Chapter 9:
Rhymes and Reasons
"Well, this place is certainly cheerful," Daring Do muttered to herself as she followed Rainbow Dash deeper and deeper into the Everfree Forest. Although the light blue pegasus continued to show off as she bobbed and weaved through the branches, Daring managed to keep up with her with spectacular ease. Finally, the two landed at the edge of a small clearing.
"Heh, not bad," said Rainbow with a smirk. "You really were able to keep up."
"Meh, it wasn't that difficult," said Daring complacently. "I gotta keep myself in top form to deal with deathtraps, after all. Of course, you should know that already."
"Heh, yeah," said Rainbow. "Now, if I remember correctly, Zecora's place should be just beyond those bushes. We'll just wait here for Twilight to catch up."
"I thought you said you weren't going to slow down for her," said Daring.
Rainbow chuckled. "Ah, that's just an inside joke. I would never leave any of my friends hanging, and she knows that better than anypony."
Daring smiled warmly. "That's good to hear, Rainbow Dash. I wish I knew more ponies that had that kind of..."
She suddenly trailed off and wrinkled her nose. "Yeech, what is that stench? It smells like a skunk who hasn't taken a bath in a month."
Rainbow gave the air a cursory sniff herself and blanched. "Um, Daring? We should probably get back into the air."
"We should?" inquired Daring, tilting her head. "But you just said that your zebra friend lives right here. Why are we leaving there's something right behind me, isn't there?"
Rainbow nodded vigorously. Daring sighed and turned around to see a trio of wooden golems shaped like wolves. The middle beast let out a powerful roar, bathing the olive-colored pegasus with its noxious breath.
"Yep, knew it," said Daring. "Alright, let's fly."
The two pegasi took off into the air lickety-split, flying far above the timberwolves' reach. The three beasts barked and snarled, leaping up towards the two and gnashing their teeth.
"Well, I'll say this much," said Daring. "That zebra friend of yours is in for a pretty nasty wake-up call."
"Think we should lure them away or something?" said Rainbow.
Daring placed a hoof to her chin. "Actually, I don't think so," she mused. "For one, if your friend lives here and has to contend with these things on a regular basis, I think she knows how to handle them. Secondly, I wouldn't want to run the risk of leading them to Twilight."
Rainbow gulped. "Oh no. What if Twilight gets here before Zecora notices?"
"Yeah, I wouldn't worry about that," said Daring, looking down.
Confused, Rainbow turned to where Daring was looking and saw a brilliant glow emanating from below. The glow startled the timberwolves, and they began yelping in fear as they ran back into the forest with their tails between their legs. When the glow subsided, a figure in a brown cloak appeared. Rainbow Dash smiled.
"Whew. Talk about good timing," she said as she flew down to the figure. "Hey, Zecora."
The figure drew back the cowl, revealing a familiar zebra who did not look particularly happy.
"I am glad I was able to get you out of that rut," the zebra said in a metric manner. "They usually know better than to hunt near my hut. Now, forgive me for being impolite, but why are you here at this time of night?"
"It's a long story," said Rainbow Dash sheepishly. "Sorry if we disturbed you, Zecora, but we really need your help."
"It is the timberwolves who should apologize," said Zecora. "You have done nothing wrong in my eyes."
"That's good to hear. I'd hate to get on a zebra shaman's bad side," said Daring as she came in for a landing. "Oh, sorry. I didn't introduce myself. The name's Daring Do. I'm a professor at the Royal University in Canterlot."
"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Daring Do," said Zecora. "Now then, what seems to be troubling you?"
"Twilight's on her way over here right now," said Rainbow. "I think she can explain things a bit better than we can."
"Sorry to keep you girls waiting."
As if on cue, Twilight Sparkle emerged from the underbrush.
"Nice to see that you're prepared," said Daring, noting Twilight's saddlebags. "Alright, I think it's time we got down to business."
"I find myself inclined to agree," said Zecora. "But perhaps we can discuss this over some tea?"
"I don't know about anypony else, but I like the sound of that idea," said Daring. "Lead the way."
Zecora nodded and trotted over to her house. Twilight, Rainbow, and Daring quickly followed.
