“Welcome to Mareyan City,” Daring Do said gesturing with a hoof at the large cityscape in front of her and Courier Six. A large pyramid dominated the center of the city with the other building radiating out in a circular pattern. “I know a somepony here we should be able to stay with until the next train to Canterlot.”

“When is that?” Six asked as he kneeled to Daring’s level to observe the city.

“Either tomorrow or the next day, we’ll need to check the schedule to make sure,” Daring said putting a hoof to her chin. She turned to Six, “You’ll have to get something less conspicuous to wear than that helmet though.”

“Why?” Six asked turning his head to stare at Daring.

“I don’t know what it’s like where you’re from, but here nopony goes around wearing metal helmets that completely cover their face,” Daring said pointing at Six’s helmet. “Mareyan City is a big melting pot of different species, so you’ll stand out less without the helmet than with.”

Six nodded and brought up the device on his wrist. After a few seconds of fiddling with it, there was a pop of static and his helmet was replaced with a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of mirrored sunglasses. “Better?” Six asked looking back up at the slack-jawed Daring.

“How did you do that?” Daring asked

“Science,” Six said as he stood up.

“Really with that again,” Daring said with lidded eyes. “I think you just don’t know how it works.”

“The pipboy breaks down the item to the molecular level and compress’ it to fit inside disputing the weight across my whole body allowing me to carry more items and call on them in a moment’s notice by reassembling and decompressing the molecules so they can be used again,” Six said as he checked the pockets in his coat.

Daring stared at Six for a moment before turning towards the city, “Right science.”

“You asked,” Six said

“I’m an archeologist, not a scientist, I don’t think I understood half of what you said,” Daring stretched out her wings as she spoke. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter we need to get to my friends place quickly before anypony notices.” She started trotting down the hill they were standing on towards the city with Six following close behind.

The city was bustling with activity, with various species, from ponies and griffons to a few cats that walked upright like Six did going about their daily lives ignoring the odd pair. Daring and Six wound their way through the crowd heading deeper into the city. Daring led them to a small tavern on one of the inside spokes of the wheel of buildings surrounding the pyramid. A large sign on the front of the building declared ‘Rosie’s Bar’ in red lettering.

“I’m guessing you know Rosie then,” Six said as he examined the building.

“Yep, she and I go way back, before I even became an archeologist,” Daring said hopping up onto the boardwalk before the entrance. “Come on she’ll know the train schedule as well, so we don’t have to go out and find it.”

They enter the tavern, the door swinging quickly shut behind them. The bar was almost empty, the evening rush not having hit yet, with a few patrons that were there taking up the corner tables close to the entrance. The bar was situated in the back with a dark gray pony wiping it down. She had wings folded up against her back but unlike Daring’s feathery ones, these were leathery like a bat’s. Her ears twitched at the door closing and she looked up her golden eyes finding Daring quickly. She scowled and flapped her wings, hopping over the bar and landing in front of Daring.

“The tartarus you doing here Daring,” She said giving Daring a glare.

“Oh come on Rosie, you’re not excited to see your friend?” Daring asked with a wide smile.

“The last time you were here I had to rebuild my bar,” Rosie said her glare intensifying.

“Hey, I paid for that,” Daring said pointing a hoof at Rosie. “I wouldn’t leave a friend hanging like that.”

“I still had to shut down,” Rosie stamped a hoof to the ground. “You realize what that does to a bar, I was outta business for a week cause of your last adventure.”

“Some friend,” Six interjected as he watched the exchange.

“An’ who the tartarus are you,” Rosie turned her attention to Six. “An’ what in tartarus are you, you sure ain’t no minotaur I can tell that.” At Six’s silence, Rosie huffed, “Fine then don’t answer me.” She turned back to Daring, “An’ what do you want this time.”

“Just trying to catch a train back to Canterlot and I was hoping to stay here till one is available,” Daring said gesturing around with a hoof.

