I stood in the library as music played in the background. Drinks and food sat on a nearby table and streamers hung from bookshelves and other high spots. Silently, I sipped my punch as the girls stood around and talked or played games. Serenity was blindfolded while she held a tail with a pin on it, on the wall in front of her sat a picture of Celestia.

Pinkie was attempting to get Drax to do something other than stand around and do nothing. I had a feeling she was going to strike a nerve here in a minute. Fluttershy and Rarity were talking about fashion, while Applejack, Spike and Twilight stood around Serenity. All of them laughing at how she put the tail right on Celestia’s chin. Giving an amusing huff at the new beard, I sipped my drink. Cherry… haven’t had that in a long time.

I’m okay with this.

A ‘National Random Holiday Party Day’? Why the hell not. We all needed to unwind. Some more than others. As I watched everyone, the door to the library shot open as Dash walked inside mumbling something about ‘four more months’. Turning her head, I was the first one she saw.

“Excalibur! Are you excited!?” she asked enthusiastically while also sporting the biggest and happiest grin I have ever seen on the cyan colored mare.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Dash,” I replied honestly while taking another sip of my drink.

“The newest Daring Do book comes out in four more months!” she practically screamed into my face.

Everyone must have heard us, because I turned my head to look at them. They looked back at my curiously.

“Who the hell is Daring Do?”

That was a poor question to ask. Rainbow dropped to the floor in disbelief with a dropped jaw. It was almost the kind of reaction that you just learned you have cancer or your parents just died. Using her magic, Twilight levitated a nearby book off a shelf and offered it to me. Grabbing it from the purple colored aura, I looked at the title.

“Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone?” On the cover was a khaki colored mare with a green coat. She had a similar mane style to Rainbows, grey and black hair, magenta eyes and a wide brimmed hat. She was climbing a rope with crocodiles underneath her.

“It’s a good read and full of adventure!” Twilight exclaimed happily while giving me a massive smile. Didn’t need to think that she wanted me to read it.

“I could probably put this mare out of a job if I told my life story,” I replied. Flipping it over to read the back. “A. K. Yearling, renown author is known for her various adventure books. Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone portrays a young adventurer whose sole goal is to retrieve the lost artifacts of the past and make sure they are put into a museum for all to see. Follow Daring as she faces traps, dangerous animals, and the ever cunning, Ahuizotl. The series has captivated audiences for years and is an instant classic for new readers…” I looked up and huffed. “Sad to say that I could put her to shame.”

Dash gasped loudly. “… You take that back!”

I pushed the mare away from me. “Dash. Dangerous animals, traps, and her ever cunning enemy? There are animals on my planet that have adapted to kill you by touching you. The Grineer are constantly working on ever new ways to capture and torture us. And finally… well… the Grineer grunts are too stupid to do anything, but the Queens and Council members always try to stay one step ahead… you want ‘dangerous’? Run in my shoes for a day and tell me you felt safe?”

Dash took a breath and held up a hoof before realization struck her. She lowered her hoof slowly. “Good point…”

“But didn’t you hear, Dash?” Twilight asked her, grabbing her attention away from me. “The next book has been postponed for another three months.”

Dash damn near fainted when she heard that.

“WHAT!?” she screamed out of… I guess terror? “Why!?”

“No pony knows,” Twilight replied honestly. “A.K. Yearling’s publisher just said that the next was postponed for another two months...”

I don’t even know how I got sucker into joining Dash and the girls in the search of helping A.K. Yearling into finishing her latest book just so Dash could read it. With the help of the straps I had made several weeks prior, the ten of us landed in a forest that was presumed to be the rough area of which the author lived.

Walking along, Dash kept going on and on about how Yearling needed help while Twilight went with the rational argument of that she didn’t want to be bothered. Authors need time, and for obvious reason. Miss Yearling probably hit a dead end and had writers block. Walking along the path Dash said she noticed something. As we approached we could see a simple two story house in a clearing. But something was off. From the outside, windows and doors were open and broken. Coming to a stop we all feared the worse. I drew my pistol While Drax grabbed his rifle and Serenity her shotgun.

