Daring Do and the Agents of F.O.A.L.E

Chapters

Amazing First Chapter!
Uncanny Power Ponies #159
Superior Second Chapter!
Power Ponies Annual #1
Astonishing Third Chapter
All Star Matterhorn and Humdrum #1

Amazing First Chapter!

“Are you sure you’re alright? That’s your fifth glass of cider.”

Daring Do waved a passive hoof, making the unicorn flinch. “I’m okay. Just... just thirsty.... is all.” She glanced up from the bar into the violet eyes of the unicorn next to her. Everything faded away the deeper she looked into them, seeing her own drunken grin smiling back at her.

“Ya know... normally I don’t say this to mares... but you’re really pretty...”

The unicorn giggled. “Yes, I’ve been told that a lot. And don’t worry, I’m flattered.” She watched Daring take another glass. “I just thought this would be difficult.” She eyed the glass of cider and bit her lip as it disappeared down Daring’s throat. “Are you only drinking this much because I’m paying?”

“You are?!” Daring’s wings perked up. “In that case, make it two!” The room spun slightly when she reached for the next glass, knocking it over and into the unicorn’s lap. “Oh gosh... I’m sorry!” Her hooves groped for some napkins, making an even bigger mess of empty glasses. She dove down and began wiping at the dress, noticing that the unicorn’s legs were more slender than average.

“Don’t stare for too long,” the unicorn giggled. “Here, I’ll get it. You just keep being adorable.”

Daring blushed. “What did you say your name was again?”

“Madame le Fleur.” The unicorn gave a slight bow. She noticed Daring glancing over her shoulder. “No, I’m not a princess, despite having the frame.”

“I wasn’t lookin’!” Daring blurted, her face a bright shade of crimson. Another glass of cider found its way to her and Le Fleur reached out to grab it. For a brief moment, the two held hooves, and Daring began to sweat.

Le Fleur smiled and pulled away with a reluctant sigh. “Still not interested in what I’m offering?”

“What?” Daring cocked a brow. “Is it common knowledge I swing both ways?”

She giggled. “Well, yes and no. But, that wasn’t what I was offering. At least, not yet.”

Daring gulped down the cider and licked her lips, a goofy smile spread across her face. “That tasted kinda funny...”

Le Fleur’s voice was an echo in Daring’s head as the room began to spin. Her wings tried to stabilize her descent to the floor, but it was too late.

“Rest now, Daring. We’ll meet again under better circumstances.”

Everything went black.

Once her eyes popped back open, she was greeted with the familiar walls of her bedroom. She bolted upright and instantly regretted it as her stomach lurched along with the rest of the room. A quick glance at the clock confirmed her suspicions.

“That was one hell of a hangover...” Daring muttered. Her tongue felt like cotton and about three sizes too big for her mouth. She examined her hooves to make sure they were all accounted for and found she still had her trenchcoat on. She fumbled around and saw something on her pillow, glinting in the sunlight that she now realized was mercilessly stabbing her eyes.

A business card with a stylized alicorn upon it, wings spread regally. Underneath, five simple letters shimmered in silver.

F.O.A.L.E.

“Oh, Daring... what have you gotten yourself into...”

Daring Do stared at the card on her desk. The alicorn symbol looked official, set against a holographic background, but it just didn’t feel right. A week after it wound up in her bedroom, and she still couldn’t put her hoof on it. If she had her way, she’d hop the next airship out of Canterlot to find some clues.

She looked out the window to gather her thoughts. The way Celestia’s sun played off the glass created a mini rainbow across the room, making Daring’s wings itch to be outside instead of stuck in a class full of sleeping students. The black carriage sitting in the lot with a pony in sunglasses staring at her… That was a new addition.

Her moment of meditation was cut off by the piercing ring of the school bell, quickly followed by the sound of shuffling hooves and papers being packed away.

“Uh, sorry, class. Quiet lesson today, I know, but that’s…” She peered outside once again, expecting the pony in sunglasses, only to find him gone from sight, along with the carriage. “That’s… how it is.”

She pressed her nose to the glass. The gravel didn’t show any sign of tracks, as if the carriage simply blinked out of existence. It wasn’t a secret most unicorns could teleport, but who the pony was and why he was there couldn’t be explained so easily.

“Ahem!”

Daring spun around in her seat, stopping when she got an eyeful of the crotchety face of Professor Bookmark. His tweed jacket and heavy wrinkles made the brown unicorn look absolutely ancient and perpetually miffed. No doubt he was the pony to hand Princess Celestia her graduation papers.

“Oh, hello,” Daring said with a polite wave. “I, uh, didn’t hear you come in.” She forced a smile and bit back the urge to say she could smell the tomb dust.

“Your door was open.” He gestured to the door. “I’m not one to question the adventurous mind. In fact, I daresay that’s why you teach here to begin with. And I appreciate that.”

Daring sighed. She had this speech well-memorized, so she turned in her seat to look over the card once again. “And here comes the scolding for my unorthodox behavior?”

“Actually, no. You’ve turned in decent results this quarter. No sudden absences either.” He scratched his balding head, where faint wisps of his once stylish caramel mane clung on for dear life. “In fact, Headmaster Greyhoof began to wonder if you got killed on an adventure and replaced with somepony new.”

Daring snorted and flipped the card over for what must have been the fiftieth time. “So, what’s the problem?”

“I just wish to investigate on, ironically, your investigation. Never in my life did I ever think you would ask your coworkers about comic book trivia.”

Daring snapped her gaze away from the card to see one of the rarest things in existence: Professor Bookmark smiling.

“Have you turned in your life of adventuring for one of an escapist fantasy enthusiast?”

She blinked. According to most of the professors around the campus, Daring’s whole worldview was escapist fantasy. “What the hell… I was looking into... wait...” Memories of her strange encounter at the bar came flooding back.

“Daring Do, are you not aware that F.O.A.L.E. was an organization in the Silver Age of the Timeless Comics series, Power Ponies?”

Daring blinked again. Not only was she surprised that a pony as ancient as him would ever like comic books to begin with, but the sudden realization that a convention for said ponies was in town the same day hit her like a brick. How could she have forgotten that annoying colt who kept ranting about how the relaunches apparently sucked? How could she have forgotten the garish cosplayers littering the streets?

“I always thought comics were a kid thing.”

“You’re saying I was never a foal?” Bookmark smirked.

“Not in my lifetime,” Daring grinned back.

Bookmark ignored the jab and continued. “The Silver Age was Timeless Comics’ heyday, you see. It was when the Power Ponies were first created. In fact, they had ten members at the time. It’s since been reduced to six, but I digress…”

With shaky steps, Bookmark made his way to the chair across from Daring’s desk and gently placed his old bones into it. “Whatever the case, issue #159 of Volume One made mention of a secret organization called F.O.A.L.E. Unfortunately, Volume Two was handed off to a different creative team, and the concept was never mentioned again.” He shuddered slightly. “I remember the fan fiction… dark times.”

“Why, Professor... did you go to the convention too?” Daring narrowed her eyes and let a sly grin spread across her face.

Bookmark blushed. “Well, of course. Old habits die hard, I guess. But I’ve since lost interest in the comic line. All I know is that F.O.A.L.E. hasn’t been mentioned in a single issue since my time.”

“Was there ever a member of the Power Ponies named Madame le Fleur?”

“Not when I was a fan. Word of mouth says her introduction was very controversial. I was in high school by then and already discovered the wonders of mares.”

Daring pursed her lips and looked over the card again. Thoughts of the better things she could’ve done after hours played out in her mind and taunted her. It wasn’t the first time she slept at her desk. Bookmark stood and began to leave.

“So you’re saying F.O.A.L.E. isn’t real?”

Bookmark stopped in the doorway and looked over his shoulder. “Well, I didn’t say that.” He winked, nodded farewell and shut the door behind him.

Daring bent down and dug around in her desk drawer and emerged with a book of addresses. Countless pages of locations she accumulated over time either to visit for amusement or to get a favor on a tough adventure. Not many ponies had addresses of changeling hives and buffalo tribes.

“What was the name of that comic shop…”

“Welcome to Enchanted Comics, where we—” The yellow stallion behind the counter paused and adjusted his thick rimmed glasses. “Well, well, I’ll be Masked Matterhorn’s estranged son of her alien clone! Daring Do! Never thought I’d see you in here again! I got those smutty comics you like right here and—”

“Not now, Inky. I’m on a mission.” Daring glanced around the store, noticing all the Neighpon robot ponies staring down at her. She was also taken aback by how clean the place was compared to how she remembered it, with every genre of comic laid alphabetically in individual sections. “Place used to have pages littering the floor.”

“New management,” Inky replied, fiddling with his glasses some more. Daring cocked her head and stared at the pimple marked pony. “Happened about a week ago.” He waved a hoof. “I know, I know, you got to know my dad pretty well back in the day but, things change.”

Daring rolled her eyes. “Where’s your back issue bin?”

“Oh ho! Goin’ old school, eh? They’re right over there.” Inky pointed to a row of boxes stacked on top of each other in the back of the store. “Be careful with your saving throw, though. The spells aren’t as potent when they age.”

“Too bad I’m not planning on going inside them…” She pawed through wrinkled, mismatched issues of the top box, bringing up smells of old ink and paper. This was more like the store she remembered as a filly. “Let’s see here... Batmane... Supermare... Suicide Stable... X-Mares… Nope.” After digging through the last box, she slumped to her haunches and sighed.

“What is it that you seek, brave explorer?” Inky asked with a faux dramatic Trottingham accent.

“Power Ponies #159.”

“Oh! Well, I never thought you a Power Ponies fan. They’re more of a series for teenagers, but...” he glanced around, then leaned in close. “You’d have to get to level 50 and scale Mount Everfree to obtain it.”

Daring cocked a brow.

“Sorry, got into a new game that just came out.” He cleared his throat. “In laycolts terms, a few thousand bits.”

Daring blinked “A few thousand?!” She leapt off the floor, fluttering her wings angrily. “It’s just a comic book! You mean to tell me I could’ve just shopped here when I was a filly, sold out and retired instead of risking my life in temples?”

