For over two decades, Daring Do had been scouring the world for components of an ancient artifact: the Eye of Horsiris. The pegasus adventurer had a dark yellow coat and hair in a greyscale rainbow. Her cutie mark was of a compass rose. Daring had authored over a dozen books, recovered hundreds of relics thought lost to time, discovered the lost city of Lut Mulein, and her exploits had served as inspiration for hundreds of thousands of ponies around the world. However, the restoration of the Eye of Horsiris may prove to be her greatest triumph, for there was more on the line than a headline in the Canterlot Herald.

Daring believed the final component of the Eye to be in the ancient ovine city of Tristram. She had been en route to Tristram when the demon sisters' invasion had begun. Daring was a veteran adventurer and she was no stranger to the supernatural, so she had held her own against the few demons foolish enough to attack her.

When the demons had been defeated and the skies returned to normal, Daring had witnessed something that both inspired and worried her. A falling star had streaked down from the heavens, seemingly directly upon her destination. Daring had an inquisitive nature, so the demon invasion coupled with the falling star had caused her to be overwhelmed with excitement and she had doubled her pace towards Tristram.

As she neared the city, Daring had felt her stomach turn as she spotted a scene of carnage on the roadway ahead. A wagon lay shattered, and all around it Daring could see what appeared to be blood and guts - some of which had been spread out into the shape of a strange rune. She came to a halt, tilting her head to listen, but all that could be heard was the buzzing of a multitude of flies that swarmed ahead.

Daring glanced down at her forelegs to make sure her armaments were secure. In gratitude for her efforts in thwarting the evil Ahuizotl, a jungle tribe had gifted Daring with a pair of dart launchers. The ornate silver devices locked on around her shins and had proven to be valuable tools over the years.

Confident her weapons were ready, Daring slowly made her way towards the slaughter. As she got closer, she could see that the 'blood and guts' was anything but. She chuckled and tipped back her pith helmet then wiped her brow. "Thank the stars, it's only tomatoes."

As she continued to investigate the scene, Daring leaned down to study the strange rune. Inspecting the ground, Daring could see what appeared to be demonic tracks, as well as a set of hoofprints leading off into the woods.

"Somepony survived!" Daring exclaimed as she jumped to her feet.

As she turned to follow the tracks, her tail brushed the rune and it promptly burst into flames. Daring rolled forwards and glanced at her tail, breathing a sigh of relief as her honed reflexes had prevented any harm. The runic flames quickly died out and Daring hurried after the tracks to hunt down the hopefully-still alive pony.

The sun had begun to set by the time Daring caught up with the pony. Deep within the woods, a pony sat by a campfire and Daring began to walk over to her. Daring checked her out as she approached, noting the tomato cutie mark on her flank. As Daring neared, the farmer gasped, "D-don't come any closer!"

Daring stood across from the farmer, who breathed heavily, trembling in fear. Daring stepped back, knelt down and began fiddling with her dart launchers. She could tell something was not right, it felt like she was being watched, and not by the farmer.

Daring looked up at the farmer. "You probably ran until you couldn't take another step."

Daring tilted her head. Yes, she could hear... something. She looked down at her hoof and frowned. "I remember that feeling."

Whatever was out there was coming closer. The farmer began to panic. "I... had no choice..."

Daring could hear movement in the trees behind her. She heard growling and branches snapping. She told the farmer, "You always have a choice."

Creatures emerged from the woods - demons. The farmer's eyes darted back and forth as she watched them, her heart racing in fear. Daring stood and walked in front of the frightened mare. The farmer looked up at her, trembling. "We're going to die here, aren't we?"

Daring rose up on her hind legs and gave a reassuring smile. "No. As long as I am here, they are the prey. And I," She spun around, pointing her forelegs towards the charging demons, "am the hunter."

Darts whistled through the air followed by unholy cries of pain as they tore into the demons. A brutish demon wielding a mace charged at Daring, swinging as he approached. Daring dodged to the right, jumped into the air and somersaulted behind him, peppering his back with darts.

As the brute fell, Daring turned and quickly dispatched two more demons. She heard the farmer scream and Daring whirled about, scowling as she saw the brute rising to his feet. Daring reached back and grabbed her trusty whip and prepared to strike. The whip cracked and ensnared the demon, Daring yanked backwards and sent him to the ground once more.

