Nov. 1010, skies over Changeling-occupied Olenia
The worst part of flying in a plane was the noise. A low, droning propellor drowns out any sounds from outside and reveals your presence to the entire tri-state area. Like ringing a dinner bell and saying ‘Here I am! Here I am! Fresh love! Come get yer fresh love here!’ And besides, pegasi were meant to fly on their own. At least, pegasi that hadn’t broken their wings twenty different times in twenty different places.
Daring Do sat in the co-pilot’s seat, massaging her wings. Gliding and short flights, that’s all they were good for anymore. But hey, that wasn’t going to stop her. She’d been through plenty without them. But now, she really wished she could fly quietly. After all, she was taking a one-way flight straight into changeling territory.
“Hey Daring.”
She turned to the pilot and hit the switch on her radio. Funny that they had to talk on them, even though she was right behind him. But that darn, noisy engine made normal conversation impossible. “Yeah? What’s up, kid?”
“Listen, I’m happy to do this for you,” he said, “You saved my family and restored my grandfather’s legacy and I’ll never fully repay you for that. But are you sure? Are you really, a hundred perce--”
“Comet, don’t even bother completing that thought,” Daring snapped. He glanced back at her, eyes wide. Her heart fell into her stomach. “Sorry, it’s the nerves. They get me feeling antsy. Look, I get what you’re trying to do here, but I’m a hundred percent sure about this.”
“Can I ask why?”
“I made a mistake,” Daring growled, “And I have to set it right then.”
He took a deep breath. “Alright. Guess this is pretty important then, huh?”
“Changeling’s Crown. Ancient artifact of an old queen,” Daring said, “Caballeron took it from right under my nose. Chrysalis gets her hooves on that? Game over.”
He nodded. “Guess you are sure then.”
“And don’t you forget it.” She leaned back in her chair and peered out the window. “After I drop, you get out of here as quick as possible. I’ll make my own way back to Equestria.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Daring stared grimly out into the darkness. This was a horrible idea. There were changeling troops everywhere down there, all armed with the latest guns and tanks and planes. Olenia, homeland of the deer, had surrendered less than a month ago. The changelings were still out in force, putting down the last remnants of resistance and turning the whole nation into their idea of paradise. Just to the south, the resort town of Vaverfort was quickly becoming a hive. She could see the sickly green lights through the mist and darkness of night. Wordlessly, she offered up a short prayer to the Sun and Moon that the friendly doe she’d met there once had made it safely out. The one with the art degree who’d helped her find the book she’d been looking for.
And somewhere down below, Dr. Caballeron was trying to sell them her latest find and hand them the world on a silver platter. That would not stand, not if she had anything to say about it.
“Daring?” the pilot said, “Everything alright?”
She took a deep breath. “Just get me to shore,” she said, “I’ll glide my way down, find the Crown, and be back in Equestria in a week.”
He nodded. “Might want to chew some gum. I’m taking her up so the changelings won’t hear the engine.”
--------------------
Unfortunately, the changelings did not rely on sight and sound to spot wayward planes. They had a new invention. Radar. An ingenious device that, rumors say, caused Queen Chrysalis to giggle like a filly for a minute straight once she realized exactly what she had in her hooves. Equestria’s burgeoning air force would be no match for her once she knew their every move. And on this night, on some lonely hill in the Olenian countryside, a team of drones watched an unknown blip steadily draw closer to their territory. One ran to get the commander, a Lieutenant. And she was the one who made the call which sealed the plane’s fate.
-------------------
“Alright,” the pilot said, “We’re right over the shore now. I’m gonna get low and slow, give you the best jumping opportunity I can.” He paused. “Sun guide you, Daring.”
Daring nodded and slipped from her harness. The co-pilot’s seat wasn’t for her anymore. She belonged by the side door. Earth ponies might grumble about ‘jumping out of a perfectly good airplane’, but even her damaged wings would carry her safely down.
The land spread out below her like a map. Her dropzone was over a forest, plenty of cover and nice spots to disappear into. Not that it would help if she landed on a changeling patrol, but at the very least it would give her the opportunity to run and hide.
“Hey!” her pilot called, “Am I going to be in the next book?”
She threw a grin over her shoulder. “Course you are.” And then, she faced the long fall in front of her.
Well, no time like the present. And waiting around would just eat away at her nerves. “Thanks for the lift!” she called and threw the door open. The wind nearly carried her off then and there, but she held firm to the doorframe. The last thing she wanted was to go tumbling through the air, desperately flapping to try and right herself. Better to hold tight and jump when you’re ready.. She stared at the forest below. Alright, Daring, now or never. Orient yourself, take a deep breath, and jump.
