I do not own MLP or any of the references in this fanfic
Chapter Ten: Daring Don't and Spike's Adventure
It was a week since the time from the Castle of the Two Sisters and Spike was getting the library ready for the party Pinkie was going to be having. He heard a throat clear from behind him causing him to turn around to see Twilight standing there with a bag.
"Twilight! That's a nice bag you have there." he started before starting to think about it carefully. "Has it been a week already?"
"Yes, since Aurora was busy for the past four days I couldn't get a hold of her to see if she was ready." replied the mulberry alicorn looking around as Pinkie decorated her library. "So, you are going to hold to your promise and spend the day or next few days with her."
Spike didn't reply but he did give the young princess a hug before taking the bag and headed off. Checking it he found a note from Twilight. "Since I wasn't sure what to pack for a journey I went to Aqua Star and she helped me pack this bag. There are a few gems in there for you to eat just in case but promise me you won't eat them all in one go. Good luck! Twilight."
The purple dragon smiled at the letter before heading into the Everfree Forest only to be greeted by the blue flame once again. He knew that this wasn't a coincidence anymore but something had to be controlling the fire. Perhaps he could ask Aurora about it.
Twilight couldn't believe how easily she agreed to finding out A.K. Yearling's address and to travel like this. Spike would have tried to have been the voice of reason and she would have played off of it. Now she had a colt watching over the library while they went to find Rainbow's idol. Honestly did the rainbow mane pegasus think about how she would enjoy being bombarded by fans. Rolling her violet eyes she spotted something the trees. Using her magic she realized it was a wolf's jaw bone and she heard the voice from before whisper. "Bring it with you, it will have use later. Do not speak to me when it is around though, not even in dreams. A spirit rests inside of it and he must not know that I am here."
Blinking once the princess placed it in her saddle bag before following her friends. She tried to point out that a pony who lives in the forest might want to be alone but was ignored since the house was found... a mess.
"I hope she's alright." murmured Twilight her ears going against her head as the door was knocked off its hinges by the weather mare. They looked around for any sign of the author as Pinkie pointed out that A.K. Yearling could have been a complete slob. 'That would make sense.' thought the princess looking around. Though with the way everything was strewn about it made it seem like she was either in a fight or she wasn't home and somepony broke in.
"I hope A.K. Yearling is alright." commented Rarity looking into a broken mirror.
"Oh no, what if she's hurt?" mumbled Twilight only for Rainbow to pop out of a pile saying. "Yeah! We won't be able to read the...! I mean..."
Something snapped inside of the princess as she turned and glared at the weather pony growling. "Don't you dare try to change what you said Rainbow Dash."
"So are you ready for this adventure?" asked Aurora looking at Spike as he entered the cave. The baby dragon nodded his head watching as the Crystal Dragon stretched. This brought a question to mind.
"Why are you crystal?" he inquired walking over to the dragon who was heading towards the entrance. Tapping a claw against her chin the female dragon replied. "I was made like this. There is no rhyme or reason when you are a being created by Discord."
Now this caught Spike's attention. He had never heard anything about this before. Though he was raised by ponies and had no knowledge of dragon culture or legends. Perhaps they were created by Discord in the legends. Though Aurora was old enough to know if this was true. He wondered how old she really was, a lot of the books she had were not even books they were scrolls. Ancient ones by the look of it and written in a language that he did not know.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay here and read?" chuckled Aurora cocking her head to the side. "Because you seem intent staring at them with such longing."
"No... I'm just wondering when you started all of this gathering of knowledge." he answered looking at the large dragon before shrugging.
"I've been collecting all of these ever since I found the first book." she explained looking at the books on the shelves. "I cannot remember how long it has been. Time seems to have little meaning when it stretches on. Remember Little One, dragons live far longer than any other races and we have a choice what we do with this long life. We can gather knowledge or jewels, share or horde. Friends and enemies can be made with a single choice, now let us go!"
Nodding his head Spike followed the exuberant dragon out of the cave watching the entrance vanish into the mountainside. The journey had begun.
"T-Twilight?" was the first words out of Rainbow's mouth as she stared wide eyed at the newest princess.
"We came here to check to see if she needed anything and you see this mess and still want to read the book?" snarled the mulberry alicorn her eyes narrowing as her body tensed. "Why aren't you thinking about her safety? I love the series, but I don't go about disregarding a situation where she could be in trouble?"
Hanging her head the weather pony looked to the side as she thought about her answer. Apple Jack however neared the furious princess asking. "Twilight? Is everything alright?"
