In her career, Daring Do had faced hydras, manticores, cannibals, assassins, bearers of powerful magical artifacts, and worse.

Right now, she was more concerned with dying of boredom.

"—and we would also like to welcome Ms. A.K. Yearling!" the voice from the podium declared and she smiled and nodded, accepting the applause of the crowd around her, subconsciously adjusting the single strap of her "fashionable" crimson dress. The name that the world knew her as, the veneer that she hid behind to give herself some privacy and safety from the constant dangers of her lifestyle. The face that she presented to the world from behind large glasses and a reclusive personality. Sometimes she thought that her author personage was more likely to kill her than her archaeologist career, simply by grinding away at her soul, wearing her down with public appearances and grand openings.

"Ms. Yearling, a frequent patron of the museum and its many charities, is here for research and inspiration for her next Daring Do novel." The speaker was a tall, thin unicorn stallion with a constant five o'clock shadow, pale blue coat, ivory white hair, and black eyes. His cutie mark was a stone tablet. This pony was Dr. Stone Scribe, the curator of the Trottingham History Museum, addressing the crowd gathered in the main lobby for the event.

To this pony's left was another tuxedo-clad pony, this one a snow white unicorn with muddy brown hair and blue eyes, with the cutie mark of a bone and a notebook. Dr. Dry Bones, head researcher, smiled politely and applauded his companion's hammy speech. But the mare to the right, an amber unicorn with dusty brown hair and green eyes with the cutie mark of a book and quill, did nothing to hide her impatience. Dr. Main Exhibit, director of the museum, glared at Dr. Scribe through her thick glasses, adjusting the strap of her purple dress uncomfortably.

As if sensing their discomfort, Dr. Scribe decided to wrap up his speech. "Once again, the Trottingham History Museum would like to thank you all for visiting and for your charity. Your donations keep this museum on the ground and spreading knowledge throughout Equestria." He paused for dramatic effect and to allow for another round of applause, raising himself up to his full, proud height, then spoke once more. "And now, friends, the moment you've all been waiting for. It is my pleasure to officially open our newest exhibit: Secrets of Neigh Zealand!"

The doors behind the makeshift stand opened wide, to the applause of the attending crowd of sponsors, who proceeded to melt into the exhibit hall for their privileged first look at the latest treasures brought back from exotic lands. The title banner over the doors displayed a mountainous region, adorned with lush green forestry, with a foamy white waterfall in the center. Superimposed upon the background beneath the proud lettering was a small, round bird, a kiwi, its tiny eyes giving the visitors a look of polite curiosity over its long, pointed beak.

They make it seem so romantic, Daring thought, glancing up at the banner as she passed beneath it. Only because they're not the ones who had to go through a booby-trapped temple in the middle of a volcano.

The temple-like hall was filled with the many recovered treasures of the museum's expedition, placed beneath tempered glass and bright lights like trophies. The visitors walked amongst the aisles, examining the contents and accompanying tags. Here, a collection of carved pendants made of greenstone; there, a set of mannequins performing a war dance, squatting on their hind legs and sticking their tongues out with fierce expressions upon their painted faces.

"Yes, the Maorein culture is quite unique," Dr. Bones said to the drifting pack of press following him through the hall. "They're very isolated, and not friendly to visitors, so it was important that we had to approach them in a friendly manner and ensure that we treated them and their culture with utmost respect. Once they understood we were there on a learning expedition, they were very receptive."

"How many of the Maorein are left?" one of the reporters asked, taking notes on his notepad with his magic. "You've stated in the past that their tribe has been exploited because of the rich resources of their land."

"Sadly, yes," Dr. Bones replied. "Our most optimistic estimates are that there are less than 300 Maorein left, and their numbers are falling from imported diseases and exploitation of their lands resources. Funds from this exhibit will be going towards charity programs to help them."

"And I understand that you recovered a very valuable treasure from your expedition?" another reporter asked eagerly.

"You understood correctly," Dr. Scribe said with a proud grin. He gestured to the case next to him, the glass display placed at head height and cast under a direct light. "Ladies and gentleponies, the piece that you came here to see...the Taverneigh Blue!"

At his words, there was a collective gasp of astonishment as every eye turned upon the contents of the case. Beneath the tempered glass lay a large blue diamond, cut into numerous facets, set in a silver casing with a long silver chain. It twinkled beneath the light like an eye winking up at its astonished viewers.

