Daring Do skidded to a halt in a small clearing, panting heavily. She looked around trying to gain her bearings when the sound of rustling leaves caused her to whip around. Seeing nothing she sighed and hung her head. "Just the wind Daring," She said trying to calm her nerves. She looked around again then trotted over to some bushes on the edge of the clearing. She detached her saddlebags and tossed them into the bush obscuring them from view.
She made her way back to the middle of the clearing then opened her wings. With a quick flap, she was airborne. She flew to the tops of the trees and looked around again. She spotted a river just a few miles away. "There's the river, so Mareyan City should just be upstream," She said as she took out a compass making note of the direction she should head before plunging back down through the trees. When she had almost reached solid ground again something hit her back leg, tying them together and throwing her off balance. She fell the last few feet to the ground with a loud thump, her pith helmet falling to the ground beside her.
"Damn it, what the tartarus," Daring said as she tried to remove the rope that had tangled her hooves together.
"I told you I could hit her," A gravelly female voice said from behind Daring. She turned her head to find a pony and a griffon approaching her with the griffon smirking proudly.
"Yeah, yeah," The pony, a stallion, said handing over a few bits to the griffon. "Now tie her up so the boss can talk to her."
"You think I'll just give up that easily," Daring spat. "You obviously don't know me."
"Oh, don't worry. Our boss told us all about you Daring Do," The griffon said as she approached Daring. "That's why we brought them," She gestured around as multiple ponies and griffon emerged all carrying weapons of some sort. "You make one wrong move and we will kill. I don't care if the boss wants to talk I don't want any trouble."
"Too bad," Daring said as she finally got rid of the rope binding her back hooves. She darted towards the griffon lashing out with a hoof. The blow landed causing the griffon to stumble backward. Daring rushed in for another blow but was tackled from behind. Both her and her captor landing on the ground, the added weight on her back, causing Daring's breath to leave her.
The griffon she had punched stalked closer a scowl on her face. She spat a small amount of blood on the ground before speaking, "That was the wrong move pony."
Daring struggled against her captor in a vain attempt to escape again. "What, you too much of a chicken to face me by yourself featherbrain," Daring growled out.
The griffon glared at Daring as she pulled out a long, curved sword, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that for your sake pony." The griffon then slammed the handle of the sword into Daring temple causing her vision to swim. Another blow blacked out her vision entirely as she fell into unconsciousness.
Daring came to slowly her hearing coming back first. Her captors were all fairly silent with only a few whispers indicating anyone was there. The only other sounds she heard were that of the jungle which nearly drowned out the talking she could hear. Next came the feeling of being tied up. Her hooves were bound together, and a rope was wrapped around her midsection and wings cutting off any movement from them.
Daring finally opened her eyes to see the griffon from before smirking down at her, "Good you're awake. Have to admit I was hoping you wouldn't." She griffon then moved the sword she was holding to Daring's neck limited her movement even more. "Now stay still till the boss gets here."
"Who do you work for? Please tell me it's not Ahuizolt that idiot is seriously demented," Daring said.
"You're right about that so don't worry it's not the cat," The griffon said with a slight chuckle. "Though he is someone you know, or, at least he seems to know you."
Daring was about to respond when she was interrupted by an accented voice calling out from behind her, "Well, well Daring Do we meet yet again." A stallion wearing a tan shirt and a bandana stepped into Daring's view.
"Caballeron, I should have known you would be tailing me," Daring said through gritted teeth.
"It does seem that our paths cross often Ms. Do," Caballeron said as he stalked closer to Daring. The griffon holding the sword backed off as he approached. Caballeron pulled out a large knife and examined it in his hooves as he spoke. "Now as much as I would wish to continue this conversation I am on a somewhat limited timetable, so I will get straight to business." He leaned closer to Darning, his breath causing her ears to twitch wildly. "You have something in your possession. Something my employer is paying a lot of bits for me to acquire."
"Go to Tartarus Caballeron," Darning snapped. She hissed in pain as Caballeron lashed out with his knife cutting a large gash in Daring's side.
"A lady shouldn't use such coarse language Ms. Do," Caballeron said moving behind Daring and out of her sight.
"Do I look like a lady to you?" Darning said through gritted teeth.
