Twists, Turns, Scars, and Steel

Twilight wrinkled her snout in annoyance. "Where is information about Rainbow in this?", she asked Quibble.

He stood up and walked over. He asked, "So, where are you?"

"They just left the book-store", Shadowlock said.

"Alright, let's see", Quibble said, picking up the transcript and flipping a bit ahead. "No... no... no... no... Ah, here!" He set the transcript back down, two chapters and about thirty pages ahead of their last point. "They should be a little bit away from the Brigand camp. They'll meet who I think might be Rainbow there... maybe."

"Maybe?", Twilight asked. "As in, you think it might be at that point in the book?"

"No, as in I'm not certain it's her. I know they'll meet the Praetor there, but I don't know if it's her", Quibble said.

"Praetor?", Twilight questioned.

"That's just what if calls her", Quibble said. "It doesn't give an actual name; it just refers to her as 'The Praetor'. Not the big-bad, per se. But not on their side, anyway. You'll see."

"Ok. Thanks", Twilight said, turning back to the transcript.

++++~++++

Daring and Caballeron continued along the road to the brigand encampment, the setting sun seeming to weigh them down. In actuality, the long journey from the town, especially with little rest, was the cause of their slowing speed. Finally, Caballeron said, "Perhaps we could rest up a bit?"

"Why? We can't be that much further", Daring said. Turning her head to the side, she spotted a small wooden fort in the distance, illuminated by the setting sun. "In fact, it's right over there!"

"For several reasons. One, I am an earth pony, and so can't just fly when my legs get tired. Two, that pack of... things tired me out. Third, we've been on the move for almost six hours. I'm tired. Fourth, if we're going to steal from them, maybe we should wait until nightfall."

Daring considered what her partner was saying, before touching back down to the earth. "Good point. Alright, some rest could do us some good."

"Right", Caballeron said, sliding down to rest in a small ditch along the side of the road. When Daring didn't join him, he asked, "Is something wrong?"

"What are you doing?", she asked.

"Finding a spot to rest. I'm not lying down on that hard-packed dirt, and we likely won't be spotted if anypony passes by", he explained.

"Yeah", she said. "But isn't it uncomfortable?"

"My dear. I haven't the most wealthy pony. Since you've begun interrupting my digs, I've had to sleep in pits, on the hot and rocky sand, in trees, and many other places. The side of a ditch, especially on a grassy and soft hill, is a welcome change. So, come. Unless you wish to sleep on the road", he said, smirking at that last statement.

"Fine", Daring muttered, sliding down into the ditch with him.

Caballeron sighed as he laid on his back, hearing a small crack as he rolled his back. "Ahhh." Looking over, he said, "Relax, my dear. You were always too tense."

Daring countered, "We're on a mission. Besides, that place just over the hill is full of brigands who will likely try to kill us. Forgive me for being tense."

"Fair", Caballeron asked. A pause formed between the two, both just laying there. Neither really knew what to say, so both didn't say a thing.

Finally, after a solid five minutes, Daring asked, "So, how'd you get into this? You know, the treasure hunting business?"

Caballeron said, "It's been a family tradition, in a way. My family-fathers side, at least-can trace it's lineage back to the great pirate Captain Dock Benito! A large part of my family were either explorers or archaeologists after that. I was just following the family lineage. You?"

"Me?", Daring said, letting out a chuckle. "It's almost the exact opposite. My parents were a pair of aristocrats."

"You come from nobility?", Caballeron asked.

"Not by blood, mind you. But, yeah. I was so bored up in Canterlot! I ended up playing make-believe with some old stuff lying around, and had a blast. One day, I knocked aside a patch of dirt in the backyard, and found this old box my parents great-granddad had buried as a time capsule-type thing. Got my cutie mark for it, and was more or less set on the path that lead me here", Daring said, sighing with nostalgia.

"You're adopted?", Caballeron asked.

Daring nodded. "Yep. Both of 'um are unicorns, and in fact, look nothing like me. I love them to death, same with my little sister, but it's blatantly obvious."

"Hmmm", Caballeron said. "Can't wait to meet them."

"What do you mean?", she asked.

"Well, they know your little secret, yes? I'm sure they would like to meet your new partner. Even if not, then they'd like to meet her co-author", he said.

"Yeah, they know. We can go meet them when we finish up here", Daring said. She unconsciously draped a wing around his upper back. She tried to keep her eyes open, but the day's events and the long day on the move were bearing down on her. Soon, her eyelids fell fully, and she fell into sleep.

++++~++++

"Er, Daring?", Caballeron said, shaking her awake.

"What?", Daring asked, blinking her eyes rapidly to clear her eyes.

