Cloudsdale Airspace (About 15 miles outside of city), 12:12 am, September 29th
Since the 22nd, the world of Daring Do has been forever altered. The pegasus came to terms that there would never be another Dean quite like White Collar. At first she accepted the mission to exact vengeance, but hours earlier, she found out about the validity of H.U.R.R.I.C.A.N.E.'s plans. She then realized that this went much farther than her own intentions. The world was on her shoulders yet again. It wasn't unusual to the adventuress, she had succeeded in such an act of heroism many times, but never quite like this. Ahuizotl had been her arch-rival for many years but Giovanni always lurked in the shadows close behind. Ahuizotl's plans were simple, world domination. That same old dream. The dark magic he got involved in. The prophecies he sought to fulfill. All of them foiled by Daring Do. But Giovanni D'Angelo was far different. He was more clever, and realistic. Ahuizotl ran on thoughtless aspirations. The griffon however, spent months trying to perfect his plots, connecting every dot, scanning the hieroglyphics, trying to find the most plausible way to pull the trigger on his plan. Giovanni was one of a kind, just like her. The more she thought about it, he was the opposite of her, the anti-Daring.
Now instead of stopping a dangerous tyrant on the brink of meddling among the dark magic and booby-traps of a dreary and desolate dungeon, she was running a mission for the Royal Guard to stop her nemesis and the shadowy Shyster Stockholder from unleashing their armada of parasprites into the world. An extortion plot well worth thinking about. The Crystal Mountains were one thing, but amnesty on top of it all? The adventuress couldn't wrap her head around it. How could a dormant criminal organization make such a large leap back into the thick of things, and so quickly at that? Just a little over a week ago, the young mare was happily preaching lectures on archaeology at the university. It was funny how the world could be thrown into chaos in a matter of days.
As her wings beat strongly through the high atmospheric winds, Daring looked above her to search for the moon, but she did not find it in its full spectrum. Cirrus clouds cluttered the sky and darkened the moon, hiding it from the danger up ahead. Daring Do figured even Luna herself could sense the hazards. Though it was dark, and hardly anypony would be able to be seen in such darkness, the pegasus felt on edge.
Cloudsdale was still off in the distance but the bright midnight lights could be seen from her position. Fifteen miles wasn't very far, but while carrying a full grown mare, it might as well have been thirty miles. The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well hadn't moved a muscle the entire trip, aside from the occasional groan from a stinging headache. Daring started to fear that her ally's handicap may have been too far gone for her to recover in time. The Spectrum headquarters were sure to be packed with security and being on top-game would be essential. Failure was not an option. Even though it would be probable for Celestia to give in to H.U.R.R.I.C.A.N.E.'s demands, it would kill Daring's pride to let Stockholder get away with it after so much effort.
To her best interests, Daring attempted to wake the slumbering unicorn on her back. The pegasus swayed back and forth in a pendulum motion as she flew, rocking Mare-Do-Well's head side to side. When that didn't work, Do began arching up and down, but again, the masked mare simply bobbed her head gently and merely increased the volume of her snoring. "That mare sure likes her sleep." Whispered Daring.
Rolling her eyes, she thought of another idea for a third time to knock her awake. An idea that brought a humored school-filly smile. Being a tad more drastic, the sandstone pegasus suddenly made a sharp shot upward, breaching some higher clouds above then flipping backward, allowing the drowsy Mare-Do-Well to fall, sending her into a high-speed tumble. At first it discouraged Daring when she still did not wake through a unexpected skydiving act, but her spirits were quickly lifted after they broke through the fourth layer of clouds. The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well began to stir. For a moment she squinted her eyes open, just to close them up again. But not even a second later, her lids flew up and she found herself hurdling towards the ground at an alarming rate. With fearfulness in her tone, the violet-clad mare screamed, hoping this was all a dream.
"Somepony help me! Is anypony there?! Help me! Merciful Celestia, somepony save me!"
Daring was milking this to the full. Unbeknownst to the terrified unicorn, the archaeologist following her down was hysterical. She hadn't witnessed something so hilarious in a long time. She was almost crying she was laughing that hard. When the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well allowed herself a moment to breath, she paused for a split second to hear the enjoyment of Daring Do just above her. Suddenly the entire scenario changed. Deathly fear turned into a harsh resentment. "Daring?!...Pick me up!" she hollered, flailing her hooves desperately.
