Rainbow Dash goes missing and it's up to an unlikly teamup to rescue her
Rainbow Dash is missing, having been late for a Wonderbolt training session and Spitfire is pissed off. Meanwhile Daring Do is feeling impatient waiting for a letter from Rainbow Dash and is hot on the trail to investigate.
Chapter 1 The end of one book and the beginning of another
Chapter 1: The end of one book and the beginning of another.
A light gold Pegasus sitting in a house deep within in the forest finally transcribed the last few words of her latest manuscript. Just then came a knock at the door. She smiled and turned around. It seemed the mail mare was right on time today. She could do without so much fan mail. But there was one special letter she was expecting to hopefully, finally arrive today.
She'd been expecting that letter for the last three days, and it still hadn't arrived yet. So today was the last day it should have turned up. This was to be the latest in a series of letters between herself and the sender. The letter she was expecting would be from a close friend who, since their adventure a year and a half ago had changed A.K Yearlings life forever. She was expecting a letter from Rainbow Dash.
She had last seen Rainbow two month ago at a convention where they had accidentally had another adventure together. For you see, A.K Yearling was no normal writer. Very few ponies knew the truth that A.K Yearling was the real Daring Do from her own best seller books. The latest book, the same adventure they'd had at the convention (Ironically a Daring Do convention) was now finally transcribed.
The two, now close friends, had been privately exchanging letters since their first adventure. It would be wrong to say it was a regular correspondence. Between her double life as author and adventurer archaeologist, Daring (her real name) could only respond to letters when she had precious free time between her University work and seemingly endless adventures. This meant she was normally lucky to get the time to write a letter to Rainbow Dash once or twice a month. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, while equally busy was able to find the time to respond to Daring's letters between times, since she was always only a short flight from a post office.
Although Rainbow Dash had kept her regularly informed of her own adventures of saving Equestria, and her time with the Wonderbolt's. Out of respect, Rainbow only wrote back in serious detail when she got a reply from Daring that let her know the mare was free and between adventures to read the extended details.
Daring had written to Rainbow Dash a week ago and today was the day she was expecting to have the time to sit down and immerse herself into Rainbows crude but effective style of storytelling. It always surprised Daring that since joining the Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash still managed to find the time in her own busy schedule to write.
It was with that gleaming hope that Daring opened the door and the grey, cross-eyed mail-mare stood at the door carrying her 2 usual mail bags for Daring.
“Mail Delivery,” said Derpy the Mail Mare with a smile.
One mailbag was always overflowing with fan mail and the other, a much smaller bag which was marked personal. Daring quickly relieved Derpy of the 2 bags and emptied them into 2 piles on either side of the room before handing the bags back to the grey Pegasus.
"Thanks again Derpy, same time next week?"
"Sure, will do A.K" as the mail mare tipped her hat before flying off, carrying the now empty bags back to the mail depot.
Glancing at the large pile of fan mail Daring shrugged, that could wait. She could deal with her fans letters later, right now there was a more important pile of mail she had to deal with first.
As she searched through the personal letter pile, there were a couple of bills, the two usual letters from Celestia. Which she already knew what they were going to say. (One asking why Daring had not replied to her previous letters and another, yet again offering her a Grand Galloping Gala Ticket.)
There was also a black but sparkly envelope from Princess Luna, which Daring also recognized which would be expressing the Night Princesses thoughts on various matters. Something that Daring always thought of as odd. Why would the princess of the night have a special interest in her? Still, it was posted as personal, so someone must have thought it was important. But there was no Rainbow colored lightning bolt sealed envelope from Rainbow Dash. It was missing!
She puzzled, then looked back at the large pile of fan mail. Surely, they couldn't have mixed Rainbow's letter in with the fan mail again? They had only done it the once, but thinking back, she almost felt sorry for the sorting mares as she remembered her own fury when she berated the mares at the mail office. Still, she started sorting through the other pile just in case.
5 minutes later, tossing each of the fan letters behind her as she went through them. As she did so, she muttered various things regarding letters she recognized from fans writing before.
"Nope, nope, no, hell no you weirdo, why do you keep writing? No, nope.. please be the one?"
Daring picked up the last letter on the floor she hadn't already sorted by tossing them aside and turned the envelope over to look at the seal. Still not the letter she was looking for. "Damn it Rainbow Dash, where are you? Why haven't you written?"
"Right," Daring said to herself. If Rainbow won't write to me, I'm going to find out why!"
Daring grabbed her adventuring hat and the manuscript. She made a mental note to herself as an excuse she could use. “she supposed she could, 'maybe' give Rainbow a surprise visit and let her a sneak peek at the book on her way to the publishers. Rainbow Dash was in the book (again) after all, although under a pseudonym Daring had made up.
She left the house, locked up behind her and hid the key in the usual place. A hole, hidden inside a nearby tree. Finally, after checking she had everything she took flight and headed in the direction of Ponyville.
A few hours later, she eventually arrived at Rainbow's house, which was floating in the clouds above the town. Daring landed on the porch and knocked on the door. Daring was actually familiar with the town, having passed through it between train journeys when she was not in a hurry and either on publishing or actual occasional university business.
She waited for a few minutes, but no answer or any indication of sound could be heard inside. Very cheekily and out of curiosity, since Rainbow had once broken into her place (and because Rainbows house was made of clouds), she “broke” into Rainbows house to have a look around.
Daring climbed through the window next to the door and into the living room beyond. She found herself in Rainbow Dash's living room. Pretty quickly it became apparent while looking around. Rainbow's obsession with both the Wonderbolts and pictures of Daring's books attacked the eyes from the posters hanging seemingly everywhere on the walls. Exploring the place, she went upstairs and saw Rainbow's complete collection of Daring Do books lined up on the bookshelf, next to a side table covered in all of Daring's letters.
The manuscript had been actually quite heavy to carry all the way here, and so she idly put the manuscript down next to the letters while she snooped around. Then, having found no sign of Rainbow. Daring left the house and went down to the town below, where she knew Rainbow's friends also lived. She hadn't gotten to know Rainbows friends names properly from their joint adventure, some 18 months ago, but she had pretty much worked it out from Rainbows descriptions in her letters about who they all were and where they all lived.
Not wanting to cause a scene with her unexpected arrival in town as either a writer or as a cosplayer out of convention season. She slipped in through the front door of the Castle unnoticed. This Crystal Castle was, after all, the local library and was run by one of Rainbow's friends. Twilight was also apparently the most organized pony in Ponyville. If anyone had a chance of telling her where Rainbow was, This Princess Twilight something-or-other would probably know. (Daring didn't care much for politics unless it was something to dig up.)
