S4, E4 everypony! Flight To The Finish is up next!

Malibu trotted through the town of Ponyville, just enjoying how warm the day was. He also spotted Fluttershy near a bird's nest trying to teach some babies how to fly which was rather cute looking to him.

Suddenly he yelped out when Rainbow Dash zipped by, sounding rather excited from the way she was talking, Fluttershy also being startled by the entrance.

"Four more months! Four more months! Four more months!" She shrilled before showing off her excited face to Malibu.

"Uh… are you alright Dash?" Malibu asked nervously, Rainbow nodding eagerly. "I'm better than ok! But are you also excited?" She asked both him and Fluttershy.

Fluttershy lowered her ears. "Oh, my, I, uh, I could be excited. I don't really know. I wasn't really think—."

Rainbow Dash put her hooves on Fluttershy's shoulders. "Come on, you gotta be excited!"

Malibu watched Fluttershy struggle to answer. "Oh, well, I guess maybe I'm a little kinda sort of excited." Rainbow grinned, then turned to Malibu who felt his face go red. "Guess I am too. But why?"

Dash's eyes shone. "Because the next Daring Do book is coming out exactly four months from today! That's how exciting it is!"

The teal alicorn rolled his eyes but knew he felt happy for Rainbow despite her over obsession with Daring Do since they read the Sapphire Statue together. "Suppose that's one thing to be excited about." He then stated.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "So, what amazing, incredible, awesome adventure do you think Daring Do will have in her next book, huh?" Her eyes then got glazed over which looked like she was fantasizing. "Will she at long last stalk the Fortress of Talacon, only to be forced to contend with its dreaded impenetrable arrow defense? And if so, could her skill, quick wits, and courage possibly carry the day? Or, will her next adventure bring her face to face with the vast and horrible Ahuizotl himself?!"

Malibu remembered that weird creature in the books who was always Daring Do's arch rival along with Dr. Caballeron. "Will she cower, turn tail and run? Or would she fly at him, full bore, knowing full well against all odds that the greatest challenge she ever faced was still surely no match for—."

Dash had gotten carried away with her fantasizing, nearly flying into Fluttershy who gasped in fright. "Look out!" She squeaked, dodging out of the way, Rainbow crashing into the tree. The rainbow Pegasus looked rather dizzy from the crash, Malibu sighing, hoping the new book will come soon to end her over excitement.

Fluttershy looked at him. "Oh, Malibu, I'm not so sure she's gonna last another two months." Malibu picked her up. "She will, I know she will." He said, going to take her back home to rest.

….

It had now been only one month since the announcement of the book, and Malibu now was going to the library to visit Twilight until he saw Rainbow Dash still geeking out. "Three months, and twenty six days, three months and twenty six days, three months and twenty six days!" She squeaked.

Malibu groaned, for this had been carrying on for too long. "Come on Dashie, it's just a book. A.K. Yearling will probably write another one after this anyway and you'll just beg for that one to come too."

Rainbow Dash looked like he had hit her on the head with an anvil, her eye twitching. "How are you able to say that as another fan?!" She exclaimed as they got nearer the door. Malibu attempted to explain himself but when they opened the door, a party horn was blown into their faces.

It stunned the two lovers, looking inside and seeing their friends all having some kind of party. "So glad you two finally made it!" Twilight greeted with a smile, as Pinkie Pie put party hats on both of them.

Rainbow blinked. "What's everypony doing here?"

Pinkie Pie grinned big. "We're having a holiday party!" She blew the party horn again, Malibu wondering what they were celebrating. "Care to tell me what celebration it is?"

"National Random Holiday Party Day! Woo-hoo!" Pinkie squealed, jumping about the room.

Rarity shrugged, smiling at them. "I've never heard of it either, but this punch is quite tasty."

Rainbow Dash looked rather crestfallen but Malibu wasn't since he too was invited but didn't know what it was for. "How come nopony bothered to invite me?" Dash asked sadly.