Daring bolted forwards, untangling her whip from the demon and giving him a powerful kick from her hind legs, rendering him unconscious. Daring had run dry on darts and more demons were closing in on their position. It would take a moment to reload the dart launchers, a moment they did not have. Daring's years of wisdom gained from a life of adventure kicked in and her mind quickly thought up a plan.

Daring lashed out with her whip, dragging burning logs from the fire, which she then sent rolling towards the demons, buying them some time, and most importantly, keeping them a safe distance away. Daring let her whip fall to the ground and turned back towards her pack, pulling out several apples. Daring swiftly turned and tossed the apples into the air, kicking them with her well-toned hind legs.

The explosions of the apples kept the demons at bay long enough for Daring to reload her darts. Her ears perked up as she snapped in the dart clips and scanned the surroundings. It had gotten quiet, save for the crackling of the fire and the low groans of the wounded demons.

With a tremendous roar, the three remaining demons charged towards Daring from three different directions. Daring aimed and felled the demon on her right flank, dropped the one on the left with a shot to the knee, then shot the final demon with both dart launchers, while declaring, "I stand defiant! As long as you keep coming, I will never stop fighting!"

The threat ended, Daring stood before the farmer, who was looking up at her in reverence. Daring smiled down at her. "You have a choice. Hunted..." Daring pulled off one of her dart launchers and flipped it around, offering it to the farmer. "Or hunter."

The farmer grinned and thrust her leg into the device. Daring winked at her and glanced around the battlefield. "These guys won't be down for long, we need to leave."

Daring helped the farmer to her feet, grabbed her whip, and the two mares hastily hobbled away from the defeated demons.

The pair of ponies continued on into the night in silence. When Daring Do's adrenaline rush faded the pair sat to catch their breath. Daring unbuttoned her olive drab jacket and pulled a flask from an inner pocket. She took a drink and offered it to the farmer who warily sniffed at the liquid.

Daring laughed. "It's just apple cider. Go ahead."

The farmer greedily gulped down the cider, then blushed and sheepishly handed back the near-empty flask. "Sorry, I guess I was really thirsty. My name is Sun-Dried, by the way. Thank you for saving me back there."

Daring drank the rest of the cider and tucked the flask back in her jacket. She glanced up at the night sky."You're welcome, but we aren't out of it yet. There's still several hours of darkness before sunrise. We should get moving, if you're feeling well enough."

Sun-Dried stretched out her legs. She grimaced. "Still sore, but that cider really hit the spot. I feel like I can walk on my own, at least."

Daring winked at her. "Good."

Daring reached over and lifted the leg Sun-Dried had the dart launcher on and leaned down to manipulate it. The clip of darts ejected with a metallic *ping* and Daring handed them to Sun-Dried. Daring proceeded to instruct Sun-Dried on the mechanics of the dart launcher. The lesson complete, Daring stood and checked her equipment. "Alright, lets get moving. Keep it unloaded and try to practice firing it as we walk."

Sun-Dried smiled happily and the two mares resumed their travel. As they continued on, Sun-Dried gasped and came to a sudden halt. "What is it?" Daring whispered as she scanned the area.

Sun-Dried blushed. "Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, I just realized I never asked who you were and I couldn't believe how bad my manners were."

Daring laughed. "I see. You had me worried for a second, thought you saw something I did not. I just figured you didn't ask because you knew already."

Sun-Dried shook her head. "Should I know you? Ooh, are you a famous Applewood actress? I don't get to watch many moving pictures."

Daring grinned. "No, ma'am. I'm Daring Do - adventurer, explorer, archaeologist, author, and apparently for the time being, rogue demon hunter."

Sun-Dried tilted her head. "What's a rogue demon?"

Daring laughed. "You, I like. Those things that attacked us back there are demons. Nasty buggers. Not sure where they came from, as I've been out in the field and the only thing I know about what's been happening was from gossip in a cider hole two towns back."

Sun-Dried held out her hoof. "Well Daring Do, I am very pleased to have met you. If you ever have a hankering for tomatos, I'm your mare. Me and my folks would be right honored to fix you up the best damn meal you've ever ate, as thanks for my life, you know. My mama makes an amazing tomato sauce!"

Daring shook the proffered hoof and chuckled. "I'm sure she does. I'll take you up on that offer once I find what I am searching for in Tristram."

"What are you trying to find, if you don't mind my asking?" Sun Dried asked.

