Just How Many More Times?

Guided by their excellent knowledge of the surrounding lands gained from numerous Daring Do books, Rainbow Dash and Twilight quickly discovered yet another castle. Either Ahuizotl had at least thirty, or he spent all his leisure time building new ones. Ranhorn’s presence was especially obvious here, from which the friends concluded that the two villains had struck a deal. It didn’t surprise them at all in the light of recent events. Having sneaked into the castle they quickly found Daring who was tied to a large column. For an experienced adventuress that Daring was such a rope would have presented no problem if it weren’t enchanted, and Twilight immediately smelled a rat. Ahuizotl had no magic and couldn’t put a spell on the rope, so it must have been Ranhorn’s work. But she had no time to tell her friends about her conclusion – Rainbow Dash rushed to free her idol and immediately triggered a magic intruder alarm. The noise and clang she thus produced would have awoken the dead, and in less than three minutes all seven ponies and Spike stood tied to different columns.

Daring Do, who immediately knew her fortuneless rescuers, suppressed a sarcastic sigh.

Ahuizotl came several times a day to make sardonic remarks, but never put a claw on anypony – such must have been the boss’s orders. Obviously, Ranhorn wanted to interrogate them first and get information. Ahuizotl had never been really intelligent, and from his remarks Twilight, having added two and two, easily deduced two important facts: Ranhorn indeed wasn’t anywhere around at the moment – he had left Equestria and departed to an unknown destination – and Ahuizotl, the redneck that he was, had no idea about her own powers as an alicorn and a Princess. She hoped that Ranhorn himself knew nothing about her either. Sooner or later somepony would, of course, enlighten him, but now she needed time.

They spent three days in their chamber. Twilight did her best to cheer up her friends, but, seeing their growing despair, was starting to feel dejected. She needed time to crack Ranhorn’s spell, but thinking what its author might be doing in the wide world she couldn’t help being ill at ease. Yet, they were treated relatively well and even got food, and to guard them Ahuizotl had appointed his usual feline five – he must have known nothing about Fluttershy’s skills. Before the day was done, the “guards” were eating out of Fluttie’s hoofs, and definitely presented no danger. On the fourth night Twilight managed to decipher the guarding spell, and the eight friends, covered by darkness, successfully left the castle.

Twilight, weakened by doing so much magic, gladly gave her harness to Daring Do, who could fly as well as Rainbow. Fluttie was excused also – after all, it was she who kept the animals at bay till the last moment, persuading them not to harm her friends. Once she even had to use the Stare – the white kitten was unexpectedly obstinate. As a result, the poor thing, who could barely fly as it was, couldn’t lift a wing from exhaustion.

The chariot, borne by the two heroines, flew faster than wind, but very soon they heard the sound of a chase. Twilight immediately recognized the legs full of holes and the green, translucent mane. Crysalis! So that’s why Ranhorn had left Equestria – he was away recruiting true professionals to his team! Where was he now – in Canterlot, brainwashing the volatile Discord, or in the Crystal Empire, freeing Sombra from his icy prison? Such a prospect was completely disheartening for Twilight, and Crysalis was already bombing the chariot with her green beams. Since they had met last, she had weakened a lot, but was still stronger than Twilight, and soon it started looking like the battle of good and evil was over and not on the side of the good guys.

But then a protective blue aura surrounded the chariot giving Twilight a rest, and two magical beams, strong and fresh, added themselves to hers. She recognized the colors of magic auras belonging to her brother and sister-in-law and cheered up, striking with a double force. Crysalis withdrew.