Applejack gave her a look. "I came to invite you personally, but it seems you were a speck too busy reading the last Daring Do book for the twelfth time." She said like how she would talk to an obsessed fan.

The rainbow Pegasus's face turned happy once again. "Yeah, well, in three months and twenty six days, I'll be able to read the next one!"

Then Twilight spoke. "Oh, haven't you heard? The release of the next book got pushed another two months."

That stunned Malibu, wondering why A.K. would even do that, as Rainbow spat out the punch she was drinking. "TWO MORE MONTHS?! I've been waiting so long already!" Her legs trembled. "I don't think I can take another two months! I'll never make it!" She sunk to the floor, Malibu doing his best to comfort her.

Fluttershy looked down. "Yeah. I can vouch for that."

Malibu looked at Twilight. "Did she say why she is delaying the book release?" He asked. Twilight nodded.

"The publisher just said author A.K. Yearling won't be able to finish the book for another two months. Cupcake?" She held up a cupcake platter, Pinkie Pie taking one in her mouth. But for Malibu, that still wasn't a good explanation.

Rainbow looked rather pissed. "How could you possibly know that before me? I'm the series' biggest fan!"

Twilight glared back. "I'm just as big as a fan as you! In fact, I'm the one who introduced both you and Malibu to the books, remember?"

Malibu definitely remembered, recalling back to when his wings were hurt and he was stuck in the hospital reading the book with Rainbow Dash, who also blushed. "Oh, right."

The new alicorn continued. "A.K. Yearling just might be my favorite author. I know everything about her. Where she grew up, where she studied literature, where she wrote the first Daring Do book…"

That made Rainbow Dash perk up in interest. "Where she lives?"

Malibu raised his brow at her. "If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, it's a bad idea." He argued but was ignored when Twilight answered. "Uh, no, though I could probably find out somehow. Why?"

Rainbow Dash definitely looked like she wouldn't give up on wanting to find the author now. "Don't you get it? The new book is obviously delayed because she needs help dealing with whatever everyday nonsense is distracting her from spending her every living breathing second writing so I—." Malibu glared at his mare friend as she corrected herself. "I mean, fans like me, can get to read the new book ASAP! Think about it! We could help her with her laundry, buy her groceries, cooking her meals, whatever! I mean, who wouldn't appreciate that?"

Twilight's face looked doubtful rightfully so. "Hmm, I don't know… what she probably wants most of all is respect for her privacy."

Malibu nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I don't want to bother her too Dash."

Dash looked at him pleadingly. "She can always just say no, Mal. please?"

Eventually, Twilight wound up reluctantly giving in. "Mmh… I suppose you're right."

The former gargoyle sighed inwardly, knowing this was gonna be a bad idea but was willing to do it for now. "Of course I am!" Dash exclaimed proudly. "So… how's about getting that address?"

….

After Twilight managed to locate where A.K. Yearling lived, the Mane 7 went on a road trip to find her house which led into a dense forest that was pretty isolated.

Malibu had glanced backwards at seeing Pinkie Pie drawing a pink line on the ground to show their traveling which made him raise a brow. "You see what I mean? Why would she live in this remote part of Equestria except to keep folks from intruding on her privacy?" Twilight asked. "We should respect—."

Cutting her off, Rainbow Dash had flown back to them, looking excited. "I think I spotted the house! We're super close! This way!" She zipped away again in her typical fashion, Malibu flying after her. "Dash, wait up!" Yelled Malibu, until he too spotted the author's house.

It wasn't quite what he expected; for the house looked rather messed up, even having the door hanging off its hinges. Twilight gasped in disbelief. "Oh no. What happened?"

Rainbow Dash's face had fallen. "Apparently, somepony has intruded on her privacy pretty hard already…"

Malibu had volunteered to go up and knock on the door since he wasn't as crazily obsessed. When knocking on it however, the door fell off with a crash, making him jump. Now the Mane 7 can see inside which was a wreck.

