Daring Do and The Disavowed Connection

The hooting owls and raspy bouts of wind made a uniquely melodious tune. A peculiar lullaby of the forest, brilliant in its conception. Though brief in existence, the ditty was quickly carried on by the proceeding note. Among the forest's occupants, one was especially grateful for its song.

Its dulcet song aided her sleep, despite being on a couch. The book she had been reading, now rested on her side. Her head rested comfortably on her folded arms. However, her slumber was shattered with the slamming of the cottage door. Both Velvet and her book fell to the floor with a loud thud.

Scattering the darkness with a light spell, she spotted a frantic Daring Do. Only after locking the door did Daring seemed to relax slightly. Fixating on Velvet, she apologized about for waking her but they needed to leave. Recognizing the seriousness in her eyes and tone, Velvet mentioned grabbing some medical supplies before teleporting upstairs.

Numerous questions surfaced but Velvet knew that things were about to go sideways when she acted like that. Retrieving and stuffing a saddlebag full of disinfectant, bandages, and gauze. The sound of shattered glass and a loud thud caused her to drop the bag and gallop into the hall.

In a flurry of punches and kicks, Daring Do was grappling with herself. Rubbing her eyes in disbelief, her jaw dropped when she realized it wasn't a hallucinating. Daring and her doppelganger rolled along the floor, slamming into the wall and whatever piece of furniture they drew near.

Determined to help her friend, she engulfed them both in magic. Separated now they simply glared at each other. Inhaling sharply, Velvet demanded an explanation. In an intangible jumble of words, soon degrading to shouts, they attempted to talk over each other.

Lifting them into the air, Velvet gave them vicious shake, "One at a time," she growled viciously.

A rather smug grin creased her lips as the hung there in silence. The Daring Do on the left began to speak when Velvet pointed a hoof at her. "I was on my way back from Canterlot but changelings ambushed me as I flew through the woods. Fortunately, I was able to outmaneuver them," she stated.

"A likely story." the right Daring started to protest but a glare from Velvet silenced her.

"Alright, how about you tell me your version," she deadpanned.

"At least this charlatan got the first half correct, however, I had to fight my way out. That's how "it" got here first." she growled while pointing an accusing hoof to the doppelganger.

Realizing that she was no closer to determining which Daring was the real one, Velvet recited a riddle. "I ebb and flow with time, many observe my greatness but few know my true potential. What am I?"

Both pegasi thought hard and after a couple of minutes, the right pegasus spoke her answer. "It's the sun," she replied with a voice full of confidence. Keeping a stoic expression, Velvet shifted her sight to the left pegasus. "Am I right," they complained in vain.

The second pegasus gulped as Velvet's eyes rested on her now. Twiddling her forehooves, she studdered out the word "plants" as an answer. Having concluded her test, Velvet smiled brightly at them. Thinking the other had guessed wrong, their stress began to fade.

Until their heads slammed together, neither of them would have guessed they were both wrong. With a flash of green light, two unconscious changelings fell to the floor. She quietly snuck out the back, sticking to the shadows as she moved. She didn't know where Daring was but she knew where and who to start with.

Approaching the mouth of the woods, she heard a couple of raspy voices. Instinctively, she leaped into a nearby thicket of grass. Laying flat against the ground, she overheard a changeling complaining that a drone, named Meadow Springs, hadn't returned yet. The second voice confirmed what she'd suspected at the house. Preparing to dart away, she felt a small rock under her hoof.

Although teleportation would essentially aid in her escape, the audible sound would definitely alert them. Laying there, she contemplated several other strategies. However, they were all discarded due to either telegraphing her position or having a low success rate.

Frustrated, she began to roll the rock in a circular pattern. After several minutes of brainstorming, inspiration struck. Encasing the rock in magic, she levitated it up the backside of a tree. Once the aura shrouded rock disappeared from her sight, she flung it away from her position.

