Prologue:
So It Begins
It was another sunny day. Daring Do lay in her chair taking a nap. Her forehooves rested behind her head, and her back hooves sat propped up on her office desk. The nearby bookshelves were full with old tomes, covered in dust that floated around the room. The only window revealed all of the dust particles in a beam of light. The little specks seemed to glow as they drifted about. Daring, however, knew all of this was going on. She'd seen it a million times, it was her office. Even though she was going through the same routine, she felt quite content with herself. She couldn't say she felt the same not that long ago. It used to be that she felt useless when she was just laying around, now she was happy she had time to. Daring knew that Ahuizotl would be coming after the staff eventually, it was just a matter of when. She knew the guardians wouldn't have taken him down. Ahuizotl always finds a way out. Always. Like a cockroach.
That was a crazy adventure she went on. Not only did Steel Hoof prove his worth, but he also led her straight into her lifelong dream: The Lost Kingdom of Basha. She was so happy she listened to him. She could have sworn it would have been some catacombs, but it turned out to be much more. Not only that, but the event brought Daring and Steel closer than ever, and marked the beginning of their relationship.
Of course, Daring Do didn't let a relationship get in the way of adventuring. Steel Hoof was preoccupied with his own pupil now, which left Daring to do what she loved to do most: get into trouble. Just something about putting herself in a situation that seemed to have no way out just felt...right. The rush of adrenaline, the sweat on her forehead, the gears turning in her brain, trying to find an escape. All of this felt even more amazing after the fact, when Daring Do could tell herself that she did it all by herself.
To be honest, she felt kind of ashamed after the whole Kingdom of Basha thing. She just sort of became a damsel in distress, and it was up to Steel to save her. Daring didn't like that idea at all. She wanted to be the savior, not the savee.
"Heh," Daring mumbled to herself, a grin appearing on her face, "crazy stallion."
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
"Yes?" Steel Hoof said, causing Daring to jump back and fall out of the chair.
Steel Hoof came over and helped Daring Do up. Daring looked into Steel's green eyes, and then leaned forward to give him a short kiss hello. She sat back down and Steel sat across from her. He looked same as always: Grey fur, black mane, polished black hooves, and a cutie mark of (you guessed it) a steel hoof. His hooves could break just about anything. It wasn't a surprise that he was able to sneak into her office like that, there wasn't a door anymore. Steel Hoof liked to bash it in for dramatic effect, and one day it just flew off the hinges. Daring's dad, Dr. Fossil, was very upset. After all, that door had been there since the museum was first built.
Another big change was that now they had more business in the museum. It was a good thing that the trio (Dr. Fossil, Daring Do, and Steel Hoof) all worked and lived in the place. It meant they could open up early, and that they could walk in the next room and take a break in the comfort of their own home.
Of course, they didn't live in their offices. A small section of the building was made specifically into living quarters. Mr. Adventure, Daring's grandfather, had the place designed that way. He wanted the museum to hold a valuable place in his family's hearts, and it definitely did. Daring loved this place. The high ceilings were great for flying around in, and...
"Uh, Daring? You there?" Steel Hoof said, snapping Daring Do out of her daydream.
"Oh, uh...yeah, I was just daydreaming was all. What's up?" Daring replied. She always thought she sounded weird when she was around Steel Hoof. It felt almost as if her voice was unnatural, as butterflies began to churn in her stomach. Every time she felt that way, she sent a curse in Hathor's name (the Egyptian god of love).
"Ooooooh," Steel said, his expression turning mildly grave, "nothing big. Just one little issue..."
"What's the situation?" Daring said, now interested
"Uh...okay...just remember, don't shoot the messenger."
"Steel...what happened?"
"Okay," Steel began, "So I was just doing my rounds, when something caught my attention. We were missing an artifact..."
"Somebody stole from the museum?"
"Uh...yeah..."
"What did they take?"
"Um...the...staff..."
Daring was silent, until a smile crossed her face. She had been waiting for this for a long time. A chance to go on a big adventure again, all by herself. This was gonna be awesome.
"Daring? Why are you smiling?" Steel asked
"Because I knew this was going to happen."
"How?"
Daring replied with her trademark catchphrase, "It's a trade secret." The mare hopped up out of her seat and went for the doorway.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm gonna go on the adventure of a lifetime!" Daring said, planning to walk out of the doorway and instantly start rounding up gear. Of course, Steel asked the question that she was afraid he would ask.
"Can I go?" Steel pestered
Daring Do let out a small sigh, "Not this time Steel, I wanna do this one on my own."
"Are you sure? We nearly lost each other on our last big adventure, I'd never forgive myself for not going with you if you didn't come back."
Daring Do smiled, "Well, I guess I'll have to come back then, won't I?"
Even though it didn't really fit, Steel whipped out his own catchphrase, "Only one way to find out!"
"You find any reason to say that, don't you?" Daring asked
"Eeyup!"
Daring Do prepared for her journey. She had long since placed a tracking device on the Staff of the Gods, so she knew exactly where it was. She rounded up her trademark safari getup and her whip. She looked as if she was going out to a book signing.
Daring Do kissed her lover, Steel Hoof, and her dad, Dr. Fossil, goodbye and started on her journey.