Rosie huffed again, “You know the rates, payment up front.”

“Oh come on Rosie, I need a favor here. I don’t have the bits on me but you know I’m good for it,” Daring said.

“New policy of mine,” Rosie said turning away from Daring with a flick of her tail. “You don’t got the bits or the gold then you ain’t staying here.”

“Will this do,” Six said as he pulled a gold bar from his jacket. Rosie turned her head back and her eyes bulged as she took in the gold in Six’s hand.

“Now where’d you get something like that,” Rosie shook her head. “Never mind, I know better than ta ask. That’ll do just fine,” She quickly swiped the gold from Six’s grasp and trotted to the back. “I’ll go get the room key for you, feel free to ask for a drink or food it’s on the house, tonight only though.” She disappeared through a door behind the bar as Daring and Six both sat on the stools in front of the bar.

“Ok, now I got to know,” Daring said turning to face Six. “Where did you get that gold.”

“Bank vault,” Six said as he took off his sunglasses and placed them on the counter. “You sure we can trust her?”

“Who? Rosie? Of course, we can,” Daring said with an incredulous look. “She may be a little rough around the edges and care about money a bit too much, but she’s a good pony.”

“If you’re sure,” Six said with a nod of his head.

“Of course, I’m sure, me and Rosie go way back,” Daring said as Rosie returned from the back. “I trust her with my life.”

“So sweet of you Dare now what can I get you two,” Rosie said taking out a rag and wiping down some glasses. “I got a good selection of whiskey, rum, scotch, and beer.”

“Water will be fine,” Six said.

“Really water? You do know this is a bar, right?” Rosie raised an eyebrow at Six.

“Water will be just fine,” Six said

“Alright, suit yourself,” Rosie said. She turned to Daring, “The usual for you I assume?”

“You know me well Rosie,” Daring said with a smile.

Rosie rolled her eyes and ducked underneath the counter, quickly producing two glasses. One she filled with water the other a brown liquid. “Here you go, enjoy,” She said as she returned to cleaning glasses.

Six took a drink from his glass, “We’re being watched.”

Daring’s eyes widen as she nearly spit out her own drink, “What! How do you know?”

“The two ponies with horns in the comer, I don’t know what they’re called,” Six said gesturing with his glass behind him.

“Unicorns,” Daring said taking another swig from her glass. “You’ve got unicorns, pegasi like me, and earth ponies like Caballeron. There’s also bat ponies like Rosie here.”

“We’re called thestrals not bat ponies Dare, you know that,” Rosie said with a huff.

“Alright, the unicorns in the corner, they’ve been playing card since we walked in but the pattern is too steady,” Six leaned back and tapped on the counter as he spoke. “Right, left middle, in a steady beat. No card game I know of is that regular.”

“Shit, how did they know to come here?” Daring asked.

“No idea but they’re here,” Six took another drink leaning back against the counter. “I suspect the griffons on the other side are with them, they both still have full drinks.”

“Both of them have been here a while before you two showed up,” Rosie said as she put away the glass and started wiping the counter.

“Wait, you know griffons but not unicorns?” Daring asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Does that really matter right now,” Six said shooting a glare at the Pegasus.

Daring sighed, “Right what’s the plan then?”

“We wait” Six took another drink.

“We wait? That’s it?” Daring said her wings ruffling as she spoke. “What kinda plan is that.”

“The kind of plan that comes from us being at a disadvantage,” Six said as his hand drifted to his hip and the device strapped to it. Daring’s eyes widen at the motion as she realized what Six was planning.

Rosie, noticing Daring’s reaction, stomped a hoof to gain Six’s attention, “Hey, they’ll be no killin’ in my bar. Beat them, bludgeon them, maim them within an inch of their life but no killing, you got that?”

Six glared at the thestrals for a moment before his hand moved away from his side as he nodded, “Yes ma’am.”