"No, I suppose you don't. Though, I suspect there are some… benefits to that," Caballeron said stroking Daring's wing softly. "Why don't you tell where the artifact is. Otherwise, I will have to let the others deal with you, and I'm pretty sure some of these stallions aren't as controlled as I am.
"Screw yo-," Daring was cut off as pain lanced through her body from Caballeron breaking her wing.
"Ms. Do you really trying my patience, I will ask only once more." Caballeron moved in front of Daring, bending his neck down to look in her eyes. "Where is the artifact."
Daring panted taking a few breaths between each word, "I'll… never… tell."
Caballeron sighed, "I had hoped you would see reason Ms. Do. I already know you had it now it's just a matter of finding where you hid it." He moved away from Daring to approach the griffon with the sword. "Thankfully I thought ahead and hired some of the best trackers money could buy." When he reached the griffon he turned and spoke, "Kill her then follow her trail we don't have much time, so make it quick."
The griffon grinned widely and advanced on the bound Pegasus, "With pleasure."
Caballeron turned around to face Daring, "Goodbye Daring Do, it was a pleasure matching wits with you."
Daring glared at Caballeron, "I can't say the same."
Caballeron chuckled softly, "Either way this is your end," The griffon approached Daring and raised her sword. The sounds of the jungle had disappeared leaving the group in silence as Daring closed her eyes accepting her fate.
A loud bang split the air followed by the high-pitched scream of the griffon and something warm splattering onto Daring's fur. She opened her eyes to find the griffon still screaming and staring at the stump that had once been a talon. Another bang filled the air causing the griffon's head to explode, showering Daring in a mist of blood.
The rest of the group descended into chaos as more bangs sounded out felling half of them. Daring felt herself being jerked into the air the motion dislocating her shoulder. She tried to struggle away from her captor but was rewarded by a knife handle striking her temple leaving her vision fuzzy.
"Whoever's out there show yourself or I slit this mares throat," Caballeron shouted into the jungle. He moved the knife to Daring's throat making a small incision just deep enough to let a trickle of blood run down.
Silence reigned once again the only sounds were the crunch of hoof steps from Caballeron group as they turned trying to see anything past the tree line. A low gravelly voice called out, "You really think I can't just kill you before that happens."
"If you could you would have already," Caballeron said. "Now show yourself."
The sounds of leaves and trigs being crushed caused the group to turn towards the sound all of them drawing various swords and spears. A tall figure seemed to melt into view dressed in odd clothing that covered most of its body including a metal helmet that covered the creature's face. It stood in front of the group with its large green eyes staring directly at Caballeron and Daring. It spoke in the same low voice from before, "I would suggest letting her go before I kill you and all your men."
"As I said before if you were really going to do that you would have already," Caballeron stated. He pulled Daring up causing her to hiss in pain from her shoulder. "I suspect it's because of this mare right here." He dug the knife in more causing more blood to trickle down Daring's neck. The creature adjusted its stance slightly using an arm to move its long coat away from its body and grip something on its leg. Caballeron eyes light up and he chuckled softly at the movement. "I see that's true. What is your interest in the mare." The creature did nothing, simply continued staring at Caballeron and Daring. "Not much of a talker are you I can respect that. Ms. Do here seems to never know when she should be quiet. It's earned her a few scars over the years."
"Yeah well when the people I face seem to all want to monologue I eventually got tired of listening to the constant droning," Daring said earning her another whack to the head though that didn't deter her this time. She continued after a moment taking pause to control her breathing, "I mean honestly… it's like you all…. Get together… and coordinate your-," Daring was interrupted by Caballeron stomping a hind hoof onto one of her back legs. She screamed in pain as it broke from the pressure.
"I did not ask for your input," Caballeron growled taking his eyes off the creature to glare at Daring. In that moment the creature moved drawing the device from its side and closing the distance to Caballeron in a few seconds. It grabbed the knife with a claw-like appendage and forced it along with Caballeron's hoof down and to the left. The other arm moved up a placed a metal object against the bottom of the stallion's chin.
