//------------------------------//
// Chapter Two: The Team, Some Assembly Required 
// Story: The Adventures of Daring Do in Amazonia 
// by AnarchyArcher 
//------------------------------//


Chapter Two: The Team (Some Assembly Required)



Written and Edited by the Archer of Anarchy, with Assistance from BronyRex and Sweetapplejacker






Past the door was a modest study. The wall to the right filled with bookshelves, the left one was filled with framed pictures. Directly across from the door was a large set of windows looking out onto the park across from the museum. However, the most prominent feature of the room was a large desk behind which was a large leather chair. At the moment Daring barged in, it had been facing towards the window, but spun around to face us.

Daring paused for a second when she saw the earth pony sitting in it. He was quite old, his mane turning white with age and wrinkles on his deep brown face. Behind a pair of delicate glasses were a gentle set of green eyes. The adventurer seemed surprised to see him there, but quickly regained her posture. The earth pony smiles at her.

"Oh, hello Daring. So nice to see you again."

The smile on his face melting away as he sees the look on Daring's face. Trotting right up to the desk, she glared at him.

"Alright Barnes, where is Lock'em Up? He sent for me not a few days ago, then when I get here I find THIS when I step off our train!"

With a flourish, she spread out the poster onto the desk, spinning it around for him to see. The movement knocks her hat off, her mane curling up around a foreleg. The stallion gives her a confused look as he brings it over in front of himself to read. After a few moments, his jaw drops open.

"Why I didn't do this! Neither did Lock'em Up to my knowledge. He left about a week ago after sending the letter to you. Said something about the discovery being too important. I've been taking care of the museum since."

Daring froze, staring back at him.

"He left for Amazonia, at his age? What did the team find that was so important!"

"I don't know! He just bloody left in the middle of the night, only leaving a note to give you as soon as you came!"

He began ruffling through the desk after setting his book down carefully. After opening a few drawers and searching them, he finds an envelope marked with the seal of the museum.

"This is what he left for you..."

As she reached out to take it, the door to the study burst open. A unicorn stood framed in the doorway, his white sides heaving like he had just run for awhile. His green and blue mane framed his face, looking much like the northern lights on his flank.

"What are you doing Barnes!" he yelled.

The unicorn stallion barged right past Arc, Sykes, and Torq, taking a spot right next to the desk.

"That letter is for Daring Do, and for her ONLY! This common thief cannot be the adventurer extraordinaire."

Daring ground her teeth together as her anger began to rise in her again. Barnes looked at her, then back at the unicorn.

"Aurora." He stated calmly. "You might want to take back that last statement..."

As Aurora looked back at the others in the room, Daring picked up her hat from the floor. Aurora's eyes widened at her expression, now recognising the adventurer.

Barnes stood and walked around next to him.

"I think you better explain what has been going on, Aurora Blueskies."

The unicorn flinched at his full name.

"Because it seems you have been up to things that I haven't authorized, and they seem to have quite ticked off the pony you hoped to lead your expedition."

This startled Daring, making her hat fall off her head again.

"Your expedition? Who are you anyway!"

Aurora stood up to his full height, which was pretty much as tall as Daring was, and reponded pompously:

"I am Aurora Blueskies, son of prestigious curator Lock'em Up, heir to his fortune, and the head of this expedition."

Barnes held up a hoof to stop Daring from beginning to yell.

"Lock'em Up paid for this expedition out of his own pocket, only using the museum to get into places he couldn't. Therefore," he sighed. "This romantic gets control of the whole shebang since his father is gone."

Another face peered in, black head framed by a white mane. The pony saw Aurora before Daring and asked:

"So... is that the end of my interview? What should I do now?"

Daring scoffed, not letting the white unicorn speak.

"So, hiring all the hooves you need before you even open up to the general public? Well, that's great thinking!" She spat. "I don't need any of your help. So shove off, you ignorant foal."

The stallion in the doorway looked around for who was speaking, then his mouth dropped open when he saw Daring.

Aurora went around Barnes and got up in her face.

"Well, were you just going to book passage on any old boat?"

"NO. Lock'em Up always worked out transportation. Probably what's in this letter."