“Yep! First appearance issues always go for a hefty sum. Not only was that Zap’s debut issue, it’s also the first appearance of Director Trousers and the whole F.O.A.L.E. concept!”

“Trousers?” Daring muttered.

Inky shrugged. “The idea didn’t really take off. Fans weren’t too keen buying extra comics to understand the stories. That’s the problem these days, too many crossovers.”

Daring grimaced and clenched her teeth. Another snag, and even worse, a financial one. “A few thousand? On a teacher’s budget… I’ll have to find another priceless artifact before I can afford it. Even then, who’d be willing to let it go?” She reached into her vest pocket and pulled out the card. “Some help you… were…”

A hunch crawled into her mind, and she decided to give it a shot.

Daring presented the card to the clerk. “Think this is worth a few thousand, Inky?”

The clerk snorted with indifference. “Maybe to some desperate collector of crap. Who do you think I am?”

“Yeah, yeah, your crap is worth more.” Daring rolled her eyes.

Inky blinked, levitated his glasses down to his Green Lamplight shirt, wiped the lenses, and put them back on. “What in the name of Saviikaan? Is that… That was the card Fillysecond swiped from the suit-wearing stallion at the very end of Issue #159!”

“But you just said it’s a replica?”

“Of course it is! But it’s a darn good looking one!” Inky cleared his throat. “I mean, they’re probably a bit a dozen. Besides, I don’t have that comic anyway. It’s in the hooves of a private collector.”

Daring’s ears perked. “I’m a bit of a collector myself. Where can I find him?”

“Her, actually...”

She narrowed her eyes. “What’s her name?”

“Uh... how should I know? I wasn’t there at the auction!”

Daring got up off the floor and looked Inky in the eye. “Nice try, four-eyes. I never mentioned any auction.”

Inky swallowed. “Fine... I have it. But I can’t just let any random pony off the street come in and see it! Every time I touch it, the value decreases! I turn a page and wash my hooves!”

“If it’s so valuable, why are you even reading it at all?”

“Because I’m a fan first!” Inky’s eyes couldn’t get any wider if he tried. “I mean, it’s not like I invested the entire future of this store to afford it or anything...”

“That explains why it got so clean,” Daring muttered. “So, who did you sell your soul to for this thing?”

“I didn’t sell my soul! Who do you think I am, Spider-Mare?! I just got it in the mail in exchange for the store. Who am I to ask questions when something like that comes along?”

Daring rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time. “What can you tell me about a Power Pony named Madame le Fleur?”

“Her? Pff.” Inky waved a hoof. “Her introduction was terrible! So much potential wasted, really. A lot of fans, me included, speculate that she was what killed the whole F.O.A.L.E concept.”

As he talked, Inky walked behind the counter and pressed a red button on the underside, causing a bookshelf on the nearby wall to move and reveal the entrance to a secret room. Daring rubbed her eyes. She hadn’t expected any sort of hidden mechanism outside the confines of some ancient tomb or abandoned temple.

“A bit overkill, don’t you think?”

“You want overkill? Should have seen the bill.” Inky motioned for Daring to follow. “That’s why I didn’t spring for the Robot Unicorn defense system on top of it.”

“What does F.O.A.L.E. even stand for? Why the extra E?” Daring quickly ducked to avoid banging her head on a wooden beam.

“Fighting Organization Against Lawless Equines,” Inky effortlessly recited. “That’s as much as anypony will ever know about them, outside of fan fiction. Kind of a corny name, huh?”

The two emerged at the bottom of the stairs into a chilly, dark chamber. Not a trace of sunlight or moisture to be found among the seemingly infinite rows of bagged comics, all presided over by various autographs, convention photos and posters. Some comics were placed in little display cases, and Daring noted that these featured first appearances or deaths of major characters.

There was even a comic based on her own adventures among the displays. She walked up and tapped the glass with a hoof.

The New Adventures of Daring Do! Volume One, Issue One.

“Well, hell. I can sell the promotional copy I got! They didn’t do me justice anyway.” She smirked at the rather unflattering representation of herself on the cover, swinging from a vine with her impossibly bulging muscles.

Once her eyes fully adjusted to the dark and her inbuilt claustrophobia settled down, she looked at some of the photos stuck to the far wall. Various images of Inky dressed as characters from movies and comics were clustered together in a corner. Aside from having to see Inky Hooves in a pink dress and wig, Daring noticed something suspicious in the photos.

Every convention Inky attended all had the same black clad earth pony in shades appear in the background. She glanced over to ask a question and saw Inky staring at a rather large display case that housed the comic she was looking for. He didn’t even notice her come up behind him and stare over his shoulder.

“This is it, huh?” she asked.

“Isn’t she a beauty? I wipe the glass every other hour.”

Daring eyed the cover. There was the hero she figured to be Zap, wielding a mighty lightning bolt above bold lettering announcing her amazing first appearance. LIGHTING STRIKES! THE UNTOLD TALE OF ZAP!

“Eh, not impressed. Yoink!” Daring opened the case, snatched the book from its stand and began violently leafing through the pages.

The color in Inky’s face drained. “Careful! I staked a lot on that comic! I’m a paragon of the fandom just for having it in my possession!”

Daring mumbled an insult about false idols and kept looking. After a slew of nonsensical ads for cheap novelties, some of which Daring still had from her filly-hood, she at last reached the proper page in the story.

She saw the panel with the suited stallion, and another with a white suited character she assumed to be Fillysecond speaking to the rest of the Power Ponies, but something was missing from her hoof. Daring slammed the book down onto the floor.

“There’s no card here.”

“Say what?”

“There’s no card here. It just... ends.”

Inky snatched the book up and pawed through it frantically. “No... no... this can’t be right! I must have read this comic a hundred times! It’s always been there!”

“Maybe it’s a reprint to forget the concept?” Daring shrugged.

“There never was a reprint!” Inky threw the book down. Suddenly his eyes widened with an idea. “Wait! I got it!”

Daring groaned, mentally bracing for the worst. “I never like that look you get, Inky.”

“What if, and I’m serious here...” Inky got uncomfortably close to Daring, with his muzzle nearly touching hers. She had to back away to avoid the unwashed nerd smell commonly associated with his ilk. “What if, not only can we go into the comics... but... but they can also come out of them!”

Daring glanced at the comic, then up at the ranting unicorn. “Go home, Inky. You’re drunk.”

“I’m serious! It’s a very possible possibility!”

“Leave the speculation about that kind of stuff to the pros,” Daring snorted, pointing at herself. “Besides, out of all the crazy things I’ve encountered, I highly doubt comic books are invading reality.”

“Then how do you explain the card?” Inky replied, sounding more cocky than usual.

“A replica, like you said.” Daring rubbed her temples. “But… why would she go through the trouble of giving me a replica?”

“Roleplayers?” Inky shrugged. “Maybe they need a pegasus?”

Daring picked up the comic and looked again. She slowly pulled out the card and held it in place over the image. “Maybe I can put it in the comic, like a key. Or...” She caught a reflection of something in the holofoil. “Well I’ll be...”

“What? What is it?”

“Thanks, Inky! You’re the best!” Daring darted out of the room, and Inky scrambled to catch the comic before it hit the ground.

I hope she’s smart enough to figure out the message, the unicorn thought, glancing at her pocket watch for the umpteenth time. Who am I kidding? This is the great Daring Do we’re talking about.

Canterlot Park always looked so luminescent at night. The Moon Flowers and Evening Primrose planted to honor Princess Luna opened to her moonlight, adding ambiance to the sounds of crickets and the sights of dancing fireflies. Even the Glo Friends were out, collecting the moondrops from the ponds and puddles to keep their glow intact. Many ponies found the drops to be useful for medicines and potions, in addition to their beauty.

The unicorn took a slow canter around the largest pond, making routine glances at her watch. 7:21. Nine minutes to spare. She took care to stay close to the bench where Daring would appear if everything went as planned. She pictured in her head how the meeting would go, telling Daring to keep her eyes forward while talking in code.

She tried to hold in her excitement, almost letting the giggle in her throat escape. Others like her were giddy at the prospect of meeting the legendary adventurer, but only she had the honor of doing so. If Daring did come, then it would be all the proof she needed to show she believed in Daring’s skills.

The sound of hoofsteps cut through the relative quiet, and she peeked in the direction of the sound from beneath the cover of her official shades and designer chapeau.

Could it be?

She recognized the wide-brimmed hat, but the trenchcoat was new. Regardless, there were no doubts in her mind about who it was. She quickly flopped onto the bench and ran her hooves over her skirt to smooth out any wrinkles.

Daring passed by the bench, not making eye contact. “You wanted to see me?”

“Take a seat. Eyes forward.” She waited for Daring to finish rolling her eyes and climb onto the bench. After a few moments of awkward fidgeting, the pegasus finally settled.

“Sorry... Not used to sitting upright like this.”

“You did at the bar last night.” the unicorn chuckled.

“Beg pardon?” Daring turned her head, but a pointed hoof stopped her.

“Eyes forward.”

Daring obeyed reluctantly.

The unicorn cleared her throat and continued. “Now, the fact you got my message proves you have what it takes to join us.” She waited patiently as Daring mulled the notion over.

“The first thing I want know: who is ‘us’?”

Of all the responses, that was the one the unicorn expected the least, but she found it amusing all the same. “You know who,” she said with another chuckle.

“Even so, my services don’t come cheap.”

“You will be paid handsomely, I assure you. But that is only one of many benefits if you choose to sign on. Of course, you’ve already chosen.”

Daring blinked. “I didn’t agree to anything. What other benefits are we talkin’? I could use some insurance and... and...” She felt the weight shift closer to her, but kept her eyes fixed on the bushes ahead.

A tongue slid up her ear.

“WHOA! Lady, I don’t... well... I’m not... I mean... I...”

The unicorn giggled. “Sorry. Force of habit. That is, unless you liked it?”

Daring leapt off the bench and flared her wings into a defensive pose, finally making eye contact with the unicorn. “I heard about this! You’re that pony sex slave ring! I’m not gonna be a part of your scheme! In fact! I’m gonna turn you in right now!”

The unicorn threw her head back and laughed. After she caught her breath and wiped her eyes, she smiled at Daring. “We’re nothing of the sort. I take it you already know who we are.” She levitated a card out of her pocket. “You have yours, yes?”

