Chapter 12: Stranger Than Fanfiction

Somewhere in a deep dark cavern filled with lots of rocks, Daring Do was on another big adventure in search of rare and ancient treasure. She pushed a large rock out of her way and then smirked as she ventured deeper into the cavern that was shown to be filled with light blue crystals. She then ventured across a very narrow bridge.

She gasped when part of the bridge gave way. Daring Do glared as she saw the golden treasure she was looking for stuck in a large rock. She started to continue her way across the bridge, but then the bridge started to collapse behind her.

"Whoa!" Daring Do gasped as she nearly fell off. Fortunately, she grabbed the edge of a ledge just in time and then leaped forward to get to the other side.

"Oof!" Daring Do groaned as she landed on her stomach. Just as she was in reach of the treasure, she was suddenly surrounded by five snakes, which all hissed at her.

At a certain Pegasus's Cloudominium, Rainbow had been listening to Twilight, who was reading the story while the cyan Pegasus leaned against her dresser drawer. She then turned around to see that Twilight had stopped reading and had a very glum look on her face. Chase, who was with her, was helping her pack.

"Well, don't stop there!" said Rainbow, "You read, I pack! And Chase helps! That's the deal!"

"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash," said Twilight sadly, "I just keep thinking about how much fun you're going to have at the Daring Do convention. I wish Princess Celestia didn't need my husband and I's help with the friendship summit at Griffinstone."

"Yeah, and Gilda said she's been having a hard time being the local friendship ambassador," said Chase, chuckling in amusement. "At least we'll be together, right honey?"

Twilight just said nothing.

"Hey, don't worry. Maybe we'll go to the Daring Do convention some other time next year. Sound cool?" Chase asked, making Twilight smile a bit in return to her husband.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK

"The door's open!" Rainbow called out from the room. It was then her coltfriend, Soarin, appeared with his saddle bags strapped on to him.

"Hey, there's my lover boy!" Rainbow said excitedly as she hugged Soarin as he hugged his marefriend in return. "Are you just as excited for this as I am?"

"I'm...excited," said Soarin slowly.

Since the two have become a couple, Chase, Twilight, and Rainbow had introduced him to the Daring Do books. While he certainly enjoyed reading the books, he wouldn't call himself a mega fan like the three other ponies in the room.

"Come on, Soarin!" said Rainbow, "This is gonna be the coolest event you'll ever go to in your entire life!" Soarin chuckled.

"Alright, alright, Rainbow Dash," said Soarin, "Just remember that I'm new to the Daring Do community. I still gotta learn all those facts and secrets about these adventures. I'm still finished book three after all."

"Lucky you," said Twilight grimly.

"Hey, how is Spitfire letting you go to the convention?" Chase asked curiously.

Soarin sighed.

"Well, since you and Twilight can't go to the convention, Dash wanted a travel buddy," said Soarin. "and since I'm new to the series, she wanted to show me what all the hype was about and begged me to come along."

"I didn't beg," said Rainbow indignantly.

"You were on your stomach pleading with Spitfire to let me come," said Soarin bluntly, "and I hadn't even made my decision yet." Rainbow smiled sheepishly.

"Well...like you said...you're a new fan and what better way to get into the fandom than having me show you everything you need to know, sweetie." said Rainbow smugly.

Soarin smiled but also rolled his eyes at his marefriend's cockiness. Chase chuckled in amusement as Twilight rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I'm sure you two will have a great time," said Chase as Rainbow put Twilight's book into her suitcase.

"Don't worry," said Rainbow, "I'm sure A.K. Yearling signs your book. I can't believe she's gonna be there! She never goes to conventions!" Rainbow smiled excitedly.

Twilight just sighed, looking sadder than ever. Chase placed a comforting hoof on his wife's shoulder.

"I can see Chase wasn't joking when he told me that you are not very good at being considerate," Soarin remarked.

"I'm working on it," Rainbow muttered through her teeth as she walked up to alicorn couple and wrapped one fore-leg each around their shoulders.

"Like I said, A.K. Yearling will be there," said Rainbow, "Which, I guess, will be cool for all those other fanponies. But since the three of us know A.K. Yearling personally..." She then added in a hushed tone that Soarin could barely hear, "and we know that she's secretly Daring Do herself."

"That still blows my mind," said Soarin, "I wonder how she does it? Writing and living all those adventures?"

"Cause she's awesome!" said Rainbow and turned to the alicorn couple, "It's no big deal. This convention will be fun, but it's nothing to get too excited about."

"She's probably right," Soarin added as he stood next to his marefriend, "You probably won't be missing out on anything."

(Scene changes)

At the convention as some Daring Do leitmotif played in the background, Rainbow and Soarin were now wearing pith helmets and adventure's shirts. Both Pegasi had huge smiles on their faces.

"So excited!" Rainbow squeaked.

"I can't believe Chase and Twilight are missing out on this!" Soarin added excitedly.

*Main theme*

"I didn't know how I was gonna feel once we go here," said Soarin as they walked about the convention floor, "But I can't thank you enough for bring me with you, Dashie. This place is awesome!"

"Told ya!" said Rainbow smugly as they continued to look around. It was then a salespony appeared before them.

"You look like a pony who'd be up or an all-inclusive one-of-a-kind adventu-cation," said the salespony as he showed the two Pegasi a brochure with various wild locations, "where you can get to live the Daring Do experience!"

"No thanks," said Rainbow, "Did that already. Ahhh." Soarin looked at the brochure some more.

"Say, do these adventu-cations come in packages for married couples?" Soarin asked.

"Soarin! I'm not ready for a wedding yet!" Rainbow protested.

"I'm just curious, Rainbow." Soarin said with a chuckle. "Maybe someday we can go to one of these spots for a adventu-cation."

"Maybe someday." Rainbow nodded in agreement.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before they reached a live display that had tiles with animal prints on the floor. Soarin recognized what it was.

"Isn't this the famous tile puzzle Daring Do has to navigate from Daring Do and the Sapphire Stone?" Soarin asked.

"Yeah," said Rainbow, "Good eye."

Rainbow then stepped on one of the tiles as some fanfare and smoke came out to emphasize they had stepped on the wrong tile. Soarin then tried another tile, making the smoke and fanfare appear again.

"Smooth." Soarin said with an impressed smirk as Rainbow chuckled.

"This is the..." said Rainbow.

"...awesomest thing ever!" said Rainbow as well as another stallion.

He was a tan colored pony with salt and pepper colored mane and tail wearing the same outfit as Rainbow and Soarin, except he was wearing a pair of cardboard wings on his back. Rainbow and this particular stallion blinked and then noticed each other.

"Now this is something that only a true fan can appreciate," said the stallion.

"They even put the tiles in the right order," said Rainbow.

"Huh. Good catch," said the stallion, "Oh, I'm Quibble Pants. Nice to meet you both." He then extended his fore-leg.

"Rainbow Dash," said the cyan Pegasus and gave Quibble Pants a hoof-bump, "Nice costume."

"You, too," said Quibble Pants, "same for your...err...are you her special somepony or something?"

Soarin and Rainbow's cheeks blushed as the Pegasus couple smiled at each other modestly.

"Yeah, we're a couple." Soarin confirmed as he introduced himself. "I'm Soarin."

"I see," said Quibble Pants.

"Gotcha," Quibble Pants replied, "aside from that, both your costumes are pretty accurate to the books."