Her legs left the floor and she dove headfirst out of the airplane. The wing snatched at her, but gravity pulled her clear. Once the roar of the plane’s engine had faded comfortably into the background, she unfolded her wings and turned her dive into a glide.
A loud explosion shook the air and a flash of light drove away the darkness for a moment. She nearly froze up in mid-air. “The buck?” A second and a third followed right on the heels of the first. Her eyes searched around and caught sight of glowing shells hurtling up from down below and exploding above her head. But she wasn’t the target.
The plane banked and rolled and yawed and went through every evasive maneuver in the book. But the shells kept coming faster and faster. And though they weren’t accurate, they filled the air with shrapnel
“No, no, no,” she muttered, “Come on, Comet! Get out of here.”
He stood no chance. A shell tore the left wing right off. The plane went down, trailing smoke. Daring watched in horror. But there was nothing she could do. She could only listen to her friend’s screams. There was no chance to bail out. The plane was spinning too fast.
She closed her eyes as it hit the ground and static filled her headset.
Peace returned to the night. Unbroken stillness and tranquility. But shivers wracked her body. A pony, a friend, has just died. Not a close friend, but a friend nonetheless. This was never part of the plan. Buck, she was going to have to explain this to his family. Buck. Just buck. Buck the changelings and buck Chrysalis and buck their bucking war! Comet hadn’t deserved this. And he was going to get a hero’s funeral when she got back to Equestria.
If she got back, she reminded herself. The danger factor had just cranked up a notch.
She wanted to get out of the sky. Out of sight. Hide in some secret, safe place. And so, she dove and kept diving until it was almost too late to pull up. As it was, she nearly impaled herself on a tree branch and came close to spraining an ankle. But there were no changelings in sight. Just cold, black trees and endless dark.
She collapsed right then and there, curling up into a shivering ball. Her adventures had always been dangerous, yes, but she’d shouldered that danger alone. For the most part.. And despite all the deathtraps and ancient curses and other dangers, she avoided with her native skill, grit, and determination. But none of that would have saved her had she still been on the plane. And it hadn’t saved Comet either.
She had to get up. She had to find the meeting place and steal back the Crown before Caballeron handed it off to the changelings. It couldn’t go to Queen Chrysalis. But she didn’t want to move. She wanted to stay here, wait till morning, and take her chances flying back across the sound to Equestria.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She was a hero, dammit! Not some scared foal. But heroes couldn’t dodge bullets anymore than a regular pony could. If war, stars forbid, Equestria was dragged into a massive, modern war, there would be many heroes dead on the battlefield.
The sound of rumbling engines broke her out of her own head. Her heart pounded in her chest. So she wasn’t as alone as she thought. Dilemma, stay here and hide or go see what’s happening? Easy decision, staying was stupid. This wasn’t the best hiding spot and it would be a good idea to get a firm grasp on what was happening out there. And so, she crept quietly through the bushes until she came to a road through the forest.
A convoy moved down the road, four covered trucks driven by changelings. Three motorbikes provided an escort. Daring hunkered down, away from the glowing blue eyes of the drivers.
Looked like a supply convoy. A chill went through her. Oh, it was a supply convoy alright. But these were changelings. Green cocoons lay piled high in the backs of the trucks did, each one filled with a poor deer. They moved fitfully, kicking and flinching in some horrible nightmare from which they would never wake. They were headed to the Hive, food for Chrysalis and her Swarm. And when their dried-out husks finally expired, they would be thrown away to rot and decay.
Daring shuddered. Chrysalis had done all of this without the Crown. How much more could she do with it? Images of changeling webbing in Tall Tales, tanks in Canterlot Ave, bombs falling on Los Pegasus, and cocoons hanging from the skyscrapers of Manehatten filled her mind. She clenched her teeth. That crown was coming back with her or she was going to die trying.
After all, that’s what heroes did.
----------
“Please! Please don’t kill me!”
Daring slammed her hoof over her prisoner’s mouth. Using her full weight, she pinned him to the floor. It wasn’t necessary, he was already tied up, but damn if it didn’t feel good right now. The frightened changeling whimpered. “No shouting.” she hissed, “Because if you shout, even if the whole swarm descends on me moments later, I will make sure you don’t survive. Get the picture?” He nodded. “Good.”
