Daring Do and the Amulet of Graveeda

Daring Do and the Amulet of Graveeda

Part 6

Daring had had some good fortune and found an old unused robe in one of the alleyway trash bins. She was now slowly walking down the street, her ‘problem’ somewhat hidden, but still bulging out so far that anypony who took a good look at her would notice. It was hard trotting with so much offset weight, even more so as her senses were overwhelmed by the strong kicks the foals were producing. To make matters worse there were more ponies on the street now, although most were stallions that paid her no mind. She tried to avoid eye contact with them, but she couldn’t help noticing that a faint spark of hope flickering in their faces from time to time, as if they’d heard a rumor too good to be true.

Daring marveled that she’d managed to get this far without being stopped. She was doing her best just to put one hoof in front of another, and her beleaguered walking had to look odd to anyone who bothered to look. She was just silently thanking her good luck when she felt another wave of magic coming on, and she could tell that it was going to be a big one.

Without much fuss she disappeared into an alleyway, not wanting to risk being seen out the open. The foals inside her had begun shifting around, causing a strange tickle that seemed to be triggering something else. She just barely managed to get out of sight as the next part started, and she groaned as her girth started rocking back and forth of its own accord. It was throwing so much weight around she had to take a wide stance to keep her balance. It jostled around in many directions, but it eventually settled in a clumsy forward and back rocking motion. Her entire body eventually swung with it, the robe teasing her sensitive skin as they brushed against each other. She couldn't help a slight gasp as the mass between her legs displaced itself, the feeling of so much weight moving causing no end of fluttering sensations.

She had to find a seat, quickly. Her gut was getting warmer, and she was beginning to understand what that meant. Daring opted to sit where she was, her own plot a little more cushy than she remembered it being, but she didn’t worry about that right now. The foals were jostling around enough that she could see her stomach distend from obvious points of internal prodding. She couldn't help but squirm as she watched her belly be bumped and prodded from the inside, the internal pressure moving around in an oh-so-lovely way.

Daring couldn’t believe how good she felt. The sensations had become amplified after the spa, and now even the little things felt so much greater. The two foals in her were basically fighting for more room, rolling around like a couple trying to figure out which side of the bed they preferred. She felt like they were too cramped in there. Her girth was already considerable, but she knew it wasn’t enough. She needed to prepare for more foals. She needed to know how to trigger the growth.

As if on cue, Daring felt something inside her, like a spark that quickly grew into a fire. The heat in her womb bloomed immensely, and her mind was caught off guard as her stomach began pulsing much harder; both from internal prodding and her own breathing. The familiar pressure built up quickly behind the heat, her gut slowly becoming firmer as an unseen force filled her with more magic. She watched her belly grow once more, the sensitive surface expanding across the ground in quick throbs.

Daring couldn't help but stroke herself, the mass growing softer as it ballooned out in front of her.

It stopped just short of looking like triplets, and the sensation of the foals within her moving and exploring their new boundaries gave her shivers all over. She didn't care about her size anymore. She just wanted the foals within her to be happy and healthy, and judging from how much they rocked her belly about, she knew they had to be.

Daring still wasn’t quite sure what was triggering this. Was she the one controlling it, or did the magic have a mind of its own? Each episode had had different circumstances associated with it, but they all seemed to elicit the same reaction. Eventually though it would end, and her gut would feel tight and firm once more, the foals settling down and ceasing to be such a lovely distraction for a while.

This time, however, it seemed to be lasting longer than usual. . Fortunately, she didn’t have a problem with this, as it was so wonderful to rub that softened mass between her legs, to coax out the next throb with tender care. It was sad that the strange ghostly hooves had yet to return, though. They had appeared the first few times, but had stopped ever since. She wondered what that meant.

“Excuse me?”

Daring's thoughts were interrupted by a rather deep voice. She looked up, and noticed that a pegasus stallion was staring at her from his backdoor.

“A-are you?”

Daring smiled. “Come here.”

Hesitantly he obeyed, his steps nervous and his eyes wide with awe. She had him sit before her and gestured to her warm, glowing womb.

