//------------------------------// // The Annoying Companion // Story: Daring Do and The Golden Mirror... and Also Trixie // by The Sleepless Beholder //------------------------------// The Annoying Companion Great and Powerful Companion Daring Do walked between the trees of the jungle, bating away leaves, branches and bugs as she moved. It was an annoying complication to have to evade the main road to Camponia, but she knew it was too risky with Luddic’s followers looking for her. She was surprised to see them already here; most times she managed to stay three steps ahead of them, but the cult had probably started to either take her more seriously or learned her tactics. Either way, having to deal with them was going to be quite difficult. Luddic’s followers were quite more ferocious and determined than Caballeron, and she knew that the artifact they were looking for was key to their plans, so they would be relentless in their search for it. She had to be extra careful this time - no time for mistakes or miscalculations. Daring saw a little clearing in the jungle and calculated that she was close to Camponia. Looking at the quickly darkening sky, she thought it would be a good place to rest until the morning. She would need her strength to face the temple’s traps. She approached the clearing, but quickly ducked behind some bushes when she saw movement. The light in the jungle was already making it difficult to see beyond a few meters, but the sudden lit of a campfire helped her identify the possible menace. She saw a light blue wagon, along with a light blue coated unicorn mare at one side of the clearing. She didn’t look like one of Luddic’s followers - a traveling merchant perhaps? Either way, her presence put sleeping in the clearing out of the question; she would need to find another place. With a disappointed sigh, she turned around, and felt something under her hoof. Looking down, she found a thin wire, and in the next second a rope grabbed her by the middle of her body, pinning her wings to the sides, and lifted her up, leaving her suspended in the air. Fearing that the whole mare in the jungle was just a distraction to lower her guard, she desperately tried to gnaw at the rope, trying to free herself. “So, who dares try to rob The Great and Powerful Trixie?” asked a voice right behind her. Daring turned around and saw the unicorn mare looking at her, horn glowing with magic. “I wasn’t trying to-” “Wait, Daring Do?! Why do you want to rob Trixie?” the magician questioned, canceling her magic. “I wasn't doing anything of the sort! I was just looking and then tripped the wire.” Daring saw the unicorn’s face turn red, and thought that she was embarrassed from the situation. She was wrong. “Oh, so The Great and Powerful Trixie has captivated the heart of the great adventurer to the point that she admires Trixie from afar?” “What? No. I’m not interested in you,” Daring protested. The unicorn dismissed her with a hoof. “Oh, there’s no need to deny it. There's no shame in ogling a beauty like Trixie.” “I’m not-” “However, I must decline your advances, since Trixie has plans to-” “STOP!” Daring shouted angrily. “Forget whatever fantasy you have with me and get me down from here first.” “Oh, of course.” Trixie walked towards a nearby tree and pulled a rope, making her fall to the ground. Daring stood up with a grunt and felt the unicorn getting to close for comfort. “So, what should we do now?” Daring pushed her aside. “You are going to pretend this never happened, and I will leave.” “Trixie doesn’t wish to offend your adventuring skills, but wouldn’t it be better to just rest here until morning?” “Yes, but I can’t stay here with you.” “Why not? Does Trixie’s presence make you uncomfortable somehow?” the magician asked with a smirk. Daring almost said yes out of reflex. “It would just put you in unnecessary danger.” “How so?” Trixie gasped. “Are you being followed by a gang of dastardly villains?” Daring rolled her eyes. “Not exactly.” “Oh, then Trixie must insist that you share her wagon with her. Trixie assures you no harm will come to you under her care.” “Do you really think that a colorful wagon in the middle of the jungle would be the best hiding spot?” “That just helps people lower their guards. Just like you,” Trixie pointed out with a smile, and Daring wished she could argue the point. “Tell Trixie one good reason it wouldn’t be beneficial for you to spend the night in a wagon instead of the cold jungle. Disregarding the possible danger.” Daring had a couple of reasons; she just couldn’t think of one in particular at the moment. She did say that it would put the mare in danger, but thinking about it, if Luddic’s followers were following her tracks, they would bump into her anyways. “Fine, I will stay the night.” “Great! Trixie will prepare you a hammock so you can sleep, and she'll cook dinner later.” “Fine, I will try to cover my tracks and see if the perimeter is safe.” “Don’t fall under any more traps!” Trixie disappeared inside her wagon, and Daring walked towards the tree line. She considered escaping now and leaving the unicorn behind, but she was honestly just tired, and the prospect of not having to sleep at the top of a tree was convincing enough for her. After covering her tracks and rearming the trap that she had involuntarily set off, Daring returned to the camp, sensing the smell of cooked carrots. Trixie had already prepared a couple logs for them to sit on and was currently filling their plates. She offered one to Daring and she took it with a nod. “Thanks.” They both sat down to eat, with Daring giving little prayer that they remained in silen- “So, what kind of adventure are you on right now?” Daring let out a heavy sigh. “I can’t tell you.” “Oh come on, Trixie is giving you a bed and warm food. You should be able to tell her something.” “Look, what if I give you an autograph and call it even?” “Trixie does not possess any of your books.” Daring raised