Author's Note
Thoughts?
Coming home...sorta
A lone pony can be seen walking in the dead of night. A hood the mare's face as to hide her features from view. Witch almost seemed unnecessary sense there were very few ponies out and about. Regardless the mare didn't want to attract unnecessary attention. Especially at this time of night. Fortunately for her It's a good thing she always comes prepared. On the mare's side was a saddle bag. Inside said saddle bag was the mare's weapon of choice. While indeed somewhat unconventional at the end of the day it got the job done.
Turning the corner the hood coverd mare was greeted with the sight she's been looking for. Before her stood a rather small brown building. Said building was the local bar she's been told about. She knew that said bar was more than meets the eye. That of witch she was sure of. Afthere all it's not like she didn't use every bit she had just to get here. That alone meant that there was a quit sizable hole in her saddle bag. Regardless the mare knew that in the end it was a necessary sacrifice, and it wasnt like she couldn't just ask for more bits in the future. With that in mind the mare pressed forward. Making sure to look both ways before crossing the street. You never know when one of those demonic carts would fly by. At least regarding mare's own history with the things.
Walking inside the mare looks around. She was surprised to see very few ponies present. The bar itself was nothing special. Just your average run-of-the-mill establishment. Walking over the mare quietly took a sit at one of the tables close to the bar. Looking around she realized that none of the ponies present looked familiar to her. Frowning the mare looked forward. As she did so a brown coated mare walked over from were she stood on the other side of bar. "You must be new" the unicorn stated evenly. The mare aslo had a light brown coat and mane. Her cutie mark consisted of a open beer battle. The hood covered mare nodded. Casting one more look around she glances back at the bartender before speaking.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
The mare shrugs. In response the bartender smiles." Well we don't exactly get new comers every so often." The mare shrugs again. After days of travel she wasn't exactly in a talkative mood. At least not at the moment. As if reading her mind the bartender smiled once more. "Is there anything I can interest you in?" She went to grab a few bottles off the shelf. The hooded mare thought for a moment. Deciding that now was the best time she noded. "Actually I was hoping you can help me find a group of po-i mean people." The bartender raised a brow at her choice of words. "Well that deepens" the bartender walks back over to the mare. Sitting on her haunches she puts one hoof on the table. "Who are you looking for?" The hooded mare tilted her head.
"I believe you met them" she smiles from under her hood. "In fact I believe that thier here right now." The bartender looked at her with a confused expression. Of course the mare expected this ahead of time. Afther all one does not simply reveal the truth. At least not in this type of situation. "I'm sorry dear, but I have absolutely no idea of whom your speaking of." The hooded mare snorted. In the corner of her eye she saw one of the ponies glance thier way. It was then that she decided to put all her cards on the table. "Hangmare Is a foals game" she stated cryptically. The words themselves flew off her tounge with ease. It was as if she repeated those very same words thousands of times before. The bartender's eyes went wide with shock. For a moment she stood absolutely still. Then as if a switch was flipped she relaxed. Her shoulders dropped as she let out a audible sigh of relief.
"You could have just done that earlier you know" she grumbled. "For a second there I thought you was a bounty hunter or something." The hooded mare shrugged. A expression of amusement written all over her face. "Yeah I could, but that's in the past am I right? She chuckled. The bartender rolled her eyes. "Yeah whatever she said hotly. However the hooded mare saw a slight twitch of her lips. That in itself told her that the mare was secretly amused. "Follow me" the bartender said pushing a small gate open.
The bartender led her through the back. It was there that the duo stopped once they reached the kitchen. "I don't see anything" the hooded mare stated looking around. The unicorn snorted.
"That's because your standing on top of it."