She swiped the letter sitting on the desk and threw it to Sykes.

"Could you please? I don't feel like trying to open that."

He grabbed it with magic, levitating it open and floating back the paper inside to Daring.

Daring's eye twitched as she read, dropping the note back to the desk.

"What?" Arc asked, swiping the note.

She read it, then facehoofed.

Dear Daring,

I have decided to go on ahead, for this is too valuable and rare a discovery to leave in the hooves of ponies besides ourselves. By the time you read this, I will be in Amazonia. Sorry, but I took your usual form of transportation. You will have to find passage on another vessel this trip.

Sincerely, Lock'em Up

"You see?" Aurora smirked. "Rex Hex here is necessary. He owns a ship."

The black pony in the doorway shook himself and came in. On his rump was a cutie mark of a bright blue moon surrounded by little gleaming stars. He seemed a formidable stallion, his presence feeling quite mater-of-fact. Giving a little salute to Daring, he introduced himself.

"Rex Hex, captain of the Skymere at your service. I have been looking forward to meeting you Miss Do."

Giving the captain a nod and an informal salute back, Daring turned to Aurora.

"So, you aren't a complete failure. Just mostly one. I guess I will see who your advertisement turns up. Under two non-negotiable conditions."

Aurora brightened.

"Alright. What are the conditions?"

"First, I get to pick which ones come. Second, this is MY expedition."

Before the white unicorn could react, she whipped the poster up from the desk.

"After all, you're not a liar are you?"

Daring smirked as his face fell.





The place Aurora had chosen for meeting ponies who wanted to come along was quite the restaurant. It was fancy in a way that just barely didn't make it the kind of place Daring would avoid.

The outside looked like any other part of Manehatten, except the lighted sign proclaiming "The Gilded Lily". The band playing that night was quite good, filling the open area in the middle of the two story building. They were playing something upbeat, to which many ponies were dancing in a clear area in front of them. Above the dance floor was an elaborate chandelier, lit by almost forty candles spread out among the crystals. around the walls were tables, ponies chatting and eating. After a bit a balcony started on the second floor, making extra seating above. Next to the entrance was a spiral staircase allowing ponies to travel freely between floors. The corners of the room where somewhat dark and secluded, perfect for the interviews of the hopeful ponies wanting adventure.

It was in one of these corners, almost opposite the entrance, that Daring was set up with. Arc was next to her in the good sized round table, cushioned benches wrapping all the way around except for one place for ponies to slide in.

Arc tapped a hoof on the table as they waited for the first pony. Aurora had set it up so that ponies interested would be put into a line outside the restaurant. Torq would be the messenger, going back in forth to get the next pony in line while Aurora stayed outside with the line. They weren't quite sure what had become of Sykes, he had disappeared almost as soon as they arrived.

"I'll be watching to make sure nothing happens..." he had said.

After that he was just, gone. Completely and without a trace, leaving them to go to the table Aurora had reserved. Arc had questioned Daring and Torq about it, but hadn't gotten much of a response.

"He gets like dat' sometimes." Torq answered.

"Don't mind him," Daring had snorted. "He's just showing off."

It was annoying Arc to no end that she knew almost nothing about Daring's two other companions, also that she seemed to have known them as long as herself. Trying to take her mind off this problem, she took out a small metal project and began tinkering with it.

Daring stopped staring towards the entrance and glanced down at it.

"What's that?" she asked.

Arc slid it over for Daring to look at.

"Oh, just a little project of mine."

It was a small metallic pony with a key in its back. Two little wings were half completed, but the rest of it was fully assembled.

"Oh," Daring raised her eyebrows. "Is this what I think it is?"

"Yep!" Her face brightened. "It's Eddie!"

She wound the little key on his back and set him down. Eddie shook himself and looked up at the two of them. Little clockwork eyes blinked at them as Daring leaned down to look at him.

"He still have all those things you gave him a few years ago? I really liked the little grappling hook, came in handy."

Arc shrugged.

"I took him apart to upgrade him. Nothing fancy now, mostly I'm trying to get some wings working." She looked up to see Torq coming over with somepony. "I'll tell you about it later..." Arc finished in a whisper.

Daring turned to the newcomer with Torq, holding out a welcoming hoof.