"We may have a problem."

Daring looked in front of her, the dark night sky greeting her. The pale light of the stars and the moon reflected off of a small creek in front of her. Turning her head back to where the brigand compound was, her eyes widened. While it was still a fair difference away, she could clearly make out a whipping fire along the outside of the walls.

"Oh, that's not good", Daring said, extending her wing and taking off. "Let's go! Worst case scenario, we could lose that atlas!"

Caballeron nodded, breaking off into a loping stride as Daring flew above him. The burning wall grew closer rapidly, Daring swooping low to grab Caballeron. She grabbed him, flying him up onto a section of the wall that was far away from the fire.

Inside, several more of the buildings were on fire, although it was by no means as bad as it appeared. It was mostly small, not spreading that fast. Dozens of dead bodies laid around the compound, while others that were alive picked through the bodies, throwing them onto a big bonfire in the middle.

"They don't look like brigands", Caballeron whispered. "They look like soldiers."

Daring squinted, trying to look at them through the flickering light of the fires. Sure enough, the ones that were carrying the bodies did appear to be in a better state. The dead were wearing armor that appeared to be made from scrap or scratch-made, no two looking alike. The ones that were alive were all wearing uniforms, heavy metal armor, and helmets that made them look similar to one another.

"Who are they?", Daring asked.

"I don't know", Caballeron said. "Well, let's hope that the atlas is still intact. Let's start there."

He pointed to a large building in the center of the compound. Unlike most of the others, it didn't have even the smallest bit of fire around it. A few dead bodies slumped over the side of the roof, while a pair of guards stood watch just outside what appeared to be the main entrance.

"Alright. Hold on tight", Daring asked.

Once again, she wrapped her limbs around the side of Caballerons body, taking off to the roof. However, as she got close to it, a pair of soldiers came up onto the roof. Daring ducked under the lip of the roof, grabbing on with both limbs as she strained with effort to hold Caballeron up.

"I don't understand why we have to burn them", she heard one of the soldiers say, the words translated by the rune she still wore. "These Degenerates don't deserve it."

"I agree with you", the other said. "But, I get it at least."

"Get what? Why we're letting their spirts a chance at paradise instead of letting them remain in their corpses?", the first one said, tossing one of the corpses off the roof.

The second said, "Exactly; that's exactly it. If we don't, then we'll be damning our own souls later in life."

The first muttered something Daring couldn't hear, but didn't say anything else. Below her, Caballeron said, "Daring. I can't hold on."

"Quiet", she hissed, pulling herself up just a little bit to hold on better. Her straining muscles were suddenly given relief from their duty as one of the corpses slammed into her face. She was forced to let go, the sudden momentum and weight of the dead body causing her to lose her grip.

Both she, Caballeron, and the body all hit the ground with a loud thud. Daring shook her head to clear up the forming stars, before widening in alarm as she saw the soldier look over the edge. He must've spotted her too, as he drew a sword and yelled, "Intruders!"

Another several soldiers near them dropped the bodies they were carrying and drew swords. Daring said, "Move!"

One of the soldiers appeared in front of her, giving a big downward slash. She dodged to the side, before swinging around and kicking him in the side of the head. She tried to take off, only for another one of the soldiers to tackle her from behind. The added weight of the heavy armor forced her into the mud, while a massive force slammed into the back of her head, just below her pith helmet. She slumped down into the mud, her eyes going dark.

++++~++++

Daring awoke, a groggy weight resting on her back. She noticed that wherever she was, it was much better lit than the compound. Looking around, she was greeted by wooden walls, illuminated by a large lamp hanging on the roof.

A pair of ropes were tied around her legs, while a pair of soldiers stood on either side of her. "Ave, Praetor", one of the soldiers said. "We found her inside the compound. She doesn't look like one of the Degenerates, but you never know."

Daring looked up, making out through her squinting eyes another armored figure. Unlike the others, her armor was white with blue trim, and appeared to not be made of metal. Her face was covered with scars, including a trio of raking scars across her face and a fake eye. A multi-colored braid ran across her right shoulder. At first, she thought that she was wearing greaves, until she noticed the claws at the bottom. They were prosthetics.

"Ave, Pedes", she said, before turning to Daring. The adventurer couldn't help but cringe at the glowing red left eye, that seemed to bore into her. "Daring Do, correct?"

Daring raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Yeah, that's me."

"You're real?", she said.

"Well, unless you're all having a bunch of psychic hallucinations, then yes, I'm real", Daring said.

"Huh", the Praetor said. "Well, I'm sorry about this. However, you have to admit, this is a scenario that is not in your favor. My soldiers finding you in a brigand compound and all."