Applejack looked about. "Hoo-wee, somepony really trashed this place."

"Maybe somepony tried to rob A.K. which would explain the broken door," Malibu guessed, looking over what looked like some ancient artifacts.

Pinkie Pie was undisturbed about the wrecked home. "Hmm… maybe, or maybe A.K. Yearling's just a terrible, horrible, unbelievable slob!" She tossed some papers into the air, Malibu having no answer to that.

Twilight's face was worried. "Oh no! What if something terrible happened to her?"

Rainbow Dash panicked big time, looking around for any papers for the new book. "I know! There might be no more books!" She then caught Malibu's glare and raised brow, making her gulp and chuckle. "Uh… but of course, I'd be worried about her… too."

Suddenly a voice rang through the air, making Malibu jump. "What are you all doing here?"

Turning around nervously, Malibu felt his eyes fall onto a mare with a brown coat, along with a mane and tail looking similar to Rainbow Dash but black and white. She wore a big hat, purple cape, and glasses. It was her.

Rainbow's jaw dropped open when seeing her. "Uh… A… K-K… Yearling?!" She squeed, Malibu seeing her eyes sparkle from her adoration, making him groan slightly as A.K. looked about her house in disbelief, seeing it all wrecked. "We didn't do this ma'am, we really didn't," Malibu tried to explain but she acted like she didn't hear him.

"What have you done to my house?" AK asked in worry, looking around for something. Applejack stood on a big looking book. "We didn't do this Ms. Yearling— whoa!" AK pulled the book out from under her, looking it over.

Rainbow Dash then had the dumb decision to bring up the book writing. "Ok, clearly this isn't the best time, but I've just gotta say how much we all really love your books!" She exclaimed, laughing nervously, but AK pushes her out of the way, pressing some buttons on the spine of the book which opened a secret compartment inside, and a golden ring was in there.

She sighed in relief. "It's safe."

AK put the ring away in her cape but Dash kept pressing on about her new book. "Great! Maybe now would be a good time for me to ask her how we can help move the new book along a little faster." She pushed a typewriter in front of her. "Chop chop!"

Malibu was about to tell her off for bothering AK but Twilight helped, using her magic to pull her out. "Rainbow Dash, a minute please!"

He decided to stay back to apologize. "AK, we're really sorry for intruding on your home, but we aren't the ones who wrecked it." Malibu begged, AK raising her brow at him. "You're the prince, right?"

The teal alicorn nodded nervously. "Yeah. But, why is that ring from the book important?"

AK's ears flattened. "That's nopony's business but my own. Stop asking questions please?" But suddenly there was a noise up on the roof, making the two look upward and seeing some strange thug looking stallions coming in.

Malibu's ears flattened from whoever these thugs could be while AK kept her cool, glaring. The thugs closed in around them and to Malibu's surprise; AK threw off her hat, glasses, and cape.

What was revealed in front of him was something he'd never thought he'd see: AK was dressed as a familiar mare from the books she was writing. For she truly was Daring Do!

His jaw dropped down as Daring got into a fighting position. "D-Daring Do?" He yelped in disbelief, almost forgetting the thugs there with them but was snapped back into reality as Daring Do began to tackle them all, taking them out rather quickly as well as trying to keep the ring away from them. She threw it into the fire, the thugs daring each other to grab the hot ring.

Then next Daring Do used her whip to snatch the ring, using a jug of juice to cool it off which to Malibu was pretty impressive, wondering if he should do anything to help but it looked like Daring was handling it all herself, his friends watching outside.

He heard Rainbow Dash cry out at that moment. "Daring Do!"

It gave room for the thugs to tackle Daring, winding up breaking her front hoof and holding her. Another henchpony wound up wrapping Malibu in ropes too and made sure he couldn't get away. Malibu glared at them all as the door opened again, revealing a stallion who grinned mockingly, taking up the ring with his hoof.