She withdrew her hoof and inspected it for scratches. Changeling venom was potent, but her skin was unbroken. The changeling watched her with those scared, in-equine eyes. For a moment, she almost had pity on him. Almost.
“There’s an earth pony,” she said, “That came here to sell something to your queen. I want to know what camp he’s in.”
“I-if a pony came to the Swarm’s territory, then he’s probably already in a cocoon,” the changeling said, “I-I mean, not you, but other ponies. Weaker ones. Ones without your strength and skill.”
“Flattery will get you another branch to the back of the head.”
“Right, right! Sorry.” His...were they ears or antennae? Daring frowned. She’d never bothered to study changelings much before. Often, they were the ones who turned temples and cities into ruins, they didn’t leave behind many of their own.
Regardless of whether they were ears or antennae, they made great hoof-holds. She yanked him forward and put her face right in his. “Say that this pony wasn’t put in a cocoon. Say that he had a way of dissuading your little friends from doing that. Where would he be taken?”
To his credit, the damn bug gave it some thought before answering. “The division commander,” he said at last, “Or whoever’s in charge of the local area. Around here, that’s Major Fang.”
What a lovely name. He had to be a real pleasure to be around. Wonder if he has big teeth? How did changelings get their names anyway? Daring cut off that line of thought before it carried her too far afield. She reached into her pack and pulled out a map, pencil, and penlight. “Show me,” she said.
With shaky motions, the changeling used his bound forelimbs to circle a spot on her map. Daring studied it. Good, not too far from here. “And with that, you’ve outlived your usefulness.”
His eyes widened.“What? Wait, nononon-”
Crack! Her branch hit him upside the head and he went down. Daring stared down at her handiwork She could finish him off right now. One less changeling to worry about, right?
But if she did that... Well, she hadn’t ever killed a pony before on her adventures, not intentionally. Not that changelings were, strictly speaking, ponies. But they still counted. And he was helpless. And it wasn’t something she’d be able to put in her books. With a sigh, she tied him to a tree and left him there. He’d have a splitting headache when he woke up, but otherwise he’d be none the worse for wear.
She adjusted her hat. “Right then, Daring, you know what to do. To the camp. And step on it.”
--------------
Of course it couldn’t be that simple.
All she wanted was a nice, leisurely stroll up the the enemy camp where she’d pop in, nick the Crown, and pop right back out. Was that too much to ask? Of course it was. Life had to throw a moral dilemma her way to boot!
She scowled at the scene laid out before her. It was like watching the conquest of Olenia in miniature. A few deer soldiers valiantly held out against a changeling patrol. They’d holed up in a farm house, which was good cover, but the changelings had lots and lots of bullets and were not shy about turning the wood walls into swiss cheese.
Daring slid back away from view and took a deep breath. Alright, Daring. You can’t take on that many changelings by yourself. But you’ll never sleep at night if you leave the deer behind. So, how can you distract the changelings and give the bucks and does a chance to run? Step one, not sit in one place watching like an idiot. She ducked behind the bushes and began crawling around, looking for her chance.
Fortune favors the bold. The changelings had left their vehicles lightly guarded while they went to surround the house. Daring crept towards them. Step carefully now, she told herself. One hoof in the wrong place and a snapped twig could draw their attention before she was in position. And while that would give the deer a chance to escape, dying wasn’t the method she was going for.
A stretch of open ground lay between her and the vehicles. The two changelings guards stood around with bored expressions on their faces. Daring chuckled. This shouldn’t be a problem.
“Pst!” she hissed. Their heads shot up. “Over here!”
Confused and curious, they leveled their rifles at her hiding spot and shuffled over. But Daring wasn’t a fool. She withdrew drawing them into the undergrowth. Not finding her in the bushes, one moved forward while the other hung back.
Daring grinned and scurried up a tree. The first passed under her. She’d deal with him in a minute. Her eyes were set on the one who stayed by the vehicles. She spread her wings and ghosted from tree to tree until she was right over him. Then, she stepped off the branch and plunged. He never saw it coming.
His partner heard the noise and turned back, but she ducked low. Concerned, he charged back into the clearing and neatly tripped over her extended hoof. She tackled him and knocked him out with a few, good blows.
She stood, breathing heavily, and smiled. “See?” she said to herself, “Easy. Now, about my prize...” She turned to the vehicles. One troop truck and two motorcycles. And look at that! somepony had left a few grenades in their saddlebag. How nice and careless of them. Daring threw the lot in the truck-bed, pulled the pin on one, and ran.
