Twilight groaned. The last thing she remembered was being warped into a meadow and then…nothing. Just a blinding flash of light and the smell of burning hair.
“Shhhh, it’s ok,” a voice said, wetting her brow with a washcloth. “Everything is ok.”
Twilight mumbled something, her eyelids fluttering open shyly to see…Fluttershy (wasn’t that convenient?). The pegasus let out an ‘eep’ when she saw that Twilight had awoken so suddenly, darting up into the air before finally calming herself and settling down one more to tend to her patient.
“What…what happened?” Twilight murmured.
“You exploded,” Fluttershy stated. “At least, I think you did. I heard a loud boom and I was afraid some poor little grizzly bear had gotten hurt so I went out to check. But there wasn’t a grizzly bear…just you lying in a crater.”
Twilight rubbed her aching head. “Well, I'm glad it wasn’t a table this time.”
“Me too…I don’t know how to take care of tables.”
“You ok, Twilight?” Spike asked as he walked into the room, a towel wrapped around his waist. While his dragon scales had protected him from the blast, the explosion had left him covered in soot and Fluttershy had offered him use of her bathroom so he could clean himself up. “Man, that was some explosion, huh?”
“Yeah,” Twilight grunted, “it was real fun.”
“Why did you explode, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked softly, rewetting her sponge before running it along her friend’s brow.
“I…just…it’s stupid.”
“Well, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but you are the smartest pony I know, so there is no way something stupid could get you flustered…so it must be something smart…right?”
Twilight gave her a friend a soft smile, placing her hoof on top of hers. “Thank you.”
“Uh…for what?”
“For…just being you.”
“Gag me,” Spike muttered, going back into the bathroom and shutting the door. All the lovey-dovey stuff was making him feel dirty again.
“Boys,” Twilight and Fluttershy muttered, before breaking into giggles.
Twilight laid back down on the bed, letting out a peaceful sigh. She had wanted to take the morning off but it was clear she had gone about it the wrong way. She should have come here, to Fluttershy’s cottage, in the first place. It was utterly peaceful, with the birds chirping and the bees buzzing and Angel plotting his assassination of Fancy Pants (the backstory of their long and epic feud would take 3 full nights to tell and even then all one would get would be the abridged version). Twilight lay back down on her pillow, a smile slowly blossoming on her lips.
“Uh…Twilight,” Fluttershy said softly, “what were you so mad about? You never did say.”
“Oh,” Twilight said lazily, waving her hoof dismissively, “I was just trying to figure out where Scootaloo came from and everyone was telling me their own crazy story.”
“…can I tell you mine?”
Twilight’s eyes snapped open like cheap window blinds.
“Fluttershy, not you too!” Twilight closed her eyes, fighting the tears she knew were coming. "I...I thought of all ponies you wouldn't give into gossip..."
"Oh, this isn't gossip," Fluttershy said. "I don't know what Scootaloo's history is."
The unicorn's head jerked up and she stared at her friend, trying to comprehend exactly what she was getting at. "But....but then what do you..."
Fluttershy chewed on her lower lip. "Pinkie Pie told me about everypony telling you stories about what they think Scootaloo's origin is...and it just sounded fun so I...kinda...maybe...came up with a story of my own..." Fluttershy looked down, her long mane hiding her face. "I know it isn't real and it isn't what you are looking for...but I thought maybe...possibly..."
Twilight reached over and gently brushed Fluttershy's mane aside so she could look her in the eye. "Fluttershy, I would love to hear your fictional story about Scootaloo." Her friend visibly brightened and Twilight settled in for the tale. 'Knowing Fluttershy, it is probably some sweet little story about Scootaloo being raised by bunnies-'
"Tigasia, 3 years ago," Fluttershy said dramatically. "The scene...a steamy nightclub controlled by the Black Stripe Mafia."
"Say what now?"