She found herself in a large open hallway, It followed around a bend with a few doors on either side. None of them seemed to have anyone behind them or any sign of a library. She called out but got no answer. Halfway down the corridor, a purple mare walked out of the door Daring was about to check. The other mare was looking behind her and nearly walked right into Daring.
“Oh hello,” exclaimed Twilight. What can I do for you? Are you looking for the Library? It's that door there.” she pointed across the hall to the door she seemed to be heading to.
“Err, actually no, I'm looking for Rainbow Dash.”
Twilight stopped and looked at Daring properly, blinking a few times at the pony in front of her, taking in the compass cutie mark and adventuring hat.
"A.K. Yearling? It's really you? What are you doing here?" Twilight exclaimed.
"Your name is Princess Twilight?" Daring tried to recall, hoping she remembered correctly, noticing both the horns and wings of the Alicorn.
"Yes," she replied. "I'm Twilight Sparkle. We sort of met in your adventure of the Ring of Destiny, a good book by the way. One of Rainbow's favorites."
“Yeah, I remember. I was actually looking for Rainbow Dash. I had some free time and was sort of passing through. Aaaand, I'm waiting for a letter from her.” Daring scratched the back of her head. “So, I thought I'd just drop in to say hi on the way past to see the publishers. But she's not home. I was hoping someone could tell me where she was?”
Twilight blinked a few more times and replied "Rainbow didn't write? That's not usual of her. I mean, I'm the only one in town that knows she writes to you. She asks me to spell check some of her longer letters for her sometimes. I know that she went off to pack after our lunch together. She said she had to do some training with the Wonderbolts. That was two days ago, and she should have been back by now. I know, why don't you go back to hers and wait around for a bit. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you waited inside, and if she comes to town first, I'll let her know she has a guest waiting. You might have to excuse all her posters of you though."
“Yeah,” Daring said guiltily. “I've already been inside. But it was only to make sure she wasn't at home.”
Twilight laughed. "Don't worry about it, the number of times Rainbow crashed into my old Treehouse while she was practicing one of her stunts, I've wondered about casting a cloud walking spell on Pinkie Pie, to see what she'd do unsupervised to Rainbows place. But in all seriousness, I'm sure she'll be delighted to see you."
Twilight followed up by asking. “Is there anything else I help you with A.K Yearling?”
“No, it's fine. Thank you Princess Twilight. And just call me Daring, there no need to pretend with the people who know is there?”
“Well it's just Twilight, I'm still not really into the whole being called Princess thing. Now if you'll excuse me."
Twilight trotted across the hall, opened the door, and summoned a book with her magic.
"The rest of girls are just in there if you want to say hi." She gestured to the door she first came from.
“Thanks for the offer Twilight, but it's really just a passing visit to see Rainbow Dash, and I'd rather not interrupt anyone. It is a library after all, and I've been kicked out of them one too many times.”
Twilight laughed, “Your record at Canterlot Library doesn't count here. But if you do want to borrow a book, you'd better remember to return it! Now, get going before you miss your chance to surprise Rainbow.”
"Thanks," Daring smiled and trotted back to the front door.
She heard Twilight behind her call into the room. "I'm sorry girls, the book took me a little longer to find than I thought, I'll be right there."
Twilight stood there watching Daring leave and wondered a moment about Daring's next adventure.
With that, Twilight trotted back into the room with the book floating beside her.
Back at Rainbows home, The place was exactly as she'd left it 20 minutes earlier. Daring had taken the scenic route, taking a wander around town on the way to the castle. She took the direct route back, however. Then she tried knocking on the door again. Receiving no answer once again, she broke in and was wondering how best to surprise Rainbow Dash. Just as she got halfway across the room, the door burst open, and there stood a Brilliant Gold Pegasus with a Fire like mane and a yellow lightning bolt of a cutie mark, wearing a Blue Wonderbolt uniform.
"RAINBOW DASH, WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU'LL DO A MILLION LAPS OF THE TRAINING COURSE!"
The uniformed Pegasus marched into the room and noticed the other Pegasus in the room, but it wasn't the one she was looking for.
She demanded "Who are you, and where the hell is Rainbow Dash? She never reported for her training!"
Daring was taken aback by the angry mare now advancing on her, but she stood her ground. "I'm looking for her too, she was supposed to write me a letter..."
Spitfire froze, looking at the mare in front of her and went cross-eyed, remembering a conversation with Rainbow Dash once.
****
"Rainbow, we need you now."
"Hold on Spitfire, I'm just finishing this letter."
"What's so important this couldn't wait until after the show?"
"It's a letter to Daring Do."
"You know she's not real, right, it's called fan mail. We get a ton of it"
"Aaannnd done! Nuh uh, she's real, I met her once with Twilight and the gang, that's why I'm on the cover of her book. Since then, we've had a letter conversation going. But you can't tell anyone else. Promise me, Spitfire?"
"Riiight, We all know you're a big fan of her, but this is taking it too far. Wings up in 10 seconds!"
***
Bringing her focus back to the mare in front of her, Spitfire stuttered out
"But, but, but, you're not real. You're a fictional character. She writes to a fictional character!"
Daring laughed "You must be Spitfire, Rainbow told me you work her hard, but it's true, it's me. Yes I am really real, Cutie Mark and everything. But hang on, what do you mean she didn't turn up for training?"
Spitfire walked up to Daring and gingerly touched the compass cutie mark on Daring's flank, still not quite believing the mare in front of her. It was real, She was real. Daring Do was real, and she was standing here in Rainbow Dash's living room. And apparently looking for the same absent mare as her.
"But, why are you here? Why are you looking for Rainbow Dash?" Spitfire choked out.
Daring Do's smile turned serious.
"Like I said, she was supposed to write me a letter this week, but she didn't. I'm actually on my way to the publishers, so I thought I'd see Rainbow on the way past.”
Daring scratched the back of her head with her hoof.
“You said she didn't turn up to practice? Twilight told me that was two days ago? So two days ago, she was here in Ponyville with her friend, and she was going to write me a letter, and presumably head off to the training. But her letter never got sent, and she never arrived at training. That must mean."
"She's been kidnapped" they chorused together.
"Right, you search down here, and I'll look upstairs, see if you can find any clues." Daring said.
"Hang on, I don't know what I'm looking for. I'm not an archaeologist. And for that matter who put you in charge?" Spitfire protested.
Daring turned around to face Spitfire "Because, I'm the detective, it's my day job. Ancient or modern, it's all the same to me. Look, I know she's your friend and college, you spend more time training with her every week than I have in a lifetime, just look for anything that you think looks out of place for her."
Spitfire retorted "What about you? How do you know what to look for?"