an eyebrow at that. “Then how do you know about me?” “Twilight’s rainbow-haired friend is kind of obsessed with you, and she is quite loud about her passions.” “You’re friends with Rainbow Dash?” “Her existence occupies a place in Trixie’s mindscape. And nothing else.” “Okay…” Daring decided to redirect her attention to her food. “How do you know about Rainbow Dash?” The adventurer almost choked on her food. “I… met her during my travels. As you said, she’s kind of obsessed, so it’s difficult to forget the encounter.” “She was in one of your books, right? As a sort of sidekick?” “Yeah… she helped me a little.” Trixie lifted an eyebrow. “Trixie has read that book you know?” Daring was about to respond, but Trixie interrupted her with a hoof. “Don’t worry, Trixie can see that the subject is delicate to you.” She then returned to her dinner. Once they finished their food, Trixie guided Daring to the inside of her wagon. “Trixie would be thankful if you didn’t mess with her stuff. Otherwise, do as if it were your home.” The task was going to be difficult, seeing that the wagon was absolutely stacked with random boxes and chests. “That one is yours.” She pointed to a green hammock on one side of the wagon, before quickly getting up to another one at the other side. “Trixie warns you, Trixie talks in her sleep.” “It won’t be a problem.” Daring hoped and got in her hammock, paying close attention to her surroundings. She noticed that most of the boxes contained instruments or materials to make performances or magic tricks, giving her the idea that the unicorn was some sort of traveling performer. She also saw a large quantity of fireworks poking out of a large chest surrounded by discarded gunpowder, which gave her a little bit of worry, but luckily there were no flames nearby. But something that caught her complete attention was a gift-wrapped box with a purple ribbon sitting on a table. "A goodbye gift for her maybe?" Daring gave a little shrug and put her hat next to Trixie’s before going to sleep. The morning eventually came, and Daring was surprised to see that the unicorn had somehow woken up before her. “Will you stay for breakfast?” Trixie asked her and Daring shook her head. “I thank you for the hospitality, but I must return to my 'adventure'.” “Okay, it’s goodbye then.” Trixie offered her hoof and Daring shook it. “Have a nice day.” “You too.” Daring walked away with a smile, happy that the encounter was over, but then... “Make sure to make Trixie look good in your book!” Daring made a complete 180 and got in Trixie’s face. “What did you just say?” Trixie seemed confused. “Last night will be narrated in your future book, right?” Daring gave her a menacing look. “How do you know that I write them?” Trixie’s expression changed from confusion to amazement. “You are A.K. Yearling?!” Daring’s stern expression quickly fell. “Wait, what?” “Oh Celestia. I just assumed you sent her some clip notes and she added flair, but it’s completely transcribed from your own hoof!” Trixie exclaimed ecstatic. If Daring had the strength necessary, she would have pushed her face to the back of her skull as she facehoofed. “Please, for the love of Celestia, keep it a secret.” “Don’t worry, Trixie knows how to keep a secret.” “Thank you. Just, forget everything. Have a nice day.” “Goodbye.” Daring walked away, but made another 180 when Trixie’s words sunk in. “Did you give me all that hospitality just so you could appear in my book?!” Trixie looked away for a second. “Well, Rainbow did the same, did she not?” “That’s different! She actually helped me that time and I couldn’t have done it without her!” Daring shouted in the magician's face. “Trixie just wanted a little mention, not to appear on the cover.” Daring gave an exasperated grunt and stormed away. "Unbelievable! And she doesn’t even have my books! At least Rainbow was a fan. How full of yourself do you have to be to try and wiggle your way into somepony’s story?" Her train of thought stopped as she heard the wagon of the unicorn getting closer to her. “What are you doing?” “Well, as you said, Rainbow earned her place in your book by helping you with the adventure, so Trixie shall do the same.” Daring’s jaw fell in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.” “You doubt Trixie will be of help to you?” “First, I work alone. Second, you are just doing this for exposure!” “Yes, it’s very rare to do that without being mad, but Trixie's better than that.” “You-” Daring was interrupted by Trixie’s hoof. “Let me sell this to you.” She cleared her throat. “Trixie is an experienced magician, having learned in Celestia’s school of gifted unicorns, as well as being taught by both the road and Starlight Glimmer- princess Twilight's student. Plus, I’m pretty capable of defending myself, and have good survival skills. And on top of all that.” She pointed at her forehead. “Unicorn. Ergo, magic. So I can do many things that you would have difficulty with.” “How about flying?” Daring asked with a smirk. Trixie smirked right back as her whole body glowed before she started to levitate off the ground. Daring's hoof hit her face. “Great. They fly now.” “So, what do you say? Sold?” Trixie asked cockily. “Listen, practically speaking, it would be foolish to deny such help.” Trixie smiled. “But morally? I should just hogtie you, leave you behind, and never mention you again.” Trixie’s smile faded. “That sounds a bit extreme and over-reactive.” “Please, just… go away.” Trixie thought about it for a second. “No.” Daring facehoofed again. “You are going to follow me no matter how much I tell you not to, right?” “Pretty much.” “To Tartarus with this! Just don’t make me regret this more than I already have.” “Trixie will only be helpful in this endeavor,” she said, placing a hoof over her heart. “You better be, or I will ditch you and continue on my own,” Daring warned. “Deal.” With that, both mares walked towards the city, their first step towards the temple.