The December of 1934: Baladi

Ancient dust swirled around the old tomb as a light-green mare bent closely towards the ground. A protrusion from the ground was slowly revealed as she expertly brushed, carved and chiseled out a possibly thousand-year-old artifact.

“Oh, hot damn. We’ve struck gold, ponies!” The mare smiled and turned, wrapping the clay pot in protective cloth as she trotted back to the main dig site. She developed a bit of a skip in her step as she sing-songed through the tomb.

“Got my money, got my bits, got my ticket, now I’m rich!”

Then the hall filled with the sound of bloody murder. Like an unearthly howl, something cut through the hallways, and nearby burst Target’s ears as a sharp chill ran down her spine. The pot dropped, shattering into a million pieces on the floor below.

“Hey, did anyone else hear… that?” Target started, before trailing off as she entered the next chamber. Diggers, clad in white robes lay dead on the floor as scarab beetles gnawed on their bodies.

“Agh…” Target gagged. “What the fucking hell?”

“So glad that you could join us, Miss Quartermane.” The voice was accompanied by a smug chuckle that reverberated throughout the dig site. A gun cocked, and then metal was pressed against the back of her head. She heard car doors shutting, and the sounds of ponies conversing in Germane. Shouting, really.

“Dr. Caballeron,” Target sighed. “Here to take credit for another treasure you didn’t find?” There was a laugh from above, followed by the swift strike of metal against her skull. Target fell to one knee as she glared up at Cabelleron. “So, what now? Gonna kill me like the rest?

“Oh, hardly my dear,” Caballeron replied with a gentle smile. “Wouldn’t be in my best interest to kill the one pony who actually knows their way around this tomb, unlike these apes with guns. Dummköpfes, really.” he said, gesturing to his men.

Target spat at him.

“Oh, don’t give me that, fräulein,” Caballeron waved his hoof and she was pulled back up. “You’re going to be a great help to me, really. After all, you’re about to become part of history itself! First treasure hunter buried with their own treasure. Meanwhile, I get the glory! Search her!

A Lee-Enfield rifle was taken from Target, who groaned before speaking.

“And yet look who you associate with.” Target glared at the uniformed guards standing next to him. A symbol that all the world recognized was pinned on their jackets. “Don’t think that being friends with Nazis wins any points with most of the archaeological community, really,” Target deadpanned.

“I am simply an archaeologist for hire, in the times when I’m not off hunting my own riches and rewards. I take any job for the highest bidder; even if it is a bit grizzled.” Caballeron looked at the black eagle patch on his vest, brushing it softly with the back of his hoof. He made his way down the dig site via rope, until he was finally inches away from her. “Plus, it keeps me from loafing around all day when I could be stretching these old bones. Now,” he said, stroking her brown mane while leveling his own pistol on her. “Lead on. You know this place like the back of your hoof, no? I alas, don’t.”

“You have my sympathies.” Target deadpanned. I hope I step on a trap and skewer his brain with a poison-tipped arrow. In a barely audible echo, Target caught some of the soldiers and their rambling.

“Verteilt, der Führer möchte, dass dieser Ort von oben bis unten gereinigt wird, keine Ausnahmen!” shouted what seemed to be the pony in charge.

“Shit,” she swore under her breath. Her germane was a little rusty, but it had sounded like. ‘Spread out, the Fuhrer wants this place cleaned out from top to bottom, no exceptions’. Well, either that, or they were here to install a swimming pool.

“Und wenn ‘andere’ zu sehen sind, töte sie. Ich will nicht, dass irgendwelche Zeugen Dinge vermasseln.”the lead soldier continued, gesturing for his troops to fan out.

‘And if there are any “others” on sight, kill them. Don’t want any witnesses messing up things.’

“Go to Baladi, they said!” Target whined, her voice overflowing the halls. “It’ll be fun, they said!” She started to struggle, but when the cold metal pressed further against her skull she relented. “Can’t I ever catch a break?”

A dark chuckle emitted from behind her. “Sure,” Caballeron offered, “we can break all of your legs when we’re done with you.”

Eventually, Target led the Doctor and his troops down a stairway into the room she’d stumbled across before. There was a small lake in the middle of the room that was fed via underground river, and at the far end of the room itself, was a sarcophagus gilded in gold. Two statues of Anubis holding golden sickle swords called khopesh were on either side of it.

Target smirked to herself. I might be able to make quite a splash if I send one of those tumbling down. A few charges here and there, and…

“Oh, no, my lovely fräulein,” he said with a shaking of his head, gun still pointed at Target. “Do not think you are getting away that easily. We have business to which we must attend.”

