>As Daring Do pushed aside the last clumps of ferns and foliage, she double checked her mental notes.
>All her gear was in place. She had a clear goal and contingency plans in case things went wrong.
>Not that she was worried or anything.
>She was Daring Freaking Do.
>Things always went wrong, and she always knew how to worm her way out.
>Plus, plot twists made for good writing material. What better to include in a story than even things she couldn’t expect?
>As Daring entered the clearing where the temple laid, she felt a cool breeze waft around her body.
>It lifted her spirits, and she welcomed it as a brief reprieve from the warmth of the jungle.
>Still, the atmosphere remained humid. There was an almost oppressive pressure exerted on the air around her.
>She could hear the buzzing of insects around her, and the chattering of animals at work.
>This deep into the wilderness, most ponies would probably be utterly miserable by now.
>But she was Daring Freaking Do.
>This was her life’s work and her life’s calling.
>She felt right at home in the hot and humid and oppressive and wild environment.
>Hell, she’d barely even worked up a sweat.
>It was almost… peaceful, in a sense, being surrounded by all the things she knew so well.
>Her thoughts turned back toward the mission at hand.
>Well, “peaceful” wasn’t really her target audience. “Peaceful” was the calm before the storm.
>Daring stifled a yawn.
>It was a bit disappointing how straightforward this mission was, then.
>Even if things did go wrong, it was probably a D-tier plot at best.
>That was okay, she supposed. She didn’t turn most of her adventures into novels anyways.
>She could still have fun, and there were still artifacts she needed to put in museums, after all. History was still being preserved.
>Speaking of which, what was the lucky artifact residing in today’s lucky temple?
>Ah, yes. The Pendant of Power.
>From the manuscripts she’d read, it honestly seemed like a budget-tier Alicorn Amulet. A one-bit version.
>It supposedly gave the wearer only a minor boost to magical potency in achieving the goals they’d visualize.
>That made Daring wonder. Why did such an artifact necessitate a whole temple?
>Daring shrugged. Not like she could claim to entirely understand the motivations of those who lived many moons before her.
>Flapping her wings and landing gently at its entrance, she reached behind her into her bag and pulled out the temple map, scrutinizing its contents one more time.
>Then again, it wasn’t a particularly elaborate temple, either.
>There were no snake pits. No swinging hammers or poison darts. No vats of lava to melt you alive.
>There weren’t even puzzles! Or hidden spikes! Those were like the first thing in the book!
>Rather, it was designed much like some of the earlier Somnambulan pyramids were.
>The rooms were not meant to kill. They were meant to confuse and disorient.
>If a random pony had gone in without a plan, they would’ve likely gotten lost wandering through false doors and tunnels.
>Maybe ceilings would’ve collapsed, and enchanted entrances opened and closed.
>Much cheaper to trap and starve ponies to death than design elaborate systems, after all.
>Wouldn’t even need a temple guardian like Ahuizotl on duty all the time. Yeah, Daring could understand that.
>She shook her head, lightly chastising herself for getting too lost in thought.
>There may have been no monster for her to deal with, but last she saw, Dr. Caballeron was still hot on her tail. Time was still of the essence.
>Thankfully, she had her map, and Caballeron didn’t.
>That was definitely a boon. If it was drawn correctly, navigating the temple should be a piece of cake.
>Especially since she could read a map better than anypony else.
>With anticipation running through her, Daring briefly held her breath, cleared her thoughts, and stepped quietly into the temple entrance.

>The first thing she noticed was the flickering torches hanging from the walls.
>Magically-lit eternal fires were an uncommon, but not unheard of, feature she’d encountered across her journeys.
>Back when civilization was more sparse, groups of ponies invented their own crude spells independently of each other.
>This meant that every eternal fire she’d come across was just a bit different.
>This one glowed a faint purple, although she could see a miasma of other colors within, too.
>She peered a bit closer.
>Brilliant and calming hues of orange and blue danced and competed for her attention against the flame’s gentle crackling.
>It welcomed her like a weary traveler.
>Ugh. Daring had a job to do. As much as she wanted to sit and relax, she reluctantly pulled her gaze away.
>Still, the warm dryness inside the temple contrasting with the humidity outside reminded her she was thirsty.
>She took a quick swig from her water canteen—ahh, that was the stuff—and pressed forward.
