//------------------------------//
// No Interruptions 
// Story: Society as We Know It 
// by Comma Typer 
//------------------------------//

Twilight peeked out of the big double doors.
"Moon Dancer?" She had a puzzled look on her face. "You're quite early tonight!"
The cream-colored Moon Dancer, still wearing her thick sweater though somewhat cleaner and fixed up, merely smiled at that. "More time to spend with a close friend, right?"
Twilight giggled, covering her embarrassment on her face with a hoof. "Well, let's not just stand here! Come on in!"
And, with an invitation of a hoof, Moon Dancer went inside the library.



"We're almost all set!" Twilight said, topping the enormous stack of books with one final piece to the structure, sticking out her tongue as she gently and slowly placed it with her magic.
Moon Dancer watched it, too, bearing a scared expression.
Finally, Twilight's horn stopped glowing. "Phew!" She wiped the sweat off of her face.
Moon Dancer smiled. "So, I guess with that out of the way, we can start in earnest?"
"What about the rest of them?" Twilight said. "It's still not even nine in the evening!"
"We can just let them come in when they come," Moon Dancer replied. "I don't think they'll mind that I got a headstart."
Both of them were now smiling.
"How have you been doing, Twilight?" Moon Dancer asked, adjusting her glasses for a second with her magic. "When you cancelled the previous hang-out with all of us, we were concerned and worried about you."
Twilight's smile shrank a little. "It's Princess work. That's the simple version."
Moon Dancer gave a sneering smirk. "Of course, you know me. What are the specifics, Twilight? Why exactly did you cancel it? Because, Twinkleshine said that you probably have too much work on your hooves for now."
Twilight sighed, her ears flaying. "More royal meetings with the usual: the rest of the Princesses, Dragon Lord Ember, King Thorax, Prince Rutherford, Griffonstone representative Galena, not to mention all the domestic meetings that I had to hold to settle disputes and matters between two or three towns and cities here."
"That's still not specific enough, Twilight," Moon Dancer said, still smirking.
"Eh?"
Moon Dancer still kept that smirk.
"First, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and Princess Cadance and I all came together at Canterlot to talk about investing more in our old school."
"You mean Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns?!" Moon Dancer spoke up, surprised.
Twilight nodded. "With all the new advancements in almost every field of magic, they're updating the lessons and bringing those innovations to the classroom.
"Now, the debate was whether or not we should bring in all the funds in one go or give them a part of the funds, let's say, every month. Princess Celestia and I voted for giving all the funds in one go, Princess Luna and Princess Cadance voted for giving them a part of the funds on a schedule."
"So, which one went through?"
"We're bringing the school representatives for the next meeting," Twilight said, slightly grumpy as could be seen by the sour expression on her face.
Moon Dancer giggled a little. "I understand, but you've been having these meetings at least every month and that didn't stop you from attending our hang-outs."
"Yeah, there was an influx of meetings and discussions all around the spectrum recently," Twilight explained. "There was Ember and her gripe about dragons being too aggressive on visitors. That's certainly not helping any tourism factors there, what with dragons shooting out blasts of fire from their mouths and being much bigger than the average pony. We talked about some possible solutions to the problem, yada-yada-yada, then I had to move on to Thorax. My friends—well, you know who those friends are."
Moon Dancer nodded. "I don't mind at all, Twilight." She gave a caring smile.
Twilight smiled back. "So, they wanted to join me on my trip to the Changeling Hive. Pinkie Pie said that it was going to be a lot like the 'old days' when we were constantly visiting the hive to host friendship events there left and right. Then, we went. What was the reason I was there? First, it was to give Thorax a good, positive talking to for the job well done in turning the changelings into dynamic creatures who always contribute for the good of the hive. Second, there were some businesses and companies who want to expand their reach to officially include changelings in their roster and also to bring some of their wares to the hive by building some branches there."
"What did Thorax say?" Moon Dancer asked. "From what I've gathered, Thorax should've at least checked which ones would get access to branches in the hive. There must be some sort of regulatory law that he should enact if he's going to just allow them to enter the kingdom freely an do business there. Also—" She raised a hoof "—even if all of them do follow those rules and regulations, not all of them should then be permitted. What about, for example, the logging industry? Yes, Earth ponies have both the skill and the love to keep forests tidy and clean while maximizing the amount of wood and timber they could get, but, if you remember what ponies were talking about when it came to visiting the hive a week ago—it was on the newspapers, if you forgot—one of the greatest appeals of the Changeling Hive was that it had a lush and varied forest nearby; there were a few changelings who even wanted to take training from Fluttershy, your friend—"
"And that they wanted to take care of the animals in their forest?" Twilight finished. "I remember that!"
Both giggled.