"I wouldn't do that again if I were you," It said leaning forward so Caballero's snout nearly touched the creature helmet. At this distance more, details of the mask could be made out. The back half was green and covered most of the creature's head. Tally marks were etched into the helmet's surface and the words 'Forgive Me Mama' were scratched onto the front. The portion that coved the face was black. A pentagon shape gave the appearance of a short muzzle and the eyes were simply lenses that glowed green. Its broad shoulders, more discernable at this distance underneath the strange clothing, also gave away the fact that it was male.
Caballeron's eyes widened at the sudden movement and he released Daring who dropped to the ground. He composed himself after a moment and smirked at the creature. "Again, you do nothing. I've even dropped Ms. Do and you have yet to kill me." He leaned his head forwards leveling his own glare at the creature. "Why I suspect you don't have it in you to-,"
Caballeron was interrupted by a loud boom from the device pressed to his chin. The back of his head exploded in a shower of blood and gore which coated the nearby area including Daring. The creature stood to his full height releasing Caballeron's body which hit the ground with a wet splat.
The creature then turned his head to look at what remained of Caballeron's group. "Run," was all he said. The ponies and griffons were quick to comply nearly tripping over each other in their bid to escape. Daring watched this exchange with wide eyes. The creature then approached her, and she kicked out with her hooves trying to stand and get away herself.
"I'm not going to hurt you," the creature said in a soft voice. He extended his arms out and crouched down as he approached Daring.
"How do I know that," Darning spat back still trying to move away from the creature.
The creature sighed and hung his head. He reached up and removed his helmet revealing his face. Three scars ran down the right side of his tan face. A rough beard covered his jaw and lips and steel gray eyes pierced into Daring's amethyst ones. "I promise I won't hurt you," He said again in the same soft voice. "I just want to check your injuries and treat them if possible."
"…Why?" Daring said narrowing her eyes at him.
"It's what I do. I was trained as a doctor back where I came from," The creature said.
"Some doctor," Daring said looking pointedly at the carnage around them.
"Sometimes to ensure the well being of my patients I need to defend them and myself," He said.
"Forgive me if I'm still a little wary, you did just kill a bunch of ponies and griffons without a second thought," Daring said.
"If I hadn't you would be dead, and we wouldn't be having this discussion," He said leaning back and placing his arm on a knee.
"…What's your name, I'd at least like that," daring said.
The creature paused for a moment, "You can call me Courier Six or just the Courier,"
"Courier Six huh… what kinda name is that?" Daring asked. At Six's silence, Daring continued, "I mean really, are you a courier or a doctor?"
"Both," Six said.
"So, which one's the hobby? Cause I don't know if I want to be treated by a hobbyist doctor," Daring said with a raised eyebrow.
Six simply shook his head and moved closer. Daring's eyes widened as she tried to scoot away but Six was faster. He grabbed her by the barrel and brought her to him. He quickly cut her bindings and pulled out her hind leg causing her to gasp in pain. "Sorry," Six said though he continued to examine her leg using his left hand to feel the break. "Feels clean, I'll need to set it before too long," He said mostly to himself.
"Well that's good, I'd hate for it to be a dirty break," Daring said through her teeth.
"You really like talking don't you," Six said moving to her injured foreleg, examining it in the same way as the back.
"Yeah, it's a habit from traveling alone for so long," Daring said as she laid her head down allowing six to work. "I started talking to myself to deal with the silence and work out problems and then when the villains started showing up it worked to keep the off balan- AAAH CELESTIA DAMMIT," Daring screamed out as she felt a pop in her shoulder.
"Sorry, Simple dislocation and I wanted to take care of it while you were distracted," Six said still feel her shoulder. He nodded seemingly satisfied and moved on.
Daring moved her foreleg around before speaking, "You apologize a lot for someone who seems so detached."
"It's called bedside manner," Six said using his long legs to hop over Daring and start examining her wing.
"Bedside manner huh? Is it sad that I know a few doctors who could learn from you" Daring said craning her neck to observe what Six was doing. She shuddered a bit at his touch, "Hey now be careful. Pegasus wings are very sensitive."
"I'll keep that in mind," Six said
"You seem more talkative now than before," Daring laid her head down again. "Still not very talkative but more than with Caballeron."
"I try not to talk much to people I don't care for," Six said. He moved his hand along the wing finally finding the injured portion.