Looking down the hooded mare saw nothing but her own reflection. "Very funny" she rolled her eyes. She suspected that this was for her earlier actions. The bartender however merely smirked. Lighting up her horn she motioned for the other pony to step aside. Not a real big fan of magic the mare did so. Once she was out of the way the unicorn then presses her horn to the floor. The hooded mare was momentarily blinded as there was a flash of magical energy. Once her vision was cleared she came face to face with a large cellar door. "Illusion magic" the bartender stated with a grin. "It comes specially handy when dealing with more illegal affairs." "Gee I'll say" the hooded mare couldn't help but grin in turn. However just as she was about to open the cellar both mares suddenly heard a muffled scream. Looking back the hooded mare saw a pony tied up on the floor. Said pony aslo had a large role of duck tape on her mouth.
Blinking the hooded mare stared at the pony for a moment.
Slowly the mare turned her head back to the bartender. Whom at this point had the equivalent of a poker face. looking back at the pony tied up the hooded mare saw a very strong resemblance to the mare standing beside her. Afthere a moment of thought the mare shrugged and turned back to the task at hand. It wasnt like the pony was at the risk of losing her life. Last time she checked her tribe only killed when absolutely necessary, and even then it was mostly thier enemies. Upon opening the cellar the mare saw nothing but darkness. Fortunately it her line of work carrying a flashlight is a must.
Pulling out said tool from her saddle bag she turned it on. With that task complete she pointed the flashlight towards the cellar. The light was just enough for her to make out a set of stairs. "Good luck" the "bartender" stated. The hooded mare nods towards her in thanks. With the flashlight held tightly between her teeth the mare slowly made her descent. Afthere a few steps the mare heard the sound of the cellar door being slammed close, and just like that the mare was surrounded in darkness. Luckily the flashlight illuminated her path.
Afthere a few long moments the mare spotted something resembling a door in the darkness. Taking one more step the mare found herself standing on a even path. Looking around she spotted nothing but cobwebs and insects. Fighting back a shiver the mare made her way towards the door. Once she was practically right in front of it she puts her ear against the hard surface.
Nothing.
Taking a deep breath the mare steered herself. "Alright Daring prepare to be welcomed back with open hooves" she mumbled to herself. Howver just as she was about to open the door she paused. "Oh right, I can't believe I almost forgot" with that in mind she removed her hood. Shaking her head Daring Doo felt her lips form into a smile. It's been so long sense she last seen them. Tartus she couldn't even remember the last time she sent a post card. The thought alone made her feel a bit guilty. Hoever she knew that they will no doubt understand.
She hoped so anyway.
Steering herself one more time Daring Doo slowly pushed open the door. As soon as she did so she was greeted with the sight she was oh so familiar with.
Dozens upon dozens of ponies, griffins, and humanoid cats were having the best time of thier lives. The music blared and the lights flashed as they danced, laughed, and drinked. All in all looked to be your pony equivalent of a rave. Daring Doo laughed befor momentarily turning her focus towards closing the door. As soon as she looked back howver she realized that the music had completely stopped.
Eveyone griffen, cat, and pony stared dead at her.
"Hey guys!" Daring Doo waved.
"DARING!"
Suddenly the yellow pony found herself surrounded from all sides. Grinning Daring then proceeded to hand out hugs, handshakes, and short platonic nuzzles. Eveyone around here was talking all at once. Making it extremely difficult to make out a single word. Daring however merely smiled and laughed. It felt good to be among her brothers and sisters again.
"DARING DAZZY DOO!"
The crowd quickly parted as a figure made his way over. The figure itself looked to be ape like. Upon noticing his arrival Daring couldn't help but smile.
"Hey boss."
AAAH!
Daring gasps as she is thrown back first against a tree. The force caused the air to leav the fily"s lungs. Seeing an opportunity her opponent lunged. A razor blade held tightly between her teeth. In reponse Daring grits her teeth. Forcing herself to move the mare Just barely managed to get out the way in time. Her opponent's blade strikes the spot were her head was a second later. Snarling the mare yanks her weapon free. Only to scream as Darling's own blade prices her shoulder. The filly's reward was a vicious headbutt. An audio crack Is heard as the mare's head makes contact with Daring"s noise. Daring stumbles. The attack having left the filly momentarily dazed. By the time she managed to recover it was already too late.