“Um… Yeah.” Daring presented her card. “When I looked through it at the page of the comic book, it told me to come here at this time.”

“Of course it did. I made it do so.”

“How? It was under lock and key and in a secret room! Even I didn’t know it was there!”

She tapped her horn. “Magic. How do you think you got home last night?”

Daring sat in silence. “What do you want from me?”

“A helping hoof. Big things are on the horizon, and we need to be ready.” She pulled down her shades, showing violet eyes, and smiled. “You coming?”

Daring sighed, rubbing her ear vigorously. “Fine... just don’t do... that... again.”

The unicorn lead Daring along the main path through the park. Daring tried to focus on the walk, but could only see swaying hips and a teasing tail. Good thing she had a skirt on, or Daring would’ve been even more distracted.

“I assume you have a name?” she asked the shady mare.

“With your detective skills, you ought to know by now.”

The gears turned and a single name came to Daring’s mind. There was only one mare who could possibly be connected to all of this. After all, she shared her name with the mare who started her on this investigation in the first place. “Madame Le Fleur.”

“Correct indeed, but you may just call me Fleur. I apologize for being so forward when we last met. It’s simply my way of breaking the ice.” The unicorn removed her chapeau, revealing luscious, bright pink locks that glimmered in the moonlight. Fleur tossed her mane, giving Daring a piercing bedroom stare. “I suppose that saves us the trouble of introductions, then. I assume you are aware of my skillset.”

“S-sorry, no… I...” Daring crossed her hind legs. Fleur’s eyes were a black hole of temptation, magnetizing her gaze beyond hope. “I…” By the time Fleur turned her head, breaking the spell, Daring could feel sweat forming on her neck. “I… I’m not… aware.”

“Really?” Fleur breathed. “I assumed you, being a fan of adventure and escapism, would be a fan of the comic industry. But I suppose first impressions can be deceiving. Take me, for example.”

Gladly…

“Now that is impressive. She knows next to nothing about comics, and yet she figured out the puzzle?”

The voice of a nearby stallion caught Daring’s attention. She expected Fleur to tell her to keep her eyes forward, but the slender unicorn smiled and trotted towards the stallion. “I’m just as surprised as you are, Coltson.”

The grey stallion smiled back and ran a hoof through his black, crew cut mane. His well tailored black suit coat radiated an aloof air of professionalism that Daring felt compeled to respect despite the gut feeling he was going to be annoying.

“No way…” Daring picked her jaw off the ground. “Y-you’re the one from the page!” She pointed a shaking hoof and fell to her haunches. “You were outside my classroom window!”

“I’ve been watching your investigation from afar. I suppose I slipped up a little.” Coltson approached Daring with a gentle smile and removed his shades. “Fleur talks about you non-stop. I look forward to seeing if you live up to your reputation.”

Coltson gestured to a black carriage parked across the street, which was guarded by two other stallions in the same uniform. He led Daring and Fleur to the carriage, and let Fleur enter first. Daring allowed Coltson to enter next, keeping her eyes trained. A quick glance at the stallion’s flank revealed the same symbol from the card.

Daring worked her way into the seat adjacent from the two agents, her wings plastered to her sides from the cramped confines. “So,” she grunted. “What am I getting myself into?”

“Miss Do...Welcome to F.O.A.L.E.”

Uncanny Power Ponies #159

When we last left our heroes, the flashing filly known as Fillysecond was spying on the mysterious Lokai! But is this dark figure friend or foe? Fillysecond stands vigil from her perch atop Maretropolis Gazette. In a blur of white, she lands in Maretropolis Park just in time to witness...

There he is! Fillysecond thought. That’s the meany pants that stole forty cakes from the bakery last week!* That’s terrible!

“It was bad enough my own daughter refused my offer to join my rule! Now you too speak of opposing me?!” Monsoon bellowed. Her purple and blue shimmering robes only amplified her sinister majesty as she cast her hoof out.

The princess sized pegasus spreads her wings in a combative manner, creating a massive gust of wind! But to her shock, Lokai remains unfazed!

“No, Mother!” Lokai snapped, adjusting his golden horned helmet that the gust of wind knocked astray. “You fail to understand! These ponies of Equestria have too much pride! They will never bow to you, or to anypony! The only recourse is to destroy them!” He flapped his wings with every sentence, climbing higher into the sky.

Monsoon recoils in horror at the words from her own son!

“I may have done unkind things in my rule, but never have I been a monster!” Her wings unfurled and created another gust of wind. “Lokai, son of Monsoon, heir to Elysium. I hereby cast you OUT of my kingdom for the rest of eternity!”

Her wing reaches for something upon her golden sash, but to her horror... it is gone!

Lokai threw aside his green cape and revealed a golden staff topped with a radiant sphere of pure magic.“Missing something, Mother?”

“I... I... How did you get that?!”

“I merely stole it from the armory while you were dealing with those insipid Power Ponies!** I bade my time, and now I know how to use it properly!” Lokai stopped petting the staff and pointed it at Monsoon. “And now, Mother... I cast YOU out!”

“NOOOOOOooo!”

Fillysecond looks up in time to see a monochrome blur rush forth like a bolt of lightning! A mighty crack of thunder resounds as something collides with Lokai’s face and sends him flying!

Monsoon landed upon her golden hooves and let a smile play across her face. “Even after all I’ve done... all I’ve threatened you with... you still come to my rescue?”

The black and white suited pegasus caught her breath. “You’re... still... my mother.”

With a wicked smile, Monsoon embraced her daughter. “Does this mean you’ve reconsidered my offer to rule***, Zaphina?”

The mighty Zap does not sway her eternal loyalty to Equestria and its ponies.

“Never.”

Monsoon’s wings spread and call forth the winds of her namesake!

“Then with a heavy heart, I shall destroy you both!” The mighty pegasus released Zap from her grip.

Accelerated by the force of her summoned gust, she lunged at her daughter with intent to kill in her eyes, which swirl like hurricanes.

Fillysecond’s eyes widened as Zap summoned a large, golden lightning bolt. “Controlling the wind is nothing to a pony who can control the lightning! I summon the power of the storm!”

Zap, mare of the elements, wields the mighty Gullfaxi to create a massive thunderhead. Below, Fillysecond uses her super speed to avoid the errant bolts of lightning from the epic battle above!

“Hey! I want help too!” shouts the speed demon. In a split-second, she dashed into the park, getting front row seats to the action. She galloped up a tree and lept off the top branch, propelling herself towards Monsoon. “Take this, fiend!”

In a flash of white, Fillysecond straddles the Mane-a-zon queen and hangs on for dear life!

“What sorcery is this?! Release me at once!” Monsoon bellowed, her voice creating a thunderclap in its wake. Zap swung her lightning bolt to the sky, ready to call down more lightning, when she saw the struggling filly in her mother’s clutches.

“I will survive your puny attack! But I fear this mortal will not!”

Zap grit her teeth. “You’ve reached a new low, Mother. If this is how you treat your future subjects, you don’t deserve the throne.”

“Your hesitation will cost you dearly, my daughter!”

Monsoon readies the killing blow, when a blinding ball of magic strikes her in the side, sending her spiraling to the ground! Zap manages to catch the falling Fillysecond just in time!

“My hero!” Fillysecond exclaimed, and wrapped her hooves tightly around Zap’s throat. Before Zap could say anything, she felt soft lips pressed to her own. The two landed awkwardly and Zap released her charge, then glared at Lokai.

“What did you do that for?!”

“Because you two don’t deserve a hero’s death!” Lokai sneered. “You deserve to die with the rest of the mortals!” He pointed the staff to the sky and tore open a portal back to Elysium. “Mark my words, I will return!”

In a brilliant flash, Lokai and Monsoon are gone! Zap looks over the charred remains of Maretropolis park.

“Um.. sorry about all the mess.” A blush ravaged her features as she pawed at the dirt.

“Happens all the time!” Fillysecond exclaimed.

“So, mynameisFillysecondwhatsyournamewhatwasthatallaboutdoyoukno—”

“Slow down!” Zap held her head in her hooves to stop the world from spinning.

Fillysecond giggled. “Sorry, force of habit.” She stopped her laughing and pointed to the distance. “Hey, who’s that?”

Zap turned her head just in time to see a grey stallion with black hair and sunglasses turn to leave the scene. “I don’t...” A gush of wind cut her off, followed by another. “..know?” Zap turned again to see Fillysecond holding something in her hoof. “What’s that?”

“Whatever it is, it’s shiny!” Fillysecond held up the card. A stylized alicorn on a holographic background, emblazoned with silver letters.

F.O.A.L.E.

Fillysecond jerked her stare up from the card and looked at Zap. “So, wanna join our team?”

Zap continued to stare at the card. “Okay.”

“Great! Meeting is at the Hall of Friendship tomorrow morning!” Fillysecond dropped into a runners stance.

“Hey! What was up with you kissing—” Before Zap could finish, Fillysecond was miles away. She took one last look at the card, tossed it to the ground, and walked off.

To Be Continued!

Author's Note

*See the freshly baked last issue, true believers!

** See Issue 17 of Masked Matterhorn!

***Mane-a-zons Attack Issue 3

Superior Second Chapter!

Daring fidgeted around in the tight confines of the carriage. A quick glance up gave her a view of Coltson and Madame le Fleur smiling at her, almost in awe of her presence. Daring gave a weak smile back, then cringed when her wing got pinned against the door.

“You’d think high class guys like you would travel in style,” she grunted, retracting her wing.

“Too much attention,” Coltson replied almost instantly. “Everything we do has to be on the down low.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve seen these types of movies.”

The carriage finally came to a halt outside of a nondescript diner on the outskirts of Canterlot. Daring peered out the tiny window and shielded her eyes from the harsh pink glare of the broken neon sign that towered above them, straining to make out the letters.

Daring scoffed incredulously. “The donut shop? Seriously?”

“Like I said, low profile.” Coltson hopped out of the carriage first. “Besides, we get a discount.”

