Chapter 2: Adventure Inc.

Grit has taken me to several smaller offices of A.I(Adventure Incorporated) but in the twelve years I have been studying under him he has never actually shown me the main HQ here in Canterlot. We have walked past it on several occasions while living in the city but whenever I would beg him to show me around he would just say no and push me along without telling me why.

“Well Ivory, you wanted to see it and now I think your ready for it.” Grit was leading me up the walkway towards the main entrance of the rather large and imposing structure.

It looked about how you would expect it to with large columns on either side of the door and a large A.I hanging right above the two large gates with smaller spinning doors that made up the main entrance. On either side of the main building (which was still rather large) were several other large columned structures that were connected by means of hallways built into the buildings sides to the main hall. Around the doorway were several courtyards and even a large garden that led around back with ponies sitting around doing various kinds of relaxing things.

“It's pretty cool but the inside is what I really want to see.” now even more excited than when I saw the princess yesterday.

As we walked up to the front door ponies around the grounds began to stare and point at the two of us. I could hear some of the closer ones whispering about how they were actually seeing Grit and that I must be the protege that he had taken on. I will admit this gave me a hint of pride as I straightened out, trying to seem professional and dignified as I walked by the side of one of the most famous ponies in Equestria.

As we got closer I noticed just how big the two front doors really were especially compared to me. I easily could have fit seven or eight of me across and probably stacked myself up a dozen times still with some room to spare. And to my own surprise just before we arrived the small front door attached to the bottom of the larger door quickly opened only to have a familiar green Pegasus pony ram into me as she was obviously not looking where she was going.

“Hey watch it!” the Pegasus said as she fell to the ground only to look over and realize who she was talking to, “Oh! Ivy is that you?”

“Hey Emmy, whats the hurry there?” I said rubbing my flank as I lay there on the ground after having just been rammed into.

“Sorry but I just sent those coins of yours into the research team and I wanted to hurry back to try to find any more you might have missed.” She said as she lifted herself off the ground.

“It's fine Emmy and grit and I went to see the princess yesterday and now he is actually going to show me around the HQ here so we can do some RESEARCH!!” I was very excited at this prospect since I loved reading (if you haven’t guessed that by now).

“Yeah it is pretty cool in there all right, I remember when I first got in and saw all of the cool stuff in there.” Emerald's eyes glossed over as if she was remembering her first visit even as she was talking.

“All right you two, settle down.” Grit interjected, “Emerald I'm glad your so excited but we have got to hurry on so if you could excuse us.” Grit gestured that he wanted to get me inside.

“Oh yeah, right, well anyway it is always great to see you two and you will let me know if you find out anything interesting right?” she said as she started to walk away.

“Don't worry Emmy I'll write you a letter all about it if I don't see you right away, ok!” I said turning my head back to the front door of the imposing structure in front of me.

It was finally time. It was finally happening. All of my dreams seemed to be coming true at this exact and very moment as Grit pushed the door open and allowed me to walk inside the main foyer of the main HQ of the main branch of the biggest and most famous organization in all of Equestria.

The main foyer was like nothing I had ever seen before in all of my life, I mean it was even bigger than the main hall of the royal palace for ponies sake. The walls and floors were marble as tapestries and cool looking artifacts hung all over the walls and hundreds of ponies stood at booths and desks of all kinds which hugged the walls and much of the center of the room.

“Grit” I whispered, “This reminds me of a Daring Do or Dash Venture convention.”

I don't think he heard me though as as soon as he walked through the doors dozens of ponies suddenly rushed him trying to talk to him. Some wanted his autograph, some wanted pictures, some even shoved papers into his face which apparently held their fringe time travel theories on it that they wanted him to read and approve for them. A group of ponies managed to push through the others to beg Grit to help fund and then go along on an expedition to southern Equestria to explore the old Sphinx ruins that had been found there.

“It's been so long since anypony has seen you here sir!” one pony said to him.

“Why haven't you gone on any new adventures!” said another interrupting the first.

“Yeah whens the next book coming out it's been like ten years!” a third pony shouted at him. All of the other ponies standing around seemed to all nod and agree on that last one and kept pressing closer to Grit with each passing second.

“Whoa there guys, slow down a bit and let me and my friend through we've got important business to do today.” Grit quickly shouted as he began to flap his wings, ascending to a hover over the crowd to ensure he was heard. He looked back down at me who I will admit was lying on the floor covering my head trying not to get trampled to death.

The crowd of ponies quieted down as Grit waved his hooves out to signal them to move aside finally giving me some breathing room. I slowly and cautiously got up and proceeded to dust myself off as I waded through the crowd of staring fanponies.

