//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Daring Do and the Wrath of the Elders // by Pankrazius //------------------------------// "STOOOOP HEEEER!", Ahuizotls voice yelled and echoed through the sturdy, trapezoid shaped hallways. Beasty statues, sitting in alcoves, holding torches, rushed by. Reliefs of ancient gods and heroes became merely a blurry impression. Daring Do had not much time, to check how many of her archenemies minions were after her. Like a pale golden lightning she chased along the way. Falling stoneblock! A forcefull jump. Wings flapped. Passed! But... On instant she let herself fall to the ground. Arrows! Centimeters over her head. Dodging, crawling, jumping. No time to rest! The ground before her - suddenly gaped open. Evil grinning alligators waiting down in the pit. Cautious she set one hoof on the small ledge. One step after another. Slowly. Her heart puckered like a pecker in her breast. Her forehoof got grip on one of the stonereliefs, representing some ugly guard demon. Another step. Pebbles! she nearly slipped out and... Snapping and growling beneath her hooves. Scaled creatures strived for the fallen boulders. 'Thats all you'll get from me!', Daring grinned tense, brushing gray hair out of her face. Another step, another grip. A sharp click! Her magenta colored eyes went small. 'Oh. Horseapples!' The stoneface before her very face opened its mouth. Time stretched for a glimpse, as a red glowing grew in the opening. Blink. She let go. Blink. She fell. Blink. Fire bolted, the heat nearly burnt her wings as she spread them. Blink. The added air resistance slowed her fall. Blink. Scales, pointy teeth, gaping jaws. Water sprayd as her wings finally got controll. Blink. She darted in a low arc between fire and teeth. Engaging flaps, brought her in a sharp climbing flight. Daring Do emerged the pit and accelerated, as she recognized the slow descending stonedoor. "Naaah!", clenching her teeth Daring pushed herself forwards. Literally scraping through the portal, the last moment possible. "Celestias sake... I need a break." she leant herself against a tree, panting for air. Despites the boiling hot damp jungle and the mosquitos she felt eased. Daring took her topee off. Pulled out the arrow stuck in it without hesitation, dropping it. She hoofed inside the helmet, fetching a small golden disc. Then she allowed herself a relieved exhale. Plock! 'What the hay?' The spear was planted in the ground vibrating, just a hoof in front of her. *** "So. Should work, I assume.", Sandy Gears spoke to himself, as no one else was here. Besides his new pet. But that was not much of a dialog partner. Especially as it was sleeping. And likely not very interested in technical details. Anyway. He could be proud. Fixing the engine, with just vines and woodlogs. Not that this was the correct way to fix this highly advanced piece of aviation techniqe. But, it wasn't like there were a workshop at hand. The gray, orange haired Earthpony walked around his very own invention. Aviator Mark II. Or should it better dubbed Mark III, he wondered - due to the major changes made lately. A standard flying chariot - used in all of Equestria. But with its own Steam-propulsion-engine. Brass boiler, pipes and exhausts and added wings Yes. He could be proud. And they laughed, as I said earth ponies can fly. "GEARS! Start the damn machine!" Daring's yelling voice jolted him out of his thoughts. "Miss Do. I didn't expect you for another...", he answered loud. "Darn it! Make it ready!" Miss Do seemed to be in a hurry. She bolted out between the trees, startet to fly once she had a free field. A dozen ponies in a very rural attire followed her, throwing spears or shot arrows. No gentlecolts indeed. "Don't worry. We are set and ready. The boiler is heating-up since....", Gears wondered, if she would stop. No. At closer examination, it seems obvious that miss Do, didn't intent to.... He barely managed to jump on his machine, and open the steam valves, as Daring rushed past him. *** The chariot accelerated roaring accompanied by minor explosions towards the end of the plateau, leaving a trail of white and black fume behind. Daring sat inside the chariot, looking at the scene behind. It was to loud to hear anything - but the way Ahuizotl jumped and threated with his arms, she could imagine what he wanted to say. A few strayed spears missed the vehicle, as Daring's awarness suddenly got pulled towards... "What the hay does this BAT in here?!", she jumped up, shivering, trying to gain as much distance as possible to the infernal animal. "My new pet.", Gears, explained, visibly untouched. "By the heavens. I BUCKING HATE BATS!" With this the chariot turned over the cliffs edge and out of sight. Then moments afterward the vehicle ascended over the horizon flying in a semistable manner towards the sun, leaving the plateau, the temple and Ahuizotl, her blue furred, odd, dogshaped archenemy behind - foaming with rage.