“Good, now you two want anything ta eat?” Rosie said returning to her cleaning like nothing happened. At Daring’s look of confusion, she continued, “I gotta get something from the back figured I could get you both some food.”

“Um, hayburger and fries I guess,” Daring said

“I’m fine,” Six said taking another drink. “I doubt you have anything for me anyways.”

“What you a meat eater or something?” Rosie asked gesturing with a hoof. “Cause I got stuff for meat eaters too you know, kinda be silly for me not to,” She smiled showing off the fangs in her mouth.

“Maybe later,” Six said

“Suit yourself, I’ll be right back,” Rosie left the bar going through the door behind her. When she had disappeared the two unicorns stood up and made their way to Six and Daring.

“Finish that drink,” Six said to Daring as he downed the rest of his water. Daring nodded and finished her drink as the unicorns approached them.

“I think you two know why we’re here,” One of them said as he pulled out a knife. “Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

“You’re not going get the artifact except by prying it from my cold dead wings,” Daring growled her feather fluffing up to make her appear larger.

The unicorn with the knife gave a vicious grin, “That can be arranged.”

“You don’t want to do this,” Six said not looking at the unicorns. “You can still walk away.”

“Not likely we’re getting paid a bunch of bits to get that artifact,” The other unicorn said.

“You’re not getting paid enough,” Six said

“Why don’t you just shut up now,” the knife-wielding unicorn said as he lunged forward. Six dodged the stab, grabbing the knife with his right hand before spinning around the pony and slamming him into the bar. His hat disappeared with a burst of static as the green helmet replaced it. He twisted the knife from the dazed ponies grip and stabbed it through the pony’s leg and into the table trapping the now screaming unicorn there.

Daring meanwhile launched herself at the other unicorn slamming a hoof into his snout. The pony recoiled before growling and standing up on his hind legs to deliver a punch. Daring ducked down and spun sending her hind legs into the pony’s gut to send him flying into a table.

Two more ponies entered the bar holding swords and the griffons stood up drawing their own weapons. Six drew a curved blade from underneath his coat and Daring’s wings flared as the stood back to back.

Rosie burst from the back room wearing dark blue armor on her torso with blades on her wings, “Alright you motherfuckers, you can either get out of my bar willingly or I’ll force you out.”

“I doubt they’re going to listen,” Six said as he crouched down his head turning as he took in the room.

The unicorn in the middle stood up and spit some blood onto the floor, “We ain’t leaving till we get that artifact.”

“Good, I’ve been itching for a good fight,” Rosie spread her wings as a gem in the center of her chest piece started glowing and electricity flowed across her wingblades.

The room exploded into chaos as the two groups started fighting. Six’s blade caught the blade of one of the griffons and he sent a kick into the griffons gut. The other griffon lunged forward trying to impale Six on his blade but Six dodged sending his now freed blade into the griffon’s wrist. The griffon’s screams were cut off when Six slammed the hilt of the blade into the griffon’s beak with a crunch.

The other griffon, now recovered from the kick, swung his blade down to catch Six off guard. Six raised his arm, unable to bring his blade to bear in time, and the clang of metal against metal sounded out causing the griffon to stare in confusion at Six’s still attached arm. Six landed a punch with his other arm across the griffon’s face causing him to stumble back. Six lashed out with his blade, cutting a large gash across the griffon’s chest. As the griffon reeled back from the attacks Six landed a kick to the griffon’s side sending him to the floor.

Daring had tackled the unicorn she had kicked earlier landed blow after blow against the unicorn’s face. His horn lit up with a blue glow and a piece of the table slammed into Daring’s side sending her off the unicorn and onto the floor. She rolled onto her hooves and launched herself back towards the unicorn, only to find him convulsing where he stood, one of Rosie’s wingblades sticking from his side.

“Figured you could use some help, ya seem a bit rusty,” Rosie gave Daring a smirk.

“Hey, I’m not rusty,” Daring said her wings flared.