For a moment the alicorn seemed to want to snap at the farm pony as well. However she shook her head feeling really dizzy for a moment.
"Who's there?" a voice asked from the doorway as a dark gold pony walked through. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry." was the first few words to fall from Rainbow's mouth. "Um... are you A.K. Yearling?"
"Mhhm." was the reply from the grey maned pony as she looked around. "Now answer the question."
"Well, we were just checking up on you." sighed Applejack glad to see that the author was alright. "Rainbow here is a big fan of your series and was a might concerned when you put your new book on hold. We are real sorry for intruding like this but we saw the door."
"Uhuh." Yearling didn't even seem to be paying attention anymore. "Where is it? Where is it?"
The ponies just stared at each other before backing into the only clean area allowing her to search. It didn't take to long until she uncovered a book with a special lock. Twilight could feel magic radiating from it and knew an artifact was inside. This was not going to be good as they were always swept into the situation. That was when a stallion hit the author out of nowhere as she pulled up a large golden ring. The princess and the others got ready to defend the author when she threw off the hat, glasses, and the cloak.
"Stay out of this." growled the golden brown mare as she lifted her head a familiar hat on her head. "It's my fight Princess."
"So where are we heading first?' asked Spike atop of the dragon's back as they flew through the air.
"East! There is an ancient forest in that direction. Surrounding the forest are several villages, that I hope are still there, which would allow me to get books from them." answered Aurora as she flew along. "Then there is the desert, across there are the nomads. They swore on their blood to me to collect writings. I'm hoping they will honor that vow."
Nodding his head the small purple dragon decided to marvel at the sheer size of the older one. She could easily be seen in the sky as a landing pad for the pegasi.
"Why do you sleep for a century?" he inquired looking at the sky actually enjoying being up in the sky.
"Because it hurts when I make the friends then lose them as I watch on." sighed the crystal dragon her eyes forward. "It hurts so I stay away, until I awake for more books."
"That must be tough." was the response from the child as he laid back to star at the sky. "It must different living in the clouds."
"I'm sure it is." replied the elder dragon shaking her head. This caused her entire body to shift a bit. That was when she began her descent causing Spike to hold on. Breaking through the cloud barrier the assistant saw a vast desert in front of him. Heat beat down upon his scales as he saw creatures walking through the desert with brown cloaks covering their entire bodies. Gold eyes peered upwards towards them their faces covered by shadow. The crystal dragon flew overhead before landing in front of them her blue eyes gazing down. The creatures squeaked before babbling to each other. Waving their hand the spoke in their strange tongue to the female dragon their eyes on Spike as he climbed down.
"He is my student." she told them as they talked to her some more. "No. He is not a clockwork machine... I kind of smashed that one with my tail."
There was angry squawking before the creatures chatted with each other for a moment. They looked at the dragon before waving their hand leading them away from the spot the were sitting. Spike had never known such a desert existed in Equestria, that was when it hit him. They were beyond the border, into the wastes.
"Welcome to the Dunes." Aurora told him as she walked along. "One of the most dangerous places in the world. Keep your eye out for the Marauders they are always on the prowl for weak targets. Do not leave my side."
Twilight couldn't believe it, A.K. Yearling was Daring Do. Or at least she based Daring Do off of her adventures. The mare got hurt in the fight and the ring was taken as she took off after them. Rainbow headed off hoping there was some way to make up for not thinking about the life of the pony rather than the book. Twilight had sent the others after her before looking at the house and using her magic to straighten in. She even fixed the door and the furniture before turning around to see a ball of light floating in front of her before heading inside her chest. Shaking her head the princess headed in the direction of her friends.
Rainbow Dash didn't even call out to her hero as she knew that she would get in the way of her plan. Whatever it was. What she wasn't aware of was a strange dog-ape like creature watching her with a maniacal grin. A tail reached out and grabbed Rainbow with the hand on the end causing her to yelp. Daring turned around glaring at the creature as it stepped into the firelight.
"Let me go!" growled Rainbow Dash trying to get out of the tail. "Get out of here Daring Do!"
Looking between the younger pegasus before glancing back towards the area she could get there. She knew her original plan was to get into the fortress and to remove the rest of the rings before Ahuizotl could bring forth eight years of unrelenting heat.
"Surrender Daring Do." growled Ahuizotl squeezing the blue pegasus tightly as she struggled. "And I will be sure to let your friend here go."
"Don't listen to him!" she warned feel the bones in her wing begin to fracture. The weather pony grunted in pain before seeing Daring's head bow.