"Many thanks, Daring Do. As you've probably surmised, our earlier search for this treasure was… unsuccessful. So kind of you to find it for us." The stallion sneered.

Daring flinched when trying to stand, Malibu cringing when hearing the broken bones. "Give it back, Caballeron!"

The teal alicorn raised his brow. "So he's Caballeron…" Malibu murmured to himself.

"That's Dr. Caballeron to you. And… who is this?" Caballeron asked, turning to Malibu who glared at him. "I'm-I'm the prince of Equestria." He replied. A little nervous but knew he could take on this earth pony if he wanted to.

Caballeron gave a grin, knowing that his contact for these rings would probably like to hear this. "Oh really? I see you're best buddies with my former friend." He mocked, making Daring glower at him. "We don't know each other, Caballeron!" She snapped. "And let me guess, Ahuizotl has put you up to this? You're stealing the ring to give to him so his hold on the Fortress of Talacon will be good for eight centuries as foretold by prophecy!"

The doctor gave another malicious grin. "Close, but… no. I'm going to sell this to him, make a bundle, and retire from archaeology in splendor."

Malibu groaned, rolling his eyes. "Why do villains like you monologue about your obviously very simple plan?" He asked, making the brown stallion turn with a glower, slapping him. "Silence, you fool! Maybe I'll even bring you to meet my buyer. He would really love to have an alicorn for himself!"

It made Malibu growl, his horn flaring up and soon teleporting himself out of his bonds, flying up into the air in anger. "I am the Prince of Equestria, and you'll treat your future ruler with respect!" He roared, making some of the henchponies back away in fear though Caballeron was undisturbed. "Oh, how fierce. What are you going to do? Hit me with a spell?"

Before Daring Do could have Malibu back out of her conflict, Malibu's eyes glowed a bright red, shooting his red magic at Caballeron who yelped, dodging out of the way. "To the market, henchponies!" He screamed, the others following suit.

After he settled down, Malibu turned to Daring who was struggling to stand, wincing. He went over. "Hey, let me—." She shoved him away. "Back off! I'm fine!"

The rest of his friends soon went in as well, looking worried. "Are you ok?" Rainbow Dash asked, trying to help too but Daring smacked her hoof away too. "I got this!"

She managed to tie her leg into a splint. Fluttershy spoke up nervously. "Um, she was just trying to help, Ms. Do."

Daring Do glared at them all. "Daring Do doesn't need help. She handles her business herself."

Malibu was confused. "It must be pretty lonely." He tried to say but once again Daring ignored him, heading out the door. "I gotta stop them from dooming the valley of 8 centuries of unrelenting heat! And you 7 have no part in this!" She snapped at him, then turning to fly away.

The friends stood there at the entrance, speechless for a time at the idea of Daring Do being a real deal. Rainbow Dash soon had her mind made up. "We gotta go help!"

Twilight shook her head. "You heard her! She says she works alone!"

Malibu stared at her in disbelief. "Twilight, you're a princess. Are you willing to let this place swelter away in awful heat? She clearly needs help, especially from the limp!"

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, what he said! How can we just stand by and do nothing? You know what's at stake here! Ahuizotl has sought control of the Tenochtitlan Basin since book three!"

Twilight countered back and the others knew this was gonna be a nerd war. "True, but in book four, she defeated Ahuizotl and secured control of the AMulet of Atonement, dispelling the dark magic of the Ketztwictl Empress, and thus protecting the basin with the Radiant Shield of Razdon!"

"But the Radiant Shield of Razdon is vulnerable to the dark enchantment of the Rings of Scorchero!" Rainbow argued. Malibu, only having read the first book, had no idea what the heck they were talking about, knowing he had a lot of reading to do later.

"But are you forgetting that the Rings were scattered to the four corners of Tenochtitlan, thus rendering the dark enchantment powerless?" Twilight then asked, trying to prove her point.

