//------------------------------// // Secrets Buried in Ash // Story: A Passing Through Kamen Rider // by thunderclap //------------------------------// Rain fell as a pair of travellers walked down an empty road. The two were silent, having said everything they had needed to for a while. The first traveller, Daring looked up at her adoptive father, assuring herself yet again that he was really there. Agito had come up with the idea to locate the orphanage the mare had been sent to as a filly. Doing so might illuminate more about her parents and then hopefully her brander. This was easier said than done, with Agito deciding to return to the town where he had found her. Daring couldn’t even remember the town. A name sure, but no real details. Did she have friends that she had left behind, or had it just been her and her folks back then? Shaking her head, she let those thoughts disappear. That part of her life was long over. All she and her father needed was whatever info they could uncover. Agito placed a hand on Daring’s shoulder. “You know, I never actually, officially adopted you. Doing this could get your old man in a heap of trouble.” “You do realize there’s a statute of limitations on that sort of thing, right?” Daring questioned, smirking. “Even if the guards got called on you, they couldn’t do anything.” Agito shrugged, looking into town. “I dunno, some people take things very seriously. They could think I kidnapped you and brainwashed you into my strange human ways. It was a thing back home, in the 70s; slightly before the satanic panic.” “You mean that thing you’ve ranted about where your grandma thought cartoons you liked were of that devil guy?” Daring questioned, her muzzle scrunching up. “The cool red one with the horns and pitchfork.” “Don’t idolize the devil, D.D,” Agito scolded, poking her head. “I don’t need you getting down with the devil.” Coming to a stop, he gazed up at the town gates. “Revelations ahead, you sure you want to go in?” “What I want is to figure out what I’m dealing with,” she answered, looking up at him. “I can manage some discomfort for that.” Stepping forward, she pushed the gate open. Her stride faltered when a voice greeted them. “Welcome to Sire’s Hollow!” A mechanical voice chimed, coming from the gate itself. “I wasn’t expecting that...” Daring muttered, stepping into the town. Taking in the sights, she held a vague hope that one of the landmarks would bring back some long forgotten memory. What she got, was a strange sort of familiarity. It was like a memory was stirring just beneath the surface of her consciousness, but she couldn’t quite dredge it up. She frowned, furrowing her brow as she tried to force the memory to come to her. “Hell’s up with this place?” Agito cut into Darings musings, his tone amused. “Looks like the town planner is bipolar. Half the place is historic landmarks, and the other looks like California. Bet the place is full of hipsters.” Daring scratched her head, looking between the warring aesthetics. “Maybe it’s a tourism thing? Historic stuff on top of modern, swanky places to appeal to everybody.” “This place?” Agito asked, walking up to what looked like a smoothie stand. “Look at this. This try hard ‘hip’ new way to drink your boring old smoothie.” “I dunno, maybe it’s good?” Daring offered, approaching the stand. “Then again, I don’t exactly have high standards. Anything’s better than dirty river water drained through a jury rigged filter system.” “Didn’t I teach you how to boil water?” Agito asked, looking at the mare running the stand. “Are you as ‘I don’t care’ as you look?” “Sorry,” the mare apologized, pushing away from the counter to stand up straight. “Been a slow day. Can I get you anything?” “Two smoothies, watermelon and peach.” Placing a few bits on the stand, Agito grinned. “If you can put one of those silly straws in the peach one, that would be great. My lovely daughter never outgrew some of her foalish tendencies.” Daring grin and bore the mare’s giggle, but she stepped down on Agito’s foot and ground her hoof into it. A couple of minutes passed before the mare placed their drinks on the counter. “Here you are, enjoy your drinks.” “Thanks,” Daring replied, taking a sip. Smacking her lips, she let the taste settle on her tongue. “Yeah, not bad.” “Enjoying your silly straw?” Agito asked, winking at her. “I know how much you like little things like that.” Tipping the mare, he took a sip of his drink. “Not bad at all, for hipster food.” Walking away from the stand, Daring shot her father a pointed look. “Yeah, thanks for that, dad. It’s a nice touch,” she replied, making sure sarcasm oozed out of every word. “Makes me wonder how I ever made do without you.” Agito chuckled, patting her shoulder. “Sorry, couldn’t resist messing with you. You always were an easy target. Anyway~ Neither of us have been here in a long-ass time. We should probably ask which way to the child prison.” “I’d correct you, but there wasn’t anything inaccurate about that,” Daring replied, adjusting her disguise. Looking around the streets, she found someone that looked knowledgeable. She was a middle aged burnt orange mare wearing a pearl necklace. Daring approached him, waving. “Excuse me, do you know where the orphanage is?” The mare paused, lifting her head. “Ah, are the two of you looking to adopt? I’ve made it a point to bring Sire’s Hollow into the modern era. As such, I’ve done my best to streamline the adoption process.” “Oh, uh, that’s not what we’re after,” Daring admitted, chuckling. “I was put there as a young foal, but I ran away. I wanted to see if they knew anything about me or my family.” Frowning, the mare