After several moments of silent waiting, she heard the dull thump of its impact. The two changelings spun their heads toward the sound. Watching them rush off, Velvet silently headed through the clearing. However, she didn't get far before a pair of hooves smashed into her barrel.

Her world spun in a blur of disjointed shapes and colors. An incapacitated Velvet laid in the freshly upheaved dirt from skidding across the ground. Dazed, she watched as a black figure approached her. "It seems our intelligence was correct, you are quite clever. Who'd have thought you'd not only see through our rouse but sneak past the guards as well."

"I can see why he fell for you," a garbled voice taunted her. Struggling to focus, Velvet saw the changeling snap its neck to the left. "I thought we took care of that one," the voice disdainfully growled. Turning to see what had caught its attention, her ears hear a low whistling sound.

At first, all she could make out was a speck in the sky against the sunrise. However, the form of a pegasus began to take form right before her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as it appeared that Daring Do had come to her rescue. From the corner of her eye, Velvet caught a glimpse of the changeling preparing a spell.

Utilizing her telekinesis, she gripped one of its legs and attempted to unbalance it. Misfiring its spell into the sky, the changeling turned its hate-filled eyes back to her. You meddling bit.. was all it hissed before the changeling flew several feet away, flipping end over end.

With unfocused eyes, she stared at her concerned savior. With a helping hoof and a shoulder to lean against, Velvet was once again standing. Regrettably, the sound of buzzing wings didn't allow time for pleasantries. Wrapping her forearms around Velvet they zipped away. The combination of cold rushing wind and constant words of concern finally snapped her back to reality.

If not for the firm arms around her, Velvet would have struggled in panic. The golden coat and mane of waving shades of black and gray against the shining sun eased Velvet's frayed nerves. "Daring Do," she cautiously yelled.

"The one and only," she replied before strafing to the right. A bright ball of green magic barely seemed to miss them as it sped by. "I'm glad you're alright, do you feel up for some fun," Daring called out excitedly.

Tightening her grip around Daring's arms, the pegasus banked right. Masterfully dodging their attacks, the pair sped toward their pursuers. Daring's moved her hooves along her torso and arm, gripping her hooves tightly. Dangling now, Velvet charged her horn as the pegasus spun her around like a top.

After completing one revolution, she was flung at the changelings with the force of a train. Although easily avoidable, the action itself caused them to glance at each other quizzingly. An action that was immediately interrupted by a right hook to the jaw by Daring.

Adding to their surprise was a small poof ahead of them. By utilizing a teleportation spell, Velvet smashed her forehooves into a bewildered changeling. As Daring dodged and counterattacked another, Velvet continued to pummel her target as they plummeted toward the ground.

With one final punch to the gut, her assailant fell limp. Rearing upon its limp body, Velvet spotted her next target. With a dull thoom she launched into the sky like a firework. Paying no mind to the sting of the wind, she adjusted her trajectory through telekinesis.

Letting the unconscious changeling slip from her arms, Daring spun around in search of the next target. A dull thoom caused her gaze to shift downward. Watching The blurred image of a propelled velvet uppercutting the changeling made her smirk. Not willing to be outshone, Daring whipped around and sped to the next changeling at breakneck speed.

Enraged, it launched several orbs at the approaching pegasus. Internally laughing, she evaded them as if recapping the basics of flight. In a last-ditch effort, it launched a jet of destructive energy. Determined to neutralize her, it tried to anticipate Daring's path. However, the beam sputtered out as Velvet delivered a dropkick to the changeling's neck.

Shooting Daring a weak smile, she vanished from sight. The sudden embrace and brief instability of her flight clued her to Velvet's location. In a strained voice, Velvet requested that they travel to Canterlot. Shelving the questions that came to mind, Daring agreed.

Needing to rest her wings, Daring glided to the ground. Velvet's soft snores caused a rather content smile to grace her lips. As they made their way to Canterlot, Daring pondered the sudden changeling attack. Their reemergence after twenty years seemed rather odd. Especially since Queen Chrysalis seemingly gave up conquering and vanished from Equestria.