Daring Do and the Sword of Excalibur

by Silver Malice


Chapter 6: Plans and Strange encounters

Daring spent the night very restlessly as her sleeping mind was plagued by the most outlandish of nightmares. They would start off like any regular dream; she was flying across Equestria in search of another lost relic and archeological find, until she would come upon Ponyville out in the open. The small township upon the rolling plains, solitary and bright.

She would fly over the houses and shops, her shadow barely noticeable over the rooftops until she would come to the center of town. There she landed among the the town square, which was filled with her friends. Each time she entered this particular dream there was a different assortment of ponies in the square.

Some of them she had never seen nor met before, but often or not she saw Twilight, Dash, Scootaloo, and others; Celestia, Luna, and that clumsy pony with the weird eyes who always flew into things were there as well. As she made her way with the intent of mingling among the ponies in the square, she would wave to them, and they would wave back in greeting. She then began to run to them as if to embrace them, but as soon as she got close enough, they were all of a sudden set upon and torn apart by flocks of fearsome griffons.

Daring was powerless to do anything but watch the carnage as her friends were shredded by the metal talons, and torn by sharp beaks glinting red. The sound of blood spilling on dirt and the shrieks of ponies in agony carried in her ears and overwhelmed her. This was about the part in her dreams when she would awake to reality doused in a cold sheen of sweat, both her heart and her head pounding fiercely.

These both vivid and horrifying dreams-turned-nightmares, had been plaguing her for hours now. Every time she managed to get to sleep she would re-enter that same dream. She always flew over the same houses, always ran to her friends even though she knew what was going to happen. Her subconscious always knew what was going to happen, it just refused to let her do anything about it, dream after dream. She had to watch her friends being ripped to pieces again and again, over and over until the very images had been burned into her head.

Her worry and her fears for her friends and daughter were spiraling out of control. Her nightmares were so vivid, she had nearly been sick the first time she had one. Eventually however, she would always fall back asleep. Her exhaustion was just too great for even a nightmare from Tartarus to shake her awake for long.

In trying to take control over the situation, Daring began a new system to help lure herself back asleep after every nightmare. She had begun repeating back to herself the list of tasks she needed to get done to finish her mission. Listing them off one by one in numerical order outloud or fervently in her head. Chanting them almost like a mantra she made sure to never forget or falter on even one task, hoping to at least fall back into a feverish sleep.

“Sleep, find Spike, warn Celestia, then find Twilight and Dash. Sleep, find Spike, warn Celestia, then find Twilight and Dash,” she repeated again and again in her head. Even as the golden-brown mare drifted back to her antagonizing dreamland she did her best to repeat the mantra even in her sleep.

When she finally did awake it was already morning, the small natural alcove of shrubs and trees she had chosen for her nesting place was drenched in morning dew. Shaking herself dry, she looked about her small resting place with an interest she had not shared upon its discovery the night before. The alcove was an odd find he had to admit, especially for such hillocks. She could still see the tips of Twilight’s castle in over the top of the hills. She had not chosen lightly to spend the night in the rolling hills behind Twilight's castle. She was still unsure of how many griffons might be scouring Ponyville right now.

Things had gone from worse to complete and utter insanity! Mordrue’s legion had for all the intent and purposes invaded Canterlot, they’d stormed the city, they’d attacked the guards; never before had she seen them so bold since the night she gave birth, when they had assaulted Cloudsdale. The only answer she could think of was that they had known Twilight and Rainbow Dash would be in Canterlot. They had came specifically for them. It probably had to do with the fact they were trying to warn Celestia and herself.

And the only way the griffons could have known that was if they had spies to tell them so, which also meant they could know where Scootaloo was as well. If that was the case the chances are there could be several griffons stationed in Ponyville right now. Daring would have to be on her A-game to avoid their prying eyes.

She made sure she had completely doused herself off from the morning dew and slight frost. She did not want to have wet feathers when she flew, her dried wings stretching as far as they could. Meanwhile her forelegs extended straight out as her back legs did the same. Now that she was fully limbered up Daring decided she had to be smart about her next movements. The mantra she had spent most of her night and dreams chanting back to herself came back, and with a vengeance, roaring in her head. “Find Spike, warn Celestia, and Twilight and Dash.”

She had to find Spike to warn Celestia, but where would a dragon be in a town full of ponies? Daring sighed as she figured she would have to get into the town and find a place to lay low while waiting for a sight of Spike. She couldn't risk anyone seeing her nor could she risk asking anyone less they recognize her. All she needed would be a rumor of her being in Ponyville to get out and alert every griffon in the territory.