“Wait here!” I ordered the girls while pointing at the ground with my left hand.

As we approached the home the biggest question that came to me was why someone took the time to take the couch out the front door and not through the window? Walking up to the broken in door I pushed it inward. Only to have it break free of the hinges and crash on the floor.

Stepping inside, I motioned toward the stairs. Following the order, Serenity headed up them. I then pointed toward another room while Drax took the lead and disappeared around the corner.

“Clear!”

“Clear!”

“Clear,” I finished while holstering my pistol.

Whoever did this was either after something or wanted Miss Yearling. Meeting up in the living room, we examined the area. There were no apparent signs of struggle between bodies or bloodshed. Furniture was overturned and throw haphazardly around, indicating a search, obviously. I know a fingerprint scan wouldn’t work for two reasons. One; I have no background data, and two; hooves are not as unique as fingerprints. After making sure the area was safe we had the girls come and join us.

“What happened?” Twilight asked, clearly worried while looking around the room.

“Whoever broke in was obviously looking for something,” I deduced while looking around the ruined home. Besides the stack of what appeared to be a massive pile of crumpled paper, there was an overturned couch, a smashed book case with its contents spread at its base.

“What of A. K. Yearling?”

Dash popped out of stack of books and papers. “I know! There could be no more books!” she screamed in a panicked tone while shuffling through a stack of papers. As if it were scripted, all of us gave her a ‘you cannot be serious’ glare. She looked at us sheepishly while her ears went flat and she averted her gaze.

I sighed. “Dash, I think that the fact that Miss Yearling is missing and the place is totaled is more of a concern.”

A dot on my HUD caught my attention. Seconds after a voice spoke.

“What did you do to my house!?”

Naturally I drew my pistol with my two teammates while everyone else just looked. In the doorway stood a khaki colored mare. She had the same color eyes as Dash. She wore a maroon colored cape, a large pair of red glasses and a grey hat. Pretty easy to assume by the fact that she said 'my house' that this was A. K. Yearling.

“Miss Yearling?” I asked while holstering my pistol.

“Yes?” she replied. “Who, or better yet, what are you?” she asked while turning her head and raising an eyebrow.

“I’m Excalibur Prime, the human that’s well… stranded here,” I replied honestly with a light shrug of my shoulders. “We came to ask you something before we found, well… this,” I said while gesturing toward the destroyed home.

Walking inside she headed over to a nearby desk while Dash had her little fan girl moment. As the mare searched the desk, Dash picked up a two key… yes… two key! Typewriter. And pushed it toward the mare. Annoyed, Yearling rolled her eyes before her attention moved toward a book Dash had a hoof on. She smiled happily before reaching down and pulling it free, sending the blue pegasus flying backwards and crashing into a separate pile of books. Placing it in front of herself, she messed with the rings on the binding before I heard a lock click free and opened the book.

‘Clever’

Reaching in, she pulled a massive golden ring free while saying ‘It’s safe’ before she slipped it under her cloak. Her attention soon moved to the rest of us. Glaring, she narrowed her eyes. “Get out…”

“Miss Yearling,” I started. “It’s obvious that-”

“I said ‘get out’!”

Tense silence filled the air before I spoke.

“Everyone… door!”

Listening, the mares slowly filed out of the house before the two humans and I followed. Walking away, Twilight berated Dash a little for not only bothering the author but also wasting every one’s time. Twilight was right, there was no need to do this when all she had to do was wait. Removing my helmet, I rubbed my forehead before turning my head and rubbing the back of my neck. My attention was grabbed as I watched three stallions open the second story window and jump through it.

“Lock and load,” I ordered while slipping my helmet over my head.

Heading for the door I could hear struggling from inside the building. Just before we reached the door I could also hear someone talking. It also sounded like the struggling had mostly stopped while a female-esk

“Poor Daring Do,” a male voice said from inside the house..

All three of us came to a sliding halt just before the door. Confessed, I looked back and forth at my team while they did the same to each other and myself. My attention quickly shifted back to the house.

‘Daring Do?’

