//------------------------------//
// Daring Do and The Beginning 
// Story: The Legend of Daring Do 
// by The Red Parade 
//------------------------------//

“I’m telling you, Rainbow, it’s a real thing.”

I scoff and roll my eyes. “Riiiiiiight,” I say. “Because obviously the first thing you want to do with a Hearth’s Warming gift is give it away.”

“See, that’s the trick! You don’t know if it’s going to be a great gift or a horrible one! That’s the game!” Cloud Kicker rummages through her locker before pulling out a rubber chicken. “See? You might get Wonderbolts tickets, or you could get this. Now if you got this, wouldn’t you want to trade it off?”

“Give it up, Cloud.” Blossomforth chuckles. “I don’t think you’ll ever convince us that a ‘While Elephant’ is a real thing.” 

“White Elephant,” Cloud Kicker replies, shoving the chicken back into her locker. “And come on, Rainbow! Where’s your holiday spirit?”

From behind us another voice scoffs. “Cloud, you know how Rainbow feels about Hearth’s Warming.” Raindrops brushes past us, glaring at Cloud as she leaves.

“Oh, mark my words,” Cloud Kicker mutters. “I have five days. That’s plenty of time to convince you!”

I laugh at that. “Keep trying, Cloud.” With that, I turn around and leave the locker room. The weather dispatching center isn’t all that big or grand, but it does the job just fine. The pegasi from the previous shift are filing out, waving goodbyes as they take to the sky and head on home.

“Ready, boss?” Blossomforth asks as she trots up to my side.

I nod, and the two of us spread our wings and fly off. 

Blossomforth’s fairly new to Ponyville, having moved in from Cloudsdale a few months ago. It kind of became a thing for her to follow me home after our shift. It started after her first day, as she asked me all sorts of questions about the town, the job, and everything else in between.

It was kind of annoying at first. Mostly because she slowed me down. But hey, eventually it became a little tradition for us to head home together, since my house is on her way and all. And it’s always nice to know that someone looks up to you.

As Blossom launches into some story, I absently tune her out, thinking about what Raindrops said earlier. It’s not really that I hate Hearth’s Warming, it’s just kind of a rough time for me. I mean, yeah, it’s been three years, so I guess I’m over it, but it’s still weird to think about it.

I try to shake off my thoughts and focus on the watermelon-maned pegasus flying next to me. 

“Anyways, that’s around the point where I realized Cloud Kicker is an idiot. I know you warned me about her, but still, she never ceases to amaze me. Uh, you alright, Rainbow?” Blossomforth tilts her head to stare at me.

I shake my head and clear my throat. “Yeah, I’m always fine, Blossom. I’m more than fine, in fact I’m great. And yeah, I told you Cloud isn’t the brightest tool in the shed… or, uh, sharpest.” 

Blossomforth rolls her eyes at that statement. “Well said, Rainbow.”

“I know, I’m like the best at saying things.” Better change the topic. “How’s Ponyville for you so far?”

“Oh, it’s fine. It’s taking some getting used to, but I think it’s growing on me.” We begin to descend, with my house appearing in the distance. 

Squinting, I spot a gray pegasus waiting outside. She waves at us as we land. “Hey, Ditzy,” I say, “what’s hanging?”

“Hiya, Rainbow! Hi, Blossom!” Ditzy digs around in her bag, a few letters falling out in the process. “Glad I caught you! I got a package for you! Couldya sign here?”

I nod and take the pen she offers me in my mouth, scribbling my signature on her clipboard. She hoofs me the package. 

“There’s also a letter that came with it,” Ditzy says as she passes me the envelope. I’m a bit surprised she managed to keep them together, given her track record. 

“Who’s it from?” Blossomforth asks.

My eyes just skim the address, but I recognize it instantly. “My parents,” I tell them. I open the letter and read it to myself.