Daring unfolded herself from the tight space and trotted after Coltson. Madame le Fleur slid out of her seat with little effort and followed behind. Daring remembered the shop. One of her usual hangouts before she was old enough to go get drunk, she had gotten to know the previous owner well. After the diner changed hooves a few times, it now stood as a whitewashed, black and white checkerboard floored symbol of an era gone by.

A smattering of customers glanced up from their plates to eye the strangers, sprinkle speckled smiles pointed in their direction. Daring smiled back, feeling a blush of embarrassment creep into her cheeks as Coltson proceeded to march up to the counter like he owned the place. They watched him lean over to whisper in the unicorn’s ear.

“...and the special, extra sprinkles,” was all that was audible.

Daring rolled her eyes and glanced over to Fleur. “You realize how corny this all is, right?”

“Shhhh!” Fleur scolded, hoof to her lips.

Daring watched Coltson slip into the employee door and wave for them to follow. Fleur took the lead and passed through, leaving Daring standing alone with mouth agape. It was as if all the old spy movies she’d seen were coming true. After a few seconds hesitation, she closed her eyes and marched into the back room. The smell of baking donuts filled the air, and made her stomach growl. Her eyes popped open and took a quick survey of the area.

“Your HQ is a kitchen?”

Fleur giggled and pressed a button on the nearby wall. Daring’s eyes grew wide as she watched the wall slide open to reveal flickering lights that lit the way to a staircase leading underground. She made a mental note to ask where she could get a coupon for her own secret passage, then hesitantly followed Coltson down into the well-lit depths. Her wings bristled the deeper they got, and Fleur following close behind kept Daring’s senses on alert. A few tingles of distrust still remained.

Soon the trio emerged into a sprawling cavern. Monitors and various other screens of activity reflected an eerie blue glow off the crystal formations that clung to the damp walls. The hum of magic-powered machinery, as well as steam and electricity filled her ears. The faint smell of ozone from magic residue hung in the air.

Much to Daring’s surprise, the place didn’t look as amazing as it felt. No whitewashed walls and floors reflecting harsh lighting. No war room table to gather around. At least something that looked like the Hall of Friendship would’ve been nice. Instead, all Daring could see were a collection of generators, tables, and office furniture strewn around a cavern. In fact, it felt no different than being in her office back at the university.

“I was anticipating something more... impressive...”

Fleur shrugged and trotted past Daring. “We take what we can get, and are thankful we even get that sometimes.”

Daring stood in place and took it all in. “I used to play in the crystal mines when I was a filly. Never bumped into you guys before.”

“That’s because you’re not supposed to,” Coltson interrupted. “I’d love to give you a tour, but we have business to attend to.”

"Evil doesn't take time for formalities, huh?" Daring deadpanned.

"Well, we haven't been entirely honest with you," Fleur began. "You see, we exist to keep things peaceful. Facing threats from outside that Princess Celestia shouldn't or cannot take on."

"I get all that," Daring scoffed. "Enemies to the throne aren't exactly a secret. So why all the hush hush?"

"Because we deal with the threats in a more... frowned upon approach," Coltson replied.

Daring blinked. "The magic of friendship, huh?"

"Please understand we don't enjoy it either," Fleur added.

"Besides, what good is a task force when we let the enemy fight another day?"

All three turned to the source of the voice. An immaculately white unicorn in a well pressed suit. Even his unshorn fetlocks were in order, accentuating his deep black hooves. His blue mane gave the impression of a poor toupee yet somehow even it radiated class all its own. If Daring didn't know better, she could've sworn she saw him on a Monopony board.

The mustached pony adjusted his monocle, cleared his throat, and spoke in a refined Trottingham accent. "So, you're the great Daring Do. Agent Coltson has told me so much about your exploits. I trust you enjoy seeing your tax bits at work?"

Daring glanced over to Coltson, who tried to hide his blush.

"I'm... kind of a fan..."

The unicorn politely bowed to Daring. "I am the director of the FOALE agency. You may call me Fancy Pants. Is is a privilege to meet you.” He extended his hoof.

Daring shook with Fancypants, tipping her fedora in an effort to appear professional. "Uh, likewise. So, what's a well-to-do high society pony like you doing in the down and dirty business?" She let a smirk play across her face.

"I see my reputation precedes me." Fancy Pants smiled. "The whole millionaire playcolt thing, while true to an extent, act as my cover."

"So you fight crime too?"

"Not anymore, I don't. The life of luxury and long periods of peace in Canterlot have taken their toll on this old body. That is why I formed this group."

Daring found a coffee machine set up on a nearby rock and began to tinker with it in the vain hopes that there would be a frappe setting. "Isn't there a better way to handle these things?"

"Like what? The Elements of Harmony?" Fancy Pants laughed, which made Coltson and Fleur laugh along with him. "Diplomacy can only get you so far, my dear. Some threats can't bought or begged."

Daring gave up her efforts and thumped the machine with a hoof, then turned back to Fancy Pants. "So what do you need me for?"

"That is the question, isn’t it?" he replied. "See, we have plenty of muscle in the group, but no brains. Well, brains of your calibre anyway. Seeing as how your methods are unorthodox and you have no qualms breaking foreign policies to achieve your goals—"

"Now wait just a minute!" Daring snapped. "Just because I bend the rules and have a problem with authority doesn't mean I'm capable of killing ponies!"

"That's not what your file says." Fancy Pants frowned, then looked over his shoulder at Coltson, who went to a nearby drawer. She watched as he fiddled with the rusted lock, only for the drawer to spring open and bury him in enough files to keep the university stocked for a year. Coltson dug himself from the pile and levitated out a manilla envelope labeled EMPLOYMENT PENDING, opening it for Daring to see.

Daring Do (Dazzle)
Current employment Professor of history and social studies at Canterlot University
Skill set Uncanny foresight, deductive reasoning, hawk-like vision, photographic memory, self-taught tactical fighter, millisecond reaction time
Mental profile Headstrong, confident, abnormally stubborn.
HIGH-MAINTENANCE. APPROACH WITH CAUTION

Daring muttered under her breath, “Dazzle, huh? You certainly do your research.”

She glanced at Fleur, then to Coltson. Not just any pony could get an offer like this, and she knew these ponies hired her for a reason. All those Saturday mornings as a filly with her sugar frosted cereal, watching the Power Ponies fight dumb villains like Bloodstock or Dr. Dapple, suddenly became real right before her eyes. She always did feel her skills were underappreciated in the workplace.

"If I end up stuffed in a fridge, I hope it's yours."

Fleur De Lis lead Daring into another room, filled with several rows of computers and a rather large monitor dominating the back wall. Daring stared at the monitor until it sunk in that she was looking at various images of streets in Canterlot. Her eyes widened in surprise while her stomach lurched when the image of her own house appeared onscreen.

“Suddenly the mare in the tinfoil hat has some valid points.”

Fleur chuckled. “It’s not as entertaining as you might think. You’d be surprised how ineffective this system is… for the most part.”

Daring looked around, realizing that there weren’t nearly as many ponies occupying the computers as she expected. Only one unicorn was lazily kicking back in his chair, tapping keys with his magic.

“Agent Pierce,” Fleur said.

The sky blue unicorn stopped typing and swung his chair around, revealing an overly curled silver mane and a long horn that made Daring snap her hind legs together. “Ah, darling!” he said, leaping towards Fleur and giving her a hug. “I was just giddy when the director informed me that you’d be helming this investigation! No doubt in my mind that this is going to one spicy adventure for us!”

Pierce turned to Daring. “Oh! And whom have we here?” His eyes looked her over from front to plot, which he followed with a playful slap to her cutie mark. “I must say, where did you get that darling trenchcoat? Think they have one in my size?”

Daring clenched her jaw and fought off the sudden thoughts of what a pony like Pierce would do in a trenchcoat. “Please keep your hooves off me.”

“And a feisty one too! Oh, Deadfoal is gonna like you!”

“Who?” Daring glanced over to Fleur.

“Another member of our task force. You’ll meet them soon enough.”

“I’m sure you’ll love our little organization! It’s fabulous!” Pokey danced on his hind hooves then fell back into his chair in a dramatic fashion. “I do the research and development around here. You need anything, just ask.”

Daring glanced around the room, taking note of all the computer equipment that normally wouldn’t be seen in Equestria, as well as several heaps of comic books. “I don’t see much development. Just an unhealthy obsession and a fire hazard.”

“Pokey’s job is to cull through all the comics to find any weapons or devices we might need, then extract them,” Fleur explained.

“Extract? I thought the portal spell only worked one way?”

“It does! But! I’ve found a way to reverse it. For inorganic matter anyway.” Pokey smiled. “Can’t have any of the heroes or villains running around with their unpredictable powers, now can we?”

Daring walked over to the pile of comics and looked them over. “So, this our tax bits at work too?”

Fleur joined Daring near the pile and picked up Power Ponies Annual #1, a nostalgic look in her eyes. “Actually, all of these are from our private supplier, whom Fancy Pants recently acquired.”

Daring blinked and the gears clicked in her head. “Fancy Pants bought Enchanted Comics?!”

“Of course!” Pokey added. “It would be too obvious if a nerd like Coltson did it!”

“Ahem!”

All three turned to see Coltson in the doorway.

“Oh, hey boss!” Pokey waved, a giddy smile on his face.

Coltson ignored the idiot unicorn and approached Fleur, whispering in her ear. “If the tour is finished, you and Daring are to report to the briefing room. We have some new information.”

Daring noticed Fleur’s surprised look and cocked a brow. “Something wrong?”

“You’re about to join us on our first assignment!” Coltson smiled.

“You haven’t even done anything?!” Daring blurted. “I thought you’d have like... some kind of track record of amazing adventures or something!”

Fleur shrugged. “We don’t attack unless absolutely necessary. For now, it’s all been surveillance.”

"I don't feel comfortable with somepony watching me go to the bathroom."

"And yet you're completely okay with strange mares buying you cider?" Fleur batted her eyelashes.

Daring swallowed her breath.

“I would take her up on that offer, Agent Daring,” said Fancy Pants. He strolled into the room with two stallions in sunglasses and black ties by his side then waved them off. “At ease.” He approached Daring and smiled. “Now, as for the specific reason why we require your services…”

“In a nutshell,” Pierce said as he spun around in his chair, “we’re trying to keep Celestia’s pretty little head on her neck.”