"Thanks," said Rainbow as she removed her pith helmet, "The hard part was figuring out the right..."

"...number of arrow holes," Quibble Pants and Rainbow said together with wide smiles on their faces.

"B-B-Because on page 84 of Sapphire Stone," Quibble Pants continued, "i-it describes her a, quote, "score of arrows shooting forth form holes in the very walls," unquote, but clearly, Daring Do is embellishing and the correct number of arrows is..."

"Twenty!" said Rainbow, Soarin, and Quibble Pants together, raising their pith helmets in the air and chuckled.

Then they headed off together side by side.

(Scene changes)

As some background music began to play, Rainbow and Quibble Pants were exploring the convention side by side with Soarin right behind them. The group then stood before a cut-out and made faces as the first picture was taken. Then Rainbow and Quibble Pants swapped positions in the cut out.

Rainbow made a maniacal looking face and Quibble Pants looked disturbed as the second picture was taken. Rainbow then snickered as they both burst out laughing. Soarin then stuck his head into one of the cutouts holes so he could have a picture, but Rainbow and Quibble Pants had already moved on. Soarin ended up making a long face as his picture was taken.

(Scene changes)

Next, Rainbow and Quibble Pants climbed up some stairs to try swinging across a makeshift gorge. Rainbow was the first to try swinging on the rope, but ended up losing her grip on it and rumbled into a kiddie pool filled with foam rocks. Quibble Pants then took a turn, but ended up falling into the pool of foam rocks as well. Quibble Pants then tossed a foam rock at Rainbow. Rainbow then retaliated by tackling him. Soarin had actually managed to swing across without falling in and waved at the two ponies to get their attention. But he was ignored and just snorted before using his wings to hover back down.

(Scene changes)

After, the three ponies began to look about the merchandise. Rainbow and Quibble Pants had excited smiles on their faces while Soarin was just sulking right behind them. Quibble Pants pointed to some Daring Do merchandise.

One of the items was a pillow with Daring Do tied up with rope. Rainbow just made a face at it as Quibble Pants shrugged sheepishly and they continued to look around. Soarin then cuddled a plushie of a white kitten and smiled. Rainbow and Quibble Pants just gave him blunt looks. Soarin looked rather confused until the vendor told him that the kitten was evil.

Soarin then made a face at the kitten plush and then noticed Rainbow and Quibble Pants were a short distance away. They were both smiling and laughing as they purchased the same Daring Do figurine. Soarin just snorted as he put the kitten plush toy back on the stand. He wasn't in the mood to purchase the merchandise anymore.

(Scene changes)

Later, Rainbow and Quibble Pants were sitting at a table sipping some juice in some tropical themed cups. Quibble Pants had also removed his cardboard wings. Soarin, who had his own drink, was feeling shut out and ignored as he sat just left of Rainbow.

"I am so glad I ran into you," said Rainbow with a content sigh, "Even though I knew the convention would be totally awesome, it's more fun when you're with someone who really knows Daring Do." Quibble Pants nodded in agreement.

"Thanks a lot," Soarin muttered bitterly as he angrily sipped his juice.

"I know what you mean," said Quibble Pants as he took a long sip of his juice, "It's so hard to find a pony who really gets it."

"I could get it if somepony would bother filling me in on all those finer details," Soarin remarked.

"Hm. That's weird," said Rainbow as she looked at a brochure, "We've only done stuff from the first trilogy. After lunch, we should probably start working out way back through the other books."

Quibble Pant's eyes nearly popped out.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," said Quibble Pants, "There are no other books."

"There isn't?" said Soarin, looking puzzled.

"Of course there are," said Rainbow Dash, "Daring Do and the Trek of the Terrifying Towers, Daring Do and the Many Faces of-"

Rainbow Dash was cut off when Quibble Pants shoved a fore-hoof in her mouth.

"Uh, p-please, please don't," said Quibble Pants, "Just don't even mentions the titles. I-I'm not saying those books don't exist. I'm saying that I refuse to acknowledge them."

"Why?" Rainbow and Soarin asked at once.

"You're a new fan to the series, right Soarin?" Quibble Pants asked as the Pegasus stallion nodded.

"Take my advice," said Quibble Pants, "Don't read beyond book three!"

"Again I ask why?" Rainbow asked again more firmly.

"'Cause they're horrible!" Quibble Pants replied.

"Really?" Soarin asked, "What's so bad about them?"

"I mean, there isn't a single thing after the Ring of Destiny that is even remotely in the realm of possible!" Quibble Pants complained, slamming his fore-hooves on the table.

"Wow, the adventures are unbelievable?" Soarin said in surprise.

"What?!" Rainbow interjected, leaning forward and knocking her juice over, "I know for a fact that everything in every one of those books is one hundred percent possible!"

Quibble Pants just listened half-heartedly and shook his head at her.

"Uh, and how could you possibly know that?" Quibble Pants asked.

"Yes, Rainbow," said Soarin sarcastically, "Tell Quibble Pants all about how you know the adventures are real!"

"Quiet you!" Rainbow said sternly before facing Quibble Pants and stuttering, "Gyuh, uh, I just...do!" Soarin just face-hooved himself.

"Well, that's a compelling argument," said Quibble Pants indignantly.

"Could you explain your argument a little better?" Soarin asked, "I mean why shouldn't I read past Book three exactly?"

"Oh no!" said Rainbow, "I'm not gonna let you be brainwashed into thinking Daring Do isn't the most awesomest pony of all time!"

"Alright, now just take it easy, sweetie." Soarin said gently to his marefriend, now wanting to not have any damage control.

Rainbow just glared and said nothing.

Quibble Pants laughed haughtily.

"I feel bad for you, Soarin," said Quibble Pants, "I feel bad for you. A new fan to the series being misguided that Daring Do is oh so amazing. Cause I can assure you that she clearly isn't!"

"Why would you even come to this convention if you hate Daring Do so much?" Rainbow asked sternly.

"I don't hate Daring Do," Quibble Pants retorted angrily, "The first series was smart and cool and an amazing nod to the old-time serialized adventure books that somehow manages to be self-reflective and ironic while at the same time celebrating the art form without a hint of cynicism. Which is why I came here to ask A.K. Yearling muzzle-to-muzzle why she sold out and dumbed down the rest of her books into just series of impossible action sequences!"

Rainbow glared.

"You know, apparently I'm being recommended to stop reading once I'm done with book three. That's the one I'm reading now since I don't like to read very fast." Soarin said, not wanting to be part of this anymore.

"Not reading beyond that book would be a wise decision," said Quibble Pants.

"Okay, now I know you're crazy," said Rainbow to the tan Earth Pony, "A.K. Yearling is awesome, and every Daring Do book that comes out is better than the last!"

"Wha...Wow. Okay, yeah," said Quibble Pants in a mixture of shock and disgust, "I-I-I'm sorry, but I could never be friends with somepony who's willing to believe impossible stuff is possible as long as Daring Do does it."

It was then some others ponies gathered around to listen to the argument.

"Actually, I'm friends with Master Chase," said Soarin, "He does the impossible every day."

"You stay out of this!" Rainbow snapped at her coltfriend and then glared sternly at Quibble Pants, "because I could never be friends with somepony who's focused on things being possible that he's willing to turn his back on the coolest hero of all time!"

It was then a red dynamic backdrop appeared behind them.

"Fine!" Quibble Pants yelled.

"Fine!" Rainbow yelled back.

