Daring Do -in- Rain or Shine

Part 1: Play of Colour

Chapter 2: Out of The Blue

“Hey, ma'am! You forgot your stamps!” the mail clerk yelled as he tried to catch up. It was no use; she was far too quick for him. “Ma'am!” he yelled again, trying to be heard over the din of the crowds. It wasn't as busy as it typically was around lunch-time, but there was still enough hustle and bustle to drown out his voice.

He prepared himself for a full-on gallop, ready to catch up with the briskly trotting pegasus. She was, no doubt, going to miss her thirty-four bits worth of stamps. He picked up the pace, gritting his teeth and panting as he exerted muscles he didn't even know he had. “Ma'am!–” another sharp breath “– wait for me!” Bowing his head down and screwing his eyes shut, he pushed himself harder than he ever had before.

He stopped abruptly as he barreled in to somepony's flank. Slamming to the floor, he groaned. He rolled on to his back, clutching at his winded chest with his forelegs. This was why he never went running!

“Hey, are you okay?” a familiar voice asked. He opened his eyes and found himself staring up at the same pegasus he was after. He didn't bother with wasting any time.

“You forgot your stamp-book!” He held aloft the tooth-marked and saliva-smeared booklet. “Didn't want you to leave them behind.”

Daring huffed, “I was going to come back! You could have left them there.” She could barely believe that this stallion had followed her all this way. “I've only got about ten minutes left to find another bit, and you're worried I was going to forget my stamps?”

The clerk heaved himself on to his feet. “Well, I uh; the thing is, uhm... What if you didn't come back, ma'am?” He awkwardly scuffed a hoof on the ground, kicking up a little cloud of dust. “You might have forgotten them, right?”

“I don't forget.” Daring took the comment personally, scowling. “I'll meet you back at the post office! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some quick business to attend to!” She turned away.

“Wait, ma'am!” Daring stopped to look back at him. “I don't think anyone else is going to show up. You're probably the last customer.”

“Well, how can you be sure?” she replied. “You're just going to risk it? What if it's really important; like a priceless artifact?” Her accusatory tone made the clerk back down.

“Oh... I'm sorry.” He didn't deal well with confrontations. He scuffed the ground again. “I'll see you there in a while, then. Hurry, please.”

“That's what I'm trying to do!” Daring had no time for politeness. Her usual suave, likeable self had been dropped for a more direct approach. “Go! I'll see you ba-”

“I'll pay the rest!” Daring hated to be interrupted, but the offer was generous. “It's only one bit; it's not much!” the clerk assured her. He didn't have the heart to ask her to pay it back.

“Really now?” Daring didn't have time to think about it. This would be far easier. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!” She started to gallop back towards the post office, quickly leaving the clerk behind.

Great.

More running.

“Wait for me!” he shouted, taking to his hooves and sprinting to catch up. This time, he kept his eyes on the road.

Daring waited for the clerk to appear, tapping her hoof anxiously. “C'mon!” she yelled as she held the door open.

Eventually he plodded in, gasping for breath. He had no idea how some ponies managed it. All this running was certainly not good for anypony, right?

He wandered around to his side of the counter, dropping the stamp-book on the wooden surface. “Okay, let's see here.” He pulled off his cap and produced a tiny draw-string purse. “One bit” – he placed it on the counter – “and your thirty-four stamps, please.” He waited for Daring to hand them over.

She cleared her throat and motioned to the moistened book.

“Oh, oh yes of course.” he stammered, opening it up and tearing out the sheets one by one. Daring chuckled and retrieved the opal. She wrote the send address down on a label. The writing was scruffy, but what could you expect when you held a pen with your teeth?

“So, when will it arrive?” she asked, hoping it wouldn't take too long. The clerk focused on the label, adjusting his glasses.

“I'd say it might take about a week. There will most probably be a transfer, since it's long-distance.” he started wrapping up the opal in thick foam. “If you had another twenty bits, you could pay for a Priority Pegasus. That normally shaves a few days off, but it's expens-”

“Yes, I know!” Daring felt like she was being patronised. The clerk backed down again. Daring faced the wall, the gilded slogan catching her eye.

“Rain or shine, eh? Your pegasi fly in the rain? What about storms?” she asked. The weather out on the Western Plains was sometimes wild; almost uncontrollable. She was used to seeing a weather patrol kicking away clouds and such. Unfortunately, the storms were really hard to predict, and built quickly.