"So, you do care then," Daring said again craning her neck to look at Six. Silence greeted her once again, so she continued talking, "Come on. I'm just trying to get to know you. You are treating me, and I will admit you saved my life."
"Don't, it's not worth it," Six said.
Daring snorted as she let her head flop back to the ground, "It's always worth it, and either way you plan on staying here you'll have to get used to it. Most ponies are into the whole friendship thing."
"I think this break's clean," Six said releasing Daring wing.
"You think?" Daring said turning her head slightly to look at Six with a sidelong glance.
"I haven't really dealt with wings before," Six said as he stared down at a device on his wrist. He then pulled out a bag from under his coat and started rummaging through it. "They aren't common where I'm from."
"And where is that exactly?" Daring asked.
"The Mojave Wasteland," Six said pulling out a few syringes and a bottle of clear liquid that smelled strongly of alcohol.
"That doesn't sound dreary at all," Daring said as Six hopped over her again and started examining her foreleg again. "I thought you already fixed that leg."
"Looking for a vein," Six said. After a moment he nodded and leaned back. He opened the bottle of alcohol and poured some out onto a syringe and onto Daring's leg.
"What's in the syringe?" Daring asked.
"Med-x, it's a painkiller," Six said as he tied a rag around the upper part of the leg hen used his left hand to find the vein again. He quickly stuck the needle in and emptied the contents.
"You know, usually I don't let guys stick stuff in me until at least the second date," Daring said with a slight smirk. At Six's unresponsiveness, she sighed and rolled her eyes, "Oh come on no reaction to that. I need a little feedback here, I could get better conversation from a tree."
"I'm going to set your leg and wing while the med-x is still fresh," Six said before reaching for the broken leg. "I want you to count to three for me."
Daring nodded and started counting, "One… two.. th- AAAGH SWEET CELESTIA WHY YOU BASTARD!"
"Now the wing," Six said hopping over Daring again.
"Screw you, I thought you gave me painkillers," Daring said through gritted teeth.
"I did, that's why you didn't pass out," Six said feeling down the wing again to find the break again. "Do you feel any pain now?"
"…Not much," Daring said still glaring at Six. "You're still a bastard though."
"Good to know, I'm going to set the wing now," Six quickly did just that not giving Daring any time to respond. Daring gasped in pain though she didn't scream at him anymore. He hopped over her again and pulled out another syringe from his bag. This one had two tubes on either side that connected to the main portion and a gauge that sat on top.
"Aren't you going to splint the bones?" Daring asked.
"Nope, going to heal them," Six said gesturing with the syringe.
"How exactly? Pretty sure you're not a unicorn unless you're hiding something in those clothes of yours," Daring said looking him up and down.
"Science," Six said as he poured alcohol on the syringe.
"Science?" Daring raised an eyebrow.
"Science," Six said again. He moved down to her broken leg and paused. He turned his head to look Daring in the eyes, "This is going to hurt, a lot."
He then stuck the needle into Daring's flank. A hiss sounded out from the syringe as its contents emptied. Daring screamed as fire rushed through her veins. As quickly as the pain came it went leaving Daring panted as she tried to form words, "What… the Tartarus… was that?"
"Stim-pack, increases your metabolism and provide the nutrients necessary to heal most wounds," Six said dropping the empty stim pack into his bag. "Go ahead and try to stand. You should be good to go."
Daring stared at Six as he waited for her to move. Slowly she stood legs trembling slightly as the took her weight. After a few moments moving her leg around she moved on to her wings stretching them out as far as they could go. She flapped them a few times and gained some lift her hooves leaving the ground for a second before she settled back down. After she landed Six finished packing his bag up and stood grabbing his mask as well. He turned and started to walk away.
"Hey, whoa wait, where are you going," Daring said trotting in front of Six to stop him.
Six looked down at the mare and shrugged, "Going to find civilization, from there… I'll probably wander around."
"Do you even know how to navigate jungles?" daring asked tilting her head to the side.
"No, jungles aren't exactly common where I'm from," Six said.
"Right, wasteland kinda gives that away," Daring said rubbing a hoof behind her head.
"I'll be fine, don't worry about me," Six moved past her and continued walking. Daring shook her head and flew up to him hovering at eye level.
