Solo

by Anonthony

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Daring Do
Length: 6097

Desperate for a new adventure, Daring Do sets off an impromptu expedition - that may be her last.

Stuck in her boring day job, Daring Do finds herself longing for a new challenge, and decides to set out to find a relic thought lost forever.

I wrote this as a part of the interchan /fic/ writeoff for staff members, between ourselves (MLPchan.net), Ponychan and efchan
http://mlpchan.net/fic/res/501.html

In the end, I received second place. It's a short little story for a one-week writeoff.

Published 2012-11-30 08:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-11-30 08:00:01 UTC

Solo

I couldn't help but notice what a particularly beautiful day it was. Not a single wisp of a cloud marring the skyline framed by the surrounding mountains in the distance, the afternoon sun generous with a shower of warm rays on my face. But I was not outside. I was not flying in this unblemished sky. I could only savor what I could through the window longingly, soaking in the sun through the glass, looking down from the Canterlot heights into the valleys below and daydreaming about anywhere but here.

Gradually my mind drifted back inside, to the quiet classroom that was my cage, silent except the hum of fluorescent lights and the clock ticking away far too slowly for my tastes. I realized then that it should not be so quiet. Jolting me out of my reverie my eyes darted over to the blackboard, where Professor Horase was staring sternly over at me.

"Miss Do. Ahem. Daring? As I said, would you mind passing out the exam now?" he stated firmly and slowly.

I hadn't heard a word before that. I must have completely drifted away during his lecture. Assisting him in lessons I had learned long ago bored me more than I could hide. And being stuck in a classroom with silly ponies more interested in socializing than studying, talking about things I would much rather be out experiencing, didn't make that any easier.

Quickly I nodded and leaped from my seat, replying, "of course, professor."

The break in what must have been a fairly awkward silence made the class collectively giggle. It gave them an opportunity to break the tension before the test, and they chattered a little nervously as I took the stack of exams from the desk and began setting them down one by one in front of the students. The professor spoke a little as I started.

"As you're aware, today's exam will cover the period between the three tribes' emissaries discovering Equestria and the emigration of the tribes themselves. Questions will range from the factors sparking the discovery, the accord reached by the tribes after the emissaries returned, penned in the famed Equorum that they sealed away, and their journey over Eternity's Crossing to Equestria.”

After he finished, I went through the usual spiel with little interest. "As always everypony, you will have one hour to fill out the exam. Once you have your exam don't talk to your fellow students. Don't look over at other student's papers, and when you're finished, turn them over and I'll collect them."

Walking up and down the aisles they fell silent one by one, and when I'd handed them all out I sheepishly passed back in front of the professor who restrained a sigh. I set myself back down in the chair by the window. The clock ticked by agonizingly slow and silent but for the quiet scratch of pencils. One couldn't help but muse if it was self-aware, or if there was a relationship between perfect weather and the pace of time. It would be a long hour.

I should have probably spent the time prepping the professor's next class. But knowing that even after the examination was over I'd still be stuck here grading them put my mind in a funk. Glancing over to the professor, patiently reading from his lesson plan as the seconds ticked by, I did feel a little guilty for my apathy. He had given me a perfect job to help me out and keep me grounded after completing my studies at the college--something to come back to after the expeditions I'd started going when I arrived there. I got to stick around the university, it's treasure trove of a library, make history my regular job and be around the history scholars who could point me in the right direction of lost artifacts.

But I didn't feel very grateful. Too many chores, too much talk, and not enough adventure. And the students, don't get me started. Here they were at the Royal College of Canterlot and all they seemed to care about was socializing and popularity and all the parties and galas and kinds of things that seem completely useless--to me, at least.

Before I could manage to spend any of the time on anything but being lost in thought, Professor Horase cleared his throat, nodding his mottled gray face in my direction. I looked up over at the students to find that most of them were starting to finish. Picking myself up from the chair I went down the aisles, collecting the finished papers of the students who had completed their exams. Relaxing, those majority who had completed early begun to talk among themselves and joke again after the tension of the test. In the center aisle a pair of over-friendly fellow pegasi joshed with each other over the test.