~MC~MC~MC~
“Give’em the old razzle-dazzle…”
Charity DeBelle was singing her heart out on stage, giving each and every note as much power as she could muster. The stunning aqua-colored unicorn took a moment to turn and give her flank a little shake, causing all the tigers watching her to cheer and howl in delight. She knew what the boys liked and she wasn't about to disappoint them. Her low, sultry voice seemed to swirl about the room, entrancing all that heard it like a siren song.
Well, almost everyone.
Sitting at the bar with the wall to her back, Daring Do watched the performance and rolled her eyes. Why any mare would go up on stage and face the catcalls Charity was getting was simply an unknown to the treasure hunter. Of course, the entire club scene was lost on her. The scent of spiced rum and incense filled the air like a heavy cloud, making the pegasus' lungs ache with every breath. She’d been forced to actually dress up, ditching her pith helmet and going with a red evening dress that made her feel like a painted-up fool. All she wanted to do was leap up and dash out of there as fast as she could.
But that simply wouldn't do...not if she wanted to get the Cat's Eye Diamond.
As she waited for her contact to arrive Daring looked around the club, getting a feel for the environment. Over by the poker tables there were several earth ponies gambling up a storm, including a purple mare with an eyepatch who had hidden blades tucked in her tail. A few tables over from them a dolled up yellow unicorn was whispering something clearly steamy in her girlfriend's ear, if the blush on the green pegasus' face was any indication. Up on the balcony a pitch black earth pony was holding court, her long straight hair the color of fallen snow and making it look as if she were an old black and white photo. Intermixed with all of these rough and tough figures were tigers, each wearing a business suit and bearing a ring on their tail that showed their allegiance to the Black Stripe Mafia, the most dreaded crime syndicate in Tigasia
Daring had walked into a hornets’ nest alright, and she would need to keep her nerves steady and her eyes open if she wanted to survive.
It was that focus that alerted her to the small purple pegasus filly with a shock of orange hair who was trying to pick her pocket....
"Uh, Fluttershy?"
~MC~MC~MC~
"Oh, is something wrong? Do you need another pillow?" Fluttershy asked, concerned for her friends comfort.
"No, I'm fine...it's just..." Twilight's jaw worked, like she was chewing on a bad pear, "when you said you were going to tell me a story, I thought you meant you were going to tell an original one."
"But I am," Fluttershy said.
Twilight shook her head, patting Fluttershy's hoof. "But Daring Do is a fictional character that somepony else created."
"Right..." Fluttershy looked at her friend, confused, "I'm the one that created her."
"In this story."
"In all her stories," the pegasus said. "I'm the author of Daring Do."
"...no you're not."
Fluttershy frowned. "Um...I think so. Why else would my agent keep accepting my manuscripts?" She wasn’t being sarcastic…Fluttershy honestly wanted to know.
Twilight shook her head, growing annoyed with her shy friend. There were times when Fluttershy was so naive. "Listen, you aren't getting it." Twilight used her magic to grab a hardcopy of Daring Do from Fluttershy's shelf. She was surprised to find it looked a bit different than the ones she had read; it was older and heavier. "See, it says right here, ‘By F.S. Braveheart’."
"Right...FlutterShy Braveheart."
"...you're joking."
Fluttershy shook her head. "Uh, I don’t think so. Unless I told one of those sneaky jokes Rarity sometimes-"
"But...but..." Twilight saw that the copy she was holding was in fact a rare out-of-print first edition of one of the first Daring Do novels. Turning it over, she could only stare, her jaw hanging to the floor, at the sight of Fluttershy's picture gracing the cover. The pegasus was seated at her writing desk, one hoof propping up her chin and a slight smile on her face.
"I thought you girls knew," Fluttershy said softly. “How do you think I pay for all my furry little friends’ food?”
“I thought…maybe…uh…”
Fluttershy smiled. “Oh Twilight, did you think Ponyville paid me to take care of animals?” At Twilight’s slight nod the pegasus laughed. “That’s silly! Who would pay for that? No…caring for animals is a hobby…writing is how I make my bits.” She furrowed her brow. “Are you sure you didn’t know?”
