Daring Do and the Lineate Latus

by Garbo802

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Zecora, Romance, Adventure, Daring Do
Length: 5614

Daring Do goes into the Everfree Forest looking for silver and jewels. Unexpectedly, she finds something entirely different, though certainly no less valuable.

Daring Do gets a tip that there's a piece of valuable treasure hidden deep in the Everfree forest, and that it's been waiting for a pony like her to recover it. Though she goes in searching for what could be the greatest find of her entire career, in the end, she gets much more than the bargained for.

Published 2015-01-20 19:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-20 19:30:01 UTC

1. Blackout

The Everfree Forest - 12 Years Before The Return of Nightmare Moon

As Daring Do waded through the swamp, she could see the eyes staring out at her from the gloom. They were cold, betraying no hint of anything but a manic desire to kill—tiny points of light in a sea of grey, offering no escape.

Though it was nighttime, enough light leaked through the trees for her to make out what their bodies looked like. The creatures were far larger than any pony, with a skeleton frame made only of wood. Only a few hours ago, she had laughed at the local tales of ligneous wolves that dwarfed even the tallest of apple trees. Now, seeing them close up, she could see why the locals called these creatures timberwolves.

It was also clear why they were afraid of them. One of these monsters could easily tear her in two if she let them catch her. Luckily, she’d managed to find a bog before becoming part of the Everfree food chain. She now sat with her eyes just above the murky water, hearing the gnashing of teeth coming from all sides.

Daring lifted her head out of the water for a much needed breath of air, swallowing a little mud in the process. With the adrenaline from the chase beginning to wear off, she could once again feel the throbbing of her wings, which hung limp and mud-plastered at her sides.

That’s the last time I sleep on top of an ant’s nest.

Though it always made for a good story, she wouldn’t mind being able to fly away from danger every once in a while instead of spending a night hiding in a smelly mud bath. It was better than being eaten alive, but not by enough.

Finding the mud just as boring to look at as the wolves, she looked back out into the darkness. The piercing eyes still stared out at her, the occasional snarl cutting into the eerie silence of the woods. Daring knew she could sleep the them out and count on the daylight to come to her rescue, but if the rest of the Everfree was any indication, there were probably creatures in her pool of muck just as nasty as the ones on dry land. Somehow, she had to escape.

How did that song go again? Can’t go over it because my wings are busted, can’t go under it because I can’t swim in mud, and I can’t go around it because I can’t outrun the wolves. If memory serves, I’ve got to go through it.

Without a plan or second thought, Daring Do leaped from the muddy water. Time stretched and images blurred as she put her front hooves on the ground and turned to face the closest timberwolf. She fought her sudden instinct to flee and ran headlong at the creature. The wolf followed suit, leaping at its prey with claws outstretched. Daring felt the wooden body past just inches from her as she rolled under, and from behind heard the crunch of fallen leaves where the beast landed.

Before she could turn to face the first wolf, another one came into her view, only its glowing eyes visible. This one was craftier than the first, strafing to her right, trapping her against the swamp. Left with few other options, Daring jumped at the creature, spun, and bucked it at hard as she could. There was a loud snapping noise and pieces of wood flew in all directions. With no time to admire her handiwork, she ran at the other one, who jumped aside rather than meet the same fate as its comrade. As she passed, she felt a sudden burning pain coming from her side.

Daring skidded to a halt, crying out in agony. She stole a quick glance down at her left side and saw three deep gashes stretching from her stifle to her thigh. It felt like she’s been dipped into the lava pits of Tartarus and left to roast. She looked back up at the timberwolf, who was now joined by four others. They stood a few lengths away, just watching, probably thinking that they’d won. Though she didn’t want to admit it, that was an accurate thought. She tried to put weight on her hind-left hoof, and the fire burned up her side once again. Stubbornly, she refused to take her hoof off the ground and found that the pain was bearable, at least for the moment. With no other options, she turned around and made for the edge of the forest.

Though between the midnight swim and the charming gallop through the woods, I’m not quite sure where that is anymore.

She forced a smile through her grimace, but the joke did little to ease her pain. Behind her, she could hear the footfalls of the timberwolves who followed, content to match her pace. Daring forced herself to run at faster, knowing that it was only a matter of time before she bled out.

It didn’t take long for the effort to take its toll. Running kept her wound from scabbing over, and her lightheadedness grew with each drop of blood she lost. She looked frantically to both sides, searching for a run-down cottage, a thicket, or anywhere else to hide, but she found nothing.