Peering inside, I could see a dark brown stallion standing in front of what looked like the character from the book Twilight showed me. His mane with slicked back and he had a gold skull for a cutie mark. He spun that golden ring form earlier on a hoof before slipping it over his neck. Three more stallions stood on each side of the khaki mare in front of the mysterious stallion.

“Once again you stole what is rightfully mine!” he accused angrily. “Oh well… at least I have the ring.”

“Caballeron you fool!” she yelled while taking a step before wincing and lifting her front right leg. “It belongs in a museum!”

“Bah!” he scoffed. “I intend to sell it for a hefty profit!”

“And what if Ahuizotl gets ahold of it!?” she replied with a yell. “He will plunge the land into eight hundred years of unrelenting heat!”

“Not my problem,” the stallion replied with a wave of his hoof while looking to the side. “All that matters is- AK!”

“Drop the mare or his head leave his shoulders!”

Holding the ring against the stallion's neck I pressed my pistol to the back of his head while my teammates stood at my sides, guns at the ready. The three stallions gasped in shock before growling. The mare just stood there shocked.

“What are you fools doing!?” the stallion screamed. “Attack!" Dropping the mare, the stallions took a step.

BANG!

The stallion at my feet winced and opened his eyes as his hearing rung in his ears. Pressing my pistol against his head I told them to back off. Unmoving they waited for their leader to speak. With his windpipe being crushed I growled. I was going to have none of this shit!

“Drax… Serenity.”

Holstering their weapons, Drax fell onto all fours while Serenity leaned back and crossed her arms. At the same time both screamed and roared at the stallions. All three stallions leaned back and held a hoof to their chest in fear.

“Either leave or face the dragon,” I simply offered. “Your choice.”

They ran.

They turned tail and ran out the back door. Pulling on the ring the stallion gagged and wrapped his hooves around the ring. “As for you…” I leaned in close to his ear. “If I ever catch you stealing artifacts again… I will personally cut your windpipe out and show it to you before you die.”

Ripping the ring off his neck I gave him a kick in the ass, causing him to fall flat on his face. Forcing himself to his feet he looked at the injured mare on the floor. With a growl he said. “Beware, Daring, I will have my-” my boot becoming best friends with his jaw cut off his monologue.

Grabbing him by the back of the neck I lifted him up to face my helmet. “I said get!” I yelled into his face before leaning back and throwing him at Drax. Catching the stallion, the dragon held him with both hands before taking a deep breath and roaring into the stallion’s face. Turning toward the door he lifted the stallion over his head with one hand and threw him like a javelin out of the house.

Turning back, I handed the ring to Serenity before stepping up to the mare. Taking a knee, I helped her to her hooves. With a glare, she pushed me aside and took a step. Only to have her leg give out on her and forcing her to the ground with a yelp and a heavy thud.

“You’re hurt.”

The mare growled before sitting up and attempting to walk again. “I’m fine-AH!” she yelped while taking a step again, her leg buckled, causing her to fall flat on her face… again. Helping her to a sitting position I held up a hand. Giving her a diagnostic scan, the light scaring her slightly, I opened my palm to a holographic pony. The feed quickly moved to her right foreleg. The holographic appendage glowed bright red.

“It’s not broken,” I assessed before closing the feed. “But the sprain with inhibit your ability to move.” I turned toward Drax. “Grab me a couple of planks and something to tie them with.”

Nodding he started to search the room.

“DARING DO!?”

Facing the door, Dash stood in it with a scared expression on her face. Rushing inside she started to examine the mare while asking various questions revolving from the new book to her health. Rolling her eyes, she groaned before ‘face palming’. Looking up, Daring gave me that ’you know her?’ look.

I nodded slightly.

The mare sighed. Behind me I could hear the girls walk inside just as Drax returned with the materials. Taking them I gently lifted the mare's leg. Wincing, she sat quietly while I worked. After a few minutes the splint was set.

“Good?” I asked while leaning back.

Daring lifted her leg and examined the splint for a second before lowering her leg and looking at me. “Yeah.” Standing up she limped toward Serenity. “But I work alone!” she said while swiping at the ring, only to miss as the frame lifted it up just out of reach.