"The Taverneigh Blue is millions of years old," Dr. Exhibit said, settling into her area of comfort. "The Maorein recovered it from the southern end of the island over 600 years ago. The pony who first cut it is unknown, but it is believed to have been made a gift to the island's queen. The diamond weighs 44 carats, making it one of the largest and most valuable diamonds in the world."

"How valuable is it?" the reporter asked, scribbling away at his notepad while his camerapony snapped picture after picture.

"At a guess," Dr. Scribe said with a grin, "At least 200 million bits. That's just enough to cover the cost of this expedition!" The joke brought a round of laughter from the attending reporters.

"Isn't there a curse upon the diamond?" another reporter asked.

"Isn't there always?" Dr. Exhibit sighed, shaking her head. "According to the Maorein legends, the diamond brings misfortune and death wherever it goes. That's why they hid it away: so that nopony else would be affected by the curse."

"Maybe we should ask Ms. Yearling what she thinks!" one of the attendees declared loudly. Instantly, the entire crowd of reporters turned eagerly towards the author. The flash of cameras momentarily blinded her, giving the crowd the opportunity they needed to close in like a pack of timberwolves.

"Ms. Yearling, will you be basing your next novel off of this exhibit?" the first reporter spoke, shoving his face directly into hers.

"Yes," she replied. "The next Daring Do novel will be featuring her hunting for the Taverneigh Blue in Neigh Zealand. It's my hope that this next book will bring attention to and inspire curiosity about the Maorein culture."

Internally, she rolled her eyes at her own speech. It had taken her a long time to learn the language required by her author personage, to kiss up and play the socially-minded writer, to say the things that the reporters wanted to hear while she faked a grin for the cameras. Was writing a book really that big a deal?

"What about the curse?" another reporter asked with a small smirk. "Will Daring Do have to deal with the Curse of the Taverneigh Blue?"

A.K. Yearling, author of fiction, and her fans could afford to be cavalier, but Daring Do had dealt with more than her fair share of cursed artifacts. You could never be sure if the warning legends they were real or just an attempt by the locals to keep their precious stones safe from beyond the grave.

"You'll just have to wait and read for yourself," A.K. said with a smile. In an attempt to avoid further conversation, she headed for the buffet table, settling into line at the punch bowl. To her relief, the reporters moved away, returning their attention to the diamond and Dr. Exhibit's lecturing.

But then she noticed a familiar face out of the corner of her eye. The figure looked unfamiliar in a black suit and tie, but she could have recognized him in anything, even if he hadn't committed the major fashion faux pas of wearing a hat indoors. A gray trilby, to be precise.

The other pony looked directly at her, then nodded and turned, leaving the room without a word. Daring glanced around to make sure that nopony was watching, then turned and followed him out, leaving the exhibit hall behind, their exit fortunately unnoticed. The pair onto the stone, temple-like steps of the museum's front. The brisk night air outside the museum embraced her as she left, and she breathed in the quiet with relief.

The pony in the gray trilby turned and faced her, standing in the shadow of one of the stone columns. "So how was Neigh Zealand?"

"Hot and muggy," Daring replied. "I got washed down a stream of rapids and fell off a waterfall. I had to go through a temple in an active volcano filled with traps. And the whole time, I had Ahuizotl and Doctor Caballeron breathing down my neck."

The stallion grinned. "Sounds like fun."

"It was awesome," Daring smiled.

The other pony approached, revealing his face. "It's good to see you, Daring," Phillip Finder said softly.

"You too," Daring replied, and meant it. The two walked around to the side of the museum, which housed a small empty park, a fenced-in patch of sweet-smelling grass and bamboo with a lit fountain in the center. They sat down on one of the benches on the far side of the park, in a path of darkness that the light from the moon and stars above did not quite pierce.

"I read your last book," Phillip said. "'Daring Do and the Cave of Mysteries: based on the discovery of the Cave of Leonardo da Whinny.'"

"Did you like it?"

Phillip let out a short, grunt-like laugh. "Yeah. I particularly enjoyed Brumby Cloverpatch. Ex-mercenary and royal pain in the arse, accompanied by his young pegasus protege and his marefriend."

"Yeah, I like him, too," Daring said with a chuckle. The two were silent for a moment longer, looking up at the clear night sky above them and listening to the chirping of the crickets frolicking among the grass.

"So what are you doing here?" Daring asked, finally confronting him for his presence. "You have a case or something that you need my help with?"