“Please, the old Daring woulda had him down ten minutes ago,” Rosie said Pulling her wingblades from the unicorn who dropped to the ground in a tangle of limbs and his own waste. “You’ve lost a bit of your edge with the cushy archeologist job.”

“I haven’t lost my edge, and trust me it’s not a cushy job,” Daring said glaring at the thestral.

“Then prove it Dare, or are you truly a featherbrain now,” Rosie said with a smirk.

“Hey! We’re still here,” the two ponies who had entered said.

“And we’re having a conversation, so if you would please,” Rosie said looking at the ponies.

“We’re in the middle of a fight,” one of the ponies said taking a step forward.

Rosie ignored the ponies and turned to Daring with a smirk, “Whatta say Dare, just like old times?”.

Daring grinned viciously, “Sounds good to me.” Both Daring, and Rosie launched themselves at the ponies. Daring ducked underneath a blade sending an uppercut into the pony’s jaw. Rosie’s blade met the other pony’s blade in a shower of sparks.

Six turned watching the two ponies fight and took a step forward to help when a searing pain in his side rushed through him. He turned his head to find a knife stuck in his side and a surprised griffon staring at him. Six pulled the knife out and held it in his grip even as it dripped with his blood. The griffon quickly backpedaled trying to get out of Six’s range. The knife flew out of Six’s hand lodging itself it the griffon’s wing. The now screaming griffon didn’t notice the fist flying at him. It connected with a crunch and the griffon crumpled to the ground.

Six turned again to find that both Daring a Rosie had taken down their chosen ponies. They stood triumphantly over the felled combatants and hoof bumped each other, wearing matching grins.

“Tartarus, that felt good,” Rosie said as she shrugged her wings the glow from the gem dying down as the electricity ceased flowing.

“What’s the plan now,” Six said as he approached.

“I contact the authorities and get these six out of here,” Rosie said gesturing at the ponies and griffons littering the room. “Self defense laws are very loose here so we shouldn’t have any trouble.”

“Make it five,” Six said. He turned to the pony who he had attached to the bar still whimpering as he pawed at the knife. “I want some answers from this one.” He walked up the pony and yanked the knife out of the table. The pony dropped to the floor with a cry of pain. “You got a back door to this place?”

Rosie looks from Six to the pony on the floor, “Yeah it’s in the back.” Six nodded and grabbed the pony by the throat, dragging him through the door behind the counter and out of sight. Rosie turned to Daring who was staring at the door, “So, what’s the deal with him?”

Daring sighed, “I don’t know, he saved my life and I offered to take him to Canterlot. He doesn’t talk much about himself. The only thing I know is that he calls himself Courier Six.”

“That’s not a name that a job title,” Rosie said with half-lidded eyes.

“I know but that’s all I got out of him,” Daring shrugged. “Honestly, considering what I’ve seen him do, I’m just glad I’m not on his bad side.”

“I suppose,” Rosie tilted her head, “It really is good to see you again Dare, you seem, better.”

“Better? What is that supposed to mean?” Daring asked with a raised eyebrow

Rosie shrugged, “It’s just after the badlands-,“

“Don’t bring that up,” Daring stomped a hoof. “I’d prefer not to have those nightmares again.”

“Fair enough,” Rosie paused lifting a hoof. “Do you ever think about her?”

“Who, because there were a lot of hers to think about,” Daring’s eyes narrowed.

“Sergeant Shimmer’s kid,” Rosie placed her hoof on the ground. “You remember her, tartarus, she was practically our squad mascot.”

“Yeah, she was still in the castle for a while but disappeared a few years back,” Daring looked down to the floor. “I don’t what happened to her after that.”

Rosie sighed, “Suppose we’ll never know.”

“Probably not, why even bring any of this up,” Daring brow furrowed.

“Reminiscing, I always end up thinking about this stuff whenever you show up,” Rosie turned away. “I remember how much that changed you. Tartarus when you started getting those jobs from the Princess and I offered to join, you turned me down.”

