//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: How Daring made her treasure map, and how she escaped the cops (again). // Story: Daring Do and the Doppelganger's Deception // by Ookamithewolf1 //------------------------------// Chapter 2: How Daring made her treasure map, and how she escaped the cops (again). Daring arrived at the backdoor to Old Mare’s Antique Bookshop and rapped on the door until a light went on. “Hello! Old Mare? It’s me, Daring Do. It’s an emergency, Let me in.” The door opened slightly emitting a beam of light into the inky darkness. “Daring?” Said Old Mare. “Is that you? Why are you dressed as a cop? And why are you here at 1:00 in the morning?” “I’ll explain after I get inside. Please let me in.” “All right.” The old man undid the chain on the door and let D.D. in. She knew the old mare well. Every time she visited Ponisisa she frequented this shop. The books and scrolls here were several hundred years old and always gave her clues towards whatever treasure she might be hunting. The pony who worked there was an old man but was full of pep. He even had a thing for Daring but he was about 40 years too old for her, but his attempts at flirting were so funny that she never minded. Daring slammed the door behind her and quickly locked all the bolts. She followed her friend up to his apartment above the shop. She collapsed on his couch thoroughly exhausted. Old Mare came in a minute later with two cups of tea. “So did you run out of a costume ball or should I add ‘impersonating an officer’ to the list of your misdemeanors.” “Ha Ha very funny.” Said Daring sarcastically, “Where can I change?” “What’s wrong with right here?” “I may be Daring, but I’m not THAT daring.” “Yeah I suppose so,” said Old Mare, sighing. “You can change behind that divider.” Daring walked behind it and started to change. As she did she explained her predicament to her friend. He found her scuffle particularly amusing. “…And so that’s how I ended up here, since you’re the only friend I’ve got in this town.” “My dear,” said Old Mare. “You’re in more trouble than you realize.” After Daring came out dressed in some old pajamas he gave her a newspaper. “This paper is three days old. When I saw it I immediately sent you a telegram warning you not to come but you must not have gotten it.” The headlines read “Filly’s Merc’s Rob Armory: Suspect At Large.” Along with it was a picture of her committing the robbery. The text read as followed: “Last night at 3am an Army supply depot was raided and robbed. The thieves, which were comprised of groups of unknown earth pony mercenaries led by a light brown pegasus pony with a dark mane and a cutie mark in the shape of a compass. She is believed to be extremely dangerous and out of control. Stolen in the robbery were large supplies of excavation equipment, explosives, and swords and daggers. Several guards were injured with three in critical condition at the Good Samaritan Hospital. Police believe (continued on page 3)” “Great. Now the police think I’m a deranged psychopath.” “Yeah, and it’s a bad picture of you, too.” “It’s not me! Alright, wait. Let’s think this out analytically. They stole lots of weapons. Almost anyone would steal that. Even I’ve been known to ‘liberate’ weapons when I really need them but never in bulk. However…all those shovels and picks. What could those be for?” “Digging?” “Wow, did you think of that all on your own?” Said Daring sarcastically. “Come on Mare, think. Now why would someone need that much equipment?” “A construction company?” “Nah. Those were definitely not union workers.” “Well, the only other thing that gets dug up around here are…” “Ancient relics.” “Great,” said Daring, “tomb raiders. That’s all we need.” “Isn’t that what you do?” “I’m an ar-chi-ologist. My finds end up in museums. Tomb Raiders trade the loot for cash or dope. They have no patience and often destroy priceless treasures.” “But you both smuggle loot out of countries to avoid the governments ‘Claiming’ it for their own.” “That’s besides the point. So what does all this leave us with?” “Well, the cops want you dead, a band of mercenaries are running around potentially raiding tombs, and you have an evil double going around causing general havoc. But other than that, not much.” “Well that makes me feel a whole lot better, thanks.” “Just trying to help, my dear.” “(Sigh) I’m going to bed.” “Need company?” “Goodnight, Old Mare.” Said Daring firmly. Daring woke up well past noon. Old Mare had left some clothes out for Do. She got dressed, grabbed a daisy and barley sandwich out of the fridge and headed down to the bookshop below. When Old Mare saw her he immediately shooed out his only customer and closed up shop`. This way Daring could do her research without having to worry about someone recognizing her. He drew the shades, turned, and greeted her. “So my dear, what lost treasure are you after this time. A prehistoric skeleton, lost idol, ancient mummy .I have a lead on an old grail said to grant immor…” “Nothing so small.” Said Daring Do excitedly. “I’m after an entire city! It’s big. It’s called ‘The lost city of the Unicorns.’ I’ve got an old map that has numerous lost landmarks but has a few that I’ve read about and have known locations. If I can find the modern names of some of these places I can triangulate its location. That’s why I need some of your books. I remember seeing names in a few scrolls that mach the ones on my map.” “You know,” said the mare, “I had someone come in here about a week ago asking if I had any info on a ‘City of the Unicorns’ but I told him I had never heard of the place. He started to raise his voice and get violent but then a few customers came in and he left.” “I don’t suppose you got a good look at him?” “Nope. Sorry.” “(Sigh) Well then, I guess I’ll start my research.” For the next two long days and nights Daring stayed in the close confines of the small shop and poured over book after book. When it comes to archeology a lot of time is spent in the library. In the movies it seems as if the hero or heroin gets a small clue and then travels halfway across the world. It’s not like that. Oftentimes more time is spent in a book than in a jungle. While Daring often found herself constantly running through foreign lands and solving confusing puzzles, it was always preceded by a month surrounded by stacks of books. Daring went from books to scroll and back to books, constantly switching mid page and scribbling notes in her journal. She didn’t find much. A name here, a location there, a clue somewhere else, but it all added up. Old Mare had gone out and bought her clothes and some picks and chisels. Daring had to stay indoors due to an all-points bulletin out for her. She kept the radio tuned to 1710 AM to keep abreast of the police activity. By the night of the third day she had enough information on her lost city to start her quest. “Daring, before you go I’d love to hear what you’ve found.” “Well, ok. My original map had the location of the lost city of the unicorns in what appeared to be its northwest sector along with 4 more named towns and oasis. I found the location of one of the oasis but its location put the city out in the ocean. Then I figured that since the county’s population originated in the south and spread north it meant that the top of the map was south! So I flipped the map around and it all made sense. I found the location of two more of the cities, and with that I was able to triangulate the approximate location of the city of the Unicorns!” Daring was giddy by the time she got to the end of her explanation. “But Daring,” Asked Old Mare, “What do you expect to find there?” “Well, I’m not exactly sure.” Continued Daring Do. “Some entries pointed to some grandiose treasure. One entry called it a ‘key to eternal happiness’. Probably an idol, deity, or some sort of religion. Anyways I figure I’ll find some ruins of some massive buildings. I’m mostly interested in a certain tomb. Its said to belong to the royal family, and sounds to be the most well-built structure in the city. The odds are its still in existence. That’s my best bet” “You’re going to have trouble getting out of town. You can’t impersonate a cop again since you’ll be loaded down with supplies.” “I learned a few tricks from a ninja-pony friend of mine in the far-east.” Said Daring with a sly smile spreading across her face. “It should help me get through. Once I make it out to the desert I’m in the clear. The cops don’t get paid enough to travel that far out.” “True, but the mercenaries are.” Daring decided to go out immediately. It was dark enough to hide her presence. The bookshop was located on the edge of the business and the residential district. It was nearly 10 kilometers between her and the wide open expanse of the desert. She ate a sandwich, swung her saddle bags over her back, and snuck out the back door. She walked down the dark ally, keeping to the shadows. There were enough ally’s and side roads to keep her off the cop’s radar. Or at least that’s what she thought. She was only about 2 k’s from the city walls when she turned a corner and ran strait into a cop. Actually it was several cops. Apparently there had been a robbery and daring had walked right into the crime scene. Of course, the cop instantly recognized her. He blew a shrill whistle that drew the attention of everypony there. Daring turned around and ran. She took off south. Outrunning the cops with her packs would be tough but her legs were very strong. She ducked and weaved her way through the streets with the cops right on her tail. She kicked over a stack of barrels that tripped up her pursuers. She turned a corner and climbed up a ladder to the rooftops. She didn’t know if they had seen her go up there but she wasn’t going to wait and find out. She took off across the rooftops. The buildings were close together so it was pretty easy to hop from rooftop to rooftop. Whistles and sirens could be heard in the streets. Eventually Daring had to climb back down to the street level and made it another kilometer before she was spotted again. By this time she was only 2 blocks from the city gates. As she approached them an iron grill dropped down, effectively cutting off her route to freedom. She turned and ran along the wall until she came to a ramp that brought her to the top of the wall. There were cops on the wall as well. They came up from behind her and were gaining ground! Suddenly 2 more cops appeared from inside a guard station in front of her. They drew their swords. She only had one chance. She climbed over the edge of the wall and jumped! She started to fly but suddenly got a wing cramp. “Could this day get any wooooorrrrrse!” Yelled Daring as she fell 4 stories. A moment later Daring Do found herself submerged in a murky moat face to face with an alligator. “Apparently it can and has.” She thought. She swam towards the shore and pulled herself out, which was no easy feat with her bags fully loaded. Daring Do took off across the desert. The half-dozen cops on the wall fired a few arrows but they missed their mark. 500 meters out and she was in the clear. “Now I’m really on my way. On that road to adventure! Note to self: Stop spouting corny clichéd lines and get some better material”