>Down the halls of flickering torches she went, skipping the false rooms.
>Occasionally, she touched the rough, mossy stone walls, feeling for structural integrity and potential traps left undocumented by the map.
>Her shadow cast on the walls and floors swayed back and forth as the flames almost rhythmically coordinated their movements.
>It gave Daring focus, which was good.
>Focus meant she had less chance of getting caught off guard.
>Things were going well so far, at least.
>Daring paused, and pulled out her map again.
>If it spoke the truth, there should be a false door right… here. Daring leaned against the left wall and pushed.
>Click. Bingo.
>As the secret pathway opened, some of the crude sculptures lining the ceiling of the entrance crumbled.
>Daring cringed a little.
>It was probably inevitable given the temple’s age, but they still served as an important portrait of a past era.
>Her educated guess was they served some sort of religious purpose.
>Probably some ancient deity meant to guide the souls of the deceased wandering the hallways.
>Ah, well. Daring took a deep breath and entered the pathway.
>As she inhaled, she could smell the dust and debris and age.
>She sneezed. Shaking her head and sniffling a bit, she found her thoughts a bit hazier than they were a moment ago.
>She sighed, mentally cursing the mustiness of the internal air.
>Now was not a good time to lose focus.
>She carefully shut the hidden door behind her. Hopefully that would throw Caballeron off a bit.
>Thankfully, a new set of torches welcomed her on the opposite side.
>She found herself being drawn just a bit closer to them as she walked, and her head cleared a bit.
>The colors of these flames were a bit different than the ones around the entrance.
>There was something within the oranges and blues, barely present, but still existent.
>All she needed to do was look a bit deeper.
>Maybe it was her imagination. Or maybe it was just something signifying she’d reached a deeper level within the temple.
>Not like it mattered that much, anyway. At most, it would remain a small note on her post-trip write-up.
>Daring licked her lips. She was thirsty again. Perhaps she could take a small break.
>As she drank, she sat on her haunches and observed the world around her.
>There was the crackling and flickering of the torches, of course.
>There were the mossy, crudely carved walls.
>Ah, there were drawings on some of the walls, too. She hadn’t noticed those.
>Her eyes traced back and forth across their free-form and lazy lines.
>She could no longer feel the air wafting from outside, but she could hear it. It breezed across the sides of the temple with a gentle *hushhhhh*.
>It was peaceful.
>So peaceful.
>But still too quiet.
>Daring had a mission to accomplish, after all. “Too quiet” was not a particularly good thing superstition-wise.
>Plus, Daring was not a pony who could stand “too quiet” for too long. It made her restless.
>Warily, she rose back to her hooves and continued, acknowledging her jumbled thoughts and slightly tensed stomach.
>Down the hallways she went, stepping through more dusty entrances and cramped rooms.
>Sometimes, she’d find walls caved in, and have to squeeze her way through.
>The map became like a familiar friend, guiding her with a sure hoof deeper into the temple.
>As she moved closer toward the temple’s center, the air became heavier.
>Daring felt an increasing pressure on her chest, and on her mind.
>The dust fogged her thoughts.
>She felt another yawn emerge.
>How much sleep had she gotten last night? She was sure it was plenty.
>And yet, she was still tired. Not physically, just mentally.
>It was quite different from how she’d ever felt across her previous adventures.
>Maybe it was just how straightforward the navigation seemed. There was no thrill, no action.
>At least the artwork on the walls of the temple was getting more intricate.
>She found her eyes lazily drifting around their contours, observing their roundness and flow.
>The flames complimented and accentuated their colors.
>Ah, the flames. She could no longer no longer pass them off as a trick of her mind.
>In a sea of disorientation, they were an island of focus. Their waves of overlapping and mingling colors gave her clarity and purpose.
>She felt herself being unconsciously drawn even closer toward them the more she ventured.
>They helped pull her forward. Not like a puppet on a string, but more like a foal following a line of candy.
>Her movements became as orderly as they were disorganized. Step, focus, step, focus.
>She pressed her hooves firmly on the cool, hard ground beneath her.
>It helped to break tasks down.
>Just one more hallway.
>Just one more entrance.
>Just one more crevice to squeeze through.
>She crouched, bending her body and smushing her limbs to fit through and-
>O-oh.