“Now I want you guys to apologize to my student here for giving her a bad first impression of our little group here.” Grit scolded the crowd and to my actual surprise they all turned towards me and actually began to apologize one by one. “And as for your questions I'm sure Hero will tell Equestria all about it when we're done!” Grit added in at the end.

“Don't worry about me, I'm pretty tough I'll have you know.” My physique as an Earth Pony allowed for a slightly higher pain tolerance to these sorts of things.

“Nevertheless” said one Unicorn stepping forward, “We represent the biggest and best organization in all of Equestria and we need to act the part of being members of it.” he waved the crowd away and they slowly began to disperse with mumblings and regretful head nods at the words of the random Unicorn.

I watched as each of the ponies in the crowd returned to their respective booths and desks to continue their day to day tasks and go on with their business. Grit landed back down next to me and gave me a friendly nudge as we continued onward towards the eastern building which the library was in.

“Sorry about the Ivory, I don't get in much so whenever they see me well you know what it's like to meet your hero for the first time.” Grit said with perhaps a speck of pride in his voice.

“Yeah, I get it and don't worry it's all good Grit.” we continued to walk towards the library, “Do you really think Hero will cover my find on her radio station Grit because that would be amazing if she did.”

“Finding something that belonged to the old Alicorn kingdom is rare and I don't mean just rare but extremely rare.” Grit took a quick look in his saddle bag where the bracelet was resting, “And in such near perfect condition I might add.”

“Well that would be so awesome and just wow, I mean to be featured on her show would get me into A.I for sure.” I was almost speechless but not quite.

Grit and I after several minutes of walking finally reached the door to the main library of the Canterlot Adventure Incorporated Headquarters and when Grit opened the door my mane almost exploded off of my head. It was positively the biggest library not just in Equestria but I had to assume in the whole world as well. I had seen the building from the outside but now that I actually stood in it the size seemed to at least triple as the enormity of the amount of information contained here simply boggled my mind.

On each wall were hundreds, no thousands, of bookshelves which climbed high into the rafters so it was almost that I couldn't even see the tops. I could see Pegasi hovering over these many rows and Unicorns levitating rows of books back and forth in every direction. Not only was the room exceptionally high but the halls went back almost forever.

“The back of this building is actually built into the center of the Canterlot mountain, that's why it looks smaller on the outside.” Grit quietly whispered into my ear, “And there are about four more rooms about the same size spread out across the interior of the mountain.”

I just stood there trying to soak it all in, I had been in some pretty big libraries before or at least I thought I had but this was just something else entirely. This one room which apparently was only one of five was already the biggest thing I had ever seen and I was a little intimidated at the sheer scope of just how much there was stored away here.

“I doubt even Princess Twilight could read all of these.” I wondered out loud.

“She did try once Ivory, she gave up after about two and a half weeks of straight reading.” Grit stated as he himself began to stare around the large room.

“This is amazing Grit but why haven’t we been here earlier I mean you literally created this place and you know how much I've wanted to be here?” I was now wondering as I quickly fell in love with this place.

Grit slid the saddlebag off his back and lifted out the band taking one last look into the dim crystal that adorned the center of the band and the unknown writing surrounding it, “Well here you go Ivory, have at it.” he said rather bluntly.

“Wait, what?” I was confused, “Your not going to help me?” I was definitely confused.

“Well you got to see one of your friends and now I am going to see one of mine and don't worry I'll be back after I have a little chat with him.” Grit slid the saddlebag back onto his back, “Don't worry I have left some notes on where you should begin to look and in what section the correct books might be in.”

“Don't you know, I mean you built this place and a good amount of the collection?” I asked him.

“Please Ivory I don't think anyone will ever be able to actually read even a tenth of what is in here in a lifetime.” Grit said as he turned towards the exit.

“Who are you going to see?” I asked him.

“You remember Blaze right?” Grit shouted at me from the doorway prompting a quick and very forceful hushing from a pony sitting to his side who quickly recoiled when she noticed she had just shushed Grit Stratum.

“Oh yeah that friend of your from back in the day yeah I remember him.” This answer contented me as I had met Blaze several times because he and Grit had been friends since they were each colts and Blaze had actually founded A.I along with Grit. Blaze was currently one of the acting chairponies for the organization and I guess he was in town since Grit was going to see him.

“If you need any help just come get me or ask someone to show you where everything is here!” Grit was now standing in the hallway.

“Don't worry I love it here and I'm sure somepony would help me if I asked!” I shouted back while getting several nasty looks from several surrounding ponies.