“Maybe think about pointing your guns away from me, then? The fear of being riddled with bullets does little good for my conversational skills,” Target quipped.

“I do not take pleasure in hurting a mare—especially one such as yourself—but these boys? They definitely will.” Caballeron just hung back while the troops, still with their guns poised, barked at her in Germane to hurry on up.

“Right, right, just keep telling yourself that,” Target muttered as she tuned him out. The soldiers nearly drooled over the artifacts in front of them.

Target had to keep her jaw from going slack; gold, gems, all sorts of things were scattered about. The most curious thing, though, was a little brown box that was fairly drab except for that fact that it was in the shape of a star. A star marking the Eye of Horus. Without these features, it would have gone unnoticed really. The guards, distracted by more treasure then they could possibly carry, didn’t notice as she pocketed it. There was a howling gust of wind in a place where it shouldn’t be possible, and Target couldn’t suppress a shudder.

“Well, here you are. Riches beyond measure,” she grumbled in distaste.

“Perfect.” Caballeron smiled as he entered the chamber. “Now that you’ve fulfilled your purpose, these rottweilers are going to dispose of you. Honestly, I’ve used many mares the same way, but you perhaps were one of the more satisfying.”

He watched the soldiers move in and surround her and Caballeron mimed tipping a hat. “It’s been a pleasure, miss. But time is money, after all; and money is the be all and end all magnificent world we live in.”

Suddenly, shouting came from somewhere behind both Caballeron and Target, followed by the distinct sound of an old Luger going off several times. One of the soldiers fell to the chamber floor, blood oozing from a hole in his head.

“What the-?” Caballeron shouted as he saw the soldier fall. Then, he watched as a ‘soldier’ pulled off her hat to reveal a black mane with gray streaks in it. Her coat was a golden tint, and she bore violet eyes that Caballeron knew quite well. Her entire body was also surrounded with a golden aura, the angels singing into the cave… or no, that was in my head.

“Sorry to spoil your fun, Caballeron, but… The balloonist’s coming with me.” Daring winked.

Take a little trip over the continent one time in a hot air balloon and they never let it go...

“Daring Do?” Caballeron balked. “I should have known you’d show up to the party sooner or later. But, fun time’s over,” he sighed as he pointed his gun at her chest.

“Oh, so quick,” Daring smiled. “A stallion only interested in the climax. So much for foreplay.” she teased, a grin spreading across her face. “But, I suppose in this case, that’s a good thing. Like I said, Target’s coming with me.”

“Well I’ll send you both along then,” Caballeron cocked the pistol. “To the afterlife!” He opened fire on Daring, shots ringing across the room as she took flight.

The room exploded in gunfire. Target and Daring dove for cover, ducking behind pillars and rocks as bullets whizzed past them. Luckily, or unlucky, most of the soldiers had a complete lack of firing disciple. Magazines clattered to the ground as they sped through bullets like it was going out of style. Daring Do tossed her something heavy and familiar, and Target smiled as she was reunited with her dear old friend.

Sleek, polished metal and perfectly accurate, she was all mine. Target raised the Lee-Enfield and took aim down the sights. Her breathing slowed, the rifle steady, and in a smooth, slick motion, pony after pony fell before her.

Target and Daring rushed out into the main chamber, bullets nearly grazing their flanks -some actually doing so- before they took solid cover behind the Anubis statues. Between them and the only way out, a large open hole, was a platoon of soldiers.

“So, how far ahead did you think this through?” Target shouted, over the din of machine gun fire “Or were you making this plan up like you usually do? Target continued, “I still can’t believe you’re actually real.”

“Take a photo, it’ll last longer.,” Daring smirked. ”Then you can oogle my flank all you want.”

“I-I’m married!” Target sputtered. “What the flying feather are you doing here anyways, trying to swoop in on the score as well?”

“To be honest, I’m just here for Caballeron,” Daring said as she aimed her ‘borrowed’ Lugar at a soldier as he was reloading, scoring a headshot. “You, well, you were just an unexpected surprise. I’ve been watching the Doctor’s movements for weeks, hiding undercover as one of his men. Really, I’m honest to Celestia surprised that he didn’t notice me earlier. Then again, he rarely notices anything that’s not gold and shiny.

Target swore. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one paying my diggers. Shouldn’t be surprised really, in this part of the world, and in this day and age, ponies will do anything for a quick buck.”

