//------------------------------// // Daring Do’s Tale: Part 3- The Birth // Story: Daring Do and the Sword of Excalibur // by Silver Malice //------------------------------// Daring had not reacted well to hearing she was pregnant. Upon learning of her new condition she had immediately passed out once again. Then after waking up hours later, she had practically had a panic attack, breaking several features of her hosts living room and kitchen area. Eventually though and with some ruffled feathers and a few bruises, the gryphons had gotten her under control. She looked ghastly pale even through her golden fur, still soaked in the spilled potion mixture. Lying on the table she turned her head back and forth feverishly, her purple irises scanning around the living room. Coming back to focus on her herself she was surprised to see both Arrow and Gruff we’re busy trying to hold her down, while Gilda was bringing over a bucket of hot water and a damp cloth. Daring’s nerves were too frayed for her to calm down anytime soon, the news of her condition having put her in a mixture of shock and denial. She wanted to fly, to feel the no nonsense caress of the wind on her fur and through her wings as she flew through the wind. However, the gryphons pinning her down, seemed to have other ideas. The two males started to tie her hooves to the table as Gilda carefully and gently began wiping off the mare’s brow and fur with the damp cloth. Dunking it in the bucket of hot water before bringing it back up to her fur, the comforting warmth of the cloth draped over her forehead. “Sorry about this miss mare, but we only have so much living room left you see,” apologized Arrow, Gruff to the right of him giving a growled huff as they finished the ties. Both male gryphons giving her a sympathetic look before moving over to the kitchen, Gilda all the while gently continued to wash her fur with the hot cloth. The warmth of the hot cloth was soothing on her feverish brow as she laid back, allowing the gryphon girl to continue to wipe the potion out of her fur. “This can’t be happening, this can't be happening,” groaned out Daring, her eyes closed shut and her heart beating faster every second. “Yeah well it is happening, miss Daring Do! so you better just deal with it,” growled Gilda, herself getting tired of Daring’s panicked moaning. That seemed to do it, because Daring stopped pleading and begging with herself, and just relaxed her body. Eyes shut she laid her head back against the wood of the table and tried to think her way out of this mess. She could already feel a slight bump growing in her belly, as well as extra weight and hormones going through her body. “It’s alright Gilda, it’s not her fault. She’s got a whole new set of hormones in her system right now, making her go haywire,” spoke up Arrow, the young gryphon male’s voice echoed across the room. The only sight of him was his tail swaying back and forth from his place in the kitchen. Finally he came back into sight, carrying a tray with a teapot and several cups balanced neatly upon it. Pouring some of the tea into one of the cups, the young male brought the glass cup to Daring’s parched lips. The adventurer having been too distracted to realize she was thirsty and dry. She sipped the hot liquid down, tasting fresh mint and honey. She finished of the cup and gave a thanking look to the gryphon. “We can’t keep her here, only a matter of time before the legion or Mordrue comes looking for her. And in this state she’s dead meat.” commented Gruff. The old gryphon picking up various items from the living room and placing them in a pair of brown rugged looking sacks. “Where can we go? She’s not exactly in the best condition for travel right now,” spoke up Gilda. “Look, I will not act like I know exactly what’s going on here,” muttered Gruff. “But she’s pregnant and growing more so by the minute, if we don’t get her out now she will no longer be able to fly.” Daring vaguely listened to the conversation going on around her. She perked up a bit at the talk of her growing pregnancy, but only because she could feel it happening even now. Her body was flushed with feelings and emotions she couldn't understand right now, the tea having taken some of the edge off, but not enough to her satisfaction. She was hungry, angry, sad, and terrified all at once, if not for the ties around her hooves she would be throwing some sort of fit. Gruff was still packing, while Arrow poured another cup of tea and sipped at it in question. He poured Daring’s empty cup full once more and landed it over to Gilda, who took it gingerly. The gryphon girl brought it back up to Daring’s lips and the mare gulped it down, the liquid was cool, but it was also calming and sweet. “Cloudsdale is the safest place, Mordrue and his idiot brigade will stand out like sore wings up there,” grunted Gruff. The old gryphon pushed Arrow out of the way as he grabbed the now empty teapot and dropped it in the sack. The gryphons turned to look at Daring on the table then, unsure how they would go about getting Daring Do freed. The older gryphon finally handed over the sacks to his younger nephew as he strode over to Gilda. Stroking her shoulders, Gruff gently guided her to go sit by Arrow, as he took over from her. Picking up the cloth he doused it in the bucket of water, before bringing it