“Bwah! Snakes!” Cried Daring Do as she sat up in bed. “Bed?” she thought confused as she looked around, her head throbbed terribly. Canterlot Hospital, Daring Do realised as she went to the window to let some fresh air in. It didn’t help her head at all.
A stallion in a medical coat came into Daring Do’s room “Ah you are awake? Good morning Dr. Do I am Doctor Ray!” He said adjusting his glasses. “Still having trouble with those snakes eh? You’ve been muttering about snakes through out the entire night, had to move you here as you were keeping some patients awake!” he smiled as he took a clip board off the bottom of the bed.
The Doctor hummed, and Daring Do stared out the window. “Ah! Yeas don’t worry, only head injury.” The Doctor said as he smiled. Daring Do’s head felt like a herd of buffalo run through it and the doctor was not helping her mood. It got worse as his eyes widened. “Dr. Do, I must be mistaken, but apparently your last check up was three years ago?!” The doctor asked as he looked up from the medical notes.
Daring Do sighed. “Yes, that’s true…I don’t agree with hospitals.” She grumbled as she lay back on the bed. “Just tell me when I can go. Please?” Daring Do gave a pleading look.
The Doctor pulled a face. “Originally it was only going to be until the end of the day, but I can’t let you leave until we give you your jabs, and then make sure all your medical information is up to date, that should only take about a week?” He said.
Daring Do gasped. “A week? A whole week! What the hay am I supposed to do for a week? Don’t you know I’m very busy? I cannot just sit here doing nothing!” She said annoyed, making her head throb even worse.
The Doctor gave a weak smile as Daring Do stared at him. “Don’t worry, we’ll do the best we can! I’ll contact Canterlot University to let them know you are here…Ah! I have today’s paper; I’ll leave it with you.” He said as he picked up The Celestial News and gave it to Daring Do. “Now I’ll contact the University and must get back to my rounds. I’ll get a nurse to visit you later! Goodbye for now!” He gave a quick smile and closed the door behind him.
The door closing sounded like lightning striking, Daring Do rubbed her eyes and groaned. Someone must have struck her really heavy across the head! She decided to read the paper. She idly flicked through until one picture made her eyes go wide in suprise. The two ponies that had assaulted her, sitting rather confused in a rubbish dumb! She read the article: -
Mystery of the night: Ponies found at local dump site!
Two ponies were found today at the rubbish dump, with no clue of how they got there. “Well I opened up this morning, and well, there they were! Just sittin there on top of the heap! Let me tell you: not half did they stink!” Said Mr Tip, owner of the rubbish dump. Guards are currently looking for any eye witnesses, as both ponies have so far only spoken complete nonsense. The two ponies are under protection, and have been given a bath. “We hope that not only will this will bring them to their senses, but also try and remove the smell of rubbish from their coats.” Said a guard, who was first on the scene when Mr Tip reported the incident. Both ponies are strong build and appear to have been in a brawl, one has a white body with short blond mane and tail with a bucket as a cutie mark. The other has a grey body with short light blue mane and tail with three nails as a cutie mark. If either of these ponies are known to you, please notify the guards, so then they can get them home safe.
“Well there you are then…it’s a relief they are okay I guess, at least I know who they were too, it was so dark to see who they were. But Mr Corn must have wiped their memory with a spell so they couldn’t say what they had done! That’s very clever…” thought Daring Doo.
She heard the door open and looked up as a Nurse came in. “Hullo Dr. Do! Doctor Ray has just told me Headmaster Dean will be visiting you this afternoon, in the meantime can I get you anything?” She asked.
Daring Do gave a thought. “Actually if I’m here for a week I think I’ll send a few messages to some friends…” she said.
The Nurse smiled “Well there is everything you need in this desk” she said going over to a corner desk and taking out a quill, ink well and paper. “Post is collected twice a day, although you have missed the first post. I’ll leave you to it.” The Nurse said as she waved goodbye and left the room.
Daring Do sat by the desk and started addressing letters, she needed to carefully plan her next moves, Mr Corn has a tremendous advantage. If she was going to be stuck in hospital for a week. Daring Do sighed and began to write.
