Daring Do and the Lost Kingdom of Basha

Chapter IV:

Survival of the Fittest

Steel didn't know where the heck he was. He got up, and found himself on a cloud. I must be dreaming he thought, there was no other logical explanation. Steel decided to test this thought, and tried to smack himself hard on the flank, only to find that he had no hooves. Now that he looked, he had no body either! For all he knew, he was just a floating head! He looked around, and found he was on (or rather hovering above) a cloud. He advanced to the edge of the cloud and looked below him, and saw the city of Cloudsdale. Though some things were different: The buildings were all made of marble, and the streets were empty. Steel flew (or glided or whatever) to the city, and began walking down the main road. He was amazed he could walk on clouds, but then he remembered he wasn't exactly walking, it just felt like he was, it was very hard to explain. He wandered through the streets, until he found himself overlooking the stadium where the Wonderbolts performed, which was in marble like the rest of the flying city. Thoughts raced through Steel's brain, How is marble on clouds? Where is my body? Am I dreaming? He tried to push the questions out of his head for now, and walked into the stadium.

Steel made his way into the center of the open stadium, which had no floor. Daring had told him about this stadium before, this was where they held the young flyers competition, and that strange rainbow pony had her hair styled like Daring's. Daring wanted to give the pony an autograph but after some freak accident she decided it best to just leave her alone.

Steel flew to the center of the stadium, and looked up in the rafters. He wasn't exactly sure what he was looking for, his gut was telling him he needed to look though. He guessed that some of Daring's instinct must have rubbed off on him as he mindlessly looked around. He was about to leave when the curtains behind the platform for the princesses moved. It was a small booth but Steel figured that there had to be something important in there, yet he didn't know how he knew this. He flew up to the booth and pushed the curtains aside. He found himself looking upon a large throne room, where everything was decked in bronze, marble, and granite. The room was formed like a cathedral, with a high ceiling and pillars along the sides, each pillar had a bronze top and bottom piece and was made of marble. The walls were marble as well but the main walkway was lined with granite. The steps and pedestal for the throne were granite and bronze, every other step was lined with a bronze corner. Murals of lovers danced across the ceilings, and the stain-glass windows depicted lovers and smiling ponies. Steel thought that it was impossible that all of this could fit in that small booth. He turned around to look at the curtains behind him and found they had been replaced with solid marble. He didn't question this, as he had enough questions on his mind, and proceeded down towards the throne.

There was a pony on the throne, but the pony was a statue. It was a lovely mare, one with smooth physical features and a sweet smile that just made a tear want to come to Steel's eye, but he didn't have an eye at the moment. Suddenly, when Steel was about a yard away from the throne, a bright light formed around the statue. The ground trembled, and the statue shook, Steel was sure it was about to blow up. Instead of violently exploding, the statue simply turned to flesh, and a pink mare with a crimson mane sat before him. She wore an Egyptian headdress made of gold, and an outfit similar to the one Basha supposedly wore covered her body. Steel stood motionless as the mare gazed at him with her emerald eyes, and motioned for him to step forward. Steel would have stayed back, but he felt welcome in this mare's presence, like it was impossible for her to do him any harm. He stepped right up to the mare, took her hoof, and kissed it gingerly.

"Quite the gentleman," She giggled to Steel's surprise, "You will make a fine mate for your friend."

Steel, not even realizing what he was doing, quickly put down the mare's hoof, "Who are you? What is this place?"

"You mean you haven't figured it out yet?"

"No...no...you...y-you're...Hathor?"

"The one and only!" Hathor joked

"But...is this real?" Steel finally asked

"Of course not, I'm here to give you an offer." Hathor replied, still jokingly

"You're here? Wait, don't you mean I'm here? I was the one who walked in here!"

"No no silly filly, this is your dream."

"It seems that zebra was right then, the gods communicate through dreams."

"You must be speaking of Bota, he knows much more about the gods than he lets on. That is not what I am here to discuss though, I am here to discuss your feelings for the one you love." she grew mildly serious

"Hey! I don't love her! I just- uh...it's complicated!"

"Do not deny it young stallion, she has had these same feelings, and has accepted them."

"Daring? Daring...in love? *With me?*** You must be joking."

"I kid you not, her feelings for you are undeniable, and you must admit yours to her."

"Why? Why would you intervene like this, and not just let us work it out?"

