Daring had been pacing back and forth for the past half an hour waiting for the results of the examination of the artifact she had brought back. So far her tenuous patience was near the breaking point.
After arriving back home she had asked a colleague she worked with at a local museum, to begin researching the artifact she had brought back with her. Her friend had undertaken the task as usual and had told her to come back within a week, during this time Daring taught at a nearby school and moonlight giving tours of the museum, nopony ever recognised her with her disguise in place.
And so a week had passed and brimming with anticipation and anxiety, Daring Do strode into her friend’s office only to be shooed out and have the door slammed behind her. Daring had stared askance at her colleague’s behavior.
Her emotions running high, Daring fumed for awhile before pacing back and forth down the hallway.
Our daring pony was nearing the breaking point when she felt a door sharply slam into her nose. Blinking back tears and rubbing her muzzle with her hoof; Daring stared with a sharp edge at her would be aggressor.
A short and rather plump unicorn with a pair of telescopic reading glasses perched upon her snout gazed with a blank look ahead and a leg outstretched above her head as if she meant to shout out Eureka! Her eyes went steadily from unfocused to confused, gazing about she seemed to be searching for something. “Do!” she called out cupping her muzzle with a hoof, “Do!”
“Behind the door.” An unamused Daring Do plainly stated.
As the offending door was slowly half closed Daring came into full view of the unicorn. She looked rather bashful and it wasn’t hard to figure out the reason, in fact that egg forming on Daring’s muzzle was ample enough reason Daring thought to give the unicorn an egg in return. Suddenly the unicorn went from bashful to slightly fearful. Daring had that effect on ponies who hadn’t the slightest experience with a life of adventure.
“So, um heh, sorry?” The pudgy clumsy silly pony replied. “No hard feelings?”
“Don’t count your chickens, Detail.” Daring Do smiled slightly, she was glad she was funny enough to amuse herself. Adventurer and comedian, is there anything I can’t accomplish?
The Unicorn, Detail, shuffled her hooves whilst staring shamefully down at the floor. As Do walked right by her into the room, Detail’s eyes widened as she did a one-eighty and rushed past the pegasus. Swerving in time to avoid knocking over the bookcase behind a desk Detail plopped down in her chair, swerving she met Daring’s cool gaze. “I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?” Detail’s face never left Daring’s so intent was she to share her findings.
Daring paused but only for a fraction of a second, for she yearned for any knowledge to slate her thirst of this artifact she had spent weeks if not months preparing and searching for. “Tell me the good news then.”
Detail puffed her cheeks and nearly squealed. Cannot for the life of me understand how or why ponies do that sort of thing. “This,” Detail indicated with a hoof the small disc shaped artifact, “is very, very, very old.”
Daring Do was clearly not impressed, “That’s it?”
Detail shook her head, “According to several analysts it predates Equestria.”
The adventurer exhaled rather flippantly, “A lot of what I find is older than Equestria, it’s no big deal.”
Her scholarly friend excitedly bubbled, “But that’s what so great about this, whatever this is, it’s older than even the most ancient equestrian civilization!”
Slowly Daring Do’s casual posture shifted into one of puzzlement, and then she added, “Even older than the earliest Griffon civilizations?”
The unicorn enthusiastically nodded in reply. “Furthermore, it seems to vibrate distinct unknown magical pulses intermittently. I don’t know what sort of magic it utilizes but magic nonetheless.” Leaning over her desk Detail’s eyes bore into Daring Do’s, “this could be the find of the decade Daring, and considering the origin of the artifact, it could be the find of the century!”
Daring Do stood like a statue as this news washed over her in a tidal wave. A fruitless effort seemed more and more to having become an against the odds find. She, the one and only Daring Do, might have finally have accomplished something to go down into the history books for all time. An artifact with such gravity could lead to fame beyond any book series she could write and finally a place among her respected peers, or better yet a chance to rub their noses in it.
“Fine what if it is not as old as you say; dating magic is quite new and except for some recent tests largely untried. Not to mention the possibility that this unexplained magic might interfere with the dating process?” Daring grilled, her calm façade melting like winter ice in spring sunshine.
Shaking her head Fine Detail, glanced at a few papers, shuffled them and spoke with some trepidation, “The magic really is unknown, I should know I’ve had it tested by several unicorns with cutie marks specializing in this sort of thing.” Shifting nervously Detail went on, “but in regards to the date, I really don’t know.” Sighing Detail stared down hard at the papers scattered atop the desk as if she could divine an answer from the unorganized mess.