The thunderous boom probably drew the attention of every changeling in a five mile radius. It definitely grabbed the patrol’s attention. They chittered in fear and dove for cover, expecting an enemy attack. They didn’t look like they were going to be moving anytime soon either. Daring Do gave them a wide berth and made a wide loop around them. She caught sight of the deer galloping away. She grinned. So there was some good news after all.
But they were galloping the wrong way. Away from Equestria. Her smile evaporated and a weary, resigned look took its place. “A hero’s job is never done,” she muttered and took off after them.
Daring prided herself in staying fit. Other than her wings, she was in tip-top shape. Had to be to outrun Ahuizotl’s cats. Especially that little housecat. She had no idea how that thing outpaced a bucking panther, but it always managed to get in front of her. The upshot was, half-starved and exhausted deer were no match for her. She caught up to them within five miles despite their head start.
“Hey!” she called. They turned. “I want to--” A bullet whizzed past her head and she dove into the underbrush. “Whoa, whoa! Don’t shoot! I’m Equestrian.”
A few more bullets smacking into the trees around her made her wish very fervently she had a crystal pony’s hide. A shout from the deer halted the barrage. “Sure you are!” a voice called, “And I’m the queen of bloody Griffonia!”
“My name is Daring Do and--”
“Oh! You’re a fictional character, eh?”
“I’m real! I write my own books and use a fake name to sell them!” Normally, she’d never admit that. But they had guns and she didn’t have a lot of time. They hesitated. Understandable. So would she in their shoes. So she gave them something a little more convincing. “If you think I’m a changeling, I’d have to be pretty stupid to pretend to be me when everypony thinks I’m a fictional character.”
“Say ‘Rhythm’.”
Daring frowned. “What?”
“Say it.”
“Okay.” This was odd. “Rhythm. Happy?”
A deer popped out of the bush next to her. “Yes.”
Daring Do was an adventurer of the highest caliber. Adventurers do not scream like fillies when startled. They do not blame it on their nerves, which are a wreck after their plane was shot from the sky and their ‘allies’ nearly hit them with bullets. And they certainly don’t admit it afterwards.
“Sorry,” the deer said.
“Buck you,” Daring muttered.
He rolled his eyes. “Specist.” He set his rifle down and leaned on it. “Don’t have a lot of time to chat. Were you the one who blew their vehicles.”
Daring nodded. “Yep. That was me.”
“Heh. Thanks for that.” He leaned on his rifle, stance casual. But his eyes were on the horizon.
Daring shook her head. “What was with the ‘rhythm’ question?”
“Oh,” he said, “Changelings sometimes have trouble pronouncing that word. Their infiltrators are practiced enough, but not the rank and file soldiers. Had to test you.” He shifted nervously. “I’ll get right to the point because I don’t think we have time. Why’d you follow us? You looking to team up?”
“I work alone,” Daring said. Comet’s face flashed before her eyes. “Mostly. It doesn’t end well for my partners.”
He nodded. “Well let’s walk and talk then, eh?” He pulled her to her hooves and fell in behind the rest of the deer. They set off at a brisk trot. “So why’d you chase us?”
“You’re headed the wrong way,” she said.
“Are we?”
“You’re headed west. Equestria’s north-east.”
“Oh gee, we hadn’t noticed.”
Daring missed a step. “Then why are you headed this way?”
“Who says we’re headed to Equestria?”
“Equestria sheltered Queen Velvet, for all the good that did,” Daring said, “And we’ll take you in too. As it stands, your land is overrun with changelings. Where else could you--”
He chuckled. “Ms. Do, we’re not abandoning our home. We’re going to fight for it. We know this country far better than the changelings. We can hide in hills and dase, striking like ghosts and fading away before the bugs know what hit them.”
Daring’s shoulders sagged. A noble thought, and one she could appreciate. But she knew in her heart she was looking at people who were already dead. They just didn’t know it. “Oh.”
He nodded. “We do appreciate the assist, though. If I may ask, what brings you here?”
She pulled out the map. “Gotta get to this camp. The changelings have something there, an artifact, that I’ve got to retrieve. Otherwise, it’s gonna be a nightmare for everyone.” A thought occurred to her. “Hey, you could come along and--”
“I’m afraid we’re all worn out and barely hanging together,” the buck said, “But if we make our meeting with the other bands, we’ll be sure to tell them about your errand. Maybe one of them can assist. But don’t count on it.”
“Eh. Don’t worry about it. I can handle myself,” she said, “And...best of luck.”