"If...Fluttershy, if we knew we would have been begging you for details!"
"I thought you were respecting my privacy."
Twilight made a sound that was a cross between a squeak and a sob.
"Does...does that mean you want me to stop telling the story? It's my new manuscript, so I still have to edit-"
"TELL ME MORE NOW!" Twilight roared, shaking her friend so hard Fluttershy saw stars. "I mean...yes, I would like you to continue," Twilight said demurely.
"Oh...ok."
~MC~MC~MC~
"What do you think you are doing, kid?" Daring Do said, snatching the little filly's hoof just as it went for the briefcase sitting on the floor.
"Just dropped something!" the filly exclaimed a tad too loudly.
"Well, go looking for it somewhere else," Daring snarked as she saw her trading partner come marching over to her. "That isn't for you...trust me." The filly gave her a hard look and Daring, with a sigh, reached into her saddle back and pulled out a few bits, tossing them to the stunned filly. "Go get yourself something to eat, Squirt." The filly nodded happily and darted off.
And not a moment too soon.
"Miss Do," Redclaw, head of the Black Stripe Mafia, purred. He took a seat next to the explorer, making her feel very small compared to his bulk. Redclaw was almost twice her size and five times her weight. His black suit strained to contain his gut and every breath seemed to threaten to send buttons flying everywhere. "Enjoying the show?'
"I'll enjoy it better when I have the Cat's Eye Diamond."
"Straight to the point, I love it." Redclaw leaned in close, licking his fangs. "But first...my money."
Daring Do nodded, reaching down and retrieving the briefcase she had been guarding. "Every last bit is there." Redclaw was practically drooling as he clutched the case to his chest, drawing it in like a lost lover. However, he noticed Daring wasn't smiling. "This is a double cross, isn't it?" She looked at her hoof, examining it as she continued, her tone utterly bored. "I knew the moment I got your message you would try and take the money and run.”
“Sorry, but that is the life we lead," Redclaw said calmly.
“No problem. That's why I came prepared." She raised her hooves up and clicked them together.
The night club burst into activity. Charity stopped singing her song and in a fluid motion used her magic to send three tigers flying through the air. "Mother always said I was sweeping the boys off their feet," she said with a chuckle.
"Wait a minute, that sounds like..."
The mare with the knives hidden in her tail made good use of them, letting them fly with a swish and sending 2 tigers to the ground, their dead eyes staring up at the ceiling. "Don't ya get all cocky now, Charity!" Acorn Jane said with a laugh. "Save that for Starburst!"
The two 'lovers' that Daring had noticed earlier pulled away from each other and, with a nod, went on the attack. Starburst Eclipse blasted 5 tigers with her magic while Whisperwing, true to her name, merely spoke the word "Freeze" and all the tigers that had been caught in her gaze could do nothing but stand there like fools.
"Fluttershy...did you..."
"Aw, I want to play too!" The black earth pony said with a laugh. "Girls...go get'em!"
"Yes Coco Delight!" her hangers on said, leaping from the balcony and assaulting any tiger they could find, spinning and leaping about like ninjas.
"You did...oh Celestia you did!"
"Are you mad?"
"Mad?!? Mad is the exact opposite of what I am feeling! Keep talking!"
Daring grabbed the case and used it to strike Redclaw. "Too bad you lived up to my expectations, Reddy." Daring gave him a mock salute and dove away from the enraged tiger. "Girls."
"Daring, always a delight," Charity said with a roll of her eyes.
"Wow, you sure know how to throw a shindig Darey!' Coco giggled, taking a moment to grab a plate and send it flying like a ninja star.
"Well, I figured since we hadn't seen each other since college we should get together..." Daring said with a smirk.
"Most ponies have tea parties or brunch, Daring," Starburst reminded her. Whispermind merely nodded.