"I just told you, detective or archaeologist it's all the same."
Just then, a single sparking speck of dust fell down between them.
"Dust? In a cloud home?" Daring asked
Spitfires eyes narrowed. "That's Lightning Dust!"
The pair of them rushed upstairs to the bathroom above.
The pair of pony's screeched to a halt at the half-open door of the bathroom, It was a room that Daring had overlooked when she was here before. The scene inside looked like disaster area. The room was a total mess with small spatters of mane and skin products over every surface. There was still a rain cloud hovering above the bathtub. It was a preference for pegasus's taking a bath, to have running water or use a rain cloud. Rainbow Dash had both.
It was clear that a fight had taken place, while somepony (Rainbow Dash) had been taking a shower. The bath was still full of water. On the ground were a few hoof-fulls of sparking, specks of dust spread across the floor. Spitfire went to enter the room, but Daring put up a hoof to stop her.
"No, got to make sure this isn't a trap first." Daring then gently pushed the door fully open, while preparing to duck out of the way. Once she was convinced the door was fully open, and there wasn't a trap, she lowered her hoof for Spitfire to enter.
Spitfire, being careful where she stepped, then leaned down to smell the dust on the floor. "Yep, Dust was definitely here. When I find her, she's going to wish she was back in flight camp after what she's done to Rainbow this time!"
"Not so fast," said Daring joining Spitfire in the room. "I'm not sure she's working alone, we may be looking for somepony else too."
"I don't care!" Spitfire growled "No pony hurts my best flier and gets away with it!"
Daring trotted over to the bathroom cabinet, which was empty with all the bottles littered around the room. sniffing it she said "this smells like a changeling. I think the two of them jumped Dash while she was having a bath. How else can you explain such a mess? It would take two ponies to hold her down."
"Yes, your right. Lightning Dust could never keep up with Rainbow, I know she pushes herself hard, but she doesn't have Dash's discipline. That's why, when I realized it, I made Dash a lead Pony and gave Dust the boot."
Daring followed up. "So tell me about this Lightning Dust? I want to know everything I can if I'm going to track her down."
"What do you mean 'you're' going to track her down? You're just a writer and archaeologist. I'm going to find her."
Daring replied. "Did I mention, all of my books are mostly true adventures, and you're in no fit state to be tracking them down on your own when all your seeing is red. But, if you still don't believe what I'm capable of, how about we agree to work together on this one to find Rainbow Dash?"
"Fine!” Spitfire snapped. “But, you'd better be a half decent flier in order to keep up."
"I'll see what I can do. Now as I said, tell me about this Lightning Dust."
Some 20 minutes later, the two of them were back down in the living room, while Spitfire finished explaining the whole story of Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust at the Wonderbolt Academy.
"And then that pink earth pony friend of hers gave me this care package for Rainbow, while she was doing those 20 laps. After Lighting was busted and kicked out of the Wonderbolt's training program, I heard she skulked back home to Canterlot, and then went for a vacation in a place called Dodge Junction."
"Yeah, I know Dodge Junction, It's halfway between here and home. I guess that makes sense, it's pretty near the south of the kingdom, if you were going to join up with a changeling, then that's where I'd most likely start. There or Apple Loosa, then all you have to do is head south a few dozen miles to the border of Changeling kingdom. But, if they headed for Dodge City, that means they're definitely heading for the Badlands. if that's their destination, that worries me. Nothing goes through the badlands without Ahuizotl knowing about it."
“So where should we start? Dodge or Apple Loosa?” Spitfire asked?
“Hmm, well Apple Loosa is closer, and I wouldn't want to be dragging another pony too far if I didn't have to. If we don't find any signs there, we can always move on to Dodge without wasting too much time.”
"Right, that's settled then, let me just contact the academy before we leave."
Daring panicked. "No, that will take too long! We don't want to let the trail get any colder, it's already pretty cold as it is."
"Don't worry, it will only take a few moments" Spitfire reassured.
Stepping outside, Spitfire gave a loud whistle, a few moments later another pony whistled back, before rushing in and landing just in front of Spitfire.
"Report back to Soarin, tell him Rainbow Dash has been kidnapped, myself and..." Spitfire glanced back at Daring for a moment over her shoulder "a 'friend' are following the trail. Tell him, it's Dash's 'little problem' he'll know what that means. We're starting our search at Apple Loosa and finally, tell him lay off the pies until he's earned it. Got all that?"
The fully suited up pegasus replied "Sir, Yes Sir. You and friend are in pursuit of Rainbow Dash's kidnappers, it's RD's 'little problem', The rendezvous will be at Apple Loosa and no pies!"
Spitfire face hoofed "I guess that's close enough, now get moving Cadet!"
The young pegasus took to the air and quickly flew off.
Turning back to Daring properly, Daring replied "That's got to be handy. Also, thanks for not telling anyone about the real me."
Spitfire shrugged "Actually, I just grabbed the fastest flier from the training course to follow me here on standby, just in case there was trouble. Well, we better get going ourselves then."
The pair of pegasi touched down at Apple Loosa a couple of hours later, having flown hard they were both worn out. Spitfire was sweating, but Daring was absolutely shattered, having pushed herself to her limit in order to keep up with Spitfire.
"Woah there," Spitfire said catching a sagging Daring.
"Sorry, I haven't flown that far in a long time."
"Well it breaks my heart when I meet some pegasi who don't fly that far in a whole year. But you, you could almost be a Wonderbolt with that amount of stamina and some more training. When we set out, I thought you'd want a break an hour back"
"No thanks." Daring said, regaining her footing. "Flying around getting all that attention is not my thing."
"What, and all those books you write and conventions you go to are different?"
"Yeah, well it's different, I'm not putting myself out there on show to compete, or perform in displays. Most of my fans are just interested in what crazy adventures they think I dream up."
"You're not being very convincing, why don't you go to the bar and get a drink? I'll ask around town"
Daring blinked. "You think I don't know how to question people now?"
Spitfire retorted. "No, We Wonderbolt's are just athletes trained for long endurance flights. Your barely able to stand, and besides, you can still ask around at the bar. "
"Say that again after you've been through a few death trap temples and we'll talk about whose fit."
"Fair point, but you still need that drink more than I do."
Once Spitfire had watched Daring enter the bar, she started looking around at the shops and train station for anyone who looked either suspicious, or worth talking to. In the end she sidled up to the taxi rank ponies.
"So, you boys seen any Pegasi around lately?"
One of them replied. "We saw you." The other followed up. "We also saw your friend go in the watering hole."
"Yeah... thanks, I meant any others? A friend of mine is missing, and we think she may have come through here with some other pegasi."
"We may have seen a blue Pegasus come through here." the first one replied.