"QUIT IT!" Soarin shouted angrily getting in between the two ponies, making them drop their glares and gained surprised looks. "I have heard enough out of you two! Why don't you guys just go check things out your separate ways and forget this argument ever happened! Will you please?!"

Rainbow and Quibble Pants felt stunned by this before they glared at each other.

"Fine." They both said unison.

It was then they stomped away in opposite directions. Soarin just rolled his eyes and took a long sip of his drink. It was a few seconds later, Rainbow came back to her coltfriend.

"Well?" She asked rudely.

"Well what? You wanna hang out with me now?" Soarin asked his marefriend bitterly, "You seemed to be having fun with your new boyfriend to even notice your coltfriend!"

Rainbow snorted.

"Yeah, well, even if I was even the tiniest bit interested in him that way," said Rainbow rather irritably, "I would never date somepony who doesn't think Daring Do is awesome and since I'm still dating you! I still can't believe you were agreeing with him!"

"I wasn't agreeing with him," said Soarin angrily, "I was just listening to his opinion. Not every fan thinks of Daring Do as highly as you do. I'm still trying to form my own opinion."

"And that opinion should be that Daring Do is awesome!" Rainbow retorted, "And I'm going to prove it to you!"

"How?" Soarin asked, "You've been so busy with Quibble Pants to help me learn anything more about the books or Daring Do. As cool as the convention is, I still haven't learned much about Daring Do other then she's good at getting out of some very sticky situations."

"Well, we're going to fix that right now," said Rainbow, "We're going to straight to the hotel A.K. Yearling is staying at so you can see just how amazing Daring Do really is! Besides, I need to her talk some sense into that Quibble Pants."

Soarin just rolled his eyes but then followed Rainbow from a short distance away.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before Rainbow and Soarin were at the hotel and the former was speaking to the hotel manager. She was apparently having no luck convincing the manager to let her see or make contact with A.K. Yearling.

"Look," said Rainbow as Soarin just leaned on his hind legs against the staircase railing, "just tell A.K. Yearling that Rainbow Dash is here with a friend, and I need her to tell my friend how awesome Daring Do is and to convince some know-it-all pony that everything Daring Do's ever done actually happened!"

The hotel manager just gave her a blunt look and said nothing, leaving Rainbow slightly annoyed and dejected.

"I thought you said you knew A.K. Yearling?" Soarin asked his marefriend.

"I do!" Rainbow snapped.

I believe you," said Soarin, "But I guess I has assumed you let A.K. Yearling know we were coming?"

"Eh..heh..." Rainbow chuckled sheepishly, "That would have been a good idea huh?" Shenran just groaned and face-hooves himself.

"Rainbow Dash?" said a familiar voice. It was then a familiar pony appeared wearing a purple cloak, grey cloche hat, and red glasses over her eyes.

"A.K.!" Rainbow shouted, "I gotta talk to you. It's an emergency!"

"Having me meet her isn't an emergency," Soarin retorted as he walked up to the two mares, "nor is having her-" '

"Shhh!" said A.K. Yearling to both Rainbow and Soarin, "Not here!"

She then grabbed both ponies and pulled them away. Of course, Rainbow did go back to give the manager an "I told ya so" look on her face before going to catch up with A.K. Yearling and Soarin. The hotel manager just rolled his eyes.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before the three ponies rushed inside of an empty room and A.K. Yearling shut the door and looked out of the small window to see if she was being tracked.

"Now tell me, what's going on?" A.K. Yearling asked worriedly in a hushed tone, "Is it Caballeron? Did you see him?"

"Who's Caballeron?" Soarin asked.

"How can you not-" Rainbow snapped.

"I'm in Book three, remember?" Soarin retorted sternly.

"He claims to be an archeologist," said A.K. Yearling, "but all he cares about is taking treasures and ancient relics, no matter how dangerous they are, and selling them to the highest bidder."

"And I can assume that he tracks you down hoping you'll do all the dirty work, steal your spoils, and leave you to your doom while claiming all your hard work?" Soarin asked with a rather irritated look on his face.

"Pretty much," said A.K. Yearling with an annoyed eye roll as she shut the curtain as well.

"Guess they must be those relentless types," said Soarin, "Always following you around, waiting for the opportunity to strike..."

"Okay, you're barely in book three and yet you seem to know about how Dr. Caballeron does things," said Rainbow to her coltfriend suspiciously.

"I am a member of the Wonderbolts, Dash." Soarin said. "You learn to pick things up when certain...nuisances...tend be pretty predicable to some extent. It's pathetic that some stallions have the nerve to use brute strength against a mare to get what they want."

"As much as I appreciate your perception about my arch-nemesis, and the fact that you figured who I really am," said A.K. Yearling, "I did bring you two in here to ask in private if you had seen Caballeron?"

"What? No," Rainbow answered, "I just wanted my coltfriend Soarin to meet you since I got him to start reading your books. That way you can tell him how awesome Daring Do is. And there is a pony downstairs who think everything you've written after the first trilogy is totally unrealistic and terrible. And I need you to help me prove to him that it's all totally possible before he corrupts Shenran here into thinking that anything beyond book three isn't worth reading!"

"Right, cause I can't make that decision on my own!" Soarin remarked annoyingly.

"Exactly!" said Rainbow as Soarin just face-hoofed himself once again.

"I've got bigger problems on my hooves than dissatisfied fan ponies," said A.K. Yearling, "And I guess Rainbow Dash told you about who I really am?"

"Well, yeah." Soarin said honestly. "I may be new to the book series, but I was eager to meet you."

"I don't have time for autographs," said A.K. Yearling bluntly. She then presented both Pegasi with an ancient relic.

"Whoa!" said Rainbow impressively.

"Wow!" said Soarin in the same tone.

"The Amulet of Culiacan, and Caballeron wants it," A.K. Yearling explained, "But the amulet's only the key."

She then chuckled to herself as she pulled out an old map.

"The real treasure is hidden in a lost temple," said A.K. Yearling, "The Seven-Sided Chest of Chicomoztoc. Caballeron wants to sell it to the highest bidder, of course, which is why I need to find it first."

"Ugh...as Chase would say 'greed, the one thing that makes any pony persistent, foolish, and downright obnoxious'," said Soarin.

"Well, that's a good way to describe Caballeron," said A.K. Yearling with a smile on her face.

"Yes!" Rainbow said in agreement and did a loop-de-loop in the air, "Sound like another awesome Daring Do adventure! But...what are you doing here?"

"Since I haven't found the temple yet," A.K. Yearling explained, "it's the safest place for me and the amulet. it's crawling with security, and if I get into trouble..." She then removed her cloak to reveal herself as Daring Do and wearing her traditional attire, "...I can just blend in with all the Daring Do cosplayers."

"How can we help?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah," said Soarin, "as much as blending in might sound like a good idea. You gotta keep in mind that Caballeron will be able to blend in as well. How about I stay behind in case they do find you or try for an ambush?"

"Normally I'd say I work alone," said Daring Do, "but since you're Rainbow Dash's coltfriend, I can assume you're trustworthy?"

Soarin smiled before he grabbed something out of his saddle bags. It was a tanto blade with a dragon marking on it.

He strapped it to his side.

"Hey, where did you get that tanto blade?" Rainbow asked her coltfriend curiously.

"Oh, Chase gave it to me. He started a new dojo for the Wonderbolt Academy since Spitfire asked him to build one up there. He started training me there and gave this sword to me." Soarin answered.