leaned in closer. “A runaway hm? You know... I remember something about a runaway filly a few decades back. That was you?” Narrowing her eyes, she hummed. “Wait a moment, I knew you looked familiar. You’re A.K. Yearling!” Whipping her head around the street, Daring sighed in relief that there was no one around to overhear the mare. Narrowing her eyes, she put a finger to her lips. “Can you please not shout that? I don’t need to be swamped by ponies.” Daring’s words went over the mare’s head, who clasped her hands on Daring’s shoulders. “I can’t believe this! One of Equestria’s premiere authors got her start here! Oh, this gives me so many ideas! Just think what you could do for Sire’s Hollow!” “Not interested,” Daring stated firmly, prying the mare’s hands off her shoulders. “I just want to know where the orphanage is.” Sighing, the mare straightened up. “I can’t fault a mare for having her priorities in check. The Gilded Hearts Orphanage is two blocks down and then take a right. You can’t miss it.” Pulling a card out of her blouse pocket, she passed it to Daring. “Just look me up if you change your mind.” Pocketing the card without thinking, Daring thanked the mare and started down the streets. Sighing, she hung her head. “Man I need a new disguise.” Agito tapped his mask, getting her attention. “You know, I could make you a mask. I think a fox would suit you pretty well. Unless you’d prefer an old lady mask; would match your outfit pretty well.” “Something that doesn’t stick out like stiff wings,” she retorted, giving her wings a quick flap. “But thanks for the offer.” Adjusting her glasses, she scrunched her muzzle. “Maybe I could talk to Twilight and see if she can enchant some clothes to change my fur and mane colors while I wear them.” “I could do it if I had some kool-aid.” Agito lifted a small part of her mane. “It’s a pain in the ass to get out though.” Rolling her eyes, Daring brushed his hand away. “I’d use hair dye if I wanted to go that route. The enchantment is so I don’t have to deal with washing out colors from my mane and fur. The hell is kool aid anyway?” “It’s a drink mix,” Agito answered, turning down the street. “You put a powder in water and it comes in a variety of flavors.” He sighed as the building in question came into view. “Well, there it is; the place you once called home.” “No, it was never home to me,” Daring told him, her expression morphing into a cold stare. “Come on, let’s see what we can find.” Walking forward, she rang the bell and set her nerves. The silence dug at her like a knife until an older mare opened the door. “Ah, hello there! Sorry for the wait, I was wrangling the foals in for lunch. Please, come in.” Opening the door wider, she allowed them in. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you two in town before. I’d like to think I’d remember that mask.” “Thank you,” Daring said, walking inside. The stirring feeling from before returning in full force. Her expression fell, noticing a young filly with a sandwich hanging out of her mouth poking her head from behind a door frame. Taking her hat and scarf off, she presented herself to the mare. “My name is Daring Do, I was a filly here in the orphanage once.” “Oh my goodness,” the mare gasped, taking Daring in. “It really is you. I still remember that morning when I learned you ran away.” Looking down, her eyes moistened. “I’ve felt like such a failure for not making you feel welcome here ever since then.” Wiping her eyes, she looked back up at Daring. “Follow me to my office, I do have something of yours.” Daring nodded, stepping after the mare. “Don’t feel too bad, I’ve done pretty well for myself. I go by A.K Yearling now; though, I suppose most ponies still know the name Daring Do.” “Yes, I’ve read your books to the foals here over the years,” the mare explained to her, taking a set of stairs upwards. “You have a few fans of yours here, so expect for pleas to adopt somepony.” Daring flinched, finding herself trying to make herself smaller. “Honestly, I don’t think I’d be that good of a mother. Not that I didn’t have a good parent myself, I’m just not that kind of pony.” The mare chuckled, opening a door to a small office. “I understand your worries. It’s no small responsibility to take care of a foal.” Moving to a corner of the room, she knelt in front of a safe. “For me, my own son was quite a surprise. But, it taught me some important things about myself. That’s why I started working here at this orphanage.” “I didn’t think I’d be a parent either,” Agito spoke, putting an arm around Daring. “But D.D here was a nice surprise. I found her in a cave not far from here. Lucky I did, who knows who she’d be right now?” “Normally I’d reprimand you for not bringing her back and adopting her correctly,” the mare told him, twisting the dial on the safe. “But, that’s all ancient history now.” With a heavy click, the door to the safe opened and the mare reached inside. “We keep certain personal belongings out of the hands of foals; we don’t want them to lose what little they have. Especially when it might be all they have left.” Standing back up, she held her hand out to Daring. “I was afraid this one would be a permanent dust collector.” “What exactly is it?” Daring asked, holding her hand out. “A necklace or something?” “It’s a locket,” the mare told her, giving it to Daring. “But I’ve never opened it. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much that survived.” Moving over to her desk, she gestured Daring to come closer. Daring stepped up to the mare, looking down at the locket. It looked untouched from the fire that had destroyed her home. It was simple, just a piece of gold shaped into an oval. “This is more than enough, thank you.” Taking a seat, she requested “But if you know where I can find information about my parents, I’d appreciate it.” Giggling, the mare pulled a file from her desk. “Your parents were local celebrities. A pair of archeologists; Hidden Sign and Gordian Enigma. The town held a candlelight vigil for them after that fire.” Sliding the file to Daring she added, “If this isn’t enough, all the research that could be recovered from your family home was donated to the town's library. You should talk to the librarian, Firelight, for more.” “Thanks,” Daring said, standing up and taking the file. “Oh, and expect a hefty, anonymous donation to the orphanage in the coming weeks. The foals could use a good Hearth's Warming.” Pausing, she looked out of the room. Acting on a whim, she produced a business card. “Here, my agent’s card. Send him a letter and we can discuss making an announcement or something.” “I think I’ll do that,” the mare said with a smile, putting the card in a drawer. “Thank you for your generosity.” Once again donning her disguise, Daring graced her with a smile. “Not every foal’s lucky enough to have a parent; even one gonzo as this guy.” She gestured her head to Agito. “I'm not using those bits, so might as well put them to use.” The older mare thanked Daring again, she and Agito making their way to the door. Before they could leave, the mare gave them directions towards the library. Once they were out of the building, Agito put a hand on Daring’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, D.D. You did a good thing for the foals here.” “Yeah...” Daring stared back at the orphanage, a longing aching in her heart. “I just wanted to help.” Turning away, she began to walk back into town. Mentally, she cursed whatever sentimental part of her personality was showing its ugly head. ‘You’re kidding yourself Daring, you'd be a terrible mother.’ “I know that look, something’s bugging you,” Agito commented, pulling her out of her thoughts. “What is it? Ah, I think I know. The 'mom’ comment, right?” Rubbing the side of her head, she nodded. “Yeah, guess I am a mare after all. Some part of me finds having a little rugrat appealing, but I’m just not cut out for it.” Agito hummed, squeezing her shoulder. “In my experience, you never really know if you’re cut out for it until you do it. I never wanted kids, especially after coming here. One look at your face though, I knew I had to keep you. I mean come on, you know you have an exceptional filly on your hands when she's not scared of your demon mask.” “What’s there to be scared of a piece of wood?” Daring retorted, poking the mask. “But, we shouldn’t worry about that now. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.” “Don’t forget to write!” Pinkie shouted into her megaphone, the extreme volume making trees bend away from the sheer force. She held her pose, watching as Dash got smaller and smaller on the horizon. Taking the megaphone out of her hands, Wyatt tossed it into the air and riddled it with holes with the help of his summoned gun. “Pinkie, please no more of that.I swear I nearly went deaf there.” Putting a finger into an ear, he pulled it out to show that it was covered in a thin layer of blood. He cringed as the broken megaphone hit the ground. “I’ll uh pay you back for that.” “What did Wyatt say?!” Rarity nearly shouted, her ears pinned to her head. “I’m afraid I didn't quite catch that!” “Sorry,” Pinkie said, wincing as she looked between the group. “I just wanted to make sure Dash heard me.” “I’m pretty sure aliens heard you in the next galaxy,” Wyatt deadpanned. Twilight was about to say something but he held a hand up. “I know, Twi, sound can’t travel in space. I was just exaggerating.” “Can we just ban Pinkie from using microphones?” Applejack asked, keeping her ears pinned to her head. “I really don’t wanna need hearing aids in mah twenties.” Giggling nervously, Pinkie shrank a bit. “Right, megaphones make it easy for me to use too much pink.” Clearing her throat, she clapped her hands. “Alright, everypony! Let’s get the day rolling!” Wyatt took Twilight’s hand, putting on a smile. “We’ve got some time before Sombra gets out of school, wanna just enjoy the fresh air?” “I could use some fresh air,” Twilight agreed, nodding her head. “What about everyone else?” “Ah gotta help Mac with the chores,” Applejack replied, tipping her hat back on her head. Her muzzle scrunched up in disgust. “Ah drew the short straw and gotta muck out the pig pen.” Her expression shifted, a smile splitting her lips. “After that, we gotta start preparing fer the reunion! Every branch of the Apple family is coming this year!” “That’s nice to hear,” Fluttershy said, brushing a strand of hair off her cheek. “If you need any of our help, don’t hesitate to ask.” “Ah shouldn’t need any help,” Applejack said, attempting to wave away the offer. She stopped dead, receiving looks of disbelief from her friends. “But Ah’ll let ya know if Ah’m bitin’ off more than I can chew.” “Do you need a dress for the reunion!?” Rarity shouted, frowning at the cringes she got in response. “Am I shouting?! I still can’t hear very well!” “Twilight, do you know any healing spells?” Wyatt questioned, turning to his marefriend. “She can’t spend the rest of the day like that.” “Of course I do.” Twilight lit her horn, casting the spell. “There’ll be a little ringing still, it’s just a side effect I can’t seem to iron out.” Rarity’s ears twitched atop her head, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. “Oh, that is so much better, darling. There’s a smidge of ringing, but at least