Somewhere, far from the light of the day and the other Ponies, a group of voices conferred in secret. They surrounded a small table on which the map Quicksilver had stolen rested.

"So this is it huh?" One of the voices asked as it inspected the ancient map, a single ray of light providing vision.

"Yes." The mysterious cloaked figure nodded, or at least they thought it nodded. All the other voices could make out was two glowing eyes and two rows of sharp teeth that gleamed in the sparse light. "This map will lead us to the item of Equestria's destruction." It grinned, somehow showing even more teeth.

"And to revenge against the Princesses!" Another one of the voices laughed wickedly. Soon The entire group joined in the laughter, their voices bouncing off the walls of the small room, creating horrible echos.

"Soon, the whole world will tremble at my mercy!"

"But...but why?"

The group stopped laughing and all eyes turned to the Pony that spoke; another unicorn, a young male with wheat colored fur and a black mane that had a white streak through it. A cutiemark shaped like a blazing star on his side. A dead silence filled the room.

"Excuse me?" The figure asked in confusion, eying the Pony in the darkness.

"I...I don't think...we should...do...this." The unicorn that had refused continued, as it spoke the Pony stuttered and started to shake, as if fighting against a force that was trying to prevent it from saying what it was.

"Should...we really take revenge...against the Princesses? T-they didn't...do anything to us."

The other Ponies silently looked at one another and then to the cloaked figure who sighed.

"I really must commend you, Comet." The cloaked unicorn shook its head admirably. "Your mental prowess and magic skill are remarkable." The unicorn stepped towards the unicorn called Comet, the unicorn's horn beginning to glow underneath the heavy shrouds it wore, eerie golden glow the horn emitted sending shivers up Comet's spine.

"But you really must stop fighting my control spells."

Comet clutched his head in pain, feeling as though it will split in two.

The figure let lose a bout of mad laughter that seemed to shake the room. "If you persist like this, I may have to take drastic actions to keep you behaving."

Comet attempted to shake off the pain in his head and escape from the figure but only got a few steps before falling to the ground, looking down he found magic shackles formed around his legs preventing him from moving.

He looked up, the figure was standing over him, its horn illuminating the room with a golden glow allowing Comet to see the figures face.

All of the color drained from his own.

The figure grinned wickedly at this. He slowly brought his horn down to the other unicorn's head.

"Go ahead and scream, make it your last action with a free will."

He screamed, the other Ponies watching silently from the sidelines.

***

The group was now above the savannahs of the Marengeti; homeland of the Zebra's and related species. Poppy rode in a royal chariot pulled by two guards that was sent for the group, she clung to the railing in a death grip.

"Are you sure we can't just fly a little lower?" She squeaked, gripping the railing tighter as she looked down.

Daring Do dived and somersaulted wildly through the clouds around them. She had missed doing this sort of thing back when she had injured her wing. "What's the point in flying if you fly low to the ground?"

The Earth Pony glanced at the Pegasus. "Well sorry but some of us don't have wings to keep us up if we fall."

"Don't worry, Poppy. We're almost there."

Daring's father, Bravado Do, fluttered next to the chariot and comforted the Earth Pony. He was an older Pegasus though just as capable as his daughter. He wore the same type of vest his daughter did expect that it was very worn from time and dangerous missions. His fur matched the color of Daring's but his hair was a bright blue, although it was filled with gray strands either from age or stress.

Poppy had always thought that he was just like Daring but a bit more cautious.

"Dad!" Daring flew to the other side of the chariot and grabbed on. "I can't believe that you let us come along on this mission!"

"Well it wasn't like I could have said no." He replied dryly, the hint of a smile on his face. "You had the guard in a choke hold until he allowed it."

Daring could feel the guard in question glaring at her while pulling the chariot but she shrugged it off.