This time, she got to do some flying.
Chapter I:
Transformations
Ahuizotl got some distance. The GPS Daring Do was carrying said the tracking device was in Germany. Why would Ahuizotl go to Germany? The staff was an Egyptian artifact, what did Ahuizotl plan to find there? Unless, it was a trap! That made sense, but why put a trap in Germany of all places? Why not set it up on Daring Do's front doorstep? Whatever the case, Daring Do found herself using Steel Hoof's catchphrase: Only one way to find out.
The flight to Germany was short lived, Daring Do was always a great flyer, and a short trip over the Atlantic ocean was nothing compared to the flights she made to California every other week. There was an investor in the museum who lived there, so she visited him regularly to see how he was doing and let him know the museum's progress. If only her dad would figure out how to teleport long distances, then it would save her time.
Daring Do entered German airspace, and was about to land when an air raid siren came on.
Instantly, thinking something was wrong, Daring Do flew down to the ground and tried to find cover, hoping that whatever threat that was flying overhead wouldn't find its way to her. Daring didn't know it, but she was the threat.
German polizei trotted up to Daring, guns drawn. Daring, completely confused, put her hooves in the air as she was surrounded. Something was terribly wrong.
The polizei dragged Daring (forcefully, she might add) to the station. She was sat down and handcuffed to an interrogation table, and left alone for a moment. Then, a big burly pony walked in the room. He was as big as that pony who worked at Apple Farms. What was his name? Big Mac? His fur was brown, and his mane and tail were black. He had no cutie mark! Although, what creeped Daring Do out the most was his eyes, he had no pupils or irises. They were pure white.
"Daring Do?" The burly pony asked, in a deep, thick, German accent.
"That...is a trade secret." Daring cleverly replied. No need to give away her identity yet.
"Do you really think I would have asked that if I didn't know it was you already?" he replied
"Good point..." Nevermind then.
"Now, do you know why you are here?" he continued.
"Not really...did I win something?" Daring Do snarked.
The pony snorted, "You could say that."
In a highly sarcastic voice, Daring replied, "Ooh really? What did I win?"
The pony slammed his hooves on the table, shaking Daring Do to the bone with raw force, and he screamed, "A ONE WAY TICKET TO PAIN IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP!"
"Now now, general, that's no way to treat our special guest." A voice said, coming from the doorway.
Both Daring Do and the burly pony turned to see the new individual in the room, it was none other than Ahuizotl himself!
"No need to go all 'bad cop' on her, it doesn't work. Trust me, I've tried!" Ahuizotl continued.
"Ahuizotl! I knew you would be involved in some way!" Daring Do remarked
"Well then, what do we do?" The big pony asked.
"Don't worry," Ahuizotl purred, "I have the perfect idea..."
Daring do was stuffed in a bag and dragged off. Literally, she was stuffed in a big, burlap sack and dragged somewhere. When she was pulled out, she found herself in a cave. It was dimly lit with torches, and red banners hung on the walls, emblazoned with strange symbols that Daring hadn't seen before. Ponies wearing green uniforms stood guard and they all had the same symbol on a red band wrapped around their left forelegs. At the center of the cave was a small glowing pool, the water was a deep shade of purple, and it made a constant twinkling noise.
"Where am I?" Daring Do asked
"Why, you're in an ancient cave my dearest Daring Do!" Ahuizotl proudly stated, as he grabbed Daring by the scruff of the neck.
"Who are all these ponies?" Daring Do questioned
"Why, they're the Neighzis! They helped me find this cave!" Ahuizotl replied.
"You mean somebody actually helped you? By their own free will?" Daring Do was now completely puzzled
Ahuizotl said, "But of course! We share a common goal!"
"World Domination!" a third voice called out, in a thick German accent.
Daring craned her neck to see who it was. She saw a cream colored stallion with slick black hair and a mane to match. He sported a tan jacket with the same emblem emblazoned on a red band on his left foreleg, and he had a small mustache in the shape of a rectangle on his upper lip. His cutie mark was a red square with a white circle and the same emblem in it.
"I am Adolf Hoofler," The pony announced, "I am the leader of the Neighzis!"
"Wonderful to see you again, Mr. Hoofler! Are you ready to proceed as planned?" Ahuizotl asked
"As soon as the threat is taken care of, we will commence the attack." Adolf replied
"Good to hear!" Ahuizotl dangled Daring Do over the small pool of glowing liquid, "It was nice seeing you again Daring. This time, don't come back."
"Wait!" Adolf interjected, "I've read Mrs. Do's books, she said you broke her wings last time!"
Oh no, don't give him any ideas! Daring thought
Adolf continued, "Why not do it again? For added measure?"
"Because," Ahuizotl replied, "Where she's going, she won't have wings anyways!"
Ahuizotl dropped Daring Do into the pool. The water felt like ice, and Daring felt a painful shift as her body changed form.
Her neck shortened and her head became more egg shaped. Her legs all grew in length, and small appendages protruded off of them. Her tail seemed to shoot up inside her, and just completely disappear. Daring wasn't exactly sure what it was, but a weight was added to her chest.
Then she began to fall. Out of the sky. That's when she realized she didn't have wings either.