"Aw man! Why didn't he bring me into that dojo?!" Rainbow asked. "I could've gained a weapon there."

"Well, he just did that so that you wouldn't do anything reckless." Soarin said with a chuckle as his marefriend groaned.

Then Soarin turned his attention to Daring Do.

"This weapon came from Chase Young. He gave it to me. I show it to you as a sign of trust." Soarin said firmly.

Daring Do stared but then noticed that design on the sheath and instantly could tell Soarin's tanto blade was not a costume prop.

"Alright," said Daring Do, "You're with me."

"Sweet," said Soarin.

"What about me?" Rainbow asked.

"Just keep your eyes out for anything suspicious," said Daring Do.

"And don't let Quibble Pants get to you," said Soarin, "or distract you for that matter. We don't need him being dragged into this after all."

"Got it!" said Rainbow and then zoomed out of the room and closed the door.

It was a couple of seconds later the door reopened and she came back.

"Now that Soarin mentions him," said Rainbow, "Does a pony who only likes your first trilogy qualify as suspicious?"

"Dashie...drop it..." said Soarin as Daring Do glared at her in agreement.

"Heh, just checking," said Rainbow before she disappeared a second time.

"Do you think she'll listen this time?" Daring Do asked Shenran, "Master Chase Young told me she has a bad habit of doing otherwise."

"Based on what Master Chase has told me and from the time I've spent with her," said Soarin, "I guess we should be ready for the worst."

Daring Do sighed as she unrolled her map to begin looking it over once again.

(Scene changes)

Back on the convention floor, Rainbow was on high alert as she looked around for anything suspicious.

Unfortunately, she was so focused looking directly ahead of herself that she didn't even see that the real Caballeron and a single henchpony were right behind her. Caballeron was sulking.

"I find all this fanfare around my archenemy...disturbing," Caballeron sighed as he face-hoofed himself.

It was then he passed the salespony offering the "adventu-cation" and tossed the brochure aside.

"I mean, where is the booth for Caballeron?" he asked the salespony.

The salespony just glared and pointed in the direction of the booth. He noticed some of the cosplayers as well.

"I do not see the likeness," said Caballeron bluntly.

He then saw one of his other henchponies had returned with Daring Do blanket on his back. Caballeron swatted the blanket away as the henchpony smiled sheepishly.

"Come, let us find Daring Do and the Amulet of Culiacan," Caballeron told his henchponies, "I don't want to spend any more time in this place than I have to!"

His group then walked across the foreground.

In the background, Rainbow was looking at some books at a nearby booth and then started walking backwards to scope around. She then saw a pony with Caballeron's cutie mark and charged at the pony in her usual manner. She was within attack range when the pony with the cutie mark glared and revealed himself to be a cosplayer. Rainbow just smiled apologetically and backed away. She didn't watch where she was going and bumped into the one pony she didn't want to see: Quibble Pants.

"Well, if it isn't the pony who knows impossible things can happen because she just does!" Quibble Pants said haughtily, "Where's your coltfriend? Did he see sense and you ditched him as well?" Rainbow just looked indignant.

"Ugh!" Rainbow groaned loudly, not in the mood to deal with the Earth pony or explain where Soarin was, "Sorry, Quibble, I've got more important things to do then argue with a pony who thinks awesome means unrealistic."

Rainbow then smacked Quibble Pants' face with her tail, but that only provoked Quibble Pants to follow her, and continue taunting her.

"No, wait!" said Quibble Pants in a mocking tone, "I want to hear more about how you're one hundred percent sure that in Curse of the Jungle Queen, Daring Do could survive a sixty-story drop from the top of a waterfall after sustaining a broken wing in a category-six rapid!"

Rainbow looked very irritated.

"Ugh! Obviously, her wing wasn't broke-" Rainbow was then cut off when she saw who she was looking for, "Caballeron!" She then hid behind Quibble Pants before rushing of after them.

"See, now that's a great character," Quibble remarked as he followed Rainbow, "Solid backstory, good motivations."

It was then Caballeron and his henchponies walked past them and Rainbow hid behind one of the merchandise booths.

"No-no-no-no!" said Rainbow and tilted Quibble Pants' head in the right direction, "Caballeron is right there!"

Quibble Pants rolled his eyes in disbelief.

"Of course he is," said Quibble Pants sarcastically, "He's also over there, over there...Ooh, ooh, over there, and over there." He then pointed to four cosplayer ponies, which the third cosplayer was actually Muffins with a cardboard box on her head and the fourth was the real Caballeron and his henchponies. Rainbow ducked low for a moment before following after the real Caballeron.

"Where are you going?" Quibble Pants asked as Rainbow followed Caballeron and his henchponies through some double doors into an empty back room and looked around. Quibble Pants wasted no time going after her.

"And we're out here because...?" Quibble Pants asked rather impatiently.

"Daring Do told me that Caballeron came to the convention to steal the Amulet of Culiacan," Rainbow explained, "and I just saw him and his henchponies come this way!"

Quibble Pants raised an eyebrow at her.

"Okay, I'm gonna head back inside," said Quibble Pants, "There's just a little too much crazy out here for the both of us." Quibble turned to leave when...

FWUMP!

Two henchponies bagged him! Rainbow gasped, but before she could react...

FWUMP!

The henchponies bagged her as well.

(Scene changes)

Back in an upstairs room, Daring Do was just trying to compare the old map with a current one to find the location to the Temple. Soarin was sitting on his hind knees meditating to himself. All was quiet until Soarin's eyes shot open with a stern expression on his face.

"We need to leave," Soarin announced bluntly.

"I still haven't found the location of-" Daring Do tried to protest when Soarin put a fore-hoof to her lips. Daring Do glared as Soarin pulled aside a curtain. Daring Do then looked outside and gasped. They saw Caballeron and his henchponies leaving the hotel with two large sacks on their backs. Daring Do took special noticed of a certain rainbow colored tail sticking out of one bag.

"Oh great," said Daring Do with a huff.

"Typical hostage scenario," said Soarin, "Bet he's hoping to trade their lives for your key."

"Obviously," said Daring Do with an eye roll.

"Got a plan?" Soarin asked.

"More or less," said Daring Do, "Now come on!" Soarin nodded as the two Pegasi headed out of the room.

"But you know, I think I may know somepony who can help us out." Soarin said as he took out a quill and paper before he began to write on it by using his wings.

"Who are you writing?" Daring Do asked curiously.

"A friend of mine." Soarin asked with a smile.

(Scene changes)

How much time had passed was debatable, especially for Rainbow as she was finally removed from her bag. She found that Quibble Pants and herself were in a familiar looking campsite.

"I do not know what Daring Do is playing at," said Caballeron, "but if she told you two fanponies of my plan to steal the amulet, you must work for her."

"Caballeron!" said Rainbow sternly and then looked at Quibble Pants, "Hah! What do you to say now, Quibble?"

"This was your plan to prove the Daring Do books are realistic?" Quibble Pants retorted, "You bought a Daring Do Experience Adventu-cation, really?"

"What?!" Rainbow interjected, "No! Look around us! Henchponies, Caballeron, the jungle it took forever to get to? This is the real deal! Besides, I can think of better stallions to go on an "adventu-cation" with!"

"Right," Quibble Pants chuckled in disbelief, "We're actually being held captive by Caballeron. Please! This guys accent is all over the place! No offense."