"Only if you assume that the rings have yet to be retrieved, and the ring Caballeron just stole isn't the last to completely restore the dark tower and its cruel hold on Tenochtitlan! Did you ever think of that?!?" Rainbow exclaimed at the top of her lungs.

Pinkie Pie surprisingly nodded. "You gotta admit, Rainbow Dash makes a pretty good point!"

Malibu just stared in a dumb way. "Uh, if you say so…" He muttered.

Rainbow Dash looked determined. "We gotta help Daring Do restore the ring for safekeeping before it is too late!"

Twilight raised her hoof in protest, sighing. "Ok, but it sounds like we're in way, way, way over our heads. We're gonna need a carefully thought out plan…"

Too late as a rainbow blur zipped into the sky. "I'm coming, Daring Do!"

Malibu rolled his eyes again. "Dash, wait!" He bellowed, taking off after his mare friend to try and stop her, but was nervous about seeing the famous book character again, still struggling to grasp at the idea of a real Ahuizotl putting all of this society in danger from those heat rings, flying as fast as he can after her.

He soon managed to find Rainbow Dash flying slowly now, talking to herself and sometimes hitting her own face, obviously geeking out about possibly 'helping' her idol. Malibu felt sympathy for his mare friend. Didn't she forget about their relationship over idolizing her favorite book character?

But then Malibu gasped when Daring Do suddenly tackled Dash, and he rushed in, landing near them. "Yow! Stop!" Rainbow exclaimed.

Daring huffed. "Oh, it's just you." She puts her hat back on, going on her way.

Malibu put a hoof on her shoulder. "Are you ok?" He asked softly. She just quickly nods and continues to idolize again. "Wait, don't go! Malibu, this is my chance to impress her!"

Rainbow trotted off, Malibu's chest feeling tight at those words, also feeling left out too but continued to follow. Rainbow tapped on Daring Do's shoulder. "I am suuuuch a huge fan!" She says with a nervous laugh.

Daring Do sighs, before continuing to sneak around, making sure not to be seen by her enemies. Rainbow wouldn't quit. "Wait, wait, wait! Let me help you! I promise I could be a huge, huge help if you just give me and Malibu a chance!"

Malibu glared. "Don't pull me into this, Dash," He protested but Daring Do wound up speaking back in her own protest. "I. Work. Alone!" She snarled at them both, turning to fly off.

But Rainbow still didn't take no for an answer. "Why won't you let us team up with you? Just this once?" She begged.

Daring sighed in annoyance further. "My work always involve secrets. And since you never know who you can trust, it's best never to trust any pony." She said in a stubborn voice.

That made Malibu blink in surprise. "When I first came to this world I had a hard time trusting Rainbow Dash and the others. But we aren't evil. If we were, we wouldn't have bothered to try to ask to help you." He insisted.

Rainbow nodded. "And but just because you can't trust some, doesn't mean nopony can be trusted." She added in.

"Look you two, I don't have time to argue—." Daring growled, until Rainbow Dash zipped into the air. "Neither do I! Let's go!"

That left both Malibu and Daring Do in an awkward spot, Malibu grinning nervously from her glower. "S-sorry, I know she is usually pretty stubborn but she is nice when you get to know her."

Raising her brow at Malibu, Daring simply went on her way, Malibu finding himself following behind despite his mind telling him not to until they came across Caballeron and his cronies sitting around a fire.

Dash whispered in a soft voice. "Looks like they decided to have an early dinner before making their way back down the hill to the marketplace in town."

Malibu watched as Daring Do began to make a disguise, Rainbow beginning to make blind guesses.

"Oh, I see. You're gonna ambush them like in book four at the Horavian caves! Or maybe, that neat trick you did in book three, where you swoop in and knock three guys down with one swing! Or maybe—!"

She wound up catching her coltfriend's harsh stare. "Dash, do me a favor, and lower your voice? We don't want them to spot us!" He hissed softly, pulling her down with his magic by her tail, making Dash flush. "Ok. Sorry." The rainbow Pegasus squeaked, Daring throwing some leaves and mud on her to make a beard.