>A silent breath escaped her mouth.
>Daring felt her cheeks burn red. Quickly, she popped out on the other side and raised her hoof up to check.
>Yup, she could see the slight wetness. Embarrassed, she quickly rubbed it off on her vest.
>Rubbing her hoof against her nethers had been a complete accident.
>But still, even the brief contact had left her aroused.
>Why was that? Was the brain fog lowering her inhibitions?
>She may have been all alone, yes, but that was no excuse not to be unprofessional.
>Quickly, she brushed herself off and took a few deep, relaxing breaths.
>Her muscles still clenched a bit, but at least it was bearable. Off she went down the hall.
>Just one more hallway.
>Daring felt her restlessness return.
>Just one more entrance.
>Meditate. Focus your thoughts and energy. Focus your attention on the pretty lights as they guide you forward.
>Just one more crevice.
>Crouch. Squeeze. Moan.
>What.
>Faust, that wasn’t good.
>Her heat shouldn’t have arrived yet, right?
>She’d gone through worse than this, anyway.
>What was going on? Her thoughts were so fuzzy and mixed up and confusing.
>She needed to find the pendant.
>But her own needs. Her own needs…
>Without much thinking, her hoof began to inch ever closer backward.
>This time, she audibly gasped as it pressed against her marehood and she retracted it quickly, her breath shuddering.
>Stupid, stupid Daring.
>She gritted her teeth and shook off the liquids, ferociously shaking her head back and forth in a desperate attempt to snap out of it.
>She berated herself for having traversed the temple so slowly.
>Just get the damn pendant, she thought. And then get out.
>Just ignore the hazy thoughts and winding corridors.
>Just ignore your heavy breathing and the pressure on your body.
>Just ignore the mesmerizing torchlight and how it pulls your vision into those soft, welcoming colors.
>Just ignore the meandering artwork as it leads your eyes on their own journey along the temple walls.
>Just ignore your moaning as you squeeze and wander.
>…
>I can’t take it anymore.
>I can’t take it anymore I can’t take it I can’t I can’t I-
>And just like that, Daring turned one more corner and found herself facing the last central obstacle to her goal.

>Her eyes greedily took in every sight, eagerly darting from one area to the next as she tried focusing on anything but her own self.
>Her first impression was that it looked like a giant atrium or greenhouse of sorts, except with the top completely sealed, minus a few crevices.
>That was where small cracks of sunshine seeped through, as did pockets of fresh air.
>Importantly, it was roomy. Daring stretched her wings in relief and flew toward the ceiling.
>She took quick but deep breaths, filling her lungs with fresh air.
>It cleared her head a little, but much less than she wanted. Her mind was still filled with chaos, and worse, lust.
>At least the chirping of birds and the whooshing of wind outside gave her something to smile about.
>It was a small ray of hope.
>She turned her head and looked at the ground, and saw a single tunnel leading downwards.
>Above the tunnel, within the circular room, was a single massive drawing that confirmed her expectations, and now, fears.
>She pulled out her map again and double checked to make sure it lined up.
>It did. There was no doubting there was a maze underneath.
>At its center, the pendant would be waiting for her.
>As her wings beat rhythmically, she found her eyes tracing the path along the artwork of the circular maze.
>It spiraled around and around, pulling her in.
>The art was beautiful, too. As her eyes followed the correct path, the art drew her attention away.
>It sent her vision across their own wavy lines, distracting her and forcing her to keep starting over.
>Back and forth her eyes went. Around and around.
>Unconsciously, her wingbeats began to slow, and she drifted closer towards the ground.
>Her breathing slowed down again.
>Finally, she figured she’d checked the correct path enough times.
>Calmly, she walked over to the tunnel and began to descend.
>Down she went, deeper and deeper into the heart of the temple.
>The air began to feel a bit more oppressive again, as was the pressure on her mind.
>Not that she paid it much attention anymore.
>As she saw the maze, it took her breath away.
>Here, the design on the walls was vastly different to the crude stonework outside. There was glasswork.
>The torches in the maze combined with the peeking rays of sunshine outside to create a dazzling display of color.
>Daring felt her mouth curl into a loopy smile.
>It was gorgeous.
>But she had to keep moving forward. So she did.
