//------------------------------// // Chapter 02: Daring Do Returns // Story: The Wrath of Ahuizotl // by MariusIoannesP //------------------------------// There she was. The one and only Daring Do was sitting on a cloud chair in Rainbow Dash’s living room. It would have been an exciting moment if not for the fact that Daring Do was just sitting there sharpening a rather large knife on a whetstone. Rainbow Dash just stood there with an awkward smile plastered over her face, her typical confidence drained. Being in the presence of her hero did that to her. The fact that she was silently sharpening a rather large knife did not help. Why is she doing that? Rainbow wondered. Rainbow began rattling her brain, trying to remember if Daring had ever intentionally murdered anypony in her books. It did not help that all she could recall were the arguments between other fans over this particular question. She wouldn’t do that, Rainbow thought. Would she? Silence hung between them. The tension in the room could be cut with a rather large knife. Finally, Daring looked up at Rainbow. Rainbow’s rose eyes met Daring’s rose eyes, a cold glare in the latter. “Remember how I said how I never trusted anypony because you never who you could trust?” Daring asked. Daring continued to sharpen the knife. “Yeah,” Rainbow replied with just a hint of fear. “It took a lot for me to trust you, Rainbow,” Daring said. “I would have appreciated it if you had been honest with me.” “How…” Rainbow gulped. “How haven’t I been honest with you?” Daring stopped sharpening the knife. She stored the whetstone away in one of her shirt’s pockets. She flipped the knife so that she was holding it with its blade pointed down. Rainbow shuddered. She started to breathe rapidly. Omigosh! Is she going to stab me with that? Is it because I wrote about her in the Friendship Journal?! Because I was telling the gang how she was real?! How could she even find out about that?! Daring unbuttoned the top buttons on her shirt. At that, Rainbow cocked her head. Huh? Daring opened her shirt, revealing a strap underneath with a sheath attached to it. She stored the knife in the sheath and proceeded to rebutton her shirt. Rainbow Dash just stared at her, completely dumbfounded. What was that all about? Daring Do took off her pith helmet. She reached inside and pulled out what appeared to be a couple of copies of the Wonderbolts’ official newsletter. Daring tossed them onto Rainbow’s ottoman, which doubled as a coffee table. Rainbow took a step forward and looked at the newsletters. She shifted them about with her hoof so she could get a better look at each one of them. The first newsletter included a picture of Rainbow among the newest cadets at the Wonderbolts Academy above a list featuring their class roster. Rainbow flinched a bit when she saw Lightning Dust’s name. Another one featured an article about how she was involved in outing the now disgraced, former Wonderbolt Wind Rider. At the top was a picture of herself and Rarity in one of her Femme Mystique Chic get ups. Another one featured an article about the newest members of the Wonderbolts. It had all the new Wonderbolts’ official portraits lined up at the top and right at the end was Rainbow with that smug smile of hers. Another one featured a rather embarrassing article about how she messed up her first Wonderbolts show in Ponyville. Somehow somepony had gotten a picture of her after crashing into Pinkie’s cotton candy, and that photo emblazoned the top of the article. She flinched a bit at that one too. Rainbow looked back up the Daring. The cold glare in Daring’s eyes was gone, her grim expression replaced by a slight smirk. “You could have honestly told me you were a Wonderbolt.” Rainbow answered with a shrug. “I mean, it’s not something I like to brag about or anything.” Rainbow began smirking herself. “I didn’t even tell my parents.” “Oh, how are they?” Daring asked before she could stop herself. Her eyes widened, and her forehooves covered her mouth once she realized what words left her mouth. “Oh they’re fine,” Rainbow answered, noticing nothing amiss about Daring. “We were kind of distant for a while, but a friend of mine help me learn to appreciate them more. Why do you ask?” Daring shifted her weight from side to side. It looked as though she was at war with herself, trying to decide what to say to Rainbow. Rainbow cocked an eyebrow in response to Daring’s reticence. Daring took a deep breath. She got off the chair and stepped up to Rainbow. “Well, um, you see,” Daring began. She was quiet for a moment, but then she just waved her hoof dismissively. “Oh you know. I know how family can be sometimes, and I figured yours could have some strain too. And I guess there was, and now there isn’t.” Daring then chuckled nervously. Rainbow looked at her a bit questioningly but didn’t really think much of it. She then recalled her initial question once she realized Daring Do was in her house. “Anyway, what brings you here? Not that I mind at all hanging out with you. ‘Cause you’re so awesome!” “Right, why I’m here,” Daring began. “I just wanted to say again how much I appreciate you convincing me not to retire from adventuring and writing my books. You really are my Number One Fan…” Rainbow Dashed leapt and threw her forelegs into the air. “Daring Do thinks I’m her Number One Fan!” Rainbow hovered in the air, smiling. She looked back down at Daring Do. Daring was just giving her a flat look. Rainbow’s smile became awkward, and she slowly lowered herself back to the floor. “Sorry about that.” “It’s cool,” Daring