A mare on the right with a fiery mane kiddingly punched the young stallion on the left in the arm, chiding, "I told ya I'd finish before you, slowpoke!"

"Sure, sure--but I betcha didn't score as high as I did," the light blue stallion replied, reaching a wing over and tickling the mare's side. "C'mon, tell me what you put for number 15."

The mare giggled in response, pushing him away as I neared. "Ha, no way! Cut it out!"

Exasperated already as I approached, I pushed them apart and chastised them sternly. "There are still some ponies taking the test. Knock it off already!"

The two sunk back into their seats quietly, a hush falling back over the class as I finished my way down the aisles. As I sat back down with the stack of papers in front me, the professor paused for a few moments before rising to address the class.

"Well. Since you've all finished a few minutes early, why don't you all head out and enjoy the day, hm?"

The class wasted no time in gathering up their bags and chattering to each other as they quickly started to make their way to the door, ecstatic to get outside after exam day. It felt like a jab in the stomach--since I'd be inside grading exams now that their day was done. Then I remembered the professor. I really didn't feel like talking with him after class, either. And the sooner I got done grading, the sooner I could get back to researching my next expedition. Picking up the papers I followed the queue of students filing out the door. Before he could say anything I called over to him.

"I better get these taken of, they'll want to know if they passed ASAP!"

He begin to say something, but I didn't particularly listen as I got into the hallway and trotted away quickly.

Plopping myself down at the assistant's desk in the cluttered history office, which was mercifully empty, I begrudgingly started off on the first test. One at a time, I told myself, but the stack still had me dreading the next few hours. And their performance on the exam didn't help my mood, either. Checking off the first few of them and the mistakes, probably understandable by anypony else's standard, they just didn't seem to have the grasp of it, the feel of it, the importance of what they answering. The past, the wonder of things that once were but were just slightly outside the reach of our hooves. Especially such an amazing period of history as this. I checked off the occasional errors on the first few papers. They weren't terrible, and they were all passing, but they had no spark of real understanding. Like I could just tell they grasped it through memorization and not real thought. Oh well, I thought to myself; it wasn't my job to make them really get it.

I was just moving on to the next paper when a rap at the door jolted me from concentration. A pale violet mare poked her head in the door.

"Um, hey, Daring?" she started as she stepped inside. "Have you graded my exam yet?

Looking back down at the finished paper, I tried to remember her name. Then again, the name on the paper was definitely not a mare's name.

"No, I haven't," I said matter-of-factly, picking up the next exam from the stack.

"Oh, um, okay," she began again. "Do you think, just maybe, you could grade mine next? I'm really anxious to know if I passed, you know?"

Rolling my eyes I started to sift through the stack, hoping one of the names would jog my memory for who she was.

"Um... I'm Goldy," she hesitantly offered.

"Right, right, Goldy."

Flipping through until I'd found her paper I nodded over at her.

"Alright. I'll get to yours next," I replied hurriedly. The sooner she left me to it, the sooner I could be done.

"Oh, thank you! I'll check back later to see how I did."

Sighing, I started off on her exam and was alone once more. After a few moments, it was pretty clear why she wanted to know what she'd scored so badly. She had reason to be concerned. After the first string of questions I could tell she didn't do terribly well on it. Maybe she'd pass, but it would not be a very impressive score. I shook my head. Didn't she care about this? Didn't she realize how important these very events were to her history? Didn't she wonder what it was like for the settlers? For the leaders? Wasn't she curious about the legendary treaty? Didn't this spark her imagination at all? Gah, I couldn't imagine why anypony would even take this class if they didn't wonder about these things.

I didn't get the chance to finish the thought. Another rap at the door interrupted me. A young stallion nervously entered the room without waiting for a response.