Phillip frowned a little, looking down at his hooves. "No," he spoke slowly, as though carefully picking his words out of the sky. "I just...I heard that A.K. Yearling was going to be attending the opening and...I wanted to see you again."

Daring paused, considering the other pony before her. The Phillip Finder that she used to know would never have said something like that. He would never have spoken in a tone that soft tone, quivering with uncertainty, unable to meet her gaze. And she should not find herself struck silent by simple words, and why did her face suddenly feel hot?

"Yeah, I...I wanted to see you again, too," she admitted. "I always meant to write, but I...just kept getting busy," she admitted.

"Yeah, me, too," Phillip replied, then took in a breath. "Well, now that we're both here, did you have any plans for tonight?"

Daring pursed her lips. "Well, I was thinking about just grabbing something to eat and crashing at a hotel for the night...but since you're here..." She leaned in close, her eyes lidded and a smirk playing about her lips as she removed her glasses to reveal the rosiness of her eyes, and whispered softly. "You, me and page 184 of the Llama Sutra."

"Doesn't that one involve tying me to the bed?" Phillip replied with a grin.

"You know me," Daring smirked, and leaned forward. Complying to the unspoken command, Phillip leaned forward as well and kissed her on the lips. She pressed up against him, as if trying to get as close to him as possible, remembering why she had missed him so much since that last night they had spent together.

"But how about dinner first?" Phil asked when they separated. "I know a great Ponytailian restaurant on that makes a great spinach lasagna."

"You're buying," Daring said.

"Why me?" Phil protested.

"Because you're the stallion."

Phillip opened his mouth, but he knew from experience that arguing with Daring Do was an exercise in futility. "Fine," he conceded. A victorious smirk crossed Daring's face, and she leaned up again to claim her tribute. He complied, and kissed her once more. His heart beat faster in his chest at the touch of her lips against his, and he was acutely aware of how warm and soft she was, and the scent of her mane...like a beach at sunset...

Suddenly, every muscle locked up and his head turned, looking towards the stone building behind them. A chill ran up and down his spine, and he shivered in spite of the relative warmth of the night.

"What is it?" Daring asked in concern, recognizing the crime sense warning for what it was.

At that moment, there was a piercing scream from inside the museum. Immediately, both ponies leapt off the bench and sprinted back into the museum, hurrying into the exhibit hall. As soon as they entered the room, they skidded to a halt, staring in horror.

Dozens of ponies were slowly dropping to the floor, clutching at their throats and gasping as the color faded from their eyes. Glasses and plates of hors d'oeuvres clattered to the floor, followed by their choking consumers. Several onlookers ran helplessly from victim to victim, shouting in panic and confusion. One of the reporters from earlier staggered towards the two ponies, foam spewing from his gaping mouth as he desperately struggled for air.

"Somepony call an ambulance!" Dr. Exhibit shouted, trying desperately to help a choking security guard, but her cry went unheard and unheeded amongst the panicked cries of the crowd.

The reporter stumbled and fell towards the pair. Daring caught him and lowered him to the ground, facing up. "Help me with him," she said to Phillip, desperately trying to wipe the foam out of his mouth so that he could breathe. The convulsing hooves desperately seized her like a drowning sailor grabs a lifeline. The victim's bulging eyes, shining in panic, locked onto hers.

"Just calm down," she shouted to him, as if she were trying to pull him out from the bottom of a well, continuing to try to clear the foam from his throat. "You're going to be all right."

But as soon as she said those words, the other pony's body gave a great shudder and a gurgling arose from deep within it's throat. The panicked eyes dimmed, and rolled back into his skull. His body became still, sinking into the ground. Daring stared at him for a moment, then grabbed his shoulders and shook him roughly. "Hey! Hey! Wake up!"

Slowly, Phillip placed his hoof on her shoulder and slowly shook his head, staring down at the victim's blank face, staring up at the sky. Reluctantly, she let him go.

One by one, the other victims collapsed to the ground, their final gasps and gurgles leaving their bodies. The panicked cries of the witnesses died away into helpless silence, everpony standing still in disbelief. More than a dozen ponies lay dead amongst Neigh Zealand's exhibits. The Taverneigh Blue stood centerpiece, glowing beneath the lamplight as it held dominion over all.

Author's Notes:

Let's try this again. After resetting the storyline, I'm ready for another go at this Daring/Phillip story. I think I've gotten a better plotline and planned the story out better.

Hopefully you'll all enjoy!