//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: You don't have to be Afraid 
// Story: Daughter of Do: Parallel Paths 
// by PastelBacon 
//------------------------------//

Daphne awoke inside a barn, and she was terrified when she realized it was the same one she'd just tried to run from. A light turned on, and she saw the orange mare from before, but she clearly saw the mare's Emerald Green Eyes, and that they were more awake than before. Daphne wanted to get up, but didn't as she saw the mare begin to talk.

"Howdy. Name's Applejack, but my friends call me AJ fer short." Applejack said

Daphne simply nodded, still pretty terrified.

"Hey, it's alright, You don't have to be afraid." AJ Said.

The words hit Daphne like a brick, and kept repeating in her head... You don't have to be Afraid... You don't have to be Afraid.. You don't have to be.................... afraid.

"U-um... i-im... Daphne..." Daphne weakly said.

"Well howdy Daphne, uh... ya got a last name?" AJ asked.

"You won't believe me... nopony else would... they just hurt me for it.." Daphne sadly stated.

"Hey, ah'm promising, ah wont lay a hoof on ya if ya tell me." AJ replied.

"Do... Daphne Do..." Daphne said hesitantly.

"Do... huh. You mean the same last name as that mare from the book Adventures of Daring Do?" AJ Asked.

"...how'd you know...?" Daphne asked.

"One of my friends Rainbow Dash, wont stop talking about her, another, Princess Twilight, she has every book, they both read the books a lot."

"O-oh..." Daphne simply got out, not wanting to mention that her mother was dead.

"Ah'm gonna guess on the condition yer in that ya got seperated from yer mother, am ah right?" AJ asked.

Daphne was too afraid to tell the truth, normally AJ could tell a liar, but she hadn't known Daphne long enough, and Daphne's bad condition would just give off that she's that... in bad condition, so Daphne lied.

"Y-Yeah... I did.." Daphne lied.

"Well... let me tell ya a little story, about my parents. Ya see, my mom and dad, they died in a fire at the old barn. Big Mac was able to save Applebloom, who was just a foal at the time, she honestly never really got to see her parents. After the funeral, a few days later, our grandmother, Granny Smith came over, and she runs the farm now. Applebloom's my little sister, Big Macintosh is my big brother." AJ told Daphne.

Hearing Applejack talking about her own parents dying, Daphne summoned the courage to tell Applejack the truth.

"I lied before... but hearing you tell the truth... It made me realize I need to as well. My mommy has been dead for 3 years now." Daphne told AJ.

"....wow. That explains no new books, and no ah don't care about the fact there's been no more books, it's just Dash has wondered why... but that has ta sting.. how old are you? 8? 9?" AJ talked.

"7." Daphne simply replied.

"Damn." AJ one worded.
"How come you tried to run me off early this morning?" Daphne asked.
"Ah was kinda tired and thought you were just a thief. Sorry about that." AJ said, chuckling embarassingly.

"Oh." Daphne said.

"Yeah, see we've been having a few thieves as of late, so ah thought you were just another." AJ then stated.

"Oh." Daphne again said.

"Uh... ya hungry at all?" AJ asked.

"Yeah... starved." Daphne replied, looking at AJ like she was a bit screwy for asking that having just learned what she did about Daphne.

"Aheh right, silly me. Come on, ah'll go get ya some food." AJ said.

Daphne got up and followed AJ weakly, having gotten the strength to move over the talk she'd been having.

=End Chapter 3=