"It was the only thing that was going to wake you up." The adventuress replied, still laughing. "Don't tell you're afraid of heights?"
"Well I don't have the pleasure of living with my head in the clouds, now help me!" Demanded her accomplice, getting more and more antsy as they broke through another cloud layer.
To rule out the possibility of her passing out again, Daring decided to end her amusement and swiftly swung in to catch the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. She clung onto Daring, latching on like a leech to her back. The archaeologist looped around to regain their lost altitude then remarked a past event with a skeptical chuckle. "What happened to that nifty set of wings you made pop out of your cape? Don't you carry spares?"
The hooded hero panted heavily before building the words to answer her query. She had been given rude awakenings numerous times but that was overdoing it. "Oh Shut up. Do you know how long it takes to construct a pair of those? Just getting the parts for it was a murder to locate. What was with that little stunt anyway?"
"Forget that." Daring countered. "Shouldn't somepony like you be carrying some sort of medication when you force yourself into a magical migraine?"
"As a matter of fact, I do...In my stagecoach which is probably five hundred miles from here---Wait a sec, where are we? We escaped?"
The epiphany struck her at last. The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well was impressed yet puzzled all of a sudden. As bleak as the entire situation was, it was miracle they got out when they did. "We're on our way to Spectrum's Cloudsdale complex." The adventuress answered. "Luckily I was able to catch us a ride on a stagecoach I seen passing over a field. It was a bumpy ride but it saved us plenty of flying time until we got near Cloudsdale. You don't know how heavy you actually are. You've been out a good few hours too. Are you sure you're up for this?"
Mare-Do-Well responded to the question with an appreciative chuckle for her partner's concern. "Don't worry about it. I've had migraines before. Some caused by magic, most caused by stress. You learn to deal with it and shake it off in this profession. Although I can't remember much, except what happened before that ordeal." She rubbed her left cheek over with a fetlock. "Did you have to hit so hard?"
"Believe me, if I didn't make it absolutely convincing, there was no way we were gonna get the chance I got us." Daring grinned. "I pulled that stunt on Giovanni a few years back. I was hoping he'd forgotten about it. Gladly that airhead Shyster disregarded him."
The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well was left dumbfounded by the archaeologist. At first she found it hard to believe archaeology could have such thrilling encounters but Daring Do seemed to live as many as she did herself. "You sure got spunk, Daring. You're definitely more than I expected in a partner."
"I'll be honest with you," Daring said in between a laugh. "you're a lot more than I expected."
The unicorn mare had to laugh at that, because it wasn't anywhere near to being false. They both surprised each other. Whether it was in terms of character or just their past experiences, they found their teamwork compatible despite the current situation at hoof. On the run from Shyster Stockholder and his hundreds of thugs.
Mare-Do-Well smiled, then turned her away from Daring to take a curious glimpse at the bright spectacle to the west, the blustering and busy city of Cloudsdale. "It must be past midnight and that city is still awake?" She inquired.
Daring easily nodded at that question. "Oh Yeah, Cloudsdale is one of those cities that never sleeps. Everypony there is engaged in their work from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed. That's why ponies often call it the homeland of modern industrialization. A strong work ethic makes for long days of work. Working an twelve or even eighteen hour a day schedule is not uncommon there."
"Which makes it the perfect place for H.U.R.R.I.C.A.N.E. to operate under the radar." Mare-Do-Well interjected.
"Exactly." The adventuress cited. "For anypony else it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. The difference between us and everypony else however, we know where to go. Spectrum Incorporated. The great weather factory contributor with that slime, Union Jack directing it."
Suddenly a scowl formed on the masked mare's face at the mentioning of the red unicorn. "I can't wait to get my hooves on that cyclops. He's slippery but he'll have no where to run in a city of clouds."
"But remember, Mare-Do-Well, Union isn't the only criminal in there." The adventuress warned.
"Yeah, I know. Do you think Blueblood could be held up there?"
The sandstone pegasus had to think about that one for a moment. Her ally raised a good point. With entire Royal Guard working on the case, it would be silly to be holding him anywhere in the vicinity of Canterlot. Cloudsdale and Ponyville were next closest communities. Could either of those places be holding the Prince? Daring couldn't be sure because her report to Guard was foiled by Stockholder, taking Spectrum out of the spotlight so Princess Celestia would have no plausible reason to suspect Union Jack or any employee of the company. It seemed to make sense to Daring that he could be held captive in their headquarters. But then Daring realized that she and Mare-Do-Well were doing exactly what H.U.R.R.I.C.A.N.E. wanted them to do. Forget about the other threats to the kingdom's welfare and focus on the kidnapped Prince Blueblood, No. 1's pawn. "Mare-Do-Well we'll have to make rescuing Blueblood our second priority. Whatever they're doing with those parasprite spores has to be stopped first. Can you imagine the devastation if those things were released into the world?"