“Yeah, you had a rat in your little band, told Caballeron all about your little discovery,” Daring replied as she shot down another soldier. “And yes, I actually do have a plan, now that you mention it. So, after we make it to that skylight, we—”

“You only came up with this plan just now, didn’t you?” Target deadpanned. “Soon as you saw that open hole,”

“Caught me red-hoofed I’m afraid,” Daring admitted with a sheepish blush. “But, if we can get up through there, we can make a dash for the Doctor’s car, and head for Luxor and get someplace safe. There’s something more to this tomb, I just know it, it wouldn’t be just chosen at random. Call it mare’s intuition.”

“Can do you one better, in that case, presuming we survive this!” Target shouted, as another volley of bullets flew by her head, just barely missing her. She took a shot with her rifle, and downed another soldier. “Got a Bentley up above, easily can outrace whatever Germane crap those guys have!”

“Perfect,” Daring smirked. “Willing to follow my lead on this?” she asked, pulling out a smoke bomb.

Target stared at her for a moment, and then grinned. “I love you.”

“I thought you were married?”

Then Daring lobbed the grenade at the soldiers with the pin pulled, then shot at it with her pistol. In the confusion caused by the explosion, she grabbed Target and they both flew up outside back into the ruined excavation site.

Luxor:

The orange rays of the setting sun fell upon the fine city of Luxor as tires screeched and swerved along its streets. Black leather, smooth black paint, and two fine mares stepped out before they both fell over from exhaustion.

“My car!” Target slammed her hooves against the now bullet-ridden metal. The poor Bentley creaked and groaned, bits of shrapnel falling away. “Fancy Pants is going to kill me!”

“That’s the one he gave you before Neighlantis right?”

Target gaped at her, and Daring snorted.

“Y-You know about that?” Target stuttered out.

“Well, yeah,” Daring replied. “How stupid do you think I am? The public may buy into that crap you told the press, naive as they are, but I’m not quite so moronic. Plus, there's that book, Going Deep Under which is billed as a speculative novel yes, but too many things that are too well-researched and too much shit that’s too unbelievable to be made up.”

Target muttered something under her breath about know it all ponies who deserved to be shot.

Daring grimaced at the small bullet holes that had torn through her outfit. “Geez, I like hot ass, not hot brass…” Daring shoved a bundle of robes she’d bought from a nearby vendor into Target’s forelegs. “Here, dress yourself up, and keep your voice down. Walls have ears, you know.”

With that, they set off amongst the city streets.

Nearby, a pony sat dressed in the traditional Saddle Arabian garb. In his hooves was a wooden instrument, which he played to a king cobra in a basket, making the reptile sway back and forth in time with his movements. It was quite fascinating really, possibly deadly, but fascinating.

"How does he…?” Target trailed off. Seeing her curiosity, Daring explained.

“The charmer himself,” she told her, “becomes one with the music and the motion.” She stepped next to the snake and swayed with the rhythm. “And the snake follows, a slave to its harmony.” And for a moment, she danced, both deadly predators, both trapped within the melody.

“Well, that’s reassuring.”

Daring flipped a coin to the charmer. “Lovely as always, Serpentine.”

The snake charmer looked up a moment later, but all he saw was the black hijabs of two mares walking away from him.

“Alright, so where are we staying?” Target looked around, eyebrow raised. The sun had finally set, and a chilly wind was pressing against their backs.

“I’ve already taken care of it. I even found some colts that’ll fix up that fancy car of yours.”

“That’s… not gonna be cheap.” Target stopped and raised a hoof to protest.

“Don’t even think about it. It’s already done.” Daring Do patted her on the withers. “Consider it payment for that show you put on down there.”

Target simply shook her head as they entered their room for the night and tossed off their robes to reveal their normal attire underneath. She moaned in pleasure as she flopped down on one of the bedsheets. “Finally, a real fucking bed!” Her spine gave an appreciative crack as she stretched out.

“Now that we’re comfy, and well, not getting shot at, you mind spilling it?” Daring plopped down on her own bed and eyed Target like well, a target. “I don’t mind getting shot at when I’m carrying some priceless artifact, but really? How did you piss them off that badly?”

Stirring herself, Target groaned. “Right, suppose I owe you that much. It had started out simple enough: just dig up a suspected tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Mind you, my first batch of builders ran off after a floor gave way. Things about curses had been tossed around, not that I bought into that. It was entirely possible that the tomb hadn’t been built properly and of course the floor was going to fall out from under them. I can always find more diggers, I guess. Stallions will do anything for a mare, especially if she has bits and a cause.”

