//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Duel with the Water Spirit // Story: Tales of the True Mare Do Well // by TheCyberneticAlicorn //------------------------------// A light wind blew through the forest as the Kelpie and Sound stared each other down. Sound wasn't given a moment to think before the Kelpie blasted her into a tree with a torrent of water. Sound staggered to her feet, looking around for something to keep the kelpie off her long enough for her to come up with and idea. She tossed a few large branches that had broken off of the tree at him with her magic, and when the Kelpie was reforming, she disappeared into the shadowy treetops. "That tricky little..... WISP!, find her!" The Kelpie yelled as the Wisp took off in the direction Sound had been Sound was moving from tree to tree circling around the Kelpie. Her mind was frantic as she thought of an idea. The Kelpie was able to turn into water, this renders and none magic plans useless. She stopped for a moment as the Wisp passed by her location. Her purple costume blended in the dark of the forest, so the Wisp passed by her without taking notice. "I can't waste much more time." Sound thought to herself, looking out at the Kelpie "If I don't act soon, he may take the chance to feed." She then noticed something as the Wisp passed again. She noticed that the Wisp wasn't coming to close to the trees. As she looked closer, she noticed it wasn't a green light, but a flouting green flame. Sound was sparked with an idea, if the Wisp is working with a water spirit then it must not be afraid of being extinguished. She wasn't sure if this plan would work, but if it did she may have a chance. As the Wisp passed, Sound jumped out behind it. As she did, she made a branch pass through the Wisp, lighting it on fire. The Kelpie's head turn the instant he heard movement and fired another water torrent. Sound held up the burning branch up in front of her. As she had thought rather then going out, the flame continued to burn bright as it turned the torrent into steam. "As i thought, the Wisp isn't worried about going out because it flame is eternal." Sound thought, with a grin coming to her face under her mask. The Kelpie bore a shocked look, confused about how his torrent had no effect. Sound used her magic to place branches all around the lake, as she ran around it, lighting the branches as she passed. As the water of the small lake began to heat from the flames, it was clear that the Kelpie was suffering from it like he was connected to the water due to him haunting it. He began frantically firing torrent after torrent at Sound in an attempt to stop her before she finished encircling the lake. The torrents got weaker and weaker before the Kelpie fell to his knee, panting heavily. "Wait!" The Kelpie yelled, just as Sound was about to finish the circle "The water in the center is still cold enough, If you finish that circle, the heat will be to much and i will be unable to even move" Sound glared at the Kelpie, holding the branch just over the last section that was far enough away from the rest to not catch on its own. She pointed her free hoof to the large group of ponies. The Kelpie glanced over to the group and let out a sigh "Fine, I'll release them." He said, indicating to the Wisp to release its control "Now Leave." Sound nodded as she lay the branch she had on the stone that encircled the lake. The Kelpie limped passed her and slipped into the deep cold center of the lake. The first of the group to come to was a sandstone colored earth pony, with a cutie mark of a magnifying glass with a strange hieroglyph in the center. She had a satchel with her that had several scrolls and a magnifying glass sticking out of it. As she looked around she brushed her medium length auburn mane out of her face. "Where am i? Last thing i remember was looking at a glowing light" The young mare said as the rest began to regain control of themselves. With a quick look around, the young mare saw Sound standing there. "Mare Do Well!" The mare said as Sound walked past her. Sound merely indicated for her and the others to follow her out of the forest. The young sandstone mare walked beside her "Mare Do Well, Names Glyph Reader, what happened to us? what was with the ring of flames around the lake?" She kept asking, trying to fill in the gaps so she knew what was going on "So this is Glyph Reader, those two I overheard were right, she is a curious one" Sound thought to herself Glyph Reader was still asking questions up until they reached the entrance to the Everfree Forest. With the group save, Sound merely bowed her head and disappeared into the fading night. Dawn broke soon after and Glyph Reader stud there with a puzzled look on her face. "That Mare Do Well, she didn't answer and of my questions" She said "She is a mystery wrapped in an enigma, my favorite kind of mystery" Glyph rummaged through her satchel, pulling out many different items that looked positively ancient. She rummaged for a few moments before she pulled out a journal. She also picked up a pencil in her mouth and began to write on a page in it. Mare Do Well Local hero Nothing is knew about her. She never talks and disappears as quickly as she appears. Everything about her is a complete mystery. Having met her myself, i have become interested in uncovering the secrets surrounding her. I will have to make time in my study of ancient items to look into this more. With that, Glyph closed the journal and put everything back in her satchel. Sound shut the door to her house behind her as the sun was peeking over the horizon. She let out a sigh as she hung her mask and hat up. She sat down on the edge of her bed before falling back onto it and looking up at the ceiling. "It's a good thing i heard about this when i did." She thought to herself "Had i been any later and it may have been to late." A.N: Before anyone asks, Yes Glyph is a fan of the Daring Do series of books, she always has one in her satchel.