“Go on,” she said with a chuckle. “I won’t bite.”

Gently, the stallion began rubbing her belly in soft, kneading strokes. She could only delightfully sigh as a soft throb pressed into his touch, his ministrations carefully stoking the fire inside her and drawing out more of the magic. The stallion almost seemed dumbstruck as he continued to massage the living breathing mass before him, coaxing out warm throbs time and again to feel her precious cargo answer his touch.

She felt a strong wave of magic coming, coaxed out by his slow circling hooves that teased her constantly. She grunted from the building forces and pushed into him as her belly throbbed hard enough to push him back a little. He was utterly dumbfounded by the surge of power, and he could only sit and stare bewildered as her warmth bathed over him. It seemed to last some time, but eventually her girth receded to its previous size, much to the stallion's confusion.

“So,” Daring started as she finally recovered. “How’d you know it was me?”

It took a few seconds for the stallion to snap out of his daze. When he finally registered the question, though, he got up without a word and went inside his house. He returned a moment later with a piece of parchment and showed it to her.

“Ah,” Daring said. “Yep. That’do it.”

It was a wanted poster with her picture on it. It wasn’t the most accurate likeness she’d ever seen, but it did show off enough of her profile. The message along the bottom was hard to figure out, though. It sounded more like a missing pony report than a bounty? Probably just a ruse to work over the kinder hearts, which wasn’t a bad idea, truth be told.

“Gonna turn me in?” Daring asked the stallion.

The stallion shook his head. “G-Godmother, I…”

Daring knew what he was going to ask of her. She also knew however, that if she said yes, it was probably going to incapacitate her. Two was a task and a half, but three? That would be almost impossible. She only had the barest idea of how to control this power, and she had no idea how the magic had made the rest of her bigger back in Teddy’s spa. Yet what else was she supposed to say? To hear no from the one pony that could help you, just so she could wander around without a plan and probably get caught anyway?

Yeah, the answer was pretty simple.

“Take me to her,” Daring said.

The stallion widened his eyes. “R-really? But I-I don't have anything to give...”

Daring rolled her eyes. “Dumbass. Who would put a price on this kinda thing? Just help me up so we can go get your kid back. C’mon, time’s a-wastin.”

The look on the stallion’s face was priceless. He looked like a kid on Hearth’s Warming that’d just been given the best present ever. He came over eagerly and helped her up onto her hooves, and after Daring caught her breath, she followed him inside his house.

()()()()()

“How long?” Quick Fix asked.

Headmaster Glory Finch examined the Amulet of Graveeda, the light at its center growing dim. “Hours, maybe half a day at most.”

“Is there anything else we can do?”

“Nothing that won’t start a riot.” The Headmaster sighed deeply. “A pity that your friend couldn’t delay her at his spa a while longer.”

Quick Fix shifted back and forth on his hooves. “The search party and I combed the streets and alleyways in the area, but we didn’t find any trace of her. What if the citizens are hiding her?”

The Headmaster shrugged. “Then they’re hiding her.”

“But sir! We can’t—”

“No!” The Headmaster snapped. “We can’t escalate our efforts! The fear of oppression runs deep in this town, Quick Fix, and if we even show a hint of dominion, the seeds of anarchy and rebellion will be sown! We are servants of the Godmother, and by extension, servants of our little ponies. We are not, nor have we ever been, their keepers.”

Quick Fix grit his teeth. “Headmaster…”

The Headmaster’s eyes were hollow as he turned back to the amulet. “If we are to fail, then we shall fail keeping to the code. If we start to violate our ponies’ rights, then we are no better than—”

The Amulet was suddenly swiped out of his grasp.

The Headmaster blinked. He looked over and saw Quick Fix fitting the Amulet around his neck while preparing to leave.

“I believe you said something earlier about me needing to help clean up this mess,” Quick Fix said matter-of-factly. “Suppose I should get to it, then.”

“Quick Fix,” The Headmaster said back with a voice full of dull fire.