There was nothing else to say and neither had the time for idle chit-chat. She turned her back and made off towards that camp. She had bigger problems right now. Onwards and upward, Daring. Remember why you’re doing this. You can rest when you get back.
Or when you’re dead. Yeah, that’d do it too.
----------
Daring Do’s long years of adventuring had taught her that there were really only two types of plans: stupid ones and ones that worked. Sometimes, you had to qualify that a bit. Her current one was either ‘so out there it just might work’ or ‘dumb as a bunch of rocks in the middle of a field owned by the Equestrian Society of Mutes’. Okay, that one may have mixed the definitions of ‘dumb’ a bit, but she wasn’t going to spend too much time on it.
She was too busy sneaking into the changeling camp. Disguised as a changeling.
Stolen uniform? Check. Soulless, hungry gaze? Check. Black chitin? Ha, no. Ah well, time to wing it. She chuckled. Pegasus? winging it? Alright, it wasn’t that funny. But you laugh at weird stuff in stressful situations.
She stepped out of the forest and strode towards the gate. Outwardly, she was calm. Inwardly, it felt like parasprites were eating her liver. She had to stay focused. Eyes front. Purposeful stride. And don’t look like you’re panicking.
The two guards saw her and half-drew their weapons. Then, confusion crossed their faces. One looked to the other and opened her mouth to say something. The other shrugged. “Halt right there!” the first one called.
Daring halted with an annoyed sigh. “Is there a problem, private? I’m due for a meeting in five minutes and if I am late...” She let the threat hang.
“You’re a pony,” the second said.
“Well thank for for complimenting my disguise,” Daring said, voice dripping with venom, “But I would think that we, of all creatures, could see through such things. Unless…” She frowned. “You’re not harmony sympathizers, are you soldiers?”
“N-no! No love of harmony here!” the second said a little too quickly, “But we do need to see some identi--” Daring shoved her stolen papers in his face. He awkwardly stowed his rifle and took it. “Alright, Sergeant. I, um, if you wouldn’t mind changing out of your disguise so we can verify that it’s--”
She snatched it back and snarled. “I’ve wasted far too much time with you already.”
“But-but it’s protocol!”
“Then take it up with my superior officer!” She shoved him out of the way. The first lowered her rifle at Daring’s head. Unfortunately, she also stuck it within easy snatching distance. “Give me that,” Daring snapped and yanked it out of her hands. The second reached for his, but she did nothing but hold it. “As I suspected, you haven’t been cleaning your weapon properly!”
The changeling’s face paled. “But I cleaned it this morning.”
Daring shoved it back at the guard. “Clean it again,” she hissed and moved past them.
“W-wait! You still have to--”
Daring rounded on them. “Private. You are testing my patience. Do you really think a pony would just walk in here? Or a deer disguised as a pony? That’s ridiculous and I’m out of time to waste with you. Be happy I don’t report you both for improper care of your weapons.” Without another word, she stomped away. They did not pursue her.
The moment she could, she ducked into a gap between the tents. “Whoo,” she muttered, “That was a rush.” No time to stay still. She peered around the tents and into the main thoroughfares. “Alright, Dr. Caballeron. If I were a changeling, where would I be meeting you?”
When adventuring, nine times out of ten the simplest answer was the correct one. When confronted with two branching paths where one is clearly more worn than the other, go for the road more traveled. Walk into a changeling camp and find Caballeron’s goons staring down changeling soldiers outside the largest tent, one conveniently labeled ‘Command’, guess that it’s where the meeting is being held. Not exactly a deathtrap, but a pretty clear sign nonetheless. Daring Do took a moment to thank Celestia that changelings used the same language as ponies as she closed in.
She circled the tent slowly, ducking from hiding place to hiding place. No need to get cocky. Sure, the changelings were all focused on Caballeron’s patsies, but that didn’t make them blind. Stick to the shadows and limit lines of sight. If one looks your way, freeze. Movement draws more attention then color.
Still, it was slow going. She had to be absolutely sure they weren’t looking her way before making her move. She nearly lost it when she ducked down as a guard took in the scenery for the hundredth time. Luna’s flank, this was taking forever. They were going to be done with the negotiations by the time she got in! She gritted her teeth. Maybe another distraction?
Her gaze alighted on the dinner bell. She studied it, calculating her odds. Yeah, she said to herself, I bet I can hit that. She stooped for a rock and threw it with all her might.
It missed.
She frowned and picked up another. And missed again.
“Ow!” a changeling shouted, “Alright, who threw that?” Daring pressed herself against the ground.
“Not me.”
“Not me.”
“Not me.”