Daring blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”

Fancy Pants cleared his throat. "As you may or may not know, there have been rumblings of an insurgency within Equestria. The return of our sorely missed Princess Luna has drawn some interesting ponies out of the woodwork." Fancy Pants brought up an image of several ponies lined up and shackled together. "What we've managed to extract from the ones we have caught, is there are some who would much prefer Nightmare Moon's eternal night, as they see Celestia as an impostor and a manipulator."

“Oh.” Daring scoffed and rolled her eyes. "That stuff's been around since I was a filly. I remember looking into a tribe that thought the sun was slowly poisoning them. They thought burning a moonstone that was really just a block of salt would bring about eternal night. And they aren’t weren’t even the dumbest of the bunch."

"As I suspected, your academic dissertations on the lies of Equestrian history are most fascinating." Fancy Pants cocked a brow.

Daring felt all eyes on her. "Whoa, whoa… You don't honestly believe I'm one of them.... Do you?"

Fancy Pants managed to make a mild frown look intimidating. "That depends. How much of your research did you actually believe?"

"Why ask me? You're just gonna tell me it's all real anyway."

Fancy Pants smiled. "And that is precisely why I hired you!" He turned back to the image and frowned. "These so-called Moon Dreamers... They have managed to stay one step ahead of us, but an observant mind like yours could help us turn the tide before they do anything drastic."

"Like what? Turn the lights off?"

Fleur held a hoof to her snout in a vain attempt to hide her chuckle. "Actually, the annual Princess Summit is coming up and all the known princesses will be in attendance. As well as wealthy socialite ponies like Fancy and myself."

"And what better place to make a political statement?" Coltson added.

Daring shook her head. "Sounds like the kind of place I don't belong."

Fancy Pants waved a hoof at Pierce, who began typing and talking. “While we do have every reason to believe that our dearest Princess Celestia is in mortal danger, it would be folly of us to ask her to cancel such a critical event.”

Partially monochrome images appeared on the big screen, showing public workers setting up gold and blue streamers and drapes across the streets of Canterlot. Others gave glimpses of armed soldiers standing in formation along the rooftops.

“It seems secure enough,” Daring comments.

“That is a picture of a security rehearsal from three days ago,” Pierce replies, sounding grim. “Our hidden cameras took a second set of pictures at the exact same time today. What we found was… not exactly promising.”

The pictures of soldiers refreshed. Daring sympathized with Pierce, quickly noticing how many soldiers were absent in the shots compared to the ones before, and how the soldiers’ stoic expressions had grown faint. “I heard there was a Feather Flu outbreak, but this is uncanny…”

Fancy Pants nodded. “It’s nothing less than sabotage. Having this event coming up makes finding the missing soldiers even more of a hassle for Princess Celestia. By the time she gains a lead, it’ll likely be too late.”

“We have less than two months to identify, locate and silence her attackers,” said Fleur. She seemed to be the only one in good spirits, smiling broadly as she trotted up to Daring. “But that’s nothing to you, isn’t it? I know you can escape from even the most deadly traps in only ten seconds flat.”

"You've been reading those horseapple novels about me, haven't you?" Daring said bluntly.

"The other good news,” Pierce added as he tapped a few more keys, bringing up a picture of a crowded street in front of Canterlot Castle. “We surveyed some more footage of the preparations for the summit, and we found an interesting pony of interest.” He paused for a moment. “Uh, yeah. Anyway…”

The image zoomed in on what appeared to be a young stallion in a blue vest and hoodie.

“So, we’re dealing with a ponykour artist?” Daring suggested. “Some graffiti here and there to spread anarchy?”

“Maybe an assassin,” Coltson muttered.

“That was going to be my second guess.” Daring rolled her eyes.

Pierce cackled. “Oh, I am going to love working with you. Anyway, how do you reckon we learned what we did from this fella?”

Daring smiled, knowing exactly what to say. “Zoom in and enhance!”

“Yeeeeah... I can only do one of those things...” Pierce tapped a single key several times, zooming in on the picture. He adjusted it a little so the screen was able to focus on a pixelated pin on the hoodlum’s vest.

“Why is it so blurry?” Daring asked.

“You can’t ‘enhance’ images, silly!” Pierce waved a hoof. “This isn’t television.”

“Coulda fooled me. We have all these computers and a twenty-four hour surveillance system but you can’t boost a photo’s resolution for- Wait, what’s up with that pin?”

“Just as I thought. Moon Dreamers.” Coltson stood upright, a look of anger in his eye.

Daring squinted at the blurry mass and tilted her head a few times. “It looks like a crescent moon.”

“Probably to identify each other without interception,” Fleur added.

“But isn’t it kind of obvious if they’re all wearing one?”

“Not really. You should see my saddlebag!” Peirce giggled.

Daring backed away. “No offense, but I’d rather not be involved with anything near your plot.”

“Your loss!”

Fleur stepped between the two. "Daring, how would you like to go to dinner?"

Daring opened her mouth to reply, but Fancy Pants cut her off. "Splendid idea! It would allow for closer surveillance of our target as well as team building!"

"Yeah... team building," Fleur muttered.

Despite being one of the wealthiest ponies in Canterlot, Daring had never set hoof inside the exotic Bardigiano restaurant. Being a pegasus in a town full of set in their ways unicorns usually kept Daring indoors or across the world to avoid drama. Seeing the oppulent display of Canterlot riches and architecture before her made her stomach lurch.

"I hear they have amazing vegan spaghetti," Fleur muttered as she glanced up from her menu.

"Huh?"

"Is everything alright?"

"I just... I don't feel comfortable." Daring tugged at the collar of her black turtleneck. The bun her mane had been done up in suddenly felt like a weight atop her head.

"The disguises do take some getting used to." Fleur smiled.

Daring starred at the bespectacled unicorn in the shimmering blue dress and Sunday
chappeu. "I... I mean I don't do well in uppity social settings..."

Fleur giggled. "There's nothing wrong with being one of the colts, darling. But do remember that, for the moment, Daring Do doesn’t exist."

“Ouch,” Daring sarcastically groaned, crossing her hooves over her chest. “Rip out my still beating heart, why don’t you?”

"Just focus on the job. We need to stop these insurgents." Fleur quickly smiled at the waiter and took two glasses of wine in her magic.

Daring stared thoughtfully at her glass. "I thought insurgent and terrorist was the same thing?"

"Terrorists will strike anypony they see fit. Insurgency is another word for a group of rebels."

"I'll show them a revolution..."

"You're lucky your reputation precedes you, Daring. Don't let your passion get in the way. This is a time when your observation skills are required. Once my sensors," Fleur tapped her horn, "pick up the tracings we left on the insurgents, you will observe everything about them down to the size of their nostrils."

"Ew... why would I want to look in their nostrils?"

"You make me laugh." Fleur traced the edge of her wine glass and took another long sip. "Mmm, do have some. If only to appear inconspicuous."

Daring smirked the apparent challenge and snatched up her glass. Unfortunately, the glass was a fluted design meant for unicorn magic. It promptly snapped in half in Daring’s hooves, emptying its contents down her chest.

"Aww... my turtleneck..."

Fleur appeared to be ignoring the prying eyes of nearby customers, but Daring couldn't help think that she was having a growing concern over the success of the mission. Regardless, she remained steady as she levitated napkins to the table to soak up the wine stains.

"I at least like that you can stay in good humor about this, just so long as you know what is at stake."

"I learned a long time ago that taking things too seriously hurts..." Daring sighed. "Work, education, hobbies... love..."

"I think you'll find that I take love as a simple pleasure. It comes and goes... But when it comes, oh how amazing it feels." Fleur's eyes glinted with nostalgia. Daring blushed when she felt Fleur's hoof through her thinly veiled sleeves touch her foreleg. "Not that I love you, Daring. I mean, we’ve only just met."

Daring blinked. "You don't love me? I'm offended!" She playfully crossed her arms and huffed. "To be honest... I'm still kind of recovering from the last.. um... breakup."

"I wish I could tell you I know how you feel," Fleur sighed. "Most of my romances are brief, usually ending in a spilling of information and a tap on the head. Then they're out cold and I'm reporting the success of a mission."

"Ouch... so it's all strictly business? No real attachments?"

Fleur gave a strained smile as she glanced up at Daring. "Not that I can’t feel affection. For instance, I wouldn't mind seeing a little more of you, assuming this mission is a success. A little stress relief might do us both well."

"You... don't seem stressed."

"Sweating on the inside, dear. A lot of lives are counting on us right now, but you wouldn't be here if FOALE hadn't unanimously agreed that you would be a valuable asset."

Daring blinked. "Are you asking me out?"

Fleur giggled and gestured with her hooves. "We are out."

"It's just... my last... um...I guess 'adventure date', didn't end well..."

"...Do you want to talk about it?" Fleur sipped at her wine. "We need cover conversation and I would like to know you more."

"I thought we had a mission? Besides, the way you fawn all over Fancy Pants, I didn't think you'd be into mares..."

"It's an act, darling..." Fleur loudly whispered, her blush so bright it reflected off every
glass surface in the room. "Not that he isn't all stallion."

"Oh!” Daring smirked and her wings bristled. “So, out of the blue: does Fancy Pants bat for the other team too?"

"He's experienced the pleasure of embracing a stallion in private, yes." Fleur smirked, and Daring began to wonder if the wine was taking effect. "As have I. We 'high society folk', as you call us, have the time to experience certain... pleasures others cannot. You may not wish to see my toy collec—" She paused and bolted upright. "Don't look away from me! I sense the insurgents!"

"Where are they?" Daring kept her focus on the unicorn in front of her. She never noticed how beautiful her eyes were until the glow of her horn illuminated them. Radiant sapphires that betrayed a mind that she was convinced could rip her apart, body and soul.

Maybe it was the thrill of the mission, but Daring felt herself getting flustered. Fleur continued to levitate her wine glass to disguise her horn's light. "Three stallions taking the booth seat in the corner closest to the fish tank. Take a glance at them for no longer than a second every minute, and tell me what you see. Until then, pretend we're talking about something less important."

"They're all wearing that crescent moon insignia. Like groupies or something," Daring whispered. She quickly glanced back and took a normal tone. "So, how did all this agent stuff start?"