“That's what the motto says, miss. We're so dedicated that we will follow our motto to the letter, so to speak.” he laughed at his little play on words. Daring didn't find it funny. An awkward silence followed.

“So, uh; thanks for this. The extra bit, I mean.”

“Oh, it's nothing!” The clerk smiled, finishing up the wrapping with some strong brown paper. He tied the label around it with some twine.

“It made all the difference, though.” Daring was starting to appreciate the little things all the more. Her adventures took her all over the world, and she had seen some of the most excessive, expensive, exaggerated lifestyles history had ever known. It was in her time of need that she truly appreciated that solitary coin.

“Hm, I suppose it did.” the clerk agreed. Even the smallest gestures could be worth a lot. He started gluing the stamps to the bulky package.

Daring realised that she hadn't introduced herself. She thought it only fair, considering the clerk's generosity, and the blunt way she had treated him.

“My name's Daring Do, by the way.” She left the statement to hang in the air, waiting for his reply.

“It's nice to meet you, Miss Do.” the clerk responded, continuing to scurry around behind the counter. She waited a little longer, but nothing came of it.

“So, aren't you going to tell me your name?” she asked with a smirk, wondering if this pony had some kind of social anxiety or some other affliction.

He was quiet.

Maybe he didn't hear?

“Mister? What's your name?” She tried to sound polite; not wanting to be too demanding.

“I don't think-” he faced away, trying to hide a blush. “-it's that important. Sorry.”

Daring found the way he avoided the question to be quite rude. “Well, that's very friendly of you.”

“No, it's not that! It's just-”

“C'mon, it's only your name!” Daring tittered, trying to keep it light hearted. Her patience wouldn't hold forever, though.

“It's too embarrassing.” He slid the wrapped opal down a chute, ready to be sorted.

“It's only your name! How can it be embarrassing? I mean, my name-”

“Rayner.” he interrupted.

“See, that wasn't so hard, was it?” Daring laughed it off, finding it confusing why he had avoided telling her.

“Rayner Shine.”

There was a moment of silence before Daring spoke up again. “Really?” She held back a snigger.

“Yes. I know. The motto.” Rayner sighed. Somehow he had just fallen in to the job.

“Come rain or come shine the-”

“Yes! I know.” Rayner stopped Daring from reciting the motto. It didn't quell the playful grin on her face.

“Aw c'mon, Rayner. It's not that bad. You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are.” She reared up and folded her forelegs together on the counter. “Your name doesn't define you, right?”

“You'd think so.” The thought had occurred to Rayner a few times before. What if your name did define you? “I mean, you're one of those adventurers, right?”

“'Adventurer' is such a loose term. Archaeologist is probably a better job title.” Daring wondered how people kept guessing her profession. It had to be the hat.

“Yes, but to go out in to the wilderness and find priceless artifacts like that big old gem” – Rayner paused and nudged his glasses up his nose – “requires a certain amount of derring do, wouldn't you say?”

Daring stammered as she tried to come up with a reply. Dwelling on such a philosophical question was probably not a good idea. “M-maybe we should just-”

“Wait! Did you hear that?” Rayner cut her off, perking his ears up and looking towards the door. “I think someone's in trouble.”

Daring focused, trying to listen.

There it was.

Distant screaming.

Yelling.

Sounds of alarm and commotion.

She ran to the door and shoved it open.

An enormous shadow descended on the whole town, spreading like a flood. It blocked out the sun, bringing with it unnaturally coloured lightning. Flickers of green burned across her retinas, flashing blindingly across every visible surface.

“What's going on!?” Rayner was terrified. He stumbled over his own hooves as he hurried towards Daring. “What in the world-”

A deafening blast of noise made him drop to the floor, clutching at his ears.

Daring stood her ground, trying to get a good idea of what was casting such a shadow.

As the discordant wail ceased, she ran back towards the town square. Rayner, not wanting to be on his own, gave chase. “Wait!” He was determined not to die alone.

“Go back!” Daring yelled. “Hide!”

Rayner kept on running.

“Are you deaf?! Go back!”

Rayner stopped, unsure of what to do. He didn't want to stay still in case something caught him. Turning back, he tried to make it back to the post office. A blinding bolt of energy blasted through a nearby rooftop. Rayner leapt back to avoid the falling rubble as it piled on to the street. There was no way through! He didn't want to risk climbing over the pile, so he fled.