"The last piece, I hope, to an ancient relic, the Eye of Horsiris," Daring replied.

"I hope you find it," Sun-Dried said.

Daring smiled. "Thank you."

As the sun began to rise, the ponies could make out the walls of Tristram rising in the distance. The ponies breathed a sigh of relief - they had made it with no signs of the demons. Daring's display of ferocity had scared them off. The great Tristram Cathedral could be seen in the distance. Daring deduced that the falling star must have struck the Cathedral, as she could make out a gaping hole in the side of the structure.

Daring quickly grew concerned as they entered the village and not a soul was to be found. "Where is everypony? Wait. What day is it?" Daring asked.

"Sunday," Sun-Dried replied.

"Oh, I'm sure they're all just in the Cathedral then," Daring said as she headed up the slope to the Cathedral.

A ram, clad in blood-spattered chainmail armor, lay slumped against the entryway to the Cathedral. His hooves were pressed against his chest and the ponies could see they were covered in blood.

The ram watched them approach and reached towards them. Daring rushed to his side. She could tell the ram was on his last legs.

"Please, listen to me," the ram uttered. "The Archbishop Gharbaaad, he lead us down into the labyrinth to find the heaven stone. The bastard led us into a trap! A minotaur known as the Butcher ambushed us... Big cleaver killing all my friends. Couldn't stop him, had to run away, couldn't save them. Trapped in a room with so many bodies...so many friends..."

The ram closed his eyes and was still.

Sun-Dried looked away in tears. Daring gently brushed her hoof over the ram's cheek. "Rest well, your death will be avenged."

Daring put her hooves on Sun-Dried's shoulders and gave her a reassuring smile. "I need to go deal with this 'Butcher.' There's probably still some people hiding here in the village you can stay with," Daring said.

Sun-Dried shook her head. "No, I'm coming with you."

"It's too dangerous," Daring said. "This minotaur ravaged an armed and armored band. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Please let me come with you. We didn't see anypony in the village, and... and I don't want to be alone up here," Sun-Dried said.

"Alright, Sun-Dried. I should warn you, if we're going up against a minotaur there will be traps, and if this minotaur is attacking people, we're going to have to fight him. Can you handle that?" Daring asked.

"Yes. I would have died earlier if you hadn't saved me. I'll never be able to repay that debt, helping you with this Butcher is the least I can do," Sun-Dried said.

"Thanks, kid. Remember what I showed you about that dart launcher. Be wary of traps, stay five feet behind me, and try to follow my exact movements and you'll be fine," Daring said.

Sun-Dried nodded and the two mares ventured into the labyrinth, deep underneath the Cathedral. The clip-clop of their hooves echoed off the walls as they descended the stone stairs. Sun-Dried gasped in alarm as they rounded a corner and came face to face with armed cows wielding halberds.

"Halt," ordered one of the cows. "Who are you ponies?"

"I'm Daring Do, and my companion here is known as Sun-Dried. We're here to help," Daring explained.

"You are adventurers? Come, follow me, I shall take you to our liege," the cow said as he lowered his halberd.

The two ponies followed the cow deeper into the labyrinth, passing many a wounded cow, sheep, and pony along the way. In a torch lit room they saw a cow armored in golden plate mail and wearing a crown, surrounded by advisors.

Their guide knelt before the cow king. "Sire, we found these ponies entering the labyrinth. They say they are here to help."

Daring bowed and Sun-Dried clumsily followed suit. "Your majesty," Daring began, "I am-"

The cow king held up his hoof."We know who you are, Miss Do. My daughter is a fan of your book series. I am King Steelhorn, ruler of Tristram. It is a great honor to have you here, Miss Do. We are udderly pleased you wish to aid us, as well."

Daring grinned. "I only wish it was under happier circumstances. We encountered a wounded ram outside, before he perished he spoke of a minotaur named the Butcher."

The cow king nodded. "My advisor, the Archbishop Gharbad, led us down here to find the meteor or whatever it was that struck our Cathedral. The minotaurs that dwell here have long been our friends. We do not know why this one has attacked." The cow king shut his eyes and sighed, "It was a bloodbath."

"H-how many of you survived?" Sun-Dried asked.

"Those you saw on the way in, those of us here in this chamber, and a hoofful of my surviving royal guards that are battling the Butcher," the cow king sadly said.