“But we don’t,” I replied while walking up next to the mare and looking down at her. “If we hadn’t of come, your friend would have this little artifact here and could have done various other things to you.”

“I had control of the situation!” the mare shot back while turning to face me, angrily.

“By withering on the floor while your adversary monologued?” I replied while raising a brow under my helmet and placing my hands on my hips. “I generally take the time to kill the guy and end everything.”

“And what would you know about enemies monologuing?” she shot back with a head turn and a raised brow.

“We’re a highly advanced race of super humans from another world,” Serenity replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “With all of us being several hundred years old and fighting a war against two sides that prefer to monologue? I think we of all people would know.”

The mare just sat there with a slack jaw and a dumb expression. Over the course of several seconds she slowly she closed her mouth before taking on a more serious expression.

“Whatever,” she said with a huff. “Can I have my property back now?”

“Sure.” Taking the ring from Serenity I offered it to the mare. As she slowly reached for it she made a quick swipe, but missed when I lifted out of her reach. She growled again. “But maybe you should tell me what you intend to do with it?”

The mare groaned and mumbled something under her breath before setting her attention back on me. “The ring is part of set,” she explained. “I took this one and scattered the rest to prevent Ahuizotl from releasing eight hundred years of unrelenting heat on the valley.”

Confused, I glanced over at Serenity, who wore the same look of confusion before I turned my head back toward Twilight and the girls. Confused themselves, Twilight held up a hoof and shook her head. “Okay then…” I started with a confused tone before turning my head back toward the mare. She seemed to sense what I was going to ask next.

“I’m holding it to prevent that from happening,” she answered. “Can I please go now?”

I couldn’t sense any form of a lie in her tone or her eyes. Shrugging lightly, I lowered the ring. Tacking the opportunity, she smiled at her fortune and swiped the ring. Tucking it under her wing, her expression changed to a more serious or irate one. Taking the hint, we made our leave. Behind us, the girls gathered into a group as the three of us kept walking. Pretty soon, the sound of their arguing faded as we disappeared into the jungle.

The sounds of our boots were the only noise as we walked along getting lost in our own thoughts. The occasional bird would flush or some animal would screech.

“She’s probably going to go and get herself captured,” Serenity started.

I took a deep breath and let out a long drawn out sigh. ”Probably…”

“I saw temple due north of ‘ere,” Drax added.

“That's probably where she's headed,” I surmised.

Once again our foot steps filled the air as we continued forward.

“We should go save her,” Serenity offered.

“Yep.”

With that, we drew our weapons and headed for the temple.

Hard to believe that little Miss Do and Drax were correct. The place was riddled with what appeared to be a native tribe of ponies similar to the Mayan Empire, if my ancient history of civilizations was correct. They wore war paint on their faces and carried simplistic wood and stone head spears. Walking by was a cat like creature that held the ring with what appeared to be a hand-like tail. Weird. It defiantly looked like the one I returned earlier that day.

Watching the war tribe round the corner, I let my cloak fade before stepping out. With everything clear, I gestured to everyone else that it was safe with a wave. From behind me, two Tenno stepped out as their cloaks faded while six pairs of eyes opened on six different statues. Shaking their bodies, the statues turned into dust as the colorful coats if the girls appeared.

“Serenity, Drax,” I spoke over my shoulder. “Take the girls and follow our feline friend and see what he is up to. I’m going after Daring.” Time to find a certain khaki mare. The group quickly, and quietly, ran past me and followed the feline like creature. Turning, I headed for the little dot opposite of where everyone else went. I made it a foot before I felt another presence.

Turning my head, I waited a second before turning around fully. Right in front of me sat a light blue pegasus with a prismatic mane. She wore a worried look on her face. “What are you doing, Dash?”

The mare in question bit her lip and averted her gaze to the left. Crossing my arms, I waited. After a few seconds she sighed and closed her eyes. “I want to help.” She opened them and looked me square in the eye. As I gazed down at her, I could see the pain and what appeared to almost be guilt? “Please?”

