It was the start of a new day, and at the Drake Mansion Spike woke up in bed and saw at his right side was a naked Rainbow Dash snuggling up to him like he was a teddy bear. Spike smiled at how cute she looked, before turning to his left side and saw an empty spot, "Twilight?" he asked in confusion before looking around, "Rare for her to be up before me," he shrugged before nudging Rainbow, "Rainbow Dash. Hey, Rainbow."

Rainbow groaned, before opening her eyes, "Spike, you know I'm not a morning person."

"I know, but Twilight's up before us and usually she likes to do some morning cuddles." Spike explained.

Rainbow suddenly noticed she was in fact the only one in Spike's bed, "Whoa, this is a first. I mean how often do you not have Twilight in bed with you?"

"Not so often," Spike answered, "Oh, well. She's probably downstairs with the others. Let's get dressed and head down."

"You read my mind." Rainbow agreed, as they got out of bed and got themselves ready.

They went downstairs, and saw the dining area was empty, "Did they have breakfast without us?" Spike asked in confusion.

"I don't believe this!" Rainbow scowled.

Spike suddenly noticed a note left on the table, "Hey, look," he picked it up and read the contents, "Spike and Rainbow Dash, Sunset and I went to Canterlot to work with Starlight and Sunburst on magic. Applejack's gone back to Sweet Apple Acres to take care of some things, Pinkie's working at Sugarcube Corner, Fluttershy's filling in at the Animal Shelter, Rarity's working on some new gown orders, Vinyl's got a gig booked, and Lyra and Bonbon went out today. Sorry for not informing you sooner, it just sort of happened. We'll all be back later today, so stay out of trouble. Love always, Twilight."

"So it's just us, huh?" Rainbow asked.

"Looks that way. So what are we gonna do?" the dragon boy asked.

"Well, first thing for us to do is get ourselves some morning exercise. So how about we get a little morning training done?" she suggested.

"I rather prefer eating this early." Spike sighed.

"Don't worry, we'll have us a bite as soon as we get back." Rainbow promised.

"Well, then let's get in shape." Spike said, as the two locked fists.

Out in the city, Spike and Rainbow were getting some parkour exercise atop several buildings. The two started out doing it as an exercise, until Rainbow started picking up the pace. Spike seeing this thought to himself, 'So we're racing now, huh? Well, I ain't putting up with that.'

Spike started picking up the pace to keep up with Rainbow. When Rainbow looked back and saw Spike gaining on her, she called to him, "Sorry, Spike, but I got a reputation to uphold." she activated her element of harmony and assumed pegasus mode. She used her wings to take off like a shot.

Spike frowned, "Oh so this is a flying race now? Well, two can play at that game!" Spike assumed dragon form and flew after her.

The two flew around the city knowing they were moving so fast nobody would be able to make them out clearly. As Spike caught up with Rainbow Dash, he smirked to himself before flying right into Rainbow Dash tackling her on a roof top. Spike wrapped his arms around Rainbow as they rolled across the roof.

"No fair, Spike!" Rainbow laughed, as they rolled.

"Says the girl who used her element of harmony to get ahead!" Spike replied, as they stopped rolling with Spike pinning Rainbow to the ground.

Rainbow looked up at Spike with a blush on her face, "I got to be honest with you, Spike. This position has got me very horny."

Spike answered, "I feel that way myself."

Acting on impulse, the two began making out on the roof with Spike keeping Rainbow pinned to the ground. The two moaned and panted between kissing, while feeling each other up, "You know we really shouldn't be doing this up here." Rainbow reminded him.

"I know." Spike agreed, but continued to make out with Rainbow.

Suddenly Spike's cheeks puffed up, and he covered his mouth. Seeing this got Rainbow concerned, "Spike, you ok? You're not going to throw up are you? Because if you do, aim it away from me!"

Spike got off Rainbow Dash and belched up green fire to reveal a scroll that landed in his claws, "A message." he noted.

"Who's it from?" Rainbow asked, as she looked over his shoulder.

"It's from Daring Do." Spike answered in surprise.

"Daring Do?" Rainbow asked in disbelief.

Spike nodded, and began reading the message, "Spike, if you and possibly Rainbow Dash are free I could really use your help with a quest I am currently on. Should you both choose to accept it come to the Horse Luck Hotel in Manehattan asap. I'll be waiting for you both as my guise of A.K Yearling. Hope to see you soon. Daring Do."

"Whoa. Daring Do wants our help?" Rainbow asked in shock.

"Yeah. Though aside from me she asked for you to join me specifically." Spike noted.

"I guess she knows how awesome I am." Rainbow boasted.

"Or she knows you of all people would love the chance to join Daring Do on one of her adventures." Spike teased.

Rainbow blushed sheepishly, "Ok, there's that."

"Well, who're we to turn down a request from one of our friends?" Spike asked.

"Or one of your extended harem members you share with another?" Rainbow teased Spike.

"All right you got me there. So shall we go?" Spike asked.

"Lead on." Spike activated his magic to open a portal to Equestria in which they stepped through.

The two suddenly found themselves in Equestria and flying above the city of Manehattan, "So this is Manehattan?" Spike asked.

"Yeah. Equestria's version of Manhattan," Rainbow confirmed, "Cool, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I mean it really does feel like I'm in the Big Apple," Spike looked in the distance seeing a ponified Statue of Liberty, "With some differences."