said. “Anyway, as I was saying, you and your pink friend really helped me out in Somnambula.” “Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow added. “Yeah, her.” Daring continued. “And before that, you helped me out at DaringCon in my quest to find the Seven-Sided Chest of Chicomoztoc. You and that annoying guy.” “You mean Quibble Pants.” “Yeah, that guy,” Daring said. “And then there’s the rest of your friends helping me out with the Ring of Scorcherro. You’ve all been in some pretty heavy stuff.” “Oh, it was nothing,” Rainbow said with a dismissive wave of her hoof. “No, really, Rainbow,” Daring continued, looking very serious. “You and your friends have saved Equestria so many times. It’s kind of what you guys do.” Rainbow shrugged. “I mean, once or twice a year we do the whole saving Equestria stuff, but it’s not like we do it all the time.” “Nonetheless,” Daring began, “you’ve been a big help to me in my last couple of adventures. I mean, I wouldn’t even be doing this now if it wasn’t for you. And I think you may continue to be a valuable help in my future adventures.” Daring’s eyes shifted about the room a bit, hiding what appeared to be nervousness ever so slightly. “So, I was wondering if you’d like to join me on another adventure. It’s okay if you don’t. I’m sure you have other important things to do.” Rainbow could hardly contain her excitement. She sat down and began to clap her hooves together, squeeing all the way. “Are you kidding?!” Rainbow answered. “Of course I’ll join you! Do you think I’m going to pass on an opportunity to go on an adventure with the one and only Daring Do?!” Rainbow lunged forward and threw her forelegs around Daring in a hug. “Thank you so much for giving me this chance! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” While in this embrace, Rainbow could not see how conflicted Daring looked. She seemed to doubt whether getting Rainbow involved was a good idea. It’s going to be okay, Daring, she thought to herself. She’s obviously dealt with more than you ever have. Daring started patting Rainbow’s back awkwardly. The awkward patting made Rainbow suddenly realize how uncomfortable this was making Daring feel, and she quickly pulled herself out of the hug, a look of embarrassment upon her face. “I’m really sorry,” Rainbow said. “I really didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” “Oh, it’s okay, Dashie.” Daring’s eyes widened. “No, wait, I didn’t mean to call you that!” “Don’t sweat it,” Rainbow said. “You can call me whatever you want. You’re Daring Do!” Rainbow hummed in thought. “It’s funny. That’s what my parents call me.” “Oh, do they?” Daring laughed nervously. Rainbow looked at Daring with suspicion. She seemed to be acting a bit oddly. “What’s up with you? I should be the one who’s nervous here.” “Oh, it’s nothing,” Daring answered with another dismissive wave of her hoof. “It’s just, well, I usually work alone, and I don’t want something to happen to you while we’re on our adventure.” Rainbow looked back at Daring. She stood up straight, brimming with confidence. “Daring,” Rainbow said, raising a hoof up, “whatever it is, I got this.” “And besides,” Daring continued, “if something were to happen to you, I couldn’t put Prism Rush in my future books. Turns out she’s become quite the fan favorite.” “Yes!” Rainbow cried, pumping her foreleg in victory. “Prism Rush was the best thing about Ring of Destiny! Eat it, Bon Bon!” “What?” Daring asked, confused. “Never mind,” Rainbow replied. “So, what’s this adventure all about? Going to finally find the Crystal Sphere of Khumn?” “That’s going to have to wait a bit,” Daring answered. Daring leaned in towards Rainbow and continued in an almost conspiratorial whisper, “My sources tell me there’s an artifact out there some ponies are looking for that mustn’t fall into the wrong hooves or claws. The Blue Moon Medallion.” “The Blue Moon Medallion!” Rainbow gasped. “Wait, what’s the Blue Moon Medallion?” “It’s a magically powerful artifact that once belonged to Princess Luna before she became Nightmare Moon,” Daring explained. “It hasn’t been seen since. Lost for a thousand years. Legend says it could give ponies the power to walk through dreams as Princess Luna can.” “Oh that shouldn’t be too hard,” Rainbow replied. “Twilight found the Princesses’ old diary in the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest. Maybe if she lets us look at it, we can find clues as to the last place Princess Luna left it.” Daring crossed her forelegs before her and smiled slightly at Rainbow. “That’s a great idea, Rainbow,” Daring said. “I’m already sure I’m not going to regret bringing you along.” Rainbow took a step towards Daring and looked her straight in the eyes. “Daring,” Rainbow pointed at herself, “the one thing you’re going to know about me when we’re done is that I never, ever let a friend down.” It made Daring happy to hear that, more happy than Rainbow Dash could even understand. Daring looked back at Rainbow rather wistfully. “It’s been a long time since I could call a pony my friend,” Daring said. “Well, you’ve got one now,” Rainbow replied. “Come on. Let’s go see Twilight about that book.” Rainbow subsequently took to the air and jetted out of the room. Daring stood alone in the empty sitting room for a moment. She took in a deep breath. Daring felt a lot more confident about bringing Rainbow Dash on board. “Everything’s going to be just fine,” Daring said to herself. “And she doesn’t have to know.” After a final deep breath, Daring followed Rainbow Dash and trotted out of the sitting room.