Ancient tales speak of treasures lost in time, rumors of riches few have ever seen. Each story tells of guards and traps which withstand the ages and protect these valuables until this day. Every treasure though has those who seek to plunder, loot, and raid the tombs in which they had been hidden. This is the story of an adventurer who has successfully retrieved these hidden treasures countless times, one who seeks only the adrenaline rush. Will this Daring adventurer finally meet their match? What awaits them in the world’s longest undiscovered tombs? Heroes don’t always return.

Wind rushed through the towns, causing wooden planks of the buildings to creek and whistle as it passed through the holes of the buildings. Debris tumbled through the streets as the sand covered the stone roads of the town. In the distance a figure was silhouetted, a pony dragging a sled behind it. The sight of shelter was one of pure bliss after emerging from the hopelessness of the barren lands engulfed by the sand storm.

A knock arose upon the door of one of the town’s residents. Cautiously the resident opened the door to see the traveler whose face was hidden under wraps with a pith helmet adorn on their head. “May we take shelter here until the storm passes by? My comrade here is hurt and won’t last long out in the storm,” spoke a female voice from under the cloth.

“You are welcome in, room we have to share. Though food we have very min, our cupboards almost bare.” The resident said welcoming the traveler into their home.

The traveler pulled the sled carrying her partner into the building. She lifted her hoof and tugged down the cloth from her face “Thank you very much for the kindness. We bring out own food and have plenty to spare. It is the least we can do for allowing us to take shelter.” She spoke pulling the sand covered tarp off the sled.

Upon the shed lay the partner, passed out from exhaustion during the escape from the harsh storm. The traveler dragged her partner off the sled to rest him against the wall. “So traveler, what name do you go by?” asked the Resident of the home as he helped her move the limp body of her partner.

Took her Pith helmet off to the generous owner as a sign of respect, “The name is Daring Do, but please call me Daring. This big lug here is Evers”

“A pleasure to meet you Daring, though better circumstance it could have been. I am Decoba, what brings you on this baring?” spoke the owner of the home.

“My friend and I seek out a treasure. The Amulet Twilar and the Eternal Soul Diamond,” Daring said stretching her wings and letting out a yawn.

“You know not of the danger you seek. Few return from those temples alive, they perish so after within the week,” Warned Decoba as he led Daring to the next room. “I wish you luck in your travels, if this course of action you still pursue. You may rest you head here.” His hoof pointed to a pile of pillows, “It is not much but it is all we have.”

Daring smiled to the gracious host, “Guess we will see how that turns out then.” She laughed unalarmed by the warning. “This is more than I could ask for, I thank you very much.”

The host nodded to the Pegasus before heading up the stairs leaving her almost alone. She looked at her partner and dragged him to the pile of pillows, tossing him upon them. “Sleep soundly friend.” She said quietly the pad off her back and unrolling it. The Pegasus curled up on top of the mat and closed her eyes.

--------------------------------------------Earlier that month--------------------------------

Daring trotted towards the opening in the rock face, her shoulder lowering to force the large stallion to fall off the ledge which he was perched. Both figures tumbled down, landing rather hard on top of a passing by boat. “Oi, you foal. Months of hard work and research and you ruin it all in ten minutes. I told you not to explore alone in those caves. Then you choke because of a fear of heights. I don’t think raiding is your game.”

“You think this is entirely my fault? You didn’t give me any warning, or say there would be traps! Then you mean to tell me that you never fear something on your adventures?” The stallion retaliated.

“I shouldn’t have to hold your hoof though this. You said you had experience. I have encounter fears with every expedition but I don’t let myself freeze up. I much prefer to live.” She said Standing up on the roof and moving to the edge, swinging her hind legs under and down onto the deck.

Daring did not wait for the stallion to follow; rather she headed to the passenger quarters of the boat. The door to the opened with a stallion departing from the room as she approached and a commotion could be heard from within. Daring ducked into the room, where she found herself in the middle of an argument. A board of ponies sat on top of a small stage at the front of the room, arguing with all those who gathered for the meeting. The Pegasus squinted, spying from the back of the room; she could recognize one of the Stallions standing on the stage. “Von Westflank…” Daring mumbled.

