Learning to Love: A Daring Spectrum of Apples

Chapter 5

The vortex began to spin faster and faster, as they galloped towards the rope, the statue in Daring's mouth. She tucked it under her hat as they got the rope and began to shimmy up it. Dash, who was on the end, turned her head and gasped in shock as the vortex bubbled up like a volcano, going higher and higher until it exploded, spewing flames and debris outward. They all watched in mute horror as the coins spun in a circle then fell one by one and a wolf-like creature floated down. "So we meet again Daring Do!"

"Ahuitzotl." The creature laughed and walked down a set of imaginary stairs and stopped in front of the mare, snatching her hat off her head. "Ahhh, the Statue of Pony. I'll be taking that." He placed the hat on his head as he turned and blasted a hole with a beam of energy into the roof before flying out of it. "Farewell Daring Do! And your little sidekicks too." He snapped while he cackled at his rhyme, the jewels and coins began to spin and melt together. They rushed to the ledge and turned to see that all the jewels and coins had melted together and formed a huge towering pony of gold. It snorted as they turned and took off as fast as they could.

"Run!" Daring yelled in fear. They rushed down the corridor and found Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy were heading straight for them. "Turn around and RUN!" Twilight squealed, causing the others to frown in confusion before taking off after them. Dash looked back and gasped. Behind her she saw seven golden horses were chasing them. She sped up and yelled, "Come on! We have company!" They ran faster and harder after they saw the gold ponies. They ran up, down and all around until they reached the original set of stairs, thundering up the steps into the early morning air and looking around in shock. "Why are the stairs still open?" Daring whispered in confusion.

"Girls!" They spun around and found Princess Celestia standing there. "Get out of the way so I can seal it!" They all ran to her side, which was out of the way. She pointed her horn down and shot a beam of pure energy at the stairs and it sealed with a near deafening crack. "Thank goodness. Where's the statue Daring?" Daring cringed then sighed.

"Ahuitzotl has it." She cringed as Princess Celestia let out a snort of anger and looked up. "There!" Daring yelled before taking off into the sky, all of them looking up to see Ahuitzotl flying overhead. Dash flared out her own wings and shot off after him too before anypony could voice their opinion of that being a bad idea.

Ahuitzotl smirked and spun around to face the mares behind him, he chuckled to himself before yelling, "You think you can defeat me?!" Daring smirked and nodded.

"Of course we can!" Ahuitzotl laughed shooting a beam of black energy at them. They twirled away like ballerinas then shot up towards him like missiles. He snarled silently and took a swing at Daring, while using his tail to grab Dash by the mane. Dash cried out in pain, bucking out. She hit him in the back hard enough to cause him to yelp in pain and toss her into Daring with a tremendous force.

They tumbled through the air for a short while before righting themselves and heading back for another round. He snarled through an angry grin, shooting another beam out towards them. They circled around it and headed back, only to be thrown back again by a field of energy.

Daring growled and moved to attack but he shot another beam towards her. She closed her wings and let herself free fell before she shot back up as she let them out. She kicked him in the mouth, flipping backwards, reaching for the hat but was grabbed around her midsection and thrown at Dash. They tumbled again then spun away from each other and flew up. From the ground, the others watched as they fought him, Applejack looked to Twilight a bit desperately. "Twi! Ah gotta help them!" Twilight frowned then nodded and pointed her horn at Applejack but Princess Celestia stopped her before saying, "No Twilight, I've got another spell in mind."

Dash and Daring groaned as he laughed and shot another blast at Daring. She dodged it just barely wincing as it singed her skin. She looked to Dash and growled as Dash nursed a broken hoof. "This is getting us nowhere!" Dash winced through the pain and nodded, though the action disoriented her.

"What can we do?" Dash said softly. Suddenly an orange blur slammed into Ahuitzotl’s side and knocked the hat off his head. The hat fluttered away and the statue took a straight drop. Daring's eyes widened and she shot down after it, with Dash doing the same as did the orange blur. Dash looked and gaped at the newly winged Applejack. "What?"