up to the pegasus’s brow, her head turning to look at him now. “Sorry there mare, but we have to go now before you’re too big to fly.” “B-But h-h-how w-will…” she trailed off, her current condition messing with her head and making her unsure of what to do. “We’ll guide you don’t worry. Leaving a pregnant mother on her own is below even us. So I’m going to cut you loose now, promise not to break anything huh?” he asked, as he untied Daring’s hooves from the table. The mare heaved as she pulled herself up, the gryphon lending her a talon as together they got her on her feet. Daring felt odd having been on that table for so long, although now she was on her feet, she felt a bit more steady. However, being on her feet also allowed the weight and the feel of pregnancy to be more evident about her, especially in the now evident bump showing on her frame. As the group exited the roost, they formed up into flight formation. Gruff took the lead, Daring and Gilda in the middle, with Arrow (who was also carrying the sacks) picking up the rear. The group set off immediately, flapping and making their way across the sky, open and blue with the midday. Daring found herself slower than her usual as fast as blazes self, realizing that her maternal instincts were taking over. She could only assume she was going so slow as a subconscious desire to not disturb the growing life inside of her. Gilda flew beside her maintaining the same pace, keeping a keen eye on her, while Arrow flapped nosily behind them, the wind passing through the holes in his wings. This made them whistle like crazy. Gruff seemed less concerned with them keeping pace with him, however, instead he was more concerned with scanning the skies for any traces of enemies. Slowly but surely they passed through gryphon territory, reaching the Equestrian border without any hindrance. Gruff had not been willing to take them across the Celestial Sea, not with a pregnant mare on their talons. Instead they had traveled up towards the train station at Gryphon point, where they had followed the train tracks to the Bridge, bordering the mainland of Equestria from the Gryphon kingdoms. To the south lay the Gryphon isles and the pony colony of Trottingham. As soon as they passed over it, the group angled their direction up higher, aiming for above the clouds. Heading south west they zoomed towards Cloudsdale. Passing through the thin and cold mist of the cloud cover, they exited the top of the cloud canopy, bathing in the sunlight and the bright blue sky. Up here they were free from the prying eyes of the surface (if only the ones following them weren't also capable of flight). Cloudsdale was a welcomed sight for the weary gryphons and the exhausted pegasus mare as they finally came within the borders of the pegasus cloud city. Daring had managed herself well, but over the course of the flight she could feel herself growing heavier, her hormones going into overdrive, and her body’s soreness beginning to overwhelm her. She hated this feeling, hated the weakness it brought upon her. She hated that stone, she hated Mordrue and his gryphons, and she especially hated the thing growing inside of her. For the whole flight she had been locked in deep thought, counting on her gryphon companions to keep her steady. What would it be? She wondered. It couldn’t be a normal pony given how fast it was growing. It was born of magic, so would it be magical? Maybe a unicorn? Or would it be a pegasus like her? She had no clue and frankly didn’t care, it would be a freak whatever it was, and she wanted no part of it. Such feelings of hate and anger clouding her mind every time she thought about the child, hating the creature for what it had and was doing to her. She was Daring Do, she was an adventurer. She was not the family-settling-down type, the very thought was something she joked about to herself. She had no wish for kids, and if she ever did it would be with a stallion of her choosing, when she was ready, not some magical backlash from a botched potion. Daring was no fool, either: she knew what else the potion had done to her, it had stained her fur. She was no longer golden, she was golden brown, the potion having permanently stained her fur as well as making her pregnant. Her anger grew even more heated once she realized she would be bound to this brat, a child she never wanted, and even feared for what it could be. The part of her that was still rational lashed back at her at that. It was not the child’s fault, and she should not hold the baby at fault for actions it had no control over. Her rationality also chastised her for how she was thinking, the ungratefulness for the gift she had been given and would give birth too. However, her anger and irrational side was stronger and in more control, beating down this wisdom. The thoughts of how ruined her life would be now flashed across her mind. This ongoing feud was still raging inside her mind and her heart even as she and the gryphons touched down upon the cloud covering of Cloudsdale’s main street. “Gilda take us to your place,” ordered Gruff, giving a huff towards a group of gawk-eyed pegasus youth, who had never seen so many gryphons in Cloudsdale at once before. Ignoring the pegasi, Gruff stood aside then and made way for his niece to to step up. Gilda nodded and took the lead, the others