"I am the goddess of happiness and love, it is my job to spread it through the world. My influence is not as strong anymore, haven't you noticed? More and more ponies are divorced nowadays, and less and less turn to love and happiness. Few places allow my influence. As a matter of fact, there is a small town called Ponyville, that lives in happiness because of one couple that runs a bakery. Their love has allowed my influence to spread to the town in which they reside, keeping the citizens happy. The Cakes, I believe is their name? But anyway, that is one of the places where my influence is strong. As you can see, I jump on any opportunity that presents itself."

"So you spread love and happiness, great. Now can you let me out of this dream? Now that I know Daring feels the same, I have nothing to fear."

"Not so fast Steel, this information did not come free."

"What? But you just told me the information! You didn't even give me a chance to turn it down!"

"Can you honestly say you would not have wanted to know how Daring felt about you?"

Dang, she got him on that one, "Fine, what do I have to do."

"It is simple, you must assist Daring in completing her trials."

"That's it? But wait, didn't Bota say I wasn't allowed to do that?"

"Ah, you pay attention. There is one catch, Daring cannot know it's you that is helping her!"

"Fine, and if I can't do it?"

"You will not wake up!" Her face became deathly serious, "And if Daring cannot complete her challenges, then she will not wake up! You will both be doomed to an eternal slumber!"

Steel wanted to argue, but he thought better of it, as the goddess's eyes seemed like they resembled doom at the moment. He slowly nodded his head (at least it felt like it), and felt a strong magic envelop him (or whatever he was at the moment). His surroundings became distorted, and melted away as if they were just an oil painting that had seen too much heat. The distorted images flew towards Steel, but instead of slamming into him, they became his arms, legs, body, and anything else he needed to be identified as a pony. Steel was now alone, and surrounded by white nothingness. He had one goal, find Daring.

Steel started advancing, and the world formed around him. He was now in a small town, he looked at the sign, it read: Ponyville. Isn't that the town Hathor was talking about? Steel wandered, but he didn't have time, as he heard Daring's voice from behind him, and he quickly hid behind the sign.

"Now where am I?" Daring said to herself, "Ponyville, population: Ponies. Well no duh, let's see what's so special about this place."

Daring walked straight past Steel, except she looked completely different. Daring was now a cyan color, and her mane was turned into rainbows. Steel didn't find it very attractive, but he knew it was Daring nonetheless, so he decided to keep up with her. Steel quickly hid himself behind the other side of the sign and waited until Daring got to town before he moved. He quickly dashed up and hid himself around the corner of the first building,

Steel followed Daring to a cottage in the outskirts of town, where he watched her hopelessly try to tame some animals.

This must be one of her trials, Steel thought, maybe if I can slip some tranquilizers in there, then Daring can put the animals to sleep and contain them that way.

Just then, a rustling came from behind Steel, and he quickly hid himself in a bush. A purple unicorn walked by and approached the cottage with a yellow Pegasus with a pink mane. The unicorn must have been a princess of some sort, because she had a tiara on her head.

A loud bang came from the door and the purple mare spoke up, "Rainbow Dash!"

"I'm in here!" Daring screamed, "Help! I'm trapped!"

The two visitors bashed inside, and Steel could clearly see Daring was tied up in a couldron, as animals, small and large, danced around her holding silverware.

"Hurry Twilight! Can't you do some sort of spell to get her out?" The yellow mare asked

"No! Fluttershy, you're the only one who can help!" the unicorn responded, "Rainbow Dash needs you!"

The yellow mare nodded and proceeded inside. This Pegasus seemed far too timid to control the crazed animals inside, and why were they calling her 'Rainbow Dash'? Whatever the case was, Steel had to act quickly. He rushed to the back of the house, and came in through the back door. He found a medicine cabinet and quickly rummaged through it. He found some sort of spray bottle labeled 'calming agent'. I wonder if it works? Steel thought to himself, Only one way to find out! Steel reached a hoof through the nearby doorway, which lead into the room where the event was taking place. He gave the bottle a few sprays and then quickly retreated his hoof back into the doorway. He heard the animals calming down, as the yellow mare began to convince herself that she was the one calming them.

"Goodness!" The Pegasus's soft voice flowed from the door, "It's like I can understand them! I-I feel strange, like this is what I'm meant to do! Like this is who I am! My destiny!"