I stood there and watched as Grit disappeared from the doorway and several eager and smiling ponies quickly ran past the door in the same direction after him. I would sometimes forget that other ponies looked to him like a hero and role model aside from me but my entire time here was just shoving that fact in my face. But now was the time for research and reading, my two favorite things in the world that I could do at any time and any place.

I was a fast reader and I took pride in that fact, whether due to natural talent or just lots of practice I could read pretty much any novel or story in what I would always assume was a record pace. When I was a foal I read the entire Daring Do and Dash Venture series in about two weeks (that is 57 separate novels if you didn't know) and beside pretty much no direct sunlight or pony contact in that entire time I thought and still think it was entirely worth it to challenge myself like that. I of course had improved since then and could go through eight or nine books a day (depending on length of course) in a through and complete manner.

The note that Grit left me had a list of several dozen different books written about various subjects having to do with ancient Equestria. Any credible and in-depth work of ancient Equestria and ancient artifacts was listed from The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide to History of Equestria and everything in between. This part was both easy and enjoyable with the only hiccups I ran into was the book on the Elements of Harmony being filed wrong and it taking several hours to actually find all of the recommended books. But when I did find them all the phrase 'tore into them' didn't even come close to the voracity that I poured into my favorite activity.

****

Seven hours and about five books later I had found a whole lot of nothing after reading all the most promising leads first. I was actually getting the feeling of being slightly tired when it could be said that I caught the proverbial break in my search. I was sitting there reading Predictions and Prophecies in order to try and relate several lines in the tenth chapter to a small mention of magical accessories in the book The Unabridged History of Amulets when I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

“Whatcha reading there?” whispered an unknown voice through the monotonous silence in which the last seven hours had been spent.

“What!?” I said startled at the sudden break in concentration causing me to drop my book (super annoying) and almost fall out of my chair.

I swiftly turned my head to see a Pegasus standing over my shoulder looking down at my books and at the bracelet laying on the table. He had a white coat with a slicked back light silvery mane that ran smoothly down the back of his neck. His eyes seemed glued to the highly ornamental artifact laying in front of me which I quickly scooped up almost out of a selfish need to not have anypony else but me and Grit know about it.

“Whoa there, I didn't mean to startle you.” he backed off a few steps, “Let me start over,” he paused for a second and composed himself, “I am Silver Chaser and I was wondering what that strange piece of jewelry you had there was?” this strange Pegasus asked very politely while pointing at the band I held in my hooves.

“Wait, who are you and why do you care?” I responded not really caring to talk to this guy but not wanting to offend him either.

“Well you see I don't really recall seeing you around here before and I kind of have this thing about helping out new members to help them get more comfortable and such.” he said with a smile on his face, “Also that I haven't seen anything quite as interesting looking as that little piece you have there and I was curious.”

“Well I am sorry to tell you but I'm not actually a member of A.I yet..bu..but I will be soon.” It had just dawned on me yet again that I still wasn't a full fledged member yet and it annoyed me and made me want to go talk to Grit right away.

“Wait, really?” he seemed genuinely surprised, “Well I guess that's why your not in the members only section of the library.” he said sounding disappointed.

“The what section?” Why wasn't I told about this.

“Oh there is a special section of the library in the third chamber that only ponies who are certified members of A.I can go into, it has lots of very rare books which have only one or two known copies in the whole world.” Silver was obviously very enamored with the collection here as I was.

This could work, none of the books I had looked had yielded any real results and the rest really didn't seem like they would hold the answers I was after anyway. This members only section sounded like the right direction to find out some really useful information for my search. I suppose I wasn't technically a member yet but I no doubt would be soon and the organizations founder was my personal mentor so I thought to myself that it wouldn't be so bad if I popped in for a bit.

“Well thanks for the info Mr. uh what was your name again?” I admit I wasn't listening to his introduction and only the mention of a special area of the library interested me but I suppose showing him some politeness was warranted now.

“Oh it was Silver Chaser and so we can be on equal terms here what's your name?” he said with his polite smile never fading.

“My name is Ivory Star and it's good to meet you Mr. Chaser but I would prefer finishing up on my own here” I said giving him a smile of my own.

“Just Silver please and it was nice to meet you as well and if you don't want me bothering you I understand and wish you the best of luck with your research.” Silver gave me a little bow before flying off presumably to another section of the library.

