Applejack pulled the heavy plow, driving forward step after steady step. She strained as she pulled it, leaving behind thick, inviting furrows in the fertile ground. Usually, this was Macintosh’s job; but even after she’d found him delirious in the fields from the flu, it had taken the combined efforts of all three of the remaining Apples to convince him to take a break. Really, the only reason he was in bed right now was that Applejack had threatened to let Apple Bloom and her friends come over and see how they’d fare helping somepony get a nursing cutie mark.
So she was picking up the slack, in the loosest sense of the phrase. This plow was exceptionally heavy.
And then a strange sound snapped her out of her thoughts. Applejack’s ears pricked up. She was used to the sound of the plow hitting rocks, but that had been a new sound. She looked back to see what she'd hit, and her eye caught sight of something that definitely wasn't a rock. “What the hay?” She quickly ducked out of the harness and went to investigate.
Half-buried in the earth was something, possibly made of obsidian. It gleamed invitingly in the sunlight. She leaned down to examine it. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be jewelry of some kind. Intrigued, she lifted it out of the dirt and shook it off. It was a bracelet made of black metal, with an intricate twisting design and with little jewels held in the crossworked metal. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she slid it on her left wrist. She held it out and looked at it. It seemed to sparkle in the light.
“Heh. Kinda pretty.”
And with that, break time was over; and she ducked back into the harness and went back to work.
* * *
Rainbow Dash was a mare of many talents. She was a fast flier, she was clever, she was quick-witted. She had a love of puns and wordplay, and she always knew what to say to get somepony feeling pumped up.
These talents, however, did not extend to work in the kitchen. Honestly, Rainbow struggled to make even a proper daisy sandwich without burning something or cutting herself. So when it fell upon her to care for Macintosh today, it was a little bit nerve-wracking for both of them.
Thankfully for all parties (and kitchen utensils) involved, Macintosh knew his way around the kitchen. Though he looked pale and sick with bloodshot eyes rimmed by dark bags, he sat there stoically like a guardian of the food; that is, if guardians were to wear thick blankets as cloaks, hot water bottles as helmets, and with thermometers in their mouths as their weapons.
“This one?” Rainbow tried.
“Nope,” Macintosh rumbled.
Rainbow pointed at the next spice. “This one?”
“Nope.”
Rainbow guessed again.
“Nope.”
Rainbow exhaled. “This game is no fun,” she groused. “These all kinda look the same.” She reached for another spice, this one tucked behind some larger containers.“This one?”
Mac’s eyes lit up. “Eeyup.”
“Finally!” Rainbow flipped the top and shook it over the pot.
Macintosh winced.
Rainbow noticed and quickly put it back in the cupboard. “I’m going to call that a ‘pinch’,” she said. “Now what? Just mix it?”
“Eeyup.”
Rainbow picked up a small spoon and began to stir.
Macintosh grunted to get her attention, then painfully shook his head.
“Oh, now there's right and wrong spoons to use?!” Rainbow demanded.
Mac gestured towards a drawer that would have more appropriate (and longer) spoons that would actually reach the bottom of the pot.
It was definitely a relief for both of them when Applejack came back in.
“Applejack!” Rainbow dropped the spoon and rushed over and tackled her in a hug. “It’s great to see you again!” she said as she nuzzled Applejack’s cheek.
“Rainbow, I was only gone a few hours!” Applejack protested, but her pushes to get Rainbow Dash off of her were more playful than anything else.
Rainbow sat back up. “Yeah. I’ve been making soup. Did you know that sometimes the top of the salt shaker comes loose and dumps the whole thing of salt in? Because I didn’t.”
Applejack shuddered. “Ugh. Sounds horrible.”
“Eeyup,” Mac agreed.
Finally, it occurred to Rainbow that she was still straddling Applejack. She quickly stood up and held out a hoof to help Applejack up. But as Applejack reached for it, Rainbow Dash froze.
“Where did you get that?” she demanded, pointing at her bracelet.
Applejack glanced at it again. “Found it today in the fields.”
“And you picked it up?!”
Applejack shrugged. “It’s probably been there forever. Whoever lost it is long gone. Kinda pretty.”
“No, I mean… it looks like that, and you picked it up.”
Applejack shrugged again. “Sure. Why not?”
Rainbow shook her head. “I’m not saying it’s a cursed bracelet; but if you had me describe a cursed bracelet, I’d describe something that looks exactly like that.”
Applejack shook her head. “Come on, Rainbow,” she said. “There's no such thing as cursed bracelets.”
“No; but there's powerful magical artifacts that look and act an awful lot like cursed bracelets,” Rainbow retorted.
“And I’m pretty sure you and I have both seen enough magic stuff to know that you don’t pick up old bracelets that could be magical artifacts,” Rainbow argued.
“Eeyup,” Mac interjected.
Applejack shot her brother a glare. “Not you, too… Look, Rainbow, I’ve been wearing it all day. If something was gonna happen, it’d’ve happened already.”
Rainbow exhaled through her nose. “I guess,” she finally said. “But take it off before you come to bed tonight.”
Applejack snorted. “Fine,” she said, hopping up on a chair. “What’s for dinner?”
“Granny Smith’s famous soup a la Rainbow,” Rainbow answered. “With Mac’s help, of course.”
“And extra lemon pepper,” Mac added.
“It was an accident!” Rainbow defended herself.
* * *
The next morning, Applejack awoke bright and early. Rainbow Dash still slumbered next to her, somehow curled up as if she were a little spoon waiting for her big spoon. Applejack couldn’t help but lean in and nuzzle her.
Rainbow stirred, but only enough to tilt her head to expose more of her neck to Applejack’s affections.
Unable and unwilling to resist, Applejack continued for a little while longer before the call of her chores became too great. She gently covered Rainbow back up with the blanket, and then turned to walk out the door. Her eyes flicked over the nightstand, and she was surprised to notice that the bracelet was gone.
“Huh,” she said, tapping her hoof against her temple. “Wonder where it got off to?”
Had she been looking up, she would have noticed it back on her wrist once more.
* * *
Applejack pulled the plow to the end of the row and stopped. She looked back, looking over the field. Perfect. She lifted her hat and wiped off the sweat. “And I’m ahead of schedule,” she said proudly.
A flash of rainbow made her look up. Rainbow Dash circled, holding a basket in her mouth. She landed gently, with a flick of her wings and a swish of her tail. “Your wish is my command!” she said around the handle. She set the basket down and reached inside. She retrieved a cloud, which she quickly brushed away to reveal a frosty pitcher of lemonade underneath. She poured a tall glass and held it out, looking quite pleased with herself.
Applejack couldn’t help but chuckle as she took it. “I didn’t wish for that; but I’ll take it.”
Rainbow’s wingtips wilted ever so slightly. “You mean you didn’t say something like ‘gee, it’s so goldurned hot outside I do declare I wish I had something to drink’?”
“I do not sound like that.” Applejack raised a eyebrow. “How long were you waiting for that, anyway?”
Rainbow shrugged. “Only about ten minutes or so.”
“Uh huh,” Applejack said. “How’s Mac doing?”
“Better,” Rainbow answered, refilling Applejack’s glass. “I think he’s getting better. I left him a snack, and he's all tucked in his bed nice and tight. He won’t have any problems.”
* * *
Macintosh snuggled deeper under the covers. He let out a long, contented sigh. Rainbow had outdone herself this morning. With a nice cup of hot cider in his belly, a warm blanket and cool pillows for his body, he could want for nothing.
And then his eyes snapped open.
I’ve got to pee.
* * *
As Applejack drank, Rainbow looked around. Her eyes fell on Applejack’s left wrist. “Oh. You’re wearing it again.”
“Huh?” Applejack glanced down at her wrist. “Oh. Guess I am.” Must've put it on and just not noticed.
Rainbow shuddered. “I still don’t trust it.”
Applejack shook her head. “It’s a bracelet. Just looks pretty.”
“Whatever you say, Applejack,” Rainbow said, sitting down. She reached into the basket again. “Brought you lunch, too. And before you ask, Granny Smith helped with this one, so don’t worry, it’s edible.”
Applejack cracked a smile as she backed up into the shade of a tree and sat down.
And as they ate, Applejack noticed that Rainbow sat firmly on her right.
* * *
The next day, Mac’s fever finally broke, and he was—much to his relief—able to return to work. At his insistence, Applejack was to stay indoors until at least after lunch.
In other words, she could stay inside until Rainbow Dash woke up.
Thus it was that they were having brunch together at around eleven. Rainbow was quite grateful to not be in charge of cooking anymore. Applejack was grateful for a little down time to spend with Rainbow.
And neither were particularly grateful when their brunch was interrupted by a pounding knock on the door.
“Who’s showing up now?” Rainbow wondered, dropping her fork.
Applejack shrugged and walked up to the door. She opened it.
On her doorstep stood a very familiar khaki pegasus with a stunningly familiar mane.
“A. K. Yearling?” she stammered.
“I’m here as Daring Do, Miss Applejack,” Daring said curtly, politely tipping her pith helmet, “and you’ve got something I need.”
Daring Do ate ravenously. Apple pancake after apple pancake vanished in a spray of syrup and whipped cream. When she literally could not eat another, she politely wiped her mouth with the edge of the tablecloth and went to wash her plate. “I gotta say, that was delicious,” she said. “Can I move here if I ever retire?”
“You don’t seem like the retiring type to me,” Rainbow grinned, going for the not-so-subtle compliment.
“I’m not; but…” Daring Do exhaled and rolled up a sleeve, revealing a bandage that covered a large gash on her foreleg. “I’m getting older, Rainbow Dash. Either that, or they’re getting faster. One of the two.”
“But you’re not retiring any time soon, are you?” Rainbow whimpered, the thought of no more Daring Do books suddenly filling her with dread.
“Nah,” Daring grinned, the fire back in her voice. She threw a few punches in the air. “Too many things to watch out for, too many things to still accomplish, too many tombs and artifacts left undiscovered. I’ve got a few years left in me, and I’m gonna live ‘em!” Her voice grew a bit quieter. “But yeah, eventually, I guess. One day.” She straightened up, invigorated. “But today is not that day!” She turned to Applejack. “Speaking of artifacts, I’m here for a very special reason.”