“I’m not gonna sit around while the future of this town dangles by a thread!” Quick Fix grabbed a map and a compass from a nearby table. “We’re not their rulers or keepers? Fine. But that doesn’t mean we should sit around and do nothing! The ponies of Prodigal Point need the Godmother, and the Godmother needs us! I’m not about to abandon her or them, and if you’re gonna just sit there and mope, do me a favor and stay the hell out of my way! I’m gonna find her if it’s the last thing I do!”

He left without another word, the sound of his wings the only thing marking his exit.

The Headmaster watched him leave without comment. He was silent and stoic as he stood alone in his office, but then as he went back over to his desk, the ghost of a smile graced his lips.

“Heh. Maybe I was wrong about him.”

()()()()()

“Will this be fine?” the stallion asked Daring.

Daring chuckled. She’d simply asked him for a place with plenty of room, and he showed her to his home's living room. It was a rather spacious place that would've looked rather homey under different circumstances, but right now the windows were shut, the curtains were drawn, the lights were dimmed, and the fireplace was unlit.

“Yeah, no worries. This’ll... work...” Daring suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. A shiver wracked her body shortly after, and the foals in her womb leaped fearfully.

The stallion hesitated. “Are you alright?”

Daring shook her head clear. “I’m fine, heh.” She pulled her robe closer around herself. “Just a little chilly, that’s all.”

“Want me to light a fire? It'll only take a minute.”

“Nah, I’m good.” Daring nudged him towards the door. “Hurry and go get your wife. I'll wait here.”

The stallion obeyed, but he seemed uneasy about doing so. “I’ll just be a moment, promise. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.”

Daring watched him leave in a rush. As soon as he was gone, she put a hoof to her forehead and closed her eyes. She was starting to feel off, and something about that cold was just... wrong. She had a feeling she knew what it was, but she couldn’t dwell on it right now. Her legs were still aching from the earlier trip, and she seriously needed to find a place to rest. There was an oddly shaped couch in the room, one of those things that wouldn’t look out of place in a psychiatrist’s office. It looked rather plush, too, so she decided that was a good place to park her rump.

Her instincts were proven right. She lay upon the couch carefully, her foal-filled womb towering over her as she wrapped herself up in the robe like a blanket. She still couldn't quite shake that cold feeling, but cuddling up with the warmth of her belly so close both strengthened and soothed her. She felt herself getting drowsy, and she probably would’ve nodded off had she not heard the sound of hoofsteps approaching.

What rounded the corner brought down a heavy hammer unto Daring’s heart. The stallion’s wife was an utter wreck, disheveled, beaten down, and bereft of hope. It looked as though she hadn't looked after herself in weeks, and only the strength of her mate had been keeping her going.

“Celestia,” Daring breathed. It was a wonder that this mare was even still alive. It hurt to even look at her, and Daring couldn’t even imagine the stress this must be putting on the husband.

She made up her mind right then and there. She didn't care if she was never able to walk again. Consequence be damned, this mare, this mother, had suffered enough.

Daring tried to call the mare over, to bring her near, but she seemed frozen in place. A look of total disbelief was etched on her tired and worn features, and it wasn't until her husband gave her a slight push that she reacted at all. She stumbled forward on weak, haggard limbs, her eyes never leaving the twin-filled womb before her.

Daring reached out and touched one of her hooves. “Hi.”

The mare jolted like she’d been shocked. “You… Y-you’re really…” She began to tear up. “No, you can't help me. It's been too long.” Her voice hitched and cracked. “I can't even remember her name! I can’t remember my daughter’s name!”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay.” Daring lifted up her chin so she was looking her in the eyes. “Listen to me. It’s gonna be alright. I’m gonna help you.”

The mare hiccuped. She didn’t look away, but she was so lost in despair that the words barely registered.

“Do you still want her back?” Daring asked.

The mare weakly nodded behind broken sobs.

“Then we’ll bring her back,” Daring said. “It’s as simple as that.”

The mare still didn’t look like she believed. “H-how?”

Daring guided the mare’s hoof to her waiting belly. “Like this.”