I just looked down on her as she stood her ground, a look of seriousness on the rather usually cocky mares face. “Stay close and watch for traps,” I relented while turning back around. The mares expression quickly changed to a massive smile. “Time to put that training to good use, Private.”

“Yes sir!” she whisper-yelled while giving a hearty salute. The only reason I agreed was so she didn’t get lost and get her head sawed off. With her on my six, we scurried our way through the temple as fast as we could. After avoiding the occasional death trap, with, admittedly, a poison dart I had to pull out of my ass, we stumbled upon a pit. Evidently, it was doing a lot of grunting.

Stopping at the ledge, I peeked over. Down below was a massive pit quickly filling with water with the occasional pirana, or something similar, jumping out of the water. Hanging from the right wall with a single hoof hanging from the metal strap and three blocks strapped to her other three…

Was Daring Do.

She started to sweat as her last hoof started to pull the block free. Her ears fell back as she bit her lip in panic. The block jerked once causing the mare’s face to take on a more panicked surprise.

“Grab ‘er, Dash,” I ordered before the mare slipped free and into the water. Just after I gave the order and before Dash took off, the block slipped free of its hole. She dropped rapidly as the stone blocks pulled her down. She frantically flapped her wings in an attempt to stay alive. By now Dash had taken off.

Wrapping her forelegs under the other mares, she grunted and moaned at the extra weight but still gave out a confirming ‘Gotcha!’ at the grab. Struggling with the weight, she did her best to lift the now surprised mare. “Ugh! You can flap too, yah know!” she groaned out.

Listening, the khaki colored mare did her best to help her helper by flapping her own wings. As soon as they made it to the other side safely, I jumped across the opening. Landing, Daring laid on her belly with her legs tucked under herself. Kneeling down, I channeled my energy into my right fist while Daring stood as best as she could. She glared at the side of my head as I smashed the first block.

“I was just about to save myself, yah know!” Daring said in a frustrating and angry tone.

“Bull. Fucking. Shit,” I said slowly while smashing the second block. The mares glare didn’t falter. “You were going to sink and we all know it.” I smashed a third block.

“I can handle myself!” the mare shot back, even more enraged. At this point, she was going to start radiating heat waves if she got any angrier.

I leaned back so I could look her in the eye. “Are you going to keep lying to yourself like this?” I asked before going to the fourth block. “I can start listing the signs if you’d like?” I smashed the final block. Freed, the adventurous mare flexed her now free legs.

“Besides,” Dash cut in. “I thought you might need this,” she said while sliding over the mares bucket cap. Where was she hiding that thing anyway? Up her ass? Never mind, Daring’s mouthed dropped as she looked at her cap. That shock quickly turned into a scowl as she grabbed her cap with a hoof.

“Did I mention that I work alone?” Daring said harshly while placing her cap back on her head.

“And did I forget to mention I don’t?” Dash countered while sliding over and placing her side against the other mares for a brief second and smiling.

She had her there.

“Or me,” I added while standing up and grabbing my rifle. The khaki mare let out an annoyed sigh while momentarily looking up at the ceiling before glancing back at Dash and putting on a forced smile. “Come on,” I said, grabbing both mares attention. “Everyone else is waiting for us.”

Looking around the corner, I saw everyone running around playing keepaway with that golden ring. Distracted, now was our chance to move. Underneath me, both mares stuck their heads out. All three of us looked to the left at what appeared to be a monolith covered in more of those wrings, all of them varying in size.

“Come on,” I whispered. Both mares followed as we slipped by through all the chaos. Coming to a stop behind it undetected, Daring examined it for a second while holding up a hoof to her chin.

“We have to remove the rings and break the spell,” Daring explained while lowering her hoof and looking at Dash. “Here, help me move these!”

“I have a better and faster idea,” I said, stopping the mare. Holstering my rifle I stepped up to the monolith while grabbing a few explosive devices. I quickly planted them all along its height. Satisfied, I turned back to the mares. “I’d get away from this.”

“What is he-” Daring started while turning to Dash. The blue mare cut her off by nodding at me and grabbing Daring, surprising the khaki mare. Once they were a safe distance away I made my move.

