Bright leaned over the table. There was a map there, being studied intently by Rarity. The bright light above them cast harsh light down on it as Rarity mumbled and hummed.

"So, whatcha lookin' at?" Bright rocked on his feet as he asked. "That looks like a map, of Equestria."

"Because, darling, it is a map, of Equestria." Rarity slid the map closer. "That much is clear, but I see hints, clues." Her horn glowed as she pulled over a book to go with it.

"It's outlined here, in the recent dump of interesting articles." She tapped at the floating book.

Sweetie hiked a brow from her own seat on the other side of the room, where the light was gloomier. "That's... actually very responsible of you. Most would assume the researchers would take care of sorting through that. What inspired you?"

Rarity preened under the rare praise from Sweetie Drops. "Why, I was simply perusing the archives for historical fashion insights when this map caught my eye. The cartography is exquisite and I adore studying period costumes."

She traced a hoof along the ancient map's ragged edge. "But when I cross-referenced the geography, the ruins marked here don't match any known historical sites!"

Rarity's eyes shone with excitement as she levitated the book over. "Yet this newly uncovered research journal seems to reference a cave at these precise coordinates - one containing a magical artifact of some kind before it was lost generations ago."

She licked her lips unconsciously. "Something about it sings to my vampiric instincts...I can nearly taste the potent magical energies said to reside there!"

Bright's eyes widened. "Whoa, a secret magic treasure cave? That sounds awesome!" He grinned at Sweetie Drops. "We gotta go check that out! Could be super important, right?"

Sweetie Drops walked over, scrutinizing the materials dubiously. "I suppose some investigation may be merited..." She frowned. "Still, traipsing into ancient ruins all willy-nilly? Seems questionable at best, if not downright dangerous..."

She raised an eyebrow at Rarity. "And we will be taking proper precautions regarding any uncontrollable 'cravings' on certain ponies' parts before embarking, yes?"

Rarity smiled brightly, baring just a hint of fang. "Naturally, darling! I wouldn't dream of letting things get too...messily out of control." She pressed gleefully against Bright. "Not when I have my willing escort right here to keep me sated..."

She leaned against Bright straight from the front, her chest against his legs. "I don't think my hunger will go unsated, hm?"

Bright licked over his lips, quiet a moment before he recovered. "Yeah, 'course Rares." He ruffled her mane, gently, lest he upset her by getting it out of order.

Still, it meant he had petting rights on Rarity, and that was surely worth the price. "Besides, if we don't go get it, some other perp might." He rolled a hand at Sweetie. "And that'd be bad."

Sweetie sighed in defeat. "That would be unideal, at best. If it's enough to have Rarity's fangs on edge, it's not something we want wandering around."

Rarity grinned, leaning into Bright's pets. "Indeed, better it safely secured in our private collection, yes?"

Sweetie Drops rolled her eyes. "Until proven otherwise, the crown maintains rights to unknown artifacts uncovered by state-sanctioned operations." She gave Rarity a pointed look before reluctantly adding, "...possession pending any unforeseen...circumstances."

Rarity waved a dismissive hoof "Mere formalities I'm sure...everypony has their personal vice." She twirled away from Bright with a wink. "So we all agree an exploration is in order? Oh, this is delightfully exciting! When shall we depart?"

Sweetie Drops began neatly re-rolling the map. "If go we must, thorough preparations are prudent. We'll need procedures for rope descents and cave spelunking safety." She eyed Rarity and Bright critically. "Are either of you even remotely familiar with such measures?"

Rarity simply tittered while inspecting her unblemished hoof nonchalantly. Bright rubbed his neck with an awkward grin. Sweetie Drops sighed heavily once more. This would require an extensive briefing...and packing extra redundancies given her present company.

"Time for training." Sweetie stomped a hoof. "Move it!"

She urged them from the room to some emergency training. Only after beating some basic instructions into them did she allow them to head towards the train.

"Now, to be clear." Sweetie looked to the map Rarity was still hovering in her magic. "There is no train directly to here. If there was, it'd probably have been found ages ago."

"I should imagine." Rarity walked at Bright's side with a delicate smile. "The closest we can get is... here." She pressed a hoof against the hovering map. "Then, I imagine, we'll take a cart the--"

"--We'll hike," cut in Sweetie. "A cart? Really? You want to advertise to all of Equestria where we're going?"

Bright reached out, grabbing the glowing map and folding it in neat quarters. "A little walking won't hurt us."

Rarity sighed. "It won't hurt... I suppose." Her tone implied that a little walking might, indeed, hurt her. "Good thing I packed my travel necessities."

Bright looked Rarity over, but saw no backpack, saddlebag, or much of anything else but the classy pony. "Where?"

Rarity giggled. "Silly thing. Does your kind not have pockets?"

Bright patted the pockets of his pants and reached inside. "Not enough room to carry what you're implying."

Rarity reached back, somehow reaching a hoof into herself and drawing out a mane dryer that had no business fitting somehow inside of her. "Ta da. All ponies have pockets."

Sweetie hiked a brow. "You didn't know that? When we get back, you're getting a rundown of pony anatomy."

Sweetie Drops led Rarity and Bright off the train into a remote rural area dotted with forests and fields. Ancient towering mountains loomed in the distance. She scrutinized the map, drawn out and held in her hooves. She examined the pictured terrain, getting her bearings.