It was just like before with Merry. As soon as the cursed mare touched her, Daring felt the warmth in her womb pick up and begin to feel like a furnace. The mare kneaded her hoof into Daring’s taut flesh in small circles, her eyes glazing over and her breaths evening out. The magic in the air became palpable, and as if in a trance, she leaned forward and kissed Daring’s pregnant stomach. Once more Daring felt a spark ignite within her from the touch, and a wisp flew out of the mare’s mouth and flew immediately into Daring’s.

However, the mare did not whisper the foal’s name.

Daring’s womb began to swell. It slowly pulsed alongside each breath, surging with heat every time it got a little bigger. A pressure began to build up within her, pushing against her stomach's expanding limits, but once it again, it surpassed them and pushed her girth to new heights. Daring couldn't believe how truly large she was becoming, and when the first real throb hit her, she became lost in the endless flutters that worked their way through her immense womb.

Daring ached with need as a warmth surged up her throat, and she leaned back to let it loose. Once again a light left her mouth and floated toward the expectant mother, who looked at it longingly, but no words came. The wisp stayed for a time, flitting back and forth in the space between the two mares, but then it slowly faded, leaving the mother alone once more.

Daring didn't understand what went wrong, but she had little time to figure it out as something in her gut demanded her attention. It’d begun to give off a warm glow, similar to before, but now it was much, much stronger. The sudden influx of magic left her moaning in bliss, and on instinct she shifted slightly to reveal the crest of her mountainous belly to the mare, who approached once more with glassy eyes.

The mare wrapped her lips around Daring’s sensitive navel.

“Ohhhhh…” The brief touch from a kiss had brought about strong feelings by itself, but this was something else entirely. Daring became lost in a storm of sensations that made her entire body pulse with building magic, and the mare continued to create stronger waves that raised the sensations to new highs. She started to pull and suck on the little button, making Daring’s tremendous girth surge visibly larger and increase the pressure along with it. Daring started thrusting her gut in tandem with the throbs of growth, and each time the mare pulled deeply Daring’s belly would swell a little more, a little more, and a little more.

Daring was suddenly rocked by a spasm. She groaned deeply and before she knew it, she’d shoved her navel wholly into the mare's mouth. A portion of the warmth inside her poured into the mare, and she staggered backwards and fell to the ground. Now her belly began to glow and fill out, rapidly growing into a motherly shape as the nameless foal returned from the void.

Daring could feel the little one entering her womb, as well. Her gurgling, rumbling stomach was filled with otherworldly light, and each surge of growth would rock and shift it about. Daring herself was unable to concentrate on anything but the weight forming within her, groaning as her mass quivered with tingling throbs. She thrust upward again, the peak of her womb being pushed outward even farther than it was before, its shape truly growing into a healthy set of triplets.

She couldn't contain herself amidst all the throbbing and growth, and her belly rose and fell rapidly from her hot and bothered breathing. There last mighty surge of growth, causing her to yelp in surprise, and her belly surged upward immensely until her womb was filled with a powerful pressure from three full grown foals sharing such a snug space.

Daring could only breathe easily as she watched her new size rise and fall with grace, the warm throbs slowly tapering off and the warm glow leaving her. It wasn't until she could hear the sounds of a couple happy and crying from the return of their lost foal that she realized it was all over. Yet she couldn't join them in their revelry, as she abruptly felt both tired and cold. All she could do was wrap the robe tighter around her body and slowly close her eyes, hoping that her tall belly was unaffected by what she felt.

()()()()()

The stallion couldn't believe it. His daughter was back! she was really back! He held his wife in his arms and felt her swollen stomach, sniffling slightly as the foal poked curiously at his hoof. His wife came to shortly after, and upon discovering that she was pregnant once more she smiled and laughed for the first time in days.

The stallion looked over at Daring. “Godmother, how can we ever—”

His words were cut short as he looked at her. Her eyes were closed, her face was pale, and she was radiating a chill instead of any heat.

“Godmother?” he said again. He came over and touched her… only to recoil instantly from the sting of a freezing chill. It had felt like he’d touched dry ice.