~Later That Day~
“Stop fussing Dean, I’m fine!” Said Daring Do as Headmaster Dean fluffed Daring Doo’s pillow.
Dean, a grey old earth stallion who’s black mane was receding, and had a cutie mark of Canterlot University coat of Arm’s had heard Daring Do’s account of everything that had happened to her, took a step back and looked away, mumbling an apology before saying “But you should be resting, you are getting all worked up about this lost Crystal Cave business!”
Daring Do looked up from the map and gave Dean a look. “I’m stuck here for a week whilst the Doctor jabs me with needles and wait for paperwork to clear! Besides, I’m in here because of all this, so there is definitely something to it! Every pony has gone off the steep end, ten years ago some strange relics are found, and now not only Daisy Diggood, a smart archaeologist thinks that these are connected spiritually to the Diamond Dogs, but also Mr Corn fought hard and really believed these pieces from the Jastro dig as valuable…enough to break into Daisy’s apartment!” Daring Do said exasperated and collapsed on the bed. Dean offered her a cup of water which she gladly accepted.
“And darn near broke you Dr. Do! Honestly I worry that one day I’ll get a note saying you will no longer be able to teach as you have disappeared doing Celestia knows what! But…why is Mr Corn doing all this? They’re not much more than curiosities, unless of course he really does believe that the Crystal Caves exist? ” Dean said, trying to work out the mystery that was unfolding before him.
“The ponies doing the follow up work on those finds…shouldn’t we contact Jastro, and warn them?” Asked Dean.
Daring Do flashed a smile and produced several letters from the desk. “Way ahead of you, Dean! I’ve got a batch of letters already written, all I need now is to get them posted!” She said with enthusiasm, making Dean smile, he had suspected as much.
There was a knock at the door, and Daring Do cringed expecting the nurse t o return with another giant needle. Instead, it was Weight Lift. “Professor, Are you okay?” he asked as he entered. “I got every pony in our class to sign you a get well card.” Weight Lift produced a hoof made card from his saddlebag and gave it to Daring Do. The Card had ‘Get Well Soon’ on it, inside it was full of student signatures.
Daring Do was taken back “Whoa… I’m touched, thank you! But your supposed to be at lectures, isn’t hoof ball practice today?” Daring Do asked as she kept the get well card close, Weight Lift looked down and muttered with a rather downcast look “I got permission…I just thought maybe I could help…”
Daring Do smiled, Weight Lift’s heart was certainly in the right place. She looked to Dean who, as if reading her mind gave a short, sharp nod. Daring Do beamed “Right! Well you’re a running back, aren’t you Weight Lift?” She asked as she pulled all the letters she had been writing, and Weight Lift nodded. “Perfect, you’re my leg pony! Get these posted pronto! All the money you need is in this envelope, including you’re lunch!” Daring Do thrust it all into Weight Lift’s bag, who just stared at her. “Well what are you waiting for? Hop to it!” She said, giving Weight Lift a start.
Daring Do and Dean watched him suddenly jump up and gallop off, and Daring Do gave a laugh as she heard Weight Lift say “Gosh…A gofer!” as he left the room. Dean gave her a hard look, making her say “What?” causing him to roll his eyes. She got up and went to the window. “You know Dean, I’m probably small enough to fit through this…” Daring Do said wit ha sly smile.
The Dean caught on immediately. “No, nope, not this time! Come on Dr. Do, for Celestia’s sake don’t do anything stupid!” He said, however he was no where near to prevent her doing anything, he flung the door wide and cried “NURSE! DOCTOR!” hoof fall came towards the room, Dean made way as several doctors and nurses charged into the room, only to find it completely empty. Before any doctor or nurse could ask, Dean said “Dr. Do has just left the building…I swear I’m going to MAKE her take her injections even if I have to SIT on her!”
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Daring Do’s head may have still hurt, but she was glad her wings didn’t. She glided down with ease, ran to Canterlot Railway Station and got on the first train north; she had a lot to discuss with Jastro. Founder of the Jastro Excavation, and the pony who found the very statuette Mr Corn had taken.