"Come on, let's head to the hotel Daring Do wanted to meet us at." Rainbow said, as they flew off.

Soon they were at the Horse Luck Hotel, with Rainbow speaking to the concierge pony, "Look, just tell A. K. Yearling that Spike and Rainbow Dash are here, because she specifically asked us to meet her here."

"It really is important." Spike added, while the concierge just gave them a blank look.

The two felt they weren't getting anywhere until a voice spoke up, "Spike? Rainbow Dash?"

They two looked to the side seeing Daring Do, only instead of her explorer outfit was wearing a purple shawl, a gray cloche hat, and heavy red-framed spectacles. The two realizing she was in her author disguise had to address her by her other identity, "A.K, good to see you!" Rainbow greeted.

"We came as soon as we got your message." Spike told her.

"Good. Now come with me." she dragged the two away.

The two were brought into her own room, as A.K made sure the door was locked, and the window drapes were shut. She let out a sigh of relief before removing her disguise to reveal her explorer garb was underneath her shawl.

"So what's going on here?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah you look worried." Spike noted.

"Sorry about this, but I really need your help."

"With what exactly?" Rainbow wondered.

"In my latest run in with two of my arch enemies Dr. Caballeron and Ahuizotl, they had additional guards that didn't look like anything I've ever met before." the explorer pegasus explained.

"What did they look like?" Spike asked.

"They looked like lizard men with pig faces."

Spike and Rainbow envisioned what Daring just described, and gasped, "Tirek!" they answered together.

"Tirek?" Daring asked, "Isn't that the enemy you've all been dealing with as of late?"

"That's right." Rainbow confirmed.

"He's the one who was leading our past enemies since I became a dragon." Spike explained.

"Well, it looks like my enemies have formed a partnership with your enemy."

"But why?" Rainbow wondered.

"I think it has something to do with us," Spike believed, "Daring, when you last met your enemies, what were you doing?"

"I was on a search for this," Daring reached into a bag and pulled out a golden key shaped like a dragon's head, "The Dragon Key."

"Whoa." the two gasped.

"It opens a chamber in a temple. Inside the chamber is the Dragon's Hoard. Getting this away from both Caballeron, Ahuizotl, and their enforcers along with Tirek's wasn't easy even for me." Daring admitted.

"Perhaps this is their plan," Spike began, "Tirek offered those two the assistance of his own guards, knowing you would call in for back up."

"And Tirek wants Spike, me, and the others." Rainbow realized.

"So me bringing you here was what he wanted?" Daring asked feeling guilty, "Well, that's terrific. I put you two in danger now all because I can't handle it on my own."

"Don't think of it badly, Daring Do," Rainbow comforted her, "We're glad you did."

"You are?"

"Of course. I mean rather than try and stubbornly face a problem too much for you on your own you reached out to friends." Spike said.

"And we're always willing to lend our help to a friend." Rainbow added, as the two smiled at the explorer.

Daring smiled and embraced them, "Thanks you guys. So who's up for helping me find my next artifact?"

"We are!" they volunteered.

"Good. And if we succeed and I know we will..." Daring whispered to Spike, "My room at this place has a built in jacuzzi for all three of us."

Spike blushed and panted, "That'll be the best reward for this." Rainbow and Daring giggled.

"So when do we begin?" Rainbow asked her idol and favorite book character.

"Immediately," Daring pulled out a map, "The map to the temple of the Dragon's Hoard should be right in this jungle." she marked a spot on the map.

"Great. Though can we eat first?" Spike asked.

"Yeah. We sorta skipped out on breakfast." Rainbow explained sheepishly, while Daring rolled her eyes.

Meanwhile somewhere in a jungle at some ancient ruins were a bunch of jungle cats from tigers, jaguars, panthers, leopards, and cheetahs were lounging around. Inside the ruins was an earth pony stallion with stubble on his chin, Grayish chartreuse green eyes, a Gambogeish gray coat, and his mane and tail were Dark arctic bluish gray. He was wearing an archaeologists outfit, and around his neck was a medallion of a gold skull with a red jewel in one eye.

Next to the pony was a blue furred dog-headed monkey creature wearing golden jewelry, from a necklace, a single ear ring, and three bracelets, one for each foreleg, and one around his tail's wrist.

The two watched as Tirek's guards bowed to them. The pony turned to the blue furred creature, and spoke with a Spanish accent, "It is the best deal we've ever made, Ahuizotl. We help Tirek in eliminating his enemies."

Ahuizotl finished, "And in return we get to use his guards for our own purposes. With these soldiers on our side, Daring Do won't stand a chance." they laughed, until an astral Tirek appeared before them.

"Do not act so cocky right now, you two. The Dragon boy and his entourage are stronger than you think. My guards are merely a means to provide extra force. But you'll have to figure out how to get the drop on Daring Do and my enemies. Can I trust you with this task?"

"Not to worry, Lord Tirek," Caballeron began, "When the time comes we will have the Dragon King and his girls ready to be served to you."

"I'll hold you both to it." Tirek replied, as he vanished.

"If this works out, he may even let us use his guards for other things." Ahuizotl said, as one guard came over carrying a tray with two drinks on it. The two villains took a drink and clinked them together while laughing evilly together.