A bright light flashed from under the door, and things grew silent for a second. After some discussings about a cutie mark and friendship, the two mares began singing about...a true, true friend? Well whatever the case was, they dragged Daring off and Steel had to follow them, as they left to help somepony named Rarity.

They were singing the whole way there, Steel gagged the entire trip. Steel didn't really understand why they had to sing, but Daring didn't really seem to mind. When we arrived at Ponyville, the town was in chaos. The sky was covered in...a checkerboard? Well whatever the case was, Daring flew up to the sky and approached the clouds. It seemed Daring had to break up the clouds. Steel knew Daring wasn't much of a cloud kicker, so he quickly searched around. A nearby unicorn was shivering underneath somepony's front porch. He approached the brown unicorn and decided to ask him for help.

"Excuse me sir?" Steel asked

"Yeah? What do you want?" The unicorn rudely remarked

"How would you like to get out of this weather?"

"Just how do you suppose I do that?"

"Cast a spell to break up those clouds!"

"Hah! That's a good one! That stupid mare will just put them back in this fancy checkerboard pattern!"

"Not if you break them up to make it seem like that Pegasus is doing it!" Steel pointed towards Daring

"Why would that make any difference?"

"Because...uh..." uh oh, Steel hadn't thought this through well enough, but then it hit him, "Because if you do then that Pegasus will feel so proud, that she'll send word to Celestia, who will make the Wonderbolts come to Ponyville to be your new weather team!"

"Why would she do that?"

"Uh, that's Celestia's granddaughter! Can't you see the uncanny resemblance in her rainbow mane?"

"Hmm, you do make a point, they do look similar. Fine, I'll do it, but this better change things around here!" The unicorn said, getting up. He made his way to a clearing, and started tearing apart the clouds, making it seem like Daring was doing it. At one point, the unicorn even turned the clouds into a miniature tornado, trying to make sure that Daring was convinced. Daring came back down and met with the purple unicorn.

"There!" the brown unicorn said, his grey mane matted with sweat, "Things better be different now!" then he trotted away.

Steel looked at Daring, who was glowing now, strange. The purple unicorn slapped a necklace on Daring, whose eyes grew big and wide. Steel could see an image of the real Daring Do floating out of Rainbow Dash's body as the process occurred. Oh! Steel thought, I see! The gods put Daring in place of this Pegasus, I guess in an attempt to teach her about...a true true friend? Whatever it was, Steel could feel himself being sucked away as well. That was the first trial, and Steel didn't find it too hard. If he was lucky, the rest of the trials would be just as easy. Too bad he wasn't lucky.

Steel found himself inside a control room, he was surrounded by flashing lights and loud buzzers. The room was small, and cold, the walls were grey steel and there was one window. Through the window, Steel could see Daring Do, making her way into the room. Daring had a strait jacket on, and she was shoved into the room by two ponies. Daring fell to the cold steel floor of the room, which didn't look much different from Steel's except that there weren't any controls. Daring got up and looked around, as if she was completely unaware of the window to Steel's room. Daring looked around, with a panicked look on her face. I hate to see her like this, I should try to calm her down and let her know everything is alright Steel thought. Daing started running about the room, as if she was avoiding something. This window must be one way, Steel thought, Maybe one of these controls will allow me to interact with Daring? Steel reached for a microphone, and pushed a button labeled 'intercom.' Steel was afraid to say Daring's name, in case she was supposed to be somepony else in this world, just like she was in the last. Steel looked around, and found a bronze plate above the window that said 'subject 26.'

"Subject 26?" Steel said into the intercom

Daring instantly stopped running around, and looked to the speaker in the opposite corner of the room. She simply stared at it, as if it was her whole life.

"Subject 26?" Steel repeated

"Y-yes?" Daring replied, very quietly. Steel could hear Daring through a speaker on the desk, and he could tell his own voice was much deeper over the intercom. Daring had no idea who was talking to her.

"Subject 26, why are you here?" Steel asked, hoping Daring would know

Suddenly Daring turned frantic, looking around as if somepony was staring at her. She regained her attention and spoke quietly, "Him."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"He's after me! He wants to get me! But nopony else believes he's even there! Am I crazy? Or is everypony else just blind?"

"Who? Who is after you?"

"HIM!" Daring said, pointing towards the opposite corner of the room, "HE'S IN HERE! HELP ME! HELP ME!" Daring began scratching at the walls, as if she could tear them down with enough effort.