following her close as she led them through the streets and past the houses that comprised the majority of Cloudsdale. Daring followed with the others, the war inside her still being waged as she realized they were heading to the eastern corner of Cloudsdale, which was noted for being directly above Canterlot, the capital itself built upon the side of a tall mountain peak. Peering over the edge of the clouds she could not help but notice the peak itself just below them. “It’s just this way, got a good deal on the place too, Mom is vacationing in Appaloosa this time of year so the place should be free and empty.” came Gilda’s voice from up front, Daring couldn't see her however, behind the larger frame of Arrow, who could stand to lose a few meals by the looks of his girth. The cloud house was not that much better than the old gryphon roost they had back home, a bit smaller, but it served the purpose. As they passed through the front door Daring finally could no longer support herself, finding her belly had grown even bigger from the time they had arrived at Cloudsdale. The soft and cushioned clouds supporting her weight as her wings kept a gentle rhythm of flapping. Arrow and Gilda gently took one of her hooves in both their talons and helped carry her over to the cloud sofa in the living room. It took them a few seconds but soon they had crafted the sofa into a reclined bed spread, laying the golden-brown mare on top of it. “If I didn’t know better I would say you're nearing the end of your birth cycle,” commented Gruff seeing how large she had grown. Daring could only look back at him, unsure herself what exactly was happening, which was bringing her already warring insides more pain and fear. She could only lay her head back, unable to find the words or even the thoughts to reply to him. “Arrow, go find a doctor, tell him we got a pregnant mare here, and she can’t be moved.” Gruff beckoned away his nephew, as he directed Gilda to take a cloud seat beside the bed. The other gryphon nodded and left the house heading for the center of Cloudsdale. Daring was lost in thought lying there on top of the cloud bed, she couldn’t help but wonder by what twisted fate had brought her back home to Cloudsdale. She had not been to the pegasus city for ages, instead choosing to remain at her place in Canterlot. Even then she barely lived there either, her adventures and archeological finds taking up most of her time. Part of her lifestyle and her very being was not being held down in a single place, least of all her childhood home. Daring had little care for such sentimental reasoning. Yet here she was again, back in her birthplace, about to give birth herself. She could even feel her pregnancy nearing its fruition, the magical enhanced process faster than she had originally assumed. Arrow brought back a doctor shortly after, the pegasus dark brown with golden wingtips, wearing a stethoscope and white frock, he quickly came to the pregnant mare’s side. Dangling from across his shoulders was a shoulder bag, which he opened and started to bring out his instruments, setting them carefully before him. “Alright there my dear, my name is Doc Brown, at your immediate service.” The chippy doctor exclaimed has he lifted a hoof to gently feel around her extended stomach. “So my dear how far along are you?” he inquired. “Uh I guess, two and half days, at most,” offered Daring meekly. The doctor didn't respond for a moment, probably thinking they were joking with him. However, as he stood there, looking upon the serious faces of the gryphons and the panicked state of the mare below him (as well as the absence of any laughter) he caught on to the fact there was no joke. “Great Scotch!” shrieked the doctor, his blue eyes bulging as he tried to fathom how exactly this mare could be on the cusp of giving birth in only two days. “B-But h-how?” “One word,” muttered Gruff. “Magic.” Doctor Brown closed his eyes and gave an exasperated sigh, “Uh, oh boy do I hate magic.” “Join the club” replied the gryphons and mare simultaneously. After a while of examining and looking over Daring, Doc Brown consulted with the pegasus and her gryphon friends. “Well this magic induced pregnancy is surely one of the strangest things I have seen in along time. An actual pregnancy going to full term in less than three days! It’s… It’s unheard of.” he stammered. “Yeah we got that, but what about her, is she going to be okay?” asked Gilda impatiently. “Uh yes, well from what I gather you’re going to be fine. From what I've seen so far, it seemingly mirrors a normal pregnancy, just sped up. However, the effect it might have on the foal, has me a bit worried.” At that Daring perked her ears up, the talk of danger to her child allowing the rational side of her mind, to take some ground from the anger and fear battling inside her. “What do you mean? Is my foal going to be okay?” She asked. “I’m sorry miss, uh um, Do, but the speed of this pregnancy is too fast, the child could not be fully developed properly. We’ve seen it in some fillies born prematurely, usually their wings are underdeveloped or worse.” Daring nearly felt her heart collapse at that. Bad enough she was giving birth, but the chances are she wouldn’t even be birthing a fully functional child. She tried to sit up to pry the doctor for more information when all of a