Chapter 19:
Brains over Brawn
It took a while, but Rainbow Dash and Daring Do finally made it to Twilight, who was waiting for them in front of a rickety old elevator at the end of the path of glowing crystals. Daring was the first to collapse, dropping Gilda to the ground with a resounding thud.
"Phew! And I thought ponies turned to stone by the Medusa's Eye were heavy," she panted, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"So, these were the loose ends you were talking about?" Twilight asked Rainbow.
"Yeah," said Rainbow, setting Lightning Dust down. "There was a trap for us at the end of the race, but Lightning and Gilda beat us and fell into it instead. Honestly, I'm not losing any sleep over it."
"I didn't think you would," said Twilight. "Anyway, it's good that you managed to bring them here. Maybe they have some insight into what's going on."
"If they're willing to cooperate," said Rainbow skeptically. "But at the very least, we should free them from the changeling's mind control."
"Right," said Twilight with a nod. "Now, if I can just remember the spell Cadence used on Shining Armor..."
The studious unicorn concentrated long and hard before her horn emitted a magenta glow. Two gentle beams shot forth, hitting Lightning and Gilda square in their foreheads. The two rivals awoke dazed and confused; their eyes back to their normal colors.
"Ugh, my head," groaned Gilda, slowly getting to her feet. "Ow! Wh-when the heck did I clip my wing? And, why does my entire body feel sore?"
"Mmm. What a nice nap," said Lightning Dust, stretching herself out and smacking her lips. "Hmm? H-how the hay did I get here?"
"That's exactly what we want to know," said Rainbow.
Both Gilda and Lightning recognized the voice. Despite her injuries, Gilda tried to play it cool.
"Well well. If it ain't Rainbow Crash, the Queen Flip-Flopper," she said with a sneer. "How's the lamelight treating you?"
"Never thought I'd bump into you again, you little snitch," said Lightning darkly, less than pleased to see her former wingpony. "You wanna explain this?"
"These two used to be your friends?" inquired Daring, raising an eyebrow.
"Um, yeah," said Rainbow sheepishly. "Like I said, it's a long story."
Daring shrugged and cleared her throat. "Well, hello there, you two. I don't think we've been properly introduced. The name's Daring Do, and I'm a..."
Her introduction was interrupted by a stifled laugh from Gilda.
"Daring Do? You mean the character in those lame egghead stories?" she said between snickers. "Pfft, yeah right."
"Yeah. Everypony knows Daring Do isn't real," added Lightning, folding her forelegs.
"Well, of course I'm real," said Daring. "Haven't either of you read Haycartes?"
"Why would I need to read anything?" Gilda scoffed. "That stuff's only for dweebs and nerds. And last I checked, I'm neither of those."
"Eh, I never really 'got' philosophy," said Lightning with a shrug. "It always made my brain hurt. Besides, this is just a stupid prank, isn't it?"
"Trust me, none of us are laughing at anypony's expense," said Daring. "In fact, I'm just as annoyed as you two are, albeit for different reasons."
Twilight sighed. "This isn't getting anywhere," she said before approaching Lightning and Gilda. "Listen, you two. You've both been under the spell of a changeling, and we need to know..."
"Um, excuse me? Changelings?" said Gilda, cutting across the studious unicorn. "You honestly expect me to be tricked by one of those freaks?"
"Well, seeing as you're not smart enough to pick up a book..." said Daring, rolling her eyes.
Gilda did not take kindly to the insult. She got right in the literary heroine's face and stared her in the eye. "You wanna repeat that?" she snarled.
Daring was not the least bit intimidated. "Well, I would. But see, I'm on a bit of a timetable, and I can't afford to dillydally. Besides, I just saved you from being lowered into a caldron of green fire. You should be thanking me."
"This story gets more ridiculous the more I hear of it," said Lightning, shaking her head in disbelief. "Have you three lost your minds, or is this just the most elaborate joke in the history of elaborate jokes?"
Rainbow Dash smacked her face with her hoof. "Alright, Lightning Dust. Just, think for a second. I don't even know where you live. How am I supposed to track you down and bring you to the Canterlot Caves? And furthermore, why would I do something like this?"
"You tell me, Little Miss Tattletale," Lightning spat.
"Wow. Somepony sounds bitter," said Daring. "Let me guess. It's part of that long story, right?"
"Yeah. Let's just leave it at that," said Rainbow, clearing her throat. "Lightning, listen. What's the last thing you remember before waking up here?"
"Going to bed," said Lightning plainly.
Rainbow stared blankly at the reckless flyer. "Wait, that's it?"