"Oh, uh, sorry, I should've asked... Uh, but since I'm here, I was kinda wondering if maybe you could grade my exam next? I kinda wanna know before uh... this party tonight, so..."

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "Fine. I'll get to yours next. Name?"

He sighed in relief. "Oh, awesome--thanks. I'm, uh, Brick, just so you know. I'll check back later, thanks again!" he called over, already heading out the door, his mission accomplished.

Whatever, I thought to myself. One paper was the same as another. I turned back to what’s-her-name's test and continued. Before I could even get to the next question, a very quiet knock at the already open door--since Brick hadn't closed it behind him, I noted with frustration. I waited for a moment for whoever it was to come in. Silence. Then another quiet tap at the door. Sighing again I reluctantly called out.

"Come in. Why not."

Another student peeked his head in the door, stepping just past the threshold. He started talk in barely more than a whisper.

"I was wondering if you had-"

I cut him off before he could finish.

"No, I haven't gotten to yours yet. Take a number," I said directly.

"Oh. Um, okay. Whenever you get to it then," he said as he shrank back out the door.

Before I could even turn back to the desk, and before he could fully get out, he was nudged aside by the first mare who had come by.

"Hey there, so, how did I do?" she inquired without hesitation, probably thinking the open door was an open invitation.

I didn't even turn around. I groaned audibly.

"I haven't even finished it yet, and if I don't get a few moments to myself, I'm not gonna finish any of them!" I snapped back.

I could hear her silently step back out the door, the latch clicking back in place as she shut it behind her. Well, at least that was that. I leaned back over the paper in front of me and resumed my drudgery. I got the first one done, but really, it didn't seem like much compared to the stack of the remainder. As I reached for the second paper, I heard the door once again swing open. They didn't even have the decency to knock, just came right in. I was tired of this garbage. I started to yell out at them.

"No, I haven't finished grading your paper yet, no, I won't grade yours next, and if you don't leave me alone I'll grade yours last!" I started off, turning around in the chair to scold them. "Do you under-" I began again, stopping mid-word as I realized that standing in the doorway was professor Horase.

"Oh, geez, I'm so sorry, I thought you were-I mean, I didn't mean to-" I started to stammer to him.

He just raised a hoof to quiet me and went to sit quietly over at his desk. I fell silent and he spoke after he had sat down.

"Having a bit of trouble, Daring?"

I sat back heavily in the chair. "Yes," I admitted frankly. He seemed taken a back at the simple response.

"Not like you to admit you're having a problem. Always have everything under control, always everything well in hoof," he stated with just a hint of chastising.

"I'm not the one with the problem, professor," I blurted out, "I just can't deal with all these other ponies, when I should be out doing something worthwhile!"

He looked back at me, the judgement leaving his face. "So, you don't find your work here worthwhile?"

Softening, I tried to smooth it over. "No, that's-that's not what I meant. I mean, anyone can do this, grade papers, help out in the classroom, get lessons ready. I should be doing something more, and all these silly ponies, I don't care about any of that. I just want to study something, then go out and experience it for myself. I shouldn't be here. I need to go do something."

He took a few moments to think, before he responded, slow and carefully as he usually did. "And what do you think you should be doing? I know what kind of pony you are, and I know that you'd rather be out there exploring and adventuring, but everypony has to do things they don't like sometimes. And you can't live without other ponies, even if you don't enjoy being around them, you know." His slightly gruff voice didn't carry any more chastisement, his gray face lined with years of experience that I knew I should listen to. But I was riled up from all the distractions and frustrations and not being able to do what I loved all the time, and being forced to do what I liked the least, there was no way I could take it any more.

"I'm sorry, professor Horase. I just need to go for awhile," I replied firmly.

"And where will you go?"

The idea had been rattling around in my head for awhile now. I knew what I wanted. I picked up the answer sheet for grading the papers and read aloud.