"I..." was all Caballeron could say since he was too stunned by Quibble's rude remark.

"So what's the setup here?" Quibble Pants asked bluntly, "You've...kidnapped us, and taken us to the middle of nowhere because...?"

Rainbow just winced at the fact Quibble Pants had openly insulted Caballeron to his face without a second thought. The henchponies just shared looks with each other.

"The Temple of Chicomoztoc is somewhere in this jungle," Caballeron explained, "When I find it, the Seven-Sided Chest is as good as mine! I just need the Amulet of Culiacan to unlock it."

"Uh-huh," said Quibble Pants skeptically, "and Daring Do has the amulet so you came up with an over-complicated plot to lure her into the jungle and exchange it for us."

"I wouldn't call it over-complicated, but...yes," Caballeron replied.

"Okay, we're done here," said Quibble Pants bluntly and walked off, "Great work. Seriously, very believable."

It was then a henchpony tackled Quibble Pants, roughed him up, which made Rainbow wince, and brought the stallion back. Despite the rough play, Quibble Pants wasn't looking beat up and remained as ignorant and dense as ever.

"Listen, pal," said Quibble Pants sternly and pointed a fore-hoof at Caballeron, "you can keep her money, but I'm not-"

"Going anywhere!" Caballeron finished as he swatted Quibble Pants' hoof away, "You may not approve of my plan, but I'm the mastermind here!"

The henchponies than pushed Rainbow forward so she was standing beside the Earth pony.

"Debatable..." Quibble Pants muttered.

Why didn't I tell Soarin to come with me? Rainbow whined in her head.

"And I say you will remain here until Daring Do comes to rescue you," Caballeron continued, "And if she wants you back in one piece, she will give me the amulet! Tie them up!"

The two henchponies quickly used a chain to tied up Quibble Pants and Rainbow. Rainbow then saw Caballeron holding a special lock in his fore-hoof.

"The Griffin's Lock!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"You know if it?" Caballeron replied, "Further proof that you are an agent of Daring Do!"

"Or an avid reader," Quibble Pant remarked annoyingly as Caballeron set the Griffon's lock into place.

"And now I will continue my search for the temple," Caballeron told them, "Don't go anywhere."

He then gave a long, drawn out evil laugh as he disappeared and the henchponies stood guard. Rainbow struggled to get free while Quibble Pants just sat still with a long face.

"Listen, if I pretend to believe this nonsense is real," Quibble Pants suggested, "will you call off the henchpony repertory theater over there?"

"They're not gonna listen to me," Rainbow retorted, "They abducted us both."

"Oh, wow, so you're gonna stick with that script?" Quibble Pants said in a disbelieving and mocking tone, "O-okay, fine. We're, we're in a Daring Do Adventure." He then quickly pulled off a pin from his shirt and tossed it away so it struck a rock in the distance.

"What was that?!" one henchpony named Pickpocket asked.

"Daring Do, thanks goodness," said Quibble Pants in a very unenthusiastic tone, "We're over here."

"Fan out," Pickpocket told the other henchponies, "We can't let Daring Do rescue these two!"

The four henchponies then ran off at once, leaving Rainbow and Quibble Pants alone. Quibble gave an annoyed laugh.

"All four?!" he exclaimed as Rainbow was still straining to break free, "I mean, shouldn't at least one of them stay behind to guard us? Oh, Oh, wait, the...No, because then it wouldn't be a terrible Daring Do adventure."

Now I REALLY wish Soarin had come with me Rainbow thought before speaking.

"It doesn't matter," Rainbow replied, "We'll never solve the Griffon's Lock before they get back." Quibble Pants just had an annoyed look on his face, solved the Griffon's Lock in under five seconds flat and freed them.

"Okay, that was pretty good," said Rainbow as Quibble Pants tossed the Griffon's Lock aside, "Quick, we've gotta get out of here and warn Daring Do!"

"No way," Quibble Pants protested, "Just point me to the hotel and you can play fanpony and hunt treasure out here all day long."

"Fine," Rainbow sighed, not wanting to waste any more time trying to convince Quibble Pants that they were in real danger, "Let's just say this is a Daring Do Adventu-cation. The only way to get back to the convention is to go through it. So just follow me, and I'll lead you out. Deal?"

"I..." Quibble Pants then groaned, "fine."

"Maybe if I just leave you in the jungle, it'll convince you," Rainbow muttered under her breath, "If Soarin were here, he could have used his tanto to make you see sense." Rainbow then sighed as she looked up in the sky.

I hope you're doing okay, Soarin, Rainbow thought sadly to herself, Please come and find us. If Caballeron doesn't doom us, Quibble Pants' squawking will!

(Scene changes)

As the continued on their way, Quibble Pants certainly made it loud and clear that he could be a motor mouth when he wasn't happy. And his constant chattering was really pushing Rainbow's already limited patience to its breaking point.

"...which would make Daring Do left-hoofed, which we know is false," Quibble Pants continued, "and that is everything that's wrong with Daring Do and the Trek of to Terrifying Tower. Now, the problems with the next book are even-"

Rainbow was growling inwardly to herself when she suddenly raised a wing to Quibble Pants' face, which made him stop talking. They both noticed an old rope bridge before them.

"Oh, right," said Quibble Pants arrogantly, "What Daring Do adventure would be complete without the precarious rope bridge?"

Rainbow ignored him as she timidly tapped a wooden plank and started to cross the bridge. Quibble Pants followed right behind her.

"Look, I'm all for making things feel as real as possible," Quibble Pants remarked, "but are these Adventu-cation ponies sure this thing is safe?"

"Is it too "realistic" for you?" Rainbow teased in a rather irritable tone, "Wouldn't want that on a Daring Do adventure, would we?"

"If this were really a real Daring Do adventure," Quibble Pants said indignantly, "I'm sure I'd step on the wrong plank at exactly the wrong- Whoa!"

Quibble Pants did step on the wrong plank and got stuck with his legs dangling over the rapids below. Rainbow then hovered over and tried to pull him out by tugging his tail.

"Good thing this is all just a pretend adventure," said Quibble Pants, "Least we know all of this struggling won't make the bridge fall apart."

This was certainly one of those situations as one of the ropes to the bridge snapped, making the bridge drop a few feet and Quibble Pants flipped upside down.

"You need to get your money back," Quibble Pants told Rainbow.

Then a second rope snapped and Quibble Pants screamed as he tumbled toward the rapids below. Rainbow power dived to save the Earth pony and grabbed the rope that was tangled around his torso and guided toward the rapids. Quibble Pants then kept yelping and screaming as he started to bare-hoof the rapids, whether he wanted to or not.

The two ponies then reached a waterfall with a low branch dangling over it. Rainbow went to tie the rope to it, but Quibble Pants was surfing so fast that the rope broke when it recoiled. Quibble Pants went flying into the air, tumbled onto the top of some trees, slid down one tree trunk and landed firmly on his stomach.

"Hah! How's that for not possible?" Rainbow boasted as she landed beside the Earth pony.

"That was...awesome!" Quibble Pants said excitedly like a fan pony, "I-I-I thought we...and then you, and the flying...! Wow, and I was like..."Where are you going?!" A-a-and then you swerved, and I was, I was, I was on the water, and then..."

Quibble Pant's words were lost in a combination of hyperventilating gibberish before he managed to recover.

"Wow!" Quibble Pant finished.