He seemed nice if not a little forward for me but whatever, this news of a members only section was too good to pass up. I stuffed a few of the more interesting book I had found into my saddle bag alongside the bracelet and started trotting down the great halls of the library. I must admit I got lost a few times but eventually I discovered the exit to the chamber I was in and the entrance to one deeper into the mountain's interior. There were fewer ponies in here and in fact I think I only saw one hovering in some far off corner well away from where I was going. This made me stop and realize just how long I had been here in the library and how late it must be getting. It was probably just about getting dark outside or at least I think it was since there were no windows here in the underground room. Luckily there were very large magical lamps which hung from the ceiling that were bright enough to light up the entire cavern. It took several more minutes of walking around to determine that this was not the right chamber and I would have to head on deeper into the library to find the right one. Dang this library is big, I mean it is very big, even bigger than I ever could have thought from seeing the one building that I entered to get in here.

After probably twenty or thirty minutes of wandering around I finally exited the current chamber I was in and found the next one which hopefully led to what I was looking for. This chamber was a bit easier to navigate as the shelves were not quite as high here and by jumping I could even almost see over some of them. This part of the library was completely deserted and noticeably quiet even for a library. Even my breathing seemed like a troupe of trumpets blasting out and echoing out everywhere.

“OH SWEET CELESTIA IT'S TOO QUIET!!” I quickly slapped my hooves over my mouth to try and stop the huge scream I had just let out into the seemingly empty room. “Maybe I should wait and come back here with Grit, I'm sure he would let me in at least if I was with him.” or maybe I was just lonely in this seemingly never ending library and wanted an excuse to leave but curiosity is a very powerful thing especially for me.

Walking seemed to a design flaw for this place, or maybe it was designed more for those with wings or magic users who could just teleport and float stuff around because this was just getting ridiculous. Persistence pays off because after more walking than I ever wanted to experience again I finally came to a large door built into the cavern wall with the big letters:

A.I Staff Only

“this has to be it.” I needed to say something just to break off this maddening silence.

I walked up to the door and tried to push and pull on the handles but it was locked up pretty tight. Now what was I going to do, I unfortunately couldn't lockpick my was in or anything as Grit had always refused to teach me how. Maybe there was a book or magazine around I could find that would teach me how but I didn't feel I had the time to look around for it. I sat down trying to think of a solution to this problem when I came up with the thought that Grit had probably helped build or at least design this place. Grit, as an adventure loving pony would most likely have personalized certain areas perhaps with some kind of puzzle or secret lever.

“Hmm, I wonder if I could find some kind of secret doorway or lever Grit might have installed for personal use or maybe just for fun?” I asked myself.

I quickly ran to the surrounding bookcases and began to pull out books at random trying to find one of those book lever devises. When I couldn't find one I stuffed my face right on all the edges of the door frame looking for a panel or anything that I could push in to open a secret latch on the door to open it up. I searched the entire frame even trying to climb onto a nearby bookcase to try and feel around the top of the door-frame with no success. I jumped back down to the floor to give the door another good stare down to see if I could find anything. I glanced hard at the door knob for several seconds and not really knowing what to do and getting impatient with my curiosity and frustration peaking.

“That's it! I know what to do!” I happily shouted to myself now certain nopony was around to hear me. With that I turned around sideways towards the door angled my hind hooves and with all of my strength kicked back at the doorknob. The first time I missed the knob entirely and the second I only managed to strike the edge (I need more practice bucking stuff) but the third time I actually managed to strike the doorknob and heard it bend out of place slightly. I kicked at it a couple more times until I achieved the desired result, the doorknob flew straight out of the door broken in half with the inner lock mechanism now openly exposed.

“Gotcha you dumb door!” I shouted extremely happy at my victory, “Earth Pony muscle ain't nothing to laugh about.” said the Earth Pony who never worked out a day in her life.

I took a look at the exposed insides of the former doorknob, “Wow this lock looks pretty complex, good thing it's mostly gone now.” it didn't take much to use my hoof to jostle what was left of the lock out of the door. I heard it clang on the other side of the door as it hit the floor again giving me that feeling that somepony might have actually heard it. “I'll have to apologize to Grit for this later but sure he won't be too mad.” I said trying to reassure myself what I was doing wasn't really that bad.

“Come to think of it this lock still came out pretty easily considering it sounds like it was made of metal.” I said to myself doubting that I could have made a heavy metal door handle fall out so easily. I took another closer look at where the door handle was resting and made an interesting discovery. It looked like it had been removed some time earlier or at least was close to falling out of it's socket by itself, “How long has this door been sitting here?” I wondered to myself.

The door slowly creaked open as I pressed my hoof against it trying to keep it slow as to not make too much noise. The inside of the room was dark as unlike the main chamber there were no active lights within it. This became my first task as I panned the walls looking for a switch or something to give me some light. Luckily I found one and when the lamp in the center of the room flickered on I saw why the door might have been a bit weak. The room was covered in cobwebs and dust coated pretty much everything, in fact it looked like no pony had been in this room in years or longer.