“Oh, of course not! It was you, Pin! I know it was.”
“What? No! I was sitting here minding my own--Ow! You punched me!”
“You deserved it.”
“You know what, I’ve had enough of you! Come here!”
Daring shook her head as the sounds of a scuffle grew louder and louder. The other changelings cheered and began placing bets. When an officer shouted for them to break it up, Daring made her move. She darted to the back of the command tent and pressed her ear against it.
“What is that?” Yep. That was Caballeron.
“Perhaps your ponies did something that landed them in trouble.” Daring shivered. Something about the subtle hiss in a changeling’s voice made the cold, intimidating ones all the more so. “Shall we go see?”
“Er…” Caballeron sounding hesitant? Daring looked to the sky. Nope. The moon and sun weren’t both in the sky at the same time. Just an ordinary day. Still, that was definitely hesitation in Cabbie’s voice. Weird. “Y-yes. That sounds like a good idea. Lead the way.”
“Oh no. You first. I insist.”
“A-as you say, sir.”
Daring waited until the sound of their hooves faded. Then, she drew a knife and slashed her way through the tent walls. It was a risk, but one she felt justified in taking. And her luck held, yet another unusual thing. There weren’t any guards waiting for her.
And there, sitting on the table, was the Crown of Changelings.
Daring approached it carefully. Everything that happened so far on this adventure had been to reclaim this. It couldn’t fall into Chrysalis’ hooves. Face grim, she seized it and shoved it into her bag.
She slipped out her makeshift door and stepped right into the waiting hooves of a changeling ambush. She went to turn back, but one stepped up, butt of his rifle already filling her vision. Her world became a flash of white and then darkness.
--------------------
She woke with a splitting headache, bound to a chair by changeling webbing, with Caballeron’s garlic-tainted breath hot in her face. The discredited doctor leered at her. “So! You follow me all the way here only to get yourself caught once again,” he said.
“I just had to hear your voice one more time, Cabby,” she said, “I still can’t identify the accent. Germane, maybe?”
His face turned to a scowl. “You mock me?”
She scoffed. “When have I not?” He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. “You’re the most incompetent, overbearing, blowhard I’ve ever had the extreme displeasure of meeting. You can’t make a plan worth anything, you tie notes worse than my mother, and you can’t follow a clearly drawn map if your life depended on it!”
Cabelleron ground his teeth. “I think you--”
“I think I’d have to try not to mock you,” Daring said, “It’s so easy, I could do it in my sleep. Here.” She leans forward, smirking. “I’ll demonstrate.” She lets her head hang and belts out fake snores. “Zzzzzzz! Cabelleron doesn’t know a compass from a barometer! Zzzzzzzz!”
Caballeron had murder in his eyes. “That. Is. It! Stand up! Stand up! We are going to duel!”
Daring shrugged. “Eh. Sounds great.. But I’m a bit tied up at the moment.”
A triumphant light entered his eyes. “Yes, yes you are! And this time, you shall not escape.” He reached for his pocket and pulled out a revolver.
“Doctor.” Daring felt that shiver travel up her spine. A skinny changeling dressed in an officer’s uniform strode out from the shadows. “Please. If you could hold off on that for just a minute. And don’t shoot her from that direction. It’ll stain the tent and then I’ll have to assign someone to clean it. That’s a huge hassle and bad for morale.”
Cabelleron hesitated but put the pistol down. Daring felt relief flood her insides. “In the interest of further diplomatic ties, I will grant this request,” the doctor said.
The changeling strode forward and examined Daring with careful, calculating eyes. Daring smiled winningly at him “Tell me, pony,” he said, “What is your name?”
Cabelleron sputtered. “She’s--”
“I want the pegasus to answer, thank you doctor.”
Daring puffed out her chest. “I’m Daring Do, best adventurer the world over. And you better be glad your minions caught me off-guard.”
The changeling blinked. “So I suspected. Hmm.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re shorter than I thought you’d be.”
“Aw,” Daring said, batting her eyelashes, “You thought of me.”
“As an officer in the Queen’s army, it is my duty to think of and create contingencies for any and all problems that might develop.” He put a hoof in her face. “And you, Ms, Do, are a problem.”
Daring put on a brave face. “Nice of you to say, but if you want an autograph just ask. No need to butter me up first.”
The changeling chuckled. “I assure you, when I want something from you, you will know.” He stepped away. “But I do not foresee that ever being the case. At home, you are a hero, yes? Here, you are just another pony. One more trouble alive than she is worth.” He gestured to Caballeron. “As you were, doctor.”