my skull no longer feels like concrete.” Waggling her ears, she turned to Applejack. “Now, as I was trying to ask before, do you need any clothes for the occasion?” “Rarity, this is the Apple Family Reunion, not a Canterlot shindig,” Applejack pointed out, rolling her eyes. “If Ah wore somethin’ fancy, it’d get ruined by the events we’re doin’.” The fashionista huffed, turning her head away from her friend and pouting. The group continued to chatter, about to split off and tackle their days. Before they could, the wind started to pick up and a large shape approached from the direction of Canterlot. Conjuring up a pair of binoculars, Twilight observed the object. “That’s the Invincible! I had no idea she was flight worthy yet! Wyatt! We need to get back to the library; something must have happened!” “Oh no,” Wyatt started, his eyes expanding to the size of dinner plates. “Don’t you tele-!” Before he could finish his protests, Twilight lit her horn and the pair disappeared in a flash of light. Rematerialization brought a wave of nausea, which he almost lost his lunch to. Twilight helped him sit down and levitated over a glass of water and some stomach medicine while she rushed to her telescope. “Try to relax, Wyatt!” she called out, scanning the sky. “I’m going to see where the ship will land!” “I think you're overreacting,” Wyatt responded, proceeding to use the medicine in question. “If something was wrong, Princess Celestia would have sent a letter to Spike.” Twilight faltered, looking back at him. “That is a good point. Maybe The Invincible is just making a test flight?” “Exactly, so relax, Twi,” he told her, sinking into the couch. “Peaceful moments like we’ve been having lately are rare and should be treasured.” Putting his hands behind his head, Wyatt put his feet up. “...It probably won’t last.” Stepping away from the telescope, Twilight plopped down onto the couch next to Wyatt and cuddled up to him. “If it isn’t monsters or Dai-Shocker, it’s just the town going crazy.” Resting her head on his shoulder, she sighed. “Let’s give it five minutes, then go see what’s going on.” Wyatt draped an arm over her shoulders, a smile easing onto his face. “Five minutes sounds like plenty of time for my stomach to settle. Teleporting sucks by the way.” “Sorry, you’ll get used to it.” Twilight nuzzled his neck, smiling. “Spike used to lose his lunch when I was still perfecting it.” “I also heard that parts of him were smoldering,” he teased. “I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with that. Some of us aren’t fireproof ya know.” Enjoying the moment as much as possible, he pet Twilight’s mane. Somehow, the mare made doing nothing together seem special. It was a good change of pace. Usually, Twilight would find a way to keep her mind busy. While he admired it about her, he liked quiet moments. Pushing away from him, Twilight rose to her hooves. “Alright, that’s five minutes. Let’s go see what’s up with the Invincible.” taking his hand, she pulled him up. “I promise, I won’t teleport you again.” “Fine,” he replied with a huff, stretching slightly. “But in exchange we’re getting ice cream on the way home from picking up Sombra.” Giving her hand a squeeze, the two left the treehouse. “And we’re getting double scoops.” Rolling her eyes, Twilight stuck close to his side while they walked down the streets. “Alright, we can get ice cream. Sombra aced his last math quiz so he deserves a treat too.” The Invincible had come to a stop near the middle of town, several guards hammering connecting wires into the ground. A few crystal ponies lingered around the area, conversing rapidly. Over the hum of the ships engines, Admiral Celaeno’s voice carried over the wind. “I don’t care how heavy the gaudy thing is! If you so much as get a scratch on it, I’ll tie you to the prow right before we enter a stormsurge! Am I clear?!” Wyatt scratched the side of his head, watching a group of sailors lower down a large disc made of blue crystal by ropes. “Okay, so this isn’t nothing,” he admitted, glancing at his marefriend. “But I don’t think this is an emergency.” Twilight watched as the crystal ponies got to work guiding the disk down. “Princess Celestia didn’t say anything about this...” She pouted, her eye twitching a bit. “Did I do something wrong? Is that why she didn’t say anything?” It was Wyatt’s turn to roll his eyes. “I don’t think that’s it. Try to relax, okay?” He offered her a smile and gave her hand a squeeze. “Seriously, don’t go panic casting any spells.” She nodded, taking a few deep breaths and letting them go. “Sorry, I’m just used to her giving me updates on her plans.” Looking up at the disk she added, “Especially when they involve Ponyville.” “Maybe we should go talk to Celaeno?” Wyatt suggested, pointing to the ship. “Good idea,” she agreed, approaching the working crew. “Excuse me, can we talk to the admiral? We’d like to ask about you’re doing here. Is that alright?” One of the sailors nodded and looked up at the ship. “Admiral! Princess Celestia’s student wants to talk to you! Permission to come aboard?!” “Send the lass on up!” Celaeno shouted back, leaning her head over the railing. “Saves me the time of looking for her myself.” Reaching down, she tossed a ladder off the ship. “I’ll be waiting in my cabin.” “Looks like Celestia sent the good admiral to tell you the plan,” Wyatt noted, nudging Twilight in the side. Letting her go first, he climbed up after her. Halfway up, he realized he had been staring at her butt, and a blush bloomed across his face. Turning his head, he carefully felt his way up to the railing. Luckily, his blush had subsided by the time he and the