But then Malibu had to ask a question. "So… uh… what kind of ambush?" He saw Daring pull out a sack of bits, grinning smugly, Rainbow gasping in awe.

Daring Do stepped out into the light, tossing the coins down in front of the gang who all stood up in amazement, halting in their eating. She puts on a deep voice. "I have been led to believe you have in your possession an item of significant importance that might be… for sale!"

Caballeron stroked his chin with a grin. "Oh, uh, well… I did have another buyer lined up, but he's not here, so… sounds like we have a deal." He reached to hand Daring the ring.

Malibu watched with bated breath then he heard a terrible roar from the trees, jumping in fear when he at last saw Daring's ultimate arch nemesis appear. "CABALLERON!" Ahuizotl bellowed in rage.

The adventure mare glowered. "Ahuizotl!" She hissed softly.

Ahuizotl reached with what looked like his tail hand. "The ring!" He demanded. Caballeron let out a frightened cry, dropping it and taking the bag of bits, running for cover. It made the two rivals stare at each other weirdly before facing one another in a fight. Ahuizotl snarled, charging at her.

Rainbow trembled, as was Malibu, who had never seen a creature like this before except in her books. Ahuizotl was much more menacing outside of the written word. "Be cool Rainbow Dash… be cool… she's got this!"

Malibu's ears remained flat while watching Ahuizotl stalk closer. "The ring, Daring Do! Give it to me!" He slammed his two front fists into the ground, but Daring wouldn't be intimidated, placing the ring around her neck.

"Now, Ahuizotl, you know I love you, but I can't give you the ring 'till I've properly proposed." She teased, making Malibu laugh under his breath. That was a good line.

Ahuizotl also cackled. "Interesting, because my friends here have a proposal of their own." He snapped his fingers, causing his gang of cats to show, the littlest kitten hissing, swiping its claws.

Daring glowered, the cats surrounding her. "Bring it!" She snapped, the tiger charging first, roaring. She kicks it away, as well as the panther, cheetah, and cat. It was quite a scene for Malibu and Rainbow to watch. "Come on, Daring Do! Come on!" Rainbow pleaded. Daring's hat suddenly flew over to them, Dash picking it up.

Malibu knew what she wanted to do, shaking his head. "No, don't—!" Too late.

"Daring Do! I've got your hat! You want me to toss it?" She called out, which of course caught the attention of Ahuizotl, grinning maliciously at the two.

"Hmm, a young couple!" He taunted, Malibu backing away, and Rainbow Dash feeling herself being picked up by his tail hand, causing her to cry out. Malibu's eyes glowed red. "Let… her… go you bully!" The alicorn/gargoyle roared, flying and tackling him.

It had distracted Daring Do enough for the cats to take her down, and tying her up. Malibu trying his best to make Ahuizotl let his mare friend go caused a price for him, Ahuizotl aiming a punch at Malibu, making him fly off and hit the dirt in a daze. Rainbow Dash had flown out of his grip too.

She looked over, eyes widening in horror when Ahuizotl grinned, taking Malibu in his hands, as well as the ring. "Don't worry guys! I'll help you!" Rainbow exclaimed, but Daring Do just glared as one of the cats picked her up.

"Don't bother! I'd say you've already helped plenty."

Ahuizotl also added in his own words. "And, I have an extra prize: The prince of Equestria!" He cackled, tying up Malibu's wings then placing him on his back, walking off with his prisoners.

Rainbow Dash looked on, her eyes filling with tears, seeing her idol and her colt friend being dragged off by the most dangerous villain they've encountered so far. "What have I done?" She asked herself in a saddened voice.

….

She just sat there for a time until the other mares found her, Rarity gasping in relief. "Thank goodness you're alright!"

Twilight's eyes filled with concern. "Quick, where does it hurt? And… where's Malibu?"

Rainbow moaned, putting her hooves over her heart. "In here. Daring Do, the ring, and Malibu have been captured by the dreaded Ahuizotl, and it's all my fault."