"I actually don't know what's going on." Poppy peered over the side of the chariot to get a good look at the ground, which she instantly regretted as there was a lot of space between them and the ground. She gripped the railing tightly again. "I was kind of knocked out when Daring threw me through the doors." She too shot a glare at the Pegasus who grew uneasy under the stare.

Bravado chuckled at the two squabbling friends. "Right now we are over the Marengeti heading towards a small village to the south." He pointed in said direction and the two could just make out a large collection of dots in the distance. "Something was stolen from one of the villages around here."

"So?" Poppy asked, trying not to sound offensive. "Why is this so important?"

"The fate of the entire world hangs in the balance!" Daring squealed with joy. "At least that's what I heard, isn't that right Dad?"

He nodded sagely. "The item that was stolen was the key to finding an artifact that is so powerful that even the Princesses are wary of it."

"Why didn't you simply destroy it if it was going to cause all of this trouble?" Poppy asked.

"We were going too. The thief came and went right before the guards arrived."

"This is going to be so awesome!" Daring shouted, shaking the chariot in happiness.

Daring's father adopted a grim look. "That's one way of looking at it."

***

The chariot finally landed, coming to a stop in front of a small village with a temple, platoon of guards that saluted as Daring's father stepped off. He turned back to the duo.

"Stay here; this will only take a moment."

He stepped over to the platoon, the commander stepped forward and saluted again.

"Mr. Do." He welcomed the explorer in the gruff voice that all of them seemed to have. "Thank you for arriving so soon." He looked over his shoulder at the Duo, watching them from the chariot. "Sir, this is a secret operation and we cannot take any risks."

"I'm well aware." He nodded. "Don't worry, they'll keep this secret." He pointed at the duo. "They're the best I have."

The guards looked at him, as if gauging his trust but eventually conceded.

"Come along, Mr. Do." The Commander waved him to follow. "You will not like what you see though."

"I already don't."

Mr. Do and the guards stepped into the village, leaving Daring and Poppy along. They sat and waited, the hot sun beating down on them.

Daring wiped her brow and stretched. "Well this is boring." She stood up and spread her wings to their full length. "I'm going to scout the area."

"Alright." Poppy panted. "Try not to get in trouble again."

Daring was already in the air. "No promises."

Poppy's voice grew to a low whisper. "...I love you."

"What?" Daring turned back to her friend. "I can't hear you."

Poppy quickly turned away, her long hair hiding her growing blush. "Uh...nothing, have a good time!"

Daring hovered in the air for a moment; concerned that something might be wrong with her friend. But she eventually shrugged this off as well and flew away,

Poppy was left entirely alone. As she watched her friend fly off she sighed and surveyed the immediate area; there was little vegetation save for a few small patches of brown grass and a few bare trees. She slowly walked over to the nearest tree, positioned herself in front of it, drew back and slammed her head into it repeatedly.

"I'm so stupid." She muttered, her voice muffled from the trees bark. "It's never going to happen."

"Don't be so sure, we think you two are rather cute together."

At the sound of a voice, Poppy shot around and came face to face with...

***

"Is this all there is?"

Bravado Do and the royal guards stood in the middle of the now-empty temple room where the chest containing the treasure map was; the room had been completely trashed, nopony had even entered the room since the thief had struck.

"We're afraid it is sir." One of the guards confirmed. "The thief crept in while under the cover of darkness and made off with the chest."

"Have you searched the area?" He was growing tired of bad news.

"We've only started and haven't found anything yet."

"Then you should search harder, Commander."

Coming up the stone steps behind the group and ducking as she walked eloquently into the room was Princess Celestia herself.

As she approached, the platoon and Mr. Daring bowed in respect.

"Celestia." Bravado greeted the Princess warmly.

"Do." She too replied calmly but without a hint of emotion.

There was a long awkward silence where the two looked in eachothers eyes, trying to tell what was going on behind them. The silence was thankfully broken when Celestia cleared her throat.

"Commander, you and your men are to leave the room at once."

He looked up at his Princess in confusion. "Ar-are you sure, Princess?"