Infiltrating the town wasn’t that hard. She had come in over the hills behind Twilight's Castle, scouting around the towering structure. She couldn’t help but think the castle was a little bit overkill compared to the rest of the town (but to each their own). She needed to find a place to hide and chose the abandoned attic of one of the nearest houses. The house itself was a bit run down, drafty and colored mud brown. A trampled sign stood out front with the name Cranky Doodle, cracked and faded across it. As she slunked her way to the door making sure no pony was in sight, she saw another sign posted right on the door.


Attention, as of now this shack no longer belongs to Cranky Doodle Donkey. It is a rundown bachelor pad and I’m no longer a bachelor, so I've moved in with my mate. If you have any well wishes, gifts and or things to sell, SHOVE OFF! If you’re that annoying Pinkie Pie no I have not left my new address for obvious reasons, but you will probably find me anyway so who cares?”


Daring was quite taken aback by this sign, turning her head cautiously she mused on the sanity of Ponyville itself, before she hopped into the air and flew upwards through one of the gaping holes in the roof. She gazed around the empty attic before settling herself safe and sound away from prying eyes. From her current vantage point she was delighted to find that she had a great view of the town’s square.

Held up in the run down attic Daring spied on the ponies going about the town. She staved off boredom by making a game out of picking out a few familiar faces. Every-time she recognized somepony she would recite their name if she knew it, or a defining trait if she did not know the name. There was that clumsy grey mare carrying a big brown box, while right underneath her was the white and blue DJ mare Vinyl Scratch. She had seen her playing in Canterlot on more than a few occasions. She couldn’t miss Photo Finish, the crazily dressed photographer and her entourage moving a bunch of equipment over to the Town Hall. Then she caught sight of her target, the small purple and green spine dragon walking behind an elegant looking white mare with purple mane and a smaller almost identical filly of the same coloring. She recognized the white and purple mare as Rarity, one of Twilight’s Sparkles friends.

She intended right then and there to dart off to greet the dragon, when suddenly her swift eyes also caught sight of the trench coat wearing griffon. For one who dressed so strangely he was able to keep a low profile. Leaning there against the wall two houses behind Spike and his mare entourage the griffon hid and waited. She quickly scanned across the square from the attic window and caught sight of two other griffons stationed about the square as well. One was even hanging on top of one of the roofs, just above the group as they plodded along unwarily. She could see from her vantage point that all the griffons eyes were focused in the direction of the small dragon.

“Oh for Faust's sake, why me?” groaned Daring, as she realized she needed to take out the griffons before she could talk to Spike. This was not going to be easy and she might even have to reorganize her to-do list. She could maybe handle one or two griffons but there were three working in tandem, and who knows how many that she couldn’t see.

Daring was not willing to risk it, and so she decided to come back to Spike later. First she needed some help and the only ones she could think of who were right for the job, were currently prisoners somewhere, unless…

… The thought hit Daring like a ton of bricks. If she needed to find Twilight and Dash, then all she needed to do was beat it out of one of the griffons in town. Make them tell her exactly where her friends were!

Creeping out of the attic she hugged to the rooftop, peering cautiously over the edge of the roof to see which of the spies were the nearest or most easiest target. The trench coat griffon looked to be the best shot, the other two were too close to each others own proximity, while he was the only one on his own. Keeping low, she flew behind the houses, directing herself to come up behind the unsuspecting griffon.

Daring made her way around the town, avoiding all of the ponies she could, which proved easy enough given it seemed everypony in Ponyville was occupied with something important. Their distractions had allowed for the griffons to go unnoticed, but it also allowed Daring to do the same. She now was within eye-shot of the trench-coat wearing griffon, just able to see his unprotected back as he still stared unwavering at the dragon from across the square.

Daring came up as quietly as she could until she finally was five step from him. Without hesitating she brought her hooves forward grabbing the griffon by the collar and by the beak, pulling him back behind the house and smothering his cry. The griffon struggled like a worm on a hook, his fierce talons trying to slash at her, but her position behind him allowed her to avoid his swings.

She slammed the griffon right into the wall, placing one of her hooves around his throat and applying enough direct pressure to keep him conscious but also pliable. Her other hoof slapped him across the beak.

“Okay griffon you and I have some things to discuss, and they don’t include your sense of fashion.”

“Ughh… I-If Y-Y-You think I’ll ughh, talk gah! You got another thing coming thief!” grunted the griffon as well as he could with her hoof on his throat.

“Oh I doubt it! tell me where you’re hiding spot is located.” insisted Daring, giving his beak another slap.

“Ughh,ack… What?” he feigned innocently.

“There’s no way there could be so many of you in Canterlot or Ponyville. Not so many this close together without anypony noticing. You have to be hiding somewhere around here… Where’s Mordrue?!” growled Daring her patience slipping.