Daring screamed as the mare's blade found its mark in one of her front hooves. In reponse the mare laughed. The sound itself made something inside Daring snap. Roaring she lunges forward. The mare's laughter turned into a scream as Daring"s teeth found thier way onto the side of her neck. It didn't take long for the famillar taste of blood to hit her tounge, and when it did Daring felt a sensation closer to that of ecstacy.
The yellow filly was jolted back to reality when a pair of hooves struck her chest.
Once more Daring"s opponent sent her flying. Howver the filly managed to get back on her hooves. Closingâ…– the gap quickly her opponent lunged. Daring"s blade still embedded deep into the mare's shoulder. The yellow pegasus managed to duck just in time. The mare's blade soared over her head, having completely missed it's mark. In response Daring gave the mare a headbutt of her own. Staggering back somewhat the pony shook her head. However in doing so she failed to notice that the knife was no longer held between her teeth.
Only for said blade to perice straight through her neck.
Daring grinned. Starring into the shocked and horrified filled eyes of her opponent. Removing the blade she took a step back. The now fatally wounded mare immediately drops to the ground. Gasping with each breath she took. Daring leaned forward. Watching with dark fascination as life begins to slowly leav the mare's eyes. The filly felt varies emotions at that moment. Said emotions took turns in running through her physic in varies different ways. However with this being said one emotion was absent from all the rest.
Regret.
Daring Doo did not regret killing this mare. To her it didn't matter if the mare was only defending herself. It didn't matter that her tribe were the ones who caused all this to begin with. It didn't matter if she already killed colt's and filly's her age. It didnt matter that she took part in torturing ponies in varies different ways. Some of witch lead to the pony's genitalia to be either removed or horrifically disfigured. All while family and friends were forced to watch on. No all that didnt nor will ever matter. What did matter in that present moment was one thing and one thing only.
Proof of her kill.
Grinning Daring yanks her blade free some the dead ponie's shoulder. Humming an unkown tune Daring wastes no time in getting to work. Afthere all today was a big day.
Today was the day that Daring becomes something more.
......
The yellow filly walks back into the raided camp with a strut in her step. The smell of blood and burning flesh filled the air. For most the scent alone would have overwhelmed them, but not for Daring. In fact the scent alone fills her with an odd sense of warmth. That and a certain tingling sensation that was currently unkown to her. Regardless Daring made her way towards a group of her fellow tribal members. Said group was currently a mixture between ponies and griffins. As soon as they noticed her they couldn't help but cheer. That alone was for two reasons. One they were happy to see that Daring managed to make it back in one peace, and two?
Seeing the now body less head of her opponent flung over her back.
"Looks like someone becomes a warrior today." In reponse Daring grins. another member of the group spoke up. This happens to be a filly a little older than Daring Doo herself. 'Have you tried it yet?" In reponse Daring grabs the head. Putting said object in front of her face Daring does the unthinkable.
She takes a bite.
More specifically she takes a bite out of the mare's nose.
The famillar taste of pony flesh enters her taste buds. Daring takes a moment to savior the sweet yet raw favor before swallowing. "I will never be able to get enough of this stuff." The group in reponse roared in laughter. Laughter that the filly couldn't help but join in. Despite her actions Daring couldn't help but feel at peace at that current moment. To tell you the truth the filly couldn't imagine herself anywhere else in the world. Definitely not in equestria. Just the near thought of it filled Daring with an unnatural disgust. So munch so that even thinking about it makes her physically I'll. Equestria was a place filled with weaklings and hippocrates. A place were thier rulers were nothing more but useless ponies disguised as gods. Daring Doo herself served no god. Her faith and loyalty was only bound to the tribe. Nothing more nothing less. Doing so otherwise is a death sentence. A death brought upon by her very own hooves. A painful one at that.
A abnormally large Griffin within the group spoke up. His voice being the deepest out of the group.
"Come on lads! I think this calls for a celebration!" The boss Is definitely gonna be in a good mood tonight." Eveyone agreed with that statement whole heartledy. Daring herself couldn't but grin in anticipation. Tonight she will be classified as something she knew herself to be her entire life.
A warrior.