“Grit told me that construction on this library began about forty years ago so I wonder if anypony has actually been in here in all this time?” I wondered out lout trying again to break the silence. This room was not nearly as large as the main chamber but it was large enough that it might take some time for me to find what I was looking for if it was even here. There was something else rather strange about this room though I couldn't quite place it right away. I walked down the rows of old dusty books and scrolls reading what titles I could and marveling at what I saw here.

“Star Swirl's reconstructed journal, Luna and Celestia's old diary, writ's from the founding of Equestria, and what's with these necklaces with the empty jewel slots?” It was then as I continued to look around that I realized that this room was filled with actual historical treasures from the past. I ran around to other shelves and saw tomes written in old ponish and several other weird languages that I didn't recognize until I saw a familiar symbol.

“That's the pre-whatever script that's on the bracelet here.” I grabbed the book in my mouth and after coughing up a large cloud of dust placed it on a small table near the center of the room. I opened the book carefully and began to flip through the pages until a familiar image caught my eye. A picture of a Zebra with a beautiful glowing helmet stood in a crowd of other zebra as they all looked upon her with reverence. Around the front hoof of the Zebra was a bracelet that looked just like the one I had and from the crystal on it shot forth a dazzling rainbow of colors that chased away strange misshapen creatures drawn in a dark ink that made them seem rather unsettling.

“That mark on her flank, it's Abila.” I said, my gaze transfixed on the strange image drawn before me, “This bracelet must have something to do with her and what's with that cool looking helmet she's wearing?” I sat there combing through adjoining pages trying to find other pictures that went along with this one but to no avail. I flipped to the end of the book and on a page where the writing on it looked more scribbled in several different hoofwriting styles on than professionally printed was a map of a land I did not recognize that was marked with several symbols on it. I had no idea what most of them meant but one I did recognize as Abila's cutie mark (well I guess they are cutie marks but I didn't really know at the time). I memorized the area around where the mark was on the map and was about to keep looking around when I suddenly heard shouting from outside the door.

“The magical silent alarm went off, somepony is in the restricted section!” I heard a rather intimidating sounding voice shout out from outside.

Oh pony-feathers I had forgot to think if there was any security on this door before I literally broke into it. I quickly slid the book into the last bit of room in my saddle bag before I ran and hid behind a shelf hoping the guard ponies would run past me or give up looking. I really shouldn't have been surprised neither of those things happened but within a minute a Guard had spotted me and shouted to the others.

“Earth Pony Intruder!” the Unicorn guard shouted as I panicked and tried to dart past him as fast as I could only succeeding in slamming into him and knocking him to the floor.

“Sorry!” I yelled as I continued to rush out of the room only to find that my hooves had left the ground and I was being suspended by three other Unicorn guards who had been waiting outside the broken door.

Another guard came up and after looking at me for a few seconds said, “Hey I've seen her before, she came in earlier today with Prof. Stratum.” as I floated there trying to brute force my way out of the levitation field an idea hit me.

“Yes I am here with him and if you take me to him I'm sure we can sort this whole mess out.” I said somewhat nervously hoping they would agree and not just arrest me.

“Hmm, considering the circumstances we will agree to this but don't try to escape or you will be taken straight to the Canterlot dungeons!” he yelled very authoritatively at me. Well this was both lucky and unlucky as Grit would undoubtedly get me out of this but at the same time he will not be happy at all. I will admit this was a bad idea and in hindsight I would have done it differently but they did seem to not check my saddlebags for some reason and in my own rush I also forgot that I had placed the book inside it.

The guards kept me in the field as we exited the library walking past the few ponies who remained to my huge embarrassment. They all began to whisper as they saw me being dragged by the guards up to the top floor and I just knew some of them were the ones who saw me with Grit earlier. This would probably end up reflecting poorly on him which made me even more nervous as the guards neared the elevator to the upper floors of the main building.

As we neared the main office even though the doors were closed everypony could hear the argument that was going on inside. The voices were exceedingly loud but bot the kind of anger filled bile that most arguments tend to turn into. As we neared the doors some of the voices became somewhat audible.

“This is a terrible idea, you're going to get yourself killed!” I heard one voice say

“Oh come off it, we've gotten through way worse than this when we were still foals Blaze!” a voice that sounded like Grit's said.

“You're too old for this kind of stuff and you know I can't cover for you if you get caught anymore, they will NOT LET THIS GO!” the first voice yelled again.