“Daring, what are you doing?” questioned her partner as he came through the door.

The Pegasus put her hoof to her face as the back row of ponies turned towards them with the mumbling of her name. Soon enough the room went silent and a caped figure rose from a chair at the back of the stage. “Doctor Do!” The voice echoed through the now silent room. “Why don’t you come out?” The voice boomed with a deep laugh.

“Twice in one day Leadhoof… Twice!” she exclaimed, moving out from behind the table she had taken cover. “Raetul, of course you would be the one in search of the Soul Medallion,” recognizing the voice of the one who spoke.

“Please Doctor Do, join me on stage you act like we are not such good friends you foolish Pegasus.” The figure spoke pointing to the steps to the stage.

A roll of the Pegasus’ eyes told it all as she climbed up to the stage, “Friends, that is what we are.” Daring huffed, “One day you will realize you can’t beat Daring Do when it comes to raiding. Always a step behind Raetul, guess you are too old for this game.”

“Oh Doctor, you humor me so. Don’t you see foal, you already lost! You are surrounded by all my troops. You just trotted yourself straight into your doom. Now hand over the Soul Medallion you petty mare, we all know you have it.” Raetul said progressively becoming more enraged.

“Just call me Daring, as for the medallion I don’t have it. Some stallion dropped it during a cave collapse. It’s gone now; neither you nor I will ever retrieve it now.” She said glaring back at where her partner had been; again he was gone when his help was needed.

An evil laugh echoed through the hall as Raetul flung off his hood. The half mechanized griffon revealed his face and reached for Daring with his talon. Quickly the mare leapt backwards and kicked her hooves into the wooden planks of the stage. The weak planks gave way to the abuse resulting in Daring tumbled into a dimly lit room below. The Pegasus found herself in the cargo bay of the boat, peering up to the hole in the ceiling. Her gaze was met by the glare of an unsatisfied Raetul before she would trot off to make her escape.

Raetul roared with anger, scanning around the occupied room. “What are you all doing standing there? Miss Do thinks that she can just escape once again. Capture that damned mare, kill her if you must. She will not leave this boat!”

Body scattered and collided in unorganized fashions in attempts to leave the room as hastily possible. The greater portion of the crowd scavenged for guns amongst their gear, while the rest sought after the elusive mare. The search began; rapidly the stallions cover even level of the boat. After an hour of the hunt, the only thing they found was the Leadfoot cowering in one of the life boats. “Where did she go? We searched everywhere; she has to be on the ship somewhere.” Spoke one of the higher ranking leaders of the group.

Meanwhile Daring emerged from the cargo barrel in which she hid. Once free she pried open a small cargo crate and dumped out the contents. Swiftly she snagged a plank and tossed it into the crate, carefully pushing it out onto the back deck of the boat. With a splash the crate landed in the water, quickly followed by the Tan mare. Alarmed, one of the brutes ran to the rear of the boat upon hearing the splash and search for the source of the sound. “I found her, she is escaping!”

Daring was already a fair distance from the boat which sailed in the opposite direction. “Oi, farewell foals!” she said with a tip of her helmet with a grin. Yet again she had escaped the clutches of Raetul.

Raetul roared upon hearing that once again his rival had escaped from his grasp. The griffon turned to face Daring’s Comrade Leadhoof, “I told you to bring me the treasure of that temple, and lure Daring Do to me. Not only did you lose the treasure, you let her escape!”

“She doesn’t know I work for you. Surely she will return to rescue me.” Leadhoof stated, backing away from Raetul.

“You foal; she won’t come back for you. You messed up every portion of her expedition and she knows we are only after her.” Once more Raetul roared, swinging his talon at the stallion.

Meanwhile Daring used the plank to row the crate towards land as water began to leak through between the boards. Daring leapt from the crate landing on the edge of the shore, taking time to look back as the boat she had escaped disappeared into the distance. The tan mare trotted off into the woods after pulling out a compass from one of her many pockets. She was headed north; her next expedition would surely lie just over the next mountain ridge, and with good luck hopefully the opportunity to resupply after her partner had disappeared with what remained of the supplies.

Author's Note

Still fairly new to writing, comments are appreciated good or bad.