Daring Do looked out into the city of Canterlot behind the ornate glass window. Daring Do owned her own office (Although she seldom used it) which held one of the nicest views of Canterlot’s down town she had ever seen. She didn’t have anything to do for the day and was painfully bored. She finally grew weary of the view and trotted back over to her desk. Every time she walked by her desk she couldn’t help but smile at, what she called her “Record”. It was a small shelve which held various pictures of her greatest victories and small little trophies that she had held onto. There were a small cluster of ancient Maran gold, a Stalliongrad glass vase, Coltic jewelry, and of course her newest (And unsold) trophy the Sapphire Stature. Looking at the small azure blue statue made Daring Do look down at her wing, she couldn’t help but remember she almost lost that same wing on that dangerous mission. Fortunately the doctor said she would make a full recovery; in fact the doctor told Daring Do she could take the bandage off at any time and ordered her just not to fly on it which was simple enough.

It was hard for Daring Do to imagine all of these things could have happened in the short span of 2 years in which she had been exploring the world. Originally when she was 18 she was a detective here in Canterlot. Although things did not last and she only stayed in the detective agency for 2 years she did find one important thing; sponsors. She had always wanted to see the world and explore what it had to offer. But sadly Daring Do had never had the money to explore ruins which could contain artifacts worth thousands of bits. Luckily Daring Do’s companions in the detective agency all knew about her lust for adventure, fame and fortune. That is why they all pitched in to give her a small sum of cash for her to adventure. Daring Do promised a profit to them all and boy was she right. She joined a small corps of explorers who were roaming Central Equestria looking for old Maran gold. They hit the jackpot and Daring Do got her share (5000 bits). She ended up giving 4000 of the 5000 to her investors and kept the last 1000 for herself. It still surprised Daring Do that not all of them were sent to jail for tax fraud.

Daring Do finally got bored yet again and sat down in her chair and opened her journal. Sometimes she relished in turning the pages to her first few entries and laugh in hind sight at the younger Daring Do.

“Dear Journal

Got a snake bite; hurts”

That one made Daring Do laugh out loud to herself. She had to admit even the most legendary explorers, such as herself, were greenhorn adventurers at one point. Daring Do had had her share of: snake bites, infections, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, cuts, viruses, poisonings, punctures, frost bites, and the myriad other day to day problems of an explorer of the dangerous lands beyond Canterlot.

Daring Do was so immersed in day dreaming about her first adventure she almost didn’t hear the knocking on the door.

“It’s open!” Daring Do called out. She heard the door open and saw 2 stallions walk into her room. She instantly recognized the two as Snow Shower and Sherlock Hooves.

Snow Shower was the only sponsor not in jail. Snow Shower is a white unicorn with short and spiky black hair. Snow Shower and Daring Do weren’t the best of friends but Daring Do still vaguely remembered his personality. Snow Shower was a colt of integrity and honesty. It was said integrity that kept him on the narrow city streets and not in the narrower jail cell.

Then there was Sherlock Hooves. Sherlock Hooves was the greatest detective of all time in Daring Do’s eyes. He was a tan Earth Pony who was notorious for wearing a deer stalker hat. He was the perfect stallion for his profession. He was cunning and sly and had a super natural power of deception. That is probably why Sherlock Hooves didn’t sponsor Daring Do’s first expedition (Although he wanted to).

“Good evening Miss Do, nice day is it not?” Sherlock Hooves asked; his eyes darting all over the room.

“Sure is” Daring Do responded “So how can I help you?” She instantly knew what Sherlock Hooves was up to. She had learned and observed from him while she was in the detectives agency. His eyes were darting in every location like a rubber ball on a cement platform; he was looking for a small detail that he could use against Daring Do.

“I assume things have been well to you Miss Do? I noticed your latest trophy on your wall.” Sherlock Hooves observed. Snow Shower hadn’t even noticed the small shelf near her desk.”

“Yes I actually got back a week ago. I am still trying to find a seller.” Daring Do said in an emotionless voice. She wanted to sound proud about her victory over her arch nemesis Ahuitzotl. But she knew the smallest piece of emotion could cause a snowball of deception with Sherlock Hooves. Sherlock Hooves is famed for catching a mass murderer in a crowded theater by just watching his facial expressions when Sherlock questioned him.

“Interesting I am sure your good friend Ahuitzotl put up a grand fight?” Sherlock asked. Being with Sherlock was extremely aggravating. Daring Do always thought Sherlock was too much detective too much of the time. It was common for him to question random ponies in the middle of a conversation. If you had a secret the last person you wanted to be with was Sherlock Hooves.

“I used deception and managed a victory” Daring Do said; trying to mimic Sherlock’s sturdy tone of voice.

“I see you hurt your wing again; might I ask you how you harmed it?” Sherlock Hooves asked.

“I got smashed into a wall by a tiger. It hit the Cerberus Ligament.” Daring Do said; she knew this could be check mate.

“I see but I noticed the bandage mark is in the center of your wing. Why would you bandage the middle of your wing if the Cerberus Ligament is at the base of the wing?” Sherlock Hooves questioned.