"Ahem. After the three tribes leaders returned to share the discovery of the Equestria with their people, they penned a set of guidelines and principles to follow as they would travel across the distance to the new land, and to govern themselves when they came to their new home. This document was called the Equorum, a copy of which was carried with them, with a second copy sealed deep in the cavern the emissaries took shelter in."

I paused, for dramatic effect--I admit, I do love a grand scene--and then continued reading.

"The copy they carried was lost during the reign of Discord." I stopped. That was where the passage ended. So I continued with what was told in stories. "Legend has it that the copy sealed away in the cavern is still there to this day, protected by magic, as the tribes believed that as long as the accord existed, there could be peace between them."

Professor Horase' expression fell. He took a few moments to collect himself.

"Daring, that's... This isn't a stolen relic or just any old artifact, you know as well as I how overgrown and dangerous that mountain has become in thousands of years--to say nothing of the guardians of the legend!"

I smirked, for once something worthwhile on my mind. "You saying you believe in the legend, then?"

He calmed himself quickly and replied. "I'm saying that it can't be discounted. And you've not planned this out like other expeditions, and there's no telling if there's even anything there. You're being foolhardy, all because you're feeling a little cooped up. I'm sorry, but I need you here. Maybe with a little preparation, in time-"

I cut him off before he could finish. I was in no mood now that I'd set my mind on it. "No, professor. I'm the one who's sorry. Thanks, but I have to go. This could be a huge discovery!" I offered excitedly, standing from the chair.

"Daring, I know, believe me, I know--the Equorum is a subject I've wondered about for years, and all the wisdom it might contain. But this is dangerous, please, I can help you if you stay and plan for this."

But, of course, I wasn't going to hear any of it. "I got this, professor. You know me. I'll be back before you know it, with a fantastic find, and I'll feel way better."

I could tell he was trying to think of something to say to persuade me from my course. But I was set. My mind was made up, and I felt great. I was excited. I felt relief just knowing soon I'd be back out there, really doing something. I was already walking toward the closet, the papers left right where the were, no longer weighing me down. The students in their classes, for awhile at least something I didn't have to deal with. Rummaging through I grabbed my hat and vest. I could hear the professor walk slowly over as I slung my bag over my shoulder. He reached in and pulled out a box of odds and ends. He took a lighter from it and gave it to me.

"Here. You always forget a light. Those dungeons don't always come with torches, you know."

As I stuffed it into the bag I gave him a smile. "Thanks, professor. Don't worry. I'll be fine."

I could barely contain my relief. A cool night breeze, the wind on my face, the open sky, it was exactly what I needed. I'd felt like my heart was I going to go stir-crazy if I spent another minute cooped up in that room. And now here I was. After half a day's journey to the outskirts of the city, to the little-explored fringe of where the emissaries had first arrived in Equestria. Ponies had so quickly started to populate the interior of the land and it's fertile regions all those thousands of years ago that there weren't many settlements left there--and after the reign of Discord left the pony races a shambles before united by the Royal Sisters and centered on Canterlot, there wasn't much left at all there. It was perfect, wild and untamed and free.

It might not have been the most ideal for exploring, being out here in the middle of the night, hours from civilization and trying to find a single spot amid the rolling hills covered in brushy flora and thick overgrowth. But that was no deterrent to my enthusiasm. The chilly midnight air felt exhilarating, and the blanket of black sky dotted with stars that didn't have to fight with the city lights gave me a sense of power, for I was the only one there, the whole of it all mine to enjoy.

I flew low over the jagged peaks of the trees poking up from the forest canopy, leisurely, in no hurry to finish this little adventure in the slightest. Flying ever more outward into the hills and craggy outcroppings jutting up from the forest, I was a thousand percent sure I'd find the right one. Something just felt right.

Below me as I flew across the treetops, I began to see thin wisps of fog inside the forest, growing thicker as I went. It was a chilly night after a warm summer day, but something seemed off about it. It was difficult to see much in the darkness, but it seemed to be coming from somewhere. I traced it as best I could from above, and it began to lead me towards a particular densely-covered hilltop. As I got closer, the entire hill seemed to emanate the fog, a thick coating that surrounded the base of it.