sudden she was struck with a crippling pain. Giving a cry of sheer pain she rolled back onto her back, shifting from side to side as immense pain and contractions racked her body. She could feel a heavy pressure building in her lower regions as her legs gave out in unimaginable pain and stress. “I think we just entered the labor cycle,” exclaimed the doctor, the pegasus male immediately setting himself between the mares thighs as he motioned for the gryphons to come close. “You two, I am going to need cloths and hot water stat, and you little Missy, I need you to hold her steady and keep telling her to breathe!” “Is that actually going to help?” cried Gilda, alarmed at the struggling and painful cries of the pegasus mare beside her. “Of course not, she’s about to give birth to an entire horse, but it keeps her focused, and takes her mind off things. I would do it, but I’m going to be extremely busy in a moment!” answered the doctor. Gilda could only nod before she brought herself over to Daring and gripped her hooves tightly, whispering into her ear to keep breathing and to relax her body. Daring could only holler in response, the pain beyond anything she had ever experienced before. As she lay back gripping Gilda’s talons tight, tears streaming from her eyes she started to beg and plead in her mind for this to not be happening. The tearing pain in her insides showed little sympathy for her wishes. ~ “AHHHHHHHHHH SWEET BUCKING FAUST!” Daring had been in deep labor for that last three hours, and showing no sign of ending soon. Her sped up pregnancy had run short of the actual delivery. Her fur was matted with sweat and her eyes were sore from constantly being squeezed shut every time she felt the contractions and pressure strike her core. Doc Brown true to his profession, had not stopped tending to her. Checking her dilation, upon every contraction, he ordered the gryphon spectators to bring plenty of hot water and cloths, to clean away the blood and maintain sterilization. Upon fetching the water and cloths, Gruff and Arrow stood to the side, neither of them ready to get more involved than that. All the while Gilda remained at Daring’s side, calmly whispering into her ears, to relax and that everything was going to be okay. “There’s a good push Miss Do. Keep at it I think we’re nearing the end of this soon.” came the reassuring voice of the doctor, just as a rather painful contraction wracked her frame. “OH SWEET CELESTIA, PLEASE GET IT OUT. NOW!” Gruff and Arrow covered their ears at that, her voice so loud and in such pain, even they were starting to feel it. “Is it coming yet?” asked Gilda concerned. “She’s in a lot of pain here!” “I can see the head now, I’m more worried about the foal ripping her open on its way out. That magic made the child grow too fast, her body may not have adjusted at the same rate.” responded the doctor. “Oh… oh please, please make it stop,” cried Daring, the feeling of an entire being slowly expelling from her body, too much for her too handle. “Please I don't want it, I don’t want it!” she hollered. More and more pain filtered through her system as the Doctor pushed her legs further apart, his own hooves now pressing against her body, digging his hooves in to help the foal. “It’s coming now, I need you to push Daring, push!” “I AM PUSHING!” “Doc how‘s it looking down there?” cried Gilda, wincing at the death grapple Daring was having with her talons. “I can see the head, but we need to get it out soon, or it could suffocate!” Gilda pushed herself close to Daring and started to whisper again into her ears. “Come on Daring push and breathe, push and breathe, you took on that overgrown statue, you took on Mordrue, you’ve been sticking your hoof into far worse situations than this. You can do it!” Her words were surprisingly helpful, and Daring latched onto them, breathing and pushing, weathering the pain, and when it was too much she exhaled and groaned, squeezing and pushing hard with everything she had. “There we are. The head is out, just a little more, Daring, a little more!” “AWWWWW, FAUST PLEASE!” With one great and final painful push she heaved, the pressure from the foal leaving her passage beyond imagining, as finally the newborn left her body. With a loud painful groan she fell back down to the bed and passed out, the pain and stress finally gone. The doctor held the small child in his hooves, the little foal crying as the older pegasus wrapped it in a tight blanket, cleaning it off before he attempted to calm it down. As he tended to the newborn, Gilda brought a fresh hot cloth across the brow of Daring, trying to wake her up. The gryphon girl gave a sigh and a smile as Daring’s eyes finally opened slowly, looking up at the face of the gryphon girl. “Ugh huh, what's happening?” she asked weakly. “Congratulations Miss Do, you have a healthy young filly.” came Doc’s voice, the older pegasus coming into her sight bringing with him the small bundle. Daring instinctively took the wrapped foal from him, holding her close to her chest. Peering down at the little one she glanced over her orange fur and the soft mat of purple mane about her head and shoulders. Darting from her mane to the wide colorful eyes staring back up at her, the foal making a cooing sound as she recognized her mother. Daring couldn't help but notice how light the