Daring Do
and her number one fan
by tio aka truekry
“Well, that’s it,” Rainbow pointed out. “The one and only Everfree Forest.” They stood right in front of the entrance to the dark forest.
“OK, wait a second.” Daring threw her bags off her back. They landed on the dirt road, raising some dust. Curiously, she approached her idol and saw her dragging out a journal, which looked like the one she had in her wing when they met.
“What are you doing,” she asked after Daring also took a quill out and began to write something down.
“Writing, of course. I’m an author after all.” With that said Rainbow stepped next to her and began to read what was written down only seconds ago.
The sun was shining down on my back, mocking me further. After days without a good sleep and only small rations of hay to eat I was rather weak.
Rainbow looked at the sentence again and then at Daring Do. It was only spring, just about 68 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly clouded. There was no mocking sun. Also she looked well feed and not in the slightest exhausted. Was she lying? She had to read further.
But after what felt like an eternity on this dull road, which seemed to be leading me nowhere, I found a small village. I got some supplies and ate for the first time in days until I was stuffed. After that a friendly villager was kind enough to show me the way to my destined location I was back on the right track.
Small town? Was she writing about Ponyville? But what Rainbow really struck was the fact that Daring Do was referring her. This friendly inhabitant was definitely her. Again she had to restrain herself to not break out in glee in front of her. Daring Do was using her for one of her books. Best day ever! Just as Rainbow finished her victory dance in her mind, the adventurer put her bags back on.
“All right, now I’m ready,” she exclaimed and closed her bags. Rainbow needed a few seconds to recognize what was said. As soon as she was back in the real world she shook her head.
“OK then… Let’s go,” she answered and could slam her hoof in her face instantly. She could have said a cool and awesome sentence, but no. Her brain was busy imagining her dancing in front of Twilight’s nose. Now it was too late, because they were already trotting past the first few trees. The forest looked like always: dark, some unknown flowers here and there and eventually clouds passing above them. Even if this was not her first time in these woods; it still gave her the creeps.
“So, how far in the forest is the castle?” Daring asked, also slightly nervous. Again she was checking her surrounding, much like she was looking for a fast escape route.
“It’s pretty much in the center. We have to follow the road some time and then go through a section with creepy looking trees. After that there is a small river and then a cliff. But we repaired the bridge last time so we will be fine,” that was at least what she was hoping for. If Daring could fly, this would be no problem at all, but so they had to take the same way she took with her friends. Rainbow was no longer so sure about this. Quiet noises could be heard after she finished talking. A limb breaking, the rustle of an unknown animal in the bushes and the clatter of teeth. “Are you…,” Rainbow asked and turned to her companion.
“No.” Daring answered head shaking. They both gulped and looked around.
“Hello, Anypony there?” Rainbow asked into the dark. Again the breaking of a limb sounded through the air, but now it was right next to them. They held their breath and in the next moment a timber wolf jumped into vision.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh,” Daring shrieked and jumped into cover behind Rainbow. She herself was looking at the wooden predator. It seemed to consist of limbs and a few leaves and was only half as tall as a foal. She didn’t want to, but she had to. She felt over laughing her flank off.
“Hahahah… Daring…. That was hilarious….,” she said between small breaths. It was only a pup, still dangerous to some degree but a pup. Daring stared at her, than at the small wolf, which seemed to be confused as well. After a minute of laughter Rainbow got back on her hooves and wiped a tear from her face. “Sorry,” she began, still trying to intake breath. “But that was hilarious! Are you always so... jumpy?”
“Well, it could have been a dangerous animal, you know! If it was the hydra you mentioned, or this manticore... I was just high alarmed,” Daring defended her actions. The stuntmare thought about that a few seconds and agreed.
“You’re right and we should get going anyway. Timber Wolves never leave their pups alone. They probably are around here somewhere.” With that said they got going, leaving the pup alone which only wanted to play with them and now was kinda sad.
“Can we take a small break?” Daring asked only a minute after walking down the path again. Rainbow looked at the sheepish smiling Pegasus and planted her plot on the ground.
“What is it this time?” Not even Twilight needed so many stops on any trip they had been on together.