"Yeah, she was with some friends, one was a yellow Pegasus."
Spitfire urgently replied. "Where? Tell me when, which way did they go?"
The second pony answered her "Ohhh, i think that was a year or two ago, wasn't it?"
"That sounds about right."
"Why you pair of little..." Spitfire angrily threatened.
The first Pony said "Just who do you think you are, trying to threaten us? You think your something special, just because you have wings? I don't think so."
"I'm the captain of the Wonderbolt's you ungrateful..."
As the pair of ponies then walked off, the second one turned to say. "We don't care who you are, my brother and i will not be talked to in that manner!"
Spitfire was defeated.
Next, she thought she'd try the local apple seller. She thought she'd remembered Rainbow Dash once mentioning her friend, who was an apple seller in Ponyville, had a cousin in Apple Loosa. But couldn't remember the name or occupation.
"Could i have 2 apples please?"
"Sure miss, that'll be 2 bits."
Spitfire went to get her money bag before realizing, she left it back at the academy when she left to chase Dash.
"Damn it, i left my money at home."
"That's ok miss, I recognise the uniform. My cousin in Ponyville is best friends with one of your Wonderbolt's. I'll just ask her to chase her friend for the money."
"Thank you very much." Spitfire said, before she froze. "Your cousin isn't Applejack? Friends with Rainbow Dash?"
"Yep AJ's mah cousin, and Dash's one of her best friends. My names Braeburn."
Scrap that, she couldn't have Rainbow Dash pay for their food.
"Actually, could you just bill it straight to the Wonderbolts?"
"Sure can miss. Just don't take too long paying right?"
"No problem, But can you keep a secret?"
"Sure can miss, but it'll cost you extra."
"Rainbow Dash is actually why I'm here. She's been pony-napped and we're chasing the culprits. I'm wondering if you've seen any strange behaviour, especially any pegasi or new ponies in town other than me and my friend?"
Braeburns face turned a little pale. "Why didn't you say so? We Apples take care of all our friends, don't worry about the money.
Now let me think, any new ponies, especially pegasi... Well there was this light turquoise Pegasus with 2 toned golden hair, hanging around with another pony that was hard to describe. I'd almost swear it's colour kept changing slightly, I couldn't really get a good view of the other one. But they had a large package with them. Now I think about it, I reckon that must have been your friend Rainbow in a sack.
They arrived late, night before last and left yesterday, about lunchtime. They were heading south. I told em that it was unwise to travel south this time of year. The buffalo are fine, but you hear these rumours of bandits and worse, especially right about now. I don't know what's going on down there, but it don't sound nice."
"Thank you very much for the apples, and the information. We'll keep our eye's open."
As Spitfire chomped on an apple, Braeburn called out "And when you find Rainbow, tell her Strongheart is asking after her."
Spitfire then made her way to the pub. There was unusually loud singing coming from inside. Spitfire groaned. It sounded like Daring had managed to get a drunken party going...
Stepping inside, the scene was nearly exactly what Spitfire was dreading, everyone was singing loudly with Daring leading the songs. There were a lot of glasses empty or nearly empty, Except Daring was also dancing on the bar top.
Spitfire grabbed Daring, and whispered into her ear. "What in Equestria are you trying to do? Get drunk? We're trying to find Rainbow Dash!"
Daring replied. "I know, I've barely drunk a sip, they've been doing all the drinking, I've nearly got them drunk enough to talk."
Spitfire stared at her in horror.
"Let me guess? you don't get into pubs much? Well sometimes, this is the only way to get information about tombs from people, get them drunk enough and their tongue loosens and you can learn all sorts of things you didn't think you wanted to know."
"Wonderbolt rule, Don't drink more than one pint if you're scheduled to fly up no less than an hour before a show."
"You guys are a sober lot aren't you? You need to get out and have more fun."
"We have a job to do!"
"So do I, mine just sometimes involves getting ponies drunk enough to say anything and sober enough to still talk."
"Well," said a disgruntled Spitfire "I don't approve, but let's see what this ugly lot know then!"
A few minutes later, nearly everyone else except the bartender was either drunk, or too tired to put up much of a fight as they began to interrogate the denizens of the watering hole.
A few pokes, prods, and over-enthusiastic bucks from Daring, they'd narrowed it down to a single pony who confessed, for the sake of their headache that they'd seen anything. It was a nondescript Blue earth pony, who was 'encouraged' into the back room for a more personal, quiet audience.
"So, tell us what you saw" Daring insisted.
"urrg, there were 2 ponies, they paid well to hide another pony out of sight. Do you have any water?"
Spitfire produced a glass of water but held it out of reach.
Spitfire railed at him. "What else did you see? Did this other pony have a rainbow mane?"
"yes, yes, now please, give me some water. This headache is splitting my skull."
Daring jabbed a hoof in his chest. "How long were they here? Where did they stay? Tell us everything, or I'll buck you in the head again!"
Spitfire rolled her eye's, normally this kind of threat of violence she'd abhor, but she had a few scores to settle on behalf of more than one Wonderbolt!
"They dumped her in my cellar for the night. They only stayed one night and disappeared yesterday. I don't know when or where, but they took your friend with them when they left. Please I'll even give you the 200 bits they paid me."
The earth pony pulled out a bag of bits and put it on the table.
Spitfire spoke up and confirmed, "that fits Braeburn's story close enough. We should check out this cellar too before we go after them. In case they left any clues behind."
"Agreed." Daring said as she jabbed the pony again.
"Here, this is the key, now can I have that water please?"
Spitfire slowly tipped the water on the ground.
"You need to drink less, and don't let me ever catch you commit another crime. I will be watching you!"
Spitfire took the bag of money, and the 2 walked out leaving the blue earth pony alone and dejected in the small back room.
As they walked outside, Daring quizzed "So, why did you take the money?"
"Expenses." Spitfire replied "Also, technically, it's lawful confiscation of proceeds of crime. Aaand I owe a pony for some apples, because I forgot to pick up any bits when I left the academy."
She handed Daring the Apple.
Daring winked "I'm not going to tell anyone. Nice apple." she said as she bit into it.
"But, not as good as sweet apple acres" they chorused and both chucked.
Spitfire paid Braeburn 150 bits back for the apples and information which he tried to insist was free. But Spitfire countered, saying that she wanted to open a Wonderbolt's tab with the Apple Loosa apple seller, especially if Soarin was going to be setting up a temporary Wonderbolt Base when he arrived in a few hours. She also asked Braeburn to “remind” Soarin that while she was out, he was in charge of writing up 'all' the paperwork.
Spitfire shrugged to Daring. ”Hey, this has got to be all above board to avoid an awkward conversation with the Princess later.”
