Autumn Blaze

Autumn opened her eyes and looked around. She was now in a bed at the hospital. The only one in the room was Nala, who was seated in a chair on her right. The changeling gave her a light smile. "Hey," Autumn said weakly. "What happened?"

"You passed out shortly after I got there," Nala explained. "The ambulance brought you here."

Autumn went wide-eyed and sat up with a pained groan as she held her chest. "Dusty?"

Nala quickly stood up and gently pushed her back down by her shoulders. "Shhh. You need to relax."

"But... Dusty?"

Nala kept her mouth shut but shook her head. Autumn's eyes filled with tears again and Nala quickly hugged her. Hearing the kirin start to cry, Nala pulled back and kissed her on the lips. Autumn went wide-eyed before Nala broke the kiss to look at her. "I know you cared about her, but you are not alone. I'm here."

"I-I thought you... hated me."

Nala shook her head. "No. I hated all non-changelings, yes. But seeing my queen with Fluttershy... I wouldn't mind, um..."

Autumn wiped her eyes with her fist. "I-I just... need some time."

"Right, of course," Nala nodded. "I'll be here for you if you... you know... need me."

The kirin smiled. "Thank you."

The changeling pulled the sheets back up and tucked the kirin in. "Just get some rest. There's someone I need to talk to."

Autumn nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Nala said softly as she rubbed Autumn's cheek before walking around to the other side of the bed. Autumn then watched her leave before she closed her eyes. Nala took one last look in the room before she stepped away and was greeted by Spitfire. "Hey."

The cop gave her a smile. "How's she doing?"

Nala looked over her shoulder briefly. “Good. Misses Dusty, despite the damage she’s done.”

Spitfire chuckled. “Damage would’ve been worse if Autumn wasn’t there. She even saved that filly.”

“How long until the area is repaired?”

The cop shrugged and let out a sigh. “Oh, if we’re lucky, weeks. But, most likely a few months.” She then smiled. “I don’t believe we’ve officially met.”

“Yeah, this is our… first time talking, I think.”

“Spitfire.”

“Nala.”

“So, a changeling and a kirin?”

The changeling rubbed the back of her head. “Heard that, huh?”

“Caught some of the end there.”

“Ah,” Nala muttered. “Well, we’re… working on it. She just needs time to get over Dusty.”

“Hmm…” Spitfire nodded, before there was an awkward silence. “Do you know about a possible accomplice?”

Nala shrugged. “Accomplice?”

Spitfire nodded. “It wasn’t Dusty who killed all those cops and stole that dagger.”

“I don’t know anything about that. I was actually trying to… stay distant from Autumn.”

Spitfire sighed. “All we know is it was a griffin and Gilda had a solid alibi.”

“About that dagger,” Nala started. “Did you destroy it?”

“No, we called an expert. Someone who could come and take it off our hands.”

“Who?” The changeling asked, curiosity taking over completely.

“Are you familiar with Daring Do?”

Nala shook her head. “Not really.”

“She’s an adventurer who raids tombs and temples and then donates the find to a museum. However, whenever she stumbles upon a magical artifact she stores it in her vault. For safety. There’s an entire book series based on her adventures if you’re interested.”

“Pass,” Nala said with a shake of her head.

Spitfire chuckled and patted her shoulder. “Catch ya later, Nala. I have to go oversee the handoff.”

Nala gave a light wave. “Nice to finally meet you.”

As Spitfire turned and walked away, Nala headed back to Autumn’s room. The kirin was fast asleep. The changeling went back to her seat and sat down with a light sigh, keeping her eyes on Autumn until she, too, felt sleepy.

Spitfire left the hospital and went over to a brown van with a compass on the side. Parked in front of it was her cop car. When she was close to the van, the driver’s side door opened and a light gold pegasus mare with a grayscale rainbow mane and tail stepped out wearing an explorer’s outfit and hat.

“Wow, you’re just like in the books,” Spitfire said as she opened the trunk of her car.

“I get that a lot,” the tomb raider said as she followed the cop.

Spitfire pulled out a briefcase and handed it to the pegasus. “Not sure if it’s still dangerous, but better safe than sorry, right?”

Daring smirked at that. “You have no idea.” She accepted the briefcase and headed for her van. “If you find anything else weird like this, please call. Especially if it’s related to Black Sapphire.”

Spitfire nodded. “Will do, Miss Do.”

Daring opened the passenger door and sat the briefcase down on the seat. As she closed the door, she looked at the cop again. “Pleasure, ma’am,” she said with a smile before she made her way around to the driver’s side.

“Anything for you,” Spitfire called before blushing. “Shit, I mean… Glad to help!”

Daring sat in the driver’s seat and smirked at her before she lowered the passenger window. “Keep protecting and serving!” She called with a wink before she turned the key and drove away.

Spitfire exhaled sharply. “That was cool,” she said as she wiped sweat from her forehead.

From a nearby rooftop, Bubblegum pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number. When she got a response, she smiled. “Hi, is this Starlight Glimmer?”

“Who the hell’s asking?” The unicorn asked as the griffin ran and then jumped to another rooftop to keep her eyes on Daring’s van.

“Just an interested party,” the griff cooed as she walked along the edge of the roof. “Tell me, wasn’t Surprise looking for the secret vault of Daring Do?”

“She was and now I am.”

“Cool. Because I’m currently following our little Do-Do and, for the right price, I’ll track her to her headquarters.”

Starlight let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. Do it.”

“Consider it done.” Bubblegum then hung up and jumped off the roof.

Next...
CHRYSALIS