Just before her legs fell off and her lungs exploded, she reached a clearing full of what looked like flowers, though it was hard to tell by the moonlight alone. A few bushes stood out, offering the only cover in the field. Though she desperately wanted to get out from under the trees, it would have been unwise to enter; there, the timberwolves could overtake her in an instant. She was about to turn left into the woods when she noticed something she had missed before. It was a pony-like figure, running to intercept her across the field. Whoever it was seemed unfazed by the woody behemoths chasing after her. Daring ran straight into the field, Hoping that the stranger could fend off the timberwolves long enough for her to escape.

As the stranger passed, Daring could see their appearance in more detail. They wore a brownish cloak that covered their head and body, and under the hood, their eyes glowed yellow in the moonlight. From the pony’s size, they were probably a mare, or perhaps a pegasus stallion, though she saw no sign of wings.

Whoever they were, the stranger seemed intent on meeting the timberwolves in force, passing Daring at an impressive pace. The newcomer ran with what Daring could only call eagerness, though she had no idea why anypony would be eager to meet something as fearsome as a timberwolf. The whole situation made her curious, and though running away would’ve been the smart thing to do, she stopped to watch.

By this time, the strange figure had met the wolves. Rather than attack directly, the creatures had formed a ring around her, showing uncharacteristic timidity. From what she’d seen, timberwolves seemed best suited to chasing down prey rather than facing potential meals face to face. Perhaps they didn’t know what to do, but she didn’t know for sure.

After a brief standoff, her benign protector made first move, grabbing something from their cloak and removing her hood. Upon seeing her face, the creatures seemed to lose most of their confidence. There was a clear recognition in their body language, as if they had some reason to fear the hooded figure.

The stranger used this temporary shock to their advantage and lifted the item higher, causing the timberwolves to move back in turn. They paused for a few moments, and when the creatures didn’t retreat any further, her savior swung a hoof at the center-most timberwolf, sending a fine glowing dust from the object.

At first, the dust seemed to have little effect, and the timberwolves moved to resume their attack, emboldened. But as the seconds passed, Daring began to see some subtle changes, and then some more noticeable ones. As the other timberwolves looked on, the victim of the powdered assault began to glow the same red color as the powder. Growths popped up all over the creature’s body. They had an odd shape to them, and Daring could’ve sworn that they looked like tiny mushrooms, though the faint light could only tell her so much. At any rate, these changes seemed to frighten the wolves, which ran off into the forest, the others fearful that the same would be done to them.

For a few moments, the stranger watched them run into the forest, following the glowing red figure until it blended into the darkness and the tree trunks. The predators took the silence with them, as the smaller creatures which had been afraid to make their presence known now allowed their sounds to join the light symphony of the forest. Daring hadn’t realized how eerily quiet it had been, but the ambiance was relaxing.

Meanwhile, her rescuer turned around, eyes glowing yellow as they had before. The effect was sinister when combined with the darkness of the forest and the stress of her chase. Though they obviously meant good, there was something odd about them she couldn’t place.

Daring looked up to find that the figure was standing right in front of her. A voice, presumably theirs, came to her ears as though it was traveling through water. She could barely understand it though the murkiness.

“Are you getting along alright? To me you look like quite a fright.”

Daring knocked her hoof against the side of her head, trying to clear the swamp water from her ears. The world started to spin, her vision grew cloudy, and what little energy she had left sapped out of her. With a final glance upward, she collapsed into the tall grass of the meadow. The last thing she saw was the yellow eyes of the hooded stranger, which faded as her mind went numb.

Author's Note

Blackout

2. Hoodoo

Earlier That Day - Two Hour’s Walk From Hoofington

“Are you sure this is the place, Mr. Leatherleaf?”

“I’m absolutely sure, Miss. Do.”

Daring Do sighed, wiping the sweat off her forehead. It was an early summer’s day, with no cloud cover for miles around. Though it was approaching night time, the sun was still oppressively hot. Even the birds, which had been flying around them for most of the day, were tired of singing.

“This is the home of one of the most famous clairvoyants in Equestria history? Couldn’t she afford better?”

“Well, yes and no. She spends most of her time wandering from place to place. People say she only shows up for someone worthy of her time. As for the money, that’s anypony’s guess.”