>She entered the maze and took a right, letting herself bask in the colors.
>Around she went.
>As she walked, the pressure on her mind grew. She began to feel a bit more lightheaded.
>There was a low humming now; she didn’t know from where. Her mind hummed and buzzed along with it.
>Around she went. Around and around spiraling closer to the center.
>Tracing the maze with her eyes was one thing, but having to actually traverse it was another.
>It seemed to stretch on for so long.
>And her mind was moving so slowly. She felt herself let go a bit as her thoughts began to wander.
>She thought about how she felt before finding the maze, and how frustrated she was.
>There was no room for frustration anymore. Just… heaviness.
>Perhaps she’d been going about it all wrong.
>Why had she been pushing herself so hard to ignore everything? It wasn’t pleasant for her.
>Maybe embracing it would propel her instead.
>Yes, that sounded right.
>Against the backdrop of her own jumbled thoughts, Daring began to focus on the environment around her instead.
>The low humming of the atmosphere.
>The refractions and reflections of the glasswork and the oscillating torchlight.
>Just give in.
>The rhythmic cycles of hot air and cold gusts that blew from the cracks outside.
>The chirping of the birds that seemed almost metronomic now.
>It feels so nice to give in.
>The spiraling pattern of the maze drawing her in, deeper and deeper.
>Yes, she felt so nice. Her hooves raised up and down, marching as if she was an obedient soldier.
>Such a good girl. You deserve a break.
>Daring stopped in her tracks. Yes, she’d figured it out. Maybe rewarding herself with a break would be nice.
>She realized her mouth was dry.
>When was the last time she’d drank water?
>Her canteen was almost empty now. She greedily poured out the last drops.
>She was still thirsty.
>But Faust, she was something else, too.
>She’d been blocking it out of her mind as best she could, but it was too much to ignore in the moment.
>Her clit had never stopped winking, had it?
>It wasn’t right.
>But it felt so good to give in.
>She was all alone, wasn’t she? She was so close to her goal. It wouldn’t hurt to just…
>Ohhh.
>Her legs twitched and she moaned deeply as her hoof drifted all the way down.
>Every touch caused her to mew and writhe.
>So good. More.
>Her hoof began to trace circles as her marehood grew wet. Circles just like the maze, and the torchfire around her.
>She squirmed, continuing to tease herself. Pleasure coursed through her as soft moans escaped her lips.
>It was so hard to think now. Her thoughts were so cloudy and hazy.
>Much easier to give in.
>Much easier to let the rhythm and spirals around her take control.
>Her hoof spiraled closer and closer towards its perfect, final destination.
>Her limbs wriggled and convulsed. Her breath came quicker and quicker.
>She was close. She could feel it. Her heart beat fast. The world around her seemed to fade away.
>Her tongue lolled out as her head grew lighter. She rubbed and moaned and shook and-
>Her juices splattered messily on the ground below her as her climax crashed through and her clit winked furiously. She was in pure bliss.
>She lost track of how long it continued. Her entire body convulsed as she sweat and gasped for air.
>As more of her liquids dripped down, she wondered if she’d ever felt greater pleasure.
>But she was so tired. It was so hard to think straight.
>And she was still so thirsty. She had to drink.
>She grasped at straws in her lust-addled mind until something made sense.
>Like a wild animal, she bent down and began lapping at her own marecum.
>It tasted like honey. Like nectar. It was delicious.
>She continued licking until it was all gone. The fog in her mind was her everything now.
>Still, she needed more.
>Stumbling to her feet, she began drunkenly staggering back toward the center of the maze.
>Blood pumped through her head as the world blurred around her.
>She needed to keep going. Somehow, she knew the center of the maze, and the pendant, would save her.
>Around and around she went. It was easier to just go where the flames and the light wanted her to now.
>Just when she felt she was about to collapse, there it was.
>Finally, finally the center of the maze opened up. She was here.
>A small but ornate fountain, bubbling with natural spring water, awaited her.
>She didn’t know whether to scream or cry for joy.
>She leapt toward it, her lips gleefully meeting its surface. Loud slurping resonated as she gulped the water down without restraint.
>The pressure on her mind felt like it was about to explode. It was as if her thoughts were at war with themselves.
>She was still aroused. No, twice as aroused as before.