foal felt in her arms, peering into the little eyes she smiled. The thoughts of hate and anger that had been building in her for hours melted away as she hugged her child to her. That’s when the door to the house blew open, the cloud structure shaking from the force that had hit it. If not for the properties of clouds and the workmareship of the structure the whole cloud home could have collapsed. From the still smoking hole where the door had been, a rather unimpressed, and threatening looking black griffon, strode arrogantly through the opening. His pair of fiery green eyes locking onto the sight of the houses occupants, specifically the small bundle in the mares hooves. “Awwww, how sentimental…” Daring drew her child to her in defensive posture, the gryphons around her joined her in the same, while Doc Brown’s eyes widened at the sight of the terrifying griffon, “Great Scotch!” “How did you find us here, Mordrue, you pint sized waste of feathers!” grumbled Gruff menacingly. “Ohh old fool. The key came from me. I am apart of it… I will always be able to find it. No matter where it goes, or what form it takes.” “You will not touch her!” screamed Daring. “Who's going to stop me, you? Or these pathetic traitors with you?” growled back, the black griffon. Even as he finished several more griffon warriors ripped their way through the cloud walls joining their leader, just as another two crashed through the roof landing before the huddled mare and her gryphon escort. The leader of the newcomers was large, dark brown with grey tipped feathers and mane, a beak tipped in silver metal, the glaring of his red eyes glinted off the metal beak covering. “Dukat,” growled Gruff. “Father,” replied the griffon. “Father,” hissed Gilda. “Daughter,” answered Dukat. “Uncle?” inquired Arrow. “Nephew?” followed Dukat. “ENOUGH!” screeched Mordrue. “Are you going to raise your talons to your own flesh and blood son?” hissed Gruff, readying himself to fight, even with his old bones aching something fierce. “Only if you don’t stand down father. Be smart, this is Mordrue here.” “And you’re my son. A true gryphon of old Griffonstone. This traitor is not worth spilling your own family's blood over.” “Traitor… me? HA!” called Mordrue. “You old fool, you were the one who followed a leader whose only leadership quality was his shiny little bauble! A true leader takes what he wants, because he can. Allow me to demonstrate, boys… take them!” With that, both sides hurled themselves towards one another. Gruff was the first to leap into battle, now grappling with Dukat, the two of them rolling around the floor. Meanwhile Gilda, even with her smaller size, hurled herself on top of two of the other griffons pulling their ears and biting at their wings with her sharp beak. Doc Brown who had relatively stood to the side up till now, eyed the remaining griffon soldiers approaching. With a gentle kick of his back hoof, he spilled his bag of instruments on the floor. The Instruments flew across the floor and under the feet of several the soldiers causing them to slip and fall. Daring chose that precise moment to bolt, the small filly clutched tight to her chest. Counting on her friends to distract the guards and buy her time. She quickly pushed them to the back of her thoughts, the only thing she was focused on now, was escape. Zooming past the conflict, she made her break for the back of the house. Mordrue and two of his fliers were right behind her, until Arrow dropped from above and crashed into them, trapping the two soldiers under his rather bulky frame. Mordrue barely took notice, his eyes only locked upon the mare and the foal, his claws digging through the cloud surface as he tried gaining momentum. Daring could feel him behind her, the young foal in her clutches starting to groan and moan at the speed and jostling she was receiving. Daring braced herself shielding the foal with her body as she rammed the wall, breaking through and careening into the darkened night sky. Her wings flapping immediately as she left the cloud covering, looking back only to see Mordrue explode out of the upper level of the house right after her. Picking up speed she flew as hard as she could, moving away from the cloud houses, and leading the black griffon on a merry chase about Cloudsdale. Mordrue however, kept pace with her no matter how fast she went, or how many tricks she used, the black demon homing in on her like a carrier pigeon. His large wings were able to keep him up with her own pace, he even moved in tandem with her, when she listed left so did he, when she hard veered right, he matched her stroke for stroke. She went for a s logn as she could and used up ever trick she knew, but she could not ditch the griffon bearing down on her. She had only one trick left in her arsenal now, she would have drop down. “Hope you’re ready for this little one.” she thought to herself as she pointed herself down and brought her wings around her front to shield her and her foal, embracing the plunge downward. She shot through the cloud covering like an arrow, picking up speed and momentum as she dived. Mordrue was caught by surprise at first, hovering there as he saw her disappear into the cloud covering before he matched her, giving himself a massive boost from his wings. Turning herself over she was able to look up and see the griffon