"I surrender." the writer mumbled not looking at her fan in the eyes. "Just leave her out of this!"
"Alright, she means nothing to me." cooed the creature staring at them with black eyes. "But to ensure that you do not escape she is coming with us."
"You two timing double crosser!" snapped the adventurer struggling as she was bound.
"I know a contact on the Dunes that would be glad to have a pony in their... indentured service." chuckled the creature as his pony zealots tied up Rainbow, Daring growled managing to toss down a picture. "Do not worry I am sure she will be perfectly safe there."
As the two were carried off they didn't notice a ball of light floating there turning red. It flew around in circles before flying after them. At that moment Twilight walked through the bushes looking around.
"I could have sworn I heard yelling from here." Twilight told the others looking around before spotting the picture on the forest floor. "What is this?"
Lifting it up in the air she let out a small gasp as she saw Daring Do, a mare that looked like Rainbow's mother, and a baby Rainbow Dash. That was when she put two and two together. It was their eyes, they all had the same eyes.
"But why didn't she kno... Rainbow Dash is in trouble." the princess looked up towards her friends worry in her eyes.
"How do you know?" asked Applejack walking up to look around. "I don't see them anywhere."
"Exactly." Rarity replied walking up looking around. "There is a sign of a struggle and one of Rainbow Dash's feathers laying on the ground by some prints."
"Who would take Rainbow Dash as well as Daring Do?" was the next question from the farm pony and Twilight began to think on all of her knowledge from the books. So far nothing seemed to make any sense before it clicked.
"Daring Do's arch nemesis Ahuizotl, but he has never shown this kind of cunning from the books." muttered Twilight as she thought about it. "Perhaps because Daring Do had always foiled his plans but never learned anything about him."
"We have to get inside that fortress." Pinkie told the others running up from the opposite direction they came from. "I was following a red light and it was heading towards the temple. It was guarded by ponies... with weapons!"
"I don't think they've ever stopped guarding the Fortress of Talacon." sighed the princess before getting an idea. "But I don't think they've ever faced against an alicorn before."
"Good thinking, you'll be the distraction we'll sneak in and get Rainbow Dash and Daring Do free." replied the gamboge pony looking at the princess. The ponies nodded before heading towards the fortress. Twilight stepped out in front catching the attention of the guards as they began to ready their weapons. Smirking the newest alicorn princess's horn began to glow as the weapons were taken from their grasp. Though that didn't stop more from popping up with more weapons. Sighing she prepared to distract them more as her friends entered bellow her.
Spike was looking around the area they were in. It was still hot outside but the camp kept them cool. He was being served some gems while Aurora and the leader were chatting. The creatures were interested in him but they left him alone. They did set books down beside him casting him glances with their gold eyes. They spoke their strange tongue to him but were surprised when he shook his head in confusion.
"He does not speak your tongue." Aurora told them in the common tongue her blue eyes glancing towards them. "We will be resting here for the night. Spike do me a favor, keep watch. Warn me if you see anything unusual. Do not go after it."
Nodding his head the young dragon looked out across the vast desert his green eyes scanning the area. The sun was going down and he wondered what had happened to turn this place into a desert.
"A battle long ago had ruined this area forever. There were four races that lived here before then." spoke his teacher looking around catching his gaze. "One died, one became nomads, the last two fought until one prevailed."
"Who fought here to caused it to be turned it into a desert?" he asked looking around before hearing her answer. "I did with my brothers, friends, even the spirits to stop the corruption. It was ruined because of us."
"Corruption?" was the next question from the baby dragon spinning around as the older dragon replied her throat dry. "Unnatural magic that darkens creatures' soul, turns them against the light. They do things that they wouldn't normally do. The source of it was my sister, TreorisEndeem meaning Dream Talon. She was the first to succumb to it, changed her name to AuthaLothor, Darkness Mother. She became Abyssia the Shade Dragon lost to history."
"You fought here against your sister?" Spike was reeling from this information looking at the Crystal Dragon as she nodded saying. "Yes, this was the place of our final battle, this is where we sealed her. It is getting late and I will rest now."
Nodding to himself the dragon watched as the creatures surrounding him walked into their large mobile abode. Aurora was curling up on the sand drifting into a light sleep. When the moon began to rise it made the sands all around him glow a beautiful white.
"Spike." a voice whispered to him causing him to turn around as darkness engulfed the area. "Alone at last. No troublesome dragon to keep an eye on you."
"Who are you?" asked the baby dragon turning around to go get Aurora only to find her gone. "What did you do?"
