//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: "An Unexpected Visitor." 
// Story: Daring Do Adventures: Daring Do And The Griffin's Goblet 
// by XombieSlayr 
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Chapter 1: “An Unexpected Visitor.”

It was nighttime at Canterlot University, and Daring Do lay sleeping at her desk, Once again having fallen asleep sprawled over her various maps and diagrams in search of her next adventure. Little did she know, that on this particular night, her next adventure would find her. Out of the darkness, a shadowy figure snuck through the halls on a mission.
This dark agent of the night arrived at her office, peering briefly inside. Once he was sure she was asleep, he took a small envelope, affixed it to her door and vanished as quickly as he had come. 

The next morning, Herpy, one of the university’s many pages, and Daring Do’s personal assistant stood up frozen outside daring’s door. “Eh…Daring?” Herpy called in his nasally yet intelligent sounding voice.

“Nyhuh?” came Daring’s sleepy reply from behind her door. “Herpy?” she asked.

“Yeah, uh, I was bringing you your coffee.” Herpy explained. 

“Well...Why are you standing out there?” Daring asked still only half awake. “come in and lay it on me.” Daring said, her eyes still closed.

“B-But Daring! There's something on your door.” Herpy exclaimed sounding anxious. This didn’t wake Daring up any more then a few minutes.

“Yeah…so?” Daring asked sleepily. “It’s a Letter.” Herpy stated clearly. Whatever he was seeing was clearly something he wanted Daring herself to see. Daring yawned in reply. “And?” she asked.

“Its stuck there with a dagger.” Herpy stated finally. Herpy heard Daring's chair hit the floor and scrambling hoof-steps as Daring opened her door. She was now completely awake.

“what?”she asked alarmed. Daring's eyes quickly found what had been posted to her door. “whoa.” She said looking it over. There stabbed into the door was an ornate dagger. Rubies and diamonds inlaid into its hilt. It was carved with a pair of griffin’s wings,spread in flight,fierce talons reaching out for any who cared to come close. The razor sharp tip stuck through an envelope,closed with an intricate wax seal. Daring's eyes widened. Not out of fear,but out of appreciation for the daggers beauty,and the strange method of sending someone mail. Daring chuckled a bit as she said "well…that’s certainly one way to send a letter.” She said with a slight yet cautious grin. Daring reached up and tried to pull the dagger from its affixed point. It took a bit more effort, but she finally freed the blade from her door with a loud sharp sounding shhhinnkk! 
“There we go!” Daring said smiling. Daring held the dagger aloft in her hoof and examined it,her eyes twinkling as they often did when she was looking over a newly discovered treasure. “Hey! This is a pretty cool dagger. Early Griffanian, if I’m not mistaken.” Daring said,admiring the weapon’s craftsmanship. Daring glanced at the small hole now left in her door from the dagger. “Who would leave this in my door?” She wondered aloud. “Not that I’m ungrateful or anything,but if I had something this cool, I wouldn’t go using it as a sticky note.” She said slightly annoyed.

Herpy piped in. “U-um,daring?.”  

“Yeah?” Said Daring coming out of her thoughts. Herpy glanced at the letter in Daring’s other hoof. 

“The letter?” he said motioning towards the unopened envelope.

“Oh yeah!” Daring exclaimed setting the dagger down for a moment. Daring held the letter in both hooves and looked it over. It was very fancy. The kind of envelope you’d hand deliver to Princess Celestia to invite her to some extravagant party or something. Daring eyed the wax seal. “Check out this seal. This is serious. I cant quite place it…but it looks griffanian too! Old Griffainian.” Daring said,noticing the design of the seal. It was red wax and stamped with the design of a griffin with its wings outstretched on the backdrop of a sun. Daring turned the envelope over. “Well this just gets more interesting by the second doesn’t it?” She asked Herpy,who nodded in agreement. 

“Yeah that’s…that’s one word for it.” He said a little worried. Daring Do carefully opened the letter,being careful not to break the seal. She removed the letter and saw that it was very neatly written. There was not one extra stroke. Not one unnecessary embellishment. Daring read the letter quickly to herself,her eyes darting over the words. Herpy’s anticipation grew.

“w-what! What does it say?” he asked anxiously. Daring slowly brought the letter down from her eyes. She looked shocked.

“I-It..It cant be.” Daring said in bewilderment. “He’s…Alive?” She said finally, her face one of both surprise and shock. Herpy could stand it no longer.

“Who? Who's Alive?!” he asked very anxious to hear what could spook even that of the fearless Daring Do. 

Daring suddenly pocketed the letter,and ran over to the door. “I got to go Herpy,I got to go talk to storm. Now.” Daring said suddenly. 

Herpy stood there in bewilderment. “B-But daring? He started to ask,but Daring was already out the door,and racing down the hall. “Daring! What did the letter say? Who's alive? What about your coffee?” Herpy asked all at once, calling at Daring as she galloped down the hall. 

Herpy heard Daring exclaim “Give it to Mazra!” as she finally disappeared down the hallway