“And this is why I don't have an official job, no-one to report to, to tell me off. Well except the VP, and I'm usually only at the university long enough to deposit the latest treasure, and maybe teach a class or 2, before she finds out I'm back, and then I'm looking for the nearest open window escape route.”
Spitfire followed up. “It looks like we've both got bosses we try to avoid if we can.”
Daring said “I thought you ran the Wonderbolts?”
“I do, not many people know this, but we are 'technically' still conscripted into the army. And that means every so often I'm expected to write in official reports on combat readiness. I think I'd rather read a dusty old tome, no offence”
“None taken. I feel the same way with the teaching reports I'm supposed to write, but I've got my assistant, and other teachers to cover for me most of the time.”
Finally they arrived at the cellar. There was nothing really to note about it, it was on a corner of town with the door leading down to the empty room below. There was nothing other than the central support pillar in the whole room.
Upon closer inspection, Daring noticed that some pony had managed to scratch something into one of the walls. It wasn't clear, and was obviously done by someone with limited movement as it was close to the ground and done in the dark, since the only light was from the door.
The scratching said. "R.D. waz here, Heading S. L.D. and Change. Ahuizotl!?"
There was also signs of some kind of a scramble in the dust.
Spitfire said: "Well at least we now know we're on the right trail. But who is Ahuizotl?"
Daring lolled her head to one side. "Are You sure you've read my books!?"
Spitfire face hoofed. "I've got to ask, how much of your books are fiction?"
Daring looked surprised. "Fiction? You think I write fiction? It's all true, well most of it. I 'may' edit a few minor details, but that's as much to protect me from the fans, and to keep the story rolling when reality gets a little stuck. I may have come a few times closer to having my hide skinned than I'd care to mention, at least in a book."
"How many is a few?" Spitfire challenged, turning on her companion.
"About 15 times that didn't make the final edit of the books, I think..."
"You are impossible, I can see why Dash likes you so much. I swear, I couldn't cope with both of you if you decided to have a career change."
Daring sheepishly grinned "Thanks. But, I think I'll keep the day job if it's all the same to you."
Spitfire said "That wasn't meant as a compliment. Still, I may be the boss but I don't want to have to explain to Soarin why I dragged him all the way out here. At least not until we've found Dash. So lets get a move on."
After digging into new Wonderbolt tab for half a dozen apples each, they set out towards the Badlands. Fortunately, Daring knew a shortcut through the Macintosh hills that would save them a lot of time. Still, it would be sunset by the time they reached the first hills.
There was also a storm brewing overhead, and so they had opted to walk. After their flight earlier, neither of them was feeling up to flying through such a vicious storm, although neither wanted to openly admit it to the other.
As night finally fell, they sought shelter in a small corpse of trees on a hill top. Daring quickly used her skills to make a shelter for the two of them overnight. Although, with so few trees to forage from it was going to be a little snug.
Meanwhile, Spitfire kept a lookout for anyone trying to sneak up on them and find anything that might look edible as extra food. None of which could be found except a few odd berries, which Daring confirmed were just about edible.
Spitfire found herself wondering if maybe the Wonderbolts were getting a little soft, and not learning to rough it enough. If she was doing this on her own, she'd be lost without Daring's camping expertise.
Daring, while she worked, was also thinking about how Spitfire had been good at spotting clue's she herself, an experienced adventurer had missed. And she had to admit, while she couldn't stand the idea of a daily workout, Spitfire, much like Dash, looked fit, and dare she say almost attractive. Even to a mare like her who only really enjoyed a thrill-seeking adventure.
The two finally lay down in the shelter next to each other about an hour after sunset. After a while of silence, but the crackling of the fire, the two of them both turned their heads to say something to the other and found themselves only inches apart.
Daring slowly bit down on her apple, as both of their cheeks went slightly red in the glow of the fire. Finally, they broke their gaze of each other when Spitfire flinched at an ember from the fire landed next to her hoof.
Daring said "It's only a spark, nothing to worry about."
Spitfire retorted "Long story, I don't want to talk about it?"
Daring looked quizzically at Spitfire "What happened? You get burnt?"
Spitfire turned around "Like I said, I don't want to talk about it!"
As Daring snuffed out another stray ember she said "No, you didn't get burnt, you got someone else burnt!"
As Spitfire turned back round to face Daring, she yelled "That's Enough! Now shut up and go to sleep!"
"Woah, calm down" Daring took a step back. "Maybe you should go to sleep, and I'll take first watch!"
As Spitfire curled up she said "Fine, Whatever, just no more talking!"
Neither of them said anything until Daring gave Spitfire a prod halfway through the night to trade places.
Again, neither of them said anything further until morning and Spitfire gave Daring a kick on the flank"
"Grr. what was that for?"
Spitfire said coolly "You sleep like a log and snore. You wouldn't wake up, so it was either that or set your tail on fire."
"Hey, you leave my tail alone, it's had enough close calls thankyouverymuch!"
"A buck to the flank it was then!"
"Oww, Fine! but did you have to kick so hard?"
"What can I say? I get a lot of practice kicking newbie recruits out of bed in the morning."
"Yeah, well I'm not one of your crazy Wonderbolt recruits!"
"Like I said yesterday, with a bit of training you could even give me a run for my money. The only other Bolt remotely close to breaking any standing records is Dash. Talking of, How much further until we catch up with them?"
"Well, given what time they left Apple Loosa, we can assume they probably reached Ahuizotl's yesterday evening, We can maybe get there about lunchtime if we push it. The trick is going to be flying through the jungle not above it."
"Why can't we just fly over?"
Daring looked at Spitfire. "Seriously? Are you sure you've read my books? They always keep a look out in the sky for me. They know I fly!"
"Oh." Spitfire looked sheepish for not thinking about it. "Well, how hard can it be flying through a jungle compared to the training course?"
Daring replied "For one, I've seen a picture of your training course and it doesn't compete with hanging vines all over the place. I mean, we could walk instead but that would take longer, as long as you can keep up."
Spitfire rolled her eyes. "Hey, I'm not the captain of the Wonderbolts for nothing. But this time, I'll follow your lead. And maybe it'll give me some idea's to redesign the training course. It's getting a little bit too repetitive, cause I swear Dash was half asleep last time she breezed through it in near record time."
After cleaning up their campsite, the duo flew on to the badlands and the jungle beyond.
Rainbow Dash was whistling a little tune as she trotted upstairs. She'd got it all planned out. She was going to take a shower, then spend half an hour writing her letter back to Daring. Suit up in her Wonderbolt Uniform hanging in the closet, and then drop off the letter for Twilight to check it, and then ask her to post it for her before she rushed to HQ, and make it with seconds to spare before Spitfire yelled at her.