Reluctantly, the hooded hero nodded and exhaled a worried sigh. "Unfortunately I do. I was visiting Fillydelphia at the time and the damage to the farms were catastrophic. Fields of corn shredded, apple orchards bit to the bark, and the wheat fields were nothing but patches of desert near the end of it. Whatever the cost, we cannot let this plan come to fruition..."
Then out of no where, the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well felt lightheaded and for a solitary moment her vision faded. It wasn't hard to guess that it was after effect provoked by the untreated migraine. "Damn, my head hurts."
The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well brought a hoof to her head, slightly swaying about while Daring attempted to keep her on balance. The archaeologist was beginning to feel some vexation about her partner. Of course she said she would be fine, her pride wouldn't let her succumb to the truth behind that mask of hers. She was still very groggy and it definitely showed. "I really don't think you should get into any fights from here on in. I here those magical migraines can cause strokes and even aneurysms. I'm not going to let you-"
"Daring I'm fine!" Mare-Do-Well shouted back, perhaps louder than she intended to. She found Daring's concern unneeded and was annoyed by her sentiment. "I'm a little dizzy but otherwise fine. Just a little banged up from those smacks you gave me."
She was being as stubborn as a mule. But Daring Do couldn't complain too much. She was the same way. The difference however, the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well was a unicorn, and she was a pegasus. A pegasus knew how to perform an emergency landing if his or her wing broke in mid-flight. They never had to use magic and risk a head injury. With a swallowed, and heavy heart, Daring shook her head and sighed. "Sorry if I may have left a bruise. It was the last thing I'd want to have to do to a friend. But some sacrifices have to be made sometimes."
The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well went to retort again but was halted by a certain six-letter word that made her next sentence bring up solid in her throat like a brick wall. Up to this point they've been known to each other as simply partners. To her, 'friend' was a strong word. Her past has had trouble with the meaning. The mare found it difficult to trust anypony, especially one she has had barely a week to know. But despite their time together, the girls have learned so much about one another. Their history, their professions, their enemies, so much has been revealed. Could she return the gesture? Assuming they succeeded, Mare-Do-Well had to wonder if they would ever cross paths again. One an archaeologist, the other, a vigilante. In many ways they were similar, but in the end, they were both very different. "I appreciate your mutual affection for me, Daring, but I'm afraid our relationship can go no further than partners. It takes time and knowledge of one another to become. You know a lot about me and I know a lot of about you, but I assure you that there is much more than you think, that you don't know about me."
Spectrum Incorporated, Cloudsdale Headquarters, 12:31 am, September 29th
"Gentlecolts! In exactly three hours and twenty-nine minutes, the final stages of Canterlot Crisis will be upon us. Although we are doing exceptionally well for time, let me assure you all that no time is to be wasted! In the last twelve hours, I've witnessed no fissures in the plans whatsoever. It appears that everything has gone according to schedule. When Phase 3 is completed, No. 7 and No. 12 will be arriving to carry out Phase 4 along with our head of the Atrocity division, Nimble Stratus, No. 9. Now your given dossier may have read that I was to be travelling to Canterlot as well. But, due to a certain letter I received this morning, I will be taking a different route to inspect some property that Spectrum has just recently purchased. Soon, my comrades, soon the princess of the daylight will be given the ransom. And by the looks of our accomplishments, it appears the Crystal Mountains will soon belong to the Hierarchy of the United Ranked Revolutionaries In Chaos, Atrocity, Nationalism, and Extortion!"
As a volcano of uproars and cheers blasted up through the rafters of Spectrum's mass production room, Union Jack triumphantly raised his hoof into the air to inspire his other operatives of the Hierarchy. Then one by one, each and every pony joined in the salute and some in the crowd began chanting the syndicate's name. No. 4 was quite proud of his work. Literally only hours remained and there were still no deviations. The slick unicorn crossed every 'T' and dotted every 'I', and the last length of the project was at hoof. "Behold, my chaps, the Parasprite Distributor!"