“Well I am not a doctor” Daring Do said; her shoddy excuse wasn’t going to cut it for the great Sherlock Hooves.

“Interesting I believe they teach anatomy in Equestrian colleges. Are you telling me you believed your wing bone was your Cerberus Ligament? Also I find it strange how a bear could precisely hit the targeted area at a surprising 180 degrees.” Sherlock said

“Well… you see-“ Daring Do said fumbling to make up an excuse.

“Miss Do you’re sweating and nervousness is a dead giveaway. How’d you really hurt your wing?” Sherlock asked; check mate.

Daring Do gave out a loud exhale “I ran into a tree.” Snow Shower stifled a laugh.

“Interesting coming from the legendary Daring Do, maybe you’re losing your skills?” Sherlock Hooves taunted.

“Why’d you really come here Sherlock?” Daring Do questioned. Even the pompous Sherlock Hooves didn’t walk into random offices to insult ponies.

Sherlock though continued with his victory speech “O Miss Do you‘re a lot like my friend Snow Shower here I am bound to say that in all the accounts which you have been so good as to give of my own small achievements you have habitually underrated your own abilities. It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it. I confess, my dear fellow that I am very much in your debt."

Sherlock Hooves was also notorious for reciting the same speech to all of his fellow detectives when he had bested them at his own game.

“Well Miss Do” Snow Shower said while sitting in a black leather chair facing Daring Do “We are in need of your assistance.”

“Where am I going North, South, East or West?” Daring Do asked

“Well I will tell you the story Miss Do.” Snow Shower said; taking a small letter from the pockets of his jacket.

“This is a letter written by one Bronze Scimitar of the city of Ponioch:

Dear Sherlock Holmes,

My name is Bronze Scimitar. I am the son of a great merchant in Ponioch. The desert has many secrets and I believe I have stumbled onto one of them. I am sure you are familiar with the Soundless Desert inland of the Gallopi coast? Well one day I was heading to Celestinaople with a caravan of 4 ponies when we were attacked by at leastly 20 thieves. They killed my men and pillaged our goods; I being the son of a noble was taken hostage. I was bound, gagged, and blinded when I overheard two of my captors. They were talking about a rare jewel in the ancient pharaoh temple of “Kebehut”. They spoke of a bounty of treasure sealed in the tomb for the last 1000 years. They spoke about something called a “Crimson Catalyst” as well. I do not dare want to venture out into the vast desert to find this temple. But you have told me about your ex-partner Daring Do. She must know about this! I fear something fishy is going on as well in our kingdom. I fear the worst…

-Bronze Scimitar

P.S. The thieves were actually kind of cool and we went out for ice cream after the ransom was paid; actually a bunch of nice colts.

“As you see Miss Do I and my agency are detectives, not treasure hunters. It would be very dangerous for us to venture across the sea to Ponioch in order to find this temple without proper training and or experience. That is why we have come here today. If you find the treasure I believe we will cut the profits let’s say 50/50?” Sherlock Hooves asked

“65/35 plus supplies and pony power” Daring Do said

“I believe it would be best 50/50” Sherlock Hooves bargained “After all we did inform you about this now didn’t we?”

“Yes and I’m grateful” Daring Do said; she knew Sherlock’s type of ponies. They were the type that assumed treasure hunting was easy. It wasn’t; she deserves every bit she gets. “But if you don’t accept 65/35 I’ll go to Ponioch and we can go 100/0.”

Sherlock Hooves wiped his forehead and looked at Snow Shower “Perhaps 60/40 would be in your radius?”

“Fine 60/40” Daring Do said “But you got to pay for supplies and I expect some additional help.”

“How much exactly dare I ask?” Sherlock Hooves asked

“Well I’ll need some help in researchers and detectives.”

“But this seems very straight forward. Go from point A to point B.” Snow Shower said

“Perhaps” Sherlock Hooves said “Although there are numerous things that concern me about this paper. Our friend here, Bronze Scimitar, is writing surprisingly sloppy, as if he was in a hurry. Also check the sent date.” Sherlock Hooves pointed at a line in the letter to Snow Shower.

“But that was only 3 days ago; how’d he get the letter here so fast if he’s all the way in Gallopi!?” Snow Stomper asked

“He used deluxe ultra-express mail which would have been a fortune on his part. But why the big rush? This weathered paper indicates it is from Gallopi, but why was our sender so impatient about this letter?” Sherlock Hooves asked

“So I guess I’m headed to Gallopi” Daring Do said in a casual voice.

“Excited are we?” Sherlock Hooves asked “Don’t lie this time”

Daring Do gave Sherlock Hoove’s a mischievous smile

“Yes, yes I am.”

***

*Indiana Jones music inbound*

Ba babum bum  ba babum bum, ba babum bum babum bum, BABADUM BABUM BABUDUM! BABADUM BABUM BADUDUM! BABADUMMMMMM BABADUMMMMM BABADUMMMMMMMMMMM!

DARING DO

AND THE CRIMSON CATALYST

By Vespi

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