“I have that covered you idiot, Jackpot already agreed to come along to keep those hoof biters happy and...” it was at this point the Unicorn guards knocked on the door to the main office. The two arguing voices immediately stopped and a set of hoofsteps could be heard walking towards the door.

“What is it!” The first voice that I guess was Blaze's said through the door.

“We caught a pony breaking into the restricted wing of the library sir and she says she is friends with Prof. Stratum!” The guard shouted in reply.

I could almost hear Grit face-hoofing inside the office when the guard finished talking, “Come on in!” I heard Grit yell.

The lead guard grabbed the door with a telekinetic grip and swung the door open revealing Grit sitting on a chair with a very frustrated looking red and yellow Pegasus with a fireball cutie mark staring out the window towards the darkening gardens below. I blushed sheepishly as Grit shook his head and let out a sigh waving his hoof and signaling for the guards to let me go. The guards followed his order and nodding their heads towards Blaze left the room and closed the door.

“Ah, Ivory it's been too long since I saw you last.” Blaze said putting a smile on his face for me.

I gave a sheepish smile to Blaze but when I looked over at Grit he had a slight scowl on his face while looking at me which caused me to turn back to Blaze. The office was a nice one with a large wooden desk surrounded by several nice looking chairs and a large window that gave a beautiful view of Canterlot.

“So whats this about breaking into a members only section of the library huh?” Blaze said looking right at me. I wanted to change the subject away from this and so went with the first thing that came to mind.

“Are you two ok, I mean what was that argument about?” My curiosity genuinely peaking at the strange comments the two were making.

“Business stuff and Grit being way too stubborn for his own good in his old age.” Blaze said giving Grit an angry look with Grit just shrugging and turning away in his swivel chair(wow, it worked).

“But you said something about Grit getting killed!” I said worriedly remembering what Blaze had said.

“Yeah overworking yourself at his age is not healthy!” he might have been talking to me but his comments were definitely directed towards Grit who had been silent this whole time.

“So um Grit” I said trying to change the subject again, “I found some information on the bracelet we found at Emerald's dig site.” I was being as polite as I could be here while trying to underplay the whole breaking A.I property part.

“Did you find it in the restricted section, you know the one that says staff only?” Grit said very obviously disappointed(dang it).

“Well yeah and just before you say anything I am sorry about the door.” I was kind of ashamed of that at this point.

“Wait the door is just sitting there wide open!” Blaze cut in, “He pressed a button on the intercom on his desk, “Ms. Stencil could you get some of the guards to go down and keep watch on the staff library and get an order for a new door apparently as well.”

“Yes sir Mr. Blaze!” a rather soft but enthusiastic voice answered back from the speaker.

Blaze turned back towards the window rubbing his forehead, “How did you get the door open?” he asked sounding rather frustrated.

“The handle kind of...fell off.” I said somewhat too embarrassed to tell them I kicked it off.

“How, that door was supposed to be able to stand up to magic blasts from an Alicorn!” Blaze was obviously a bit peeved off.

“Settle down Blaze.” Grit interjected before Blaze could get too angry, “Your overreacting to nothing again.” Grit said much more calmly than Blaze.

“Overreacting! That room has some of our most valuable collections in it! You want it to be stolen!?” Blaze was pacing in the air getting more and more worked up.

“Who's gonna steal it, we have one of the best security systems in Equestria and the whole kingdom loves us.” Grit said trying to calm his friend down.

Blaze stopped sweating and floated back down to the ground taking several deep breaths, “You're right of course but this day has just been too much, maybe I should do what you did and retire.” Blaze said while plopping down in his chair behind the desk.

“Come on, don't do that, you love this place more than I ever did. It was your idea originally after all.” Grit said trying to cheer his friend up. “And since Ivory here has seen at least some of whats in that room why don't we let her join because believe me she really wants to and I think she might be good for this place.” Grit said giving me a smile.

I can't believe Grit just said that, is he really going to let me join because OH MY GOSH THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!! I gave him a big smile of almost disbelief thinking he certainly wouldn't let me join after what I just did.

“Just don't go telling ponies what you saw in that room and I think we could arrange that.” Blaze said getting more calm by the second.

“Oh yes sir, don't worry I wouldn't want bad guys coming in and trying to steal Equestria's most valuable artifacts! I said eagerly and very excitedly.

“So anyway Ivory, what exactly did you find out about our little treasure?” Grit suddenly asked.

“What?...Oh yeah I did fond some cool stuff in a book I found.” I almost took it out of my saddlebag but I didn't want Blaze to start yelling again so I decided against it. “From what I saw this belonged to that Zebra you were telling me about, you know Abila.”