Sitting in the very center of the room with everypony crowded around it, was a device the size of two oxen. Its overall shape was cylindrical and it bore a dozen glass chambers positioned around the perimeter. The top-face of the bulky creation was installed with what looked like a timer and several other miscellaneous features. It did not look like a machine made to be brought around. Shortly after its unveiling, it took five stallions to lift the device onto a flatbed and haul it off the floor. When it was brought to the side, Union whistled from the high-level balcony to holler one last announcement. "Splendid work! I want all you scientists down there to run a few more tests before we package it up. And I want you five over there to get it secured in the crate when we do. But lastly, all of you remember to be on high alert from this point in the game. We can't risk drawing any outside attention to pedestrians, Cloudsdale security forces, and especially not her Majesty's Royal Guard. That is all."
With that, the unicorn flicked his blond mane out of his single eye and exited through the door behind him. When he shut it to enter into a corridor, he found his secretary on the other side, the bright-teal pegasus who was eager to hear about his speech. "Well, Sir? Is it finished?"
Union had a look of contentment plastered to his face. After this, he was sure of himself that No. 1 would reward him for his efforts. He gave the mare's question a concise sinister laugh before he went on to answer. "Miss Dewpoint, we're so close to Canterlot Crisis. The machine is built, now comes the final tests. Come along, my dear. I need to get to my office."
The two walked off and made way throughout the corridors while the boastful Union trot with his chin held high. "For years I've been wearing a mask, a mask that has deceived thousands. And those thousands adore me, they adore my personality, charm, generosity, and humility. Oh Little do they know that their entire world is about to change forever, and there is not a pony in Equestria that stop us now." The presence of his eye-patch reminded him of a certain unicorn. "Not even the persistent Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. Bloody yank. I'm sure Cloudsdale is a height even she will not attempt to reach."
"The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, Sir?" Dewpoint had never heard of the name. She raised a brow very inquisitively.
Union knew he could get in trouble for giving classified information to a low-level operative, but he deemed her no threat on account that she knew the consequences. That, and he found the young pegasus mare quite attractive. "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well is an anonymous crusader we know absolutely nothing about. I've run into her twice and twice she has had the upper hoof on me. She is strictly distinctive in appearance. A unicorn mare, draped in what seems to be a specialized uniform. A full-body lavender suit with a violet cape and matching wide-brimmed hat. She has cloth wrapped around her hooves to soften her steps during espionage, and all completed by her signature crest. An 'M' etched into a black medal she wears to clip on her cape. No one has ever seen her face, apparently. Not even her accomplice, university professor and infamous relic hunter, Daring Do. The two are quite slippery and attempting an impossible task. Canterlot Crisis' progress is too far gone to stop. Even if they were to come now, this entire facility is filled to the brink with armed guard. Nopony and I mean even Discord himself would find it difficult to find his way in here."
She may have not heard of Mare-Do-Well, but the hearing of the name, Daring Do, made Miss Dewpoint jump. "Wait a minute, did you say Daring Do?"
Then Union stopped in his tracks with a puzzled deadpan look on his face. "You know her?"
"Doesn't everypony?" She remarked. "She was one of the most famous pegasi around. She started from almost nothing to get to where she is today! A world renowned archaeologist who is undeniably, unquestionably, unstoppable...Or that's what most ponies say anyway. Is she really involved in all this?"
The unicorn sighed through his nose and continued his pace. "I'm afraid so. Another bloody yank. We unintentionally kill one Dean and now she feels she must satisfy her own personal vendetta. Little does she know, she will be walking into her own death. I've had quite enough with the two of them. Let's talk no more of those two. The tension is higher than it already needs to be."
When they walked through the next door, Jack and Dewpoint found themselves in the waiting room outside his office. The two went to break off but Union stuck out his hoof to take his secretary aside. With a sweep, he took a hold of her hoof in his fetlock and kissed it, taking the young pegasus mare by surprise. "For the sake of changing the topic of conversation, my dear, we seldom get the chance to simply relax and chat. Would you care to take a moment's rest in my office? You've been working so hard all day.