"Much like you, I was picked up off the streets. I was merely a whelp in comparison to what I am now. I had a promising career as a model ahead of me, and at a party for the modeling company, I was on a dare to flirt with the first stallion I came across. Believe it or not, I was a nervous wreck."

"And that stallion happened to be Fancy Pants?"

"The one and only. He was captivated by my beauty, and we formed a fast friendship... following the afterparty lovemaking, of course." She took another heavy gulp of wine. She glanced at Daring as she did, and gave a faint smile. "I suppose I should admit that stories of your exploits inspired me."

"They weren't all fun and games..." Daring glanced again and saw the three talking casually. "Unicorns, all black, look like teens."

"Anyway, he came to all of my photoshoots as a confidence booster and introduced me to his fellow upperclass ponies. Eventually, I found myself speaking their words, immersing myself into their culture. Seducing mares and colts alike just with a few words. It felt incredible."

Another pull at her wine allowed her to catch her breath. "That's when he introduced me to FOALE, claiming my confidence and seduction skills could be incredibly useful."

"And now you have me swept up in your scouting group..." Daring glanced over again and cringed. "One of them winked at me."

"Steer into the slide, Daring. We can do this faster if you use that to your advantage."

"What? I'm not a trollop! No offense..."

"None taken. Just return his casual affection as a means to taking in what they're doing."

Daring winked back just in time to see one of the stallions turn his head. "They're passing an envelope to the pony in the booth behind them."

Fleur exhaled slowly. "Hm, these ones are savvy. They know better than to relay information with their mouths. Spoken words can be lost." Daring caught on that every time Fleur sipped her wine, she was looking at them too. "No doubt the boys are pawns. They don't look that smart. Watch the one with the envelope. He's most important."

"He could be the one from the photo, but I can't tell."

Fleur jerked her eyes back to Daring. "Keep talking."

Daring nodded. "I guess my observation skills could be used for more than treasure. But I have enough ponies and other things trying to kill me without being a super spy."

"Daring." Fleur nodded towards the booth.

"What?" Daring glanced over and saw the pony stand and head for the door. "Shouldn't we stop him?"

"Already have an image of him being scanned. Magic messaging fire is a handy tool."

"What magic messaging..." Daring's eyes landed on the candle at the table, burning a soft green light, and her jaw fell slack. "You are good."

Fleur brushed her mane with a dainty hoof. "Naturally."

"So... we return to base?"

"No, we enjoy our dinner. Fancy Pants paid this reservation in advance." Two heaping plates of spaghetti were sat before them. "Come now."

The chilling rain down her spine jolted Daring' s wings upright. "I don't recall this being in the forecast," she managed to gasp between chattering teeth.

"All I can think of is how warm my apartment must be, " Fleur leaned into Daring and batted her eyes beneath her drenched mane.

Daring coughed. "So um... how do you seduce mares that don't... ya know... go that way?" Her hind legs subconsciously began rubbing together.

"Magic is very powerful, Daring..." Her horn lit up in a soft pink glow that brought a brief respite from the surrounding gloom. Then she spoke in a disturbingly sexy male voice, "I
don't adapt to the situation; I change it."

"But they'll find out you're not a stallion when you... ya know..."

"Daring," she cut in, her voice that of another male. "Magic."

She blushed. "I assume you want to show me the company benefits package?"

"If you so wish," Fleur replied nonchalantly. "A night of guilt free lovemaking might be cathartic for somepony as pent up as you." She leaned into Daring again. "Any objections?"

"N...no....just... don't do the guy stuff... creeps me out..."

Her voice returned to normal. "Good work tonight, Daring. My apartment is this way."

"That was just Tier One?!" Daring panted.

Fleur hummed contentedly as she poked her head out from under the sheets. "I can tone it down a little if you wish." An idle hoof traced along Daring's navel.

"No.. it's fine..." Daring tried to push back the memories in her head. "Just... you're going to be a tough act to follow when I get a turn..."

"Perhaps you can give me your best shot? I can imagine that might be rather... purgative for you." Daring felt the hoof wander lower, teasingly stopping just above her haunch then return to her stomach.

"I've never pleasured another mare before... in fact I haven't been with a pony since..." She let out a hollow laugh. "I'm not making any promises."

"Talk about it if you wish. Part of being an agent means having a clear conscience."

"Eh… I’d rather not." Daring casually waved a hoof. "I’m way past it.”

"Very well. And don’t worry about the implications of this. Fancy Pants isn't strict. He believes that open hearts leads to better companionship, which means that instead of somepony taking a bullet, they work well enough together that no bullets have to be taken." Fleur nipped at Daring's neck.

"Wishful thinking..." Daring closed her eyes and sighed at the feeling. "From my experience, professional relationships are nothing but trouble."

"I understand if you'd be reluctant to trust your life to FOALE, but we need your skill set to prevent this insurgency. And you have been most helpful tonight... I think you deserve another reward."

Daring opened her mouth to respond, but Fleur already disappeared back under the covers.

Power Ponies Annual #1

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, she's just a filly!"

"There is something special about her, and I don't want her falling into the wrong hooves."

“You talk of her like she’s an object! Who are you afraid of? The Balefire Club? You think they actually exist?”

Madame le Fleur sat quietly, watching the two ponies argue. After spending a lonely week alone in the spacious Canterlot Tower, she had time to think over how her life got so out of control. Shadows of her past crept in the darkness, making it hard for her to sleep at night. If she knew she was going to be this much trouble, she wouldn’t have said yes.

Now the equally spacious School For Gifted Unicorns loomed around her, sending mixed messages to her addled brain. Such grandeur should make her feel important, but it only heightened her terror. The way they spoke of her in hushed tones.

What am I?

Princess Celestia sighed and walked across the room to look out the large window over Canterlot. “They do exist. Which is why we exist.” She turned and walked over to le Fleur, placing a gentle hoof on her head. “When I founded this school, it was only for gifted unicorns. Over time I learned that the magic that binds us works in mysterious ways, and I made it my goal to teach them how to control that power for the greater good.”

“You mean like a task force.”

“To put it so bluntly, yes. Some ponies wish to paint those special from them in a negative light. While others wish to abuse their power and rule by fear. Superiority.”

“And you don’t?”

Celestia chuckled. “I haven’t heard of a better idea, sister.”

Luna spread her wings and raised her voice. “Maybe the magic that binds us is something we can’t fully control. Maybe we’re not as special as we think. At least, not anymore.”

“What are you saying, sister?”

“We’re already showing weakness by taking her in!” le Fleur shrank under Luna’s accusing hoof that jabbed in her direction. “I’ve seen her dreams! The secret she keeps from us!”

Celestia frowned. “Don’t you think I know that? But casting her aside because of that makes us no better than them!”

“It’s always about them, isn’t it? What about us? We have to do what’s good for the kingdom!”

“Showing compassion is not a sign of weakness!” Celestia snapped. “You think the ponies should see us behaving like the enemy?”

“To some, we already are the enemy.”

Celestia cocked a brow. “Whatever personal qualms you have with me or my subjects should not affect your position as princess. She stays and my decision is final.”

“You’re making a big mistake, sister.” Luna shook her head. In a flash as brilliant as the moonlight, she was gone.

Celestia looked over to the filly and let a faint smile cross her lips. “Don’t be upset, little one. No one is mad at you.”

“I want to go home...” le Fleur muttered, eyes glued to the floor. “I’m scared.”

“Everypony is scared at first. But soon, you’ll be in control of your power, and others will see you how I see you.”

“I hope so...”

The years went by in almost a blur, and soon a brave teenager stood before Celestia. All the training and guidance to make her into the top student at the academy paid off. Le Fleur admired herself in the mirror of Celestia's chambers, taking in the sight of a pony from the wrong side of the tracks now clad in a brilliant blue graduation uniform.

She turned and smiled to the alicorn. "Thank you, Princess, for giving me a chance."

"Please, call me Celestia." For a brief moment, she looked humble, a faint blush on her cheeks. "And it is my belief that everypony deserves a chance."

"Oh! I wanted to show you something!" Fleur closed her eyes and blinked out to her room, then reappeared almost as quick as she vanished, her graduation cloak hitting the floor upon her arrival. "Presenting, the all new, all different, Madame le Fleur!"

Celestia bit her lip, trying not to laugh. There Fleur stood, head to hoof in a gold bodysuit, layered with a green striped top and a pink balerina dress. Roller blades that glittered blue adorned her hooves and her gold tiara rested in front of fuzzy fake Breezy antenna.

"It certainly is different," Celestia wheezed, wiping a tear from her eye. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh."

"You don't like it?" Fleur frowned, pointing her doe eyes that had become infamous around the Colts dorm at the mighty princess.

"No, I love it! But... perhaps you would prefer something more professional?"

"Like an official uniform?" Fleur' s tail began to wag like an excited puppy. "I get to be on the team?!"

Celestia stifled another chuckle. "I didn't say that. I can't deny your power is unique, but that is all the more reason we need to be careful." She locked eyes with Fleur and felt her face grow hot.

"So I'm not on the team?"

Those doe eyes again worked their magic. Celestia fell to her rump, eyes locked onto the sad face of a heart-broken filly. She couldn't help but notice that Fleur's body looked a lot like her own at that age. She could potentially share her own frame when fully grown, but Celestia didn't want it that way. She wanted her while she was still manageable.

"Something wrong, princess?"

Luna's voice echoed in Celestia's head. She wasn't making a mistake! She was practicing the kindness she preached for Faust's sake! She knew the risks, as well as the magic that had its grip on her right now. Celestia's brow furrowed and she could feel sweat forming. If she could stand up to Discord's magic, she could handle a filly not in control of her power.

"Everything is fine. I... I'll discus with the team later..."

"Yay!" Fleur hopped on her hooves like a rabbit and disappeared back to her room.

Celestia slumped back and sighed. The thick air of the room dissipated, which let her realize how hot she was. "I hope I'm not making a mistake..."

Astonishing Third Chapter

Daring Do stood on the front stoop of her spacious mansion, built on a smaller cliff to overlook the rest of Canterlot and be elevated away from enemies and annoying unicorns. To think some unicorns took offense, believing such an act was a declaration she was equal or better than the Princess.