“Me?” Applejack asked, surprised.
“More like your new accessory.” She pointed at Applejack’s bracelet.
Applejack glanced down. “What, this thing?”
“Yeah. For years I thought they were just a myth by some acolyte; and you just find one on your farm?” She chuckled darkly. “I mean, what are the odds?”
“It's not like I meant to…” Applejack protested, even though she had no idea what Daring Do was even talking about.
Daring Do massaged her temples. “No, you didn't. I know you didn't. Trust me. If you knew what this thing was, you’d’ve tried to destroy it the moment you saw it.”
Applejack blinked. “That bad, huh?”
Daring Do nodded. “It must be destroyed. Permanently.”
“What about the whole it belongs in a museum thing?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You know, for the kids?”
“Remember the Orb of Chrysanthemum?”
Rainbow licked her lips. “Yeah…?”
“And the three-pronged Stick of Griddim?”
Rainbow flinched. “Yeah…?”
“Foals’ play compared to the Bracelets of Oddi.”
“Oh. Yep.” Rainbow turned to Applejack. “Gotta destroy it. Now would be good.” She grinned wryly and stage-whispered, “Told you it was a cursed bracelet.”
Applejack grimaced. “Take it,” she said, sliding it off and holding it out.
“Oh, you wish it was that simple,” Daring said, shaking her head slightly. “You're coming, too.”
“What?”
“It's bound itself to you. You need to come with me to get rid of it.”
Applejack squinted and set the bracelet down on the table. “What do you mean?”
“Hoofbump,” Daring offered, holding out her left hoof.
Applejack was bemused, but played along… and as she lifted her hoof, she saw the bracelet back on her foreleg.
Daring grinned mirthlessly. “That’s what I mean.”
Applejack slid the bracelet off and turned, throwing it as far as she could. She turned back to the table and brushed the flyaways of her mane out of her face. Then she froze. “It’s back on again, ain’t it?”
“Yeah,” Rainbow said, staring in horror at Applejack’s foreleg.
“So what’s this bracelet thingy do, anyway?” Applejack asked, squinting at her bracelet.
“Does it slowly drain her magic to feed the rebirth of an ancient king?” Rainbow suggested, sounding equally excited as horrified.
“Not quite,” Daring said, slightly bemused. “It’ll make you stronger. More powerful. Amplifies your inner magic.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Rainbow commented hopefully.
“And, if you get all four bracelets put on you, it’ll make you a slave of whoever holds the leash of the collar that goes along with them.”
“That part does sound bad,” Rainbow amended.
“Now, hold on,” Applejack protested. “I ain’t about to be anypony’s slave.”
“Not yet, you won’t,” Daring agreed. “You’d still need to put on the other three bracelets and the collar. But if we destroy the bracelet you have…”
“Then the bracelets become powerless without all the pieces,” Rainbow realized.
“Something like that,” Daring confirmed.
Applejack exhaled. “I’ll tell Macintosh,” she said. “Looks like we’re going on another adventure.”
* * *
“Can you believe Twilight has a checklist for going out on incredible journeys like this?” Rainbow asked. “She thinks of everything. I mean, I had the whole water and food and extra bandages thing, but the bandanas and the tarps and the baby powder were a good call.”
“I’m surprised and I’m not at the same time,” Applejack said, hefting her saddlebag. Her eyes flicked over to the other pegasus. Daring Do had already had her supplies with her, but she did ask for—and had received—a few apples from the farm before leaving.
“So, where are we headed?” Rainbow Dash asked. “An ancient volcano high in the mountains? A deep, dark, dense jungle? The pyramids in Saddle Arabia?”
“All of those things and more, actually,” Daring said with a grin. “The temple we’re heading for is a small pyramid in the jungle about an hour’s journey from a volcano.”
“Sweet!” Rainbow pumped her hoof in the air. “That’s all kinds of adventure!”
“Yeah,” Daring said, making a slight left and heading towards the train station. “We’ve just got to get there, first. That’s usually the hardest part.”
“Usually?”
* * *
Applejack watched the scenery go rushing by outside the train window. She looked back down, and then squinted at the ticket. “Uh, Miss Do?”
“Daring, please,” Daring Do said amicably from her relaxed position, back against the wall, forelegs crossed behind her head. “Ahuizotl calls me Miss Do.”
“Daring, then,” Applejack corrected. “Uh, what’s in Vanhoover?”
Daring raised an eyebrow. “Ice hockey and plants of questionable legality. Why?”
“That’s where these tickets are going.”
“Oh, yeah. This train passes over the river we need to sail down to get where we’re going.”
“Sailing?”
“Faster than walking,” Daring grinned. “And, no offense, but I can’t carry you that far.”
Applejack wasn’t quite sure that answered her question, but she was interrupted by Rainbow Dash coming back into their train car, carrying with her a few snacks.
“Hey, girls,” she said, grinning widely. “Guess what they’re selling now?”
“Is it apple candy?” Applejack guessed.
Rainbow shook her head. “Cloudbursts,” she said, holding up a small pink rock. Inside, it seemed to sparkle. On further examination, it seemed to be a miniature cloud, or maybe a hailstone, with lightning flickering inside.
“No way!” Daring said, sliding over. “I love cloudbursts! I haven’t had those in forever!”
Rainbow held out the bag. “Brought them to share,” she offered.
Daring Do popped a blue one into her mouth. She grinned. “Oh, makes me feel like a filly again. My mom used to make these.”
Applejack blinked as she realized that Rainbow Dash had not offered her one. She scooted over a bit closer to her. “Can I try one?”
Rainbow hesitated. “They’re kinda shocking,” she said, “but if you want one…”
Now feeling somewhat defiant, Applejack took one and popped it in her mouth.
Now, Applejack had been in many eating contests before. She’d been on the judges panel for more than one Apple Family Spicy Vegetable Chili Cook-Offs. But she wasn’t prepared for the burst of electricity that exploded in her mouth. It was as if she’d swallowed a lightning bolt. Her head twitched and she choked. It had been flavorful, yes; but at what cost? Would she ever be able to taste anything ever again?
Rainbow chortled. “Guess it’s more of a pegasus thing. We’re a bit more immune to lightning.”
Applejack morosely rubbed her numb tongue. “Gueth tho,” she mumbled.
* * *
It hadn’t been an hour later when a snoozing Applejack was woken up by somepony shaking her shoulder.
“Get up,” Daring Do whispered. “We’re there.”
Applejack peered out the window, but there didn’t seem to be anything that could possibly qualify as ‘there’. “Where’s there?”
“Come on,” Daring said, now shaking Rainbow Dash awake. “We’re going to miss it!”
“Miss what?” Applejack asked. The train didn’t even look like it was slowing down. What was she talking about?
Daring Do merely gestured with her head. “Grab your saddlebags and let’s go!”
They followed her through the train cars, past the passengers, all the way back to the end of the train. Daring Do opened the side door of the last baggage car.
“Well, this is our stop!” Daring shouted over the roaring wind. “Get ready to jump!”
“Ju-?! Are you out of your gourd?” Applejack shouted back.
“Probably!” Daring Do said cheerfully as she tightened her saddlebags.
“We can’t survive that!” Applejack insisted.
In response, Daring Do spread her wings. Applejack glanced over, and Rainbow Dash had also spread her wings.
Applejack, of course, had no wings to spread. “And what am I supposed to do?”
Daring Do thought for a moment, and then reached inside Rainbow’s saddlebag and pulled out the tarp. “You ride,” she said.
“You’re kidding me,” Applejack deadpanned.
“You have a better idea?”
Applejack sputtered. “No,” she admitted.
Rainbow picked up her half of the tarp in her teeth. “Then get on!”
Applejack grit her teeth together and got on the tarp, straddling it as if it were a pole. When she was in position, the two pegasi pulled apart until Applejack was suspended (and flipped upside-down). She wrapped her legs around it as tightly as she could. Daring Do nodded to count them down, and on her mark, they jumped out of the train, their wings beating furiously to keep all three ponies aloft. Applejack clung on tightly, but she needn’t have worried; both pegasi flew smoothly as they lowered her gently to the ground.
“Ok, that wasn’t half bad,” Applejack grudgingly admitted as she kicked her hooves free of the tarp. It had felt slightly awkward, but it hadn’t been terribly uncomfortable.
“Admit it, flying is awesome!” Rainbow said, nudging Applejack’s hips.
“I said it wasn’t half bad, and that’s all you’re getting,” Applejack grinned impishly.
Rainbow shrugged. “Fine. Now what?”
“Now, we hitch a ride,” Daring said, pulling out a pair of binoculars. She grinned at something only she could see. “Perfect. You’re right on schedule, you are…”
Rainbow walked up and squinted. “Who is?”
Daring Do lowered her binoculars. “How do you feel about steamboats?”
“This is insane,” Applejack hissed back, tugging her shirt collar down a bit. “We're stowaways!”
“We are using our surroundings to our advantage for the greater good and safety of Equestria proper,” Daring Do corrected as she slid Applejack’s bag into hiding. “Now put on your hat.”
“How come I’m the one in the hat and the dress?” Applejack protested.
“Because all of the spare crew member uniforms in that closet had wing holes, and you don’t have wings. You’re a passenger now, so act like it!”
“Act how?” Applejack asked.
Daring glanced up, and her ears pricked. “Like you belong here,” she hissed, “and you’d better figure it out soon!”
“What do-?”
But she figured out what she’d meant when somepony who did actually work there coughed politely behind her. They spun around to see a stallion there, dressed in a very nice suit with the logo of the steamboat embroidered on his chest. “Good evening, madam. Will you be joining one of the parties tonight?”
Applejack glanced briefly at the two pegasi before speaking in a perfect Manehattan accent. “Yes, I believe I shall,” she said. “Sitting in my room all alone is dreadfully boring. Which of the parties would you recommend, good sir?”
The stallion seemed to brighten at being asked his opinion. “Well, the theme dance has always been popular with our guests. Others prefer the fast-paced action of the games room.”