Her expression was one of quiet anger. "Yes."

The guards quickly vacated the room, leaving the two Ponies alone.

"Alright." Mr. Do finally spoke. "I just want you to know that I had nothing to do with this."

"It wouldn't be the first time." Celestia remarked, looking over the room for clues. "After all; you were the one that discovered the map in the first place."

"You're not going to let that go, are you?"

Another long silence filled the room before Celestia started speaking again.

"Do you remember what I told you and your team back when you discovered it?"

He ran a hoof warily through his blue/grey hair. "How could I forget? It gave me nightmares of, well, nightmares."

Celestia let out a sigh. "And now I fear the worst. If that map is followed..."

"That won't happen." Bravado cut her off. "Nopony is that insane or that stupid."

***

"Princess Luna?!"

Standing before the Earth Pony, in all of her glory, was Luna; reagent of the night and co-ruler of Equestria alongside her sister. Her ever-waving mane full of stars glittered in the bright sun as well as her tail. The Princess wore a small grin upon her face, though Poppy noticed that she had bags under her eyes, as if the Princess of dreams had difficulty sleeping.

Poppy immediately dropped to her knees in respect. "I'm so sorry." She apologized. "I didn't know that you were there."

"That's quite alright. We actually just arrived along with our dear sister to investigate this matter personally."

"Princess Celestia is here too?" Poppy immediately begun looking around for the Alicorn.

Luna nodded. "She is inside the temple, conversing with Mr. Do." She took a moment to look the Pony over. "You're the Pony that follows his daughter." She smiled. "He speaks highly of both of you."

"He does?" Her ears perked up in surprise.

Luna nodded happily and a mischivious smile grew slowly on her lips. "Although he's never mentioned your affections for the Pegasus."

Poppy quickly put on a fake smile and waved her arms in disagreement. "What? 'affection'? What are you talking about? That's crazy! That's..."

Luna couldn't help but giggle at the Earth Pony who was panicking and flailing her arms in front of her.

Poppy stopped trying to deny her and let her head drop. "Is it that obvious?"

She didn't nod or answer the question and continued. "Does she know?"

The Earth Pony did not say anything but shook her head instead.

"thou must have much courage to go along with her on those adventures."

Poppy sighed. "She's the reason I enrolled at the academy. But it's all insane! I mean, look at me!" She pointed a hoof at her flower cutiemark. "I should be working in a garden or something, not running away from boulders and avoiding pit traps."

Luna put a hoof on Poppy's shoulder. "If you are doing all of this for her, thou is definitely braver than thou thinks."

She sighed again. "Yeah, maybe."

The two were interrupted when out of the village gates walked Mr. Do and Princess Celestia herself.

"Princess Celestia!" Poppy said excitedly.

"Sister, have you found anything?" Luna asked.

"Unfortunately nothing, Luna."

"Poppy!" Mr. Do ran to the Earth Pony. "Where's Daring?"

"Uh...she..."

"Hey, everypony!"

Daring Do suddenly came diving out of the air towards the group, coming to a stop just over them.

"Daring?" Her father called to her. "What's going-?"

"No time!" She shouted back, her face unusually distressed. "You all need to see this!"

***

Daring had taken them over a couple of miles from the village, outside of the area the guards had been searching. Daring was leading them up a steep hill.

"I was flying over this area and I came across this hill and I thought I saw something..." She babbled on and on, she looked jittered, as if something had seriously shocked her.

As They finally reached the summit and Daring was acting even worse.

"I found it right there, on the ground." She pointed.

"Daring, we're miles away from the village." Her father started. "I don't think there would be anything out..."

Everypony froze; their eyes on the ground where Daring pointed.

"Oh no..." Celestia whispered.

The ground was stained a rusty red, dried blood, it all came from one large spot on the earth where the soil was still damp from the blood. But the blood wasn't what everypony was focused on. What everypony was focused on was near the blood.

The body of a Pony.

A skeleton.