following her, matching her movements. He brought his wings to bear, giving two massive pumps that helped breach the gap between them. His beak now nipping at her hooves, while his green eyes narrowed to slits. Daring turned back around and gasped, as she could now see the peak of Canterlot mountain below them. The summit's floor coming up increasingly fast. She realized she’d have to time this right, otherwise it was splat for her and her newborn. The baby herself was squeaking now, the cold from fee fall chilling her. As the mountainous terrain of the peak finally came within eyesight, she twisted her body around and brought her wings from around her body to extend outwards. Her wings caught the updraft and acted as a windbreaker. She watched as the black griffon shot past her, just managing to catch the glimpse of surprise on his beak, before it turned to fear as he turned his gaze, only to find himself heading for a deep impact. Mordrue managed to catch himself in time, his own wings shooting outwards to catch the wind, however while it slowed down his impact he still hit hard, one of his back paws clearly breaking as he skimmed across the jagged rocks, before landing in a heap in the snow bank. Even as he was pulling himself up Daring came from above. She had dropped soon after seeing Mordrue hit the ground, intending to score one more critical hit. She aimed herself true and struck. Even with her own momentum controlled as it was, she flew like a bolt from a bow. Slamming into the back of the griffons right shoulder, hearing the crunch as she shattered his wing bone. Mordrue’s shriek of pain and outrage carrying across the snowy peak. She rolled off his back and landed opposite him forming instinctively into her defensive posture, she held the now gurgling foal to her side protectively. Mordrue despite being in an obvious great amount of pain, spat at her before pulling himself into his own battle stance, facing her without a trace of fear or hesitation. “Smart girl, but you won’t stop me that easily.” “Bring it on chicken wing, and I’ll put you back under stone!” The griffon laughed before launching himself at her, his steel like claws slashing at her face fast and hard. Daring dodged his first blow with ease, however, she missed the second follow up that nearly disemboweled her. If she hadn’t leaped to the side in time, it would have. He then brought his first set of talons back into play, directing the blow like a slap, the tips of his metal claws catching her cheek, spraying a sheet of blood across her golden-brown fur. The pain exploded across her face and she grunted. However, she used the pain to her advantage. Channeling it to give her strength she brought her own hoof up and delivered a strong kick to the griffons side, winding the black monster with another satisfying crack. Mordrue fell backwards, giving Daring an avenue to press her attack, however, the added weight and consideration of the foal, made her hesitate at the last second. Her hesitation was enough to allow Mordrue the chance to sidestep Daring. Using his body like a ram he then smashed into her side, sending her flying. Catching herself in midair she turned just in time to see hi next blow, which scored a scathing wound across her back. Daring gave a scream of pain, which made the child join in, in the same fashion. Jostled by her pain, she flipped in the air, bringing her own two back hooves to recoil in response, before delivering a crippling kick to the griffons wounded leg, hearing the predator screech in pain as it snapped. Mordrue fell back at that, his leg shattered, Daring landing on top of him her hooves crushing his chest hard, only for him to bring his other set of talons up with a backhanded blow that caught the mare right in the face sending her flipping through the air and over the side of the mountain. As she fell Daring brought her wings to play, which worked well enough despite the horrible wound on her back. She slowed her plummeting until she could see a stable ledge below, angling for it she reached out with one hoof and caught the edge in her grip. Now that she had anchored herself to the ledge, she used her sore and blood soaked wings to heave herself upon it. The excitement had alarmed the foal even more, who began screaming and crying loudly, shaking in the blanket and struggling with her forehooves. Daring had little knowledge of what to do in such situations and instead relied on instinct, bringing the foal close she began whispering to and rocking the little filly back and forth, soothing her with sweet words and humming some of her own favorite tunes. “There, we go sweetheart, I’m here, don’t cry. Don’t cry… that’s right, it’s okay,” she repeated over and over, the young foal looking up at her wide eyed and giving a soothing gurgle as she calmed down. Daring smiling to herself as she hugged the little one to her. “There we go, good girl.” Finally having a free moment, she allowed herself a gasp of much needed breath. A hundred feet below them was Canterlot, another 180 ft below that was the valley floor. The lights of the capital shone bright and colorful below, while 80 ft. above them she could see the outline and faint lights of Cloudsdale. Daring reminding herself that she had left her friends back there, wondering how Gilda and Gruff and the others were