"A simple barrier to keep her out." chuckled the female's voice as a large black dragon crawled out from the shadows six red eyes locking onto his. "I am AuthaLothor, but you can call me Abyssia. I am sure my sister has already told you that I am evil."
"What do you want?" the purple dragon inquired as the dragon chuckled curling around the child saying. "I am here to give you a proposition, Spike. Join me, learn from me. I can teach you many things that she will not. She is ashamed of the past, so she will hide things from you. I will not, I will give you everything you want and more."
Watching the dragon carefully the assistant thought about it. He could finally be the dragon that he wanted to be, Rarity would be on his side, Twilight would finally appreciate him. That was when a thought came to his mind. 'How would falling into chaos bring this outcome? Only through order will you find the path.'
Shaking his head the green eyed dragon stared into the eyes of the other as he replied. "You can't give me what I want, because you can't understand what I want. I love Rarity, but I want her to love me on her own no outside influence. I want Twilight to respect me, but how would se respect me if I fall into darkness? I want to have a noble heart."
"What can a noble heart give you except trial and disappointment?" hissed Abyssia her eyes narrowing knowing she had begun to worm her way in. That was when a green flame shot past her head as Spike told her. "No! A noble heart is forged through trial. Hard work and determination makes a dragon's heart strong!"
His green eyes glance upwards to see the flame he shot pass through the darkness causing him to smirk.
"Fool! That is what she wants you to think! You have been mislead." snarled the shade dragon pulling her head back. "You will become an idiot if you follow her path. Respect? You're wings will never come as she teaches you. She will never respect you."
"No, you don't understand what kind of respect she is talking about." the assistant mumbled before turning around. "You talk about respect like it is freely given except by those who follow the rules. That is what I'm going to do. Aurora asked me to wake her up if I see anything unusual and you told me that no one can hear this on the outside. You didn't say anything about feeling anything."
Turning around Spike launched a stream of fire towards where he knew the Crystal dragon was. Letting out a roar Abyssia began to squeeze around him before a bright light shot through the darkness hitting her in the face. The shadows surrounding him vanish as did the dragon.
"Thank you." Spike said letting out a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry I didn't get you sooner."
"It is alright, I was expecting a Marauder attack not an attack from my sister." sighed the crystal dragon looking at him. "We will leave in the morning, we need to stop at the Eternal Forest."
Sneaking into the Fortress of Talacon unnoticed without Twilight around was a little harder. Each of the ponies had a different method of being hidden though Pinkie did the best job on her own. The first thing they did was find Rainbow Dash who was kept down in a dungeon. Her wing was damaged but that didn't stop her from racing to the side of Daring Do to rescue her. The light gold pony seemed to give her an incredulous look stating that she preferred to work alone.
"You should be lucky that I don't." replied Rainbow before they headed off to stop Ahuizotl. They managed to keep him from harming the valley and destroyed the temple... much to Twilight's dismay. Once they were about to head home Twilight turned around and gave Daring Do the picture she dropped.
"Hey kid!" Daring called out causing the rainbow maned pony to turn around. "I've... got something to tell you."
The princess smiled for a moment before motioning to her friends to head back knowing Spike wouldn't return until next week and needed to make sure the library was in one piece. Lingering back the Bearer of Loyalty looked at the writer who held up the picture and began. "I'm your aunt. Now before you say anything I know your mother wouldn't know me by Daring Do or A.K. Yearling alright? I changed my name. There is a reason for that, I was a part of a specialized Wonderbolts team with your mother and Gale Charger. We specialized in high speed and high risk performances and we were good at it. A few days before a big show I hurt my wing. Gale Charger had told the Wonderbolts that I couldn't perform and Storm Chaser, your mother, went along with it. I was better when the show went on but they didn't allow me to fly instead going with a replacement who they had their eye on. They had told this replacement, Spitfire, that I was still too injured to fly. They had lied because they didn't need me! I got so angry that I left. It happened shortly after you were born... I followed my dream of being a writer after that. My books didn't take off until I had my first adventure."
Rainbow frowned not liking the sound of that before she looked at her aunt asking. "Can I get your real name?"
"Maybe later kid." chuckled Daring messing up her mane before looking to the side. "Charger. My name is Charger. I didn't like the name after that, reminded me of Gale Charger."
Rainbow Dash flew forward before pulling her aunt into a hug. Daring seemed to look surprised for a moment before returning the hug. She was glad that her brother-in-law, Lightning Arc, raised such a fine daughter.
Tell me what you think.