As the sun rose, AK Yearling gathered her things, and then removed her glasses and shawl to reveal her standard adventuring outfit. One of her anonymous sources had just given her a lead on her enemy Dr. Caballeron’s movements. The not so good doctor had been gathering supplies and hiring many, many ponies from unsavory places like bars and alleyways as thugs and bodyguards, and then led them on an expedition into the Tenochtitlan Basin. Caballeron was obviously up to no good, and since he hired an excess of twenty-five ponies instead of his usual three or four, whatever artifact he was seeking would have to be especially potent. It was time for Daring Do to step up and stop him once again.
As Daring Do set out, making sure her trusty whip was coiled up in her shirt pocket and her supplies were in her saddlebags, she started thinking. Usually, wherever Caballeron went, Ahuizotl and his monstrous cats were sure to follow. She thought back to an adventure she once shared with Rainbow Dash and her friends in retrieving and destroying the Rings of Scorcherro.
Hmm, every time we fight, Ahuizotl and his cats seem to get tougher, and Caballeron’s got a lot more goons than usual, and I have no idea what artifact he is seeking. Rainbow taught me I don’t always have to work alone. Maybe it’s time to find some backup.
The Pegasus flew into a tavern near the edge of the Basin.
Rainbow Dash and her friends live too far away. By the time I managed to contact them, it may be too late to stop Caballeron. I’ll have to make due with some locals.
She looked around and sized everypony up.
Drat. I don’t really have a lot of practice doing this. Here goes nothing.
She pulled a bag of bits out of her saddlebags and dropped it on the floor.
“My name is Daring Do. I’m starting an archaeological expedition into the Tenochtitlan Basin. It will be very dangerous, so you will need to be strong and able to fight. Anypony who volunteers to help me will get this bag, plus an equal share of any profits. So, are there any takers?”
Several Earth Pony stallions laughed. They were all wearing the same blue jacket and blue bandana. They were obviously some kind of gang. An overly muscular one with brown fur, a silver mane and a Cutie Mark of a bicep walked up.
“Stranger, why should any of us risk our necks on anything as stupid as that when we can just take your bits right here, right now?”
They backed her into a corner, sneering and some pounding one hoof into another. Some of the other customers nervously started moving towards the door.
Daring Do sighed.
I guess this is the price of anonymity. I came up with my dual identity to get some privacy after my adventures, but I eventually have to deal with ponies that have never read my books nor heard of me.
As she prepared to defend herself, a blue Unicorn with a white mane wearing a cloak and wizard hat decorated with stars who was sipping apple cider in the back lifted her head.
“Hold it. I recognize you. I’ve read some of your books. Either you’re a very good performer, or you’re the real Daring Do.”
Daring Do nodded.
“Yep. I’m real.”
One of the overly muscular Earth Ponies Sneered.
“So what?”
The Unicorn frowned at him and turned back to Daring.
“Whether you’re the real deal or not, I’m intrigued by your proposition. I feel like going on an adventure and earning those bits.”
She walked past the stallions and stood by Daring Do’s left side.
A grey Earth Pony with a lavender mane and dress who was idly playing with a rock while eating a cherry pie at another table stood up. She spoke in a monotone voice.
“An archaeology dig will give me an opportunity to look at exotic rocks. Count me in.” She joined Daring Do’s right side.
The silver maned stallion lost his patience.
“Enough of this! There are only three of them and fifteen of us! That money will be ours! Get them!”
The bartender, an orange Unicorn with a red mane, a Cutie Mark of a drinking glass, and wearing a black vest, who had just returned from a bathroom break, saw what was going on and protested, but the stallions ignored him and charged. Daring Do braced herself, but the grey Earth Pony simply sighed.
“Idiots.”
She stepped forward and held her left arm in front of her. The first two stallions collided with her arm, and were surprised when they couldn’t advance any further. She swept her arm, sending them flying, and one crashed through a table.
The bartender started complaining about the damage, while the rest of the stallions backed away nervously. Suddenly, the silver maned stallion growled and turned to the others.
“She’s just one mare! Together we can overpower her!”
The Unicorn scoffed.
“Are you forgetting about somepony?”
She gathered magic into her horn and fired a blast that resembled a firework, which burst against one of the stallions and knocked him into a wall, his fur singed. At this display, two of them screamed like little fillies and ran out the door.
The silver maned stallion who rallied the others, obviously the leader, facehoofed.
“Cowards. Must I do everything around here? All of you! Work together, outflank them!”
The remaining ten attacked once more.
Tired of missing out on the action, Daring Do flew up and dived down, tackling one of the stallions and knocking him down. She started punching him in the face until he lost consciousness. Two of them approached the Unicorn from her left and right sides, confident she wouldn’t be able to blast one without leaving herself open. Before they could attack, her horn glowed and she vanished from sight. They stopped and looked around, confused. They heard hoofsteps on the wooden floor, but before they could react, she reappeared behind one of them.
“Over here.”
She bucked him, knocking him into his comrade and through the window.
Five dogpiled the grey Earth Pony, but she simply straightened up, sending them flying. Daring Do punched out another one and tossed him out the window, leaving just the leader. Daring was feeling a little smug.
“Well, well. Then there was one.”
The leader growled and charged at her. Judging by the way he punched and moved, he was smarter and more skilled than his flunkies, but it was a simple matter for her to dodge his attacks and then knock him out the door. The gang ran away, some carrying their unconscious companions.
“And that takes care of them.”
Daring Do boasted, dusting off her hooves. Her new friends nodded.
The bartender was beside himself.
“Oh yeah!? Who’s going to pay for all of this!?”