Daring looked at the house with more than a hint of disbelief. Or perhaps ‘house’ was not the right word for it. The underlying foundation remained intact, but the walls and roof were a patchwork of boards and nails. Some were rotting, while others seemed to be brand new. In any case, it had certainly been there a long time.

“Well, it seems that I won’t be needing your services any longer,” Daring said, a faint smile betraying the false sternness of her tone. “You can be on you way whenever you see fit.”

“After I’m paid, of course.” The stallion said, returning the grin in kind.

“Oh yes, of course. How could I forget?” With practiced ease, she unstrapped her saddlebags, letting them fall to her side. She undid the buckles, and after a few seconds of searching inside, frowned.

“It seems that I don’t have any bits on me at the moment.”

The stallion glared at her angrily. “What do you mean? I saw you buying supplies in the town market only a few hours ago.”

Daring Do took a deep breath, keeping her cool. “Look, I only carry around enough money to buy the essentials, and I always spend it all. I’m sure you understand the dangers of carrying money around in Hoofington, or have you not lived there for long?”

Leatherleaf rolled his eyes. “I’m fully aware of all the thieving that goes on, but you wouldn’t have any trouble if half of the things in those books of yours were true.”

“Oh, there you go again, bringing up the books. You think I haven’t heard that line a thousand times already?” she asked, not lifting her head up from her saddlebags. “Now if you give me just a few seconds, I’ll find something to make this worth your while, alright?”

“Alright,” Leatherleaf said reluctantly. The promise of some sort of pay deflated his anger slightly, but only bolstered his curiosity.

“How much can you fit in that saddlebag of yours anyhow?”

Oh, he’s calm all right, but no less annoying, Daring whispered under her breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. Look, it’s none of your business how much stuff I can fit in my bag, how many bits I’ve got, or how well I stack up to my portrayal in my stories. None of this is your business, alright?”

“Sorry for offending you,” he said sarcastically. “I guess I’m just a bit concerned that you’ve got a bottomless storage enchantment on that bag. Those are illegal, you know.”

Daring didn’t even need to look up as his face to know what it looked like. She could see the smug grin just fine in her head. She continued her search, at last finding what she was looking for. She pulled it out and handed it to the stallion.

“Here, this is an amulet I found a month or two ago. It doesn’t have any historical significance, but it’s made of pure silver, and the gemstones are cut in a perfect cartwheel, which any gemcutter would tell you is a pretty rare design. It should more than cover what you’ve done here.”

Leatherleaf’s face lit up, instantly forgetting his anger upon seeing the necklace. “Yes … I think this should cover it,” he said, trying desperately to regain his composure. Abruptly and without another word, he grabbed the amulet and trotted back down the road to Hoofington. She watched as his figure grew smaller and smaller at it travelled down the path.

“Ah, Earth Ponies. They can’t tell an amnesia charm apart from a simple silver necklace, and yet they can ramble on for hours about different types of dirt. What an odd race indeed.”

Daring Do jumped, whirling around with her wings spread, ready for a fight or a quick getaway, whichever came first. What she saw was not a fearsome monster, but an old unicorn mare. Embarrassed, Daring refolded her wings. She tried to think of some excuse she could offer, but couldn’t find one.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry about that. I must have startled you.”

Daring Do shook her head “No, I’m fine. I wasn’t—”

“There’s no need to explain it to me,” she said in a raspy, yet oddly soothing voice. “Now what you do need to explain is how you picked that amulet up without having your own memories wiped.”

Daring grinned, the nerves that had gotten the better of her now fading. “I have my ways.”

The old mare just sighed. “You’re a secretive one, then. I suppose I can see the merits. But everypony has to open up their heart every once in a while. It’s not healthy to keep everything in.”

“I’ve found that sharing hurts more than it helps,” she replied, turning around just in time to see Leatherleaf crest the farthest hill, falling out of sight. She looked back only to see the mare looking back at her in an odd sort of way, as if she were looking through her, into her. She didn’t like it.

After a few more seconds of staring, the mare blinked, breaking her trance. “Well, from what I overheard you’ve come here to see me. You’re welcome to come in. This place may be small, but it’s large enough for two, with enough room to spare for brewing tea, as it happens.”

Daring nodded and followed her into the the hovel. Though the exterior wasn’t much to look at, the inside was surprisingly homey. There was enough room for a modest table and logs that served as chairs. In one corner there was a furnace, and the light from it threw shadows on the bark and wood that made up the walls. Even with the light coming in from outside, it gave the space a chilling factor that clashed with its warm coziness.

