//------------------------------// // Doppelganger // Story: A Figment of Her Imagination // by PaulAsaran //------------------------------// Daring Do’s adventurer’s instinct was never wrong, and it once again had proven more than adequate for this latest ‘adventure’. The Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters was not up to snuff compared to many of the other dungeons and ruins and tombs she’d faced, but it served its purpose. Hidden passages, the occasional trap, general creepiness. She was satisfied, even if it wasn’t a challenge. So now she and Rainbow stood in a long hallway deep beneath the castle, on their way to the ancient royal vault. “Well, that wasn’t as hard as I’d expected,” Rainbow admitted as she hovered just behind Daring. “For a creepy old castle, it sure is lacking.” Daring Do rolled her eyes. “This castle was built as a home for the sisters Celestia and Luna. It wasn’t protecting some ancient superpowered relic or anything like that. It didn’t need outrageous traps.” “I guess that makes sense,” Rainbow replied with a chuckle. “I mean, who’d wanna live in a place that might end up killing ya? Talk about stressful.” Daring’s ears lowered, but she managed to keep her “Indeed” somewhat civil. In truth, Rainbow had been a decent help on this little sojourn. She didn’t get in the way, and she even spotted a few things before Daring did. Still, her bubbly excitement for being on an adventure with her ‘hero’ was unnerving, and Daring couldn’t wait to be finished with this trip. Rainbow moved before Daring and flew backwards as she looked down at her. “So, what are we here for, anyway? I know you mentioned you wanted a jewel, for some reason. Is it something specific?” Daring nodded. “It's a historical fact that the Princess Celestia, about a century after she banished her sister, was gifted with a gemstone from the Mongols when she traveled to their lands to discuss trade. It was meant as a sign of their desire for peace. Called the Tear of Ay Dede, Celestia had it placed here, in honor of her sister. Of course, the peace ended several hundred years later in the War of the Nambu, when the tribes in the Far East became embroiled in horrible—” “Yeeeah.” Rainbow waved a hoof with a blush and a giggle. “I know all about it. No need for the history lesson!” Daring raised a skeptical eyebrow at her companion, but decided not to bother testing her. It would probably be a waste of breath. “Anyway, the gemstone was moved to the royal vault here, until such time as peace returned, but was ultimately forgotten when the castle was abandoned. Supposedly.” Rainbow, still flying backwards, tilted her head. “Supposedly?” Daring nodded. “It may have been moved without anypony knowing about it. There’s really no way to know until we get in there. Watch your head.” “For whaOW!” Rainbow cracked the back of her head against the stone frame of the vault door and dropped to her hooves. Daring ignored the cursing and pushed through the rotting doors, not minding the dust and crumbling wood. She entered the room, eyes roaming the gloom. Nothing. Empty shelves, busted chests, shattered antiques. The place had been ransacked. Rainbow stepped up beside her, nursing the back of her head. “Looks like somepony beat us to it ages ago.” “So it would seem,” Daring grumbled, entering the room. She kicked around some debris, but knew there was no point; everything of value was gone. The gemstone, too. So much for using her adventuring skills to secure a gift for Fluttershy. She bowed her head and sighed. If only she could have found it, and done one thing worthwhile in this real world… “Aww, don’t look so down,” Rainbow said, patting her on the shoulder. “Maybe there’s a hidden room or something. Ya never know! Just like in Daring Do and the Shimmering Song!” Yes, Daring remembered that adventure. Except she’d never really had it, had she? “I guess it’s worth a look,” she grumbled, though she didn’t move. “Yeah!” Rainbow flew a few circles around the room, examining the walls. “Ya gotta stay positive! That’s what you do, isn’t it? You never give up, so neither will I!” Daring was really getting tired of that positive attitude of hers. “It doesn’t always work like in the books, y’know. Don’t be disappointed if we don’t find anything.” Rainbow turned to her with a grin. “Oh, come on! Even if we don’t, we still had an adventure, right? That makes it all worthwhile. Isn’t the journey half the fun? You just wait!” She dropped to the floor by the wall and struck a proud pose. “In the end, you’ll feel happy you came, jewel or no jew—whoa!” The wall behind Rainbow spun about, and when it finished its turn she was nowhere to be seen. At the exact same time, the wall opposite where she’d been standing also turned, revealing something Daring never would have expected in any dungeon: an unfamiliar pony. Daring was in the air in an instant, alarm