“Hey! Hey Hey! Woah!” I yelled while stepping out from behind the structure and further into the main room, holding my hands up. Slowly but surely, everyone in the room turned to look at me. Confused, they all gave me a questioning look. “That is the stupidest place to put a piano!” I said with a head roll and pointing my right hand in a random direction.

Falling for it, everyone looked… idiots.

“Boom boom,” I said silently. With a light tap of my thumb, a series of micro-explosions crawled up the stone structure. Chunks of stone exploded in all directions as everyone dropped to the floor, surprised and terrified at the noise and debris. The girls smiled victoriously as the native looking ponies looked on in horror. I just smirked and lowered my arms.

The smirk faded as the temple shook violently as the sound of stone cracking and falling filled the air. A large slab of stone dropped to the floor behind me, causing me to involuntarily take a step and duck. More of the ceiling and many support columns started to drop, threatening to crush us at any minute. All of the girls and the rest of my tenno team joined up next to me while the natives ran for their lives.

“Time to Indiana Jones the shit out of this bitch!” I yelled over the chaos. The heavy sound of engines filled the air as our archwings descended from the heavens. They flew through the now larger opening in the roof and connected to our backs. Post-haste, I reached down and wrapped an arm under Fluttershy, and Rarity, who happened to be closest to me. Both gave out a surprised yelp as they were lifted into the air. “Horns, hooves, flanks, and tits stay inside the ride at all times!”

I shot off into the air with the two screaming mares while Serenity grabbed Twilight and Pinkie and Drax grabbed Applejack, all four of them screaming too. Daring and Dash moved at their own accord. Climbing high and fast, I made my escape as my teammates with their packages made their escape, just in time too, as the temple imploded on itself, sending a loud rush of air and dust into the air.

I turned and watched as the last of the standing monument crashed onto the ground below. Turning back toward my two hovering teammates, I nodded at them. Following my lead, we headed back toward A.K. Yearlings.

Landing down on the soft grass I placed the girls down while my wing closed. Smiling, Serenity, Drax and I promptly and proudly high fived each other. Dash and Daring bumped hooves while the rest of the girls sighed and smiled at each other wearily.

“Thanks,” Daring spoke, grabbing our attention. Turning, I gave hr my full attention. “Maybe… help every once and awhile isn't a bad idea.” she turned to look at me. My smirk was hidden from her but she knew and frowned. “Alright, I lied to myself… happy?” I just shrugged my shoulders at her. She sighed however and looked down at the ground. “I don’t know how I am going to finish my latest book though…”

“Just say that Dash helped remove the rings or something,” suggested with yet another shrug. “Or make me and Serenity ponies and Drax a dragon? I don’t know, just an option.”

The mare held a hoof to her chin and hummed while looking at the ground in thought. “Not a bad idea,” she said mostly to herself while putting her hoof back down and looking up at me. “I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks everypony.”

All of us nodded at her. She gave us a wave before turning and heading back into her home. Turning around, I looked at the girls. I furrowed my brow in confusion. Both Rarity and Fluttershy were blushing, the latter more than the former. “Whats up with you two?”

“I-I… uhm…” Fluttershy started quietly and unsure. She was clearly embarrassed about something. I couldn’t place it. Rarity coughed into her hoof.

“Uhm, well…” she started before lowering said hoof and looking back up at me. “Back at the temple you said, well… how do I put this?” She paused and gave me a serious but somewhat stern look. “One does not like the terms ‘flank’ and ‘tits’ being used so loosely. Especially with this many ladies on one's presence!”

I was confused. “Seriously?” Rarity nodded. I just scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Jeez, picky, picky, picky,” I said mostly to myself. “Its nothing I haven't seen before!” I rebutted. “You all walk around naked and I can't even see your tits unless you stand up on your back legs!” I watched, slightly amused, as all of their faces slowly flushed as they gave me a look of utmost horror. I rolled my eyes yet again. “Hey, Serenity? Take off your armor. I want to make a point…”

Author's Notes:

I wanted to do a Christmas chapter where Excalibur saved Santa, but that idea never really came to fruition... because, well... it sucked. So you'll have to deal with this instead!