“Why don’t you heat this place with magic instead of a furnace? I’m sure it wouldn’t be that difficult, considering how small it is.”

The elderly mare smiled, sitting on one of the logs with a cup of tea in hoof. “Well, in my old age, it’s a bother to do even the simplest of tasks like a little heating spell. In the absence of that, I’ve come to love the way the furnace feels. There’s just something about it that a spell can’t replicate.”

As she said this, the medium lifted the pot with ease, pouring the hot liquid into a second cup, wooden and worn down from years of use. She lifted the cup up in the air without spilling a drop, motioning for Daring to sit across from her. She obliged, grabbing the cup in her hoof.

“Your abilities don’t seem faded to me. It’s rare that I meet someone with that level of precision.”

“Well, I suppose that’s relative,” said the mare, taking a sip of her brew. “In my younger years I was quite the enchanter. There were even times I dabbled in necromancy, with some success.”

Daring nodded. “I’ve meet a few who claimed they could bring back the dead, but it wasn’t anything more than boasting.”

“I take it you’re well travelled, then?” the mare asked.

“I suppose you could say that,” Daring replied, fidgeting idly with her hooves. “I’m a treasure hunter.”

The old mare looked down in the direction of Daring Do’s saddlebags, which lay on the floor to the side of the table. “Well, that would explain the infinite bag full of treasure, or perhaps weapons, if you’re that kind of pony.”

Daring shook her head indignantly. “No, no, I’m really not. I’ve hurt myself far more often than I’ve hurt anyone else, and those were in self-defense.”

The mare finished off the last of her cup and went to pour another. “Oh, I see. I’m sorry for being so suspicious, but between the way you carry yourself and the use of illegal spells and charms, you don’t come across as the most trustable of ponies.”

Daring grumbled, looking out the hole that served as the door. Darkness was quickly falling, but the furnace kept the space warm enough for her to start sweating again.

“Look, I’ve come here for some information, and I was wondering if—”

“I know, I know; we’ll get to that in a little while. I find it a bit forward that you ask me to speak my mind before even knowing my name.”

Daring bit her lip. “Right, sorry about that.”

“It’s quite alright. My name is Cosmic Glow.”

“I see,” Daring replied. She waited for her host to speak, not wanting to risk offending her again. As she waited, she tipped her cup slightly, watching the ripples form on the surface of the tea.

Meanwhile, Cosmic stared intently into her cup of tea, which now appeared to be empty once again. Nearly a full minute passed until she looked back up, her eyes betraying her suspicion.

“Why don’t you drink your tea? I’m sure it’s cool by now.”

Daring looked back up from wrinkled surface of the liquid to the wrinkled face of the enchantress. “I’m not in the mood.”

Cosmic chuckled knowingly. “My dear, if you cannot trust me, then why are you even here?”

Daring Do did not have an answer for that. She could either risk her life, or she could turn back home and forget about the treasure. The second option was starting to sound pretty good.

“If you truely cannot trust me, then let me make this easier for you,” the old mare said. “What use would I, a master of the magical arts, have for something as mundane as a poison?”

Daring leveled her eyes at the other mare, squinting as if she could somehow look through her ruse. “You said yourself that your magic was fading.”

“Oh, so now all of a sudden you believe me? You seemed quite skeptical a few moments ago.”

Daring held her tongue for a moment, pretending to think things over as she scanned the back of the hut for anything suspicious. Before long, something on the wall caught her eye. She pointed at it.

“There’s a vial of venenum mus up on the wall there. I’ve only ever seen that used as a poison.”

Cosmic followed the gaze of her guest. “Well of course there is. It’s an anticoagulant. I get blood clots now and again, and it works wonders in small doses, and very affordable, even if those so-called doctors don’t—”

“Alright, I get it, there’s nothing wrong with my tea. I’ll just drink it.”

Though clearly a bit miffed at the interruption, Cosmic Glow grinned. “I knew you’d come around eventually. It’s rather nice to actually be getting somewhere, wouldn’t you agree?”

Daring nodded, and after a moment’s hesitation, picked up the cup in two hooves. It was strange to see a cup made out of wood outside of an archaeological site or a museum. Even in ancient times, ceramics had always been the preferred material for eatery. Considering the mare’s access to a furnace, it shouldn’t have been a problem. If anything, it would’ve taken less time to make.

“I suppose you could stare at the cup all day if you wanted, though whatever you insist I put in there certainly won’t wear off by then.”