“Only need to make some notes again,” Daring answered, already dropping her journal on the ground. Rainbow sighed, but at least she could read what Daring Do was writing.
We were only minutes in the forest when we heard some strange noises. I was taking a few steps towards one of the bushes when they jumped out. A pack of not less than twelve Timber Wolves. Creatures consisting of wood which I thought only existed in ponytales. My guide was cowering by my side in fear…
“Hey!” Rainbow shouted out. “I wasn’t the one who shrieked, it was you.” Daring looked at her without batting an eyelash and then continued with her task. What she wrote was not in the slightest what really happened. It was only one wolf and a pup on top of it.
I had to do something against these wooden predators or this would be not only my last adventure, since I was responsible for the life of my new friend. Looking around I saw a small branch hanging low from a tree. With a small jump I snatched it off and took it between my teeth. The first carnivore took this as a chance and jumped forward, but I was faster and hit it right on the snout. It backed off, but only a few meters and there were still his friends.
“Give me my fire equipment from my bags!” I shouted at my companion who was still paralyzed in fear. I kicked her with my right hind leg what got her out of her trance like state. “Fire equipment, now!” I yelled again. She understood and started to look for what I wanted in my bags. In the meantime I had enough to do with one wolf after another. They tried to jump at my neck again and again but somehow I was always a bit faster.
“Got it!” the happy guide yelled behind me and swirled around to my side. In her mouth was my magical lighter, which had been a present from my father. She opened it with one hoof and the flames came to life. I lit the tip of the branch in my mouth and grinned to the pack in front of me. Firewood for the night would not be a problem anymore.
Rainbow blinked a few times and looked dumbfounded at the journal between Daring Do’s hooves. She couldn’t believe it! She was reduced to a coward assistant! “Hey! What are you doing? That isn’t what has truly happened! Not even in the slightest,” she said and pointed at the journal.
“I know,” she answered shortly and took the small book away again. “So, I’m ready.” They looked each other in the eyes a few seconds and neither of them said a word. Then Daring stepped past her and began walking again. Not wanting to be left out Dash caught up to her.
“So, why are you writing stuff that didn’t even happen?” She asked curious while looking for an explanation for what happened.
“You know, Equestria is mostly safe, thanks to the princesses, right?” Rainbow nodded. “So the real adventure doesn’t start until we are somewhere out of her supervision. And no one would like to read something like: And I walked down the road for hours and nothing is happening.” After some time she answered.
“Well, yes.”
A/N:
Just wanted to thanks everpony for faving and rating this story. It's really awesome to get so many support.
I tried my best to do better with my grammar and my choice of words, so that it sounds a little more natural.
In the comments under my last chapter a few offered to proofread further chapters, so I will pick somepony.
Greetings from Germany
truekry
I can already see how this is going to go. I've had the same trouble meeting a few authors who rather enjoy embellishing their stories.
Rainbow must be Really pissed that she's made to look like a wimp
Liking where this is going, but one typo reaaaallly stood out.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!” Daring shrieked and jumped into cover behind Rainbow. (This definitely needs an exclamation mark. Reads a bit differently without it.)
Rainbow Dash will definetly get into the "URGE... TO KILL... RISING!" mode, besides, they are now in the perfect place for a murder... The Everfree Forest, Alone by themselves, with no wintees, and nopony knows they're actually there, with actually very seriously dangerous animals roaming around, cliffs, Posion Joke, perfect to even make it look like some kind of unfortunate accident or she was attacked, mauled and eaten by a random beast
it looks like Rainbow will invite Pinkie some Daring Do theme home-made CUPCAKES!
It looks like This will be the last issue of Daring Do... if it somehow gets managed to be published
Rainbow dash learning the sad truth. Book heros almost never are like the book makes them out to be.
Like the old saying goes, "Never meet your heroes"
1476400 Do you see a sad tag? =/
damn this is getting good, fav'd for sure
a few small things i found so far...
(that second part needs some fixin')
other than that...keep it coming :D
grüßle aus schwaben
greetings from England my German friend! No mistakes that I could see in this chapter so well done.
Heh... alright this is a good story so far. Please proceed!