“What are you doing?!” Daring shouted as Rayner caught up. “You're not safe out here!”

Before Rayner could reply, another ear-splitting blast silenced them both. Daring carried on until she reached the town centre, with Rayner in tow. She hoped that the open courtyard would allow a clearer view of the sky, in contrast to the narrow roads.

Ponies were running in every direction, shouting and screaming, hurrying their loved ones away. Some had already managed to pack up some supplies as they made for the main gates. Not stopping to ask anyone what was happening, they tried to get a better look at what was causing this disaster.

The sky was featureless and black; darker than the darkest night she could remember. It was as though the whole city had been swallowed by the Earth itself.

Another blinding flash caught them off-guard. Their ears were ringing from the clap of thunder that followed. The bolt struck the fountain. Olive-green slime oozed down the sides of the ornate structure, replacing the water.

“What's happening?! Daring! What is going on?” Rayner was shaking, grabbing on to Daring for support. “What do we do?!”

She said nothing, shaking him off.

The ooze from the fountain overflowed, beginning its sluggish descent to the cobblestones. The flow showed no signs of slowing, pouring out across the marketplace.

Daring slowly backed off, pushing Rayner along with her flank. “This doesn't look good.” Her understatement made Rayner whimper. Any chances he thought he had of survival quickly dwindled.

The slime crept ever closer to their hooves, running through every crevice in the stones. “I think we should probably run now.” Rayner suggested, turning to flee. Daring whipped around to grab hold of his short tail with her teeth. He stopped, yelping.

“You're not going anywhere!” Daring shouted after spitting the coarse hair out. “Stay with me!”

“But we're going to die!” he screamed, trying to run away once more. A sudden flood of ooze from somepony's kitchen window blocked his path. It was pouring out of their taps! Everywhere they looked, the sickening, oily gunk replaced every source of water. An old water pump sputtered and spewed thick globs of the slurry across the road.

Hemmed in, he had nowhere left to go. “Daring, help! Do something!”

“Calm down! I got this!” His incessant panicking was driving Daring crazy. She hoped this white lie would help settle his nerves. Really, she had no clue what to do. She felt just as trapped as he did.

Their tiny island of dry land was quickly becoming swamped by the sludge.

Daring felt Rayner squeeze up close to her to avoid it. They were fast running out of space. She thought about flying them out of there, but traces of lightning above their heads made her hold back.

Daring braced herself before the gunk reached her hooves, wondering just how much it was going to hurt. She closed her eyes and held her breath.

She felt nothing.

Opening her eyes again, she saw the slime receding. It flowed back towards the source like the waves on a beach. “What the-” She stopped herself when the ooze began to swell once more; this time upwards. It rose like bread in an oven; a nauseating sucking sound prevailing over the cracks of thunder and falling masonry.

“Daring!” She felt a hoof in her back as Rayner got her attention again. She whirled around, spotting a group of two-legged figures rising from the sea of green.

At first, they were almost formless: mounds growing where their heads should be; limbs dripping with great strands of the viscous fluid. It was horrifying to watch, but fear and confusion made it hard to look away.

If only something could kick-start their escape –

Mouths slurped open one after another; greasy tendrils implying teeth.

– That'd do it.

“Run!” Daring yelled. Rayner didn't need to be told twice.

They galloped as fast as they could, darting around the lumbering creatures. Their clumsy arms swung out as they flew past, missing by a hair.

All around, those who hadn't made it out of the town already were being caught by the unnatural beasts. Screaming, yelling, fighting; it wasn't enough. Most were smothered; disappearing in to the green sludge with nothing more than a bubble to show for it.

“This is awful!” Rayner yelped, breathing hard as he tried to match Daring's pace. She was quick; much quicker than he could manage. “What are we going to do?”

“Anything we can!” Daring was determined not to let the townsfolk down. It was nothing she had ever seen before, but she was Daring Bucking Do, and she was going to fix it.

She slid to a halt as the pile of rubble loomed in front. “We need to get the opal back!” she barked.

Rayner skidded up behind her. “I can't get over! It's too steep!”

Daring tried to find a solution. She worked well under stress, but even this was pushing it. “Okay... uh... uh...” She peered about for ideas.

“Quickly!” Rayner hopped from hoof to hoof in desperation. Daring risked a look behind. The slime monsters were closing in fast. They needed more time!