unicorn stood on the deck of the ship. One of the sailors stepped forward, motioning to the pair. “The admiral’s ordered me to lead you to her cabin.” Grunting he moved towards the stern, pushing past the other sailors. Wyatt and Twilight followed after him, taking in the sights of the ship. Sailors bustled around the deck, each wrapped up in some sort of task. The pair made their way to the captain’s cabin, the door marked with a phoenix crest. Wyatt reached out to knock and called out, “Admiral, we’re here to see you!” “Get inside boy, I never told you you had to knock!” Wyatt opened the door, finding Celaeno with her legs kicked up on her desk. “So, what do you think? Your princess didn’t spare a bit.” Celaeno wore a mix of leather and metal armor, a tricorner resting on her head. “Didn’t care for her fancy uniform though.” “This is an incredible ship,” Twilight agreed, looking around the room. “But what is that crystal disc your crew are setting up?” Celaeno leaned forward, tapping her crystal leg. “Princess got an idea in her head. Even with something like the Invincible; it takes far too long to get across the country. So! She took some of the finest crystal from that empire up north, and decided to make a ‘teleporter network’.’ Celaeno air quote, a pout on her beak. “I don’t care for fancy magic myself. Just give me a ship like this and I’m content to sail my way.” Twilight gasped, her eyes lighting up. “That’s amazing! This will make evacuations in case of monster or Dai-Shocker attacks a breeze!” The admiral clicked her beak. “The pads aren’t for civilian use, they’re so you lot can get where you need to when monsters come calling.” “But these things will be great for keeping them safe,” Wyatt argued, frowning at the bird woman. “Our fights can cause a lot of collateral damage, something that could easily kill bystanders.” “You’ll have to talk to the princess then.” Celaeno leaned back, putting her hands behind her head. “I don’t make the orders, I just decide how to go about them.” Wyatt and Twilight shared a look, the two thinking. Twilight was the one to break the silence. “These pads must need an extraordinary amount of energy just to teleport a few people. They must not be able to hold enough to work for an entire town.” Celaeno shrugged, grabbing a mug off her desk. “Like I said, I don’t question the boss’s decisions.” Opening a drawer, she pulled out a bottle. “At least, not the ones that make sense.” “Fair enough,” Wyatt relented, rubbing the side of his head. “So, how’s your new job treating you? Like it better than being a pirate?” “Better than being slaves of the Storm King.” Celaeno poured herself a drink, sliding the bottle across the desk. “Have a taste, it’s a pretty nice vintage.” “I’m underage,” Wyatt said, glancing at Twilight and getting an approving look. “What about you, Twi, gonna indulge?” Twilight glanced at the bottle before shaking her head. “I really shouldn’t. This is something I want to keep a clear head for.” Shifting her gaze to Celaeno, she spoke again. “Did the princess give you any notes on the process?” Celaeno sipped at her drink, rifling in her desk. “She knew you’d ask, so yes.” Pulling out a manilla folder, she held it out to Twilight. “Goes into every little detail. Said to tell you to meet up with someone named ‘Thorax’, whatever that means.” Wyatt nodded, instantly recognizing the name. “I know what it means, thanks for the info.” Moving towards the door, he grasped the doorknob. “Was there anything else we need to know, Admiral?” “That’s it,” Celaeno told them, putting the bottle of booze behind her. “I’d give you a tour of the ship, but I’ve gotta make sure my crew’s doing their jobs.” Rising up, she gestured for the pair to exit. “Leave them for a bit, and they just start lounging around.” Wyatt and Twilight moved out the door, following the admiral to the deck. Levitating the manilla folder in her magic, Twilight made her way down the ladder again. Cracking the folder open, she began to read the papers within. Wyatt hopped down from the ladder, peering over her shoulder. “So in layman's terms, what’s that say?” Positioning herself so he could see, Twilight moved her fingers across the page. “Ponyville's ‘node’ will be the first. There’s a central one in Canterlot that’s already been set up. Queen Chrysalis is going to send a few changelings to enchant it.” “Does it say how you control where you go?” Wyatt questioned, pretending he could make sense of the diagrams. “Does it take magic activation or is it something I can work without help?” “I’m still trying to read these equations...” Twilight turned the folder to the side, beginning to mumble to herself. “I can’t really make heads or tails of this. Wait... this must be changeling magic!” Barely holding back a squee, her eyes sparkled. Wyatt smiled warmly and commented, “You sound like a kid on Christmas that got exactly what they wanted. This must be why Celestia wanted us to find Thorax.” “You were looking for me?” Came Thorax’s voice from behind him. “I mean, we haven’t talked since I moved here but, you must have just been busy.” Wyatt blinked, looking up at the sky. “Okay universe, now I want a million bits.” He waited a moment, only for nothing to happen. “Damn, that never works.” Turning around, he said. “Hey, Thorax. Sorry if I’ve been a ghost. But between Rider stuff, work, dating Twilight, and raising a kid I wasn’t able to track you down. Do you mind helping Twilight understand changeling magic?” “That’s okay,” Thorax assured, waving him off. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with Spike! He’s a really nice dragon.” He smiled, buzzing his wings. “I’m not that good at magic but I can give it a try.” “Thank you, Thorax.” Twilight walked up to him, showing what was in the folder and pointing at a portion of the page. “This equation in particular is giving me trouble.” Examining the page closely, Thorax tapped the page. “I think that determines destination. You’d have to ask one of the other changelings though.” Twilight turned the page back around, her eyes lighting up. “Of course, I think I’m getting this a little bit better.” Looking back at Thorax she asked, “Could you point us to a changeling that knows more?” Nodding, Thorax pointed over to a group mingling around the platform. “You can find them over there. I can introduce you.” “We’d appreciate that,” Twilight told him, smiling. “Thank you for your help.” Thorax waved her off, approaching the group of changelings. He chatted for a few moments, gesturing towards Wyatt and Twilight. One of them nodded and walked back over with him. This changeling was smaller, waspish in frame. She introduced herself as Spinneret and seemed eager to talk about the magic behind the pad. She spoke a mile a minute, quickly losing Wyatt as she and Twilight eagerly bonded. Midnight stepped out of the shimmer, smoothing out her dress. A rare moment of free time allowed for a personal visit. Cursing herself for never having bought proper formal wear, she made her way to the door of the rather quaint home. Checking her hair one last time, she reached out and knocked on the door. It took a few moments before a familiar face opened the door. “Right on time as always.” Cadance gave a smile, opening the door wide enough for the other woman to walk inside. “Come in, Middy, Shiny and Flurry are in the den.” “Has she said her first word yet?” Midnight asked, an excited smile on her face as Cadance led her inside. “I bet it’s going to be something mind blowing, something like ‘Electromagnetism’.” Cadance giggled, taking a right in the hall to exit into the den. There were a couple couches arranged in front of a fireplace where a family portrait hung. On the floor, Shining Armor was wearing a lion mane hood and playing with his and Cadance’s daughter. “I had no idea you were into that kind of thing, Shiny,” Midnight spoke up, her smile growing. “What would the rest of the precinct think if they saw you wearing that?” Shining rolled his eyes, pulled Flurry into his lap and looked up at his sister. “Well, you’re in a pretty good mood if you’re breaking out the dirty jokes. Did you meet a cute girl?” Midnight shrugged, stepping closer. “Things are just going well.” Sitting down across from him, she pushed her glasses up. “The latest job is proving to be quite interesting.” Cadance slipped into the kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator for drinks. “Oh? Is it anything you can tell us about?” “Just another pony world,” Midnight responded, poking Flurry’s belly. “Shouldn’t be too much of a problem. They have a few riders, but none of them are a real concern.” Pulling off the mane hood, Shining quirked a brow. “Then why hasn’t the job been done yet?” Midnight frowned, picking up a squirming Flurry. “Somber wants something from one of them. We move at his pace, as you know.” Leaning down, she placed a kiss on the baby’s nose. “I can't say more than that.” Cadance walked back into the room, handing Shining and Midnight glasses of lemonade. “What could someone have for the stallion that has everything?” she joked, sitting down next to her husband. “It must be important.” “You don't want to know,” Midnight replied simply, poking Flurry's cheek. Looking back up, she smiled at them. “But enough about me, what’s new with you two? Already planning baby number two?” she teased, tickling the baby for a second. “Flurry's a handful as it is.” Cadance giggled, watching the two. “We'll probably wait a year or two, see if Flurry calms down any. But what about you? Find anyone you like?” “Possibly,” Twilight admitted, resting a hand on top of Flurry’s head. “A potential associate for work. But, between my duties and personal projects, I don’t know if I have time for romance.” Letting the baby grab at her fingers, she turned her attention to Shining. “How are things at the station? I've heard the number of cyberpsychosis cases are down from last month.” Shining nodded, letting Cadance lean on him. “That’s right. I’ve been leading the charge to crack down on illegal implants. The anti-psycho squad is worrying me though. The department is getting careless with the way they treat the members.” Midnight snorted, letting her glasses slide down. “I'm amazed Somber hasn't just replaced them. No reason to keep any remnants of the corporate hell we had before.” An uncomfortable look crossed Cadance’s face for a split second. “Well, you’d know his line of reasoning better than we would.” “If you have something to say Cadance, just say it,” Midnight remarked, searching the older woman's face. “Don't hold back on my account.” “I just have my doubts that Somber is a good alternative to the megacorporations,” Cadance relented, seeking out her husband’s hand for comfort. Shining took Cadance’s hand, squeezing it. “Your boss is some twisted, sociopath version of me. I'm not all too happy following his orders.” His gaze hardened. “And I'm not happy about what he's turning you into.” “Not a good alternative?” the young woman scoffed, looking between the two. “There aren't public executions or food lines. Just follow the rules and pay your taxes, that's all anyone has to do now. Plus, all of us are out of that slum. We can breathe air and drink water that isn’t tainted by the Flamco Chemical Plant’s runoff or fumes. And