“I have always enjoyed games,” Applejack said. “Perhaps I shall try that.”
“Certainly. Just flash your ticket at the door.” He paused and raised an eyebrow. “You do have your ticket, I presume?”
“She did,” Daring Do piped up. “We were checking. But Clumsy Butterhooves here-” she jerked her head towards Rainbow, “-dropped it and it got soaked in the spray.”
Rainbow buried her head in her hooves, though whether from false shame or hiding her laughter Applejack really couldn’t tell.
The stallion raised an eyebrow, and Daring continued. “I mean, she could go down and have another one reprinted, but that would be such an inconvenience for our guest, and it wouldn’t be fair to punish her for our mistake.”
That was the magic word. The stallion straightened up and smiled brightly. “But of course. Our guests should not be forced to compensate for the... actions of the crew.” His eyes narrowed as he glared at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow coughed. “Well, let’s get going, we’ve got parties to go to and activities for the whole family!” she said. “Follow me, ma'am.”
The three mares started walking; and right as Applejack was convinced that they’d managed to fool him, he coughed.
“Um, fillies?”
They looked back.
The stallion pointed behind him. “It would be quicker to go this way.”
“Right,” Rainbow said. “I knew that.” She quickly walked with Applejack the other way, and as she passed him, she leaned in and whispered, “First cruise on here. Can you tell?”
“Hardly,” he said flatly.
As soon as the stallion was out of sight, Applejack let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
Daring bumped her excitedly. “You have a great accent! Where’d you learn that?”
“Manehattan. Spent a summer there as a filly. Oh, I was sweatin’ like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs…” Applejack panted. “I thought he was gonna see right through me! What now?”
“Now, you get to play a game. Good luck!”
“I beg your pardon?”
“He’s going to expect us in here, so if he comes back and we’re gone, it’s the whole steamboat on high alert looking for stowaways,” Daring Do explained.
“I thought you said we weren’t stowa-?”
“So we’re going in there and you’re going to play a round or two,” Daring Do cut her off. “Come on.”
They soon found the game room. And it was nothing like Applejack had expected. “What kind of games are they playing?” she asked.
“Poker?” Daring Do guessed. “Looks like poker.”
“You’re terrible at poker!” Rainbow chuckled, nudging Applejack playfully.
“Remember,” Daring whispered as they walked Applejack inside like an honor guard. “You’re cool, calm, and confident. You belong here. You-”
“-are half an hour late!”
They looked over to see a mare standing there, looking none too pleased. “Where have you been? Your shift started at six!” she hissed.
And the next thing they knew, she was whisking the two pegasi away, muttering angrily under her breath, leaving Applejack there, facing a table.
The mare nearest her looked up and pushed the chair out with a hoof, inviting her to sit.
Applejack gulped. There was no way this could end badly.
Still, she needed to hide. So with more than a little bit of trepidation, she sat down at the table.
The dealer gave her a polite nod in welcome. “Small buy-in, twenty bits.”
Applejack winced. That was twenty bits more than she’d planned on spending today. “Right,” she said, reaching for her bit pouch. “Are we playing stud or draw?”
“Draw,” the dealer answered politely. Applejack realized that it was written on the table right in front of her. She winced. So much for a solid first impression.
She was given chips and dealt her cards, and she picked them up. She knew how to play poker, of course. She was just really, really bad at it.
She organized her cards and placed two back down, and received two more in return. Her ears pricked up, and she grinned.
Her fellow players reacted quickly.
“Fold.”
“I fold.”
“I’m out.”
Applejack cracked a wry smile as she scooped up her chips. Not bad for a pair of threes*.
* * *
Applejack’s ears drooped, but she maintained her dogged staring at her cards. She slid another chip in and waited. Was hoping for that four of a kind, but a flush ain’t bad.
Her partners twitched. One reached for a chip, and then retracted his hoof, uncertain of his actions.
Applejack, not wanting to give off any more tells than she already was, glanced away from the table. Her eyes landed on a cyan mare with a rainbow-colored mane.
Rainbow Dash was wearing a tight serving saddle carrying drinks and other snacks, drawing as much attention to her body as it could without looking too scandalous. Her eyes met Applejack’s, and she glared at Applejack and mouthed, ‘Not. One. Word.’
Applejack cracked a smile and looked back at her cards.
“Fold.”
“Ha. I’m staying.”
And the game continued.
A few rounds later, though, Applejack’s ears pricked up, and not because of her cards she’d just been dealt. She couldn't shake the feeling that somepony was staring at her. She shook her head and slid another chip in the pot.
But she still couldn’t shake that feeling that she was being watched.
She dared to look over her shoulder, and amidst all the ponies there, she caught sight of a griffon. He seemed to be smirking as he looked at her.
Seeing that he’d caught her attention, he smoothly stood up and ambled over. “Good evening. That’s a nice bracelet you have there,” he said by way of greeting.
Applejack froze. Her heart started racing, but she did her best to remain calm. “Thank you kindly,” she said guardedly. “It’s been in the family for generations.”
“Is that so?” he answered. “That’s fascinating. I wonder-”
And then a khaki hoof rested on his shoulder.
“Good evening, sir. Would you care for a drink?” Daring Do asked with a strange, almost eerily chipper voice.
“No, I’m fine,” he answered.
“That’s good to hear,” Daring Do continued airily. “It seems that this table is full, sir. But we have plenty of other games you might join in.”
“I’m just trying to have a conversation,” he answered, his face curling up in a suppressed snarl.
Daring Do smiled disarmingly. “I’m afraid that would detract from her playing experience, and we cannot allow that,” she said, gently turning him away and escorting him to another table. “There are other games you can join.”
His tail flicked as he was led away, clearly annoyed but unwilling to make a scene. As she led him away, Daring Do looked back towards Applejack. ‘Run!’ she mouthed.
Applejack needed no second warning. “Fold,” she announced, dropping her cards, scooping up her remaining winnings and dumping them in her bag. She raised a hoof respectfully towards the dealer (who was still reeling from the fact that she had just folded with a flush) and turned to head out.
Rainbow Dash saw her leaving, and quickly dropped off all of her drinks at the nearest table (much to the surprise of the ponies there) and quickly trotted over to catch up to Applejack. She ducked her head. “What’s going on?” she asked in a rushed whisper.
Applejack answered, “I think we’ve been had.”
They jumped at the sound of glass shattering. They spun around to see a griffon, stunned and laying across a table, and Daring Do holding a shattered bottle.
“Sir, this uniform is not an invitation,” she growled loud enough that everypony there could see.
At that particular table, an older mare sat, playing blackjack. She hefted her purse. Apparently she’d worked waitressing jobs before. Or maybe she was just intent on teaching him a lesson. Or perhaps she had been busting on twelves the past three rounds and needed some way to vent her anger. Either way, the griffon soon found himself on the receiving end of a very angry handbagging.
Daring Do took a step back and quickly faded back into the crowd as some ponies got up to watch and security ponies darted in. “I don’t think he even has a ticket!” she cried before she disappeared deeper into the crowd.
“Where’s she going?” Rainbow asked.
“Where are we going?” Applejack countered. “We’re not going to just jump overboard, are we?”
“Nah,” Rainbow shook her head. “In Daring Do and the Search for the Golden Scepter, she was on a steamboat like this one. That’s probably how she knew where the closets were.”
“And?”
“And in the book, she borrowed a lifeboat to leave.”
“So you want to ‘borrow’ a lifeboat?” Applejack asked.
“I’m not gonna swim, if that’s what you’re asking!” Rainbow retorted. “There’s piranhas and who knows what else in that river. Come on!”
They raced around the outer deck, looking for the lifeboats.
“There!” they heard a voice cry. Rainbow looked behind to see two griffons, pointing after them.
And now they were racing for their lives.
“Split up!” Rainbow called, making a sharp left turn. Applejack nodded and kept running straight. When she could, she took a right turn.
This was a mistake; her path led her deeper into the steamboat. She ducked around surprised mares, startled stallions, and laughing foals; but the sound of the griffon chasing her grew louder as well.
She ducked under a banner and headed further into the bowels of the ship. The sound of the claws against the metal behind her grew fainter, and she allowed herself a faint smile. She darted around the corner…
And slammed headfirst right into a large, exposed pipe.
Applejack dropped to the ground, clutching at her head. She tried to stand up, but the sounds of claws on metal made her freeze.
The griffon from earlier stood there, and he looked quite angry (the feathers missing from his face from the handbagging attack didn’t help, either). Before Applejack could react, he grabbed her right foreleg and slid a second bracelet on.
“It is a match,” he laughed as Applejack pulled away. “Griffone will be pleased.”
Applejack forced herself upright, eyes narrowed. “Is that all you got?” she growled, pawing at the ground.
The griffon snorted. “Actually, it is,” he admitted, “the three of us were only given one bracelet each. But the more bracelets you’re wearing, the stronger the pull of the others; and the easier it is to track you.” His beak curled up in an evil smile. “You can run, and we’ll find you; or you can come quietly with me right now.”
Applejack straightened up and grinned. “I’m’a take a third option.”
He didn’t even have time to be taken aback before two hooves slammed into the back of his head. His head traveled forward until it was suddenly stopped by the same pipe Applejack had hit. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.
“I ain't never been so glad to see you,” Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash bowed, but then paused. “Wait…” she said, working that out in her head.
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Come on!”
With Rainbow leading the way, they quickly managed to get to the outside again. The lifeboats weren’t hard to find, as there were more than enough for everypony on board.
What was hard was getting one free. To prevent sabotage or vandalism, they had been locked.
“Seriously?” Rainbow asked, pawing at the lock. “What if it was an emergency?” She pulled, then twisted, and finally leaned down and gnawed on the lock. “It’s… stuck…” she grunted.
“Hey, now,” Daring Do’s voice broke in. “Vandalism isn’t the answer. We’re not common scofflaws, after all.”
“Daring!” Rainbow cheered.
Daring held up a key. “In the fur,” she said. “Sorry I'm late. Had some trouble shaking my tails.” She tossed the key to Rainbow Dash. “Get us a boat, drop it in the water, keep it close to the steamboat.”