“Hun, what's wrong?” his wife said.

The Godmother arched her head back, an expression of pain on her face. She let out a hacking cough, a cloud of black smog rising out of her mouth.

The wife backed away. “No…”

The cloud grew thicker and more ominous, the temperature in the room beginning to fall rapidly. It started to spread out to fill the room, but before it could, a sliver of light appeared within the center. It separated itself from the darkness and flew back into the Godmother's mouth.

Daring let out long, scratchy breath as her eyes flew open.

The stallion went to her again. “Godmother, what's—”

Her hoof whipped out and yanked him close.

“GAH!” Daring’s hoof was both amazingly warm and bitterly cold. The stallion winced from the painful touch, but then forgot about it as he saw that her eyes. They were glowing pure, white light, with contrails that looked like comet’s tails.

“The Amulet.” Daring said in an otherworldly voice. She coughed and expelled another cloud of black smog, “Go! Find it! We must have the Amulet!”

 Without another word she passed out, the warmth leaving her touch as only coldness remained.

For a moment the stallion was stunned, unable to process what just happened. He’d never seen anything like that before, and he barely knew what to do. The amulet? What amulet did she mean? How could he possibly know—wait… hold on. Did she mean THE Amulet?

“What’s going on, Honey?” his wife asked him. “What’s happening to her?”

“I'll be back, Blossom!” The stallion galloped towards the door. “Just don't touch her! Whatever you do, do NOT touch her!”

His wife just watched him leave, a fearful movement rocking her womb. And she couldn't help but echo that fear, as she turned to watch more smog rise from their daughter's savior.

()()()()()

There was a meager crowd gathered in the space before Quick Fix. It was far less than what he’d hoped for, but it was all he could get with some many ponies unwilling to leave their homes. He was surprised he’d gotten this many, truth be told. There were even a few mares in the crowd.

“The Godmother is real!” Quick Fix said to all of them. “She’s out there right now, helping anypony she can find, but right now she’s in danger! She can’t fully fend off the curse without the Amulet of Graveeda, so please, if you find her, tell her that I’ve been sent to give it to her!”

He held the Amulet high above his head, causing a murmur of surprise among the crowd.

“She has nothing to fear from our order!” Quick Fix continued. “We are her allies, not her enemies! We are her chosen guardians, and with our help she may restore all that has been lost! However, we can only do that if we don’t lose her!”

The crowd grew uneasy, exchanging looks of worry amongst themselves.

Quick Fix spoke over them once more. “I know this is a lot to ask. A great change has struck us all with no warning, but we must adapt to it! We must find the Godmother, and quickly, before it’s too late. Spread my message to all you see! Tell them that Quick Fix seeks to give the Amulet of Graveeda to the Godmother! Hurry! Her time is running out!”

Quick Fix then spread his wings and took to the skies. He didn’t really know if this was going to work, but he had to get the word out somehow. He had many more places to go, much more hope to spread. Ponies needed to know that the Godmother was out there, and she needed—

“WAIT!”

Quick Fix slowed. He’d just cleared the rise of a buildings when he heard a voice crying out from below. He banked back around and saw a single stallion on the edge of the crowd, jumping up and down and waving furiously to get his attention.

“What is it?” Quick Fix asked as he landed.

The stallion was pale and frantic. “The Godmother is at my house, but something’s wrong! think the curse is attacking her! You need to come quickI”

The crowd reacted immediately, but Quick Fix silenced them. “Where is your house?!”

The stallion whirled around and sprinted off. “I’ll take you there! Follow me!”

Quick Fix followed, and the two of them broke in a full gallop. A few ponies from the crowd followed as well, the future of their families resting on what may happen.

()()()()()

Daring was freezing. She had no idea where she was, or what was happening. All she knew was that it was dark and cold. There had been a voice at one point, saying something about an Amulet but it had faded away along with her body. She was now just a spark adrift in a frigid void, and everything felt so very far away.