Meanwhile, Outside, Lightning Dust was hovering with her "partner" if she could call "it" that. It was a changeling and it made her feel uncomfortable, but "it's" employer was paying her well to get her sweet revenge, so she couldn't complain.
From what she understood, this changeling had been disassociated from the Hive. But, they still had some unique skills the queen required occasionally as some kind of bounty hunter for hire. The kind of changing equivalent of a pony whose job it would be to spy on an enemy after a war, to see how the enemy rebuilt, to help plan for the next war. It gave her the chills when she thought about it too much.
Lightning quickly pulled her head out of the window as she saw Rainbow enter the bathroom, so that Rainbow didn't see her. She nodded to the changeling, and once they heard the water begin to run, they burst through the window on to the unsuspecting Rainbow Dash.
The fight lasted several minutes, causing a mess all over the bathroom. Rainbow Dash had managed to inflict quite a few bruises and a couple of minor cuts before they finally got her pinned down. The changing tied Dash's back legs together while Lightning sat on her, while she was still winded from the fight.
"Why are you doing this?" croaked Rainbow.
They tied Rainbows front legs together and her wings down before Lightning replied.
She held Dash's face in her hooves "I'm supposed to be the lead pony. I'm supposed to be the Wonderbolt! I'm just taking my rightful place on top!"
They then put a muzzle on Rainbow and put her in a sack to carry. The changeling's wing had been broken in the fight, but by transforming into a pegasus, it seemed to help to heal the wing, but it still hurt.
Lightning Dust observed "You seem to be changing color a little.”
The changing shrugged and said "Side effect of a broken wing, also means the transformation isn't stable, but no-one really notices if we don't stay in a place too long. Stop looking at me like that!"
The changeling then helped Lightning dust put their "package" on Lightning's back and they flew South.
*1 Day earlier*
The Changeling, now in its true form, dumped the bound Rainbow in the cellar under Apple Loosa, before leaving Rainbow locked in the cellar while the pair of kidnappers rested.
Having been left there, tied up overnight. Rainbow had heard them close the door, leaving her locked in. She had quickly scrabbled around to bump into the wall, and some struggling later found a stick. She wasn't sure it would work but despite being blindfolded and tied up, She'd somehow managed to get a scrawl scratched on the wall.
The changing had spotted this almost immediately upon entering, having been used to living in darkness on occasion. Closing the door behind her she trotted down to the Prone, and now dirty Rainbow Dash squiring away on the floor, trying to free herself.
After ripping off the hood She whispered in Rainbows ear. "Your little message doesn't mean anything, even if your friends do manage to follow us. You'll be safely in the hands of my Queen Chrysalis by the time your friends even know you're gone."
Rainbow froze. The mention of Queen Chrysalis sent a cold shiver down her spine.
"That is, after a little detour to see that damn Cat, who apparently knows another little friend of yours."
Rainbow Dash tried to cry out in protest. A cat? There was only one cat (other than Opal, that Rainbow knew.) No, she couldn't mean... Not Daring, not that damn Ahuizotl. Oh, when the girls found out, there were going to be fireworks lit under someone's ass. And oh Celestia, Spitfire was going to have her hide for not making it to training. She could forget about just being late.
The changeling then gave Rainbow a couple of good kicks to the chest and Rainbow felt something crack. And then there was a hard stomp to her hip. She wasn't going to be walking properly for a while.
"And that is for the broken wing!" The changeling then put the hood back on Rainbow and re-bagged her ready for the day's traveling.
-------------------------------
It was late afternoon when Lightning Dust finally dumped the bagged and tied up Rainbow Dash off her back onto the floor with a thump. "Rainbow Dash heard Ahuizotl say "well what do we have here? Daring's little friend?"
Lightning Dust took a step and sounded like she was standing between Rainbow and Ahuizotl. "How about my payment? I brought you this annoying brat. I want my pay!"
Ahuizotl huffed. "I need to see the merchandise first to make sure this is Daring's new sidekick. Otherwise it won't be enough to tempt her out and into my trap."
The bag was unzipped and the hood removed, so that Rainbow could finally see she was in some kind of cat camp in the clearing. Obviously Ahuizotl's from the description that raced across her mind from one of the Daring's books.
Lighting Dust was still standing between her and the overgrown cat, while the Changeling was behind her still holding the hood.
"See? As promised, except maybe a few minor injuries. Now about my money!"
He clapped his hands together delighted. "Wonderful.” He then pulled a money bag out. "Here is your 1,500 bits like we agreed."
Lightning Dust took the money and turned to look at Rainbow on the floor. "Well, have fun playing with your new 'friends', it's a shame your old friends won't bail you out this time, loser."
Rainbow tried to yell out to warn Lightning about the Changeling's threat, but it just came out as a muddled moan through the muzzle.
Once Lightning Dust had gone, The changeling stepped up and spoke. "When can I take her? How long will this little 'adventure' of yours take, before I can take her to my queen? You know she is impatient."
"Oh, it shouldn't take too long. Only another day or two." He then produced a pair of scissors and cut a bit of Rainbow's mane and passed it to a nearby cat.
"Take this to Daring's house. If she's not there, you can leave it for her and she'll get the message as soon as she gets back from whatever pit she's crawling through."
In a single hand, Ahuizotl swept Rainbow Dash up and carried her across the camp to the far side. Next to his Throne was a wooden cage suspended in the air. Before bundling Rainbow into the cage, he punched both her wings and broke them, leaving Rainbow howling in pain as she was bundled into the cage. Shortly afterward, she passed out.
It was mid-morning when Daring and Spitfire finally touched down at the edge of the jungle. Having flown with no real weight to slow them down. They made much better timing than to this point than Lightning and the Changing who had walked the whole way.
"So, what do you think now that you've seen what your up against?" Daring asked. "You think you can manage to fly through Pandora's box of tight twists and turns?"
"Hmm" Spitfire considered. Are you sure it's actually faster to fly?"
Daring nudged Spitfire in the shoulder, "I thought you said you were the best? Not up to the challenge?"
"I asked if you were sure it was faster, not that I couldn't do it."
"Well let's give it a go, and if your not happy, then we can stop and walk the rest of the way."
"Hey, that doesn't sound like daring." Spitfire poked Daring in the head. "Why are you being so considerate all of a sudden?"
Daring shrugged. "I wouldn't say I know the jungle like the back of my hoof, but I think I'm pretty good at traversing it. But a few broken wings have taught me not to underestimate the jungle."
Spitfire shrugged, "Just one more question. How much further through the jungle is it?"
