//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: The One Where Zephyr Finds Out 
// Story: Conventional Approach 
// by Knox Locke 
//------------------------------//

[Daring's Perspective]

After dealing with the thugs, sending them running out of the convention center, Daring went to untie Zeph from the net. Quibble, seeing that the danger had passed, also rejoined them.

"Rainbows, why were those guys after you?" Zeph asked, seemingly having no idea what had really transpired.

"Wait, wait, wait," Quibble interjected. "Rainbows? I think you might have her confused with sompony else, buddy."

With that single statement from Quibblepants, pieces began falling into place in Daring's mind.

Rainbows. Pegasus. Same mane and tail style. He doesn't seem surprised that I just took on four thugs and won.

Daring suddenly busted out laughing. Zeph and Quibble looked at her curiously.

"Oh, dear Celestia," she said, still laughing as she turned towards Zeph. "You think I'm Rainbow Dash, don't you?"

Zeph looked at her like she'd suddenly become a two-headed cockatrice. It seemed his mind was having a difficult time wrapping around this.

"I'm not Rainbow, Zeph," she said as she finished laughing.

Quibble decided to host introductions as Daring was recovering from her laughing fit.

"Zephyr," he started. "Meet Daring Do herself!"





[Zephyr's Perspective]

She's who?!? Daring Do? Isn't she fictional?

These were all questions Zephyr had, but his mouth wouldn't form the words.

Slowly, aggravatingly slowly, his mind adjusted accordingly to this new information.

"So..." he started, "Daring Do, the fictional action adventurer, is not only real, but I've been hanging out with her all day without knowing it, thinking I was hanging out with a good friend of mine. Is that right?"

It sounded just as ludicrous out loud as it did in his head.

Rainbows (No, Daring) had stopped laughing and now came over to his side.

"Sorry, Zeph," she said. "I didn't mean to trick you like that, honestly."

"That's..." Zephyr tried and failed to be angry about it. "That's alright. I had a good time, even if I never did find Rainbows."

"Oh, she's not here," Quibble said matter-of-factly.

"What?" Zephyr asked.

"Wonderbolts practice," continued Quibble. "Usually we meet up at these conventions, so she let me know she wouldn't be here this time."

"That's just great," Zephyr said dejectedly. "Not only was I not with her like I thought, I wasn't even in the same place as her like I thought."

The three just sat there for a moment before Quibble excused himself to get back to the convention before it closed.





[Daring's Perspective]

A few moments later, Daring Do herself got up.

"I have to go," she said. "Caballeron's thugs will still be looking for me. I can't stay in one place too long."

"Okay," Zephyr said, standing up as well.

"And... I'm sorry," Daring said. "About, you know... Me not being Rainbow."

Zephyr closed his eyes for a moment before shaking his head.

"Doesn't matter," he said. "I saw you in action today, Daring, and you proved you're just as amazing as the mare I came here looking for."

Daring sighed slightly. She didn't know what she'd wanted him to say, but that wasn't it.

Zephyr took a step forward and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"You're just as beautiful, too."

Daring felt that warm feeling in her cheeks rising up again, and she smiled slightly.

"Thanks for all the fun today, Zeph," she said.

She gave him a kiss on the cheek and turned to leave.

"Maybe I'll see you again sometime."





[Zephyr's Perspective]

'Did that really just happen?' he asked his mind.

'Yep,' his mind responded.

And he promptly fainted.





After leaving the convention, Zephyr bought copies of every Daring Do book there was. He spent countless hours reading them, but he wasn't reading for the plot. He just wanted to make sure of one very specific thing.

Upon completing the latest book, he sighed with relief. His hopes had come to fruition. In all Daring Do books, there was action. In all Daring Do books, there were side characters to help further the plot. In all of the more recent Daring Do books, Daring made new friends wherever she traveled.

In no Daring Do book had Daring ever kissed anypony on the cheek.

For years to come, Zephyr would still keep his childhood crush, for he knew how devastated Rainbows would be if he didn't, but he'd also attend every Daring Do convention there was, hoping for another chance encounter with his beloved Daring Do.