Daring rummaged through her saddlebags, fetching her lantern and a half-empty box of matches. She bashed the lantern against the floor, shattering the glass. After pouring out a line with the oil that remained, she tossed the broken light aside.

“Stand back!” Daring ordered.

She struck a match, tossing it across the cobblestones. The oil caught spectacularly; a wall of smoky flames leaping up from the road. “This should hold them for a moment! Grab on!”

Taking advantage of a lull in the electrical discharge; Daring left the ground, flapping her wings as hard as she could. Rayner hesitated for a second; he was much more afraid of death than he was of flying, and he despised flying.

“Oh dear. Oh dear!” He steadied himself before leaping up with his forelegs outstretched. Daring pulled him up off of the ground, carrying him over the wreckage and letting him slide down the other side.

Rayner span to a stop as he skittered across a layer of loose rubble. Daring landed firmly beside him. “Let's go! The fire won't stop them for long.” She continued down the road, hoping that the mail couriers hadn't already left.

When they arrived back at the post office, Daring bounded in to the court-yard. A few of the sorting staff were holed up in the sorting room. “Rayner!” one of them called out. “What's going on, Rayner? Where have you been?” The sorter sounded panicked; though the relief in his voice was palpable.

“We thought you'd been taken away!” another chipped in.

“No time to explain! I put a package through a few minutes ago. Can you help me find it?” Rayner cantered through the door, tense all over. A pile of brown paper packages stood on a table at the far end of the sorting office.

“Most of the pegasi fled after that shadow swallowed up the town!” the unicorn explained. “Most of them just dropped their bags and got home as fast as they could. I don't really blame them! This is horrible!”

Daring didn't bother to introduce herself; instead making her way over to help Rayner search. “It's got to be here somewhere!” The jittery clerk started to dig through the packages like a dog through mud. The parcels scooted across the floor, making a mess of the office.

“Oh c'mon! It took me all day to get that pile neat and tidy!” a third sorter complained, clopping over to the group and rolling his eyes. “I can't believe y-”

“This is not the time for neatness!” Daring scolded. “I need that package, and you need to get the hay out of here! There are monsters roaming the streets! Coming out of the plumbing!”

The three unicorns glanced at each other to try and figure out if she was joking. “M-ma'am, are you sure?”
Daring didn't have to reply. She went pale as she saw what was rising up behind them. Eyes wide, she pointed a hoof over their shoulders. “Look out!”

They all turned together, screaming in unison as they fled to the furthest point in the office.

The slime monster waded in, pushing heavy wooden shelves over on its way through.

“CRUSH!” the monster bellowed, flipping a heavy table. It flew over Daring's head, narrowly missing Rayner by the width of his ear. Rayner dashed to where the sorters were cowering, trying to put as much distance between him and it as possible.

“Rayner, did you find it?” Daring called over to him, keeping an eye on the monster while she avoided a powerful strike.

“Are you crazy?!” Rayner shouted. “Get away from it!”

“I need that – ” Daring ducked under another grimy fist. “ – opal back!” She scrambled in to the pile, diving away from yet another wayward arm.

“BREAK!” the monster gargled in frustration after missing yet another punch.

Daring retrieved the package covered in stamps. Thirty-five stamps, to be exact. “I got-” She stopped when she found herself under threat from a new plan. The creature tried to grab her this time!

“Get out of there!” a sorter wailed, not wanting this stranger to fall prey to the terrifying creation.

“BREAK NOW!” It was too late. A cold hand, reeking of all things unpleasant, wrapped itself around Daring's neck.

“Urk-” was all she could manage. The fingers squeezed ever tighter, pressing down on her trachea. “Helbbp!” she croaked; flailing her legs, trying to break free.

All four of the post office staff stood perfectly still. None of them could pluck up the courage to save her; yet, if they couldn't, she was a goner.

Sounds of choking urged them on.

A decision had to be made!

Gritting his teeth, Rayner growled from the back of his throat; building up to a shout. “rrr-You let her go!” She had already saved his life today. Now it was time to repay the favour!

He picked up speed; charging towards the slimy creature. Its eyeless head turned to face him just in time to not-see the earth pony's head smash in to its midriff. It was surprisingly solid. Rayner bounced off, suddenly victim of a headache.

The creature howled and let go of Daring. That was all she needed.