After the laughter faded away, Twilight resumed her serious composure. "So, what you're saying is: Thorax should analyze each and every company that's coming his way?"
Moon Dancer nodded, closing her eyes for the effect. Then, she adjusted her glasses again with her magic. "It pays to be careful, even scrutinizing, to ensure that both parties benefit the most from the situation."
"Funny you should say that," Twilight said. "Because, that's exactly what I told Thorax after a while!"
"We must be reading the same books lately, haven't we?"
Both giggled again.
Then, after that, Moon Dancer said, "What else? I should've told you earlier that you have been working too much on your Princess duties, but this stuff is and has always been interesting to me ever since I first deeply thought about the fact that I had a Princess as a close friend."
"You already told me that," Twilight said. "But, hearing you say that again honestly makes me want to hug you!"
Twilight lunged at her and hugged.
Both of them laughed on the floor as they lay there, just going on laughing with faces towards the crystal ceiling, their laughter echoing throughout the spacious room.
A minute of this and the two ponies were back on their seats.
"That was fun," Moon Dancer said. Adjusting her glasses once again, she went on. "Maybe I should try that on Minuette, huh?"
Twilight nodded. "Definitely."
"OK, back to what you were doing in your royal duties." Moon Dancer grinned.
Twilight sighed, though it was a sigh that kept, if not emphasized, her smile. "After the meeting with Thorax, I went to Yakyakistan with Pinkie Pie and Applejack to talk to Prince Rutherford about preventing disasters like snowslides from happening again. We set up a few necessary barriers just outside, did a few tests on them, and they looked more than sturdy enough to handle even the worst of snowslides. Because of that, I think Yakyaykistan will have less time trying to repair the place and more time to dedicate to other aspects of their society like, say, seeing what new jobs and occupations they could have there."
Then, the double doors opened.
"Hi, Twilight! Hi, Moon Dancer!" Minuette talked, waving a happy hoof with her happy grin, with Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts and Lyra Heartstrings in tow.
The group of four walked over to the table of halted conversation and, with their differently-colored magic, they levitated some chairs to it and sat, forming that wondrous, reminiscing circle of friends.
"Right just on time, right?" Minuette said. "Not a second early or late! I even brought my watch to prove it!" She levitated a watch out of her bag—an analogue one.
"Uh, I guess that is too late to prove," Twilight pointed out.
The mares laughed at Minuette, whose confident grin turned sheepish as she floated her watch back into her saddle bag on the table.
"I guess you two are early," Twinkleshine said. "Nothing's gonna stop you from talking about those books—you two!"
"We still hold you in higher esteem," Moon Dancer said. "It was just us making the best use of the time by cozing up to a talk about books—well, usually, you know, but not tonight."
"Ooh!" Minuette expressed, holding her hooves to her cheeks.
Lyra, Twinkleshine, and Lemon Hearts glared at her.
Mineutte glanced at all three of those ponies. "Yes, they're not all about books—what do you think I am?"
"A pony who hasn't been paying attention after all these years?" Lyra cracked, covering a snicker.
"Come on, Lyra!" Minuette yelled, pointing at her. "You're better than that!"
"Well, you're better than just reducing our friends to ponies obsessed with books!"
"I think we should stop this fight before it escalates any further!" Twilight said, getting a hoof in between the two daring ponies.
The two looked at her.
Twilight returned the hoof. "Now that everything is all tidy and organized for the hang-out at the library, that only means one thing." Taking in a deep breath, she then asked, "Did you bring the things I asked you to bring over here?"
All the mares, including Moon Dancer, responded with an enthusiastic nod—Minuette being the one with the brightest grin.
Their horns glowed and out of their saddle bags were books with that heroic mare of adventurous fiction on the cover. Though the books had different titles and different covers, they all had that famous name: Daring Do.
"What?!" Twilight yelled. Her irises shrunk, her words diminishing into mere syllables incoherent and gabbling. "How—uh—I—what?!" She finally shot her front hooves to her mane, pulling it.
"I and the girls decided to surprise you," Moon Dancer said, levitating her Daring Do book. "I know that we've been out and about together for some time now, but what I figured out was that all of us liked the Daring Do books in some capacity. You may have expected me to like the books, but I was almost certain that you didn't expect the rest of us to at least have one on the shelves—and, surprisingly, all of us has at least read two of the books in the series."
All the mares in front of Twilight kept up their unique yet collected smiles as they observed Twilight's utter shock.
She was still as still as a stone, the only things moving being the irises that rapidly darted from looking at one smiling pony to the next.
"My personal favorite is the original, of course," Lyra said, her eyes now turning into a relaxed half-open state. "But, 'Daring Do and the Seven-Sided Chest' was a very fun read. I stayed up all night curled up just to see what happened next, and the Daring Do convention setting was much more than just relatable!"
