Easter Surprise! · 2:26pm Apr 21st, 2019
Happy Easter, Everyone.
First off, I wanna say sorry for the lack of updates for the Daring Do x Donkey Kong story. It's been quite a difficult few months and April has been the worst. Last year, I had 2 jobs and around this time I had to work 8 hour shifts everyday for at least 5 months. It was the 3rd time I had to do it, but things have changed since then.
I quit Burger King and now work at a place called Yanfeng. It pays well and has insurance, but it's a little unorthodox. I'm working 4 days on 10 hour shifts over nights. It's nice, but April has changed that as now I'm working 6 days of 10 hours shifts for the entire month. I've past 3 weeks so far and should be over in 1 week; but the way my schedule is set up, I actually have 2 more weeks left.
All of this work has really gotten me away from writing, but I want to inform you guys that I haven't given up on writing Donkey Kong. As of now, I have about 12,000 words written for the next chapter and I'm anticipating that there's going to be a few thousand more (I doubt that it will go to 20,000 but wouldn't be surprised if it goes to 15,000).
As a way to make it up to all of you that are waiting for the next chapter, I've posted a portion of the beginning within this blog. If you want to read it, head down past the horizontal rule.
The chapter doesn't actually start from where we left off, but instead begins before the 1st chapter. Unfortunately, there is nothing Donkey Kong related in it; but don't worry, there's going to be plenty of it in the chapter as Daring is going to help out the Kongs with a issue of their own. I suggest rereading this segment again in the finished chapters as it'll be called back upon later. I might change a few things cause I haven't proofread it, but this is basically what it entails.
I hope you can forgive me for the lack of updates. It's been tiring.
Speaking about the above image, I recently uploaded an old collage animation I made about 6 years ago to Youtube that involves the blue guy above. If you're curious about it, I'll embed it in the blog. All you need to know is that the blue guy (Kaiyo) has the power to control atoms.
Well I should wrap this up. Let's hope that work doesn't throw anything more at me that'll postpone this chapter any further.
As the double doors to the tavern swung open, a gold coated pegasus traversed inside. There were many creatures about the place; from flying griffons to robust minotuars. They payed no mind to pony, but the one that did was the large looking donkey that stood behind the main counter. "Daring Do!" the jack said with the sound of delite in his heavy accent, "It's been far tae long syne A'v last seen ye."
"Hey Tapper, hows it been." she replied sounding half interested as she made it over to a seat.
Tapper was an old friend of Daring's uncle. She's known him since she was a filly and has always been a helpful source to get advice from. He was covered in light brown fur, indicating that he was getting to that age of retirement, but his stubborn attitude refused the idea of it. Tapper's face always appeared to be a stern and unfriendly looking one, but he was one of the most sweetest guys around; almost as much as his sweet tooth. If there was one thing that he absolutely loves, it would be candy and he often had quite a bit of it stashed away whenever he got a craving. But as for now, he was more concerned Daring's tone, "Sounds like the last excavation didnae gae very well."
"Ahuizotl got involved and I got into a bind where I had to destroy the Power Stone before he could use it." The mare sat at the counter stool with a heavy sigh, "All of that effort and I end up with nothing."
"For one that makes quick decisions, ye certainly live up tae yer career bi dwellin on the past."
"I mean, I thought I saw the last of him when he pulled the wrong lever; but he just came back minutes with renewed ambitions."
"Aye, a wild haggis can be juist as connivin. Let yer guard doun for a moment an they run away wi yer best hat," Tapper rubbed his bald head. "But tak a lesson from the McMules on hou they caucht one; Know yer enemy. Once ye know whit they can do, then ye can outsmart thaim before they can outsmart you."
"And how did they manage to catch that varmint?"
"Used a box, a rotten apple, and a empty paper towel roll."
The mare looked skeptic, "Really? That's just a bunch of garbage."
"Ay, but ane creature's trash is another's treasure. Ye juist have tae use it in yer advantage."
Daring rubbed her temple, "I just need to get my mind of it and get something to lighten my spirits. Something........ something chocolate."
The bar keeper pondered for a moment, "....hold on."
As he left, Daring folded her forelegs and laid her head with a sigh. She tried to get a moment of peace, but the approach sound of footsteps and floor scratching only informed her that she wasn't going to receive any. "I have some info that you may find of interest." She rolled her head to the side and saw a friendly face that she didn't want to see.