If only they knew.

The moon hung low in the sky, amplified by the rain clouds that had given Daring an excuse to explore the intimate side of her new employers. Not that she didn’t like Madame le Fleur, it was just too soon to dive into another professional relationship for her tastes. She hoped the unicorn understood it was nothing personal.

After fumbling for her keys in her coat pocket, then dropping them on the ground, Daring paused and winked in the direction she assumed the surveillance camera was pointing at her front door. No doubt Pokey was laughing his ass off at the flustered way she looked right now. Not that he would know what sleeping with a mare would feel like.

She pressed the key to the lock and the door slowly creaked open, sending Daring' s wings upright on high alert. The door was always locked. No excuses. She examined the frame and door for any signs of entry and found none. The wood remained intact and the chains were still attached to the door. Even the alarm system wasn’t armed.

Having a study full of artifacts from around the world always held the possibility some less than scrupulous treasure hunters would, in fact, try to raid her home as if it were a temple. Between potential thieves, nosy museum ponies, and the occasional stolen artifact that she shouldn’t have kept; it paid to have a fancy security system in place.

Daring crept into the entrance hall, feeling like a stranger in her own home. All the lights were on, and a few chairs at the dining table were misplaced. She ventured further in and approached her study. No doubt any burglar would be drawn to there. Ancient Zanzebrian wooden masks leered down at her from one of the walls, while her desk was crammed with documents and books that painted a less than stellar history of Equestria. In the far corner stood a giant globe, covered in markings and coordinates. Little flags marked the places she had been.

She walked up to the globe and frowned. Every day the number of places to explore seemed to get smaller.

A rattle in the distance made her ear twitch, and she spun on her hooves to face the hallway. "Hello?" she called out into the foyer, her voice a flat echo against faux-leather chairs and wooden tables. She used her teeth to grab a baton from the nearby umbrella stand, stashed there for such emergencies, and crept around the corner to the rest of the hallway.

Shuffling could be heard from the downstairs bedroom. She tip-hoofed towards the open door, where light spilled out into the darkened hallway and reflected off of various photos of her journeys. Daring pressed herself against the wall, her teeth biting hard on the cool metal. Sweat dripped down her brow as she prepared a means of attack. After a few agonizing seconds, the pony intruder walked out into the hall, and in one deft motion, the baton came crashing down into his side.

"OW! WHAT IN THE NAME OF..." The brown stallion jerked around and glared at Daring, who wore a nervous smile around the baton. "The name of Tirek is your problem?!"

Daring spat the baton on the floor and she flinched at the loud clang. "The front door was open! I thought you were in trouble!"

"From who?!"

"Uh... that's classified..."

******

"Daring," Winston began, resting his head on a hoof. "I know you have a job to do and you make enemies doing it, but why in Celestia' s name would you beat this old stallion half to death?"

The pegasus rolled her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, Dad.” She knew she had to treat Winston right, as he was the only father figure she had in her life. The only parent in her life. After she discovered his own skeletons, she respected him even more.

The unicorn frowned. “Where were you?”

“I was out with a new employer. Nothing special.”

Winston sighed and went back to picking at his salad with the fork held in his magic. “You know I support you wanting to live your dreams, but I can’t help but notice things getting more and more dangerous as time wears on.”

“And I appreciate you being worried about my safety,” Daring countered, her own salad crammed into her mouth. “But I got bills to pay too, and you always wanted that nice retirement.”

“That’s just the problem!" Winston slammed his hooves on the table causing the plates and forks to rattle. "These jobs you take barely pay enough for anything! What you can sell you keep locked up in trophy cases!”

Daring blinked. “Is there something wrong, Dad?”

Winston slumped in his chair. “It’s Elle... she... I got word she died yesterday...”

Daring held her breath, and she could swear the air around her grew colder. “Oh... I’m sorry to hear that.”

Few things in life were worth fighting for. Even fewer worth fighting your own country for. Daring remembered Elle from what she learned about her foster father, and why he adopted her in the first place. Love may conquer all, but it certainly didn’t win wars.

“I... I’d like to go back to the Gryphon Lands and pay my respects... but...”

Daring fidgeted in her chair. “I could... sell some of my things... if you...”

“I don’t want to lose you too...”

Daring swallowed. "Dad, we've been over this. I'm fine, everything is fine. I can scrape together a few bits to help you out and..." She didn't know what else to say. What could she say? What could he do if she defied him?

"You would've loved her," Winston whispered, staring at the table. "You act so much like her sometimes I just..."
"I know, Dad... I know..."

The rest of their meal went by in heavy silence. When everything was finished Daring stood from her seat and walked over to give Winston a hug.

"I love you, Dad."

"You too, Daring."

With that, she sulked off to her bedroom, leaving the unicorn to his thoughts. Her wings bristled at the sudden realization that one day, he wouldn't be around anymore. Even worse, it would happen while she was gone.

She slid out of her clothes and into her bed, a strange mix of thoughts featuring Winston and Fleur swirled in her head, making her stomach churn. The bits she would no doubt rake in from this job would be more than enough to help her dad and then some. She rolled over and her eyes landed on a painting she obtained from an adventure in Prance. Surely some pony would buy it?

All those comic book hero motivations suddenly made sense. With great power and all the other mantras. Could she honestly live with herself if she left Winston in his time of need? No answer came, and Daring shoved her face into her pillow. With no pony around to hear, she began to cry.

*****

Daring slowly opened her eyes. The sound of hoofsteps thundering through the mansion grew louder which forced her to sit upright.

"Holly Hooves, is that you?"

She looked up at the ceiling, watching small flecks of paint and plaster fall to the floor with each thump. Daring bolted out of bed just in time for a pony in a white hood to crash through the window, swinging on a rope.

"I don't know who you think you are, but you're pissing me off," Daring growled.

The pony in white said nothing, a blade slid from his sleeve and he dove forward, narrowly missing her snout. Daring reared back and threw her hooves up in a fighting stance, catching the attacker in the jaw.

"The MoonDreamers do not tolerate meddlers."

Another lunge forward and Daring wrapped her hooves around his neck, guiding his momentum into the wall. His horn pierced the drywall and Daring let go when he crumpled into an unconscious heap.

Her ears immediately perked up when she realized all the noise didn't wake Winston. She tore off down the hallway and kicked open his bedroom door, only to find an empty bed and an open window. She quickly darted through the window and swooped like a gryphon onto the lone retreating pony, obviously tripped up by his white robe. He glanced over his shoulder to see a wall of golden fur black out his vision, and the sound of a hoof crushing against his skull was the last thing to register.

The assassin pony opened his eyes and groaned. He shook his head to clear away the dizziness, only to realize that it came not from the blow to his head, but the blood rushing to it. He glanced up, or down to be more precise, and gasped when he realized he was swinging upside down over an open field.

He grit his teeth. Assassins weren’t afraid of heights. But a fall from even the meager height Daring was able to carry him would be enough to at least break every bone in his body. His body jerked left and right, alerting him to the hooves clasped around his hind leg. He bent his head upwards to lock eyes with Daring Do.

"Better start talking, scumbag. My wings are getting tired."

"You do not frighten me," his voice was deep and forced. Daring smirked at the false display and loosened her grip. The unicorn cried out in terror, his hood slipping away to show a dull grey stallion with white hair. "You were wrong to cross us! We have spies everywhere! None of you are safe!"

Daring let him slide a bit more. "Where's the unicorn you kidnapped?"

"I will never tell!"

"Then we're done here." Daring flew low and dropped him on his head, knocking him out once more right in front of the royal guards. "Make him comfortable."

The guards smirked and nodded.

*****

Fleur de Lis dropped the cup of coffee she held in her magic and let out a startled gasp that caught in her throat when Daring Do shoved her against the wall. The pain in Daring’s eyes so different from the tenderness she saw not more than a few hours ago.

"You're little adventure just got my father kidnapped!" Daring hissed through teeth clenched so hard Fleur could hear them grinding. Tears formed in the corners of those raspberry eyes, and Fleur could feel tears forming in her own.

"So we've heard..." Fleur struggled under the weight pressed against her. She didn’t feel that heavy in bed. That thought quickly dissipated when she felt a hoof press against her neck. In an attempt to play off the sweat forming on her forehead from sheer terror, Fleur tried to reason with the Daring she knew before. "Don't... don't you want to get him back...?"

"He wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for you!" Daring snapped. Tears of hot anger were visibly streaming now, staining her red cheeks. “How did they even know I was a part of your getup?!”

"You are pretty well known, Ms. Do," Coltson finally spoke up. "Rest assured we will help you rescue him."

Daring jerked away from Fleur and in a blink, planted her hoof right into Coltson' s snout. "With all due respect, you can go fuck yourselves."

Fancypants walked in at the commotion and froze at the sight of a frightened Fleur huddled against the wall and Coltson crumpled on the floor cradling a bloody nose. "What is the meaning of this?!"

Daring marched up to Fancypants, hemming on her hooves to look him in the eye. "The MoonDreamers are the meaning of this! If what happened is any indication, you have a rat problem! I want no part of it!"

"If you are questioning the credibility of my employees, I assure you—"

"Save it! They knew I was with you and now my father is being held ransom! I don't want anymore family hurt..." With those last words, Daring spun on her hooves and stormed out into the bakery.

Fancypants stood in silence, and set his jaw. He watched Coltson pick himself off the floor and grab a hoofful of napkins to shove into his nose.

“What are we going to do now?” Fleur managed to find her voice. She slowly inched herself off the wall she was up against, keeping her eyes fixed on his blank expression.

Fancypants stood in silence. Memories of his own lost parents coming back to haunt him. The whole reason he donned a costume and sought revenge hinged on a fateful night he had repressed for so long under comic book fantasy and imagination. The thought of putting others in danger always ate at him, but his capable hooves always picked the best and brightest to prevent anything from happening.

“I’ve gotten to confident in this game,” he whispered. “It was my mistake to think I could ever protect all of you at all times. Clearly we are dealing with an enemy beyond our standard protocols.”

“Are we going to try to get her back?” Fleur asked, her eyes wide and hopeful. It wasn’t any of their business why she liked Daring so much, if only to break the monotony of too many stallions around the base.