Daring rolled her eyes. "Come on, that is so boring! This is, like...20% cooler than a tea party."
"Only twenty?" Acorn Jane asked.
"Well, it would be 50% if I were the only one here...no offense."
"That is so Rainbow Dash! How did I not see this sooner?"
"Well, yea…I based Daring Do off Rainbow Dash because she is so amazing…then, after meeting the rest of you, I decided I wanted my friends to be in a story…Twilight...do you want me to stop so-"
"DON'T-YOU-DARE!"
"None taken," the one-eyed knife thrower snarked. She glanced around, realizing that while they had taken the early advantage, the Black Stripe Mafia was regrouping and soon the battle would turn in their favor. "Think we can get out of here?"
Daring grinned, reaching for the door they had been backed into. "Right, lets..." she jiggled the handle, only to find it locked. "Uh...give me a moment."
"You didn't check the door?" Starburst said, eyes slowly narrowing.
"Sure I did! Just...give me a moment."
"We don't have a moment, darlings!" Charity reminded them, nodding towards the advancing horde.
“Can you use your magic?” CoCo asked, watching as her girls led a fair number of the tigers out of the club.
Starburst focused on the lock, glowering. "It's been warded against spells.”
"Ponyfeathers!" Acorn Jane cursed.
"Hey!" The 6 mares turned to see the little pickpocket motioning for them to follow her behind the curtain on the main stage. "Come on!"
"Think we can trust her?" Acorn Jane asked. One of her own knives came whizzing over her head, just missing her ears. "Never mind, just answered my own question!" The mares leapt onto the stage, darting behind the curtain to find the purple filly holding open a trap door.
"Come on!"
"Thanks Squirt," Daring said, grabbing the girl and tossing her onto her back as they darted down the secret passage. "You got a name, kiddo?"
"Tagalong!" the pegasus said happily, wings buzzing like a hummingbird's.
"Figures," Daring said.
~MC~MC~MC~
Twilight leaned in closer, eyes wide. "Well? Did they escape? Is Rainbow Dash going to adopt Scoota...I mean is Daring Do going to adopt Tagalong?”
“I…I don’t know. That’s as far as I’ve gotten. I usually don’t plot out the books too far…makes it more organic-“
“I can’t believe this,” Twilight squealed, not paying attention to Fluttershy in the slightest. “My best friend writes Daring Do! She based Daring Do on one of our friends…I’m friends with the real Daring Do!” Twilight’s eyes took on an almost manic look. “And I am in Daring Do! Do I go on an adventure with her? Do we get the Cat’s Eye Diamond?”
“Uh…you know the character is only based on you…and you’re breathing kinda hard…”
Twilight wasn’t even paying attention to her. “I wonder if I’ll get a love interest…maybe that pilot from Daring Do and the Castle of Torment! But he sounded like a cheater…what if he cheats on me? Will Daring be mad if I drive him away…”
“Daring isn’t real,” Fluttershy said as Twilight began to hyperventilate. “Twilight…Twilight?”
The unicorn’s eyes rolled back into her head and she fell back against the mattress.
“Twilight!” Fluttershy leapt onto the bed, panicking when she saw that the unicorn was out cold. Fear caused her to be unable to focus and she reacted on instinct: she began to perform CPR. “Come on…come on!” Fluttershy whimpered, leaning down and breathing into her friend’s mouth…
“Ok Twilight,” Spike said, emerging from the bathroom, “I think I’m all cleaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
Twilight, awoken by Spike’s scream, looking up to find Fluttershy giving her a deep kiss (or that’s how it looked to her). “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!” Fluttershy screamed.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!” All three howled.
“Fluttershy, it’s me, Mrs. Cake! I was bringing your donut order and I heard screaming…” Mrs. Cake blinked at the sight of Fluttershy straddling Twilight while Spike watched. “…Rainbow Dash is going to be so upset when she finds out you were cheating on her!”
The baker stomped out, leaving the three friends to stare at each other…and begin screaming again.