Daring peered at her colleague for several seconds before swiping the coin from the desk, “Well until we know more I’ll keep this on me, for protection, until then adieu Detail.” Turning on a dime our intrepid explorer gallantly took to the air as she sped out of the window and out into the wide world.
Back at her home hidden deep inside a black forest, Daring Do packed her suitcase and bag full of supplies necessary for her newest adventure; her destination the infamous Saddle Arabia, hopefully full of excitement, discovery and pygmy ponies, always a good idea to beat up some pygmy ponies. Her single suitcase stuffed with her adventuring clothes, a canteen, some bits and the coin, daring was ready to go.
Throwing the bag onto her back, picking up the case she gripped the handle in her mouth. Walking to the door she budged it open and took off flying up into the clouds.
It was a quarter till noon when Daring finally arrived at the train station. Daring swept her head left and right taking in the view. The train sat on it’s iron tracks, smoke billowing out of the main pipe stack. A small platform with a single building firmly stood in the middle of said platform. Upon this raised wooden construct a mass of ponies, probably about a baker’s dozen slowly filed on board two of the carriages attached to the train.
Realizing she was most likely late, Do quickly threw on a disguise and went to buy a ticket. Sitting behind a counter, a middle aged pony stood counting bits, Daring gave a quick knock on the wooden frame through which was this pony’s portal outside his little building.
Suddenly he stopped his counting and gave a startled fright. Fidgeting in his seat, he brought up his muzzle to stare directly into the eyes of the pony that had given him a fine scare.
Daring stared back, the ticket pony cocked his head, seemingly quite confused. Daring pointed to the train, then herself, and then again to him in rapid succession.
The pony followed her hoof all the time and as it came back to rest pointed at him comprehension slowly dawned. A small smile grew on his face and he righted his self upon his chair. Doffing a look of profession and business as usual he made the movements of a ticket clerk.
First he made a sort of salute to Daring(in disguise), then he opened a small drawer filled with bits, and his hoof rose and flew on a predetermined path to the costs of travel depending on location.
Daring spoke a word, and with that the clerk took her bits, gave her a ticket to Baltimare and thanked her along with wishing her a pleasant day. Daring returned the salutations with a nod and a gallop. Taking a short hop, skip and a jump she was onboard the caboose and on her way to her call of port. Adventure just waiting around the corner…
The train was richly furnished, with hoof carved wood and fine red carpet layered about the floor. As far as trains went, Equestria had no competition amongst all the lands Daring had seen.
Casually strolling Daring left the caboose, and went into the last passenger car.
Shutting the door behind her, our adventurous action hero moved toward the front of the rear most passenger car. Finding an empty seat she lay down upon the bench. Tipping her hat down she drifted off to sleep.
…
Something was pressing against her brow, it felt could and stung waking up in a fright Daring saw a greasy haired mule pressing a knife against her head. The train did not seem to be moving and various other mules and donkeys were holding up other passengers. Welcome to Baltimare, Daring could not help but sigh.
A couple was relieved from their precious gems and bits. As various passengers were in various states of distress, our intrepid hero had to take stock of her own situation. That knife could prove injurious but if only, “Take your dirty hoofs off of me, you filthy animal!” a fellow mare yelled at a one of the donkeys. The mule holding Daring hostage took a split second to turn her head toward the commotion; it was more than enough time for the adventurer. Shifting her head Daring managed to place herself more than far enough away from any immediate danger.
Suddenly she tackled the unsuspecting mule, knocking the gangster down; Daring turned her attention to the other thieves. All seemed to be in immediate shock that this bookish looking mare had taken down one of their fellow thieves. Taking advantage Do struck the closest criminal square in the jaw, one of the more bold thieves tried to ram into her but Daring quickly knelt down and delivered a mighty buck straight into the donkeys head.
Three of their comrades down the mules and donkeys so bold just a minute ago fled like a pack of startled chickens.
Slowing her quickened breaths Daring calmly collected herself, proceeded to her seat and studiously ignored her fellow passengers.
The stop for Baltimare was only a few minutes away.
Baltimare Port was busy as usual as intercontinental trade was carried out on a brisk pace. Daring had already bought a ticket to her next port of call, a cargo ship the Trotter was going to make a stop at Saddle Arabia. Daring Do boarded the vessel. The seas were pleasantly rolling in a light wind. Daring was on her way to a whole new adventure.