"Yeah, if you read that in a book," said Rainbow smugly, "you might even think it was unrealistic." Quibble Pants then went back to looking indignant.

"Okay, I'll give you that one," said Quibble Pants, "I mean we could have been done for." He then started to panic, "We could have been done for! W-What kind of Adventu-cation is this?! I mean, that's just, that's just bad business! What, what are these ponies thinking?!"

Rainbow just looked most annoyed.

"Right now?" said a sinister voice as Caballeron made his presence known, "We are thinking that we should thank you for escaping." Rainbow was then tackled to the ground and tied up as another henchpony put a rope around Quibble Pants' neck, "For you have led up directly to the Lost Temple of Chicomoztoc!"

Caballeron laughed sinisterly in triumph. Rainbow looked horrified. Quibble Pants just rolled his eyes. He was still convinced everything going on was pretend.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before they were making their way into the temple with Rainbow and Quibble Pants in tow. One henchpony held a lamp as Caballeron walked beside him.

"Make sure they are secure this time!" Caballeron told the other henchponies, "We can't have them escaping once again!"

Rainbow and Quibble Pants both had annoyed looks on their faces, but, obviously, for different reasons. Rainbow then struggled a bit before charging forward a short distance.

"You'll never get away with this!" Rainbow shouted angrily.

"Won't I?" Caballeron replied cockily, "You've led me to the temple, and Daring Do is too noble to let harm befall her companions so the amulet is as good as mine."

Rainbow glared, but deep down she was feeling very frightened.

Daring Do? Soarin? Now would be a good time to show up now Rainbow screamed inwardly. Caballeron then looked smugly at Quibble Pants.

"What? No witty remarks this time about how silly my plan is?" Caballeron asked the Earth pony.

"This isn't an official Darin Do Experience Adventu-cation, is it?" Quibble Pants remarked.

"Finally!" said Rainbow, grateful that the Earth pony stallion was finally seeing sense.

Unfortunately, Quibble Pants still wasn't convinced.

"It's some cheap knockoff run by a bunch of incompetent ponies that have no idea how to execute an adventure with any level of safety!" Quibble Pants complained. Caballeron just had a "Are you kidding me?" look on his face.

"Ugh!" Rainbow groaned and face-hoofed himself then muttered quietly, "Shenran, please help me..."

"What was that with the bridge?!" Quibble Pants yelled as he got into a henchpony's face, "We were in serious danger! I-I'm reporting you all to...well, I don't know who I'm reporting you to, but it's be somepony important!"

"Dude, even if Master Chase showed up, you'd be too dense to believe it was really him," Rainbow remarked.

Quibble Pants then easily freed himself from the ropes and stomped over to her.

"Oh, and this cut-rate excuse for an "Experience" hasn't proven anything except that I'm right," Quibble Pants said to a very indignant and annoyed Rainbow, "It has all the hallmarks of a lame Daring Do adventure!"

As the earth pony continued to complain, he didn't realize that he had stepped on a stone switch that caused mud to start flowing from several locations along the walls.

"Uh...Quibble?" Rainbow said nervously.

"No, I'm talking!" Quibble Pants snapped as he angrily shoved a fore-hoof to her face, "Generic jungle location - check. Overly complicated villain plot - check. Random coincidences that conveniently get us to the next big set piece - check!"

As the mud flows continued to increase, Quibble Pants then stomped another switch, causing part of the floor behind him to disappear.

"Watch where you are stepping, you fool!" Caballeron yelled.

"Listen, buddy, I don't take orders from some second-rate performer who learned acting from the Supervillain School of Bad Accents!" Quibble Pant said sternly to Caballeron's face, "The only thing this mess is missing is some giant Ahuizotl wanna be monster, and I have a feeling that would be a bit too much for you bargain-basement adventurers to pull off!"

As Quibble Pants continued to vent, Rainbow, Caballeron, and his henchponies looked horrified as a large, dark, ominous shadow appeared behind the earth pony. It was an alligator-like monster known as a Cipactli. All but Rainbow ran for their lives.

"Huh?" Quibble Pants asked as he finally turned around and the Cipactli roared loudly at him.

"Um...you're real," said Quibble Pants as the truth finally smacked him hard in the face, "This is real. This is real!"

Rainbow and Quibble Pants ran for their lives to try and catch up with Caballeron and his gang. Caballeron then smirked evilly as he sealed the door and trapped the two ponies inside and at the mercy of the Cipactli. Rainbow and Quibble Pants then winced fearfully as they saw the Cipactli approaching them.

(Scene changes)

On the other side, Caballeron was feeling very pleased with himself as he and his henchponies turned to continue their search for the treasure. They had only gone a few steps when they were stopped by Daring Do, Soarin, and the newly arrived Sunray Steel, who all three of them glared at their enemies sternly.

"Well, not exactly how I planned it but," said Caballeron before he laughed evilly, "Looks like you've got a choice. Surrender the Amulet of Culiacan to me, Daring Do. Or your friends will meet their doom!" Daring Do glared as Soarin and Sunray just chuckled.

"May we?" Sunray asked confidently.

Daring Do then smirked.

"Please do, Sunray," said Daring Do.

Caballeron blinked.

"Who's he? New boyfriend or something? Or what about the unicorn?" Caballeron asked.

Daring Do rolled her eyes, but Sunray chuckled.

"You may refer to me as..." He then lit his horn, stood on his hind legs, his aura hands appeared on his front hooves, and held his bo staff in a fighting stance. "...your worst nightmare!"

Caballeron was indignant as the henchponies growled at the Pegasus.

"You don't scare me," said Caballeron smugly, "henchponies attack!"

The four henchponies then charged at Sunray. But the unicorn stallion was ready.

WHACK! POW!

Two henchponies were sent flying against the wall as Sunray used his bo staff to knock them back.

POW! SMACK!

The other two henchponies were knocked back hard against the opposite wall. The four ponies soon recovered as Sunray continued using his jiu jitsu skills to knock them back with high kicks, upper cut punches, palm strikes, and staff attacks. One henchpony then grabbed Daring Do.

"POW!

Soarin punched him away and freed Daring Do from his grasp.

"That's no way to treat a lady!" Soarin said angrily.

"Get them you fools!" Caballeron shouted angrily. The four henchponies then surrounded the four ponies. Sunray then put his bo staff away.

"What are you doing?" Daring Do asked in shock and confusion.

"Don't need them anymore," said Sunray, "Just get down as soon as I say three. One...two...three!"

SMACK! POW! SMACK! POW!

Sunray used his jiu jitsu skills to beat up all four henchponies and sent them flying several feet away. As soon as the henchponies recovered, they fed for their lives. They knew they were no match against Sunray.

"Get back here you cowards!" Caballeron shouted angrily when Sunray landed firmly before him.

"Guess it's just you and me, Dr.," said Sunray as he got in a fighting stance. Caballeron then gave a very girly wince.

"Uhh...on second thought, good idea henchponies!" Caballeron shouted as he rushed between Soarin and Daring Do and ran for his life.

"Coward," Sunray muttered as he used his magic to to make his aura hands disappear and got back on all fours.

"Okay, I'm not easily impressed," said Daring Do, "but that was pretty awesome! You're a cool stallion, Sunray. Not to mention really cute, even if you are Chase's younger brother."

Sunray blushed and chuckled sheepishly.

"Thanks." Sunray said as Soarin smirked before he remembered something.

"We have to rescue Rainbow and Quibble!" Soarin said urgently.