Applejack raised a hoof. “Where are you going?”
“I need my bag. It won’t take long to get it!” Daring called over her shoulder.
“Get mine, too!” Rainbow called.
Applejack rolled her eyes. “I think we’ve got bigger things to worry about,” she muttered.
Rainbow finished unlocking the boat. She started to push. “Come on, help me get this up!”
Applejack lowered her shoulder and pushed up, lifting the boat off of its holding hooks. But right before they could finish pushing it over the barrier…
“Excuse me!”
Applejack spun around to see that same stallion as before, This time, though, he looked very angry.
“This is most irregular! What is your room number?” he demanded. “You’ll be restricted to your cabin for the remainder of the voyage!”
Applejack grimaced… and then, faster than he could react, reared back and headbutted him. He dropped like a sack of potatoes, unconscious. “Aww,” Applejack grumbled, reaching up and rubbing her head. “I’m gonna feel guilty about that one.”
“Don’t,” Rainbow urged, a wide smile on her face. “That was awesome.”
With no further interruptions, they soon got the boat into the water. With a silent nod of understanding, they both ditched their outfits. Rainbow flew down while Applejack slid down the side of the boat.
The problem was they were alone. Minutes dragged on, but there was still no sign of their third party member.
Rainbow chewed on her hoof. “Where’s Daring?”
As if on cue, Daring Do burst from a window, sending glass shards flying everywhere. She spun in midair and lashed out, and her rear hooves caught the beak of griffon that had been chasing her. Her kick snapped his head back, slamming him against the steel hull of the ship and knocking him out and leaving him hanging half in, half out.
She threw their bags into the boat. “Go! Go! Go!” she shouted.
Rainbow Dash needed no second instruction. She grabbed the rope with her teeth and flew, dragging the boat along behind her; and the three left the steamboat behind and disappeared into the evening.
Deep in the jungle, a preening bird looked down in surprise. The bird cocked its head, but still couldn’t make sense of this situation. It had never seen an animal like this before, and wasn’t sure what to make of it. After a few moments, it determined that the best course of action would be to squawk irritably at it.
The upside-down bright yellow lifeboat paid it no mind as it slowly trudged through the woods. Three ponies stood underneath it, carrying it on their heads.
“All things considered, this isn’t so bad,” Rainbow Dash said pleasantly.
“Speak for yourself,” Applejack said with just a hint of bitterness. “Could barely sleep a wink last night, what with all the rocking on the river. Give me good, solid earth any day of the week.”
“Look on the bright side,” Daring Do interjected. “At least with this, we’re protected from snakes falling on our heads.”
“Do snakes do that?” Applejack asked. She never had problems with snakes, but the thought of one dropping down from above did make her a bit uncomfortable.
Daring Do nodded grimly. “More times than I’d like to admit,” she said with a shudder.
They continued walking for most of the day. Every once in a while, Daring would stop (nearly making Rainbow Dash run into her), reorient herself, and then keep walking.
Rainbow leaned back to Applejack and whispered, “Daring Do never gets lost. Her talent is finding things.”
“Do you think she could find us a place to break for food?” Applejack whispered back.
“Heard that,” Daring Do called back. “We’ll stop soon. Hopefully we’ll make it to a town tomorrow. That little incident left us a good twenty miles behind where I wanted to be, but we’ll manage.”
“Little towns? In the jungle?” Applejack asked. She stepped over a brightly colored frog that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. “They must be nuttier than a squirrel’s nest in winter.”
“In all fairness, we live right outside the Everfree Forest,” Rainbow pointed out.
Daring Do barked a laugh. “Yeah. The Everfree is a really scary place. Everything wants to eat you. You know, I once tried to go exploring in the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters. I almost didn’t make it out.”
“No!”
“Yes,” Daring said. “Timberwolf nearly had me for dinner.”
“What happened?” Rainbow asked eagerly.
Daring Do grinned, and Applejack could swear that she was swishing her hips a bit more as she got into storytelling mode. “So there I was, all alone in the Everfree…”
* * *
As much as Applejack didn't really want to admit it, the time passed quickly as Daring Do spoke. She seemed to be a natural storyteller, and more than once she found herself paying more attention to Daring Do than where she was going. This mare could talk for hours.
Finally, as the story ended, Daring Do slowed to a stop. “I think here’s good for now,” she said. “Settle down, but bring me any plants you see before you eat them. Lots of plants here look good but aren’t good for you.”
“I packed us plenty of food,” Applejack said, pulling off her saddlebag. She reached inside and started distributing food. “Dig in!”
Daring Do did so. She took a bite, and her eyes widened. “Wow,” she said, looking at Applejack with respect. “I should bring you along to all my excursions. The last trip I was on, the nicest thing that happened was I got this saddlebag.” She gestured at it. “I could swear the cook in our group was trying to poison us.” She cracked a smile. “Well, he was working for Caballeron, so I guess he was. But seriously. Make food for me and I’ll take you anywhere.”
Applejack was afraid Rainbow Dash was going to ask about the last journey. She wasn’t exactly keen on listening to another of Daring’s stories; they'd never get to sleep.
Thankfully, Rainbow’s mind was elsewhere. “That is a sweet bag. What’s in it that was so important?”
Daring Do unzipped it and opened it triumphantly. “Medicine,” she answered.
Applejack looked in and raised an eyebrow. “Looks like a bunch of dead bugs and snakes to me.”
Daring nodded. “Yeah, those too. Turns out some venom is good in small doses, if you know how to use it. That one slows down your heart. Good for if you need to play dead for a while. That one speeds up your heart. That's a numbing venom. Great for when you need to un-pincushion yourself.”
“Oh. So that's how you made it through the tunnel in the Temple of Veritis without trouble,” Rainbow Dash grinned.
Daring Do grinned impishly right back. “Didn't know about this stuff, then. I just bit down on a shaft and just powered through it.”
Rainbow sat back, impressed.
“How do you know all this?” Applejack had to ask.
Daring Do shrugged. “Good luck and guesswork, really.”
For some reason, Applejack did not find this particularly comforting.
“And we’ll probably need them,” Daring said grimly as she zipped her bag back up. “Jungle animals don’t particularly like strangers. I’ll take first watch tonight.”
“I’ve got second!” Rainbow volunteered.
Applejack grinned. “Third, then.”
“Great.” Daring Do grinned. “Let’s hope the rest of the trip goes as smoothly.”
* * *
Applejack whistled as she set out breakfast. She glanced down at the bracelets on her forelegs, and paused. The fur around the bracelet on her left leg seemed to be growing darker in color. “Heh,” she muttered, trying to calm herself. “Maybe it’s just the metal reacting to my coat.”
“Or maybe they’re strengthening their hold on you,” Daring suggested through a yawn.
Applejack flinched.
“Not helping,” Rainbow Dash hissed.
“Not lying,” Daring Do hissed back.
Applejack suddenly found her breakfast quite interesting.
Thankfully, aside from this, it seemed to be a smooth journey. With the exception of the presence of a few snakes, a couple frogs, and a spider approximately the size of Winona, it was fairly easy-going as they trekked through the jungle.
And then at around eleven came the sound of rushing water.
“Perfect!” Daring Do crowed, picking up the pace. “This’ll get us there a lot faster!”
They soon arrived at the river. Daring Do flipped the boat over. “Alright. Supplies in first, grab a few push-poles, and we’ll be on our way.”
Applejack nodded. She walked over to a nearby tree and reached up with her hoof. The bracelet she wore seemed to gleam in the light as she pulled.
And she nearly tore the tree in half.
Both pegasi spun around. Applejack looked down sheepishly at the tree branch in her hoof. “Heh… Oops?” she offered.
“Super strength. They are strengthening their hold on you,” Daring said grimly. “We’ve got to keep moving.”
It wasn’t long before they were sailing down the little river. If it weren’t for the fact that they were sailing to free Applejack from a curse, it really might have been a pleasant journey.
Finally, in the early afternoon, Daring Do sat up and threw aside the giant leaf she’d taken for shade. “I think we’re here,” she said.
“Where’s here?” Applejack asked.
Daring pushed the pole into the water and forced the boat over to the other shore. “We’ll see,” she answered cryptically.
Sure enough, there was a village here, probably a quarter of the size of Ponyville. Little foals wearing mud on their faces darted around, laughing and playing. They slowed to a stop and stared at them as they passed by.
“Is it your clothes?” Rainbow asked.
“More like my wings,” Daring replied. “They’re mostly earth ponies here.”
Rainbow nudged Applejack. “Good. Then we’ve got an in.”
“I’m your in,” Daring corrected. “And you’d better hope I do it right.”
“Huh?”
“There are two incompatible dialects here. Gotta make sure I use the right one when the mayor comes out to greet us.”
“Can’t you listen to them talk first?”
Daring shook her head grimly. “Visitors announce themselves first. It’s tradition.”
“I don’t think I like tradition,” Rainbow Dash muttered.
Sure enough, the mayor came out. Applejack was surprised to see that he looked like any other pony, aside from the long shaggy mane. Then again, it looked like everypony here wore their mane shaggy; she caught some of the others staring at her mane as if confused.
The mayor stood up, head held high.
Daring stepped forward, cleared her throat, and spoke.
There was a silence.
And then the mayor’s face curled up in an angry scowl.
“Ah, horseapples!” Daring swore under her breath.
“You used the wrong one?!” Rainbow hissed.
“Looks like it.”
“And that’s… bad?”
“Yeah. The respectful greeting in one dialect means the equivalent of a latrine in the other,” Daring explained grimly, eyes flicking around wildly as she took a step back.
“So basically you called him a poo-poo-head?” Rainbow guessed.
“More or less,” Daring confirmed. “Which is the equivalent in this culture of-”
But what exactly it was equivalent to, Rainbow never learned; an arrow whizzed by and embedded itself in a wooden post not an inch from her face. She yelped. “Let’s get out of here!”
“Good plan!” Applejack shouted, wheeling around.
* * *
Fleeing was chaos. The jungle was too cramped to allow for flying, so all three were on hoof. Arrows and rocks flew after them. Rainbow Dash found herself dipping, diving, ducking, and dodging flying rocks, trees, vines, snakes that looked like vines, and even a brightly colored bird.