"Like'em? A gift from Princess Celestia." She smirked then circled around them and all three of them looked down, Daring winced in pain as her wounds pulled so pulled back. "Can't get it. Not enough strength." Daring grunted out while the other two continued their descent.

Applejack and Dash raced towards the statue, circling one another creating a spiral of rainbow and orange, but Applejack pulled back too after a short while, leaving Dash to move faster. Dash was met with resistance and slammed both of her hooves forward and with a boom she grabbed the statue and pulled up. Princess Celestia gasped, as did the others and Dash screamed in triumph. "Yes!" Ahuitzotl howled in rage then pointed his hand at Dash and fired a beam of black energy. Daring screamed out in fear and rushed to intercept the blast. At the last minute, she knocked Dash out of the way and closed her eyes.

She was waited for impact but Applejack crashed into her and forcefully shut both of their wings. They free fell for a short second before Applejack flared her wings out and spun around snarling, "Now yer getting a buck to the face!" She released Daring then shot towards him like a bullet and slammed her hind hooves into his mouth. Daring growled and flared out her wings too, shooting up to help while Dash landed, bouncing slightly on three hooves before quickly limping towards Princess Celestia, tossing the statue at her.

Up above, Daring slammed her hooves into his stomach and Applejack kicked him in the mouth again. They moved back then grinned at each other. Their grins twisted into sadistic smirks as they looked at him. He whimpered and moved back but they rushed forward to attack.

Twenty fun and violent packed minutes later, Applejack and Daring floated down and landed gracefully on the ground while Ahuitzolt landed with a thump next to them, causing both mares to snort at him. Princess Celestia moved forward and smiled softly. "Great work all of you. If you all wouldn't mind? This statue must be cleansed of its evil before it has the opportunity to corrupt the world around it.”

"But we don't have the elements." Twilight said softly. Princess Celestia smiled warmly at them then moved back.

"You don't need them. The jewels are just to focus the energy. Twilight, ask of the power from the Goddess of the Dawn and you'll be able to use the powers of the Elements."

Twilight bit her lip then nodded and looked to her team. "Everyone into formation!" Everyone moved into their spots and she moved to the center and said softly, "Oh Goddess of the Dawn, hear my plea! Help me cleanse this statue of the evil that has corrupted it." A deep rumble came from the earth and suddenly a wave of power shot up and consumed the six mares.

Daring took a step forward; her eyes going between Dash and Applejack but Princess Celestia stopped her. "They’re not being hurt. Give it a minute. Now let’s talk. You've begun to care for those two haven't you?" Daring flushed and looked at the glowing mares. "They can't hear us if that's what you're worried about."

"Then yes, I do care for two of them. How are you not disgusted?"

"I've lived for many years and I've heard and seen worse. I think it's cute really."

"For three mares to be together?"

"I think of it more like a herd."

"Again not common."

"Not uncommon either." Princess Celestia smiled and nuzzled the disgruntled Daring who mumbled, "I'm getting too old for this. How did you give her those wings? They look like real pegasus wings." Princess Celestia smiled and looked at the glowing Applejack.

"It's the Remaker spell. I can only cast it once or twice every two hundred years. It makes it so I can add or remove a piece to a pony." Daring looked at her in shock and said, "You gave her wings?" Princess Celestia nodded and sighed softly.
"If you do pursue them both give them equal affection and love." Daring nodded then watched in shock and awe as the six glowing mares fired a beam of pure energy at the statue and it cracked open, exploding before reforming into a statue of pure, beaming white, instead of the black it was before. The six mares lowered to the ground then collapsed and Daring rushed to Applejack's and Dash's sides. "Are you guys okay?" Slowly all of them came too and got up. Applejack looked to her new wings, flaring them out and flexed them.

"Cool." Daring smiled then nuzzled her neck.

"You okay?" Applejack blushed and nodded then watched as she did the same to Dash. Dash nodded and smiled, flushing red as she did so. Daring sighed in relief then looked up at Princess Celestia. She grinned and nodded her head to them before turning.

"Thank you Daring Do!" Princess Celestia took off into the air, holding Ahuitzotl in her magic, and Daring smiled slightly. She looked to the mares and smiled, nuzzling Applejack and Dash in turn.