"Suppose that's fair", Daring shrugged.

She asked, "Want a drink?"

"No thank you", Daring said.

The Praetor turned to the soldiers, ordering them, "Leave us." The two of them looked at one another, but shrugged and left, shutting the door behind them. The Praetor walked over to the desk in the center of the room, leaning up against it and pulling out a flask. "So. What brings you to Demos? Looking for a new treasure?"

"Why are you so interested in me?", Daring asked. "Usually if I'm recognized, I'm just chased off or shot dirty looks."

"Well... in all honesty...", she said, swirling the flask. She then looked up, the neutral expression on her face replaced by a wide grin. "I am a HUGE fan!"

That caught Daring off-guard. "Y-you are?", She asked.

"Yeah!", she said, setting the flask down and coming up to her. She pulled a knife out of a slit in her one of the forelegs before cutting the ropes, letting Daring's limbs free. Daring rubbed her chafed limbs as the Praetor put the knife away. "I've read all of the books, at least up until Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny. They're all awesome and I love them!"

"That's... great to hear", Daring said, straightening up and adjusting her hat. "Well, yeah, I'm here on a new adventure."

"What is it?", She asked. "I can't directly help you, but I can give you some supplies if you want."

"Actually, I came here for an atlas. The Brigands leader apparently took it as tribute from the nearby village, and I need it", Daring said, intentionally referring to just herself. If this Praetor turned out to be hostile, then it might be best to not tip her off the presence of Caballeron. If he wasn't captured himself, that was.

"Oh, I know what you're talking about", the Praetor said, walking over to the big desk and opening up one of the drawers. She pulled out a red book with faded black writing. "Just out of curiosity, what were you going for?"

"Something called the Tomb of the Stormbreaker", Daring said.

That made the Praetor stop dead in her tracks. "T-the Tomb?"

"Yessss?", Daring said. "Is that a problem?"

"W-well, in fact, it is", The Praetor said. "A rather large one at that. You see, despite all of their technical accomplishments, Pryha is still... superstitious, to say the least. Particularly about things pertaining to death. Bodies have to be burned to release their souls, things like that. And, as such, Graverobbing-which is what you'd be doing... It's a capital offense."

"Meaning?", Daring said.

The Praetor said, "Meaning, that if convicted, the sentence is death by crucifixion. Nailed to a cross and left to die. Like I said, Pryhans like to burn their dead, so it's a spiritual punishment, as well as a painful way to go."

Daring opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She couldn't grasp the concept. Yes, she had seen some cruel inventions and deathtraps in some of the temples she had recovered treatures from in the past, but still. "So..."

"So, I can't let you, if you even want to at this point", The Praetor said. "Hell, I can't let you recover anything from anything else around here. The high command would have my wings."

Daring once again opened her mouth to speak, once again stopping. This time, it wasn't out of shock; she had noticed Caballeron had slipping into the window. Somehow, he had slipped past the guards and climbed into the window. He noticed her stop, and made a gesture she understood: keep her busy.

"Why not", Daring said slowly, silently and subtly tracking her partner as he made his way towards the book.

"Well, various reasons", the Praetor said, rolling a metal claw in the air. "The previously mentioned superstition. Besides the Tomb, a few of the places are considered holy. I don't, but that's beside the point. Not to mention, Pryha loves history. They'd be kinda ticked at you taking it."

"But, from what I'd heard, whoever this 'Stormbreaker' is, they're connected to Equestria", Daring said, watching as Caballeron stepped ever closer.

"Yeah, I know that. But, still, he was buried in Pryha, and he will remain here", the Praetor said.

"But there's no government structure, at least above the local scale", Daring said. "That's what the Saddle Arabian who brought us to Demos and the barge captain said."

"Not anymore", the Praetor said. "The empire is taking back control. That's why I'm here." She then noticed that Daring wasn't fully looking at her, and her eyes narrowed. "What are you looking at?"

She turned around, eyes widening a the sight of Caballeron. Her wings flared and she drew a pair of swords, lunging at him. He ducked under the swipe, flinging the chair at her. She chopped the cheap wood apart, but Daring slammed into her before she could renew her assault on Caballeron. She fell into the wall, dropping her swords as Daring said, "You ok?"

Caballeron nodded. "I got cut up a bit, but I'm ok."

The door burst open, the pair of soldiers from before entering with draw swords. Daring said, "Time to go." Caballeron grabbed the atlas in his mouth as Daring grabbed his sides again, taking off at full speed. A few soldiers shouted below them, but the two of them managed to escape the burning compound unscathed.