Yet not all was lost. There was still some warmth she could feel; the warm glow that emanated from her womb. No matter how cold she got that source never died, standing like a bastion against whatever had stolen the world from her eyes. The three foals within danced within her warm and safe, but that was to be expected. After all, the curse wasn’t attacking them anymore.

Daring could feel it pulling her, dragging her numb form down into the deepest reaches of the darkness, and the cold was sinking deeper and deeper, trying to get at her soul.

All Daring could think of was her life and what it had led to. There was so much about her old life that she’d loved: The adventure, the discovery, the danger, the money, but in all of it she’d never done something as selfless as this. Was this as rewarding as all those other things she’d done? Was it something worth giving her life up for? In the end she’d only been able to restore three families. Would a stronger pony have been able to do more?

Daring decided that it didn’t matter. As her world grew colder she couldn't help but smile, the warmth of the far-off womb never fading. Three was a good number. Three families saved, three lives allowed to live? That was more than most could say they’d saved. Maybe somepony else could’ve done more, but she was the one who had been given the chance. So many had been taken, and so many were still lost but these three inside her womb? They were safe.

And that was good enough.

()()()()()

Quick Fix and the stallion rounded the final corner, but then skidded to a halt at what they saw. The stallion’s house was covered in ice. The windows were frosted over, icicles hung from the gutters, and a dreadful smoke was rising from the chimney. A pregnant mare was standing just outside with a worried look on her face, steadily backing away from the still-spreading ice.

“Blossom!” the stallion yelled, running up to his wife. “Are you alright? What happened?!”

Blossom shivered. “I tried to stay with her, but the cold got so bad… I had to get out before everything froze. I’m sorry.”

Quick Fix looked down at the Amulet of Graveeda. The light within it had faded, now replaced by an ominous black mark that he couldn’t rub off.

Quick Fix turned to the stallion. “Please tell me that smoke is from a fire.”

Both he and Blossom shook their heads.

“Of course it isn't,” Quick Fix muttered. He knew his was going to be bad, but this was even worse than he expected. “Things never can be that easy.” He began to make his way towards the house’s front door.

The stallion called out. “Wait! What are you doing?”

“I have to go,” Quick Fix said. He touched the door handle and let out a hiss of pain. It felt like he’d touched a burning stove. “The Godmother needs the Amulet.”

“Are you crazy?” the stallion demanded. “You’ll freeze to death!”

“Probably,” Quick Fix agreed. He whirled around, stood on his front legs, and bucked the icy door. SMASH! It shattered into pieces with a sound like breaking glass. “But somepony’s gotta plunge their hooves into this muck, and I just happen to be expendable. Look after your wife, eh? She looks like crap.”

And with that he flew inside.

“You idiot!” The stallion yelled after him. “Urgh, damn it… the Godmother’s in the last room at the end of the hall!”

()()()()()

Quick Fix was greeted by darkness. The warmth of the outside world was left behind as soon as he crossed the house’s threshold, and he did his best to pull his robe close while staying aloft. The air was filled with such an intense chill that the couple’s belongings had frozen solid, and the walls looked brittle to the touch. The tip of his wing brushed against a doorframe and he let out a pained yelp. It seemed there was no safe place to land, and the only way he’d get in farther is by keeping in the air.

“Gotta be fast.” He made his way down the lifeless hallway, his wingbeats steady and sure. His nose and ears had already gone cold, and the ends of his legs were starting to go numb. As his eyes adjusted he saw that a thick, cloying smoke was hanging in the air with a ghostly stillness, but it was steadily retreating away from him. Perhaps it was because he was carrying the Amulet? He couldn’t really be sure.

Quick Fix found the open doorway at the end of the hall. The smoke was at its thickest here, and it stung his eyes with its icy bite. He could see something at the heart of the smoke—it was a soft glow, a beacon that brought forth a slight shimmer to the artifact in his hooves. He went to it, and as he drew close the smoke pulled back to reveal a circle of untouched ground. The Godmother lay there on a couch, shimmering in the eye of the storm as powerful magics warred over her, yet upon taking one look at her, it was clear as to which side was winning.