"Da- I mean, Subject 26, you are the only pony in there. There is nopony coming after you, and you must realize this." Daring had completely lost it. Whatever sort of test this was, Steel wasn't sure how to even go about helping Daring.

"HE'S GETTING CLOSER! DO SOMETHING!"

"THERE'S NOPONY THERE!" Steel yelled out of anger for lack of better things to do.

"PLEASE!" Daring kicked out with her hind legs, and a solid smack! could be heard. At first, Steel just assumed she kicked the wall, until the window generated a loud bang! as though something had slammed into it.

"What the-?"

A blur formed in the middle of the room, making a feint figure. There wasn't a pony in there with her, it was some sort of invisible monster! Steel frantically searched for some sort of solution, hoping that the answer wasn't too far away. There was a big red button labeled 'SLEEPING GAS' with a big tear drop on it. Steel slammed the button, in hopes of putting the monster to sleep. Steel dawned a gas mask from the corner of the room, and bashed his way through the window, while carrying another. The monster turned and looked at Steel, or at least that's what it seemed like. Without hesitating, Steel slammed the creature to the ground, and threw the gas mask to Daring. Daring couldn't see Steel's face under the gas mask, so he was safe from her finding out. Daring put the gas mask on, as the monster slowly calmed down.

"You weren't crazy! There was a monster! Why'd they put you in here?" Steel asked, when the beast calmed down

"I'm not sure! I-" Daring was cut off, as she melted away, into the rest of the room. Steel watched the room melt in a similar fashion from when he left Hathor. The room shot up into the white sky, and Steel was alone again. The gas mask had disappeared at some point, and Steel was left to wander forward in hopes of the next challenge. Instead of a trial, a golden pony with a bright white mane materialized in front of him. This pony was about as big as Celestia, and wore the clothes of a pharaoh.

"You are loyal to your friend." The stallion said to Steel, in a voice deeper than the Grand Canyon.

"Who are you? Where is this place?" Steel asked

"I am the god of the unknown and things yet to be found. My name is Corpsus, and this is my realm."

"And what exactly is 'your realm'?"

"There are many names for it, but most identify it as 'the plane'."

"The plane?"

"Yes, it is a land where most ponies travel into when they have dreams. It is a land that is easily molded and can form anything the mind can imagine. Go on, try to make a book appear in front of you."

"How?"

"Just think of one! Any book will do!"

"Okay, I'll try." Steel pictured the only book he had ever read, and waited for it to appear in front of him.

"No no, that won't do. Picture the book appearing in front of you!"

Steel did what the god asked, and sure enough, the book appeared. Corpsus picked up the book, and a flustered look came across his face as he read the title. Steel, knowing what the book was, blushed in embarrassment.

"Fifty Shades of Hay?" the god asked

"It's the only book I've ever read! Ponies use the internet to do research nowadays!" Steel defended

The god gave a hearty laugh, and looked back at Steel, tossing the book to the side as it disappeared with a pop!, "Well, now that this little Q&A is over, how about we talk about the task at hand?"

"Yeah, what's going on here?"

"Well, your friend, Ms. Do is it? She is going through some trials right now and is currently unavailable!" The god laughed again.

"What? But Hathor said I could help her!"

"Hathy said that? Oh well lookout everypony, things just got serious!" The god threw his forehooves up in the air and laughed as he made a stupid face.

"What was up with that last test? What was that supposed to teach her?"

"Isn't it obvious? That test wasn't for her, it was for you!"

"Huh?"

"The first test was for Daring to learn about friendship, and how a friend can rely on a true friend to help them! When she learned that, then it was your turn to learn it! You helped Daring out of that situation, you were lucky gas masks were involved, otherwise she would have known it was you!" Corpsus laughed again

"So, what now?"

"Now, it's time for the final test! A test of physical mettle!"

"What are you getting at?"

"Steel, you must fight!"

"Fight you? Fine, let's go!" Steel started bobbing like a wrestler

"Not me, young Stallion."

Steel stopped fast in his tracks, "What? Then who?"

