As the sun began to rise in the kingdom of Equestria, all of the ponies in the town of Ponyville were asleep. Except for little Zap, who had gotten up extra early to train with her mother Rainbow Dash to become the first earth pony Wonderbolt.
Dash had set up an obstacle course (or as others may call it, a combination of a rodeo and a Wonderbolts training)
"Move, move, move, Squirt! Do you want older ponies to kick your flanks, or do you want to leave em laying in the dust? Move move move!"
In a blur, Zap jumped over all the obstacles as fast as her tiny legs could carry her.
"Wow! I'm going to be a Wonderbolt in no time!"
"Haha! You got it! Keep it up! I'll get us both a drink." Rainbow praised the green filly proudly.
"You got it, mama!"
While Zap ran faster, she barely managed to jump over the hurdles, since they were meant for grown ponies rather than young foals. When Zap jumped over it, she accidentally knocked it over, causing her to stumble.
"Ngh! Oh, pony feathers!"
"She's doin' pretty good Dash... but maybe use the smaller hurdles next time otherwise she's gonna hurt herself" Applejack scolded Rainbow Dash quietly whilst making them all pancakes after training was over.
"I didn't have a chance okay... She was the one who told me to hurry up haha, and anyway she's fine."
Rainbow Dash assured her partner confidently "that kids Wonderbolt material AJ trust me on this... nothing is gonna happen!"
A few moments later just after Rainbow had said this they heard a scream coming from the obstacle course. A look of panic flooded the two mares' faces.
"Is she Dash! Is she?"
Both ponies ran outside as fast as they could to their daughter "Zap!" Applejack called racing faster "what happened!"
"Ow! I tried to jump the last hurdle, and I didn't make it... I didn't jump high enough and I failed."
"The hurdles were too high or the jump wasn't high enough..."
Sadly, Dash landed next to Applejack, "Zap, that doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is if you are okay".
"Let's get you inside and cleaned up... That should be enough training today, Sugarcube."
Trying to stand, Zap knocked away her mother's hoof in her attempt. "No! I'm fine." Zap replied.
Rainbow watched, her instincts quickly taking over. "You're not fine, Zap! Look at you... you grazed your leg... you can't be as strong as you are if you're injured," she said sighing.
"Let's get you inside and cleaned up so you can rest for a couple of days..."
While Applejack picked Zap up, placing her onto her back and laughing softly, Zap whined, "A few days! Maybe it is a few months or years!"
"She sounds exactly like you, RD. Remember when you said that?"
"Aha, do we need to tell her about that day, Applejack?"
Applejack arranged Zap on the sofa with a blanket and a plushie that she had made for her from the Wonderbolts, and Zap asked curiously, "What day? What happened?"
"In the days before Twilight became a princess and before you and the girls were even born, Rainbow Dash got into an accident."
"You did? How did you do it?"
"I was trying a new trick, it didn't work out as planned, and I ended up in Ponyville hospital with a damaged wing"
Zap winced slightly at this. "Was it bad?" she asked looking at her leg, trying to hold back her tears.
As Dash explained to the young filly, Applejack continued making pancakes as Dash sat next to her. "I was in a few days like you are, I promise you'll be fine. When I was hurt I did something I never thought I'd do" Dash said as she patted the filly on the head as she walked.
"A book?"
"I think you may enjoy it also," she says, passing Zap a book that read 'Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue!' "That was the first book I read in the series. I think Twilight has them all.
"But I'm not a reader... do Wonderbolts have to read?"
"You have to read something at some point, not just Wonderbolts. So just stop fussing and chow down, then get some rest and you should be feeling fine in no time."
As Rainbow Dash smiled at her daughter, she pushed the filly's mane out of her eyes for a moment, saying "Hey kid while you rest, I'm gonna run for a bit, and when I come back, you're gonna get quite a surprise."
"A surprise from Wonderbolts?
"Not exactly but I have a feeling you'll like them... now sleep or your surprise is over"
Trying to prevent further injury to her leg, Zap carefully curled up on the sofa and smiled eagerly.