“Even if for the purpose of argument I did know, why would I tell you?” he stammered.

“Listen here chicken-wing!” replied Daring coldly, her face now inches from his own. Her eyes narrowed and her lips curled into a sneer with a lot of teeth. “You and your boss threatened not only me and my friends, but my daughter as well. So if you don’t tell me where he is, I am going to shove a broom handle right up your plothole, sow strings into your wings, and work you like a bucking marionette. got it!?”

The griffons eyes went bright wide as his beak dropped open, barely able to make a sound other than a high keening squee. “Okay, okay, there’s a temple in the Ever Free, it’s hidden deep in the brush towards the western edge of the forest beside the Ghastly Gorge!” he squealed.

“Thank you and goodnight,” she replied to him.

“Goodnight?” he asked questionably, only for Daring to bring her hoof down hard on his head knocking him right out. Releasing her hoof about his neck she let his body slip down the wall to crumple on the floor.

Daring now had her plan, she would rescue Twilight and Dash and then they all could get to Spike and remove the griffons watching him. She made sure to tie up the griffon, and wrap his beak shut using his own trench coat before she dropped him off in the woods just outside Ponyville. He shouldn’t be noticed back there until she could send some guards to collect him. That of course would come later, rescue mission now.

Daring was about to leave for the Ghastly Gorge, when she felt a pull at her heart; something in her mind motivating her to remain where she was. The feeling was so strange that she felt almost compelled to follow it, hugging close to the walls of the houses as she moved down the alleys avoiding any and all contact, unable to get over the feelings plaguing her.

She rounded a few corners and past the Sugar Cube Corner before she found herself in a small open space between the streets and houses. The feeling suddenly left her, fading back into her mind as she shook her head to try and clear it. Preparing to lift off she prepped her wings turning around to judge the room she would need to take off, only to come face to face with a small orange filly with purple mane and tail.

Both mare and filly stood looking at each other, neither seemingly willing to say anything or make the first move. Daring’s mind was racing and her heart was pounding, the adventuress surprised and somewhat impressed with how big the young filly had grown since she had last left-er-seen her. She was also proud to see that her daughter had found her cutie-mark, a beautiful wing emblem upon a purple shield.

Scootaloo had been surprised to run into Daring Do, especially in Ponyville and in front of her of all fillies. When she had decided to go for a quick scoot on her scooter she had not expected to run into one of the biggest characters in pony literature. But there was something about her that made the young orange filly feel both nervous and excited all at once. A feeling of familiarity and connection she could not explain. Her mind flashing back to her visions, the glowing eyes, the heavy rain, the golden mare… golden mare, Daring do?

“Hey kiddo,” began Daring deciding to take the initiative while she could. “How’s it going?”

Scootaloo found the question a bit odd but she wasn’t one to allow awkwardness to excuse rudeness, especially on her part.

“It’s, umm, it’s okay you know, uh miss Do, it’s my birthday today.” She replied timidly, still a bit shy to be around such a famous mare.

Daring had to wonder about that, she could have sworn Scootaloo’s birthday had been ten days ago. It was then she realized that today was the 12th anniversary of the day she had left Scoots on the doorstep of the toy maker’s house in this very village.

“Oh, uh well that’s just… wonderful. How old are you turning?” asked Daring even as in her head she knew the answer to be twelve.

“Twelve,” replied Scootaloo.

“Well happy birthday little one,” Daring smiled. “You be sure to tell everyone hi for me okay?” she asked with less awkwardness than her previous conversation.

“If you want, you could tell them tonight,” replied Scootaloo with some excitement creeping back into her voice. “They’re going to be throwing a huge surprise party for me at the Town Hall around seven.”

A party, well that explained where the citizens of Ponyville’s heads were at. It also was the perfect place for a group of griffons to make their move. Daring was now getting worried, she already knew there were griffons in Ponyville. She also knew they were looking for the key and watching the populace, and finally here was the key who was going to be having a party tonight. With so many ponies it would be easy to kidnap one little filly, even if that filly was the guest of honor.

What was more, she now had a time frame to work in. They needed to have Celestia warned before the party began, which meant she had to rescue Twilight and Dash immediately.

“Yeah that sounds great, I’ll definitely be there, until then, um Scootaloo right?” Daring asked, trying to make herself sound as unsure as possible.

The orange filly nodded her head allowing Daring to scramble quickly to continue; “Take care and be safe alright? If you see anyone strange don’t hesitate to call for help huh?” she followed up, knowing it would have sounded as weird as hell to the little filly.

Scootaloo however, just nodded, grabbing her scooter she scooted past the golden-brown adventuress giving her small bow before she took off.