Dear Rainbow,

I was cleaning the house the other day and I found some of your sister’s things. Your mother and I both thought that you might know what to do with them. Consider it our early Hearth’s Warming gift, I suppose. Can’t wait to see you soon. 

Lots of love, 

Dad.

I blink, taking it in. “Huh. Dad says he found some of my sister’s old things.”

Blossom’s face lights up. “I didn’t know you have a sister!”

Ah, crud. That’s right, she doesn’t know. Ditzy flinches at that statement, and I realize I better clear it up quickly. “I, uh, had a sister,” I say awkwardly, eyes falling to the cloud underneath me. 

Blossom’s eyes widen in dread. “Oh! Rainbow, I’m sorry--”

I wave my hoof in the air. “It’s fine, Blossom, you didn’t know. She died before you moved here.”

“What happened?” she asks.

“It… it was stupid. She was visiting some ancient ruins in a mountain range or something, then there was a rockslide. They say it, uh, came out of nowhere… and she tried to get everyone out, but... “ 

Blossomforth cuts me off by hugging me. “Rainbow, I’m so sorry! You don’t have to talk about it, I shouldn’t have asked.”

I tense a little bit at the contact. “Hey, it’s fine. It’s been three years. The anniversary’s actually in three days. Kinda sucks that it’s so close to Hearth’s Warming, you know? Kills the mood a little bit.” 

“I’m sure your sister was a great pony,” Blossomforth says.

“Yeah, I guess she was,” I reply.

Ditzy nods, hugging me as well. “Hey, if you ever need to talk to anypony, we’re here.” 

It’s a little too much contact for my taste. “Yeah, thanks guys. But it’s been three years, I’m fine.”

Blossomforth nods and steps back. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, Rainbow!”

I return the nod and watch as they both fly away. I tuck the package under my wing and head inside. A frown slips on my face as soon as I step through the doorway. Has it really been three years? I guess I never thought about it until I said it to Blossom. I sigh, wondering where all the time has gone. Why does that package feel so heavy? 

I make my way upstairs to my bedroom, gingerly putting it on my nightstand. I collapse on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Three years. Three years since I last saw my sister. Three years ago some stupid accident took her away. 

But I’m fine. I told that to Blossom, and I meant it. Because it’s been three years. I’m over it. Aren’t I? Wait, if I am over it, then why do I still hate Hearth’s Warming? Is it because every time it comes, I think of her? Am I scared of it?

No. No way. I’m Rainbow fricking Dash, the bravest, most awesomest pony in Equestria. I’m not scared of some old memories. It’s in the past, idiot. It can’t hurt you.

With newfound confidence, I swing my legs off the bed and head to the table. I tear open the package and take a deep breath before looking inside. Almost immediately my ears droop in disappointment. A few books and papers stare back at me. 

Great. All that worry for some books. Then again, this is my book-loving sister, so I probably should have seen this coming. I pick up the first book, turning it over in my hooves. I’m no expert on books by far, but this one seems different. 

I flip it open to a random page and notice that the book looks like it was mouth-written. There are notes scribbled in between the lines on top of that, and numbers and words dot the margins. There are also some small pieces of paper clipped to the pages with paperclips. 

I shut the book to look at the cover. “The Legend of Daring Do,” I read aloud. Not the best of titles, I chuckle to myself. My eyes go to the bottom of the cover to find the author’s name and my heart stops. “A novel by Daring Dash.” 

That gets me. Daring always wanted to be a writer, as much as I wanted to be a Wonderbolt. It was all she would talk about those days. It seemed like she always had some story she wanted to tell.

I shake off the memory and open the book again. A note was tucked in between the cover and the first page. ‘Twilight: Read me,’ it says.

Twilight? Why would she leave a note for her? My eyes drift to a framed photo on my desk.

My sister stares back at me, with her red eyes watching me through her gray toned mane, daring the world to take her on. 

That settles it then. I shove the book in my saddlebags and head for the library. “Alright, Sis. What else are you hiding from me?”