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!" Rainbow shouted. Soarin gasped and then rushed to the lever and tried to reopen the door.

"The lever is jammed!" Soarin called out, "Help me get it unstuck so we can open the door!"

"There's no time, just follow me!" said Daring Do as the two Pegasi and unicorn stallion, using his magic to perform a flying spell, took to the air.

(Scene changes)

Inside the room, the Cipactli made its way closer to Rainbow and Quibble Pants. Just as it was about take a bite out of both ponies, Daring Do and Soarin used ropes to swing down and grabbed Quibble Pants and Rainbow respectively. Quibble Pants looked up to see Daring Do smirking at him as some leitmotif music played in the background. Daring Do and Soarin both released their respective ponies once they had reached a higher floor of the temple.

"You alright, Dashie?" Soarin asked as Daring Do pulled off the ropes that were still around Rainbow.

"We are thanks to you guys," said Rainbow to her coltfriend. "I'm sorry, sweetie. This is all my fault."

"Uh, yeah! I told you to warn me of anything suspicious, not run off on adventure without me!" Daring Do scolded, "You're lucky your coltfriend, Soarin, was able to sense that you were in danger! Otherwise, I wouldn't have known Caballeron had captured you!"

Rainbow only smiled apologetically as Soarin gave his marefriend a loving hug which she returned. Quibble Pants was still flabbergasted.

"Wha...Whoa, whoa, y-you're real!" said Quibble Pants in shock, "You-you-you're both friends with her?"

Rainbow just put on a very smug looking smiled as she used a wing to pull Daring Do close. Daring Do just glared at Rainbow annoyingly.

"Wait, you're saying you thought this was some sort of fantasy this whole time?!" Soarin exclaimed.

"Um...yeah...I mean, it certainly felt generic and unrealistic until that monster tried to eat us," said Quibble Pants, "unless this is just another second rate actor and that monster was just another part of this shady Adventu-cation Rainbow here forced me on!" Soarin just stared at the Earth pony in disapproval.

"Wow...I never thought I'd meet a stallion even more dense than Sokka's brother in law," said Soarin.

Quibble Pants blinked.

"So...this is real?" Quibble Pants asked.

"Oh, it's real alright!" A voice came from behind Quibble, making him and the others turn to see Sunray jumping into view as he landed in front of Quibble with a glare. "Very real."

"Sunray!" Rainbow exclaimed happily. "What are you doing here?!"

"Soarin alerted me with his message. Chase had given him some magic powder to send it to him so he would contact me to help you guys." Sunray answered with a smirk.

Then he turned his attention to Quibble angrily.

"And as for you! This is all real and this is the real Daring Do!" Sunray exclaimed furiously.

"Okay...I believe you," said Quibble Pants slowly, "Um...my name..."

"Uh, we'll have to do introductions later," said Daring Do, "Right now, we have to-"

"G-Get out of here, yes! Thank you!" said Quibble Pants as he noticed the mud flow was rising quickly with the Cipactli swimming about.

"Actually, no," said Daring Do.

"What?!" Quibble Pants exclaimed in her face.

"We can't leave without the treasure," said Daring Do as she put a fore-hoof to the Earth pony's face, "And we should probably get to it before our friend gets any higher." The Cipactli roared in reply as it swam impatiently as the mud continued to rise.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before a wall spun around to reveal the five ponies. The secret passage had brought them to a room that had several doors along the walls.

"Whoa!" said Rainbow.

"Pretty cool," said Sunray.

"Awesome." Soarin added.

"Seven doors, seven locks," said Daring Do, "One of them leads to the treasure. I'd rather not think about what the others lead to."

"Me neither," said Rainbow fearfully, "I just remembered that Fluttershy had given me a warning."

"What warning?" Sunray asked curiously.

"If I don't bring Soarin back home in one piece," said Rainbow shakily, "Spitfire said she'd pull off my wings."

"I'd believe it," said Soarin as Rainbow whimpered.

"Yeah, yeah, the classic "Pony and the Tiger"," said Quibble Pants indignantly, "All you have to do is-"

"Um, maybe you should let Daring Do figure it out?" Rainbow said annoyingly.

"Oh, 'scuse me," Quibble Pants retorted arrogantly.

Daring Do then scratched her chin as she looked around the room. She then walked up to one door.

"Not that one," Quibble Pants coughed.

Daring Do glared at him, making the Earth pony look away innocently. She then walked up to another door and went to put the key into the keyhole.

"Ehhhhh..." Quibble Pants said passively.

Daring Do shot him a stern look, making him back away into the background. Even Soarin and Sunray were getting annoyed.

"Is he always like this?" Daring Do asked.

"Just give me the word and I can tossed him to the monster to get him to shut up," said Sunray, making Quibble Pants squeak in horror.

"Easy, Sunray," said Rainbow and then looked at Daring Do, "to answer your question. Yeah. But...he's usually right?"

Daring Do just sighed.

"Which lock do you think it is?" Daring Do asked the Earth pony hastily.

"Ugh, finally," said Quibble Pants, "Look, each door has another door that matches. These two have Earth ponies fighting serpents. These two have Pegasi fighting griffons. These two have unicorns fighting bears. But this one..."

Quibble Pants then points to each set of doors and then pointed at the single seventh door.

"...has an Alicorn on it!" said Daring Do, "It's the only one without a match! How did I miss that?!"

"I've been asking myself that ever since book four," Quibble Pants remarked arrogantly.

Rainbow glared at him.

"Sunray?" Rainbow asked annoyingly.

Sunray glared at Quibble, making him turn to him with an indignantly look.

"Listen, I don't care if you know karate, pal, but I just don't like-" Quibble was cut off when Sunray grabbed his ears in a very tight grip, making him wince in pain as he widen his eyes. "OW! OW! OW! OW! OW! OW! OOF!"

Sunray slammed Quibble against the wall as the Earth Pony stallion now became terrified.

"I swear if you don't keep your pride to yourself all because of the Daring Do books, and that I wasn't here, I would kill you!" Sunray said in a low but angry tone, making Quibble flinch in fear.

"And believe me, nopony appreciates that more than I do." Quibble said meekly.

"SHUT UP!" Sunray said slowly but angrily, making Quibble wince. "I don't wanna hear another word out of you while we're on this mission. Now do you understand me?"

Quibble let a soft whimper.

"I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!" Sunray snapped angrily, shaking Quibble in the process before he stopped.

"Well, how could I answer?! You said I couldn't say another word!" Quibble replied back nervously as Sunray glared at him as the Earth Pony widened his eyes more fearfully. "NONONO! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!"

But Sunray didn't listen.

Pounding and smacking sounds could be heard off screen as Quibble screamed in fear and pain. Rainbow and Soarin winced at the sight as Daring Do ignored the beating Sunray was giving Quibble Pants as she put the Amulet of Culiacan into the lock. The door then retracted and revealed the treasure.

"The Seven-Sided Chest of Chicomoztoc!" said Quibble Pants, now covered scratches, as he, Rainbow, Sunray, and Soarin peeked in as Daring Do picked up the chest with her wing to examine it.

"Uh, guys," said Quibble Pants as he showed that the side wall had opened and the mud was starting to pour in.

Unknown to them, they didn't notice something touching the treasure as an invisible dagger was seen. A blue magic source was coming out of the treasure as it went into the dagger before it quickly stopped and the magic disappeared.

