Daring Do trudged through the forest, feeling leaves crunching underneath her feet as the sound of nearby insects chittered on in the distance. It was to be expected, really, after so many of her adventures where she had been in similar climates. By now, the noise came with the territory, or so she believed. But that kind of thing did not scare her, nor would it have distracted her from the task at hand.

“If I’m right… it should be somewhere around here somewhere.” She pulled a map out of her hat, ripping off the ribbon that kept it rolled up. Within seconds, the scroll rolled out to reveal a fairly detailed map of the area, minus the excessive flora around her. “But… there’s no x that marks the spot. Where in the heck could it be?”

As she spoke, she pushed her way through another row of bushes, slapped in the face by the many elongated leaf-like hands as she fumbled though, her vision obscured by the seemingly endless cascade of emerald and teal. It didn’t take long for Daring Do to pop out of the other side, where she found a small ring of tiny crystals, forming a ring-like pattern with an X on the center.

“Wait. Hang on, this wasn’t on the map…” Daring Do put the floppy sheet back under her hat, slid down the slope, and landed by the formation of crystals. “But… I’m getting a strange feeling about this. Maybe it’s my treasure hunter’s intuition? Nah, who am I kidding?”

Daring Do walked over towards the crystals, lured in by a combination of light glowing off of them and the aroma in the air, potentially made by the plants spewing pollen and scents mixing together with one another. As her hoof knocked one of the crystals, it burst into a bright shade of light, along with all of the others, until the symbol was awash with energy, crackling with magical power. She backed off at the sight, as the wind wrapped around both herself and the sight, coiling around into a spiral around the rune, whipping the crystals out of the ground, wresting them from the earth

The light glowing vibrantly, a cloud of darkness consumed the crystals, spreading out across the land, as well as an eerie glow which split into two, forming eyes of some sort. Spreading itself out across the ground, the shadow took the form of a pony; a rather menacing one at that. With black fur, armoured hooves, a cape resting on his back, and a horned crown resting on the head, it was none other than King Sombra, pulled back from the ether that he had been cast into multiple times.

“At last… I am freed once more from the confines of nonexistence, ready to wreak havoc on all those who dare to oppose my rule!” He boomed out, his mere voice throwing every single plant in the area backward. “Three times now, I have been denied the rightful place that I so deserve. But no longer. This time, all shall bow before—”

“Oh… my… Celestia. It’s him. It’s really him!” Daring Do hyperventilated on the spot, belly comically expanding and retracting as her eyes were fixated on Sombra, instantly killing the mood that he had set up. “This is the best day of my life! A living legend for the taking!”

“What the…? Who are you?” Sombra asked, cocking a brow towards Daring Do. His royal return silenced by the breathing of a commoner, a whelp before him. “Are you the one who forced my return to Equestria?”

“Well, yes and no, really. I found my way here and had no clue why the map would lead me here, but I can see that it wasn’t for nothing after all.” A sly grin found its’ way onto Daring’s face as she took a few steps towards Sombra. “King Sombra, one of the hardest creatures to cuddle, right here and now. A captive audience, and one of the best treasures I’ve ever found, bar none.”

“Treasure? I am no object, pony! I am a king!” Sombra bellowed, putting a hoof close to his neck. “The rightful ruler of Equestria and all of the ponies on it!”

“Not to mention, one of the biggest teddy bears that there ever was.” Daring Do slid over to him laying a hand on his chest. “Back home, I’ve got tons of body pillows with you on them. They’re just such a treat to snuggle up with, wrap my hooves around, and just snuggle with.”

“I… You… What?!” Sombra barely had any grasp on the situation, or words to use as a response to Daring Do’s advances. His face warmed up and turned a pale shade of red.

“Just one little cuddle and my life will be complete. I’ve had so much training with the pillows, so why not try it out with the real thing?” Daring Do reached over Sombra’s body, locking her hooves around his back, the fuzzy feathers of the cape brushing against her as she pulled, bringing the king in for a squeeze. She pressed the side of her head against Sombra and rubbed it up and down, cooing in contention as she let herself dive into the embraces of the dark-hearted monarch, while he could only look on frozen like a statue. “Doesn’t that feel good, Sombra? You’ve had such a rough time being the king that you’ve never really gotten the proper love you needed. Your subjects were always so terrified of you, but I’m not,” Daring said, whispering into his ear.

Sombra, completely motionless and emotionless to Daring Do’s cuddle stood blankly for a few moments. Eventually, led by a combination of shock, defeat, and confusion, he returned the favor. Using one of his own hooves, he slid it across Daring Do’s back and held her close to his body, locking her into place as she let her side of the cuddle continue. The both of them were soon found in a deep, fuzzy sensation that neither of them could have foretold would happen to them today. For Daring Do, her nirvana. For King Sombra, twisted and unusual adoration. They couldn’t help but continue, though, as the wind and forest around them fell silent, the aromas dancing around both of their noses and the world as still as they were.

“Best treasure hunt of my life.” Daring Do smiled in the midst of the cuddle.

As much as Equestria is just another grape for me to pluck and devour, I have to say… This is quite an unusual feeling. Sombra eventually plucked out a thought from the scuttled remains of his mindset, having adjusted to the cuddle at hand. Maybe I shall put my advances off. For now.

At long last, the cuddle came to an end as both of the ponies retracted their arms and looked into each other’s eyes with a grin.

“Thanks, Sombra. That was great. Totally made my day.” Daring Do gave him a grin as she turned back towards the slope she had come down from and went back towards the bush. “Y’know, you should totally become a cuddler. You’d get so much more followers that way.”

Sombra just blinked as Daring Do slid out of her field of view and away from the summoning site. Whatever thoughts he had about Equestria being ruled had gone right out of the window with what he had just experienced. The cuddle still on his mind, he turned into a cloud of darkness once more and faded away, leaving no trace of the crystals behind him as the forest clearing was emptied.