"Well, if we flew over the top, it would take maybe about 40 minutes, So maybe 10 miles?"
Spitfire blinked. "Seriously? 10 miles of this? Are you sure we can't just fly over?"
Daring face hoofed. "Like I said, if we fly over, they'll see us coming in an instant. We want to give them as little warning as possible if we're going to rescue Rainbow."
Spitfire replied "Well they kidnapped her for a reason. Lightning Dust obviously has a score to settle with her, and this Ahuizotl probably wants to use her as bait to lure you in to a trap anyway."
"Damn, I hadn't really thought about it until now. Well, I guess we don't want to keep them waiting do we?"
Daring trotted up to the very edge of the jungle and was preparing to take flight into the jungle, when suddenly they were jumped by a bunch of cats and Lightning Dust. Lightning quickly pinned down Daring, while the cats surrounded Spitfire leaving her with no place to go. She could go straight up, but she couldn't abandon Daring.
Lightning Dust purred like a cat "So this is Crash's new friend? I'd almost approve, if you weren't both such hopeless losers!" Lightning then looked up at Spitfire and blinked in surprise.
"Sp. Sp. Spitfire? What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here!"
"Well, I was out flying with a friend, and all of a sudden what I find? A Wonderbolt reject playing with some cats. Seriously Lightning Dust, I still had some hope for you if you'd just learn to stop trying to show off. But after this stunt, your out of chances for good."
"We'll see about that. You're not getting out of here and with you gone, Soarin and the others will be begging to take me on now with Two Wonderbolts missing!"
It was Spitfires turn to face hoof. "There is No I in Team Lightning! I thought I made that clear when I threw you out of the Academy after that stunt you pulled?"
Lightning yelled back "Team is all about Me!" Addressing the cats she ordered "Tie them up! Oh and gag that one, I don't want to hear another peep out of her." Indicating Spitfire.
Daring had remained silent, given she was already pinned while Spitfire struggled pointlessly against their feline captures. They were swiftly tied up and carried off in to the dense undergrowth. When no-one was looking at either of them, Daring smiled and nodded at Spitfire to let her know she had a plan. Spitfire winked back in understanding.
A couple of hours later, they entered into a clearing that seemed to be a makeshift camp about halfway to Ahuizotl's camp. The cats decided to take a break from carrying their cargo and shoved the two tied up mares into an overhanging cage above the clearing. It looked like it was normally used to keep wild beasts trapped for food.
Lightning Dust had not been impressed by the cats slower pace, but then they were carrying the ponies. So she decided to leave the cats behind, and go on ahead at a faster pace to report back to Ahuizotl on her own about their capture at the jungle edge. She was sure he would be pleased with the news of an extra captive, another one of the prized wonderbolts no less. Maybe this could get her a little bonus pay off? If not, she still had Spitfire captive to torture for all of the Wonderbolt's hidden secrets.
Daring had been able to cut most of her bonds some time ago, and now that they didn't have prying eyes on them, she quickly also released Spitfire.
Spitfire whispered now that she was finally ungagged. “So you knew this camp was here and they'd stop.”
“Well not exactly here. But I figured they'd want to stop somewhere that would be a good place to escape from, and this was better than I hoped.”
“You know if we had proper room to move, I'd hit you right?”
“I thought the wonderbolts didn't do violence.”
“It's not a wonderbolt thing, it's just a lousy plan. So how is this better?”
“Simple, I break the lock, and then we pound them, they're all tired out, and we've had a nice relaxing trip being carried along.”
Spitfire rolled her eyes. “You do make a good point. So about breaking the lock?”
“Just move over a bit Spitfire, and I'll buck it like THIS!” Daring gave the lock an almighty buck that made the cage shake wildly on it's rope, but the lock snapped and went flying through the trees as the door swung open.
The pair of pegasi jumped out of the cage and landed on the cats below, who were both caught off guard and too worn out to put up much of a fight.
After a little interrogation, they learned that once the message of the capture had been signalled back using 'long range communications'. The cats were not looking out for any more flying targets and had abandoned their lookout posts. A story which was almost too good to believe, but it's just what they wanted to hear, a chance to stretch their wings and cover the rest of the distance in a relatively short time.
By the time Spitfire and Daring arrived near Ahuizotl's camp, the Sun was already starting to sink low towards the horizon. Spitfire remarked. “It looks like it's going to be another beautiful sunset. They are always followed by amazing starry skies. Celestia and Luna are really putting a lot into this one.”
“I can't say I've ever really noticed, between the writing and the day job, the sunset tends to be just something that happens. But this looks like it's going to be one royal sunset of a brawl. May the Princesses watch over us.”
“They always do” Spitfire remarked. “That's why Luna writes to you, you know? She knows what it's like to feel like your standing alone against the world.”
Daring balked at Spitfire. “How? How do you know about those letters?”
Spitfire followed up. “I don't get to talk to Luna that often because we do most of our work during the daylight hours, but she tried to recruit me into the Night Guard once and she consults me by letter on various training methods. I offered to let her use our training grounds, but she felt it was wrong to mix guards and civilians, also apparently our facility didn't quite meet her “training” needs. But she did once mention she writes to the 'infamous A.K.Yearling'.”
“Night Guards?” Daring scoffed, they're a myth, aren't they? Just regular guards in night armor.”
“Oh they're quite real, I've only met one or two, and Luna assured me the transformation is quite painless, but it makes them allergic to sunlight. She wasn't admittedly clear on the spells reversal though.”
It was at this moment, the two of them dropped down into the center of the camp and Daring yelled “AHUIZOTL, I'M HERE FOR RAINBOW DASH! HAND HER OVER AND NOONE GETS HURT!”
Lightning Dust stepped out of a tent. “The hell? How did you two get here? I thought I left you back in that cage with those mangy cats?”
There was a hoarse laugh as Ahuizotl plumbed down onto his throne from seemingly nowhere. It was clearly displayed near the top of the pyramid ruins that dominated the camp. Everybody turned to look at him. Rainbow Dash was hanging in a cramped cage, barely big enough for a single pony hanging several feet away from him.
“Well, well, well, look what the proverbial 'cat' dragged in. You've handed yourself to me on a silver platter Daring, you make this too easy. Do you have any last words for your friends?”
“Bite Me!” Spitfire retorted on Daring's behalf.
Standing back to back, Daring and Spitfire were quickly surrounded by a small army of various cats.
“So be it, get them!” Ahuizotl ordered.
Lightning Dust hung back and circling around, while the cats assailed the duo in the heart of the camp. However, despite the numbers of cats that kept coming at them, they hoofed, bucked, kicked and butted the cats in a ferocious onslaught until most of the cats were knocked out unconscious, or fleeing. A few cats still remained like Lightning Dust, slowly trotting around the pair of ponies in the middle looking for an opening to attack.