They rushed down a passage to find that the mud had submerged the lower entrance to the temple and the Cipactli was still swimming about.

"Uh...The way out is totally covered!" said Rainbow, "How are we gonna get out of here?!"

"There!" Daring Do said as she pointed to a hole in the ceiling.

"Seriously, do you ever not escape out of the top of a temple?!" Quibble Pants complained.

Daring Do, Soarin, Sunray, and Rainbow glared at the Earth pony, making him back away a bit.

"Don't blame Daring Do!" said Sunray, "Blame the fact that every ancient architect who built these temples thought holes in the roof were a universal thing!"

"Okay, you've got a good point there..." Quibble Pants agreed...reluctantly.

"We'll have to carry Mr. Adventure Critic out with us," said Daring Do.

"We won't be fast enough!" said Rainbow, "Soarin is strong, but not very fast. We'll never make it!"

"We still gotta try!" said Soarin.

"Guys!" said Quibble Pants as he pulled down some vines, "Rainbow Dash and I have this covered."

Daring Do, Sunray, and Soarin gave the Earth pony funny look, but Rainbow smirked and understood.

(Scene changes)

Soon the three pegasi and unicorn were flying above the mud as Sunray was using his flying spell, towing Quibble Pants behind him with some rope so he was once again bare-hoof surfing across the mud.

It was then the Cipactli surfaced to make its attack. The three pegasi turned a corner to avoid getting chomped at. Then the Cipactli swam ahead of them and rose before them for an ambush.

"Go around!" Quibble Pants shouted, "You can't go over him!"

"Go over him?!" Daring Do retorted, "Are you crazy?!"

"If Quibble says go over him, we go over him!" said Rainbow.

"Wait, I don't think he...WHOA!" Soarin didn't have any time to correct the two mares as they started to fly upward and Sunray and Soarin did so as well to avoid falling behind and putting Quibble Pants at greater risk.

The Cipactli then roared and went for a chomp. Quibble Pants screamed as he surfed up its long nose and launched into the air. The group then flew out of the temple and landed together in a pile when they reached solid ground.

"You three are insane!" Quibble Pants retorted.

"You said go over him!" said Rainbow.

"I said go around him!' Quibble Pants shot back.

"I actually heard around, not over, myself," said Soarin.

"And I said be quiet!" Daring Do scolded in a hush tone as she covered Rainbow and Quibble Pant's mouths with her wings and used a fore-hoof to cover Soarin's mouth. As the group ducked behind the bushes, they found Caballeron and his henchponies before them.

"This way!" said Caballeron, "I heard them!"

"Okay," said Quibble Pants in a hushed tone, "I got it. Let's create a fake treasure out of mud and rocks, give that to Caballeron, and then we-"

Quibble Pants was then cut off by Sunray.

"Bad call, he might just figure it out by now." Sunray said sternly, not taking any chances.

"Yeah. Not every Daring Do plan has to her super-complicated," said Daring Do in her own hushed tone.

She then held a rock in her fore-hoof and tossed it against a wall. This made Caballeron and his henchponies rush up to the wall.

"Rrrgh!" Caballeron grunted impatiently, "I swear I heard them!"

It was then the wall crumbled and the Cipactli roared at them, sending Caballeron and his henchponies screaming and running for their lives.

"I'll get you, Daring Doooo!" Caballeron screamed as he ran away.

Nearby in a shallow pond were five reed sticks floating out of it. It was then the five ponies surfaced, revealing they had used the reeds to breathe underwater.

"Meh. Not particularly original or inspired," said Quibble Pants, "but it works."

"Sometimes, less is more," said Sunray, "or work smarter, not harder."

"Right..." said Daring Do as she looked at Quibble Pants, "Who were you again?"

"He's a fan," said Rainbow simply.

"Uh-huh," said Daring Do in an unconvincing tone but then quickly recomposed herself, "There's some stairs on the other side of the temple that lead out of the ravine. I suggest you three take them and head west."

"What about you?" said Rainbow as Soarin gave the adventure Pegasus a concerned look.

"I gotta get this to a museum," said Daring Do as she looked at the chest again, "Thanks for your help. I couldn't have done it without you. All five of you. Especially you, Sunray. Your fighting skills from your honored family background gives me some great ideas for some new treasure hunts...and some new adventures in ancient Unicornia. See ya next time...handsome!"

Daring Do then tucked the treasure back into her shirt and then flew off with a whoosh. Quibble Pants then looked at Sunray skeptically.

"Uh...are you and Daring Do...together?!" Quibble Pants asked.

"Not yet, but she still thinks I'm cool." Sunray said with a smirk.

Rainbow and Soarin shared smirks with each other before they kissed each other on the lips lovingly.

"I'm just glad you're okay, Dash." Soarin said softly as Rainbow smiled at her coltfriend.

"Me too, Soarin." Rainbow replied back.

"Come on, guys. Let's get going." Sunray said as he guidded the three ponies back to the hotel.

"So...?" Rainbow asked Quibble Pants with a smug smile on her face.

"So...maybe the later books are slightly more realistic than I give them credit for," Quibble Pants admitted before adding bluntly, "Still don't like them."

"What?!" Rainbow exclaimed, "How can you-?!"

"Rainbow, chill out," said Soarin sternly.

"Yes, wait, hold on," said Quibble Pants to Rainbow, "Before we get in another fight, I-I think I finally figured it out! I love the Daring Do that solves puzzles and uses her brain to get out of tough situations, and she did that way more of that in the original trilogy! You love the Daring Do that is brave and awesome and comes out on top no matter what the odds!"

"Okay...?" said Rainbow slowly.

"And that's okay!" said Quibble Pants, "We might never agree on what makes Daring Do cool, but you - are definitely cool. I-I mean, the way you saved me on the bridge? Wow! And escaping from the temple...you, Rainbow Dash, are awesome."

Rainbow smiled smugly at first, but then got a little bashful when he called her awesome.

"And beautiful too." Soarin added as Rainbow smirked at her coltfriend.

"Well...I-I'm not one who can locate a treasure in half the time Daring Do can!" said Rainbow, "You may have terrible taste in books, but you're pretty awesome yourself. In a brainy, egghead, puzzle solving kind of way. Heh. You and Twilight would get along nicely over that. She likes those types of complicated puzzles." Quibble Pants smiled.

"I guess we don't have to agree on everything to get along!" said Quibble Pants, "Friends?"

"Definitely friends," said Rainbow and then added, "That includes Soarin and Sunray as wel,l right?"

"Certainly," said Quibble Pants as he gave the Pegasus stallion and Unicorn stallion a smile, "Neither one of us can force you guys to read or skip book four and beyond. In fact, I'd say you should read them and see if you like them yourself. Even if you do, I'm sure we can compare opinions about them."

"Works for me," said Soarin and Sunray as the four ponies shared a hoof-bump together.

Then they started to make their way out of the jungle. But unknown to them, they were being watched by a mysterious invisible figure on top of a mountain. He chuckled sinisterly as he now held the dagger as it became visible.

"Well, two magical energies found, three more to go." The invisible figure said as he then became visible to reveal himself to be none other than Tai Lung.

Then put the dagger away as he held purplish orange magic powder before he blew it in mid air as it began to form a vision of a strange aragonite crystal as it glowed a rainbow color.

"Very soon, we will find the Zeo Crystal hidden deep in Manehatten and Master Zhao will finally rule this world." Tai Lung said sinisterly as he chuckled darkly before the screen died down.