It was a sleeper train, as it went right across Equestria. Daring Do’s stop was a good two days travel north, and she didn’t have that much money on her so only managed to get a bunk in third class carriage that was shared with twelve other ponies.
Daring Do actually preferred travelling that way, always new friends to meet and stories to hear. As per normal for third class, ever pony was really friendly and already were laughing, joking, and chatting between bunks as she entered the carriage. She decided at random and threw her bags in an empty bunk and flopped.
There was a young pony family, Mr and Miss Well across from Daring Do’s bunk, and their son Ink was in the bunk above hers. Never before had Daring Do met such a curious kid. After Daring Do had introduced herself to the family, the kid had asked “Why the silly hat?” causing them all to laugh.
“It’s not silly! I always wear it when I’m on an adventure!” Daring Do said defensively as the kid stared at her over the edge of his bunk into hers. Ink’s eyes lit up at the word ‘adventure’ and he gasped, causing his parents again to laugh.
“Would you like to wear it?” Asked Daring Do, who was instantly deafened by Ink’s “YEAH!” she handed him her trusty hat, which he plonked at an angle on his head as it was too big. “Mum! Dad! Look! I’m an explorer!” He said laughing. Mr, Miss Well and Daring Do laughed too.
“Why you look brilliant, my boy! And thanks Dr. Do for letting my son wear your hat, he is obsessed with going out exploring, you wouldn’t believe the amount of times he’s come home completely filthy!” said Mr Well with a laugh. “I’d really hate to put you on the spot like this but, if you don’t mind, could you share sharing a tale to us?”
Daring Do sat up, and saw that Ink was giving her a pleading look with big round eyes. She grinned “Well, let me tell you the time I recovered the Sapphire Stone, if you haven’t been to the Canterlot Museum. Go. The Curator there was extremely pleased to add it to their collection! Anyway, I was lost in the jungle, with my wing broken, and I heard the roar of the big cats that were closing in on me…” Daring Do said and launched into the full tale. Only excluding Ahuitzotle, as no one knew of him, or his plan to take over Equestria using ancient and powerful artefacts.
To his merit, Ink Well and family were a good audience, gasping at the right moments and cheering when she escaped the tomb. By the time she had finised the story it had become Luna’s night. “Wow you are so awesome!” Said Ink, giving Daring Do her hat back. “I bet ponies would love to hear all about your amazing tales, have you ever thought of getting your adventures published?” Ink continued, attempting to badly hide a yawn.
“My goodness it’s late! You should be in bed little Ink!” said Miss Well, and when Ink looked like he was going to complain, Miss Well said “Now come on dear, Dr. Do was kind enough to give you a bed time story, I don’t want to hear any moans. Besides, we’re off tomorrow on our own adventure, you want to be wide awake so you can tell your granny all about who you met on the train don’t you?”
Ink sighed and said “I guess…Thanks Dr. Do for the story, night mum! Night dad!” before turning off his light and pulling the curtains across his bunk after both Mr and Miss well said “Night!” back.
“Nice kid.” Whispered Daring Do. And both Mr and Miss Well gave a smile and nod in thanks. “Well we best be off to sleep too Dr. Do, thank you kindly for sharing your story with us.” Said Mr Well.
Miss Well said “Yes thank you, from all of us, good night Dr. Do, we’ll be off early so probably won’t get to say goodbye…shame, Ink Well really like you!” Daring Do nodded in agreement, and then as a spur of the moment, pulled out some ink, a quill and a scroll.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ll write my address and then we can keep in contact, I can send him more stories that way, how does that sound?” Daring Do said, passing the scroll over, to Mr Well who looked stunned.
“Really? Why, thank you that is awful nice of you, we’ll be sure to keep in contact, well we’ll be off to bed, we got a long day tomorrow.” Said Mr Well, who shook Daring Do’s hoof.
They said their good byes and good nights, and Daring Do was thanked again by Mr and Miss Well, before they both turned their lights out and drew their curtains.
Darind Do decided she would get some rest too, and did the same, she lay for a while smiling thinking over Ink Well’s words. Maybe it would be good to write down her adventures.
~ To Be Continued ~