doing. She also couldn't help but think how she was going to get off this mountain ledge with this wound on her back making her wings feel so heavy? That's when she heard it, the grating sound of metal on stone, faint at first then growing louder and closer, the scraping of metal piercing her ears. Finally she looked up and her heart caught in her throat at the sight. For above her scaling down the mountain peak, was Mordrue, his wings extended above him, the broken one hanging at a weird angle as he practically flew down the mountain side. His metal talons were scraping across the rock and stone as a way to slow his descent, the metal ripping into the hard surface, leaving a track of claw marks down the mountain peak. Daring hopped to her hooves and backed up to the edge of the ledge just as Mordrue reached her, landing hard on the ledge he glared at her. A devious smirk forming around his beak as he pulled his freshly sharpened talons from the stone, the metal glinting in the moonlight. “You don't seem to understand worm… I am not going away, I cannot be stopped. I will have that foal and I will have that sword… IT is my destiny!” “She is not yours, neither of us are!” howled Daring Do, holding the young foal close as she could feel the little pony screech in fear, the little one’s wide eyes catching the sight of the griffons blazing green eyes. “Wrong, you both are mine, and there is nothing you can do about it!” he screeched in response, launching himself at her. Daring prepared for his impact, turning her body to instinctively protect her child, only for the little mare to give a horrendous scream, her body erupting with a blast of energy. The golden and orange tinted explosion caught Mordrue in midair, his body erupting into flames, setting him alight with brilliant magical fire. With a horrific shriek he dropped back to the ledge, the fire engulfing his entire body now as he feverishly clawed and slashed his talons like a mad beast. Daring looked away as she could hear his ongoing piercing scream, the griffon before her dancing about as he was caught in an unending fire. Seeing her opportunity Daring summoned the last bit of energy she had in her wings and legs. With a ferocious shout she leaped forward, somersaulting through the air and brought her forehooves with all the force she could, to catch the mage straight in the chest. The blow so strong it sent him careening over the side of the ledge while still burning, to plummet like a fireball into the valley below. As he disappeared below, there was a final piercing shriek . Blood pouring down her cheek, with her back and wings already stained red and her strength exhausted, the golden mare collapsed to her side. Holding her crying child, she supported herself by leaning against the rock face. Bringing the foal up so they were face to face she gently kissed the little one’s forehead, making sure to lick off the splotch of blood that landed on the small cheek. “Oh boy kid, that was a close call,” she said out loud. “What was?” came a voice from above her, Daring whipping her head in confusion to stare up into the face of a certain young female gryphon. “G-Gilda?” she stammered. She only got a smile back in response, the gryphon girl’s face a bit puffy from a swollen cheek and a black eye. Landing herself on the ledge beside Daring, she sat down with the golden mare, one of her soft talons gently checking the wound on her cheek. “Mordrue?” she inquired. “Went out like a light,” offered Daring, wondering if the black griffon was truly gone this time, but she was not holding out much hope. “How about you?” she replied. “Soon after you and Mordrue went out the back, several Wonderbolts showed up from the noise. They chased the remaining soldiers off, while the rest fled as soon as Mordrue disappeared. Even my father ran.” “Sorry about that,” moaned the adventuress. “It doesn’t matter. He’s a loser, but you, you’re hurt bad.” she insisted. “I’ll be fine, I just need to rest,” offered Daring. “Yeah we all need to rest,” finished Gilda. ~ The next morning Daring awoke to find herself in a cosy and warm cloud bed, a tight squeezing felt about her middle, looking down to find her little foal, still nameless clinging to her her chest. Sometime in the night the little one had decided it was time to nurse, and hadn’t stopped since. Lying there, with her head back, the adventuress tried to replay the night once more. After Mordue had fallen into the valley, Gilda had helped her fly back to the house in Cloudsdale. Once they arrived back there they had found that the Wonderbolts had stationed several guards to watch over the gryphons, and make sure the other, “raiders” did not return. Gruff and Arrow had greeted her with their usual charm, while Doc Brown had then set about bandaging her cheek and wrapping the wound on her back. Tired from her ordeal Daring had collapsed into bed with her child after being taken care of by the old pegasus doctor, who left them mumbling about great scotch. Her eyes had closed slowly, before she soon went to sleep, only slightly aware of the young filly gripping her fur tightly with her small hooves. Now here she was, trying to figure out where they all would go from here. The small foal greedily suckling and gurgling her fresh milk, while Daring tried her best to not look on or notice the act