The sun began to set as Daring reached the crest of the mountain. She could see a town in the distance, almost hidden in the fog. The town would be almost a day’s travel by hoof. First instinct was to rough it through the night and be there by the following night, but it was a chance to fly. Daring hadn’t used her wing much since her last injury; surely it had to be fully healed after so many months. Swiftly Daring leapt from the edge of the cliff, her wings catching an updraft of wind. With heavy beats, the wings flapped and lifted the mare into the air to carry her barely above the tops of the trees headed for the small village that lay in the distance.

Skipping out on adventure was not something common for Daring to partake in activities which caused her to miss out on adventure, but flying would get her to the village in half the time. She would have time to reorder her gear and hopefully a chance to rest. Before she could even make it half way a cry would echo from the forest below, and being a fond believer in the traveler’s code, Daring could not ignore the cries for help.

Gradually the Pegasus decreased her altitude until her hooves touch the ground. No longer above the canopy of the forest the cries became much clearer. Daring’s ears perked up as she stowed her pith helmet into her saddle bags, to listen and follow the sounds of distress. Slowly Daring approached a small clearing where the sounds had originated. In the center of the clearing a small dragon hid behind a boulder. On the other side stood three zebras coated in war paint which had been chucking stone blades at the defenseless dragon.

Daring looked back, digging into her saddlebag to grasp the rim of her pith helmet in her teeth and with a quick roll of her neck, she tossed the helmet like a Frisbee. The helmet would impact the side of the closest zebra’s head, causing it to stumble into his partners. The group yelled in an odd language, even Daring had never encountered on her many expeditions before trotting into the darkness of the forest to escape from their attacker.

The dragon rose up to see the hostile zebras running off and a Pegasus trotting over to retrieve the thrown pith helmet. Cautiously the dragon left the safety of the boulder to approach the mare. “Thank you for saving me,” spoke the dragon.

The pith helmet was tossed into the air, and then the Pegasus reared up with the pith landing on top of her head. “Oi, think nothing of it small one. It is the traveler’s code to help those in need.” Daring tipped her helmet to him, “Are you alright?”

The dragon looked over himself over before nodding, “Yeah I am fine I think, who are you?”

Daring reached into her saddlebag offering the dragon a couple gems that she had found on a previous adventure. “I am Daring Do, just a passing by adventurer. What’s your name?”

“My name is Tread,” he said looking at the gems a moment before taking them. “You saved me and offer me something to eat?”

“Of course, you looked pretty hungry, besides there are plenty adventures still to find more.” Daring said with a chuckle as she secured her saddlebag.

“Thank you very much for the kindness, may your travels be kind to you,” Said the dragon as he carried the gems off to the forest.

Once more Daring tilted her pith helmet to him before looking up to the sky, her wings again lifted her into the dark sky. In the distance the sun rose over the tree tops as daylight began to break. Even flying was taking her much more time than she cared to spend on her travel to the village. Her saddlebags were light now though with little remaining in them, making her travels much easier.

Hours had passed before Daring reached the edge of the forest just outside of the village. The buildings were weathered heavily, windows broken, and boards of walls busted. It would be lucky if the village even had one resident residing within any building. The Pegasus landed on the edge of town and headed for the center of the village. Her eyes came upon a sign for a saloon; she figured it was the most likely spot to find anyone who still lived in the run down tow. Her hoof beat could be heard as she stepped up onto the wooden walkway just outside the main entrance to the saloon.

The doors to the saloon swung open before the Pegasus and an earth pony stumbled into the street followed by the strong odor of cider. Without a word Daring passed the now motionless pony as she entered the saloon. Inside it was exactly what could be expected, large groups of ponies surrounded each of the round tables, cards laid down left and right along with mugs of cider pounding the wooden surfaces. The bar was tended by a rough looking zebra, in Daring’s experience the bar tender was always one of the most reliable sources of information, and of course an excellent drink to quench her thirst.

Onto the barstool Daring climbed, her hoof pounded the top of the bar and just as quickly a mug of cider slid down the bar. Her hoof caught the mug by the handle, taking a quick swig of the golden liquid. The feeling of the cool cider running down her throat was more than enough to improve the condition of her dried out mouth. “You are new ‘round here ain’t cha?” spoke the tender, offering a glare at the Pegasus through his half-closed eye with a scar through it from his forehead to his cheek.

The Pegasus responded by narrowing her eyes as she gazed over the tender. Her hoof tipped the pith back offering a nod to him. “Oi, I am on an expedition. Is anywhere in this town to get a bite and a swig for such an occasion?”

The bartender rest his hooves on the top of the bar leaning closer to the traveler. “This be the only building open in this forsaken town. You look mighty tough though, so I will let yee know there be a place to get supplies on the other end of town. The place be the only flying a flag of blood.”

After another swig of the cider Daring smirked, “Thank you, what is this place anyway? Why is it so barren?”