I have the funding for my Continue Project.” Cadance held up a hand, cutting off Shining’s response. “We're supposed to be having a family dinner. Let's put the political talk away before one of you starts shouting.” Giving Midnight a sympathetic smile she added, “I want you to enjoy your time off.” Sighing, Midnight pulled off her glasses and wiped at the lenses. “You’re right, Cadance. Besides, I didn’t want to think about work anyway. So, what’s for dinner? I skipped lunch today.” She left out that she skipped most meals. “Perhaps some of the crystal produce I gave you?” “I was actually thinking of making some stir fry with that,” Cadance replied, pulling away from Shining. “Hope you’re hungry.” “Oh believe me, I am.” Midnight watched Cadance move into the kitchen before returning her attention to her brother. “How's the arm? Any glitches or calibrations I need to take care of?” Shining clenched his mechanical fingers into a fist, flexing them for his sister. “Everything feels fine from the last tune up. Though, if you could find a way to give it artificial nerve endings, I’d appreciate it.” Transferring Flurry into Shining’s lap, Midnight kneeled behind him. “Pull your shirt up, I'm going to check anyway.” He did as she asked, giving her easy access to where his right arm connected to his shoulder. Like the limits of a city, scarred white skin gave way to cold steel. From his right collar bone onward, mechanics took the place of flesh and bone. He shuddered; a ghostly pain running along his back as Midnight traced a faded bullet wound. “The scar’s almost invisible now,” Midnight commented, her voice quiet and far off. “Another treatment and it should be gone.” Moving her hands, she opened a port on his shoulder. “Keep your arm away from the baby.” Giving a thumbs up, he extended his arm to keep it away from his daughter. “I always hate this part,” he grumbled, setting his jaw. His teeth ground as Midnight plugged a cable into the port. “Feels like I'm being zapped by a web grenade.” “I’ll find a way of lessening this effect on top of those nerve endings you want,” Midnight assured him, pulling out a tablet and connecting it to the cable. “It shouldn’t be too hard. But for now, just put up with it.” “This person you’re into, tell me about it.” Shining took in a breath, his fingers moving on their own. “They someone I gotta have a one on one with?” “This one might have a better death glare than you,” she playfully warned, checking through the diagnostics of his arm. “Military type, tall and a no-nonsense attitude.” “Person got a name?” “Tempest Shadow,” Midnight answered, nodding at the screen, lines of code running up her glasses. “But given the edginess of it, I think it’s not her real name.” Examining a line of code, a hum left her lips. “Not to mention, I think she has a decade on me.” “Well, you’re an adult as far as age goes,” Shining commented, glad to have something to distract him. “So there’s nothing really wrong with it. Not everyone gets their fairytale partner that’s the same age as them, Middy.” Midnight laughed, a short bitter sound. “How very true. In fact, some of us don't get the chance at all.” Her hands trembled, the tablet slipping from her fingers. “Some of us don't even get to see their tenth birthday.” Looking over his shoulder, Shining gave her a look of sympathy. “Middy, what happened that day-” He trailed off, struggling to find the right words. “It eats at all of us. That’s why we’ve all gotta be here for each other.” “Those bastards took a piece of all of us.” Midnight glared at the artificial limb grafted onto her brother. “Twilight died when she hit the pavement.” With shaky movements, Midnight removed an ampoule injector from her dress. Guiding it to her neck, she pulled the trigger. Relief spread out, her spasms ceasing. “They didn’t take everything,” Shining assured her, putting his left hand on her side. “And they saw justice, eventually.” He grunted, Midnight latching onto his side. “Hey, it's okay. You’re his big sister; if anyone's going to save him, its you.” “I will,” Midnight promised, closing her eyes. “Everything I do is for that purpose.” Nuzzling into his neck, she whispered, “Thank you for letting me feel like Twilight again.” “I’m your big brother,” he told her, patting her head. “It’s part of my job. I wouldn’t be able to show my face in public if I couldn’t help you somehow.” “Dinner’s ready!” Cadance called out, snapping them out of their moment. “Better get in here quick; this smells so good I might not be able to control myself long!” The pair finished up the tune up, making their way into the kitchen. Pushing her glasses past the bridge of her nose, Midnight sighed. This little respite wasn't enough; in the morning she'd be back in her lab, bringing Somber's next weapon to life. She put on a smile, determined to make the most of it. Daring moved up the steps of Firelight's home, her hand rising to knock. ‘Well, this is it. Time to learn what got Mom and Dad killed.’ It was funny, a week ago, she didn't really care where she came from. Hell, most of her life she hadn't cared. But, between her dreams and the brand, things had changed. Somehow, through fate, genetic calling, or just pure coincidence, she had managed to walk down the same path as her parents. Now, she needed to know more. It took a few minutes for someone to answer their knocking, an older purple stallion. He had a swept back green mane and amber colored eyes. He seemed to care about his appearance if the red sportcoat and yellow tie were anything to go by. “Hello there! You two must be new in town. I'm Firelight, the town historian/librarian. How can I help?” “Hi, I heard you could tell me about Hidden Sign and Gordian Enigma,” Daring told him, butterflies in her stomach. “I know this is out of left field but uh... I’m their daughter and I want to know more about them.” Firelight stared at her for a moment before releasing a shout of joy. “Daring Do! I thought I’d never see you again!” Without hesitation, he pulled Daring close, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “Look how big you’ve gotten!” Panic shot through Daring like a lightning bolt. Her eyes darted around the street, praying that no one had heard the stallion’s outburst. “Hey! Watch it with that name. And how do you know my real name in the first place?” If Firelight was bothered by her response, he didn’t show it. “How do I know you? What a silly question! You’re mother was one of my best friends growing up. Heck, they even made me your godfather. Oh, it’s so nice to see you again!” “Eh, sorry if I don’t remember you,” Daring said, motioning inside. “Can we come in?” Deflating a bit, the stallion moved aside. “Of course. Please come in.” Closing the door behind them, Firelight led them into the home. “I can’t really expect you to remember me, you were pretty young.” He chuckled nostalgically. “You used to call me Uncle Fi-Li.” “I’m sorry, but I think the fire messed with my memory,” Daring replied, removing her disguise. “If it weren’t for some dreams I’ve been having lately, I wouldn’t even remember my parents’ faces.” “Well, you’ve come to the right place!” Firelight led them into a study. “Nopony in town knew them better than me!” Turning to the side he muttered, “Except that controlling nag... Anyway!” Clapping his hands, he levitated over a cart. “All of your parents’ research was sent here. Well, what they could recover anyway, along with whatever was in their office.” “Perfect,” Daring said, a sigh of relief passing through her lips. Approaching the cart, she started to rummage through it. “Was there anything about something called the Arisen that survived the fire?” Firelight frowned, a few books surrounded by his magic. “You know, I’m not all that sure. I remember your parents were very excited when they came back from their last dig. Talked a lot about a local they met down there who helped them find something big.” “A local?” Agito questioned, picking up a journal and looking through it. “Do you remember the name? Or even just how they described this person?” “You know, actually, I do.” Firelight stacked the books and folders on the cart, rubbing his chin. “He wasn’t like anyone I’ve ever heard of. Apparently, he was some sort of monkey-cat with a hand on his tail! Can you believe that?” “Ahuizotl?!” Daring and Agito boomed at the same time, staring at the stallion in disbelief. “Ahuizotl got my parents involved in some dig?” Daring questioned, falling into a chair. “No... I don’t think that was his name...” Humming to himself, he pat Daring’s head. “I think his name started with a ‘K’, but it’s just been so long. Unfortunately, memories aren’t as preserveable as books or buildings.” “First I find out that I entered into the same profession as my parents, now I learn they met someone from the same species as Ahuizotl,” Daring murmured, running a hand through her hair. “This is all so insane.” “Aw, it’s okay, Dawey Wawey,” Firelight cooed, scratching her ear. “Uncle Fi-Li is here for you. You know, I was going to adopt you, way back when. But you ran away.” His demeanor changed, a look of longing settling on his features. “Just like she did...” “She?” Daring queried, snapping out of her stupor. “What does that mean?” A beat passed, her curious face scrunching up. “Did.... did you just baby talk me?” Firelight chuckled, pulling his hand away from her ear. “Can you blame me? The last time I saw you, you were barely out of diapers.” Gesturing to Agito, his chipper mood returned. “And who’s this? Your special somepony?” “Not quite,” Agito replied, looking up from the journal. “I’m the one she ran into when she escaped the orphanage. You can call me Oni, I raised her.” Clapping Daring on the back, his eyes twinkled with mirth. “Ain’t that right, Dawey Wawey?” Daring gave Firelight a deadpanned look. “Look what you’ve done. He’s never going to let me hear the end of that nickname.” Agito chuckled, tuning the two out while Firelight tried to reconnect with the mare. Digging through the offered cart, he searched for something that seemed important. Something stuck out from the feel of the books and he pulled it out. “Hey D.D., I found a photo you need to see.” “You found a photo?” Daring moved over, feeling her heart beating in her ears. To put faces to the names, something she thought she'd never care about. Sure, the dreams had offered a glimpse, but those were the vague memories of a foal, far removed from reality. Her eyes started to water the instant she got a good look at it. Her parents looked exactly as her dreams had depicted them. They even wore similar clothes to what she did on her excursions. It took her a moment to recognize they weren’t alone in the photo. Standing next to them was a being with a close resemblance to her foe, Ahuizotl. There were some minor differences; his fur was a few shades lighter and his teeth more crooked. “Does it say anything on the back?” Daring asked, urging him to turn it over. “A name or date? Anything we can use for a lead?” Agito did as she asked, examining the back. “Just the date and Mesopomareya.” Nodding, Daring locked her gaze on the text. “Then that's where we're going.” She nodded at Firelight, moving back into the Hall. The time for socializing was past. Starting now, it was adventure time.