Wait. That bird kinda looked like her.
She darted around and hid behind the tree where the bird was perched. Her pursuers neared, and caught sight of the bird. One laughed quietly, and another threw a rock up at her.
The bird squawked in protest and flew off in a flash of brightly-colored feathers. The ponies hesitated, but then kept moving, looking around for the elusive pegasus.
Rainbow Dash waited until the sounds of their hoofsteps had left before releasing the breath she’d been holding. She let out a little chuckle at her own cleverness.
That chuckle died as she realized that she was now all alone in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by bugs and creepy crawlies and who knew what else. She shuddered.
But she wasn’t about to give up. Daring Do wouldn’t give up! Neither would she! Straightening up, she… crouched back down, making sure to stay low and as out of sight as possible.
She grimaced as she realized that she had lost her bags in the confusion. Too late, she realized that her bright coat and multi-colored mane meant she stood out like a broken primary.
Still, she tried to use what she remembered from the Daring Do books. Staying low. Continually moving. And, most importantly-
“Psst!”
Never get caught.
Rainbow froze, and her ears pricked up. Her heart pounded as she readied herself for a fight.
“Psst!”
Wait. That had almost sounded like… She looked over, but saw nothing.
Oh!
Daring Do stood, pressed up against a nearby tree. Her coat allowed her to blend in almost seamlessly. She motioned Rainbow Dash down.
Rainbow dropped to the ground, and not a moment too soon. The villagers came back, growling. Their patience had run out, and they were back with a vengeance.
Rainbow watched as Daring Do slowly reached into her pocket, pulled out a rock, and tossed it over, away from where they were. She grinned as she heard the villagers hesitate, then walk over to where it had landed. Daring Do was so clever! Rainbow glanced down.
And then she froze. Crossing in front of her was a snake. A huge snake. Its tongue flicked out as it slithered closer. Rainbow Dash vaguely remembered Fluttershy saying that snakes couldn’t hear very well. That was good, because her heart was pounding so loud she was almost afraid she would be caught.
And then her heart nearly stopped as she remembered that snakes hunted more by their heat vision than anything else. And Rainbow Dash was sweating.
The snake slithered closer. Rainbow lifted a hoof and made a shooing motion, but the snake didn’t seem to be affected. If anything, its tongue flicked in and out even faster, and it drew closer.
Rainbow Dash realized that she was trapped between a thunderhead and the ground. If she moved, she’d be caught; if she stayed still, she’d be bitten.
She had almost determined to run and just hope that she was faster than the villagers when a rock flew by her head and clocked the snake in its head. The snake almost looked dizzy, and then a khaki-colored mouth bit down on its tail.
Daring Do flung the snake further away into the jungle. “Come on,” she whispered. “Let’s get out of here!”
“That was so cool!” Rainbow said excitedly. “You threw that rock right on!”
“Yeah. Snake was just curious. I’ll kill ‘em if I have to, but it usually doesn’t come to that,” Daring said. “Doesn’t usually make it into the book if I do, either. Let’s keep moving.”
Applejack’s eyes slowly opened. Her head swam. What did she remember? She remembered… She remembered taking a dart to the back of her leg and falling. Was it poison? It must have been.
She came to slowly. She was laying on her back on a table that felt like logs that had been lashed together. Her hooves were tied with rope tautly to each corner, and she tried to pull, but her limbs felt weak, and she could barely move the ropes to say nothing of breaking them. Realizing just how exposed she was, she flicked her tail up between her legs to give herself a little privacy. It felt like it weighed a ton. What was going on?
She glanced around, trying to gain any information she could. As her vision cleared, she saw a villager seated nearby, facing the wall opposite her, with a long spear over his shoulder.
Applejack swallowed. Her throat felt dry, almost like sandpaper, but she had to try. “Hey… uh… I don’t know if you can understand me, but, uh… I don’t suppose you’d be willing to let me go, would you?”
The villager glanced over at her. “Not a chance,” he said.
“Oh,” Applejack said. “Because I was hoping…” Her eyes narrowed. “Hey!”
“What?”
“You can understand me?!”
The villager cracked a crooked smile. “Yeah. Lots of tourists come through here, scientists. We picked it up, easy.”
“So if you knew what we were saying, why did you attack us?” Applejack asked.
The villager lifted a hoof, revealing shiny golden bits. “Because one language is most powerful,” he answered with a smirk.
Applejack grimaced. That was no good. “At least let my friends go,” she tried.
The villager spat. “Winged ponies got away,” he said disgustedly. “No matter. They pay less for them. Pay most for you.”
“Didn’t say,” he shrugged. “Only pay.” He paused, then grinned at the rhyme he’d just made.
Applejack felt herself growing angry. “So you sold us out for bits.”
The villager smirked. “Is what it is. For what it’s worth, the dirt-colored winged pony got the dialect right. She was just speaking the wrong language.” He clinked his bits once more.
Applejack scowled. “You low-down no-good mangy varmint,” she spat.
He hesitated. “These are… terms of endearment?” he guessed.
Applejack snarled. “Step on over here and I’ll endear my hoof into your head, you-!”
The curtains opened, and someone stepped in. Applejack squinted. The light made it so she couldn’t see.
A griffon, one she’d seen on the steamboat, stepped into the room. His beak curled up in a twisted smile. “Remember me?”
“Hard to forget,” Applejack spat. She tried to tear her hoof free, but was unable to move.
“You’re still sedated,” he said. “Nice try, though.” He chuckled. “I guess you’re better at poker than you are at fighting.”
Applejack narrowed her eyes. “Let me go and I’ll show you just how good I am,” she threatened.
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly do that,” the griffon said. He paused, as if remembering something. “Actually, I probably could; they tell me that sedative is good for about four hours.”
Applejack's eyes widened. “Four hours?”
The griffon nodded. “The poison comes from a species of frog that lives here. Affects only the limbs. Which is nice, because some of the other poisons tend to stop the victim from breathing, and that’s never a good thing. Luckily for you, you only have to wait twenty minutes or so.” He lapsed into silence, and Applejack scowled.
The griffon sat and twiddled his thumbs. He glanced over at the villager, and then back over at Applejack.
And then he reached over and flicked her tail away.
Applejack’s hackles raised, and she scowled. With a great effort, she flicked her tail back up again.
Whereupon he reached over and flicked her tail down again.
Applejack’s eyes narrowed. She was too weak to try again, so her eyes flicked over to the villager, who was doing a very bad job at looking like he wasn’t staring. “What’re you looking at?” she demanded.
He received a modicum of karma when the curtain was suddenly lifted again, blinding him. Applejack looked back over.
A new griffon stood there. He seemed extraordinarily out of place, what with his white shirt and silk vest. This must have been the one they called Griffone.
He walked around Applejack. “Good, good,” he murmured. “Earth ponies are strong.”
“You’re just in time,” Applejack said. “Your buddy over there was going to untie me and fight me. I promised not to break his skull too badly.”
The griffon laughed. He leaned down to pinch at Applejack’s stomach, and was apparently pleased with the result. “Yes, you have solid muscles. You’re are a hard worker. You’ve got quite the mouth on you, yes; but I imagine that you will… outgrow that in time.”
“Your skull already outgrew your brain,” Applejack spat.
The griffon smirked. “Clever… for a hatchling. I expected better from you.” He leaned down and examined the bracelets she wore. He took a closer look at the one on her left leg, and grinned. “It is growing. Good.” He reached over and cut a hind leg free. Applejack tried to lift it and make good on her promise, but she found herself as weak as a newborn kitten. Almost in a mockery of tenderness, he picked up her hoof; then reached into his vest pocket and pulled out another bracelet.
Applejack’ gasped.
Now, his eyes brightened. “Oh, yes. You know the story of the bracelets of Oddi, then?” he said. His eyes glinted. “Then you know your fate.” He slid the bracelet on, while Applejack was helpless to do anything but watch. “You’ll make a wonderful servant. Perhaps even an assassin. I’ve heard about those hind legs. You’ve got quite the muscle on them.”
“I’ll crush your head between my thighs, if that’s what you’re asking,” Applejack threatened; but internally, her heart was racing. She was now wearing three of the four bracelets! Did he have…?
“Tie this one back down,” he ordered, and the villager stepped up. Trying—and failing—to make it look like he was not looking between her hind legs, he retied her leg down.
“These are my favorite kind of artifacts,” the griffon continued as he retrieved the fourth bracelet from inside his vest.
Applejack’s face grew white. How? How did he have them?
“Simple to use, simple to control, and an absolute pain in the feathers to destroy.” He grinned. “I suppose I should thank you,” he remarked blithely. “I simply could not find that last bracelet.”
Then he froze as he heard the roaring of a jungle cat. He scowled. “What are they doing so close to camp?” he demanded of no pony in particular.
The villager had shot to his hooves, spear at the ready. He stuck his head out of the curtain, and muttered something under his breath.
And then something grabbed him and yanked him out of the building. He screamed… and then was suddenly cut off.
To Applejack’s horror, the griffon seemed to brighten. “Now seems like a good time to test these,” he said. He leaned down and slid the fourth bracelet on, and then withdrew the collar with a leash from his vest as well. Applejack’s breath grew ragged. She shook her head, silently pleading for mercy.
None was forthcoming.
He buckled the collar on, a bit tighter than strictly necessary, and Applejack almost choked. He took a slight step back and held the other end of the leash. “Now. Go kill whatever made that noise,” he ordered as he took the leash off and wrapped it around his wrist.
Applejack was not sure what he was expecting. Her body was still weak and paralyzed; she couldn't move even if she'd wanted to.
She wasn’t expecting her hooves to suddenly tear themselves free of the ropes and drop to the ground. She saw her wrists turn red from the rope burn; but she didn't even feel the pain. Her body seemed to move on its own, slowly and steadily, out towards the tent opening; Griffone following closely behind.
I'm going to die, Applejack thought. I'm walking towards a giant jungle cat and I don't even have a chair on me.