“Are they always so easy?” Daring asked. “If you gave a buck a bit and told him parts of your nation’s heritage were in serious danger of being lost forever to quite literally the sands of time, he’d help you right quick.” Daring cocked a brow. “Especially if the pony that’s asking is a cute mare.”

“...Even if I had to keep reminding them I was happily married,” Target grumbled. “But that’s simply the way it worked; money is everything in this part of the world, and even the tiniest amount could pay to feed someone’s family for a month.”

“Whoever finds the tombs, and gets the artifacts back to Cairo, they earn their places in the history texts in Princeton or wherever. Dog eat dog, this field can be at times,” Daring replied in a quiet tone, and she’d nodding her head to every word Target had said. “So yeah, I can see where you’re coming from. But right now, get some sleep. If it helps chase off the nightmares, I can kindly cuddle up with you if ya want…” Daring teased.

“Shaddup…” Target muttered, before flicking off the light switch.

Morning came, and the pair were already in the hotel lobby. Daring was plotting over breakfast on how to get Target out of the city. Breakfast was some simple bread which had been cooked in an oven alongside some Falafel.

“Now, Luxor’s far from being Baladi‘s biggest city,” Daring had explained to her cohort. “But even this place has an airport.”

She gestured with a fountain pen to a spot on the map of the city and circled it with black ink. “We need to get as far away from Dr. Callaberon as possible, least till the heat’s off.”

“You think he’s got members of the Gestapo in the city?” Target asked, her eyes visibly widening in surprise.

“It’s possible, but far more likely he’s paid off some locals. Not the first time he’s done that when dealing with me. I remember one time when I had acquired a sapphire idol themed after Anubis from an ancient temple, the not so good doctor sent these guys with swords after me. Not a pleasant experience, let me tell you, running through the streets of Cairo in the middle of the summer with guys with scimitars coming after you. Gets the blood pumping, sure, but…” She shrugged. “Not pleasant.”

“I can imagine,” Target replied, eating some of her falafel. “Geez, when I thought I left the British Army, I thought I’d seen the end of my fair share of action. Guess I was wrong.”

Daring laughed at that. “Lady, if you wanted a nice quiet retirement, you’re in the wrong line of work. I mean, and this is all personal opinion mind you but me? I think you and I are a lot alike. We both want a grand old adventure. Because here you are, digging up tombs and risking sandstorms and raiders, and now the friggin’ Gestapo!”

“Yeah, think I’ve learned my lesson. After this is all over, I’m finally settling down,” Target sighed to herself. “...Celestia knows it’ll take a load off my husband’s mind. Stallion’s a shrink, so you can imagine how much stress he already has to deal with on a day to day basis,” she chuckled.

Daring snorted. “Yeah, I can. Hard to imagine you married to a psychologist of all things, but you meet all sorts. I suppose anyone who’s crazy enough to do the things you have is crazy enough to marry themselves to someone who’s constantly trying to get inside your brain and figure you out.”

“What about you?” Target asked. “You ever think of settling down, putting down roots with someone?”

Daring laughed once more. “Me, no. Hardly. First things first, it’d take a special type of stallion just to handle me and my… flighty personality.”

“Oh, I can think of a few,” Target replied, an image of a distinctive black-coated stallion with a pure white mane who, in her mind, could probably use some love in his life. “Trust me, I can.”

“Playing matchmaker huh, hon?” Daring replied. “Suit yourself, but for the time being this mare is staying single. Marriage changes a mare. Not always for the better really if you ask me. Makes them all soft, and wants them to stay around the house more and dote on their husband.

She grimaced in disgust. “You just happen to be the exception to the rule because your husband only turned out to be as much of an adventurer as yourself. And before you say something about those long, cold and lonely nights, I can easily pick somepony up off the street with my feminine wiles. I’m an attractive mare, remember?” She smirked and wiggled her flank from side to side.

“Fair enough…” Target admitted. “You get to sleep with anypony you want. Congratulations…” Target rolled her eyes. “Now, if only you can figure out how we make it to the airport.”

Author's Note

Okay, so it's finally up. Now, Dreams of Ponies, massive and I cannot emphasize this enough, but massive help working on this chapter. Helped me cut out every bit of unneeded exposition that was present, and generally chop this chapter down from it's original 7,000-word glory to less than 4,000. Bits that were removed, car chase scene and Target being a bit more uncaring about the lives of her diggers amongst others.

That was my key goal here with this chapter, give Target a lot more personality than she had in Going Deep Under. There, she was this kind mare, who happened to be an adventurer and sharpshooter married to a shrink. Here, we actually see more of her personality.

Now, neither of us are perfect, so any comments and critique are so very welcomed.