The trio boarded the train bound as close as possible to the cave's coordinates. As the passenger cars rumbled down the tracks, Rarity gazed out the window watching the landscapes roll by.

"I must say, it has been simply ages since I've ventured this far out into the wilderness." She delicately sipped a glass of red liquid. Catching Bright's expression, she tittered. "Merlot, darling. Vintage."

Sweetie Drops reviewed their equipment provisions yet again. Ropes, picks, flashlights, protective vests. One could never be overprepared.

Bright pressed eagerly against the glass as the train passed a meadow where a manticore was prowling. "You guys see that? This adventure is gonna be epic!" His excitement then wavered. "Uh, but it is gonna be safe right?"

The train carried them closer towards potential discovery and danger in the ancient depths. But Bright's reassurance came from Sweetie's ever-vigilant preparedness and Rarity's unflappable poise as the vampire pony gazed at the moon.

They rode until the early morning, Bright looking a bit tired, but the other two still fresh as they climbed off the train.

Sweetie turned in place to Rarity. "I hate asking this, but a question... He feeds you, which keeps you going. Can you do anything the other way around?" She pointed to the sleepy human. "He's going to get hurt."

Rarity considered with a hum. "Well... Perhaps..." Her horn glowed, softly at first, but strange runes formed circles around her as she wove magic. "I'm not a master magician, but my... condition has led it down interesting paths, dear. I'll try my best."

Those rose danced and circled around Rarity before hopping to orbit Bright. He laughed at them, reaching out to feel one.

This proved to be a mistake, or perhaps a blessing. Touching the rune caused it to immediately absorb into his body, with the other runes rushing to fill in that void, crash into him, and join the procession until there were none left.

Just a Bright with wide eyes, entirely awake. "Wow... Rares, what was that?"

Rarity reared up, looking Bright over. "That was a spell I was casting, which you interrupted, dear. Do you feel well?"

"I feel great. Like I could run a few miles." Bright ran in place as if just to show off his energy. "Nevermind coffee, I can just hit up my Rarity gal pal."

Rarity fell to all fours, tittering. "You are something else. Come, we should go before Sweetie loses all her patience."

"Thank you." Sweetie rolled her eyes as she began the journey, leading the way into the thick jungle.

"This way - no trails from here on out." She strapped on a climbing harness and packed energy bars. "We have a few hours hike ahead through rough country before we reach the approximate cave entrance site."

Rarity's horn glowed as she applied waterproof mascara and tucked away fancy bottles of purified water. Catching Sweetie's incredulous look, she remarked "One mustn't let standards slip simply because one is on the frontier, darling!"

Bright bounced eagerly on the balls of his feet. "Aw yeah, into the wilderness! Maybe we'll see a manticore or some crazy monsters on the way!" He peered at ominous dark birds circling in the distance. "Um, we are gonna be safe out here right?"

Sweetie Drops checked her tracking equipment. "I've mapped our route to avoid any large predator territories. But do stay alert - fauna is less predictable out here beyond the law." She set off at a brisk pace.

Rarity levitated a sun hat onto her mane and fanned herself while floating alongside. "I do hope we arrive before peak daylight! You know how it disagrees with my complexion..." She smiled slyly at Bright, licking a fang. "Perhaps we may pause to powder my nose en route, hm?"

Bright hmmed curiously. "Rarity, love you, but you're a vampire, right?"

"Vampony," she corrected, emphasizing the corrected part. "What of it, darling?"

"Last I knew..." He waved up at the sun ahead. "Sun and vampires are not in a good relationship, to put it mildly. You don't look like you're burning into ash or anything."

Rarity glanced up at that sun, just to turn her eyes away immediately. "I am more sensitive since my... change..." She paused as she clambered up over a log and fell on the other side with an oof. "Why don't they provide stairs, really... Hmmph. I am more sensitive. I can get sunburn far more easily than most. But it doesn't literally set me on fire."

Rarity tittered softly. "I may complain that I'm on fire, but that's just me being dramatic about it. I don't like the sun, but it isn't killing me, dear."

Bright grinned, hopping over the log easily on his two legs to catch up with Rarity. "I kinda like the dramatic complaining. But good to know direct sunbeams aren't actually fatal or anything."

He peered upwards, noting the patches of sunlight streaming down through the forest canopy. "Still seems kinda bright and intense for you. Want me to like, carry you or something so you're not stuck walking directly in the beams?"

Rarity looked touched, raising a graceful hoof to her chest. "My dear Bright, what an absolutely gentleponly offer!" She smiled coyly. "I may just take you up on that..."

Without warning, she made a delicate swaying motion as if to faint. Bright jumped forward and caught her neatly in his arms. "Whoa there! I gotcha Rares."

Rarity settled in comfortably with a smug smile. "Oh I do apologize for my sudden spell of the vapors," she said airily. "Perhaps I may convalesce here away from the light's cruel gaze for just a bit..."

Sweetie Drops paused up ahead, frowning at the delay. But then she just snorted and continued trudging onwards. Some battles weren't worth fighting.

She let the two cuddle mid-walking. At least they were headed in the right direction. "Mmmm." She frowned at some tracks on the ground. "We're not alone. Playtime is officially over." She turned back to the other two. "Put her down and get your serious faces on."

The snap of a twig made it clear that something was approaching from the underbrush.

Author's Note

A new adventure begins, and our entrepid agents will surely be tested here in the middle of nowhere. They don't even have a trusty dog, poor things. Day 2/28

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