Daring look to the floor, “I… I’m sorry I just didn’t want to lose anypony else.”

“We’re sisters in arms Daring, we’ve been through Tartarus and back, that means something,” Rosie stamped her hoof this time glaring at Daring. “The offer still stands by the way.”

“Really? Coming from the mare that tried to charge me a hoof and a tail for room and board,” Daring said with a smirk.

Rosie waved a hoof, “Please I would’ve let you stay, your big friend just beat me to it.”

Daring looked around the trashed bar, “Considering everything that’s going on I might take you up on that.”

“Really now, that’s new,” Rosie said with a raised eyebrow.

Daring smiled, “Suffice to say I’ve learned my lesson about excepting help.”

Before Rosie could respond Six walked back in through the door behind the bar. He was wearing his hat again though the sunglasses were absent. “I thought you were getting the authorities?” He asked Rosie.

Rosie raised an eyebrow at him, “You’re right I’ll go do that now and leave you two alone.” She waggled her eyebrows at Daring who poorly suppressed a laugh before trotting out the front door.

Daring trotted over to Six and took a seat at the bar to be at eye level with him. “So, learn anything interesting?” She asked.

“Does the name Steel Arm mean anything to you?” Six asked

Daring paused her eyes widening, “Steel Arm? Shit.”

“I take it you know him then,” Six took a seat next to Daring.

“I... know of him, and I was glad for that,” Daring rubbed her face. “From what I’ve heard, he’s the best minotaur mercenary you can hire, as long as you don’t mind massive collateral damage.” Daring looked at Six, “He’s brutal too, you get in his way for any reason, you might as well just jump off a cliff, you’d have a better chance of surviving.”

“We’ll have to be careful then,” Six leaned against the counter staring at the wall while he thought. “Probably shouldn’t take the train since he knows we’re here.”

“Definitely not,” Daring sighed. “This complicates things. Did you learn anything else, like who’s paying for all of this or why they’re after this artifact so bad.”

“The only thing I got about the artifact was that the benefactor called it “the key to everything” Six turned to Daring. “Can I see this artifact?”

Daring shrugged before reaching into her saddlebags, “I don’t see why not, I can’t figure out what it is, but it’s definitely not a key for anything.” Daring pulled out the artifact and placed it on the counter. It was a small rectangular metal box. It was yellow in color with a white border around part of the edge. Dirt and rust were caked into the small cervices of the device indicating its age. “I’ve never seen anything like this, I know it’s old, probably about two hundred years old, but-,”

“I know what it is,” Six said gently picking up the device. “It’s a holo-tape.”

“A holo-tape?” Daring’s nose crinkled as she spoke the unfamiliar word. “What’s a holo-tape?”

“A way to store information,” Six opened a small hatch on the bottom of his pip-boy and inserted the holo-tape. After fiddling with the pip-boy for a moment a deafening screech was emitted cause Daring to fold her ears to her head and flinch back. The electronic wailing ceased as Six removed the holo-tape.

“The Tartarus was that?” Daring yelled.

“Apparently it’s not an audio recording,” Six said as he examined the holo-tape closely. “If I had to guess it’s probably some type of computer coding though I don’t know for what purpose. An encryption key maybe?”

“A key?” Daring frowned in thought and started pacing. “Could it be a key to something important? Maybe more artifacts like it.”

“I doubt it,” Six slid the holo-tape close to Daring. “It’s from my world. Whatever it may and may not have opened is more than likely still there.”

Daring picked up the holo-tape and slipped it back into her bags, “I hope you’re right but if whoever is paying for this is desperate enough to hire Steel Arm I’m not taking any chances.

Six stood up from the counter, “We’ll deal with him if he comes up, for now, let’s just make it to Canterlot and deliver the tape to your boss.”

“Right,” Daring stood up as well stretching out her legs.