The stallion lowered his gun at her and grinned. “Wait!” Daring said. Caballeron paused. “Don’t I get a last meal?”
“No,” he growled.
“Request?”
“Certainly not.”
“Can I write my will out real quick?”
“No.”
“I’ll leave half my collection to you, Cabby.”
That actually made him pause. But he shook his head. “Why do that when I can take it all for myself anyway?” he said with a grin.
Daring sighed. “Well, at the very least, can we make this, ya know, dramatic?”
Caballeron’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Cabby,” she said in a friendly voice, “We’ve known each other a long time. Is this how you want this to end? You shoot me in a changeling interrogation chamber, nopony watching, nopony there to confirm that, yes, it was you that finally got me? No one’s gonna believe you back home if you do it this way.”
“Doctor,” the changeling said, “Shoot her and be done with it.”
But Caballeron hesitated. He pursed his lips together and rubbed a hoof over the scratchy stubble under his chin. “Yes, yes. I see your point, Daring Do. This is not nearly a public enough location.” He turned to the changeling commander. “Major Fang, I request the use of your parade ground.”
The changeling sighed heavily. “Knock yourself out, doctor. Because if this goes wrong, I will do it for you.” He glowered at Daring. “My changelings know what you look like and we all have rifles. If you try to escape, you will be shot. Out of the hundreds of bullets that will be chasing you, one is bound to hit. So this is not an opportunity. It is merely a few more minutes of life.”
Daring nodded. “Understood, sir! No complaints here, sir!”
“Pony,” Major Fang growled, “We changelings are expert liars. We’re quite capable of recognizing one when we see it.”
--------
Caballeron’s idea of ‘dramatic’ was, in truth, very underwhelming.
“A hanging? Really?” Daring said, “You know I’m a pegasus right?”
“Your wings will be tied,” the doctor said.
Daring shook her head. “Are you going for the irony factor here? Because from where I stand, that’s just racist.”
He blinked. “How?”
“Oh I don’t know? ‘Daring Do is a pegasus! So it’ll be funny if she dies in mid-air’.” She glowered at him. “Come on, Cabby. I’m more than just a pegasus. If you want irony, make it ironic to me as a pony We don’t have time for a full deathtrap, but I’m sure you can think of something..”
“Er.” Caballeron tugged at his collar. She could hear the gears grinding away in his head. She had no plan, she couldn’t think of a way out of this, but by golly, she was enjoying making his life difficult one last time.
“I could fight the entire camp,” she suggested, “That would be an awesome way to go.”
He frowned. “And how do you propose to do that?”
“You could untie me and--”
He laughed. “Oh-ho! I see, you are still thinking of escape, no?”
“No, actually I wasn’t.”
“Of course you weren’t.” He leered at her. “You think you can make a fool out of Caballeron?”
She shrugged. “You don’t need me around to do that.” The changelings in the audience snickered. She tasted blood. It took a moment for her brain to register that she’d been punched. “Strike a nerve?” she asked.
“Quiet!” he screamed. She felt the pistol press against her head. “This is good enough. I will kill you, Daring Do, in front of all these witnesses! Then, nopony will ever doubt the brilliant Dr. Caballeron again!”
Daring closed her eyes. This was it. Her last ‘The End’. It had been a good life. She didn’t regret--
An explosion tore her out of her own thoughts. It rocked the ground and threw Caballeron off balance. His gun went off in the air. More gunshots followed, in and among the tents. The changelings panicked and scattered. A few even their weapons. Caballeron, coward that he was, looked around wildly for the source.
Never let an opportunity go to waste. It could be the deer did send some rebels after all. It could be the bucking Wonderbolts. Daring didn’t care. She rocked the chair forward until her hooves touched the ground. Then, she turned and threw herself backwards, right at Caballeron. He went down and the breath was driven from his lungs. The chair creaked and cracked beneath her, but wasn’t quite done in yet..
She hoisted herself up. “Sorry Cabby,” she said. And she, let herself fall down. The chair disintegrated into splinters. She was free, and Caballeron was unconscious.
She picked up his gun and saluted him. “Farewell, enemy mine. I have a crown to nab.” She turned and darted back into the command tent. A changeling stumbled out in front of her and she gave him a few more holes in his legs to keep him occupied. She grimaced. Not something to put in her books, but at least he wasn’t dead. In the commotion, no one noticed his screams.