"Hello sir, what would your name be?"

The pegasus colt moved out from behind Torq, lifting a blood red hoof to shake the offered one/

"Name's Flare. Flare Twister. I would be an elementalist."

At this, Daring and Arc looked at each other.

"Aren't only unicorns elementalists?" Arc asked.

Flare laughed, his red and orange streaked mane shaking around.

"Oh, I don't use magic! I use my wings!"

With a flash of flame, Flare Twister revealed his wings. They weren't natural, that's for sure. Only the few inches closest to his body were actually flesh and blood. The rest was made of metal, flywheels, cogs, and other wires holding together countless metallic feathers.

Arc Flash's mouth fell open in disbelief at the sight.

"Wow," Daring commented calmly. "Where did ya' get those?"

"Had an accident when I was a little colt, before I earned my cutie mark. I broke both wings and they had to be replaced. My father searched for quite a while, but he eventually found me somepony who could help me..."

" Arshy. " Arc whispered.

Flare's eye widened.

"You know her?"

"Of her, but only by reputation. She's the one of the best craftsponies ever! How did your father find her? Do you still know where she is?"

Flare raised an eyebrow at the bit of fan-fillying.

"I was not in the best condition for most of the trip, and that was years ago. Shall I continue why I think I have what it takes to come along?"

Daring nodded to him giving Arc a shushing look.

"I got these wonderful wings from her, which took me awhile to get used to. A few years later I was working on a weather patrol, still without my cutie mark. The tornado we were making to send water to Cloudsdale went out of control, building off itself without anypony to stop it. They were able to get everypony else out, but I was trapped in the inside, without any way to fly out."

"I'm guessing you think what you did was good enough to let me bring you along?" Daring asked.

"Yes. I knew that I would be killed if I was shot out of it, slammed into the ground hard enough to shatter my bones. So I did the only thing I could, I rode the storm out. Flying along with the tornado, I kept it in enough control it didn't leave the water supply we had chosen. It was then I learned how a pegasus can be an elementalist."

He lifted his wings, twirling feathers past each other.

"My mechanical wings have a certain … glitch when they reach a certain speed."

Sparks began to fall from his wings as he moved them faster, then full flames erupted from them. As soon as the lit the restaurant , he extinguished them.

"It was as the flames filled the tornado that I got my cutie mark," Flare continued turning to reveal the tornado of fire on his flank.

" I got ah story like dat," Torq started, only to be cut off my Daring.

"Thank you Torq, but you can tell your lifestory later. For now, go get the next victim."

As he walked off like a scolded puppy, Daring waved a hoof at a second table that had a sign stating that it was also reserved.

"Just wait over there, and..."

She smiled as she finished.

"Welcome to the crew!"





Two hours and three dozen ponies later:

As another heartbroken colt ran out of the restaurant, Daring sighed.

"Why do so many young'uns think they have what it takes? This isn't a game!"

Arc shook her head.

"Maybe you should tell them about Iron Hooves, and what happened to him."

It was then her turn to sigh.

"Why did he have to die?"

A tear ran down her cheek. Daring brushed it away and turned her friend's head toward her.

"It was his choice. Either you perished in that deathtrap, or one of us took your place. He knew fully well I couldn't hold it long enough to get both of you out."

Arc nodded, a sniff making a few more tears come down from her eyes.

"I .. I know. But why then? Right after he finally said it..."

Daring put a hoof on her shoulder.

"Why don't you go sit with Flare Twister? See if you can get a closer look at his wings. I'll go through the rest of the volunteers."

She picked up Eddie and walked away to sit with Flare. The pegasus adventurer watched her go, remembering those companions past. She was shaken out of her memories by the next hopeful brought in by Torq.

The next pony was a pegasus like herself, her midnight blue body and wings clashing a little with her pink Razzmatazz mane. She was built a bit more slender than Daring, but not skinny. She judged the newcomer was able to take care of herself if needed.

Daring Doo held out a hoof to shake, but the newcomer proceeded to just stare at her of a few minutes.

"Um, hello?"

The blue pegasus blinked.

"So it's really you?" she asked. "The famous Daring Do? Explorer extraordinaire?"