Daring sighed, took a deep breath, and drank from the cup. She hadn’t thought to guess what kind of tea it was, but now that it was in her mouth, she was still clueless. The wood seemed to have absorbed the flavor of all the other drinks served in it, giving the beverage an unidentifiable but distinct taste. It was rather good, and certainly not laced with anything.

If only to spite her host, Daring continued to drink from the cup, not stopping until all of the tea was gone. She smirked when she was done, wiping her mouth with her foreleg.

“It’s not the worst cup of tea I’ve had,” she said defiantly, placing the cup back on the table. Just as soon as it had been placed, Cosmic lifted it up into the air again, using her hooves rather than her horn. She glanced into the cup for a moment, swirling the contents around a few times before flipping it over.

As the excess tea drained away, Daring couldn’t help but scoff. “A tea leaf reading? Really?”

Cosmic looked up at her guest, unfazed. “What were you expecting, tarot?”

“Well, truthfully I only came here for information, but I suppose I’d prefer that over tea leaves. I’ve been told it’s usually clearer.”

The medium sighed, flipping the cup back over. “You’ve been told a great many things, my child, but until you experience them yourself, you do not know them. Besides, you look for certainty where there is none. I see in you nothing but confusion, not about others, but yourself. That is the most dangerous kind.”

Daring ignored the second comment, responding to the first instead. “Are you trying to tell me that any type of fortunetelling is certain?”

“Some are more certain than others,” Cosmic said simply, now studying the tea leaves. She turned the cup slowly, going inch by inch in careful scrutiny.

Daring Do took the opportunity to look around, in case the poison wasn’t the only surprise in the hut. When she’d first entered, she had failed to notice how many potions and herbs hung on the back wall. There were medicines, tonics, and aphrodisiacs, though she had no idea why Cosmic would need any of that.

Though there were a number of potions she couldn’t recognize by color and consistency, none of them seemed to be poisonous. All magically-imbued toxins shared a bright-red coloration, and there was nothing like that to be seen in the hut. Now confident she wasn’t going to keel over in the next few minutes, Daring Do looked back outside. It was a little bit darker now, and the hut cast a long shadow on the ground as the sun slowly fell out of the heavens.

“Well, I was expecting something more interesting than this.”

Daring turned her head to see Cosmic Glow staring at the cup, clearly disappointed.

“What does it say?” Daring asked, peering over the lip of the cup.

“For a person as well-travelled as yourself, surprisingly little.” She slid the cup into the center of the table, giving her guest a better view.

“The part of the cup closest to you represents yourself and those who are currently closest to you. As there are very few leaves in this area, I would say that you have very few close friends, and those you do have will not see any travesties or miracles.”

“The part going away from you in a clockwise motion represents events that have already happened and memories that are going away. There are two lines that represent this part of your life, one nearer to the edge and one closer to the bottom of the cup. This indicates an internal conflict. One part of you thinks that you are happy, and the other believes that there is something missing from your life.”

“The part closest to I, the teller, represents those you do not know well or do not know yet, such as but not limited to myself. The leaves seem most concentrated in the near future, so you will meet someone new not too long from now.”

“How important will they be?” Daring asked, halting the reading.

Cosmic looked up from the cup, her serene gaze showing no signs of offense at the interruption. “Well, that depends on a number of things. Do you have reason to think they will be important?”

After a moment’s thought, Daring answered. “Not exactly. It’s just that … well, when I meet important ponies, they don’t tend to be good ones.”

The mare shook her head and chuckled. “You make it sound as if trouble follows you wherever you go.”

Daring nodded. “You could say that.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that, so long as you know how to get out of it. Now to continue, the final section of the cup is coming towards you, and represents things that are soon to come. The leaves are inconsistently spread, but high up on the edge. On the whole, I think your future is looking brighter than your past does, though whether or not that will last I cannot say.”

Daring took a moment to let the reading sink in. She watched as Cosmic Glow continued to stare thoughtfully into the leaves, even though the reading was over.

“So, are we done here, or is there more you want to say?”

The psychic looked up at her, a smile smile hidden within her wrinkled face. “Sorry, I was just thinking this over. I suppose it’s not as insignificant as I originally thought, but still disappointing. The results are linear, with not much room for interpretation.”

Daring got up from her seat, leaning over the table to get another view of the leaves. She frowned.

“I suppose it’s clear to you, but I don’t see the narrative.”

