagerness. But also this meant that what Caballeron was searching for, Daring had the only means to finding it... as always. "But it was the eye, how could this be..." Daring said but Shadow stopped her before she could say anything else. "Please spare your questions for the journey ahead... that is, if you are so dedicated to it?" Shadow said with a slight grin. But Daring knew this was her destiny, finding the relics of the world and protecting them from greedy treasure hunters or tomb raiders. Daring nodded and Shadow laughed at it.
"So Daring, this is where you went?" A voice spoke and upon Daring turning around she saw Dr. Caballeron in his robe again at the entrance with the other 2 and even that mystery pony. "Oh, can we help you?" The bartender pony said as the others around Daring got defensive and Caballeron simply laughed. "Oh you all don't need to worry, I just want the journal that young Ms. Do has." Caballeron said and the others got closer as the ponies around Daring got even more defensive. "Daring, it's best you run away... things are gonna be messy." Shadow said as he pulled his jacket off to show a pair of wings... but metal. "Oh don't worry, I already brought the flame." Caballeron said as he pulled out a orange gem and to Daring she simply stared without the ability to move. "DON'T!" Shadow said but Caballeron didn't listen and next thing we knew the gem began to light the entire place that Daring and the others were in on fire. "Deal with them Mystic!" Caballeron yelled as the others ran inside including Mystic and the others fought them. It became a war zone in a burning bar.
Daring tried to run away but fighting was everywhere, Ponies getting hurt and even ones which didn't move. Fire consumed the building as pieces of it began to fall apart. Daring began to cough as the smoke was filing the place up and if she didn't get out, the place would most likely be her tomb. "Daring, take your map, get out of town... head north. We'll talk more.." Shadow said and then he was thrown by Mystic into the fire and Daring screamed for his name as Mystic came closer to her slowly. "The journal Daring, I don't have time for filly games." Mystic said as Daring backed away and Mystic used his horn and began to rip the journal from Daring's hooves. "NO!" Daring screamed as she held the book and could feel herself being dragged closer to Mystic but his immense magic. "You let go of her!" A voice screamed and when Daring looked it was Shadow holding one of those gems that set the place on fire. Before anypony could say anything the gem collided with Mystic's magic exploding it blasting Daring, Mystic and Shadow and everypony else around the place.
Groaning and moaning Daring got up weak and saw as Mystic grabbed her journal and teleported away. "No! You give that back!" Daring screamed but felt as the place began to fall apart. "Now's not the time Daring, c'mon this way!" Shadow screamed as he picked Daring up and helped her while avoiding every piece of debris and watching as the bartender pony and even the others went down into the wine cellar and then into a set of caves underneath. "Catch your breath Daring, drink." Shadow said as he gave Daring some water and Daring didn't accept it angry with herself. "What happens now?" Daring said looking confused on what the next thing would be. Without the map, she had no means to find the gem. "Well, not necessary your last option." Shadow said looking at the others as they left Daring and him alone. "During my travels I found many relics, gems, trophies and even inscriptions. I explored the world and even found things that would scare the normal pony. But when I searched for the phoenix gem, I feared what would happen if anypony found that. I trust you with what I am about to show you." Shadow said and right before Daring could say anything, Shadow ripped off his ubdershirt.
Daring watched in complete shock as she saw a map, almost a exact replica of what she had on Shadow's back. "How?" Daring said with shock as she took a piece of paper from her saddlebag and wrote it down, every word, every symbol and marking. "As a curse for finding the secret to it, I knew that ponies would want to find it also, I feared that so I destroyed it. But left behind the secret on my back burning it onto me so If I found the right pony to find it could find this. That pony is you Daring." Shadow said and Daring eyes widen as she knew that he must believe her with a intense hope for her to leave a secret like this. "Alright, I'll find it!" Daring said as she packed up and was ready to leave the caves and explore and figure it out as Shadow simply guided her on the map and even how to read the inscriptions. "Remember one thing, when you reach the end of the path... listen for the song. So long as you hear her voice, you'll find it."
Shadow said and before Daring could react he was gone... she was alone. After hours of walking in the caves finding the exit brought a new light and she looked to the endless horizon of the wide world. "I just hope I can make it before you do." Daring said as she opened her wings and launched herself up and flew faster than ever, knowing she can't rest cause this time, she was on a time limit with no knowledge of anything.
