adventure Daring Do and the Dark Talisman

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

((ongoing, an idea that's been in my mind since last year, and the Daring Do stories thingy in Events finally pushed me to try and work on it))

 

CHAPTER 1

It was the first night of decent sleep she'd had in weeks. Daring Do was never one to admit that she needed help. This was an issue she knew she still needed to improve on. "I work alone," was always her motto and it had gotten her into hot water on more than one occasion. But still, there were few that she trusted even now. And of those few she might call upon in such a time, already had their hooves full with their own problems. Celestia and Luna were retiring; she knew that much. And her most trusted confidante, Rainbow Dash, along with the other Element Keepers, were learning to take over their royal duties. It was quite an honor that she learned about it so soon; she was one of the few who found out before the Summer Sun Celebration. The thought of it snapped her out of her half-awake state. Daring turned over in her cot at the thought of it. She was still kicking herself for missing the festival. The last, the very last Summer Sun Celebration ever. Yes, the annual tradition would live on with a new name, but was the last one presided over by the current royal family. Why? Why did all of this have to happen now?

"Can't sleep?"

"I think my brain has been running for so long that it forgot how to wind down."

"I'm not keeping you awake, am I? I've always had a habit of talking to myself when I'm wrenching my brain; I'm trying to be as quiet as I can about it."

"No, you're doing fine. I couldn't even hear it over the fireplace."

"OK, good. By the way, I... was so excited when I got here, I didn't get to thank you before, for the opportunity to work with you again. It's... quite an honor."

"I know talent when I see it. If there's any puzzle I can't figure out, it's a good gamble that you can." She opened one eye and peered over at the gray-haired orange stallion who was sitting on a pillow at the other end of the room, turning an intricately-carved iron cube over in his hooves. He was wearing his best Daring Do cosplay. She wasn't sure if it this was a personal choice or it was simply the only appropriate outfit he had for the occasion. "Just don't go all fan-foal about this like the last adventure."

"Oh, I wouldn't dare."

"I'm just sorry that the others couldn't be here too. That would've been fun, for all of us to go on an adventure again." She hated to admit it, but it had indeed turned out to be more fun with a team."

"Yes, poor Rainbow Dash. Of course, I will enjoy rubbing it in her face that this was the time that I got to go on an expedition with Daring Do, and she didn't."

Daring Do smirked as she noticed Quibble's eyes widen. He jumped up excitedly. "I don't think this is a puzzle. It's a map!"

Daring rolled off of the cot. "What? A map of what? A floating land mass with six sid--"

"No, nothing like that. But each "side" is part of the map!"

Daring trotted over and took the cube, examining it, noting how the patterns seemed to trail around in some places, but not others. "I think you're right! Now, but how do we plot it without ruining it?"

"Iron."

"What?"

"That's why it isn't made of gold or silver! It's meant to be heated so it can burn an image into something! You alright with me trying this?"

"If we're wrong, it wouldn't be the first time I ruined a priceless item."

Quibblepants tossed it into the fireplace. "Now, we just wait for it to turn red--"

The cube immediately sparked and floated into the air, engulfed in a red flame.

"Whoa, whoa!" Daring exclaimed, pushing Quibblepants out of the way as the cube levitated from the fireplace before descending down the wood floor in front of them. Upon making contact, it burned an imprint onto the floor with a loud hiss of smoke. It then rolled to another side, and another, and another, until all six sides had burned an image into the floor. Whatever magic was in the cube then exhausted itself and it fell to the ground, lifeless and dark. Quibblepants poked it with his forehoof. "It's completely cold!" He picked it up and examined it again, and then looked at the floor. "Well, we have a map, and we didn't break this thing."

The image on the floor appeared to be that of a group of islands, with contours of mountains and valleys, a vague impression of roads, and a couple of shapes hinting at structures.

"Do you have any idea where that is?" Quibblepants asked.

"It's familiar, but it can't be that, can it?" Daring Do pointed at an island in the center that seemed slightly reminiscent of a skull. "Have you ever heard of the Phantom Archipelago?"

"The what? That's just an old mare's tale that they tell to foals!"

"So was Nightmare Moon at one time." Daring Do grabbed an axe and began to cut into the floorboards to make it possible to pick up the map.