Rosie walked back in and, looking at the two of them, said, “You weren’t planning on just leaving, now were you?”

“Yes, we need to get moving before anyone realizes this group failed,” Six said gesturing around the room.

“Well, I’m coming with you,” Rosie said puffing up her chest.

“No,” Six said

“I ain’t listening to you, it’s Dare’s little adventure, and she invited you along so it’s her call,” Rosie turned to Daring who smiled.

“I turned you down once Rosie, I won’t make that mistake again,” Daring said trotting over to Rosie and giving her a hoof bump.

“Glad to see you’ve gained some sense then,” Rosie smirked and Daring then turned to Six. “I trust you don’t have a problem with that?”

Six glared at Rosie before growling out, “No I don’t.”

“Good,” Rosie trotted past Six to the back door. “I’m going to gather supplies and I’ll meet you guys outside the city.”

“We aren’t using the train anymore, you going to be able to find us?” Daring asked.

Rosie huffed, “Please, you do you think you’re talking to?”

Daring smirked, “I don’t know, you might have gone soft with this cushy bartender job.”

Rosie turned her head to give Daring a playful glare, “Don’t count on it Dare, I’m still sharp as ever.” The door swung shut behind her.

“Come on let’s get as far away as we can before making camp for the night,” Daring said turning to the front door. Six nodded and followed her out.

A few miles outside the city, a large camp sat in the middle of a clearing. Various small tents surrounded a large tent in the middle. A lone pony limped his way into the camp his front leg still bleeding. A minotaur exited the middle tent towering over the cowering pony. He wore a large cloak that covered his body and pants over his legs. He spoke in a deep rumbling voice, “I’m going to assume you and your group were not successful.”

“N… No, we weren’t,” The pony said his body trembling before the minotaur.

The minotaur shrugged his shoulders, causing the cloak he was wearing to fall to the ground. His torso was bare showing off the myriad of scars across his chest, and the gleaming metal arm glowing with magic. “And you thought you should return in failure?”

“I… I had to come and tell you,” The pony said backing away from the minotaur.

“If you had simply run, I would have assumed failure and moved on,” The minotaur approached the unicorn his metal arm extended to grab the pony by the throat and lift him to eye level. “Now, I must make an example, failure is not tolerated by me.”

“But I… I have a message Steel Arm, from the creature that killed your predecessor,” The pony gasped out.

Steel Arm’s eyes narrowed. He snorted then dropped the pony, “Fine then tell me.”

“He… he said that if you try to attack the Pegasus again, he will kill you,” The pony said struggling to his feet.

Steel Arm let out a hearty laugh, “I won’t be scared away that easily. If this creature is truly committed to fighting me then I welcome the challenge.”

“Steel Arm, sir, this creature did kill Caballeron and half of our group at the time,” The pony said

“Caballeron was a fool, and a coward, it’ll take more than one strange creature to bring me down,” Steel Arm turned to his tent.

“Does this mean I can live?” The pony asked desperately.

Steel Arm paused then turned back to the pony. “No,” he said before covering the distance in the blink of an eye. He grabbed the pony by the snout and picked him up before slamming him to the ground with a sickening crunch. He did this a few more times till the pony’s skull broke spilling its contents on the ground and staining the grass red. Steel Arm stood up and looked around the camp at the various ponies and griffons watching the execution. “Failure is not tolerated here,” He gestured to the corpse. “Unless you wish to end up like this one.” He turned toward his tent, before he had made his way inside he spoke over his shoulder, “Someone clean up this mess, we move out in the morning.”

“Sir,” one of the griffons said stepping forward and raising a claw. “Wouldn’t it be prudent to go after them now?”

Steel Arm paused before turning his head to give the griffon a vicious grin, “I would have thought, as a griffon, you would know, that the best part about hunting… is the chase.”

Author's Note

So I originally created Rosie as just a bartender but as I wrote the chapter and started fleshing her out I fell in love. So she is now a permanent but unexpected character.