Her body kept walking outside the tent and she screwed her eyes closed, stunned by the light even as her body kept moving.
“Psst!”
Applejack forced her left eye open, and saw Daring Do waving at her. She brightened…
And then her body started running.
“Whoa!” Applejack cried. “You did that roar, didn't you?”
Daring cracked a smile. “Yeah. But, Applejack, you don't have t-”
That smile quickly faded as Applejack swung. Daring Do ducked just in time, and her hoof embedded Daring’s pith helmet into the tree trunk.
“Whoa!” Daring cried.
“Daring, I can't-” Applejack started, horrified at what her body was doing.
“I know!” Daring called back, also sounding terrified. “Rainbow, get the leash!”
“What leash?” Rainbow called from a nearby tree.
“Big griffon has it!” Daring shouted as she squirmed over, barely dodging Applejack’s powerful stomp that left cracks in the mud.
Rainbow saluted. She darted over… only to quickly stop in front of the tent opening. As Daring Do jumped over Applejack’s swing behind her, she flew back, picked up a rock, and chucked it through the opening.
She was rewarded by a solid thunk and a groan, and she grinned. She darted in, suddenly overwhelmed by the darkness.
She was still able to hear, though, and she heard a grunt. She flapped her wings and flew back out of the way, and the chair Griffone had swung hit harmlessly on the ground.
Griffone scowled angrily, the blood streaming down his face giving him an extra air of ferocity. With an animalistic roar, he swung at her, determined to claw her into oblivion.
Rainbow dodged the first, slid around the second, then delivered a few rabbit kicks to Griffone’s face. They weren't designed to knock him out, oh no; Rainbow was determined to make this as painful and long as possible.
Unfortunately, any fighter knows that the longer the fight goes on, the more likely she is to make a mistake. After the next pass, though she left nice hoofprints on his chest, he managed to grab her tail. He flung her back towards the table, trying to use her momentum as a weapon.
But Rainbow tilted her wings and used his throw as a boost, easily using it to her advantage. She slid right under his open forelegs, and delivered a beautiful kick to his ribs.
Griffone collapsed, coughing up blood. Rainbow looked down and smirked. “How you doing?” she asked. “Because I'm just getting warmed up.”
Griffone scowled. “Then let's give you something to whet your egg tooth on!”
Rainbow squinted. “My what, now?” she asked.
She got her answer when Griffone hefted the leash. “Kill the rainbow one!” he ordered.
Outside, Daring Do lay on her back, teeth bared as she fought to get Applejack’s left hoof off her throat. Applejack reared up and raised her right hoof, intending to smash Daring’s skull in; but it came to an abrupt stop a couple inches above Daring Do’s forehead. She spun back around, and realized in horror exactly what was happening. “No, no, no, no, no!” she pleaded, but her body didn't listen.
She was going to kill Rainbow Dash.
She burst through the tent door and leaped, reaching out for Rainbow Dash. She darted backwards, but the low ceiling of the tent stopped her from escaping. Applejack felt her teeth clamp down on Rainbow’s tail, and her body yanked her down.
Rainbow Dash hit the ground hard. Air was forced out of her lungs as she hit the dirt floor. Applejack raised up a hoof. Rainbow’s eyes widened.
Griffone laughed. “Smash her head in!”
And in his excitement, he forgot to check his corner.
Daring Do flew in, hind leg extended in front of her. She blindsided him, driving that hoof into the side of his head with a sickening crunch. His head whipped around and he dropped to the ground. He did not move again.
As he fell, Applejack did as well, no longer held up by his order. She collapsed on top of Rainbow Dash, once more driving the air from her chest.
“Come on,” Daring hissed, peering out of the tent flaps. “We've got to go before they get back.”
“I’m a little stuck!” Applejack hissed back.
Daring Do realized instantly. “Paralysis,” she grumbled as she tried to lift Applejack up, but Applejack’s limbs were as strong as limp noodles. “Great.” She managed to lift Applejack off Rainbow.
“Is it permanent?” Rainbow squeaked as she got to her hooves.
Daring Do grunted, the weight of Applejack’s body causing her own bruises to ache. “No, but we’re going to have to physically carry her until it wears off,” she answered. “None of my medicines or herbs can undo it. None that I know of, anyway. Unless you want to order her around with the leash?”
“I vote against that,” Applejack pleaded. She hoped she’d never experience that again. Not being in control of her own body was a nightmarish experience.
“I’ll start,” Rainbow Dash offered, ducking under Applejack’s stomach. She gently stood up, and Applejack balanced precariously on top. Daring cracked a wry smile, and she took some of the ropes from the table to strap her down.
“There’s no way there’s just two, though,” Rainbow mused as Daring finished. “I mean, there’s gotta be more griffons.”
They looked out the open doorway to see a group of griffons walking towards the village. One raised a claw and pointed; and though they couldn't understand his words, it was clear what the intentions were.
“Aw, nuts. I hate it when I’m right,” Rainbow muttered.
“Run!” Daring hissed, and they took off.
* * *
Daring Do had a hunch that the griffon gang was more intercity than anything else, and had probably dressed accordingly. Thankfully, she was right. The majority of the griffons wore nice suits and ties, and clearly did not want to follow them through the jungle; instead, many elected to fly over.
This was to their disadvantage; the canopy provided plenty of cover. By the time the lowest-ranking griffon had been ‘elected’ (pushed) into chasing them down on paw, the two pegasi were long gone.
It wasn’t long before Daring Do held up her hoof. She hopped up on a low tree branch and looked around, and she nodded. “I think we’ve lost them; but stay low and under the trees anyway.”
Rainbow Dash was still carrying Applejack. Daring Do made a motion for her, but Rainbow shook her head. “I got her,” she said.
Daring shrugged and continued walking.
As their heart rates slowly returned to normal and the adrenaline faded, their pace slowed.
Rainbow Dash glanced up. The thick canopy above was almost completely trees, but she still had a momentary thought of a griffon flying over. She shuddered and kept walking.
They walked along in silence for a while. The only sounds were hooves against grass and mud, fur on fur from where Applejack rested, and the straps on saddlebags. Daring Do had somehow managed to keep hers, something Applejack found rather impressive.
“Hey, Applejack?” Rainbow suddenly said.
“Yeah?” Applejack said.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Applejack asked.
“We left you behind—Ileft you behind—and I’m sorry for that.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not,” Rainbow insisted. “I was just so excited to be here with Daring Do again that I almost forgot about you. And you almost died.”
“But I didn’t.”
“But you could have. Worse, you could have been turned into an assassin or a murderer, and it would’ve been all my fault.”
Applejack tried to nuzzle her, but still found herself too weak to move. “Nah,” she said. “Wasn’t your fault I didn’t dodge the dart.” She tried to give her a playful nudge, but she once again failed. She scowled, but then continued calmly. “‘Sides, you rescued me, right? Way I see it, I owe you one.”
Rainbow exhaled, relieved. “I don’t think so. And I still feel really bad.”
“Don’t even worry about it, Sugarcube,” Applejack insisted. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to me later.”
Rainbow Dash nodded as she reached back to gently brush a hoof against Applejack's cheek. “You know I will,” she promised.
It was nearly too dark to see before Daring Do finally held up a hoof. “I think we’ll be safe here,” she said in a whisper. “No fire, though. Keep it quiet, same rules as before.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and reached down to untie Applejack’s bindings. Applejack tried to help, but her hoof only twitched weakly before she started sliding off, unable to catch herself.
Luckily, Daring was faster; she darted over and caught Applejack, and gently lowered her to the ground. “There you go,” she said. “Just try and relax. It should be completely out of your system by tomorrow.”
“That sounds great,” Applejack groaned. She had discovered something important: she didn’t like not being able to walk. Her position on Rainbow Dash’s back wasn’t uncomfortable, and being so close for so long was rather nice; but for some reason, she felt really sore anyway.
As she was setting everything down, Rainbow noticed Applejack’s discomfort. She gently splayed Applejack out and then crouched next to her. “Here,” she said, leaning down to massage Applejack’s shoulders.
Daring Do dropped back down from the trees. “We made better time than I thought we would,” she said, pleased. “We’ll probably make it to the temple tomorrow.”
“That’s great,” Rainbow said distractedly.
Daring Do glanced over. She pursed her lips thoughtfully.
Rainbow noticed her staring. “What?” she asked defensively.
Daring Do shrugged. “Well, you know, I don’t mean to intrude on your personal time, and I can make myself scarce for a while if you want me to; but I’ve had some experience with masseuses in my years, and they do things a bit differently. Do you mind?”
Rainbow shook her head.
Daring Do trotted over, sat down on Applejack’s back-
“Hey, now!” Applejack protested.
-and leaned down, pressing her forehooves down near her croup. “Now, hooves go in opposite motions. It starts deep, then slowly goes softens and goes superficial.”
Applejack’s eyes rolled in her head and her breath hitched. Daring Do may not have had a lotus flower on her flank, but right now her hooves felt heavenly. So good, in fact, that she almost felt guilty. After all, she was technically taking pleasure from another pony that wasn’t Rainbow Dash. That was wrong, wasn’t it? Maybe? Rainbow didn't seem too bothered by it.
Instead, Rainbow watched with rapt fascination. “Oh, hey. Let me try that.” She leaned down and tried, pressing down on Applejack’s shoulders.
Applejack inhaled through gritted teeth. Now two sets of hooves were working magic on her. This felt really good. If this were wrong, she didn’t want to be right.
A few minutes into the combined massage, Daring Do chuckled. “You found a good one, Rainbow Dash.”
“A good what?”
In response, Daring Do kneaded especially hard. Applejack couldn’t suppress a little ‘ngh!’, and her ears burned with embarrassment. What she’d give to have her bucking legs back…
Rainbow chuckled. “Yeah, I did. She’s the best. You have no idea. I’d do anything for her.”
Daring Do nodded.
For some reason, that seemed strange. “Rainbow?” Applejack started.
Daring resumed her kneading. “It’s nothing, Applejack. Just let her be sappy for a while.”
“I am not sappy!” Rainbow defended herself, pressing harder. “I am awesome.”
“If by ‘awesome’ you mean ‘sappy’.”