She burst back into the same room as before and found the crown returned to its former place. With a smile, she grabbed it. Time to split. She turned and almost made it out the front when she heard the sound of hooves approaching. The tent-flaps flew open and Major Fang dashed inside, flanked by two guards. They spotted her immediately. “Fire! She’s with the resistance!” the major hissed.
Daring threw herself behind a couch as bullets whizzed past her head. She gritted her teeth and cursed. No way she could take them all on with a pistol. And the exit was too far away. She heard them creeping left and right, preparing to flank her. She might be able to disarm or disable one, but the others would definitely gun her down. This was, in a word, bad.
There was one option left. She didn’t like it, but it was her only hope. And so, she did the one thing that her father had drilled into her head never to do.
She activated a magical artifact. She put on the crown. And immediately began to scream.
All their thoughts, all their minds, they poured into her at once. She couldn’t hold them back. They washed over her like a hurricane and threatened to sweep her away. For a moment, she forgot who she was. But the crown was still on her head. She felt every muscle strain as she fought to bring it under control. She bent all her will upon that crown and, right when she thought she’d lose, it responded
It was the most wonderful and terrifying experience of her life. Receiving her first commendation from the Academy of Equinology was a close second, for both. But this was something out of this world. She could hear them all and knew them all like they were old friends. And they knew her too. But they bowed to her will now. She was their master.
At her command, they would sweep through the world. They would build her a palace, a great edifice to the lore and beauty of ages long gone. She would be a queen. They would make it so. She would rival Celestia. Forget Chrysalis. Daring Do was the one born to rule the changelings. All she had to do was--
She came back to herself and gasped. Oh no, Chrysalis could not have this.
She reached out once more. There minds were all there, waiting for her to give them an order, an order they could not refuse. And so she did. She wanted to say ‘dance, puppets, dance!’ But the more rational and strategic part of her mind reigned her in. “Run,” she said, “Run as fast and as far away from here as you can.” And as one, they obeyed.
Swarms of changelings took to the air all at once. They fled from her like a cloud of locusts before a hurricane. They were routed. She wrenched the Crown from her head and stuck it in her saddlebag. “I am going to need to go through so much magical decontamination when I get home,” she groaned.
She stepped outside and, for the third time that day, found rifles pointed directly at her. “Whoa!” she said, hooves above her head, “Calm down now, every...deer. Please don’t shoot.” If she survives Caballeron and the changelings only to die to friendly fire, she would have words with whoever was in charge of Fate and Destiny. Strong words. Angry words. Words they would not enjoy. And would probably involve their mothers.
A doe lowered her gun. “You’re that pony Tenderhoof’s cell told us about.”
Daring latched onto that. “Yes. I’m that pony. Who helped a lot of you escape by blowing up a changeling patrol. Er, ‘Rhythm’, if that helps.”
“It does,” a buck wearing officer’s stripes said, “But we’ve got a better tests. Check her.”
Two came forward, horns glowing.
“What are you--Oh Celestia! That tickles!” Daring collapsed to the ground, giggling, as the magic washed over her.
The two stepped back, satisfied. “She’s not a changeling.”
The deer commander nodded. “Good.” They lowered their weapons and he offered Daring a hoof up. “You had us in your debt, miss, but consider that repaid.”
Daring shrugged. “Eh. Another day at the office.”
A small smile graced his lips. “Were you...planning on sticking around? We could use a pony like you.”
“Yeah, I’d wager you could.” It wasn’t an insult. Just an observation. She took a deep breath. “Nah. Gotta get this back the Equestria.” She patted her saddlebag.
“Sir!” A buck called, “We’ve found others. Ponies, sir. Ten of them.”
Daring grinned as they dragged Caballeron and his gang forward. “Well, well, Cabby. Looks like the shoe is on the other hoof now.”
He smiled nervously. “Daring, don’t do anything you’ll regret now.”
“Oh I won’t,” she said.
The commander raised an eyebrow. “They friends of yours?”
“No,” Daring said, “But life wouldn’t be the same without them. Throw them in a boat and give them a pair of oars. Let them row home.” Caballeron looked both relieved and angry at the same time. She waved. “I need to go. Good luck with the resistance! Bye Cabby! Thanks for the crown, you second-rate loser of an archeologist you.”
That got him worked up. With a wink and flick of her tail, she ran off into the woods. As she pushed her way into the undergrowth, she heard the words that always heralded her success. “DARING DOOOOO!” She breathed in deep and sighed in contentment. Ah, almost as good as a victory dance.
She set her course north and east. Next stop, Equestria. And then, who knew where her adventures would take her? It was a new and dangerous world.