"Ha! This has to be it," I exclaimed.

I'd have to set down on hoof from here. There must be an entrance to the cavern from long ago--if it wasn't caved in by now. Landing through the canopy and into the forest floor, the speckled sky disappeared as I descended below the trees and into the fog. What was darkness became blindness, barely able to see the hoof in front of my face. I started to try to trek up the steep hill. Sharp branches scraped against me. I realized quickly I'd be unable to avoid any hazards like this, let alone find an ancient cavern entrance.

"Well, drat. What now, what now..." I asked myself. "Aha!"

Grasping the next small branch I inevitably bumped into, I snapped it from the tree. Pulling off my vest, I wrapped it around one end.

"Thanks, professor," I thought to myself. I took his lighter from my shoulder bag. Opening it, I let some fluid drip onto the cloth and lit my impromptu torch. The night around me lit up, and the fog at least was a manageable chore. Hoisting it one hoof, I was finally able to make some headway, I found that it was an easy path now that I could somewhat see where I was going. The fog was definitely coming from a source in the hillside.

"All I gotta do is follow it, and easy-peasy."

I seemed to be led by the path, the fog, the night, up the hillside and towards my goal. I knew enough to think it might be too good to be true, but I could handle anything. The veil of fog thickened as I approached what had to be its source. Idly I wondered why I hadn't encountered any predators--or for that matter, heard no forest night sounds. In fact, once I really thought about it... The silence was rather strange. Added to the fog, the path, the darkness, one might say it was eerie. But I couldn't let that concern me. I had a goal to accomplish.

Suddenly through the blanket of fog I could see the outline of a huge rock formation, framed by twisting trees and vines. This was it, there was no doubt. I approached cautiously. Nearing it, I could just barely see where there used to be a wide opening, now overgrown and mostly caved in by centuries of erosion and falling rocks. But there, in the corner, seemed to be a space still left, big enough to hopefully let me wriggle in.

I poked the torch through the small hole, trying to see what I could inside. There was nothing but empty space that seemed to stretch beyond the light range of the flame. It was going to be all or nothing. Dropping the torch (and my hat, of course) inside, I started to squeeze my way in. It was a tight fit, but I managed to pop through with just some scrapes. Dusting myself off and picking up the torch, I was slightly disappointed by my surroundings. No obvious traps. No pressure plates, no wires, no overhanging logs or holes in the wall to shoot poison tipped arrows. This was going to be a piece of cake, if the book was still here.

Still though, I proceeded carefully. What had been a cool summer night outside had become cold inside this cave, the heat of the torch a welcome comfort against the dark as well as the chill. Though there didn't seem to be much danger. I was almost disappointed I didn't have to work harder. Then, I stepped on something that cracked beneath my hoof. I thought at first it was just a twig, but lowering the torch, I could see it was an old bone--from a pony. Looking around I could see more of them, scattered around the floor.

"Huh. Wonder how you got in here," I mused to myself.

Somewhat disconcerted, nevertheless I was going forward. It was then I heard a strange rattling behind me. Whipping around, I saw what it was--those bones were no longer scattered around the floor--they had formed back into a pony, fully animated with its grinning skull and empty eye sockets staring straight at me.

"What the hay!?"

Before I could turn to run , I felt a cold spindly hoof grab me around the neck. Another skeletal pony had formed behind me, and had seized upon me. I struggled against the undead attacker, the one in front starting to stalk its way over. I crouched quickly, heaving the skeletal attacker over my shoulder and sending it crashing into the other. It gave me a moment to collect myself as they clambered back up to their legs. I bucked out hard with a sharp kick to one, sending it's collected bones scattered back across the cavern. Then I swung the torch right at the head of the other one, knocking the skull clear from the rest of the body as its bones collapsed back to the ground.

I sighed in relief, catching my breath from the sudden attack.