"Her!" Corpsus said, pointing behind Steel

Steel turned to look, and as he did the world formed around him. Armor formed on his body, completely covering it. A sword and shield materialized in his hooves, and he found himself in an arena, but not just any arena, it was the arena from Basha's kingdom! The arena was much better kept, and the air was clear. The rafters were lined with ponies, some wearing filthy clothes, and others dressed in clean, white, robes with leaves in their hair. On the opposite side of the field, stood a lone Pegasus, Daring Do. She had on a leather tunic with a spear in her hooves.

"Oh for the love of Celestia, don't make me do this." Steel murmured under his helmet

"Too late Steel!" Corpsus's voice rang in Steel's head, "You fell for the oldest trick in the book!"

"What trick is that?"

"Made ya look!"

"You no good, backstabbing, prissy little idiot!"

"There's no need for such harsh words, even though I am at least two of those things! By the way, whoever wins this battle, gets to wake up, and she's still not allowed to know it's you!" Corpsus's laugh rang in Steel's head as his voice faded away

The ponies in the stands began cheering louder, and horns sounded off. Daring rushed towards Steel, full speed, pointing the spear directly at him. Steel held up his shield, and attempted to block the attack. The spear bounced harmlessly off the shield, and Steel thought he was in the clear. Steel went to try and bash Daring with the shield, but she was too quick. Daring had put the spear in one hoof, and landed the other right in Steel's gut. Even with armor on, the blunt force made him want to barf. Daring pulled her hoof back, and went to jab again with the spear. Steel barely raised his sword, and knocked the spearhead away. I have to figure out a way to get us both out of this, I don't wanna hurt her! Steel thought. Daring recovered, and charged again. Steel swung his sword at the spear with all of his force, and knocked the spear from her hooves. Daring took the opportunity, and swung her hoof at the blunt side of Steel's sword, knocking it from his hooves. Before Daring could land another punch, Steel bashed her with the shield, knocking her off her balance, and onto the ground. Steel dropped the shield, and picked up the sword. He jumped over to Daring, and planted one hoof on her chest. He put the sword up to her neck, waiting for an idea to appear in his mind. He sat there, wondering what to do next.

"Finish it," Daring murmured, "You won, finish it!"

Daring must have been brainwashed into believing she was this gladiator, or that she was the ponies before her. Steel looked at the face of the mare beneath him, his closest friend. His heart beat rapidly, and his brain buzzed with ideas, but only one ended with Daring being okay. He contemplated his choice, and he realized that Hathor was right. Steel's feelings weren't the result of some crush, Steel...Steel loved her. Steel removed the metal weapon from Daring's throat, and stepped off of her chest, helping her up.

"What? I don't understand?" Daring questioned

"Well then, allow me to explain." Steel responded.

"What are you doing Steel?" Corpsus's voice rang again

"The right thing..." Steel responded out loud. Steel removed his helmet, and threw it to the ground. Everypony in the audience gasped, especially Daring.

"Steel? What? How?" Daring asked, as if snapping out of a trance

"Daring, you're going through these trials for these gods and one of them asked me to fight you. If I killed you then I woke up, if you killed me then you woke up."

"Steel, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Steel handed his weapon to Daring, "You're this 'chosen one', you need to make it. I'm just you're sidekick, so I'm obsolete."

"Steel, don't ask me to do this."

"Daring, I don't care what happens to me, I'm asking you to do this! Please Daring, nothing matters to me, so long as you're okay."

"Steel..."

"Do it Daring!"

Daring sat motionless, tears forming in her eyes. She paused and finally found how to work her mouth again, "Steel, you've been a true, true friend."

"Shut up before you make me gag." Steel joked, tears forming in his eyes as well.

"But, what if I can't make it through this city alone?" Daring asked, worry filling her eyes

"I know you, you can Daring Do it!" Steel joked again

"Quit joking! You're making this harder!" Daring yelled, trying to hold the tears back, but utterly failing

"Just do it Daring, I'll be with you."

Tears streamed down hers and Steel's face, the two sat there, facing each other, crying. Daring was crying because her closest friend was sacrificing himself for her, and Steel was crying because Daring was crying. The crowd threw fruit and rocks, but it didn't faze the two adventurers one bit.

"G-g-g-g-goodbye...S-s-s-steel..." Daring whispered.

Steel could see the blade enter him, but along with it, Daring's lips met his. The two held a passionate kiss, as Steel floated in and out of consciousness. The crowd, rude and relentless, threw food and rocks in protest. The two held their kiss, until Steel finally left consciousness.