The other 5 all gasped in horror from the news, feeling worried for their fellow friend. Twilight tried to look cheerful but she was scared about Malibu being harmed. "Dash, I'm sure whatever you did was an honest mistake."

It only made the Pegasus shake her head. She couldn't save them, not after her clumsiness spoiled it all. "Whatever. Let's just go home."

Applejack was in disbelief. "We can't go back now! Malibu needs us and Daring Do probably does too more than ever!"

Rainbow glared. "Trying to help is how I got into this mess and endangered my coltfriend in the first place. You and him were right, Twilight. I should have stayed out of this."

Twilight knew she had to coax her friend. "Look, there is more going on here than meets the eye. In every Daring Do book, there always is! We can't turn our backs on her!"

"She doesn't want my help, Twilight!" Growled Rainbow Dash, swishing her tail.

The mulberry alicorn shrugged. "Perhaps. But she might need it anyway."

"No, my hero's way better off without me. And she may even wind up rescuing Malibu too." Grunted Rainbow Dash, her hurt pride taking over her feelings for him.

Applejack put a hoof around her. "This don't sound like you." She persisted.

Pinkie bounced. "Where's the Rainbow Dsh who would help anypony at the drop of the hat and sacrifice anything to save her special somepony?" She asked.

Rarity smiled. "Or a pith helmet, as the case may be."

Rainbow pushed Applejack off. "She's here where she's got no business being. She should be at home."

Twilight lifted up her chin. "It's fine to look up to Daring Do, but you've put her so high up on a pedestal, you can't even see you own worth anymore and forgot about your special connection with Malibu. They're in the fortress, and we're here. And we wouldn't be who we are if we didn't go in after them! And neither would you! So, are you with us, or not?"

It made the Element of Loyalty look down, her heart and eyes filled now with the pain of losing the pony she chose to be a future mate. Tears began to fall, then she narrowed her eyes in determination.

….

Meanwhile, in the intimidating fortress, Ahuizotl had chained up Malibu and Daring Do in a dungeon high above a pit of water with Piranhas in it. Malibu tried to use a spell to teleport themselves out but Ahuizotl had used a spell to keep his magic trapped, making him struggle a lot in his chains.

Daring also did the same, both of them glaring up at their captor. "Surrender now, Ahuizotl! Or I'll be forced to take you down!" She grunted. "And let the prince go!"

Ahuizotl cackled. "Oh, Daring Do, I will so miss your amusing laughter-jokes. Now, I must leave to commence the ring-placing ceremony to unleash eight hundred years of unrelenting, sweltering heat!"

Malibu swallowed in fright at the thought. "That will ruin all of the plant life and everypony else here!" He roared, his hooves feeling pain from the struggling.

It made Ahuizotl shrug, grinning maliciously. "Honestly, I don't care little prince. It will make me be able to control the citizens, which will be most exhilarating. But maybe, you would like to watch the ceremony, being royal and all."

Reaching with his tail hand, he uncuffed Malibu, taking him up again. Malibu gave Daring Do a scared look, wanting to save her and himself from this, and Ahuizotl next pulled a lever, leaving Daring Do to drown.

Malibu struggled in Ahuizotl's hold. "My friends will… come for us!" He gasped, as the monster tossed him to two of the temple guards who held him tight.

Ahuizotl held up his chin. "I don't think so. They have no part in Daring Do's story. She had been a soloist, always will, until her demise!" He sneered, turning to commence the ceremony. The other guards thudded their spears rhythmically on the ground, Malibu trembling and not looking forward to all the heatwaves that will soon take over Equestria.

Two of the temple guards were about to place the ring on top of the many other ones, Ahuizotl laughing in triumph until, to Malibu's surprise; he heard Applejack's voice!

"Drop the ring, Ahui… whatever your name is! And let Malibu go!" She shouted, as the 5 mares ran in to take on all the guards.