***
"And so that's everything we know," said Twilight as she concluded the story.
Zecora knitted her brow as she took a sip of her tea. "I find your tale to be quite eerie. I'm afraid all I have to offer is a theory."
"A theory?" parroted Rainbow Dash.
Zecora nodded sagely. "It seems whoever did this knew that it would somehow erase Daring Do."
"Hold up," said Daring, raising her hoof. "You think someone's trying to erase me on purpose? That's not just low, it's incredibly messed up. I don't think even Ahuizotl would go that far, and trust me, he hates my guts."
"Keep in mind, it's only a guess," said Zecora. "In truth, I know not what caused this mess."
"Maybe you can help us find out," suggested Twilight. "Rainbow, did you bring that book?"
"Sure did," said Rainbow, producing her copy of Daring Do and the Treasure of Das Reingold from her own saddlebag.
"We have reason to believe that this is enchanted," Twilight explained.
"I suspect that it would be," mused Zecora. "Give it here, and we shall see."
Rainbow complied and gave the book to Zecora. The mystical zebra then trotted over to her shelves and picked up a small pouch. She opened the pouch and poured a glowing green powder onto her hoof. When she felt she had enough, she sprinkled the powder onto the book. The powder sizzled and sparkled, and the book itself began to glow.
"It's just like before," observed Rainbow.
"Yeah, I'm getting a bit of déjà vu myself," said Daring. "That's the light I saw before the booby trap was set off."
Just then, the faint glow changed from blindingly white to a sinister green color. Daring took notice as certain sections seemed to glow brighter than others, forming odd patterns. Twilight, however, noticed something else and gasped.
"No," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I-it can't be. It makes no sense. Why?"
"It seems we have come to the same conclusion. I too find myself expressing confusion," said Zecora.
"Why? What is it?" asked Rainbow Dash.
Twilight's face darkened. "That magic. It's the same kind that the changelings wield."
"What?" said Rainbow, more perplexed than shocked. "Why would the changelings do something like this? Does their queen have something against Daring Do?"
"That's what I would like to know," said Twilight. "And I highly doubt we can just go up to her and ask."
"Indeed, that judgement is very wise," said Zecora. "Seeking out changelings is not something I'd advise."
"Heh," Daring said with a cocky smirk and a snicker. "Whatever these changelings are, I doubt they're that tough."
"It's more than just that," said Twilight. "We don't even know where they live. And I have no books in my library about them."
"Hmm. That is a problem," Daring conceded. "But still, they're our only lead, right? We can't just sit on our hooves."
Twilight sighed. "I think we'll have to take a trip to Canterlot after all. The Royal Archives might have something."
Daring pondered for a moment before reaching an epiphany. "Hold it. Maybe we don't have to go to Canterlot."
"Huh?"
"There's a temple here, right?"
"Um, yeah. It's just some ancient ruins that first held the Elements of Harmony."
"And did whoever build that temple know about changelings?"
"I, don't know. Maybe."
"That's good enough for me," said Daring. "I say we pay those ruins a visit and see what we find."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, Daring. It sounds like a pretty big leap in logic to me."
"I thought the same thing when I got that tablet in Shetlandis leading to Argoats. Shows how much I knew," said Daring with a shrug. "We won't know unless we try."
"I guess," said Twilight, still reluctant about the idea. "But what if it's a dead end?"
Daring smirked. "Pfffft. C'mon, Twilight. The phrase 'what if' is not part of the Daring Do vernacular. You should know that about me."
"Daring's right," added Rainbow. "We might as well give this a shot. We'd waste just as much time going to Canterlot anyways."
Twilight breathed an exasperated sigh. It looked as though Daring was not going to budge on this, no matter how little sense it appeared to make. "Alright, alright. I'll show you the way to the ruins," she said, finally giving up. "I really hope you're right about this."
"Hey, me too," said Daring. "But, you know what they say. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Thanks again for the info and the hospitality, Zecora."
"It is no problem, Daring Do," said Zecora. "Know that I have faith in all of you."
With one last farewell, the three mares left Zecora's hut and headed deeper into the Everfree Forest.