“Well, allow me to explain, then.” The mare took her own cup of tea and repeated the earlier process, yielding a very different result. Where there had been a clearer pattern in the first, this second cup seemed to have none at all.

“This is what I would consider a more interesting draw, but because I did not prepare in the same way as I did for yours, it is not accurate in the slightest. For the sake of example, it works.” She brought both cups together, making them easy to compare. “My leaves are scattered, and hard to interpret, while yours form an unbroken line. Most mediums wouldn’t care about this, and I dare say I may be the only one, but it is my belief that smoothness indicates that all of these are connected in some way.”

Daring pulling her cup back to her side of the table, a sudden wave of understanding coming over her. “So you’re saying that my life is okay, then I’m going to meet someone, and after that my life’s going to be better?”

“No, I’m not saying that.” The medium lifted her hoof, placing it over Daring’s heart. “What you just said came from in here. I only guided it.”

Daring looked at the mare with more than a hint of annoyance. The facade had been lifted, “I’m not dumb, you know. I can see what you’re doing here.”

Cosmic blinked, but otherwise showed no reaction to this revelation. “Oh? Do tell.”

“You’re trying to teach me these small personal lessons of yours. Do you think that makes you clever or something?”

“That’s your opinion, and a misguided one. I’m simply telling you what I saw in that cup, that is all.” The medium paused for a moment to add some wood to the furnace. The flame, which had been been slowly dimming, now roared up, sending a wave of warmth through the hut.

“What I can tell you is this: You have lived most of your life alone, and even when you are among others, you push them away. Nopony can live that way forever; it’s not healthy.”

Daring was indignant. “Wait, you think I’m a loner? How long has it been since you talked to anyone but the suckers who buy this psychic jape?”

“A long time,” Cosmic Glow answered truthfully. “But this has not always been my way. When I was younger I enjoyed the company of others, but you have already pushed them away. Believe me, the desire for socialization does not increase with age. I hope for your sake that my prediction is correct, for I pity the life you might live otherwise.”

Daring rolled her eyes, dismissing her host’s remarks. “You could see anything you wanted in that cup if it suited your purposes. Look, I don’t really need personal advice, what I need is information.”

“Information about what?”

“The Everfree Forest.”

“Well, if all you wanted was information, you could’ve looked somewhere else,” Cosmic replied, examining a sliver that had formed in the wood of her cup. “I’m a medium, not an information broker.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Daring replied, blowing a whisp of mane off of her face. “But that doesn’t give you the right to go meddling in my personal business. I’m perfectly happy the way I am, and I fly solo. I’ve never met anyone worth trusting other than myself.”

“Suit yourself,” the medium replied, watching as her guest stood up and collected her saddlebags. As Daring was about the walk out the door of the hut, Cosmic called after her.

“Though now that you mention it, I do seem to recall something that might be useful to you. I take it you’re headed to the Everfree looking for treasure, correct?”

Daring turned around in the doorway, nodding in response.

“There’s this one story I heard about something called the Lineate Latus.”

“The lineate lattice?” Daring asked, puzzled. “A lattice seems like an odd thing to find by itself.”

“Not in this case. According to what I’ve heard, it’s made of very valuable and alluring material, and it could be one part of a much larger treasure” the old mare clarified.

“So it’s a lattice made of gold?”

“Well, a silver latus, actually. I know it may sound strange, but much stranger things happen in that forest, as I’m sure you’ve heard.”

Daring had indeed heard that. The Everfree was supposed to be the most mysterious area in Equestria. Aiding this reputation was the fact that more than three quarters of it was unexplored, and the occasional disappearance of those who happened to wander in didn’t help.

“Well, I suppose this is a start. Any idea which part of the forest to look for this lattice?”

Cosmic thought about this for a moment. “If memory serves, this story came from Ponyville, which borders the Northwestern part of the forest. I’d start there if I were you.”

“I’ve gone on worse information,” Daring Do admitted. She offered her thanks once again before walking out of the hovel. She took a few running steps, unfolding her wings just as the sun touched the horizon line. It would be night by the time she arrived, but she’d been told that you couldn’t tell night from day in the forest. Day or night, she was heading into a festering nest of danger. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

Meanwhile, Cosmic sat on her log, contemplating her latest guest. She took one of the cups in her hoof, pouring herself some more tea.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to finish this off by myself, then.”

Author's Note

Hoodoo

Chapters 1 & 2 Preread by Iceboxfroggie, Featherprop and Dash The Stampede.