"My favorite is 'Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny'!" quipped Minuette. "Beginning of a new stage for Daring Do's life, no longer having to do her treks and journeys alone? I call that a revolutionary break in the formula—but, I like all of the Daring Do books, following the formula or not! Who doesn't like to imagine Daring Do breaking into some secret ancient building to recover an old treasure to place it in a museum and away from the wrong hooves?"
"I'm just a casual fan," Twinkleshine said, pointing to herself and giggling a little before going on. "My favorite is the latest one, but I don't think too much about why it's my favorite. It just struck me as cooler than the others for some reason."
Finally, Lemon Hearts straightened herself on her seat. "Since I pretty much exhaust myself at planning events back in Canterlot, being dedicated to almost twenty or so books is out of the question. But, I've read the first two over the months and it's very good."
Moon Dancer then turned to Twilight. "Of course, you already know about my liking for the Daring Do books, so there's no need to explain myself there."
Several seconds of happy faces looking upon the still shocked Twilight.
Twilight took in another deep breath and brought back in her normal composure. "So, you're saying you're all Daring Do fans?!"
"I'm not, technically," Lemon Hearts said. "But, a Daring Do reader? Then, yeah."
"I—I just told you to bring in any book you wanted to bring!"
"Well, we wanted to bring these books to give you a warm welcome," Moon Dancer said. 
"A warm welcome?" Twilight repeated. "A welcome to what?"
"A warm welcome to an impromptu Daring Do convention organized by us!" Minuette yelled as she jumped on the table and stood up there on it.
Several ponies came rushing in, carrying and wheeling in carts and boxes and other stuff.
As the fast construction of the roughshod yet recogniziable convention whirled and buzzed around Twilight, her face grew to a bright smile as she hugged all five of her friends there. "I love you, girls! Thank you, thank you!"
"Don't mention it," Moon Dancer said, caught in the encomapssing hug.
Meanwhile, though, a few pegasi were flying their way out of the library, lugging something.



Thunderlane and two other pegasi of coats and manes that were quite similar—periwinkle coats, light blue manes—carried a wooden sign out of the brightly lit crystal corridors of the Castle of Friendship, through the large open double doors, and into the dark yet glimmering, gleaming night.
The two other pegasi brought the sign down on the ground while Thuderlane, having brought out a hammer, fixed the sign firm.
The three pegasi landed and read the sign.
"'Daring Do fan convention at Twilight's Castle,'" Thunderlane read. He looked at his pegasus friends. "Thanks, Cloud Chaser and Flitter!" He saluted them with a wing.
The two saluted him back with their own wings.
"Are you going in, Thunderlane?" Cloud Chaser asked.
"Why not?" he replied. "I like the atmosphere of a fan convention—it's a bit like being at Wonderbolts HQ."
"How?"
"You see how the Wonderbolts come together to participate in flying awesome? Fans from around Equestria and beyond also come together like that for the books. Gonna be a refresher for me when I get back to HQ to report!"
Then, Thudnerlane hovered his way back inside, the two watching him fly.
The two followed him inside, re-entering the castle and the Daring Do fan convention.



"A Daring Do convention? In Twilight's Castle?!" Rainbow Dash shouted, sitting on a floating cloud hovering close to the ground. "Why didn't you tell me sooner, Scoots?!"
"It's the soonest I could!" Scootaloo answered with a huff. "Had to run all the way here! Forgot to bring my scooter along!"
"Well, you don't need a scooter for this one!" Rainbow proclaimed.
She scooped up Scootaloo and dashed her way towards the castle.
All the while, a yellow changeling stood beside one of the house's walls, the house being at the fringe of Ponyville, close to the castle in question.
"Unexpected," the changeling said. "But, I always like the little things that no one expects."
He flittered his way to the castle.



Past the library doors, the changeling accessed a marvelous event: though its exteriors were shabby and though there were pieces of that chaos that came along with hurried work, the Daring Do fan convention was active in full swing, with spunky discussions being lit up by ponies—and more than just ponies—who all showed their eagerness and their passion for the Daring Do books. A few even showed up wearing the costumes of certain characters—not just Daring Do, but also Doctor Caballeron, underlings of Ahuizotl, and even an attempt at dressing up as Ahuizotl himself.
Food and drinks of various kinds and of large quantities and amounts were served, stirring the air up into a smell that invited a feeding frenzy—a hint of steamed carrots, a whiff of garlic and onions fried, a pinch of fresh fruit, among others.
Ignoring the stalls selling Daring Do merchandise—cups, shirts, hats, key chains, posters, paintings, plushies, toys, figurines—the changeling looked fondly at the table on which a tall stack of Daring Do books was.
A tap on the shoulder.
He turned around.
