Daring Do and the Wrath of the Elders

Cloudsdale always was a sight to behold, Daring Do mused. With all her adventurous life, she normally liked it, to visit the big city once in a while. Not few of the artifacts she discovered had found their way in one of the large Cloudsdale collections and museums, she mused. But still – she couldn’t find the excitement and joy she normally had, coming here.

Two most dangerous ponies were prowling around, determined to steal… or otherwise get the Eldritch Compass. For what end? Daring didn’t know, which also infuriated her. And with the Great Equestrian Fair going on, those two didn’t have much trouble blending in. Hundreds of Earth Ponies and Unicorns strolled the magically hardened pathways, sat in restaurants and marveled over the great architecture, cloud parks and exhibitions.

„Why so gloom, Miss Do?“, Derpy who accompanied her looked up from her meal.

„I just hope, Rainbow’s plan to warn the guards will work. We simply don’t have much to go on.“, the archeologist answered, letting her eyes wander, once again, over the crowds of ponies, barely kept on the streets by clearly stressed guards and Wonderbolts.

* * *

Whatever Spitfire had anticipated, how hard the coming days would become – she was thoroughly surprised. And not in a good way.

Streets may had been prepared for Earth Ponies to walk on – but for some reason, the guests had turned out to be dead set on finding every single spot, nook and cranny that wasn’t. Her Wonderbolts, the city guards and luckily a whole lot of citizens had all hoofs full with catching ponies, keeping them from waltz right over safety markings or rescuing ponies lost on the maze like system of walkways that had been installed very haphazardly.

„Rainbow Dash! Nice to see youuu…. What’s the matter?!“, the captain of the Wonderbolts beamed for a short moment. Her favorite flyer had been announced by an ordinance – letting her hope for a little bit of a break from all that annoying administrative work. Just to then see Rainbow dashing in her office, hardly halting in front of her desk, making a mess of the papers laying about with her wings.

„I need to warn you. Somepony has planned a heist on the museum, to steal a priceless artifact. You need to do something. Right now!“, miss Dash really looked distressed. Spitfire frowned upon this opening.

„What?!“, was the only thing she was able to reply.

„The Museum! Ahuizotl is about to steal the Map of Tlaloc!“, the sky blue mare braced herself on the desk leaning forward, her face just inches in front of Spitfire.

„Now! Back down! And one thing after another. Who wants to steal what from where?! And… and how do you even know?!“, no. That, for sure, wasn’t promising any kind of recess…

„Ahuizotl. Daring Do’s nemesis. He is here! Or at least his henchponies! They are here, and we know, that they want to steal from the Museum. From the Hurricane Exhibition! You have to put up more guards, more security. More… everything!“

Daring… Do? Oh.. Oh NO!

„If that’s a joke Miss Dash… than it’s a pretty bad one. As you can see – I have all hooves full with managing this mess of an Equestrian Fair. I have enough to do as it is. The last thing I need, is YOU barging in here with one of your stupid stories.

„No… no no.. You get it wrong. It’s NOT a story. He is here. He is about to break into the Museum. Daring herself said he won’t wait long. You need to strengthen the guar…“

„ENOUGH!“, Spitfire yelled. NO. A.K. was here. „I don’t know what stupid game you play. I don’t know, if it was your idea or if ‚Daring Do‘ is behind this. But…“

„But you HAVE to believe me…“, this stupid blue featherbrained Pegasus went on.

* * *

„You think Rainbow could do it?“, Derpy asked Miss Yearling. Rainbow Dash had been gone for a while now, the afternoon sun, was slowly about to set into a wonderful fiery evening. They were sitting and waiting in a small open sky restaurant, packed full with all sorts of ponies. A rare sight, Derpy had some difficulties adjusting to. They sat just below the cloud mountain where the city center, most of the government buildings and the headquarters of the Wonderbolts where situated.

„I’m not so … sure…“, the archeologist pondered, to then focus on something behind Derpy „In fact… I am pretty sure she didn’t.“ Derpy following her gaze, turned around and could just see how Rainbow, flying in a strange trajectory out of the Wonderbolt Headquarters main entrance. Quite as if she didn’t fly on her own volition, but as if someone had tossed her.

„I told you, Spitfire wouldn’t buy it.“, the author greeted Rainbow Dash, after she had landed pretty rough in a patch of clouds just before the restaurants entrance, visibly shaken from whatever had happened to her.

„I can’t understand! The moment I mentioned you… Spitfire went all upset and…“, Rainbow Dash gesticulated confused.

„That’s what I tried to tell you. She… is not really a fan of me, y’know… shoving stupid stories in little fillies heads, make them all crazy and reckless… letting them end up in…“, Daring sighed dramatically „A full body wing and hoof cast, drinking through a straw. … did she mention that?“

A few of the other ponies sitting around had perked up and looked over to them. Perhaps, Derpy thought, they recognized Miss Yearling. Or they were surprised by Rainbows entrance. But before she could ponder more about this she meant to see a familiar face in the crowd.

„You… know her? She… knows you?!“, Rainbow mouth gaped open.

„Big Deal. The city, as large as it is, is still but a village. We bumbed into each other a few times.“, Miss yearling answered, shrugging. Very casually… but that wasn’t important right now, Derpy knew.

„Ahm, Miss Yearling?“, she interrupted. Impolite, yes. But… neccessary.

„Yes?“, the archeologist was quick to pick up, even if Rainbow was visibly irritated by the interjection.

„I… sorry. I just saw the false librarian guy down there.“, hoofing in the direction.

In fact, it wasn’t only Manefred Pommel strolling down the road – right in the direction of the Cloudsdale Museum. There were another pony – a bit older, dark maned, grayish fur right besides him.

„Von Marstall.“, A.K. Yearling growled. „They are here.“

Just moments later, they were sneaking behind the duo, keeping their distance. Derpy felt a bit like a spy. Not sure if it was exciting or frightening. They followed the false librarian and the crazy scientist down the main road, around some corners and lastly down the darkest alleyway Derpy had ever seen in Cloudsdale. Which was quite a feat considering, that nearly everything here was bright white.

There the two met with a bunch of other ponies – pegasi mostly. ‚Rough and tumbled‘ would be a good description of the bunch. Hard faces, badly shaven, one with a blinking golden tooth, another one constantly juggling a knife.

If someone ever wanted to round up the usual suspects – it would be this guys, Derpy was sure of it.

Luckily they were far enough away and well hidden behind a dumpster. But alas, that meant that they couldn’t really make out what Pommel, von Marstall and the mug-shot lineup over there were talking.

But there was a lot of hooving and pointing in the direction of the museum.

„I guess… they won’t wait, until we convinced Spitfire… right?“, Rainbow Dash whispered.

„Looks like it.“, Miss Yearling gave back.

„Ahh… what should we do.“

„There’s only one thing, y’know…“, A.K. said.

„Yeah. Going in, before them.“, Rainbow Dash finished the sentence. „Derpy… you don’t need to do this.“

Derpys look twitched from one to the other. She hadn’t planned to commit a crime… certainly not a museums heist. It should have been just a few interesting days of traveling and helping Miss Dash to find A.K. Yearling. But on the other hoof… there was something big going on and they were the only ones to stop it right now. And she surely wouldn’t let down her new friends. So she smiled, shook her head and said

„Nah. I am in here with you. You do the right thing. And my doctor always says, ‚you never should fail to try doing the right thing.‘“

Then she straightened herself, went a step out from the cover towards the street. „And for some reason he also always says another thing, before getting in real trouble…. GERONIMO!“