“This is the gunslingers ranch, all these thugs be black coats; Bandits if you will. They drove the dwellers out long ago, now it is a hideout for the bandits. I’d watch me back if I were you.” The bartender said before walking off to return to his duties.

Even knowing the group she had immersed herself in was bandits her composure remained, as she was unafraid of the brutes that surrounded her. Daring slowly rose from her seat to head for the door of the building as she was halted by the yell of a nearby figure. “You there wench! Get us another round.” The voice called.

A cold shoulder was all the response that the pony received from the Pegasus as she trotted out of the saloon. The table of bandits rose, aggravated by the actions of the mare and quickly hurried out the door after her. Without warning a hoof met the face of the first bandit to step out of the door. Daring knew to win, catching them by surprise was essential.

The first in line dropped to the ground being forced out of the way by the second of the bandits. Daring flapped her wings to lift herself from into the air. Her hind leg swung out, the hoof catching the said of the second stallion’s muzzle. Swiftly the Pegasus pulled her helmet down over her eyes and head-butted the third bandit before he could react. All three were dropped cold the wooden floor as Daring landed back on the ground with a chuckle. The rest of the group from the table backed up from the door way to return to their card game.

Triumphantly Daring trotted away from the saloon in search of the market which the tender spoke of moments ago. She hurried off in hopes that her actions will not have stirred up the rest of the town. The Pegasus searched for the flag in which she had been instructed. A dark red flag was painted on the wall of an old convenience store, though with the age the paint seemed as though it may have been some pony’s blood. There have been worse signs that Daring has found on her adventures though, she entered the building un-phased by the appearance.

The door opened with a deafening creek, the aged hinges rusted from the weathering over the years. “Greetings traveler, what do you seek?” Spoke a voice which seemed to emit from all around the room.

“Oi, I seek to replenish my supplies. I was told you may have some to spare,” Daring spoke calmly as she moved slowly into the building and approached a large desk in the center of the main lobby.

Suddenly a hooded figure emerged from behind the desk, their eyes glowing under the hood. “I do have the supplies you seek. After the three keys you must be, Daring Do you surely are.”

Curiously Daring lifted the brim of the pith helmet, “How do you know who I am?”

The hooded figure grinned; the bright white teeth almost glowed in the shadow cast over the face of the being by the hood. “Many book you have, my journeys have taken me to Equestria before. Only fools would not know such a ‘daring’ adventurer.”

Daring rubbed her hoof against the back of her mane and nodded. “Oi, well regardless I am here for food and water, and maybe some rope and flint if you have any.”

“Of course we supply those all. You may take as you wish currency worth little it is. Supplies in the back, door unlocked. Leave now, adventure waits for no pony. Onward to the mines you seek, key hidden in sight you find.” The hooded figure said as it sank back behind the counter.

Surprised Daring leapt up onto the counter looking for the figure, but to no avail. The figure was gone as quickly as it had appeared, but oddly events such as that had been more common that she had preferred. Daring shrugged before trotting into the back supply room, tucking apples and jarred goods into her saddlebags. As she dug she spotted a rope, she retrieved it and tied it to the side of her saddlebag. Unfortunately she found no flint for her fires through, she’d have to start them all the old fashioned way.

Next destination for the Pegasus was the mines on the outskirts of the small village. She trotted out of the rather shady market. There she spotted a group of the bandits in which she had fought off before, this time with larger numbers than their last encounter. Daring quickly ducked into the nearest building and swiftly to the roof the Pegasus ran. The door creaked that opened up to the roof as Daring glanced over the area. Not a single being could be seen on the flat top of the structure. Yet again her wings would lift her to the sky to take her out of sight of the search party.

In the last twenty-four hours she had used her wings more than the past few months. The only thing that came to her mind was if she was going soft, was she losing her edge? Her head shook the thoughts out of her mind as her wings folded to her sides, diving promptly down to the clearing outside the village which led to the mines. Seconds before she reached the ground her wings spread fully and flapped rapidly to slow her descent, allowing her hooves to softly touch the ground.

The mine was boarded shut upon her arrival; of course this wasn’t going to be easy as none of her expeditions turn out. Daring approached the wooden planks slowly, stopping shy of them with her hind quarters aimed for the center. A solid kick of her hind legs would cause the board to crack, a second splitting them apart. Immediately the Pegasus was met by a swarm of fanged parasprites, the reason for the closer of the mine becoming rather obvious at this point. Even without the ability to spawn like normal parasprites they were more annoying having the capabilities of biting. Slowly Daring slipped past the swarm as the passed by ignoring the existence of the pony who freed them from the mines.

A strike of two rocks together caused a spark, igniting an old oil torch which hung at the entrance to the mine system. The mare looked around the entrance, digging through old crates which were stacked around the opening. After a few moments of searching, she found a lantern and opened it. Using the flame of the already lit torch, she caught the wick of the lantern and continued on her expedition into the dark depths of the long forgotten mine.

Author's Note

Yet again just writing in my free time feel free to comment about it, hope you enjoy even with mistakes. Yes some characters talk weird.