"Hi!" Minuette said, waving at the changeling.
"What?!" the changeling yelled, taking a few steps back at the greeting. He was shuddering a little. "Uh, what do you want from me, miss?"
"You don't have to call me that! I'm Minuette!" She pointed a hoof at herself. Then, she pointed that hoof at the changeling. "I haven't seen that many non-ponies join a convention like this. What's your name?"
"Monoclad," the changeling answered, shaking the mare's extended hoof. "I'm Monoclad, and I'm pleased to meet you, even though we had, uh, a rocky start, to say the least."
"It was a start that only lasted, what, ten seconds?" She giggled and chuckled.
Monoclad only watched her laugh.
"Anyway, I'm glad we got those formalities out of the way! We can start on the right hoof!" Her horn glowing, she brought out a Daring Do book from her saddle bag. "Obvious questions first! What's your favorite Daring Do book? If you have one, of course!" Throughout it all, she maintained that sturdy smile.
Monoclad gulped. "Wow, Minuette. You're, uh, somepony who likes these books a lot."
"Yes, Monoclad, I know!" Minuette said. "'Monoclad,' right? Well, I know my limits—I'm a pony who has these books as one of my weaknesses! I'm quiet about it in front of everypony else, but when it comes to places like this—it's like I'm a totally different pony!"
"Uh-huh," Monoclad said, nodding his head as he observed the giddy mare. "I'm only intrigued. That's all. Heard that Blue Alarm got into the books out of curiosity and then went further because of a fan. I think I might be going that way, too."
"That's how it gets to those who start out in the conventions!" Minuette yelled. "Not the conventions that the Princesses make that form laws that everypony has to follow or something like that—you know what I mean, right?"
"What?"
"It all begins with the innocent pony being curious. Then, a fan like me gets to that innocent pony, sparks up some interest. That interest leads to an asking for more, a desire for more Daring Do adventures. Before you know it, whoops!" She moved a hoof fast through the air. "You've bought the entire series and are willing to buy a few shirts and hats for yourself!"
"I honestly wouldn't be caught off guard by that," Monoclad responded. "I've heard word that this series is one of the great classics of Equestrian literature. If it's a great classic, then it must be read and loved by lots of ponies."
"You've read that one right!" Minuette said. Curling a hoof around Monoclad's neck, she brought him over to the table of Daring Do books.
"And, if you're really interested, you can purchase one of the books right now! You wouldn't wanna miss out on this while it's still here, would you?"
"I'm sure there will be a Daring Do book on the shelves of the bookstore down the road," Monoclad replied, struggling to get out of the mare's grip.
"Oh, I'm sorry!"
Minuette let go of Monoclad, with Monoclad whizzing past the table and flying close to the ceiling.
A few ponies pointed their hooves at him, looking upon this curiosity.
"I didn't know you wanted to show me your flying ability!" Minuette said. "By the way, Rainbow Dash is here! Are you trying to get her attention?"
Monoclad flew back down to the ground, stopping right in front of her. "No, Minuette. I'm just making sure that I won't get caught in a strong carry like that again."
"I didn't mean to hurt you!" Minuette replied, her voice cooling down if only slightly.
"It's alright," Monoclad said. "I can see you being in the moment, being excited by being surrounded by all things Daring  Do. It's an understandable thing."
"Aww! If that's the case, then, I hope you can enjoy the rest of the night here! I have some splurging to do!"
Minuette happily ran to one of the merchandise stalls.
Monoclad smiled at the mare as she tapped her foot impatiently at the back of the long line of ponies who were as equally eager, if not more so if some of the ponies dressing up as Daring Do characters were telling anything.



Monoclad sat on one of the wooden tables, Daring Do book nearby and at hoof.
Around him was the flooding sound of talks and of chats, of hoofsteps and of wings flapping.
Then, the buzzing of wings.
The changeling's ears perked up. He looked off towards a certain place.
"Blue Alarm? Humerus?"
"Yeah, that's us!" Humerus replied, shouting.
The two newcomers settled down on some of the empty seats at the table.
"Wasn't planning to see you two," Monoclad said. "Do you love the Daring Do series?"
"I love it!" Humerus screamed. "I'm waiting and waiting for the next Daring Do book. There's news going around that she's already in the process of writing the next one. That means that it's coming really soon!"
"I'm here out of special interest," Blue Alarm said. "Not a fan per se." Then, a raised eyebrow. "Are you one, though?"
"I'm not, either," Monoclad replied. "You could say that I'm in the same situation as yours, Blue Alarm. Special interest."
"Sooner or later, if you're not careful, that 'special interest' might end up getting you to read the entire catalog before you think it's over."
"I know—some pony named Minuette told me something similar."
"Trust me, Monoclad. I've been through it before."