“Nah. Now, this would be sappy.” Rainbow flapped her wings once and flipped back off Applejack’s back. She landed on her stomach, face-to-face with Applejack.
And then she reached up, took hold of Applejack’s head, and pulled her in close for a kiss.
Applejack was taken aback. It wasn’t like Rainbow to be showing affection in front of somepony else. Especially not one of her heroes. But she certainly wasn’t complaining.
Rainbow finally pulled back. “Now that’s sappy,” she panted.
Daring Do tittered. “Should I leave you two alone for an hour, or…?”
“Yes.” “No.”
Rainbow Dash and Applejack glanced at each other. Applejack winced. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so hasty.
“No.” “Yes.”
Rainbow stood and coughed uncomfortably. “When’s dinner?”
Daring Do chuckled. “I’m on it.”
* * *
The next morning, the paralyzing poison had finally worn off, and Applejack was finally able to rejoin the walking section of their group. She had expected to be sore after not moving at all yesterday; but last night’s massage, as strange an experience as it had been, seemed to have helped take most of the edge off. Completely.
“Whoo-ee!” she said, practicing a few open-air kicks. “I’m feeling finer than a bright spring morning!”
“Good,” Daring Do said brightly as she slid a plate with some foreign-looking fruits over, “because we’ve got a long way to go today. Eat fast.”
The moment breakfast had been finished, Daring Do got them all moving again, and the three mares slowly pushed their way through the jungle. Applejack squinted. Well, Daring hadn’t led them wrong yet. This wouldn't be so bad.
* * *
It had been a long journey. Even their game of ‘flick each other’s cutie mark with their tails and see how long it takes Daring to notice’ got old after a while, and that was really saying something.
But as for saying something, Rainbow Dash had been doing plenty of that.
“Are we there yet?” Rainbow asked again for what must have been the fifteenth time.
“Not. Yet,” Daring Do answered through gritted teeth.
“Ok, because you said we’d be there in two hours about three hours ago.”
“I said ‘about two hours’,” Daring said irritably.
“Oh. Ok.”
There were another few moments of silence; and then Rainbow asked again. “Are we there yet?”
Daring inhaled sharply through her nose, as if to try and maintain her patience; and then slowly let it out through pursed lips. “Actually, yes. Yes, we are.” She pushed through one more layer of branches, and sure enough, there stood a little temple in a clearing.
The temple itself looked fairly simple. It was a basic round structure, made of stone with a simple domed roof. But Rainbow seemed to be quivering with excitement. Applejack looked over and raised an eyebrow.
“Now comes the best part,” Rainbow explained. “Looking for traps.”
Daring chuckled. “It's only good if you find them before they find you. Stay back, step exactly where I step.” Daring stepped forward, walking carefully through the open archway. Her eyes easily picked out some of the easier traps to avoid, and some of the more concealed ones, as well. She stepped around pressure plates, stepped over tripwires, and ducked under an ancient version of razor wire until she made it to the end of the room. She turned around and gestured with her head. “Clear!”
“Huh,” Applejack said as she gingerly avoided one of the plates. “They’re pretty protective of their stuff.”
“Yeah,” Daring said, taking one last look at the sun through the open doorway. “Just wait until we get inside the temple proper.”
* * *
“Yeah,” Applejack said, glancing around at the dusty and long-abandoned spiderwebs clinging from the stone walls, “I wouldn’t live here if’n you paid me a hundred bits a night.”
“Oh, come on,” Daring Do said, even as she searched for the right combination to unlock the next puzzle. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Probably up with the sun, which is where I’d rather be,” Applejack grumbled. She turned and glared at Daring Do. “How are you so comfortable down here? I thought pegasuses were all about the open sky.”
“Yeah, pegasi usually are; but when you love something enough, it overrides all your base instincts.” Daring Do smirked as she finished rotating one of the panels and confidently pressed on another.
Nothing happened.
Daring turned and scowled at it. She pressed the panel again, but there was still no reaction. Her eyes narrowed as she pressed it many times in rapid succession; but to no avail.
“Wrong order?” Applejack suggested.
“No, this is the right combination,” Daring hissed. “I felt the clicks. Everything is related to the sun, because that’s what this culture worshiped. What's wrong?”
Rainbow Dash neared, poking around and looking for anything amiss. Applejack had no idea what she was looking for; but she looked around and pretended like she did.
Thankfully, Rainbow Dash found it first. “Oh.”
“What do you mean, ‘oh’?” Daring asked suspiciously.
“I think I found your problem.” Rainbow bit down and pulled out from the bottom of the wall a thick wire that had been completely rusted through.
“Oh, no,” Daring hissed.
Applejack glanced back and forth between the wire and Daring, not quite understanding. “I'm guessing that's important?” she tried.
“Yeah,” Daring said flatly. “This wire is what's supposed to pull and lift the counterweight that lifts this stone wall.”
Applejack squinted at the stone wall. Sure enough, it appeared to be solid stone, heavier than a pony could lift.
“So we’re stuck here?” Rainbow asked.
Daring Do tapped her chin and glanced towards the other end of the hallway. “Well, we can't go back. There could be a way through the priests' chambers, but that wouldn't be...”
Applejack snorted and backed up to the wall. “Hold onto your feathers,” she warned. She took a steadying breath, and she bucked.
Her rear hooves traveled through the wall... and got stuck. The force of her kick, amplified by the bracelets, had not knocked down the wall; but rather had penetrated it, punching two almost circular holes right into the stone.
Daring Do politely hid her chuckles. Rainbow Dash had no such inhibitions and promptly fell on the floor, laughing uproariously.
Applejack scowled as she tugged her legs free one at a time, bringing with them small chunks of rock. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” she grumbled.
“Maybe a little too much strength,” Daring said.
Muttering under her breath about those goldurned bracelets, Applejack tried again, this time taking a step forward to deliver the force to the wall itself rather than through it. Now weakened, the wall quickly collapsed after the second kick. Applejack adjusted her hat proudly. “How’s that?” she asked.
“Can we just have her do that for every puzzle in here?” Rainbow asked hopefully.
“We’ll see,” Daring said with a smile.
“Oh, come on! She’d totally crush anything in our way!”
* * *
“I take that back,” Rainbow said, taking a shaky step back. “No crushing this one. Nope.”
“Good thinking,” Daring Do deadpanned as she slowly slid a hoof forward to test the next tile. “A nice lava bath is definitely not what the doctor recommended.”
“How did they even build something like this?” Applejack wondered as she watched Daring slowly choose her next step. “It'd be like sleeping next to a fire every night.”
“It’s a fascinating combination of applied physics and little luck in the form of an inactive volca- watch your tail!”
Applejack froze and glanced back, and she noticed that she had nearly dipped the tip in the lava. She winced and carried it slightly higher.
“Yeah, I’m not going through another adventure smelling like burnt mane,” Daring grumbled.
“Another?” Rainbow asked.
Daring Do carefully checked the next tile. “Now that is a story for another time,” she said primly.
Applejack ducked under a vine. “You're telling me that they built all these traps just in case somepony was foolish enough to try and get back here… for what?”
“Dangerous magic,” Daring said, making air quotes with her wings. “Where we’re going can destroy anything.”
Applejack frowned. “Seems kinda silly to me. Where did they even find this magic?”
Daring gingerly stepped over a root. “Some things are better off left undiscovered,” she said.
Applejack snorted, but then realized that she had a point. If everypony had this destructive magic at their hooftips, there’s no telling what would happen.
“I’m more interested in how they knew how to build so many traps,” Rainbow interjected. They hadn’t had a trap in a while. They really were due for one.
“Yeah, well, I guess this is what ponies did for fun back then,” Daring shrugged. “Build traps to kill ponies.”
“What, they didn’t write stories?” Applejack snarked.
Rainbow chuckled, but Daring Do just smirked. “One of the earliest records of writing we have is actually a story that can only be called science-fiction. It details the account of a stallion being taken up in a strange flying ship that flies on air instead of water, where he describes technology ages beyond our own, talking about space flight, transporting heavy objects across great distances, and flying machines that run on steam power.”
“Maybe that actually happened!” Rainbow suggested excitedly. “Alien visitors! That’s how early ponies knew how to build those giant pyramids!”
Daring Do’s smirk never left. “And then he describes the female aliens. In great detail. Especially the parts they’ve got under their tails.”
Rainbow blanched.
“As it turns out, alien mares and pony stallions are quite compatible. In fact-”
“Wait,” Applejack interrupted, suddenly understanding. “You mean to tell me that the oldest writing in the world is a-”
Squish.
Applejack glanced down. Her hoof had sunk into the stone ground. “Huh,” she said with a chuckle. “Guess I don’t know my own strength.”
“It’s not supposed to be wet here,” Daring murmured, looking down nervously. “Water wreaks havoc on traps. Sets ‘em off when they’re not supposed to go, keeps things from going when they’re supposed to…”
“Rusts things?” Rainbow offered.
“Yeah, rust, too. Why?”
Rainbow pointed behind them and up. A large boulder, primed for rolling down, sat in the alcove above.
The sagging alcove.
Propped up by almost-hidden metal rods.
Metal rods that were nearly rusted through.
And it looked like their presence was all that was needed to disrupt the delicate balance that had heretofore been maintained.
As they watched, the rusted pole on the left snapped, and the boulder shifted. The right instantly gave way.
“Run for it!” Daring cried, turning and running down the corridor.
The boulder began rolling. Thankfully, since the rods had broken at different times, the boulder rolled at an angle; so instead of chasing the three mares down the hallway, it slammed into the wall. The impact was hard enough to shake the dust from the ceiling.
And a few chunks of rock.
Daring Do hissed under her breath as the entire ceiling began to sag, and then all three screamed as it caved in, burying them beneath chunks of stone and dirt.
The corridors were silent, much as they had been for years. The dust slowly settled. Not even the sound of breathing was heard.
And then an orange hoof punched out from the rubble.
* * *
“I gotta say,” Applejack said with a smirk as she flexed a foreleg demonstratively, “I might actually miss this super strength when it’s gone.”