Turning around, she bucked hard; her hooves splashing through the olive-coloured paste and knocking the creature back. It stumbled over a toppled shelf, landing in a pool of goo that it had trailed in. Upon landing in the slurry, it seemingly dissolved; melting and adding to the pool.

Taking just a second to gather his thoughts, and unifying his vision, Rayner straightened up his glasses. “Is... Is that it?” He grabbed for his hat, swishing some of the slop off of it. “Is it gone?” He was none too sure.

“I th-...think so.” Daring panted hard, finally able to breathe again. She quickly grabbed the parcel and stuffed it in to whatever space she still had in her saddlebags. Daring stepped around the puddle and left the building.

“Where are you going?!” Rayner called after her.

“Away from this town!” Her reply was dismissive. She needed to get away and figure what was going on. Being in such a danger zone was not great for thinking.

“What about me?” Rayner whined. He had no intention of staying, but he had seen just how dangerous life with Daring Do could be. After a quick moment of self-reflection, he hopped over the pool of green sludge and caught up. He heard the door close behind him.

Daring looked back over her shoulder. “You're going to follow me? Why not stay back at the post office?” she asked. Rayner guessed that the sorters were going to stay at the post office. It was big enough, and emergency rations were always on hand for tired, hungry pegasi back from their round.

“I don't think it's all that safe in there. We don't even know if that slime was going to grow in to one of... them... again.” He shuddered at the thought. Daring tried not to think about what was possibly happening in the sorting room.

“Look; maybe you should come with me. This town is not safe. I bet the city ain't either.”

“But Hoofcastle is a giant fort! It's probably the biggest castle in the world! Surely whatever it is hasn't made it that far yet.”

“Do you think they'll open their gates to let us in, if they risk letting them in too?” Her question was rhetorical, but Rayner answered anyway.

“I guess not...”

After an awkward silence and some brisk trotting, Daring had to make sure of something.

“So, the main gates aren't too far, right?”

“Yes'm. I hope they're still open!” Rayner wanted nothing more in the world than to leave Saddleton. He wanted to get as far away as physically possible from the nameless, eyeless horrors that were terrorising the town. They made sure to stick to the quiet alleys, away from the main roads. It had served them well for a few minutes; not seeing a single creature since they defeated the monster at the sorting office.

It wasn't long before the alleys ran out, and the only option left was to cross the town square. Hiding in the shadows and lying in wait; they watched as drab green freaks patrolled. They slithered around the outside edge of the square; waiting to pounce on any remaining ponies that dared show themselves.

Those who had already been captured were now sitting in circular rows around the fountain. They were cemented in to place by thick goop around their hooves; silenced by makeshift mucous gags. Above the crowd, strong wing-beats sounded.

“Hey, everybody! How's it goin'?” The voice was charismatic and smug. It was casual and conversational. It was inviting, with a drop of honey. It was unmistakeably evil.

“Who is-” Rayner began. Daring wrapped her foreleg around his head and covered his mouth.

“Shh!” she hushed into his ear.

“This is a nice town you got here! I could enjoy ruling this one!” The flying figure was a griffon. “Oh, I forgot! I didn't mention it, but: this is my town now.” He laughed coolly, brushing his olive birds feet against the lime-tinted, green-tipped white feathers growing on his chest and neck. His coat was purple, getting darker towards his lions' feet and tail. The griffon was obviously a magic user. He manipulated the slime monsters with his talons like marionettes; a sickly green glow around his long fingers. There was something odd about this griffon; most notably the colours, but that wasn't what was bothering Daring.

No; there was something else.

A picture of a silver jug on his flank?

Was that a cutie-mark?

He introduced himself.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts; it's with great pleasure I introduce you to your new leader: Sterling Silver!”

Author's Note

Here we go! This is the topsoil starts sailing fan-wards. Rayner Shine is introduced as Daring's accidental sidekick, a sentient ooze takes over the town and a species-confused griffon is behind it all!

I hope to develop Sterling Silver over the next few weeks as I add more chapters to the story.

Here's something to go on for now:

When I was writing his dialogue, I imagined someone suave and charismatic. I've been playing a lot of Borderlands 2 recently, so he could sound like Handsome Jack, or Hades (James Woods) from Disney's Hercules.

The best villain voices are the ones that make you unsure as to whether you hate them or want to be their friends.

Hope you are enjoying it so far! Don't forget to leave a comment if you have any criticism. I will take all criticism (provided it is constructive), so don't be shy; let me have it!

-Sy