Part of Daring slapped her for her stupidity, she had such an opportunity right there to talk to her daughter, real talk not just band words, and she had wasted it being a veiled weirdo. Her other half, the more sensible part of her, told her she had done the right thing. Anything like an actual conversation would take time, energy, care, and of course patience, all of which Daring had no time for. She understood that this had been a good thing, else it might have raised more questions that none of them had the time for right now.

Daring had a griffon’s hideout to find, friends to break out, a Princess to warn, and a griffon army to take down; and all before the final stroke of seven. This was shaping up to be one of those days.

~

Mordrue cracked his talons as he finally let the two mares rest. Both of them were still hanging from the metal bars. He had kept shocking them throughout the night trying to get them to spill all they knew. He had been surprised to see how resilient they were, neither of them having broken despite all the pain he put them through.

“Brave and even perhaps admirable ladies. Not very often do we see such strength and courage around here, especially not with this lot. But I have a deadline for seven tonight, so we will try again a bit later hmmm?”

Mordrue flew around both mares watching their feeble struggles, smirking as their eyes and wings hanged heavy from such prolonged abuse.

“Bring them water and keep them hydrated!” he bellowed. “Their minds and bodies are impressively strong, but even the strongest mind and body can be broken. Let’s see which breaks first,” he smirked as he disappeared once more into the shadows surrounding the inside of the tower’s shaft.


“R-R-Rainbow, are you a-a-are you still with m-me?” asked Twilight quietly. Her voice incredibly hoarse from constantly crying out. Aside from her sore throat her body was still on the edge after so long being wracked in pain. The griffon’s purity spell had burned hotter than anything she had ever felt before. She could still feel the lingering sting of it’s flame. “Rainbow?” she asked again, now getting worried about the condition of her friend.

“I-I’m not out y-yet coach,” moaned Rainbow Dash in response.

“Rainbow... thank Celestia! How do you feel?” inquired Twilight. She was growing desperate to take full stock of the situation.

“ow uh, huh? Twi? I feel like I just flew into a gale-wind filled with nails,” moaned Rainbow in answer.

“We’ll get out of this somehow Rainbow we just got to bide our time and wait for our chance,” reassured Twilight.

“Can’t wait,” came Dash’s less than enthusiastic response.

Two griffons suddenly flew into their view, both of them carrying buckets of water. Twilight recognized the lead griffon as the one who had been pestering her for so long. The same one who had tried to warn her to surrender, a young but strong(and if she was honest with herself, regrettably handsome) fellow with fiery yellow eyes. From her experiences with him before he also had a sharp mouth.

His companion was younger then him by maybe one or two seasons, but other than that, he was a near spitting image of his older counterpart.

The fiery eyed griffon came before her, carrying the bucket of water in his talons, placing the tip at the edge of her mouth.

“I told you to yield Princess, it would have gone easier on you,” he added quietly as he let her drink her fill.

“It would have gone easier on the inquisitor as well,” glared Twilight in response, acknowledging with triumph the gleam of anger and fear in his eyes.

“Wasn’t expecting that, not to him, not like that,” muttered the young griffon.

“Yeah well your boss is a real psychopath,” groaned Twilight, enjoying the fresh cool water on her lips and how it felt as it trickled down her throat.

“Perhaps he is, but remember missy you’re the one hanging from the roof and smarting something awful,” he sneered at her.

“What’s your name boy?” she hissed at him, her patience for his snarky attitude having dried quicker than her throat had.

“My name is Buck, and that little squawk over there is my brother Bones,” spoke the griffon pointing one of his sharp talons at his smaller double over by Rainbow Dash, who currently was having the water bucket poured over her head.

“Well Buck, you can stop calling me Princess, missy, and whatever else. My name is Twilight,” she added.

“Well! Now that we’re all acquainted and such, do you wish to invite us over for tea?” mocked the griffon cheekly.

“You are an absolute ass,” moaned Twilight.

“Yeah, an ass who might just be your only way out of here alive,” he hissed to her.

“What, how?” demanded Twilight.

“Our father was one of the original legion, his shame became ours after he passed, but if we help you, it will break the cycle for my brother and me. By being true to our King, well I think freeing a Princess might fall under that category.”

“What will Mordrue do to you?”

“Nothing since we plan to have our tails far away from here before he even knows we’re gone. The best strategy is to wait until he leaves tonight then make our escape. Until then if you could feed him anything to keep him satisfied and you from dying it would be great,” scoffed the young griffon.

“I won’t betray my friends Buck,” snipped Twilight.

“It doesn’t have to be true, just something to satisfy his interest.”

“That I think I can do.”

“Good then we have a plan,”agreed Buck.