Daring leaned in closer.

"You sound as if you expecting somepony else … a fake?"

"Well, you can't be too careful these days can you?" she pointed out as she took a seat.

A small grin went across Do's face.

"So how are you sure? That I'm not a fake you mean?"

Leaning backwards in her chair, the pegasus began to list things off.

"First, your hat fits you and it looks cared for but worn. Second, you have faint scars down your flanks. This could be from any one of your battles, but I think that in particular it would be from the glass door you smashed at the museum."

Daring blushed a little as she continued.

"Third, you have contacts in museums, which isn't as easy as someponies think. Fourth, you have her."

The blue pegasus pointed over at Arc Flash.

"She was a big part of your adventure in the Everfree, if I recall so correctly."

Daring's smile stretched out across her face.

"Well, I'm impressed. I would be lying if I said otherwise. Now, who are you?"

The adventurer took the offered hoof.

"Comet Clue, P.I."

This got a reaction from Daring.

"You're the mare that solved that case..."

It was Comet's turn to grin.

"Yep! That was me!"

"Well, I can't say you don't have experience..."

Daring tapped her chin with a hoof. Her eyes lit up.

"Say, how about this … "

She leaned in, whispering.

"If you were invisible, where would you hide in here?"

Comet Clue gazed around the room, taking in the dance floor, the other ponies eating, and the second story.

"I would try hiding there." she responded point to the large chandelier over the dance floor.

Daring looked up at it. There was chains coming down to the second story, so somepony could feasibly get to it. As they watched, some crystals moved out of sync with the others. Comet raised an eyebrow.

"Should that have … "

"Never mind. You passed the test." Daring quickly said. "Welcome aboard."

Clue looked confused, but nodded in thanks.





After one colt that insisted that he should be brought - even though he was young enough to be her own colt - Daring rolled her eyes as Torq wandered back to get another hopeful pony.

"How could he not put an age requirement on this? I've gotten five ponies that probably couldn't even keep up with the others!"

She stared out the windows of the restaurant, sighing at the lit signs of the other stores and shops.

"And out this late... Where do they think they are? Ponyville? Not to mention, why are they out this late..."

Daring yawned.

"What time is it? Midnight?"

"Just about, yeh."

The pegasus adventurer jumped.

"Oh! Torq. You scared me."

A white unicorn stallion with an icy blue mane stood next to Torq. The mane covered his left eye, leaving him looking a little mysterious. This was made only more so with his horn - a long sharp white one covered from base to tip with a shiny layer of ice. He was just as tall as the earth pony, and Daring would have considered him muscular - if he weren't next to Torq.

"Oh, hello!"

She raised a hoof to shake, eyes flicking to his triage of icicles cutie mark.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you there."

The stallion smiled and nodded to her, shaking her hoof firmly. Daring had to almost pull her hoof back from him before he let go.

"That's quite alright. So long as I'm not ignored in the future..."

Daring raised an eyebrow.

"Not intrested currently." she stated bluntly, rolling her eyes. "What's your name?"

"Frostbite, the last of the Cryomancers."

"What?"

Frostbite looked shocked, even falling back a few steps as a waitress came up and placed a glass pitcher of water next to Daring.

"You haven't heard of us? Not at all?!" he spluttered

"Well, no. Not if you're the last one."

The white unicorn puffed himself up importantly, horn aglow.

"Then let me enlighten you!"

The corner of the restaurant they were in suddenly got much colder as the pitcher on the table shattered. Daring had to cover her eyes from the sudden onslaught of broken glass.

When she looked up, there was the water from the broken pitcher, flash-frozen fast enough it had broken the glass. Frostbite looked quite pleased with himself.

"That's not all either!"

As it slowly began to melt, the ice began to slide towards him. When it reached the edge of the table, it broke into countless pieces and covered Frostbite in a shiny armor-like coating.

"What do you think about that?!" he asked, grinning at Daring.

Getting her hat off the seat, she huffed.

"I think you are basically showing off, and broke this, which she is not happy with."

Frostbite turned around to see the waitress giving him a dirty look.

"Anyway," Daring continued as a unicorn waiter came over to pick up the mess. "I think you might come in handy. Quite a few times I've been in a tight spot due to too much water..."