Standing there in his patched vest and his ears pointed high, was a short gainsboro-furred diamond dog goes by the name, Hound. He was a shady fella that tended to get his nose into places where it shouldn't belong for profitable gains. Word on the street, back ally deals; he had intel on almost everything that's happening. He was well spoken by diamond dog standards, but his bark is worst than his bite as he tries to avoid conflict; which is why he's grateful towards Daring Do. Ever since she saved him from a hegemonic technomagician for having knowledge about a millennium door, he's been seeing her as a partner in and often leads her with information on lost artifact of sorts in hopes of getting a little profit from her achievement.
Daring returned back to her resting position, "I'm not in the mood for any of your gossip, Hound."
"Just hear me out," he said as he hopped onto the stool next to her, "There's an artifact to the far east that many have sought to find. They call it, the Dewprism." Hound leans in with a sly grin, "Does that sound interesting?"
She didn't reply or showed any sign of interest.
"I'm not hearing a 'no', so I'll continue. Well, the client said that it cou-"
Daring shot her head up, "Wait wait wait. Client?" The pony shook her head at canine, "I don't work with client."
"But the threads of fate are calling," he pleaded, "She's even willing to pay a large amount of money for it."
"So was Duke Mercator, before he back-stabbed me and got a head start for the treasure of King Nole."
"That was just one time!"
"Then what do you call the time that magical old bird tricked me into reviving a bloodsucker? Not only that, she didn't even have a dime to her name!"
"Okay, untrustworthy clients. But I have a good feeling about this one. She's brash, a little snotty, but that's a princess for you. She reminds me of that other trustworthy princess that wanted you to get that sword."
"You mean Lumina, The Sword of Luminescence? Yeah, she was pretty trusting. Too bad she forgot to tell me that the sword had a WIZARD OF DARKNESS sealed in it!"
Daring glared at him, "I don't work with clients, things always turn ugly when I do." She huffed after making her statement final, "Besides, I hate being used."
"Alright, fine. She won't like hearing this," grumbled the dog before he spoke under his breath, "Maybe getting her some pumpkin pie would soften the news?"
"So, are we done here?" asked the pony as she slouched back on the counter.
Hound stayed quite for a few moments before he snapped his digits, "Well there was something that I heard that you might like to know. Have you heard of a place called, 'Melee Island'?"
Daring waffled the name, but she couldn't paint a picture of it.
"Wouldn't blame you if you haven't. It's an island discovered in the south-east about two months ago. The place is quite tropical, from what I've heard, so it's become quite a popular place for harvesting; stuff like fruits, minerals, those kind of things. Many of the spoils they gather arrive in town once about every other day; both the substantial kind and the enlightening kind."
"Enlightening how?"
"Enlightening by culture. The harvesters have been talking about a civilization that once lived there. Talking about structures and the possible treasures that they hold."
"Sounds like you've been listening to wood nymphs again." Daring huffed, "So what can you tell me about the culture?"
Hound turned his head with a sheepish expression, "Well, that's the thing. No one has any information about this society. No photographs of temples, no artifact pieces on hand; No matter how much I scour about, I just get word of mouth that there once was an intellectual population living on the island."
She peered over at him with a baffling look, "You're always good at digging up the dirt on rumors. And the fact that you're telling me that you can't find anything out about them makes this 'invitation' very unwelcoming."
"But even so, an unexplored island with the rumor of a civilization that houses possible artifacts is sure to catch the eyes of a few treasure hunters."
"Which means that It would be like digging for gold, but with a more than likely chance that I'll be coming back with nothing if it really is just a rumor." Daring pondered on the thought, "Yet Hound has a good point. There'll be a couple of seekers heading towards the island, rumor or not. And even though the info is pretty weak, all rumors have a grain of truth to them." She ruffled her mane, "This is a real wild card that I've been dealt here."
"If you're interested," the diamond dog to be persuading, "The next cargo ship heading for the island will be leaving in about an hour. If you go now, you might make it."
"............." The pegasus jumped off the stool and bolted for the door.
"HEY, DARING!"
She turned around and began fumbling with something that was just tossed to her. Daring firmly gripped it in her wing, before looking at the old donkey that passed it to her.
"It's the chocolate ye wantit."
The mare took another look at what she held. It was a 'Butterhooves' candy bar, "Really? But isn't this from your personal stash?"
"Don't act aw surprised. You always got a bit o ma stash whan ye played one of yer uncle's pretend treasure hunts. You may have grown, but you deserve somethin after the hassle you went through."
Daring couldn't hide her smile from the endearing gesture. "Thanks Tapper," she replied before galloping out the door towards her next adventure; reinvigorated in the success of it.
Need to start reading it someday.