“Really, that’s very interesting.” Blaze said from behind his desk. “I didn't think Abila was actually a real Zebra.” he said looking at Grit.

“Not based on what I've learned the past few years.” Grit said in response, “Ivory, show Blaze the bracelet.”

I carefully took the bracelet out of my saddlebag and set it on Blaze's desk for him to look at. He took out some glasses and put them on his face and began to stare intently at the different pictures and writing on the band. He stared for a few minutes giving off some “oohs” and “ahhs” as he scanned the surface of the artifact.

“That's definitely the symbol associated with Abila and a few other legendary ponies as well, and where did you say you found this?” Blaze added.

“Here in Canterlot on a dig further up the mountainside.” I told Blaze

“Did you plan this Grit?” Blaze said turning to face his friend.

“Not in the slightest, this was just a huge coincidence.” Grit said with a somewhat smug smile on his face.

“Plan what?” I asked wondering what they were talking about.

“A very bad Idea.” Blaze huffed once again starting to sound frustrated.

“It's just one trip and now Ivory can come along also, she might not look it but she is just as capable as anyone you have working for you.” Grit said as he sat up and began to float in front of Blaze.

“What trip!?” I said excited at the prospect of actually going on some kind of adventure with Grit.

“It's too dangerous for you let alone a kid like Ivory here.” Blaze seemed adamant not to want us to go.

“Hey I'm not a kid!” and I meant it too.

“Please, I'm three times your age so yeah your a kid.” Blaze said trying to shut me up, “And would you really trust jackpot around her anyway, I mean you know what he's like?” Blaze really didn't want us to go.

“Yeah I know that when it comes down to it he is fine, and besides It's not like it will be just the three of us so stop worrying.” Grit really wanted to go.

“What are you two talking about!?” I felt I had to yell to be heard at this point.

“Well Ivory it's sort of a pet project of mine that I've been working on for a few years now and let's just say it involves a new site that was found a while back in Khaweth, the Zebra Kingdom.

“What site is that?” this sounded more and more like an adventure every second.

“Well the A.I team that discovered it claims that it is the lost city of Numnah which was the capital city of Abila when she reunited the Zebra tribes into one kingdom.” Grit seemed very excited about something.

“And what is the project?” I asked getting somewhat excited myself.

“Yes go on and tell us oh great and all knowing Grit Stratum!” Blaze sarcastically blurted out with some obvious disbelief.

“Lets just say that I might know where Abila's actual tomb is if this is in deed the real Numnah.” Grit seemed sure but my only thought at this moment was...

OH MY SUPER SWEET CELESTIA THIS COULD MAKE ME SUPER FAMOUS!!

This was my chance, if Grit would take me along I could finally prove myself to him and to Equestria. A life of exciting adventure and action awaited me if I could only get to go on this trip and show off what I can really do.

“Don't worry Blaze I can handle it no problem and with Grit by my side I know we can handle everything!” I said with an air of confidence that judging by my actions earlier this evening was not warranted.

“I can't stop Grit once he gets his mind to something but you won't get any official backing from A.I aside from what you can drum up yourselves. And I still think this is a bad idea and that you both should just stay in Equestria.” Blaze said beginning to sound frustrated again.

“Why are you so against this Blaze?” I asked quite understandably.

“Should you tell her or should I?” Blaze said looking at Grit but Grit just mumbled to himself. “Well Kid ever wonder why Grit hasn't left Equestria on any of his famous adventures in thirty years?”

“Only every day.” I responded.

“Well this ruin just happens to be in an area of the Zebra lands known as the Broken Wilds.” Blaze said trying to sound scary when he said Broken Wilds.

“Never heard of those.” I said somewhat excited to hear about them.

“Well they aren’t called broken and wild for nothing but basically it is a massive jungle that is filled with monsters and lets just say other things, especially in the past decade or so.”

“What things and what does this have to do with Grit?” I asked expectantly.

“Thirty years ago Grit and I went out there to find some legendary magic necklace or something and lets just say not everything Grit did made it into those books of his.” Blaze paused to think for a second then continued, “Grit messed up pretty bad and almost got an entire village of Zebras killed by some pretty bad people who still skulk around those parts.”

Wait a second, did Blaze just say Grit failed at something and that he almost got a lot of innocent Zebras hurt as well! I wouldn't have believed it if when I looked over at Grit he had turned his head away to avoid eye contact with anypony.

“How did he mess up?” I thought this a fair question but I guess I was wrong.

“Don't need to tell her that yet Blaze.” Grit said while still looking away from us.