she had never thought she would ever have to perform in her life. Later on she was visited by the gryphons, coming to tell her they were returning to Griffonstone post haste. “We’re gonna head back now. We’ll keep an eye out for the legion and Mordrue, should that black snake rear his head again,” grunted Gruff. “Sorry about all this Gruff,” apologized Daring, surprised she genuinely was concerned for the old crusty gryphon. He nodded in her direction before adding quickly. “I think, my final mission before I fully retire, shall be to carve a new statue to place in the square. Golden Crown was our true king and he deserves to be there, not that usurper mage!” “Sounds like a good plan,” answered Daring. Gruff have her a rare smile before he left her alone, his talons pinching Arrow by the ear, dragging the fat gryphon with him. “Come on ya layabout, we have things to pack.” In their place came Gilda, her eyes catching on the little orange furred foal, before turning her gaze back to Daring. “I’m staying here, I got a friend who I’m pretty tight with. I couldn’t just leave her, and this place beats old crumbling Griffonstone any-day.” Remembering what Gruff had told her about Gilda’s future, and the curse of the legion, Daring scowled on the inside, unsure if she should mention anything to the young gryphon, if she didn't already know it herself. “What are you gonna do now?” continued Gilda not minding Daring’s silence on the subject. “I don’t know, but I have to figure it out soon.” ~ Daring had thought long and hard about where she would go from here, what she would do now, and what could she do now? The problem always came back to the foal. Four days since she was born and Daring had still refused to name her; unwilling to allow herself to grow further attached. Part of her was overwhelmed with a darker war brooding inside her, this one entertaining a possibility she couldn’t even admit out-loud to herself. Mordrue still lived, she could feel it. His legion was also still out there. They too would be after her. All the defeat on the mountain peak had done is buy her time. The black griffon would be back, and if not him one of his minions or agents. The foal had the key’s energy inside her, apart of her. It was in her blood, in her body, it was evidently even apart of her very soul. She knew in her heart that the griffon would find her if she kept her. No place would be safe for Daring or the little one, should they remain together. Even then the problem remained, the griffon could always come after her. The only way to keep her from him, to keep the sword from ever falling into the claws of that psychopath, was if there was no key anymore. The thought of what she should do, made her sick, but what was the alternative compared to the risk? The world was at stake, one life against the fate of every other living creature… there should be no qualm about what to do. Yet, if such the case, why had Daring been unable to do it? She had thought about dropping the foal from the sky, easy enough to explain as a tragic mistake. Her other plan involved leaving her somewhere remote and letting nature simply take its course. Twice she had tried to do so, leaving the filly in the wilderness, but both times she eventually came back. Whether it be the little one’s cries or the crippling sickness such actions and thoughts left in her guts, she could not tell. To tell the truth it mattered not. Frustrated by her inability to do what she believed needed to be done, she had concocted a small mixture from plants she had taken from the Everfree, a combination that formed a deadly and fast acting poison. Her plan had originally been to slip the foal a small concentrated dose, or at the very least a small sample of the mixture. It would have been quick and painless. But when the time came, Daring had found herself unable to go through with it, even in that capacity. The world was at stake, and she was too weak to do her duty. If it was her life, she would have no problem doing what was necessary, but it wasn’t hers. It was her daughters, and as committed as she was to protecting the world, she could not override her mother’s instinct to protect her child. No, not her, not now, not ever. Which had then left her with only one, cruel and soul-crushing option available. So now she stood here, on the edge of the place known as Ponyville, before a house of the local toy store owner. Her child neatly wrapped in a fresh blanket, washed well and proper, and barely awake. Rain pelting down on the two of them as Daring brought herself closer and closer to the door of the cottage. With a final kiss to the forehead she placed the bundle on the doorstep, ignoring the filly as she began a series of sweet cries and begging for something warm to latch onto. Every bone in her body was hard and as stiff as a rock. Tears and rain mixing across her face as she felt physically sick and violated. However, though it killed a piece of her inside with every step, she strode to the door, knocked upon it hard and long. She waited only until she could hear the hoof-steps inside, and then exploded from the the porch, leaving the child behind in a shower of her grey rainbow trail. Flying hard and fast through the sky and away from the town. Away from her misery, and away from her sweet daughter. Whose name would never know.