Suddenly her face was flustered red by foalish embarrassment. It was a quick switch of mood from the conversation they'd just had. She couldn't figure why he was so quickly taking interest in her, but she couldn't argue the fact, she found him attractive as well. Although the flattery was so abrupt, Dewpoint couldn't find the answer. "Mr. Jack, I don't know. I still got items to be keyed, I have a dental appointment in the morning, I don't know where I'll have the time to do it all-" Her excuse was cut short by the glowing red rose levitated at her nose. She could see this unicorn was being very out front with his flirtatious gestures. She couldn't even call it 'hitting on', Union Jack was literally working the charm...and it was working. She took the rose in her fetlock and breathed in its aroma. "I suppose one drink couldn't hurt."
His single, working eye had an alluring fixation on the mare and he drew closer to her. "What is that enticing fragrance you're wearing? It's absolutely divine."
"Oh Union." Dewpoint sighed, falling even more seduced to Union's appealing nature.
The two locked eyes, slowly leaning into each other's head, slightly turning. Then as they went to kiss, Miss Dewpoint put her hooves in between them and pushed away. "This isn't right. We're co-workers, Mr. Jack. I mean just a second ago, we were a midst a discussion about the project, and now so suddenly you expect me to lower my own standards to satisfy your filthy need-"
Without a sign of it coming, the unicorn wrapped his hooves around her and forced a kiss on her. The secretary tried to push him away again but this time he had too good a grip on the young pegasus. Harder and harder she tried to fight it, but the more she struggled, the tighter his hooves became. She eventually gave in to the unexpected lip lock and tried to relax her body. Union soon broke away and held her. "Don't try to evade your feelings, Miss Dewpoint. I'm simply trying to unwind after a long day. I suggest you should do the same."
At this point his secretary couldn't find the words to counter his argument. He was right, she couldn't escape it. She was falling for a pony she barely even knew outside of her profession. With nothing to say, she merely nodded in agreement and let the actions speak for themselves. Union Jack went to work his charm for another kiss. "Now that's a good girl..."
But his romancing would be broken off by a sudden knock on the office door. A disappointed Union groaned and fixed his tie as he released Dewpoint from his grip. "There's always bloody something..." The knocking continued. "Keep your horseshoes on, I'm coming!"
He looked at the mare next to him and found her even redder in the face than before. He examined her and noticed her hooves quivering beneath her. This probably wasn't the best place to conduct such business. "Perhaps we should continue our debriefing in my office."
Miss Dewpoint nodded at once and rushed to her desk as Union walked in the opposite direction to reach the lobby door. He turned the knob and was abruptly hauled out by a security guard who had haste in his eyes and sweat on his forehead. As soon as the door was closed behind them, Jack took a good look at his night guard and stepped back. "You look a fright. What's the matter?"
"No. 4 we have a problem." He said anxiously, trying to collect his words as quickly he could.
"Well I could guess that, tell me what happened! Are the parasprites stable?"
The sweaty stallion nodded fast as if his head was about to come loose. "Yes Sir, they're fine. Please listen. We just received a telegraph from our Eastern outpost. This isn't confirmed but I thought I should bring this to your attention. They reported that two ponies were spotted flying over about twenty miles outside of Cloudsdale. Well I can't say both of them were flying because they also reported one of them was riding on the back of a pegasus. I don't like to worry you, No. 4, but if my feeling is the same as your's, then we better act quickly."
The face on the Hurricane agent was frozen with fear. He was brought back to the night in Shyster's office. The night he thought his life was over. The laugh of No. 1's dominating tone, the tears in his own eyes, the spear gun driving into his skull. Then when he imagined the trigger being pulled, Union Jack saw a vision of Daring Do and the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, escaping into a light. The premonition was frightening and he shook his head back into reality to address the warning with a prompt nod. "I don't believe it, they just don't give up! Alright, pass the message along to No. 9, he's down in the breaker room. Give him my orders to send out the Alpha squad to patrol in the east. If they see them, kill em. We cannot, for any reason, let them arrive. I'm not letting this get buggered up. I've worked too damn hard to keep this thing in-line. Do you understand me? If they see them, kill them. I'll inform the guards here to keep on full alert. Go!"
"Yes, No. 4!" The guard saluted, breaking into a gallop down the hall.
Then Union Jack was left with another emotionless pout. He had just finished talking about them, now they were coming. He lit his horn to reach into his inner jacket pocket with his telekinesis, retrieving a second rose to lay in his lapel. He looked down the direction where the guard took off, sighing slowly as he felt his inner hatred boil. The countdown was on, and the horseshoes were off. "Let the mayhem begin."
To be continued