"How in the world..." I trailed off as I panted.

I'd have to be more careful now. But it seemed quiet now. I had to press on. Trekking deeper into the cavern. There were no further surprises so far, which had me on edge. My enthusiasm from not so long ago had been tempered with just a bit of fear. The cave had only gotten chillier, and flickering light of the torch was all that kept the cold and dark at bay.

But then I saw it. The cavern opened to its ending, a broad chamber in the depths of the hill. The torch illuminated the room, empty save for piles of rocks and cobwebs. I walked around the room carefully, looking for any sign of it. And right there, between two big piles of rocks, was the object of my expedition. Simply laying there, on the dusty cave cave, was the form of a leather-bound book, with no special place, just laying on the ground.

"Huh. Well, that's odd."

I leaned down to look at it, not yet sure about picking it up. But sure enough, etched into the leather covering -- Equorum. Suddenly my excitement returned. I reached down to pick up the book, untouched by anypony for a hundred generations.

Just then, the ground began to shake beneath me. At first, a tremble. Then the whole cavern began to quake. I fell back and my eyes darted around the room for what might be happening. I couldn't believe what I saw before me. A giant pile of rocks started to glow, and move--it was forming into a pony. The massive golem shook the ground with its hoofsteps as it lumbered towards me. I scurried back away. I had never seen anything like it. I'd faced boobie traps, dangerous animals, pitfalls and enemies, but this was beyond them all.

The undead skeletons from earlier were strange enough, but I'd let myself write them off as a trick or a leftover magic. The golem was no slow, lumbering creature, either. It swung out one of its massive legs at me, and in my shock I couldn't evade fast enough. It struck me hard, sending me across the room, the torch falling to the floor. I tried to get up and right myself quickly, my eyes blurry and the dim light of the torch casting a hideous shadow from the stone guardian all around the cavern. There was no hesitation from it as he followed up its attack and went for me once more. I was able to escape the swing of it's massive hoof this time and fly towards the ceiling of the cave.

But the creature was undeterred. Immediately it reached for a boulder beside it and heaved it at me. I just barely managed to escape being crushed by the giant projectile as it crashed into the ceiling, shaking the entire cavern once more and sending more rocks clattering down. But evading it was no victory, as it brought me too close to the golem's reach and he pummeled me with another mighty blow that sent me back across the room. Adrenaline surging and keeping me going, I clambered back up and got my legs under me, only to see that the entrance to the chamber was now closed off by fallen rocks. My heart sank completely.

A shiver went down my spine--and there was no time to think. It was coming at me once more. My back was to the cavern wall as he kicked with an unyielding stone leg. Somehow I was able to dodge it, the kick crashing into the wall and leaving a gaping hole in its wake. It rapidly followed up its assault with another. I tried to fly up, away from its unassailable mass, but despite its size, it's magically imbued speed was too great. It caught me just as I got off the ground with a crushing blow that hurled me into the very hole it had made with its missed attack. Before I could think, or react or move, I saw from inside the hole the flickering light of the torch in the otherwise dark chamber behind him--and watched as he put that massive stone hoof in front of the hole and the light go out as I was trapped inside.

At first, I didn't think. I didn't want to. The pain washed over me in waves. Stunning blows had wracked my body. But even the throbbing ache didn't keep a shrill terror from creeping into my mind. It was far worse than just broken bones or a battered body. Slowly, but dreadfully sure the horrifying realization came to me in the absolute pitch black of the hole.

I was alone. I was trapped. And there was no way out.

I sat in the tiny, black space in stunned silence. My attacker content to keep me here, until...

Until I was dead.

Like those skeletal remains from earlier.

Was I going to end up just like that? An undead, unremembered pony doomed to occupy this forgotten place forever? Coupled with the pain of the injuries, these horrible thoughts paralyzed me. I was totally alone, and totally helpless. I couldn't imagine anything worse. I had so desperately wanted to be by myself, and now I'd gotten exactly what I wished for.