"I will deal with this Butcher, your majesty. I'm afraid I must request a favor from you in return," Daring said.

"Whatever you wish, Miss Do. My kingdom, what remains of it, is at your service," the cow king said.

"I came here to find a piece of the Eye of Horsiris. My research says it was last seen here in Tristram. It should be a piece of gemstone shaped as a sheep," Daring said.

The cow king sunk deep in though for a few moments. "Yes, I remember seeing such a gem. I believe it is in the mausoleum, on the floor where my ancestors slumber."

"Oh," Sun-Dried said. "You mean it's on the cow level?"

The cow king stomped his hooves. "There is no cow level!"

Sun-Dried glanced around nervously as the cow king winked at her. The king turned to a cow clad in gleaming silver plate mail. "Now, Lord Wellington?"

The cow bowed. "Yes, sire?"

"Find anyone who is able to fight. You shall accompany Miss Do. With her help I am sure we can defeat the Butcher," the cow king said.

Lord Wellington saluted. "Of course, sire. Follow me, girls."

Lord Wellington led the two ponies and the cow guardsman out into the corridor. "Attention," Lord Wellington said. "Anyone that feels they can fight, come with us. The great adventurer Daring Do has joined our cause, and the Butcher will soon be vanquished!"

The wounded and weary survivors cheered and clapped their hooves. The able bodied survivors rose to fight once more, eager to claim vengeance on the Butcher. As the group prepared to travel deeper into the labyrinth, the cow king leaned out of the chamber's doorway. "Once you deal with the Butcher, see if you can find Gharbad. I believe he found the sky rock. When the minotaur attacked, the Archbishop fled deeper into the maze. Good luck!"

As they progressed, they could smell death in the air. Blood spattered the walls and bodies lay wounded and gashed in a chamber ahead. Lord Wellington held up his hoof. "Be ready, this is his lair."

The posse began to enter the chamber when they saw movement in the gloom. The minotaur was caked with blood and wielded an enormous cleaver. The Butcher greeted them. "Ah, fresh meat."

Daring leapt forwards and signaled for the others to hang back. "I am Daring Do, I'd advise you to surrender."

The Butcher laughed and began to advance on Daring, swinging his cleaver in an elaborate kata. His eyes glinted with hunger as he moved closer, spinning the cleaver faster and faster. Daring gave him a lopsided grin and took aim. The dart hit its mark, impaling the Butcher's eye.

Lord Wellington bellowed, "Charge!"

As the minotaur howled in pain, the villagers swarmed forwards and stabbed, hacked, bludgeoned, and trampled the Butcher to death.

Sun-Dried looked at Daring in awe. She asked, "How did you know that would work?"

Daring laughed. "Well, kid, most things don't appreciate getting shot in the eye. Come on, let's go find Gharbad."

Not too far from the Butcher's lair they found the Archbishop, an ebony furred ram, lying in a crumpled heap at the bottom of a pit trap. He had miraculously survived a plethora of traps on the way, but his luck had run out as the hole opened below him.

Lord Wellington asked, "Are you alive?"

Gharbad stirred, answered weakly, "Yes."

Daring drew her whip and lowered it into the pit. "Grab on and we'll pull you out."

Gharbad shook his head. "What's the use? We're all doomed."

Lord Wellington frowned. "Come on, Archbishop. Our people require your services after what happened here."

Gharbad groaned and reached for the whip, in his other hoof he held an object tight to his chest. He wrapped the whip around his leg. "If I must, but it's all pointless anyway."

They hauled the Archbishop up and made him a makeshift litter. As the villagers carried the injured Archbishop, Daring studied the object he carried. "Excuse me, your grace, is that the remains of the falling star?"

Gharbad clutched it tighter. "No! Don't look at it! It is cursed!"

Daring was even more intrigued. "Oh, how so?"

Gharbad stared down at the object. "That minotaur, the Butcher, he found the stone. I know now what caused him to go mad. This stone, it grants you vision beyond that which a normal being could possess. I looked upon it and saw something horrid."

Now Daring was really interested. "What was it you saw?"

The Archbishop cackled. "Nothing."

Daring frowned. "Come again?"

Gharbad laughed and held the object towards Daring. "Oh, what's the use, you might as well see for yourself since we're all doomed."

