Post Author's Note:
Hey guys! Sorry about the long wait for this chapter. It's been a busy week, and I'll try not to let it happen again. Also, just a warning, that this
chapter is a tad violent, so be warned.
Ps. Cover art done by the awesome: h2g2guy and jackiephantom13. Search them on Deviantart.
Ahem, without further ranting, here is the long awaited, CHAPTER 9!
Chapter 9: Daring Do Back on the Scene
"Ugh, how long have we been walking?" Lightning said tiredly.
"Dude, this is our first walk since last chapter." I said a bit frustrated.
Lightning just stared at what he thought was probably the stupidest thing I have ever said.
We were walking away from our last little experience, and were headed to who knows where. The sun was burning down on our backs, and thank dear Celestia for the trees or we would have melted right where we stood.
No one in our group was talking and it was kind of getting awkward so I thought I would break the silence.
"So, Rainbow. How's your wing feeling?" I said with apparently nothing better to say.
"Um, it's fine." Rainbow replied.
"Good. Good. Good…" I said thinking of a new topic, but as my brain was scrambling for ideas, I heard the leaves of a nearby shrub rustle. Lightning looked around but soon decided it was probably bunny or some small woodland creatures. I sort of took into account that it could be something dangerous, but I quickly disregarded.
There it was again.
"Lighting? You don't suppose something's following us, do you?" I asked scanning around.
"Mmmmmmmm… Nah." He replied simply.
I looked around once more and saw a bush move a little.
"Hey! Bush's don't move! Do they?" Rainbow asked half sure of herself.
"Not that I know of…" I replied cautiously nearing the suspicious greenery.
I got about a foot away and was about to part the shrubs, when the suspicious thing pounced me.
"Gaah!" I yelled pinned on the ground covering my face with my hooves.
When I took my hooves away from my face, take a guess at who was standing over me about laughing her head off. Daring Do's back I see. I couldn't tell whether I should have been honored that she tackled me, or upset. Meh, I choose the latter. She is pretty cool.
After I got up and dusted myself off, I asked, "What bring you here on this scalding hot nice day?"
"Nothing really. Just dropping by again like I said I would." Daring said coolly.
"I don't believe we have been properly introduced… Who are you three exactly?"
"I'm Storm Runner, this is Lightning Thrash, and she-"
"And I'm Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow said pointing at herself.
"Well, it's certainly nice to meet you three." Daring said. "What are you guys doing so far from home?" She asked.
"Well, it's sort of a long story, but us three were inspecting some sort of ancient device when it was activated by some mysterious bastard, and what do you know? Here we are."
I finished staring at my down at my hooves.
"Ah. Well that's just bad luck… Hey, I know these woods like the back of my hoof! I can certainly help you guys get out of here in a cinch, but it might be dangerous…"
Daring said with a menacing smile.
"I'm all about dangerous!" Rainbow yelled throwing her hooves in the air.
"Sweet. Let's be on our way then. It's about a days journey east." Daring said while gesturing for us to move on ahead.
We trotted, talked, and laughed along the way until we arrived at some crumbled ruins of a huge castle.
"Whoa, what's this?" I asked Daring in awe of the magnificent structure in front of me.
"It's the old remains of our princesses former castle." Daring replied. "Wanna take a look inside?" She said clapping her hooves together excitedly.
"Sure, but is it safe?" I asked.
"Of course! At least I think so anyways…" Daring said pondering any dangers that could be present.
"Then what are we waiting for!" Lightning said. "Let's go!"
Daring took us to the entrance of the dilapidated castle and instructed us to watch our step.
The place was a mess, yet it had some kind of ancient beauty to it. From the torn paintings that hung from the walls to the broken chandeliers, it was pretty, with that added eerie feeling.
As Daring was giving us the one-of-a-kind tour, I looked up at the indoor balconies and felt a slight breeze whiz through my mane. Something was amiss.
I disregarded it, until I felt a slight pain in my side.
I turned and saw a dart sticking in the side of my flank!
"Daring! What is this?" I asked nervously pointing to the dart.
She quickly ran over to me and said, "Okay, on the count of the three, I'm gonna pull that out, okay?" Daring said.
"Okay, but just do it gent-" I got out.
"Three!" Daring shouted as she tugged out the dart harshly.
"OW!" I shouted as I felt a little blood trickle down my side. I was also feeling a tad drowsy.
"Storm, this is a poison dart." Daring said solemnly. "We need to get you some help fast. I believe there's a plant that might be able to help with this specific type of poison, but first we need to get out of here." Daring said patting my back.
"Hey, who fired that anyways?" Lightning asked demanding to know.
"I don't know, but they're probably still here, and that means we need to move, now." Daring said.
Things were getting weird for me, and I sort of stumbled as I walked. I was getting extremely tired and I believe Rainbow's colors were switching hues just about every time I turned to look at her. I trotted as fast as I could to keep up with Daring who was leading the way, but I could tell I wasn't moving fast at all.
As we came up to the exit I saw five buffaloes jump from the indoor balconies from the second floor and faced our little gang with enmity towards us.
"What do y'all want with us?!" Lightning yelled stomping a hoof forward.
No response was given as the Buffaloes began charging us, the apparent leader carrying a sword.
"GAH!" Rainbow said as she dived out of harm's way.
Lightning jumped and kicked one straight in the face breaking his jaw and sent him plummeting to the ground on which he didn't arise. Meanwhile, I was doing my best to fight off one of the buffaloes, although my vision was a tad blurry. I swung my hoof at my current enemy, and fell on my face. I got up, turned and realized there wasn't anyone even there.
"Ack!" I said as I felt a hoof slam down on my back taking me down to the floor. I rolled over looked up and saw a distorted figure standing above me with a hoof ready to smash my brains out. I quickly rolled over to the side, and swept him down. As he was down I gave him a hard whack to the temple. I checked to see if he was unconscious, but boy was I wrong. He was dead. I had actually killed somepony… somebuffalo? Whatever…
I trotted up the stairs to the upper balcony, when I saw two buffaloes surrounding Rainbow Dash who was backed against a corner trying to look as fierce as possible to the buffaloes who were getting ever near. Seeing a boulder just above the two offenders, I bucked it as hard as I could and the rock broke the guardrails to the balcony rolling over the two buffalo below.
Rainbow shot a glance up to where the rock had fallen smiling and shouted, "Thanks, but I didn't really need it anyways."
I rolled my eyes, and woozily made my way towards where Daring Do and Lightning were fighting the leader of the buffalo pack,
The leader swung his sword and slashed the right side of Lightning's face. Lightning took a step back and felt his face where the cut was placed. He eyed the blood and shouted. "Nobody fucks with me!"
With that, he ran with all his might towards the leader, and as the buffalo took his swing, Lightning jumped, stomped the sword down to the ground and roundhouse kicked the leader straight in the head. All that was heard was a 'snap' and a thud. He was gone.
Lightning settled back down breathing heavily and examined his work.
"Aw, dude… I didn't mean to kill the guy…" He said looking at the ground with a somber expression.
We all regrouped at the exit and I was about to pass out.
"Who were those guys anyways?" Rainbow asked.
"They are a rogue tribe who broke off from the rule of chief Thunder hooves." Daring said.
"Hmm." Lightning said.
"But Storm Runner seriously needs some help. Let's get him out of here…" Daring said helping me along.
"Oh right! I almost forgot about him." Lighting said while trotting over to assist Daring in assisting me.
We trotted out the crumbled gates and back into the dense forest awaiting our next great adventure.
Post Author's Note:
Again, sorry 'bout the wait, but here it is!
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