//------------------------------// // Trenchoof // Story: Daring Do and the Trials of Zenith // by Fedora //------------------------------// The stairs beyond led to a clearing, a clearing that was outdoors. The sky was overcast, but the light illuminated things in such a contrast that Daring had to squint. She was at an area that was contained within a valley, a ravine of sorts. There was a cliff side that dropped off and led down steeply to a river far below, and another cliff side on the other side. Daring observed what else was on the other side, and her eyes widened. A large structure was spread out on the opposite side, and spanned most of the other side. The architecture had survived the many years rather well; the ornate designs and the gold plating was still visible despite the overgrown vines creeping up the sides of the pillars. "I guess that's where it continues," Daring said to herself. She noticed stone pillars on the edge of the cliff side, with blackened rope dangling. Planks of rotted wood could be seen attached to it in some places, yet it would do her no good. With the bridge split in two and the two halves dangling over the edge, there would be no using the bridge. "Fortunately for me, I am a pegasus!" said Daring, spreading her wings. With one graceful leap she was airborne, and it was over the ravine for her. The ravine posed no great obstacle, as she was on the other side in no time. Once she landed, Daring took the opportunity to catch a small break. She had stashed a few pieces of fruit in her bag, which she took a bite of to replenish her energy. She'd continue inwards farther, for now she was certain that she had found Zenith, or at least a part of it. No doubt it would be dangerous, as the trials within were said to claim the lives of many stallions who were out to prove their worthiness to rule. Not only was the prospectof finding Zenith drawing Daring to want to poke further in, but the knowledge that it was bound to be filled with traps also gave her more reason to go in. If she could get past the traps, she had more between her and her gryphon pursuers. **** Meanwhile, at the gryphon camp, Sergeant Trenchoof was in a very uncomfortable situation. He found himself tied to a chair inside a tent, but he had no knowledge of what was beyond the tent. He had no way to move his hooves, as they were tied to his side. His prized campaign hat, which he had worn ever since he had been promoted to sergeant in 1918, had been removed from him and was currently sitting on the dirt in the corner of the tent. The long hours had worn away at the stallion, who had contented himself to singing songs that he knew, sometimes even thinking up new song lyrics to existing tunes. He made a point of poking fun at the gryphons, knowing full well that they were listening to him just on the other side of a piece of canvas. "Over There! Over There! Send the word, send the word, Over There! That Equesria's coming, Equestria's coming, The drums rum tumming everywhere... So prepare, Say a Prayer, Send the word, Send the word to beware! We'll be over, we're coming over. And we won't be back till it's over over there!" "Shut up, will you?!" barked a voice from the other side of the canvas. This only served to goad Trenchoof on as the middle aged stallion began bellowing out yet another song he had learned years ago. "Over hill, over dale, We will hit the dusty trail, And our stallions go marching along. Up and down, in and out, Counter march and left about, And those stallions go marching along," "I'm not going to tell you töricht pony again," came the voice of a very angry gryphon, "Cease ze song singing or I'm going to get Gwindor on your fetthaltig flank!" The amount of stress and rage in the soldier's voice only served to encourage Trenchoof even more, as he began singing something he had come up with. "WHEN THE GRYPHONS SAY, WE IST DER MASTER-" "That's it!" shouted the soldier, stomping into the tent with an angry look on his face. He raised a clawed fist and slammed it into Trenchoof's jaw, causing the pony's head to be thrown sideways and for his wire-rimmed glasses to be flung clear from his face. Trenchoof bit down on his jaw, unable to place his hoof to it to try to rub out the smarting pain from the blow. He didn't continue his song, but merely glared at the soldier. "What is all the fuss about?" came the voice of yet another gryphon. Trenchoof was surprised when a gryphon wearing a uniformed decked out with medals, some of them dating back as early as 1916. The gryphon had an air of authority, as if he was the one in charge, which Trenchoof believed to be the case. "Zis pony is singing his stupid songs again, Herr Gwindor!" said the soldier, standing at attention. "Who cares?" Gwindor stated, looking coldly from his own soldier to Trenchoof. He made a small mock smile when he saw Trenchoof's hat resting in the corner. His gaze fell on the pony himself, and he turned his head to one side. "Ah, if it isn't one of the Equestrian Doughcolts. How quaint. You know, I probably knew a lot of your friends. I vas a machine gunner by 1917, and I..." "YOU SHUT YOUR BEAKY MOUTH YOU FEATHERHEADED LOSER!" Trenchoof shouted, jumping up and slamming the leg of the chair down on Gwindor's back paw. The gryphon winced and recoiled quickly. "DON'T YOU DARE DISRESPECT MY COMERADES LIKE THAT AGAIN!IF IW WAS FREE I'D RIP YOUR BEAK OFF AND SHOVE IT SO FAR UP YOUR-" Trenchoof's tirade was stopped when Gwindor pulled out a pistol and clicked the lever back. The gun's barrel was pointed right between the sergeant's eyes. "Go ahead, finish your statement, I dare you," said Gwindor, "No really, come on. We're dying to hear what kind of hilarious dialouge you have for us. Not gonna talk? Huh? Good. Now sit there and keep your mouth shut, before I decide to end your pathetic life right here and now." Trenchoof kept silent and only glared back as Gwindor clicked the gun off, and brough it back to his holster at his side. The gryphon spun about, smacking Trenchoof's face with the very end of his tail. The soldier and Gwindor both left the tent, and began discussing things outside not far away. Trenchoof could faintly hear what was being said, so he scooted his chair over until he was much closer to the entrance of the tent. "What's ze name of zat pony mare?" asked the soldier. "The one with the pith helmet on?" asked a different voice that was recognizable as belonging to Trenchoof. "Ya." "Daring, I think. Daring Do. What about her?" "Hast anyone found her yet? A team came back, and ze subcommander was a wreck. Three gryphons, dead! Two of them had their necks snapped." "Mother of.... wow." "Commander, should I round up ze tank crew and see if we can strategically bombard parts of ze forest?" "No, you have no idea where that mare is, and you'd just waste the shells. No, listen to me. We have a lead on the location of Zenith itself. There's a waterfall not too far from some obscure village. Beyond that's a ravine, and aerial scouts claim to have seen a structure of some kind during this morning's reconnaissance run. Now, we're going to drop the chase for this mare, and proceed with trying to search within the possible Zenith." "What kind of stuff do we need to find in ze structures? Just anything that determines it's Zenith?" "Well, yes. Ultimately the whole thing's going to need a full evaluation, so we need to make sure that we get to the bottom of it. Every chamber, every carving. The sooner we can find concrete proof of gryphon supremacy in ancient times, the sooner we can get the results that they want back in Gryphony. Mr. Gottleib, I'm putting you in charge of this camp facility while I accompany the team as we explore the ruins." "Aye, sir." "Keep an eye on that stallion." "Of course, Herr Gwindor. But, if I might ask, what of ze mare?" "Daring Do, or Elise Stiflehock?" asked Gwindor, and Trenchoof's ears were perked up listening for all the detail he could get. "Stiflehock." "Do not worry about her," Gwindor stated, "It's all been taken care of."