Daring’s body was a pale, listless gray, the color of her fur undone by frost and magic. The air seemed to hang still around her, and it was far colder here than the rest of the home. An occasional gout of smoke would rise from her lips, but aside from that, she was as still as death. Quick Fix feared the worst upon seeing her, but then he noticed something that gave him pause.

Her enormous womb was still intact. Quick Fix landed in the circle and laid a hoof upon it, surprised to find that while chilly, a gentle warmth still emanated within. A weak kick answered his prodding, followed by two others in quick succession. Apparently there was still time, although whether there’d be any permanent damage at this point was less certain. This mare might lose the powers of the Godmother, and then they’d have to find another avatar.

Quick Fix looked upon Daring, a strange mare that knew nopony in this town, and yet had tried to do so much. It seemed that she’d refused to let the families she met suffer, despite what it meant for her own well-being. He couldn’t very well have such a selfless mare become a martyr, and without hesitating, he took the Amulet of Graveeda and placed it around her neck. He than leaned close to her ear and spoke softly, praying to the powers above that this would work.

“Wake up, Godmother. Your little ponies need you.”

()()()()()

Daring wasn't sure what she just heard. It was a voice, that was for certain, but it was so far away that she couldn’t make out what had been said. She somehow knew that the voice had been speaking to her, so she focused a little harder, trying to see if she could catch anything else.

Suddenly there was a light off in the distance. It only sparkled briefly, but it still dazzled her eyes and burned into her retinas. Daring began to feel something, a warm something, like a strong hoof pressing into her listless body from far, far away. It began to rouse from whatever malaise she was in, but before she could make any headway, the cold bit deeply into the warmth and made it recoil away.

Daring didn't understand what was happening. How could she still feel her body when it was so far away? How had she been separated from her body in the first place? She didn’t know the answer to either, but as she was wondering the warmth returned in full force, this time as a torso that wrapped around her.

“Listen to me,” the voice said. She heard it loud and clear this time. The cold savagely sank its fangs into the warm body, but it didn’t let go. Instead, it wrapped a pair of wings around them both like a feathery blanket. “Take what you need from me. Use it to come back to us. Don’t let the curse win!”

Daring could see it now, a light off in the distance that beckoned to her. It was her body calling to her! She wanted to go to it, but she was consumed by a strange numbness. The warmth of the torso was removing a layer of it, but there was still so much more—

Somepony kissed her, their warm lips breathing life into her dwindling spirit.

Daring felt a fire light in her belly. She could feel herself breathe again, and the numbness swiftly faded away to lucidity. She now said that she was in a blue, hazy void filled with wispy clouds that lazily drifted past her. It stretched on and on in every direction without end, and there was no ground or sky to speak of. Through the link to her body she felt the curse spread from her to the unknown pony, and it wasted no time in stealing their life away.

“No!” Daring yelled. “You moron! Get away! You’re gonna die!”

But it was no use. The pony was fading, and there was nothing she could do about it.

“Grgh!” Daring wiggled and flailed around. “C’mon! Snap out of it, girl! You’ve been in worse traps than this! You just need to—”

Suddenly, a bright silver star appeared off in the distance. It glowed with a mighty, divine power, and she recognized the energy calling out to her.

“The Amulet!” She stretched out her hoof, and she felt herself begin racing towards the star. The clouds of the void whizzed past her as she flew forward at dizzying speed, but it wasn’t fast enough, as the warmth of the stranger was fading. The darkness was closing back in as well, and the cold numbness was creeping back into her limbs.

“Come onnnnnnnnn!” Daring grit her teeth. “Faster! Faster!”

“The stranger’s warmth was almost gone now, no more than an echo within her body. The bitter cold was crushing her with its presence, and just as she was about to fade out, she threw herself forward and sailed headlong into the star.

A blast of heat exploded outward and burned away the cold, ravenous dark in the blink of an eye. Daring’s vision became filled with light, and the full sensation of her body returned… just in time to feel like she was on fire. Vast amounts of power flowed into her body and soul, all of which she eagerly absorbed, and finally she felt no more as the world faded to white.