"Hey, you just saved my life twice over, and you'll more than likely die out there without some kind of guidance," She landed in front of Six and smiled proudly. "Luckily you got me."
"Like I said I'll be fine. I've survived in worse conditions," Six said narrowing his eyes at her.
"I don't doubt that," Daring said gesturing pointedly at the bodies surrounding them. "But! A jungle is extremely dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. You probably wouldn't have any trouble with the predators but it's very easy to get lost in here even if you know where you're going, which you don't."
"Why are you so hellbent on guiding me. A minute ago, you didn't want me near you," Six said crossing his arms.
"Because you saved my life," Daring pointed a hoof at him. "Not just once but twice, if you hadn't treated me I would have been dead in a matter of hours." She put her hoof down making a slight thump noise as it connected back to the ground. "I wanna repay that."
"That's a rather quick change of heart," Six said.
"Eh, we ponies are to forgiving for our own good," Daring said waving a hoof in a dismissive gesture. "Seriously I've got a few friends back in Equestria that have befriended a god of chaos."
Six raised an eyebrow, "A god of chaos? Really?"
"Really," Daring said nodding her head. "Anyways listen I know you got a whole loner thing going on here," Daring gestured toward Six with a hoof. "But like I said you will die in here if you don't know how to get around. So, let me guide you to Mareyan City. I need to get there anyway so I can get back to Equestria and deliver the artifact to my superiors. After we get to town we can go separate ways I promise I won't stop you." She paused for a moment with a hoof to her chin, "Though I would suggest you come to Equestria with me."
"Why would I want to do that?" Six asked
"Cause I have access to the biggest library in the world. I'm assuming you would like to get back to your home, wouldn't you?" Daring said
"Maybe," Six said narrowing his eyes at her again.
A smile stretched across Daring's face, "Exactly, I don't know anything personally about this Mojave place you say you're from. But if there is any information it would be at that library, even if it isn't my boss might know something."
"Why would she know something that isn't in that library?" Six asked furrowing his brow.
"Cause she's over a thousand years old," Daring said with a shrug. "Heck, she's probably forgotten more information than what's in the library. And besides that, even if she doesn't know anything she would still be able to establish you in Equestria, maybe even offer you a job or something I don't know." Daring stepped forward and looking into Six's eyes with an imploring look, "Either way what've you got to lose?"
Six stared at Daring for moment arms still crossed. Eventually, he sighed and slumped his shoulders, "Fine, I'll admit it's a good idea. If nothing else, I'll learn more about this place."
Daring smiled widely at him, "Exactly." She paused and gave him a quizzical look. "How did you get here anyway?"
He pulled out a device from his coat. It was similar to the device he used on Caballeron though even to Daring's eye it was severely broken. A glass chamber that took up most of the device was shattered and the metal bits attached to that looked melted. "It's called a transportalponder. Generally, it's used to get me to a place called Big MT. But I was running an experiment and it overloaded sending me here. I wandered for a few days till I found you and your group of followers."
"So now you're a scientist running experiments?" Daring said tilting her head at him and smirking. "That's three different occupations now. What did you really do in this wasteland of yours?" Six remained silent and returned the broken device to his coat. "I suppose it doesn't really matter right now."
"It doesn't," six said gruffly.
"Alright, alright mister dark and mysterious keep your damned secrets, see if I care," Daring huffed as she turned away from Six. "Just let me grab my hat and the artifact then we can be on our way out of here." Six nodded putting his helmet back on, once again obscuring his features. Daring flew over to where the rope had stopped her and grabbed her pith helmet. She then flew over to the bushes nearby and rummaged through them eventually pulling out her saddle bags which she quickly reattached before flying back over to Six. "Ready?"
Six nodded and Daring trotted off ahead of him. She had gotten a few paces ahead when she heard him whisper. "What have I gotten myself into now Anne."
She stopped and turned her head around to see him place drop something underneath his chest piece. "Hey hurry up now. I wanna get to the river before dark so I can wash this blood off."
"Probably be a good idea, red doesn't seem like your color," Six said now walking towards Daring.
"Oh, so now you wanna be mister funny guy," Daring said scrunching her nose up. "You're one to talk anyway, I can smell you from over here." Six simply shook his head as he caught up with her, the jungle concealing their movement as they continued deeper in.