“We assume the worst,” Fancypants replied. “I understand the pain she is in right now, and such pain leads to irrational behavior.”

Fleur recoiled. “You’re not saying—”

Coltson trotted up, his air of professionalism ruined by the gobs of bloody tissues in his nostrils. “I can dispatch the squad to apprehend her.”

Fleur felt herself begin to cry, but bit back the tears by focusing more on the pit in her stomach. Somehow she knew all of this was her fault, and yet refused to accept that fact. Her eyes wandered over to the pile of comics, and on top of the pile-almost serendipitously-laid Power Ponies Annual #1. All the doubts about her namesake began swirling in her mind. “You’re not going to hurt her... are you?”

“Depends on how much of a fight she wants to put up,” Fancypants replied sternly. He walked over and looked Fleur in the eyes. “This is why you don’t get attached to your quarry.”

Fancypants and Coltson walked off, leaving Fleur to gather her thoughts. She glanced over at the bank of monitors and saw Daring hailing a taxi. How clever she thought to herself, already staying under the radar. She bit her lip and looked around to make sure no others could see her. Forgive me Fancypants, but I know I didn’t make a mistake choosing her!

****

“Well, well! What a surprise! I thought you pegasi liked to fly around all the time!” the taxi pulling pony spoke as she tried not to laugh. Her bright yellow coat almost blinded Daring when she emerged from the dimly lit bakery.

“Shouldn’t you be digging a hole somewhere?” Daring fired back, a smirk across her face.

The yellow mare fumed and pushed her black and white checkered hat over her eyes. “Now that’s just offensive!”

Daring laughed and climbed into the carriage seat. It helped to have connections, and the self named Taxi Brooklyn was her go-to get away driver when she needed a low profile. Earth ponies were even more a rare sight in Canterlot than pegasi, which lead Daring to form a fast friendship with the driver over their mutual alienation.

“You never call on me unless you did something wrong! What did you do, and will you pay for the damages?”

Daring slumped back into the soft cushions. “I hope I don’t.”

“Where to?”

“Anywhere but home, I have a feeling they’ll be waiting for me.” Daring’s eyes widened at the idea that sparked in her head. “Take me to the correctional center.”

“One of your friends get in trouble?” Taxi shook her head, her curly purple and white dyed mane bouncing around. “The company you keep sometimes.” She perked up and pointed at herself. “Present company excluded!”

“He’s no friend of mine,” Daring grumbled. “Wake me up when we get there. I’ve had a rough night.” She pulled her hat over her eyes and settled into the seat. The gentle motion of the rocking carriage enough to lull her back to sleep like a foal.

“Psst!” A voice whispered into her ear. “You might want to wake up. This is important!”

Daring grumbled and pulled the hat from over her eyes, only to come face to face with a red and black mask. She jolted back and punched it right in the nose, but to her shock it didn’t flinch.

“Yeah, I get that a lot from the mares.” It spoke. Once Daring got her senses, she could see it was a pony in a red and black skintight uniform, and a matching red mask with black around the eyes. The clatter of all his needless belts and buckles was proof enough he was real. “Names Deadfoal, and I’m here to take you in.”

“On what charges?”

“Whoa, hey! I’m not a royal guard or anything but...” He got up closer and Daring could see his bouncing eyebrows through the mask. “I’m sure we can work out some kind of agreement.”

Daring shoved him off. “What’s wrong with you?!” She noticed the odd smell of cherry pastries on his breath.

“Oh, I see. Heart belongs to another, eh? I saw what you and Fleur did in chapter two!”

“Excuse me?!”

“So, yeah. Better let me take you in, or else you’ll have to deal with the big guy.”

“Oh, like I’m really scared of Fancypants,” Daring mumbled.

“Not that big guy.” Deadfoal pointed out the window. “THAT big guy!”

Daring only had a few seconds to see a wall of black muscle slam into the side of the carriage. Deadfoal was bouncing around with her, giggling like a foal as the housing became ripped from its wheels and rolled across the ground.

Taxi picked herself up off the ground and shook the dust away. “AY! You crazy cracker ponies better have insurance before I—” she clammed up when she saw the commotion.

The huge black crystal pony jerked his head up and leveled his piercing green eyes at the mare. In a voice as loud as thunder, but just as relaxing, the stallion spoke. “Terribly sorry, ma’m. We’ll be done in a minute.”

“Don’t apologize, you idiot! We’re here to un-alive her!” Deadfoal grumbled from beneath the wreckage.

Daring wrenched her pinned wing free from the debris and looked up at her assailant. A wall of shiny black.crystaline flesh accuentated with stark white hair. "And who might you be, handsome?”

“My code name is Obsidian. That’s all you need to know, traitor.”

“Traitor?!” Daring tried to fly but a sharp pain shot through her wing. “I’m not even gone five minutes and you psychos already want to kill me?!”

“We’re just here to make sure you keep your pretty mouth shut,” Deadfoal spoke up as he emerged from the wreckage. Daring watched with morbid fascination as he pulled a few spikes of wood from his side and twisted his front leg back to normal without any cries of pain. “Of course, I know something you can put in your pretty mouth!”

Daring rolled her eyes. No wonder Fancypants needed her so badly. All he had were perverted idiots and pansies! Deadfoal managed to get uncomfortably close again, giving Daring a window of opportunity to plant a hind hoof right between his haunches. With him out of the way, she galloped off towards any place that could provide safety. Canterlot may have impressive architecture, but the wide streets and nonexistent alleyways made it difficult to hide.

Unfortunately, her rumination over deliberate design to accommodate militant guard ponies had been interrupted by a sharp pain in her back. The impact of something heavy slammed against her spine and sent her falling to the ground.

Daring glanced up through eyes bleary with pain to see a pink unicorn standing before her, a huge mallet in her magic grip. "Looks like I got to razzle the Dazzle!"

"Don't call me that..." Daring moaned. She could still feel her hind legs, so she drug herself towards a dumpster to lift herself off the ground. Once her eyes refocused she could see the unicorn dancing around and swinging her mallet. Her blonde mane and tail stood out from the bright pink of her body. The frilly white jabot around her neck and black domino mask were her only clothing.

The mare paused her dancing and glanced at Daring, who managed to upright herself. "Ready for more, eh? Okie dokie!" Daring crushed her eyes shut and braced for impact, but nothing came. She opened her eyes to see Fleur in a magic wrestling match with the pink mare over the weapon. Fleur pumped more magic into her horn, and wrenched the hammer away. The unicorn got her balance back from the sudden pull, only to receive a kick to the stomach, a few blows to the chin, and finally a faceful of dumpster.

"No need to thank me," Fleur spoke, dusting her hooves.

"Wasn't going... to..."

Obsidan crashed through the brick wall. Fleur shoved Daring out of the way and dropped to the ground, sliding under the charging mass. Her horn lit up and engulfed the stallion in a bright glow. Daring shielded her eyes and watched as the crystal transformation spell was undone, leaving a hapless grey stallion to fall on his face.

"Aw! You guys never play fair!" Deadfoal leveled his gun at the pair, specially made to be operated with his mouth. Fleur reached into her saddlebags and produced a cherry pastery fresh from the donut shop. She tossed it with her magic a good distance away. Deadfoal dropped his gun and took off towards the treat.

"What was that about?"

"What?" Fleur smiled. "You never had Pony Joe's famous cherry-chongas?"

All Star Matterhorn and Humdrum #1

“On your hooves, soldier. You’ve been drafted into a war.”

He couldn’t move. Fear paralyzed his body, and the magic gripped around his neck didn’t help matters. He’s strong for a colt. Damn strong. A bit of sleeping magic will make him stop struggling. He’s strong. Damn strong.

“Sleep tight, my ward.”

]Heavy eyes turned their blurred vision towards me. Sleep overtook his form quickly. Falling. Falling. Through the sleep, he managed to ask

“What the hell’s a ward?”

“Shut up! I’ll do the talking!”

Heavy eyes closed to darkness. Darkness of stallion’s minds and hearts. Darkness that has fallen over Maretropolis. Heavy eyes closed to the darkness.

You poor boy. You poor little bastard. When you wake up you’ll be in hell. A hell like the one you left. Hell. Or the next best thing.

I love being the Celestia damned Matterhorn.

I look at his limp form in my grasp. So limp. So weak. What am I doing to this kid? They say I’m too powerful. Powerful enough to rival gods. Powerful enough to rival Princesses. Damn strong. Too strong.

They have no idea.

Be brave. Be brave.

My eyes opened. Opened to light. Opened to hope. Caverns of crystals surround my form. Looming. Glistening. The air cold. Bitter. Cold as the loneliness that gripped my heart. Cold.

“The world needs heroes. Heroes that aren’t afraid to do what’s necessary. What needs to be done.”

She stood before a bank of crystal monitors, watching all of Maretropolis.

“It’s no secret that, like you, when I was young my parents died, leaving me alone. I guess you could say I was always alone. Smartest mare in the world, they called me. Yet, in reality, I felt stupid. Unable to relate to other ponies.”

She picked me up in her magic, and it felt warm. Warm as a mother’s embrace, yet warm as the fires of Tartarus.

“As time wore on, I learned that just because everypony expects something of you, doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to happen.”

She turned and looked me in the eye. Right in the eye. And beneath the veil of aloofness and indifference, I could see sadness. Sadness of failure. Sadness of betrayal.

“But that doesn’t stop them from expecting, and you don’t want to let them down.”

Her gaze hardened in determination.

“With great power comes great responsibility, my ward. You, like others before you, are a means to an end. They say my power has made me... detached... from ponykind. They turned from expecting me to save them, to fear I’ll destroy them.”

She turned back to the monitors. Maretropolis was safe and clean. Free from the rot and corruption that once plagued it. Forced smiles on their faces not from joy of safety, but fear of punishment.

“Look upon my works and despair...”

“What do you want with me?”

Her stare returned my way, hard as granite. Every word she spoke like broken glass ripping its way from her throat.

“To show them they have nothing to fear. That if you can accept me, so can they. Don’t let me befall the same isolated fate of Celestia.”

“So you want me to help you... make friends?”