>As she finally withdrew from the fountain’s surface with a loud gasp, her thirst finally quenched, her hips bucked as she leaned against the fountain’s edge.
>She didn’t know how, but it felt like the pressure, the atmosphere was invading her every orifice.
>She bucked again. Her hoof darted downwards, thoughts of foreplay evaporating as she chased paradise.
>Stroke. Buck.
>Stroke. Buck.
>She bit her lip and groaned.
>*Yes, mistress.*
>Where… where did that thought come from?
>*Yes, mistress.*
>So hard to think. It wasn’t her place to question the thoughts.
>”Yes, mistress.” Her lips parted to speak the words. They weighed right in her mouth.
>A wave of pleasure coursed through her entire body, leaving her shuddering and quivering again.
>Stroke. Buck.
>*Yes, mistress.*
>”Yes, mistress.” Daring parroted the words like a good puppet. It felt correct in her head.
>She moaned again as her knees began to shake. The pleasure came in waves.
>Though her vision swam with spirals and the transcendent light show around her, out of the corner of the eye, she saw glittering.
>The pendant.
>She ignored her quaking body for just long enough to plunge a hoof into the water, triumphantly scooping it out.
>It was euphoric. She’d done it.
>With a woozy grin plastered across her face, she lifted it with both forehooves and placed it over and down her own neck.
>The moment it fell in place, a few things immediately shifted.
>She felt fuller and more filled than even before.
>And she couldn’t explain the sensation, but it was as if a warm, heavy blanket had slid over her mind.
>She bucked and shuddered again. She no longer needed her hoof to do the work.
>More. She needed more. Her voice lilted as she moaned.
>She was so tired. But so close.
>She was panting now. Her moans came faster and harder and her wings were fluttering and she tossed her head back and
>screamed
>it was ecstasy
>bliss as she’d never felt before
>Her vision went white as her second orgasm hit.
>Her muscles clamped and convulsed as the juices flowed freely, and she collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.
>Basking in her afterglow, Daring felt her body go limp, unwilling to move.
>She was spent.
>*Sleep.*
>With her urges satisfied and her quest concluded, there was nothing more she wanted to do.
>As her vision faded to black, she felt her brain itching, as if being scratched.
>*This is normal.*
>Yes, it was normal to feel that way. She acknowledged the thought plainly.
>She closed her eyes and let sleep consume her.

>When Daring awoke, it was with a clear and refreshed mind.
>She presumed she’d slept for a few hours. Looking up, the light from outside was dim. It was nighttime.
>A cool wind gently breezed around her.
>Then, memories of before she’d fallen asleep hit her.
>She gasped as she was hit with a new wave of arousal. Her tail instinctually flagged.
>But the shame. And embarrassment.
>She was Daring Freaking Do. What had-
>Her eyes unfocused for a brief moment, and she blinked rapidly.
>No. There was nothing shameful or wrong in what she had done. She didn’t know what she was so worried about.
>What was she doing here, again?
>She glanced down at the pendant against her chest and gripped it lovingly.
>That was right.
>She’d come here for the pendant, and she’d succeeded. Now she was to leave and take the pendant and her mistress inside with her.
>Daring felt herself calmly climb to her hooves.
>She brushed herself off and began to walk.
>As she navigated out the maze, out the atrium, out the twisting corridors, the path seemed to give way to her.
>How strange, she wondered. For it to be so much easier exiting the temple than entering it.
>The torchlight flickered much more calmly now, as if satisfied with something.
>On her way out, she paused. Dr. Caballeron was lying on the ground.
>He lay whimpering and shuddering in a pile of his own cum, his cock twitching helplessly.
>This was not a surprise to Daring. It simply meant he had succumbed much earlier than she had.
>Dr. Caballeron saw her, too. His eyes widened upon spotting the pendant dangling from her neck.
>Continuing to whimper and squeak, he began crawling toward her like a sad puppy.
>It was good, seeing his unquestioning devotion for the pendant.
>But this wasn’t the right time. She trotted past him, ignoring his protests as he tailed after her.
>Eventually, they reached the temple entrance. It felt good being outside again.
>The moon shone brightly and crickets chirped in the underbrush.
>Daring took a deep breath and savored the night air.
>She took one more step outside the temple.
>One more step out the jungle, and toward civilization.