Just How Many More Times?

Shining Armor and Cadance decided that only two of them would go to the Crystal Empire to get the Crystal Heart. They did so for the same reason why Twilight went alone to Canterlot - a small group is more mobile and harder to spot. Until the two magic artifacts are combined, the friends planned just to play hide and seek with the enemy - since it would be enough for Ranhorn to capture just one pony out of the mane six, who were connected with one of the Elements, and their plan would be irreversibly ruined. Should the situation get critical, Daring Do was prepared to sacrifice herself to save the rest of the team, since she wasn’t connected with any Element.

In the days since their escape she really befriended Rainbow Dash, who had finally freed herself from obsequious adoration of her idol. After all, her own great deeds were comparable to Daring’s. Alike both in their look and in their characters, they soon became like sisters to each other. Daring understood that this adventure wasn’t for a book. The stakes were too high, and, besides, she wasn’t the titular character this time. But she had promised Rainbow that she would come often to visit her, should they both make it out of this mess alive.

She also became very close with Spike. The baby dragon talked to the new team member with excitement, telling her all about the past adventures of the six friends and not forgetting about emphasizing his own role now and again. So, Daring looked at her new friends with growing respect. Living practically at the southern border of Equestria, surrounded by her own local enemies, she had had little idea of what was going on to the north from her hut. The only northerner she ever talked to was her publisher, and they never discussed anything except the terms of the contract for publishing one book or another. To think what she had missed while continuously messing about with the dreadfully boring Ahuizotl!

Twilight, who had no choice but to become the leader of the little group, had no time for new friends or relationships. The words of Celestia that designated her fate as eternal battle with evil haunted her. How many more such Ranhorns was she to meet on her way before Equestria would be able to breathe without fear again? Would she be able to defeat this one to begin with? Celestia never told her how she and her sister had dealt with Ranhorn a thousand years previously.

Besides, she had to assume the duty of the main guard of their camp. Already a couple of times she had magically felt the approach of the enemy’s spies and at the last moment teleported their tents to another part of the Everfree forest. She had virtually no time to sleep these days and she couldn’t understand what kept her on her legs. Was it Zecora’s herbal tea or her own subconscious magic? She couldn’t say, but fatigue didn’t exist for her anymore. Her friends, who were taking turns to sleep, looked at her with apprehension but never dared to voice their worries.

Meanwhile, Shining and Cadance were approaching the borders of their own kingdom. They were afraid to see ruins, but the Empire shined, as usual. Ranhorn hasn’t reached it yet, but using the Crystal Heart the citizens had already repelled one Sombra’s attack and anticipated others with dread. The Prince and the Princess who had left their Empire in such a time weren’t particularly welcome here now, and their idea to take the Crystal Heart - their only protection - away nearly caused a riot. In vain Cadance explained over and over again how important it was to connect the two magical artifacts - the crystal ponies were stubborn and refused to let her go anywhere near the Heart. And Cadance, the kind soul that she was, didn’t want to apply violence to her long-suffering subjects.

Finally, having left her husband to guard the Empire, Cadance flew back to the camp to seek advice from Twilight and her group. After listening to her sister-in-law Twilight said in low voice, but quite decisively, ‘In this case, the only way is to take the chest to the Crystal Empire. Ranhorn will appear there sooner or later.’

They took the chest there in no time. Twilight and Cadance both harnessed themselves to join Rainbow and Daring, so the magic chariot flew across the sky faster than ever. But the long-expected guests arrived just an hour later - Ranhorn’s spies never slept.