"Yeah," said Lightning. "I just went to sleep, and the next thing I knew, I was here."
Twilight placed a hoof to her chin. "Hmm. What about you, Gilda?" she asked.
"What about me, dweeb?" Gilda growled, turning to the lavender unicorn.
"What's the last thing you remember?"
"Same as this pony here," said Gilda, pointing her thumb at Lightning Dust. "I was getting some shut-eye, and when I woke up, I was here aching like I just flew through Ghastly Gorge blindfolded."
"I see," Twilight mused. "I think our foe is smarter than we gave it credit for."
"Well, it could've fooled me," said Daring.
"No, I'm serious," said Twilight. "It hypnotized Gilda and Lightning Dust while they were asleep, so that we couldn't use them as a means of finding it."
"Huh," said Daring with a contemplative nod. "I gotta admit, that is kinda clever."
"Okay, what's the punchline?" said Lightning, shooting Rainbow a glare. "Why did you drag me down here and tell me all this nonsense?"
"I keep telling you, it wasn't me," Rainbow insisted with a sigh. "Honestly, do you really think I'm that petty?"
"It's either that or crazy. Take your pick," said Lightning, her voice dripping with venom.
"Okay, I've heard enough of this."
Daring walked right up to Lightning Dust, intensity radiating from her magenta eyes.
"Look, buster. I don't know what kind of history you had with Rainbow Dash, but whatever it is, I think you have more important things to worry about right now," she said sternly. "You can keep blaming her all you want, but it's not going to change anything. Something is trying to erase me from all existence..."
As if on cue, Daring became transparent again. Lightning blanched as she watched the olive-colored pegasus in front of her slowly disappear right before her very eyes. And this time, it was even worse. Everyone had to squint in order to see any resemblance of the great adventurer. After a few seconds, Daring became solid again and shook herself.
"Brrr. Kinda like that," she said, continuing where she left off. "Anyway, that thing also got to you and that brain trust of a griffon and used you as pawns in its little scheme. Rainbow Dash and I had to save your lives, and..."
"Huh? Wait, wait," said Gilda, blinking a few times. "Where did you come from? You just popped up out of nowhere."
"Yeah, flickering in and out of existence tends to do that," said Daring with a snort. "Now, if I can just get my point across without any more interruptions..."
There was a heavy silence.
"Good," said Daring with a nod, turning back to Lightning. "Now, I suggest you put aside your bitterness for just a few minutes and use your brain. You got me?"
Lightning stared at Daring blankly for a moment. "Wh-who are you? Wh-where did you come from?"
Daring sighed. "Alright, maybe that's a tall order, seeing as we're still trying to wrap our minds around all this. Look, just think about what I said, yeah?" She then patted Lightning on the shoulder before turning to Twilight and clearing her throat. "Anyway, it seems that the flickers are getting worse. We can't waste anymore time down here."
"Agreed," said Twilight with a nod. "This elevator here leads to the surface. It'll be a tight squeeze, but it should fit all five of us."
"Thanks, but I can find my own way out," said Lightning. "I'm done trying to guess what's going on here. I don't even care anymore."
"Ditto," Gilda chimed in. "You dorks are really starting to cramp my style and give me a headache. I'm bailing on this lame scene."
Gilda flew off into the caves, groaning and wincing all the way due to her injuries. Lightning gave Rainbow another look.
"I don't give a flying feather what Spitfire says. It's her loss that she chose you over me," she said bitterly. "Until we meet again, Rainbow Snitch."
With that, she zoomed off in a streak of lightning.
"Well. That was pleasant," said Daring. "Think we should stop them?"
"As if we could," said Rainbow with a wry smile. "I think we've wounded their pride enough for one day. Besides, they're both pretty tough. I have faith that they can find their own way out."
Daring smiled. "You never cease to amaze me, Rainbow Dash."
"I could say the same about you," said Rainbow. "You really stuck up for me back there with Lightning. You, really didn't have to do that."
Daring shrugged. "I've had several partners like her. They're always impulsive; never taking the time to stop and think. That kind of thing is a good way to get yourself into big trouble. I just felt like I had to set her straight."
"Ah," said Rainbow. "Well, thanks anyway."
"Not a problem," said Daring. "Actually, speaking of partners, I kinda want to see how Tailspin's doing. Mind tossing me the book, Rainbow Dash?"
"Huh? Oh, sure," said Rainbow, doing as Daring asked. The two pegasi then climbed into the elevator with Twilight. Daring cracked open the book, and the other two mares looked over her shoulders as the door closed and the elevator began to ascend.