She shook away memories of a wall of water bearing down on her and her friends.

Frostbite tried to defend himself, only opening his mouth before Daring smirked.

"Sit over with the others. Dismissed!"

The next pony Torq showed in made more of a show than Frostbite, without even trying. A chill went through the restaurant as he stepped in the doorway, his black armor almost sucking in the life and happiness out of the place.

Daring looked up from her drink as a shiver went down her spine. Whoever this stranger was, he was no stranger to the darker parts of the world.

She compared the two as they made their way over. Torq was bigger in stature, but the foreboding armor made the newcomer more of a walking bowlder. The massive battle axe on his back didn't help. Neither did the dark horn

Daring offered a hoof to shake, smiling a little forcibly.

"Hello, now what your name be?"

He didn't return the shake, instead giving her a cold glare.

"My name is Daltharious Calariac Metablade, and I will be joining your expedition."

"I hope you got more than that," Daring warned, sending the stare right back. "Because I don't like those who give me lip without giving something useful as well."

His horn glowed slightly, showing the beginnings of a spell.

The ax on his back flipped up into the air, scratching the ceiling before shooting downwards.

Daring dived to the side, narrowing being missed by shards of the table as the stallions ax slammed into the table. The hard wood split right down the middle, pitcher of water crashing to the floor.

The band stopped playing, everypony staring over towards the corner. Torq got between Metablade and Daring, hoping to prevent any further conflict. Arc had to hold Flare back from leaping in to help the adventurer.

A waiter came over just as the dark unicorn re-slung his ax, the nervous employee levitating a towel over. He half-heartedly tried to wipe up the mess around the decimated table as he looked over at Daring.

"I.. is th.. there a problem?" he stuttered, face pale.

"No." Daring answered flatly. "Our guest was just leaving."

This did not seem to sit well with Metablade, for his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared.

"I was not..."

"Get out."

He humphed.

"I will be going with you, like it or not."

Metablade walked a short while away, to sit at an empty table.

Daring Do sighed, getting to her hooves. She watched carefully as he interrogated a nearby serving colt to get himself something to eat.

"I don't like him."

Torq glance back at her.

"To.. oafish." he stated bluntly.

This got a little chuckle from the pegasus adventurer as she gave a little 'nothing to see here' wave to the restaurant at large.

"You're right. You've got dumb brute strength covered, don't you?"

"Uh.. yes?"

She shook her head, smirking.

It would be at that point that a small paper airplane poked her in the forehead. This startled her, making her fall backwards. Daring landed back on her chair. The piece of paper landed among the wreckage of the table.

She looked up, eyes darting around the restaurant.

Nopony was paying any undue attention to her, besides the few tables still whispering about Metalblade.

Carefully, she opened up the plane. In small, neat writing a short message was scribbled inside.

Incoming. At least 6 stallions. They took out Aurora and those in line. Intentions unknown.

Almost too perfectly, a group of stallions came into the restaurant. They were wearing black suits over white undershirts, identical black fedoras adorning all of their heads. Overall with their dark coats and short cropped manes they looked like they were clones of each other.

They started looking around the restaurant as a waitress came up and asked what they wanted.

Daring ducked as they knocked the employee down and starting moving through the crowded restaurant.

She tip-toed over to the table with Arc, Flash, Comet, and Frostbite were sitting. Torq walked over behind her, but in plain sight. Daring pulled him down to table level as the others leaned in to hear what she had to say.

"Trouble!" She hissed. "I count five by the door, probably more outside. Somepony tipped me off, so they must be after us."

"Nonsense! We haven't even done anything yet!" Comet shot back.

"Alright, they are more likely after me, but if this note is correct they have already done things to Aurora and the others waiting outside."

Arc looked flustered.

"Oh, it's starting again... This is why I quit this life in the first place..."

Daring shot a look at her as the others looked confused.

"Gave it up? But, why..." Frostbite started, to be cut off by the pegasus adventurer.

"Admit it Arc Flash. You like the chases."

The yellow pegasus looked up from the table. A small smile spread across her face.

"No, it's how you always seem to make them ridiculous."