Ahuizotl growled. "Place the ring, quickly!" He shouted. Malibu stared in amazement as his friends took on the guards in their own unique fashions, including Twilight showing off her alicorn magic as well, using it to set Malibu free. He gave her a grateful look before taking out some of the temple guards as well.

He then saw too his marefriend appearing with Daring Do, making Malibu smile big that she was able to come and rescue them both, seeing the two mares pulling the rings off of the pedestal. Malibu flew over to give them a hand.

"Dash, you're back!" He said with his grin, going to join in between the two.

Rainbow flushed from seeing him. "I'm sorry I almost gave up on saving you!" She apologized sadly. He gave her a quick peck. "We can talk about it more later, but now we have to stop Ahuizotl."

Daring Do nodded. "The temple will collapse after pulling off the last big ring at the bottom," She explained, which startled Malibu because how could she have known?

Rainbow Dash grunted along with Malibu when they finally reached the biggest ring. "Was this your plan all along?" She gasped.

The adventure mare nodded. "I had to find a way to get into the fortress, but I'm sorry you got pulled into this Malibu." She apologized to the teal alicorn.

"You really did this on purpose? Why didn't you tell us?" He asked, still stunned.

Daring Do flushed. "I didn't count on how heavy this ring would be, though… guess having a little help can be handy sometimes."

The two special someponies looked pleased she was willing to have others help her out, and they continued to pull it out. Ahuizotl had noticed though after managing to snatch the ring from the other mares trying to keep it away from him. "STOP HER!!" He shrieked, the temple starting to crumble.

Daring grunted, glaring at them both. "You can flap to, you know!" She said at the others. Malibu and Rainbow nodded, flapping their wings as hard as they could until at last; the pedestal disintegrated, the temple falling even further.

"Ponies, run! This place is going down!" Shouted Rainbow Dash, Twilight and the others making a break for it. The trio struggled to fly out of the collapsing temple, the rubble trapping Ahuizotl beneath it after he tried snatching them.

He grunted, poking his head out of the debris. "Daring Do! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!!" Ahuizotl roared, shaking his fist into the air, knowing the good guys have won, for now.

…

Once they were all safe, the friends shattered the ring they brought out, Daring Do grinning awkwardly at them. "Could have never done this without you, Rainbow Dash and Malibu." She said.

Malibu rubbed the back of his neck. "Was nothing, really. We just like to help other ponies." Rainbow Dash suddenly hugged her idol, who hugged her back.

"I've got a book to finish!" Daring declared, waving to them, then flying off into the sunset back to her house.

Dash and Malibu both waved to their new friend, now eager to return home and wait for the new book to read. "You think this book will be about her adventures with us?" Malibu asked Dash when they came back to her house.

The rainbow Pegasus shrugged. "Dunno, but maybe it is time for me to write in the Friendship Journal about all this."

Malibu agreed, and the two opened it up on the second blank page, Dash beginning to write.

"Just had the coolest adventure with the coolest pony ever. Came this close to blowing it because I got so wrapped up in how awesome she was, I almost forgot about how awesome I was. Good thing I didn't, 'cause it gave me a chance to show her how important it is to put your trust in somepony else."

The former gargoyle nodded after she finished writing. "Looks good, Dashie," He praised until the door was knocked upon.

Rainbow answered the door to see a mail pony there. "Package from A.K. Yearling." He said. Rainbow Dash grinned. "Sweet! The new book a week before anypony else gets it!"

"Let's open it!" Malibu encouraged, and his marefriend happily obliged. They unveiled the new cover, which stunned them both at what it looked like.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" Shrieked Rainbow Dash. For on the cover was not just Daring Do, but her and Malibu as well, with the book being titled: Daring Do And The Ring Of Destiny.

They both then sat down on a cloud cushion together, tails wrapped around each other, beginning to read the new book together.

Was great getting to write more Ahuizotl and Daring Do but now it is time for more CMCs in the next chapter.