"What's your plan, Dash?" AJ asked, looking at the two mares walking outside to catch up on their latest plans. "She's already met the Wonderbolt team... at least the newer team."
"There's another pony you already know besides the Wonderbolts - she's adventurous and unstoppable! And for once, I'm not talking about me, haha!"
"For Celestia's sake, RD, you can't go out at the same time! There's no one to look after Zap, Big Mac and Sugar Belle are at the fair in Appleosa, and the Crusaders are doing their thing."
"It's fine, and anyway, there's no need to go out."
"It seems harmless, but it should be checked just in case. She seemed very hurt earlier, but like the girls, she usually has a way of hiding her pain."
Dash sighed thoughtfully thinking for a moment before answering: "she's a tough kid, so I see your point."
What if I grabbed the items we needed while I was getting the surprise?"
"Dash!-"
"Hmm, why don't we ask Twilight or something, or leave her here by herself!"
"I remember when my sister was all alone! How long will you be?"
"Uh hello you're talking to one of the fastest ponies in Equestria, I shouldn't be too long"
Applejack sighed after hesitating for a second "okay, okay... I suppose I can trust her being alone for a few moments whilst I go to the store... now you better not be too- and she's gone" AJ watched as Rainbow flew off before she could finish her sentence then trotted over to the sleepy filly.
"Hey sugarcube wake up a second"
"Hm?"
The only thing I need from the store is something for your leg. Can you handle it by yourself?"
Zap, nuzzling Applejack gently, nodded sleepily while smiling
"That's my brave girl,' she replied.
Following a gentle ruffle of Zap's mane, Applejack made her way into town to buy supplies.
As Applejack and Rainbow Dash returned to the farm, they saw Zap fast asleep in bed with her plushie.
"Awww, she must have been tired after all."
"She won't be asleep for long when she realises she has a visitor.
In Rainbow Dash's words, a light gold mare joined them. She wore a grey hat, red glasses and a purple cape.
Applejack was in slight surprise as she looked at A.K Yearling, the writer of the Daring Do books who was also Daring Do. She then smiled "what the hay are you up to Dash?"
"Zap must secretly be a fan of Daring Do... I've found her up reading at one in the morning then she acts like she doesn't like reading... do I know my kid or what?"
A.K. had multiple grey-toned mane and magenta eyes. Her cutie mark was a safari compass.
Zap began to stir in sleep eventually waking up to see Daring Do standing next to her parents in the living room. Once she realised who it was she gasped excitedly jumping off the sofa, wincing from her leg.
"Ow! But how why huh!?" Dash laughed slightly at the filly's reaction.
"Wonderbolts don't need to read huh?"
"Wait you knew this whole time?"
"Of course I did, Zap you stay up all night reading a whole book of Daring Do then ask me for the next one in the series the very next day. And by lunch you're halfway through, you're almost as fast as Twilight! But that isn't a bad thing you know squirt!"
Zap looked at her mother then at Daring Do who stood patiently for her. The green filly shyly trotted towards her.
"Wait for it" Dash spoke silently
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!"
Daring laughed after the young pony had calmed down
"Heard you're fast I would say do you wanna race but it seems you're hurt, so Dash has asked me to take you for a fly. A personal adventure-cation let's say it like that"
"Really?" Zap looked over at Rainbow excitedly
"Of course! You've been working hard to become a Wonderbolt as well as helping with harvest... take a break kid. But first, we're sorting your leg out, oh and Zap next time you wanna keep your love of reading a secret... maybe don't do a Daring Do line next time"
"Oh, ha right... Was it that what gave it away?"
"More or less yeah"
"Now go on and have fun but be careful."
"Don't worry Applejack we'll be fine!"
"Woo-hoo! let's find Auizotal and kick his flank!"
Daring looked over at AJ and RD as Zap said this
"Just roll with it"
And with that Zap held onto Daring back as they both flew off to the rainforest to have an adventure together.