They looked around and saw the damage to the establishment. Embarrassed, Daring Do passed him the bag of bits, with the Unicorn commenting she would settle for the profits from their journey and the Earth Pony nodding in approval. He picked it up and counted the bits with his telekinesis, then glared at them. She turned to the other two.
“We should get out of here.”
The Unicorn nodded.
“Meet me by my wagon outside.”
Daring Do and the Earth Pony stepped outside and found the Unicorn standing next to a large wagon that seemed to be able to turn into a stage.
Daring Do slapped the side of her own head.
“Where are my manners? We haven’t even introduced ourselves. Hello, I’m Daring Do. Do you still want to join my expedition?”
The Unicorn bowed.
“I’m Trixie Lulamoon. I know who you are, and you may have heard of me.”
Daring Do shook her head.
“Sorry, no.”
Trixie groaned.
“Figures. Anyway, I was a showpony, and I used to be one of the most obnoxious, egotistical ponies you could ever meet. For crying out loud, I used to refer to myself in the third person! Eventually, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends showed me the error of my ways, and I became a wanderer, helping ponies with their problems and having adventures across Equestria.”
Daring Do whistled.
“Good for you.”
They turned to the Earth Pony, who had listened to Trixie’s story with a blank look on her face. They started to feel nervous.
“Umm, and you are?”
“Maud Pie.”
Daring had a flash of memory.
“You wouldn’t happen to be related to Pinkie Pie by any chance?”
“I’m her sister.”
Trixie smiled.
"Wow. A few months ago, I worked on your father's rock farm. I thought it was degrading at first, but now that I have a chance to look back, I can appreciate that hard work."
Maud raised an eyebrow.
"Splendid."
Trixie stopped smiling.
“You don’t like to talk much, do you?”
“No.”
Eager to break the awkward moment, Daring Do took stepped forward.
“Alright, introductions are done. We should get started.”
Trixie turned to the wagon.
“This may sound counter-intuitive for the Basin’s jungle, but I’m strong enough to pull my wagon through nearly any terrain, and I can use my magic if it ever gets stuck. I don’t want to risk leaving it here, and it will be a big help. It has food, supplies, and beds inside.”
Daring Do nodded.
“Alright, you can take it with us, but don’t blame me if we have to ditch it in an emergency.”
They started walking towards the jungle, Trixie pulling her wagon. Daring Do suddenly remembered something important.
“If you’ve read my books, then you know about Dr. Caballeron.”
Trixie nodded, while Maud shook her head.
“I don’t read non-rock related material.”
“Okay, he’s one of my enemies, a hack of an archaeologist who likes to steal artifacts and sell them on the black market for enormous profits, and he doesn’t care if they are cursed or rightfully belong to somepony else. A few hours ago, he led an expedition into here, so I fear he’s up to no good once again. With so many thugs he hired, I decided I would need ponies who can fight to help me. Luckily, I met you two. You are impressive.”
Trixie grinned.
“I’ve met my fair share of criminals and hecklers in my travels, and I pull my wagon everywhere. It’s made me very strong.”
Maud’s expression didn’t change as she added in monotone.
“I’ve broken, hauled, and collected rocks ever since I was a filly.”
Daring Do and Trixie shuddered as they both thought, She is so creepy.
A few minutes later, they came across a trail with many, many hoofprints. Daring Do took charge.
“I count about twenty-six individual hoofprints. This must be Caballeron’s party. Pick up the pace, ladies! I’ll avoid flying in case they see me coming.”
They started running, Trixie easily keeping up despite the wagon attached to her. However, by noon, they had to stop to rest. Trixie passed carrots and canteens to the other two. As they snacked, Trixie turned to Daring Do.
“So what’s the deal with the books? Why haven’t you announced to the world that your deeds are real?”
The Pegasus sighed.
“I came up with my AK Yearling persona so that I could have a measure of privacy in my daily life. If I didn’t have my secret identity, I would be attacked more often.”
“Hmm, I can understand that.”
They finished eating and drinking and were about to continue their quest when they heard an angry roar and then loud crashes up ahead. Trixie was startled.
“What was that!?”
Maud's ears perked up.
“I recognize that sound. It is the sound of rocks being broken."
Daring Do charged.
“Let’s go!"
Due to their hurry, Trixie left the wagon behind.
Two minutes later, they came across a shallow river with rocks and boulders of all shapes and sizes all around it. A tall Earth Pony stallion was angrily punching and stomping on every rock within reach, shattering them or reducing them to powder outright. He was tan with a black mane and tail, wearing saddlebags and a black jacket with an unfamiliar symbol, a silver ‘S’ inside an inverted pentagram. Most strange of all, he didn't have a Cutie Mark.
“Vartox!!! I swear I’ll find a way to get out of this and when I do, I’m going to make you pay!”
Finally spent, he stopped destroying the rocks and crouched down, panting.
Hiding behind a boulder, the three mares discussed their options.
Daring Do was a little scared after seeing that display.
“What in Equestria is going on? Who is this guy?”
Trixie nodded.
“He’s buffer than Prince Shining Armor. Besides that, I've never seen an adult who hadn't earned a Cutie Mark before.”
For the first time since they met her, Maud displayed an emotion, awe.
“He’s even stronger than me. I need several punches to destroy a large boulder, not one.”
Suddenly the stallion looked up and turned in their direction. Having calmed down, he called out.
“I can hear you. Come out of there. I won’t harm you. I promise.”
They nervously stepped out, and he started muttering under his breath.
“Good, at least I’m not an anomaly.”
Daring Do stepped forward.
“My name is Daring Do. These are my friends Trixie Lulamoon and Maud Pie. What’s your name?”
He thought for a second, then spoke.
“Just call me Clark for now.”