“Yes, I suppose that particular occurrence can wait until we have you a bit more accustomed to how we do things around here.” Blaze said calming down again.

“Whats that supposed to mean?” it seemed that all I could do was ask questions here.

“You'll see in due time Ivory.” Blaze said, “And then we'll see if you have what it takes to stay with us here at Adventure Incorporated.”

“Well it's getting late and Ivory and I have one more stop to make tonight before we start getting ready for our first little excursion together.” Grit said as he got up out of his chair.

“Where is that?” I asked.

“There is someone we need to pick up before we can set out.” Grit said while trotting towards the door.

“That Jackpot pony you were talking about?” I said wondering what he would be like.

“Yup, just stay close to me and let me do the talking and this should be quick.” Grit said opening the door to the office.

****

It was late now, the sun had set about two hours ago when Grit and I trotted up to a medium sized two story building on the edge of Canterlot. Above the front door was a sign that read:

Cider Joe's House of Exotic Cider

“Grit what does that dingy looking sign mean?” I asked somewhat curious.

“It means don't drink the cider here if you don't want to feel sick in the morning.” Grit said with an expressionless look on his face.

As we neared the door I began to hear the faint sound of music and laughter as we neared the entrance to the building. Grit opened the door and slowly skulked inside with me following steadily at his heels. The inside was just as dingy as the outside but several dozen ponies were sitting around on stools and tables singing to a weird song I had never heard before:

We all love Cider it makes us so happy!
But too much of it down and we start to get sappy!
That wonderful stuff we all like to chuuug!
So in the morning we all wake face down on the rug!

This crowd of ponies seemed rather rowdy as they all stumbled around smashing into things and tripping on each other before shouting and yelling at each other and ultimately going up to buy more of the strange smelling cider. We carefully stepped past several passed out ponies and a few others who were dancing around the open area in the center of the room. Grit walked up to the counter where a brown Pegasus with a blond mane and a cutie mark of a pot of gold sat on a stool with a rather jumbled and ditzy looking Unicorn mare sitting on his lap laughing as he whispered stuff into her ear.

“Well well, look what the pony dragged in as I live and breath!” This pony who I guessed to be Jackpot shouted out, “If it isn't Mr. Adventure himself, Grit Stratum!” he was a very loud pony as he shouted this out to all the other ponies in the room. They all turned to look and cheered with very sloppy sounding voices.

“Jackpot I'm here to tell you we are leaving in about three days, so you better get your things ready!” Grit had to shout just to be heard in the very loud room.

“Yeah yeah, your big stickin it to the man party or whatever it was you've been going on about the past couple months!” this Jackpot obviously had had too much of this weird cider and was pretty loopy.

“Everything's ready but it looks like we're also bringing on a new member to our group!” Grit shouted a little louder to keep the attention of the Pegasus.

“Oh this little beauty here,” he looked right at me, “well hello cutie my names Jackpot and I'm happy to meet you!” he blurted out with a smile on his face. As he did so the Unicorn mare on his lap slapped his face and pouted off to another stallion off in another corner, “Can't take a joke that one.” Jackpot said laughing a little.

“This ones off limits Jackpot, this here is Ivory Star and I'm pretty sure I've told you about her.” Grit said waving his hoof in front of Jackpot trying to keep his face straight.

“Oh yeah yeah now I remember, jeez Mr. S, learn to have some fun now and again.” the very not well pony said as he stumbled to his hooves from his stool, “Hey Joe put my drink on my tab and I'll pay you when this job is done eh!” he blurted out to a bearded red Earth Pony who stood behind the bar.

“Um, hi Mr. uh Jackpot is it.” I said as I held out a hoof to shake.

“Pleasure I'm sure.” the brown Pegasus said grabbing my hoof with his wing and shaking it.

Grit patted Jackpot on the shoulder which caused the loopy pony to fall over onto the ground giving us a wave with his wing signaling he would be with us when the time came. Grit shook the fallen ponies wing and then proceeded to push me towards the door with his own wings. Once we were able to get out I found I could suddenly breath a bit better from when I was in the cider house.

“What was that place and why do we need to bring this strange pony with us?” am I just a question machine today or what.

“This is a place that you shouldn't frequent if you care about your health. We need Jackpot because he works for some ponies who, lets just say play a very important role in the running of Adventure Incorporated and want to make sure we don't break anything and other things like that.” Grit answered while still pushing me away from the cider house.

“You mean like investors and other ponies who help pay for all of this?” this sounded right to me.

“Yeah, that's pretty much it Ivory.” Grit said as he led us back home to prepare for this trip we were apparently taking in only three days.