Daring turned the object over in her hooves. It wasn't stone, it wasn't metal, nor crystal or gem. It was made of something Daring had never encountered before. As she looked at the surface of the object, images began to rapidly appear.

The images depicted a pegasi foal at first. The pegasi began to age and as she did the images showed multiple versions of the same event, each with different outcomes. Suddenly, the images ceased and there was nothing but darkness.

Daring staggered back and slumped down against the wall, her eyes wide and mouth gaping. She held the object to her chest and whispered, "Whoa..."

After a few minutes, Daring slipped the object into her helmet and made her way back to the Archbishop. He nodded at her. "You have seen it now."

Daring frowned. "Yes. Very peculiar."

Gharbad cackled again. "Peculiar? The world is ending, and you think it is 'peculiar.' Oh, it doesn't matter anyway, I suppose."

The villagers paused and stared back at them. Lord Wellington raised his eyebrow. "The world is ending? Explain yourselves."

"I will, but let's get to the cow king and out of this labyrinth first," Daring said.

Back on the surface, they all assembled in the cow king's throne room. Daring stood in front of the murmuring crowd and motioned for silence.

"The object that fell upon your Cathedral was no mere meteorite. Whatever it is, it is magical in nature. As best as I can figure, the object is some kind of scrying device. If you gaze into it you will be shown the life of a sweet little pegasi filly, a life that abruptly ends sometime in the near future," Daring said.

Daring held her hooves up to silence the crowd. "I've been adventuring for longer than I care to admit, and in all of my travels I've never seen anything like this. It is magical, however, so it could just be a trick, but the detail in it is enough for me to believe it may be real."

An ewe raised her hoof. "What can be done?"

"First, we shouldn't panic," Daring said. "We don't know what it really is. Next, we can inform Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. We could also try to track down the pegasi that is shown on the object, see if the images it shows are true or not."

The cow king rose. "Miss Do is correct. Please, do not panic. It has been a horrible period for our poor village, and I think we could all use a good meal. The palace chef's are hard at work fixing up meals for everyone, please head for the dining hall if you wish."

As the villagers began to disperse, their whispered conversations rebounding off the walls of the throne room, the cow king motioned for Daring to follow him.

In a side chamber, Daring found the object of her decades long search. Her eyes lit up as she dashed forwards and gazed in wonder at the final piece of the Eye of Horsiris. Daring grinned at the cow king. "Thank you so much!"

The cow king responded but Daring wasn't paying attention. She tore open her pack and pulled out the Eye of Horsiris, gently laying it upon the ground. Several minutes later, Daring had successfully inserted the final component.

The cow princess and Sun-Dried had been watching her work and eagerly leaned forwards to see what the device would do. Nothing happened.

"What's this thing supposed to do?" Sun-Dried asked.

"The inscription said it was to provide a warning, for those who could interpret it, of things to come," Daring said. "It is an 'eye.' Hmm..."

Daring gingerly lifted the relic and headed towards a window. Daring sat on the window ledge and held the Eye up to her face. She smiled in wonder. "Amazing."

"What is it?" the princess asked.

"It's words, in a variety of languages," Daring said. "All jumbled together." She reached up and twisted a ring on the Eye. "Ah, much better. Somepony get a pen and pad of paper, please."

The princess ran and returned with the writing instruments. Daring began to record the symbols she saw in the Eye, each twist of the ring produced a different set in a different language. Daring motioned the princess and Sun-Dried to her side. "Here, take a look, but don't drop it, please."

As the two played with the Eye, Daring began to translate the symbols that she was able to comprehend. "At the end of all things, the first sign shall appear in the heavens. And a foal will cradle Hatred in her breast as the heart of Harmony falls under the shadow. Loyalty shall be divided, as Honesty is overcome with mirth. Wrath shall no longer be judged as the light purges the darkest shadow."

Daring dropped the pen to the floor. She glanced up at her helmet. She couldn't help but imagine that the 'first sign' of the 'end of all things' that came from the heavens had to be the object. The more she thought about it, the more she believed it had to be true. She had been around the block enough times to know that it could not be coincidence that the object had fell on Tristram, the very city that held the final piece to the Eye. She didn't know what it meant, but she knew it was not good.

"Is everything alright?" the princess asked.

Daring tucked the notepad into her pack. "I doubt it. If my translations are correct, the end time may already be underway. The world must be told of the coming apocalypse. We need to get to Canterlot at once!"