...And I'd have it for all time.

I couldn't recall how long I'd laid there, quiet tears of pain and fear starting to trickle down my face. I started to remember everything that had led me to this. The test. The silly ponies and their trivial concerns. The professor. If I'd just listened. If I hadn't been so desperate to be alone, or thought so little of fellow ponies, I wouldn't be here. I recalled how happy the students had been, even with the nervousness of the exam, to talk to one another and socialize. What I wouldn't have given at that moment to have somepony else around. The thought of those two pegasi playfully ribbing one another, just content with their friend's presence. I could clearly hear the one laughing as the other tickled them...

No, that couldn't work.

It was silly to even think it.

"What do I have to lose," I said, just wanting to hear something, even my own voice, in my tiny prison. I was desperate. Why not?

I plucked a feather from my wing and said a quiet prayer. Then, I brushed it against the stone hoof of the golem sealing the hole. Nothing happened. I brushed it up and down against the hoof again.

A quiver. There was just the slightest tremble.

Again, I brushed it lightly across the surface of its hoof. It shook more. I continued, the thought of escape gearing me back up for action if I could just get out of here.

The golem shook, ever more strongly. Suddenly the dim light of the torch could be seen around the edge of the hole. And then, freedom! The golem pulled away from the hole, stepping its massive frame backwards and pulling its hoof away. I wasted no time--this was my chance. I dashed out of my prison. I didn't waste time going for the torch. No need. I went straight for the book, still laying on the ground as it had been for ages. The golem pursued, but I was ready. I snatched up the book and turned to face it.

"C'mon, rockhead. Let's finish this."

Sensing my rebellion, the golem hurled itself forward at me, and I started flying right at. It seemed to catch the stone guardian by surprise, and before it could swipe at me with one of those massive legs, I had flown right underneath them. I had a clear shot at the collapsed entrance to the chamber. I made it there before it could turn around. With my back against the sealed entrance, I taunted the golem as it turned itself to face me once more.

"You want this book, stone-dome? Well, nyah!" I exclaimed, sticking my tongue out at the ancient monster.

It seemed to work, and the enraged guardian of the tome picked up another massive boulder and hurled it at me with all its mystical might. At the last moment, I dodged to the side, the huge rock crashing into the pile of rocks that had collapsed on the entrance, knocking a wide hole in them.

"Thanks for the help, rocks-for-brains! Catch ya later!" I taunted further, dashing out through the hole into the rest of the cavern.

It tried to pursue, but the chamber--and the entrance--were never going to be large enough for its massive frame. Flying as fast as my wings would take me, in the pitch black of the cavern with no torch, I could only follow the tiny speck of starlight filtering in from the tiny entrance I came in from. I could hear the crash of rocks and debris as the golem raged from within the chamber, and the entire cavern shook and and rocks tumbled from the ceiling all around me. It seemed like it would be a race to the exist before the entire cave collapsed.

Below me, reanimated skeletons started to form from the scattered bones, grasping at me with their bony hooves as I tried to dodge the falling obstacles threatening to crush me. Adrenaline and fear and excitement coursing through me, I reached the end of the cavern as it threatened to collapse in on itself. The tiny entrance was a welcome relief as I squeezed myself back out, the book gripped tightly in my arms.

Collapsing outside the cave, I could hear it continue to rumble inside as dust poured from the hole. I lay on the ground outside catching my breath and steadying my nerves. I looked down at my prize in wonder. This object, this book, which had not been touched by anypony for millennia, was now right here in my possession. I could be the first pony since it had been sealed away thousands of year ago to read it.

But I didn't.

Something was different now. That had seemed so important before, but now, something else was more important. I picked myself up from the ground and started to make my way home. This discovery was something that should be experienced with others. I should share it--and others who longed to see this book, like the professor--should get to be a part of seeing it opened for the first time.

Tomorrow's class would be something very special. After a had a nice bath. And some bandages. And maybe some sleep.