Rainbow Dash rolled out her neck and tested the bandages Daring had put on her. “Yeah. Sure saved our feathers,” she said.
Daring Do nodded as she put the roll of bandages back in her saddlebags and brushed dirt off of her helmet. “Yeah.” She looked back at the cave-in and winced (and not just from the injuries on her hind legs). The hallway had effectively been sealed off under the rocks from the ceiling. “That’s going to be a pain to get past again,” she murmured.
“I’m sure we’ll get out workin’ together,” Applejack said hopefully.
“Yeah. Together.” Daring tossed her head. “Come on. Shouldn’t be far, now. Let’s get that thing off you.”
The three continued down the hallway, moving in the darkness.
Applejack stepped over what seemed to be a small stream. She glanced at it. “Seriously?”
Daring Do glared at it. “Bet that’s what weakened the walls,” she grumbled. She spat derisively into it.
Thankfully, the harrowing part of their journey seemed to be over. As they walked around the next corner, they passed through a doorway and arrived at the inner sanctum.
Daring Do gestured towards the stone altar on a small raised portion in the center. Applejack neared, climbing up the small set of stairs, and slid the bracelets off and set them down. “Alright. We got here, and all in one piece. Now what?” Applejack asked. “Do we just leave them here?”
Daring took a steadying breath. “Confession time. I lied to you.”
“What?”
Rainbow looked at Applejack. “You don’t know the story of Orb of Chrysanthemum, do you?”
“Never heard of it,” Applejack said, now a bit suspicious. “Why?”
Daring exhaled. “These are powerful magical artifacts, combined with even older magic. To destroy them… it’s going to require a sacrifice.”
“A what, now?” Applejack stammered, taking a step back; the bracelets reappearing on her forelegs as she did.
Daring held up her hooves placatingly. “No. It’s not you.”
Applejack sputtered. “That supposed to make me feel better? If’n it ain’t me, it’s one o’ you. No. No. I ain’t about to allow that!”
“Applejack…”
“No!” Applejack trotted away, stopping at the edge of the stairs. “Ain’t nopony going to die today! We’ll figure something else out! There’s gotta be a special volcano or some kind of magic fire or something we can destroy them in! It doesn’t have to be this way, and it ain't going to be this way.”
Daring Do looked at her, and then exhaled. “Fine,” she said. “We’ll think of a second option.”
Rainbow looked at Daring Do and nodded. She walked back up to Applejack, bumping her with her hips. Applejack cracked a smile and went to return the favor.
But Rainbow Dash slid out of the way. Applejack hit nothing, and she was left slightly off balance. Rainbow grabbed her and pulled her towards her; at the same time, she pressed her hooves against hers, tripping her. Both mares rolled onto the ground. Rainbow’s hooves landed on her forelegs.
Applejack realized what she was trying a split second before she did it, but she was too disoriented to fight back, or even to properly resist. Rainbow Dash pulled the bracelets off and darted back around. Daring Do flew alongside, back to the altar.
Just like they'd planned.
“No!” Applejack shouted, getting up and running; but even as she did, she knew she wasn't fast enough to catch them.
Rainbow Dash placed the bracelets in their positions and sat in the middle. She met Daring Do’s eyes and nodded. She was ready.
She glanced back towards Applejack. “Told you I’d pay you back,” she whispered.
“No!” Applejack cried, pushing herself even faster. “Rainbow!”
Daring Do shifted the stone back into position. Black magic circled around the altar, forming a shield that Applejack bounced off of. The bracelets began swirling in midair, and Rainbow Dash lifted her head. Her body raised up off the altar. There was a low whistle that slowly grew in volume and raised higher in pitch, and then there was an explosion of black energy.
The altar remained the same. The bracelets and the collar melted into slag, dripping harmlessly to the stone floor and from there boiling and fizzling away into nothingness.
And Rainbow Dash’s lifeless body fell to the ground.
Somepony screamed. It might have been Applejack. She wasn’t sure. She was aware of herself running and scooping up the pegasus’s lifeless body. “Rainbow… oh, Rainbow…”
As her anguish converted to rage, Daring Do darted over. She grabbed Rainbow Dash and rolled her over onto her side; and then it converted into confusion as Daring Do grabbed Applejack’s hooves and placed them over Rainbow’s ribs.
“Hooves there. Push,” she ordered.
“What?”
“Push!” Daring barked.
Shocked into compliance, Applejack pushed.
“Keep doing it. Faster and deeper,” Daring instructed, turning around and flying towards her saddlebags. She dragged them back next to Rainbow Dash’s motionless body, and tore them open.
“What are-?”
“It said she had to die,” Daring explained, digging desperately through her supplies. “Didn't say how long she had to stay dead. Keep going!”
Applejack kept pushing. Daring Do found what she was looking for. She pulled out a long, thin needle, sucked some of the vial up, and jabbed it into Rainbow Dash’s heart.
“Keep going,” she whispered. “Come back, Rainbow Dash.”
Applejack kept pushing. “She’s…”
“Not yet!” Daring Do spread her wings and flew.
With no other option, Applejack continued pumping.
It felt like hours, though it may have been just minutes. Daring Do returned, dragging behind her a cloud. She must have formed it from the little stream from before. She formed it into a ponyshoe shape, and held it over Rainbow’s chest. “Clear!” she ordered. “Stand back!”
Applejack retracted her hooves and Daring slammed the cloud. A thunderbolt erupted from the cloud and hit Rainbow in the chest. Rainbow’s body twitched, but she made no other movement.
“Keep going!” Daring insisted.
Applejack continued pushing. Rainbow Dash still wasn’t responding.
“No!” Daring Do shouted, pulling out more vials. “It does not end this way!” She filled another needle and drove it into Rainbow Dash’s chest. “Keep going. Stay with us. Stay with us!”
It seemed like it was a lifetime; but Rainbow’s body may have twitched. Applejack watched breathlessly for any more movement.
“Don't stop! If you're tired, I'll switch!” Daring shouted.
Applejack continued. Minutes stretched on into what felt like hours. Daring Do pushed her hooves away, taking over. Applejack rocked back, head still reeling.
Daring Do looked at her. “Take over,” she ordered. “I’m going to shock her again.”
Applejack obeyed, pushing on Rainbow Dash’s ribs as Daring Do reformed her cloud. “Clear!” she called before she shocked her again. Rainbow’s body twitched once more. Applejack began compressions again.
And then Rainbow groaned and weakly reached up to push Applejack’s hooves away.
“Rainbow?!” Applejack’s eyes were wet. “Rainbow!”
Rainbow groaned again. Her eyes flickered open. She squinted, recognizing the pony there. A goofy, if weak, smile flitted across her face as she reached up to touch her. “Am I in Elysium?” she whispered.
Applejack grabbed her in a tight hug. “Don't you ever do anything like that again!” she whispered, almost crying on the outside from relief.
“Do what?” Rainbow asked.
“Rainbow, you died!”
“I did?” Rainbow blinked. “Oh, yeah. Yeah. I did.” She looked over. “Daring? Where are you going?”
Applejack spun around, and sure enough, Daring Do looked like she was trying to sneak away.
She gave her a shaky smile. “Wouldn’t want to… overstay my welcome, you know.”
“Overstay your-!” Applejack sputtered. “You killed Rainbow Dash! And you just wanna walk out?”
“It was only temporary!” Daring protested, hooves up placatingly. “I brought her back, didn’t I? I mean, I was eighty percent sure that would work.”
“Eighty perc-!”
“And it worked!”
“Yeah, that was pretty awesome,” Rainbow Dash said, pushing herself to her hooves and proudly buffing a hoof against her chest. “Noble self-sacrifice for the good of the whole world. Definitely worth a mention in the novel.”
“Worth a whole lot more than that,” Daring agreed. “I’m thinking you on the cover, yes; but the altar is hidden so there’s no spoilers.”
“Oh, yeah. I hate spoilers,” Rainbow agreed. “But the griffons need to be there.”
“Just the first one on the ship,” Daring said. “Griffone doesn’t deserve to be on there because he kinda went down like a little-”
“You put my heart through the wringer and you’re chattin’ about what’s going on the book?!” Applejack nearly shrieked.
Daring Do shrugged. “If I’d told you what we were going to do, you’d’ve fought against it.”
“Yeah, I would have! Rainbow is my life! Seein’ her dead; I didn’t know what to think! I didn’t know what to do! I’ve never imagined life without her because she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I don’t even want to think about what it’d be like with her gone! So yeah! I’m pretty mad!”
“Applejack…”
Applejack glanced back at Rainbow Dash. She could almost swear that tears were welling up in her eyes, but that would be ridiculous. Right?
“Applejack, that’s…” Rainbow swallowed. “That means a lot to me, that you’d say that, like that.” She stepped even closer and silently flicked her tail over, crossing it with Applejack’s. “Thank you.” She leaned in close. “And I love you, too,” she whispered.
Daring grinned and took another step back. “Sounds like you two need a little… alone time. Tell you what. We’ll rendezvous at the river in an hour or so, and I’ll hitch a ride back with you to Ponyville. Sound good?”
“Yeah,” Rainbow said. “All of that, pretty good.”
Daring Do saluted, tightened the straps on her bag, and then quickly flew off, leaving behind a grayscale contrail.
The two ponies watched her leave in silence.
Applejack finally broke it. “She’s not going to make it past the cave-in by herself, is she?”
“Not for a while, anyway,” Rainbow answered flippantly. “But I think we can let her discover that on her own.” She leaned in and pressed the top of her head against Applejack’s shoulder. “There's something else around here I want to explore first.”
Daring Do sighed as she trudged back. Her pride had kept her working on the rubble as long as she could, but she’d finally had to admit defeat. Awesome she may have been, but there was just no getting around the fact that she could not lift those rocks on her own.
She poked her head around the sanctum doors, hoping that they had found another, easier way out; or at least that they were still there, rested and ready to help her move some rocks.
They were still there, alright. But ‘rested’ wasn’t the adjective she would have used.
Daring Do’s ears pinned. She scampered back, pressing her back against the stone wall, her face glowing red at what she’d just seen. “Yeah… that part is not going in the book, either.”