Finally, the last cat had made a reckless leap at one of them, only to be bucked into a tree by the other. That left Lightning Dust staring down at Spitfire who said to Daring. “I've got her, you go deal with Ahuizotl, this is my fight and he is yours.”
By now, despite their impeccable defense and the valiant assault by the feline horde, both ponies were clearly battle worn and covered in dirt up with plenty of scars and a few bleeds.
Lightning Dust and Spitfire launched at each other, just as Daring bounded up the stairs to the throne before leaping up at the cat sat upon it.
The sun's last rays flashed across the sky and set and all went dark.
A few moments later, as the stars finally came out, and the moon crept above the horizon, Spitfire had Lightning Dust pinned to the ground. Daring had sent the surprised the Cat King flying into a wall unconscious, having turned a mid-air leap into a hard buck to the face.
With the battle finally over, Spitfire whispered down to Lightning Dust
“I 'should' leave you here at their mercy, but I'm going to let you go. But you should know, If you ever return to a civilized part Equestria again, know that there is going to be a Bounty on your head, so large that it's going to make whatever you got paid for this job look like petty cash. Do you understand?”
Lightning Dust nodded silently and Spitfire slowly let the turquoise mare get to her feet before she scrambled away into the jungle undergrowth.
Meanwhile, Daring flew up to the cage and unlocked it, and with Spitfires help, they slowly pulled a badly injured Rainbow Dash out and helped her onto the floor.
Spitfire asked “Can you stand?”
“I, I think so? But my wings, I think they're both broken?”
Daring carefully inspected both wings. “Yep, they're broken. But I can put together a couple of make-shift braces until we can get you back and into a hospital.”
Daring quickly rounded up some strong sticks and bits of cloth to bandage up Rainbow Dash's wings, while Spitfire thought of a way to distract the cyan mare from the pain.
Spitfire raised her voice at Dash “So what kind of squalid place do you call this as an excuse to get out of training and practice Crash!”
Caught off guard Rainbow Dash replied “Wha? What? I was kidnapped by a Changeling and Lightning Dust!”
Spitfire retorted. “That's not a good enough excuse if you'd been working as hard as you were supposed to be doing, like I told you, those two would have been paste on your bathroom floor!”
Rainbow went red. “You... you went inside my house? The... The posters? The signed autographs? Everything?”
Spitfire pressed home her verbal attack. “This better be a lesson to you to work harder, so next time you'll be ready to take on 4 of them!”
Daring cut in: “And I'm done”
Rainbow looked around. “Wait? What?” As realization dawned that Spitfire was just getting into a heated argument so Daring could put the braces on her wings.
Spitfire then pulled Rainbow in for a nuggy. “Yes we both saw everything, and really you should see my place sometime, I've got more Wonderbolt memorabilia than just about anyone. You should know by now that our fans are us. I can't think of a single Wonderbolt who doesn't have at least 5 pictures of you, and at least two copies of your autograph stashed away somewhere.”
Rainbow blushed
Daring gave Spitfire a nudge. “Hey, don't forget she's also my biggest fan.”
Pulling out of the nuggy. “So how come you two teamed up anyway?”
The pair looked at each other before turning back to Dash.
They said in unison: “It's a long story.”
Daring said: “We'll fill you in on the way back, we've got a long way to go, so if your up for walking, I suggest we make the most of this moonlight.” she silently whispered “Thank you Luna.” acknowledging that a bright moon tonight would help with the trek back through the woods.
As the new day dawned, three very tired ponies trotted into Appaloosa. Grateful to finally be back in civilization.
Despite being ready to drop, Spitfire saw Braeburn's cart already set up for the day's sales. There in front of the cart was a pale blue pegasus in a Wonderbolts uniform, already with one pie in hoof and halfway through devouring another.
She quietly trotted up behind him before yelling “HOW MANY PIES HAVE YOU STUFFED DOWN YOUR GREEDY THROAT?”
Soarin jumped 20ft into the air, dropping both pies before he started using his wings and spotted Spitfire in her tattered uniform.
“Um, your back?” replied Soarin around a mouthful of apple pie he nearly choked up.
He slowly flew back down glancing at Dash and Daring.
He tried to rush over to Rainbow Dash to check out her broken wings but he fell flat as Spitfire stood on his tail.
She turned to Braeburn, who was looking on blurry eyed in half amusement, half concern. “How many pies did this fat ass get through in a day and a half?”
“There was twenty for the Wonderbolts and another six for him, plus the two he just dropped.”
Spitfire turned back to Soarin. “Eight Pies? You nearly ate eight whole pies? If I was your mother, I'd have your wings clipped and you'd be grounded! Instead, when we get back you'll be doing double time to make up for it. Plus we need someone to cover while Rainbow recovers. You can start by doing a hundred laps of this town, and then a hundred more laps of the course before AND after I re-design it!”
He groaned in horror at the thought of so many laps made his head spin before Spitfire dragged him off to find any other Wonderbolts awake to watch him, while she found somewhere to sleep.
Braeburn gave a curt nod to Dash and Daring as they walked up after that show.
“Howdy Ladies, Ms. Dash, and Ms. Do. I see you made it back in one piece. Quite an adventure was it?”
Rainbow scoffed “Hey Braeburn, how do you know who daring do is?”
“Applejack told me in her letters. Plus while we haven't met yet Ms. Do, I have seen you pass through here on a few occasions. Didn't know at the time, but I've read about them.”
Braeburn turned back to Rainbow Dash “Applejack told me about the fiasco with the books in one of her letters. So whenever we get a bookseller coming through town, I always check to see if they have one. That's how I recognize you through the cover.”
Braeburn passed the pair of them a pie each. “Here, have these, you both look like you need it, and don't worry about paying me, I'll look forward to reading about this adventure and that will be payment enough.”
Epilogue
The Changeling queen hissed in fury, How dare the minion let her down, and one of those damn element ponies got away. She was so close to setting the trap to get rid of those insects.
She punched the wall of the hive and everyone felt her fury as the whole hive shook. Still, at least there was one small consolation prize, the Changeling before her, quivered in fear. While out on her mission among the ponies and cats, she'd been able to soak up a lot of love the queen could feed on.
To satiate her fury and hunger the queen began to feed on the vast amounts of magical energy.
Soon, a few more agents would return, and they too would be bringing more love energy with them and then the Changeling army would be strong again, and not have to rely on those useless cats who claimed to be “allies”. One day soon, the truce would be broken and she'd be coming for revenge on “all” of Equestria's citizens, no matter their species!