Oh and have pictures.
suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18887581/images/1335576400163.jpg
thumbs.newschoolers.com/index.php?src=http://www.topstrange.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Ultimate-Moar-Collection-35.jpg&size=200x300
Well, this is certainly getting more interesting!
It's really interesting to me that this is the first time I've come across Daring with this characterization. Usually, she's a full-fledged adventurer, or even when her story's been embellished somehow, she still has some legitimate explorer prowess to back it up. In this, she's just... an author. Like I said, it's definitely out of the norm.
cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/24899208.jpg
1480496 It's worse when the "adventurer" is the author, and what you saw isn't what the readers get.
It's been done a few times, in various places, and the "hero-shock" never really goes away.
I can see worse: Twilight meeting Starswirl and learning a few things not in his journals.
Meet Tom Clancy. He's nothing like Jack Ryan or John Clark.
I will continue watching. This has distinct possibilities.
1482270 wasent Starswirl a magician that wrote down his spells?
1482351 Yes, but I said journals, not spell compendia. Big difference.
1482372 that is if he has journals and that twilight read them.
Edit: forget that last part if he has journals twilight has read them.
1482376 Yes, but does everypony write down everything?
I'm sure Twi wouldn't want to read 'Swirl's comments about Celestia's flanks, for example. "Oh, my innocence is gone!"
Please note the salt-shaker at my elbow; it's a hint.
AWESOME!
I'd be able to correct some of the grammatical errors and whatnot it you need anyone
Aside from the grammar/wording, I like the concept
1476400
What fic was that?
...and after enduring several hours of this nonsense, Rainbow Dash flew away, and Daring Do was never heard from again.
The End.
Oh wait. Element of Loyalty. Ponyfeathers.
This reminds me of Gilderoy Lockhart from Harry Potter, maybe Dash ends up roflpwning her and Daring ends up in the hospital with brain damage
1483937 If that ends up happening I will be on the floor in laughing.
Dawwww look at you, yesterday you were a part of the bad story section and now? You made it to the box thing!
1480520 Words of wisdom there.
Beautiful... just beautiful
That isn't Daring Do, that's just some sexy teacher lady!
GAH!! I was going to dress as Daring Do for nightmare night, now you've ruined it for me!
But really, I like the fic, I'm interested to see where it's going, keep up the good work.
If I were Rainbow, I'd at least ask to play an equally courageous role, and be mentioned by name. Seriously, the way she is portrayed in the book is just degrading; even if it is just for embellishment, I'd be fucking PISSED
MOAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
BHUT OH MY GOD, dARING TELL ME THAT YOU ARE NOT A FULL-of-lies- pegasus
I think that Rainbow Dash is going to learn a bitter truth: No idol is entirely as she imagined. I think that Daring Do is going to turn out to be a lot like Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - a better writer than adventurer who takes credit for other ponies' efforts. Disappointing, I know. Maybe she was a better pony once but fame, fortune and the grief of injury (no Pegasi could ever really get over being grounded) has forever changed her approach.
1487086 Or maybe she's just a writer of fiction and Dash, being the athlete she is, has no idea what fiction is.
You're all so far away from the ending I have planned
Oh great, THIS kind of thing. What is it with autobiographers that makes them dramatize EVERYTHING?
i love the idea, and having taken german for three years at school i know how bad translators are for german and english, but , even though largely correct grammar and such, it all feels a bit... off-putting. i'll pay attention and such, but an editor would do you wonders.
One small piece of critique: The characters use almost no contractions. Like can't, won't, he'll, I'll, etc. it makes their dialogue sound a bit unnatural and formal, especially for someone like Rainbow Dash.
I feel bad for the timberwolf puppy, it only wanted to play
And Rainbow, you really realize that the books you read are fictions, right? Ah you silly pony
1480520 Amen.
Trixie is trying to be a proof-reader, she could give it shot, if you don't already have someone else.
Despite the problems in grammar, which I can attribute to you not having English as a primary language (correct me if I am wrong), I am enjoying this.
Also, poor Rainbow
MOAR!
this is like indiana jones and his assistant
come on start writing this again