and caution hitting her at once as she faced the stranger. “Who the buck are—” Her words caught in her throat when she got a good look at the pony, and when she did, she knew. Even though she’d never seen the pony before, she could feel the connection between them. “You… Y-you’re…” The pony, dressed in a purple shawl, grey cloche and red glasses, observed Daring with sharp red eyes. “So… You can tell.” Daring landed on her haunches, eyes wide as saucers. “A.K. Yearling?” Yearling adjusted her glasses, the epitome of calm and control. “Yes, Daring, it’s me. When I heard that Princess Twilight had made you, I had to investigate. Of course.” In the name of Ra, this was the pony who’d conceived her! Daring didn’t understand why, but this simple-looking mare… scared her. How many ponies could legitimately claim to have met their creator? She didn’t relish the concept; she felt as if her very brief life was about to face judgment. She shook herself and fought to regain her posture. “W-what are you doing way out here?” Yearling smiled and began to walk slow circles around Daring, eyes roaming her body. “I knew you’d want to go on at least one adventure, and this was the only place close enough. There’s nothing you might find here, except perhaps the Tear of Ay Dede. So I came and waited, and right on time too – you only kept me waiting a day.” Daring stood, anger slipping into her fretful mind. “Stop talking like you know everything about me. And bring Rainbow back!” Yearling rolled her eyes and sat before Daring. “Please, you think she’s hurt? When I leave – the same way I showed up – she’ll be deposited right back here, and you two can continue your little ‘adventure’ if you’d like. I just wanted to talk to you alone.” Daring glowered at her ‘creator’. “Well then, do I live up to your expectations?” Yearling raised an eyebrow, her pause seeming to be merely for dramatic effect. “Well, it did take you a couple hours longer to solve this place’s mysteries than I expected, but you had that stupid blue pegasus in your way.” Daring stood and stomped her hoof. “Her name is Rainbow Dash. She happens to be a huge fan, in case you didn’t know. You should be more appreciative. Without ponies like her, you wouldn’t have a job!” “Maybe I should leave an autograph, someday.” By her air, Daring doubted Yearling had any intention of ever doing so. There was a long, uncomfortable pause as the two stared at one another. Daring, completely unprepared for this meeting, had no idea what to say. She shifted, sat back down, wondered about this strange encounter. It was Yearling who finally broke the silence. “I don’t like that somepony went and created you without permission.” Daring sneered. “What, like you own me?” Yearling nodded, tapping her head. “Intellectual property. Besides, there’s not enough room for two Daring Dos in this world.” Daring sagged, unable to believe her ears. “What, two yous? Look at you!” She jumped up to hover before the writer, pointing an accusing hoof. “You think you’re anything like me? You’re a writer. Ya look like a secretary, for buck’s sake! I bet I’m nothing more than an escape for you, where you pretend you’re something better than you can ever be. But I’m real now, and you better come up with some other delusion to—” Yearling threw off her shawl, revealing a familiar green vest and a golden coat. She tossed aside her hat and glasses and spread wings, jumping up to hover at the same height as Daring. Daring’s words caught in her throat. Her wings froze and she hit the floor with a thud that echoed throughout the room and halls. She could only stare, mind numb at the sight of a pony who looked exactly like her in every possible way. “You… Y-you…” “That’s right,” Yearling declared with force, “I'm the real Daring Do!” Daring struggled to consider this news, her mind moving at about the pace of a slug drenched in cold molasses. She was finally able to work her lips, and after a time she even managed a few syllables. “S… S-so… The books are… They’re real?” The real Daring Do landed heavily before the fake one, expression stern. “So you tell me, Daring: how does it feel to know that there’s two of us wandering around Equestria?” Daring was too busy trying to grasp this new reality to properly answer. “That’s right,” the real Daring snapped, “It’s weird. It’s uncomfortable. It’s… unwelcome.” Daring’s mind finally snapped back into place. She stood to match her creator glare for glare. “Yeah, I don’t like it either. It’s… unnatural.” “No,” the real Daring replied, “you’re unnatural. You’re not supposed to exist.” Daring stepped up close, words laced with venom. “So what would you prefer, that I die?” The real Daring pursed her lips and sucked in a deep breath. “I’m not sure what I want done about you, but I don’t like it either way. What do you intend to do?” Daring stood proud. “I intend to live, whether you want me around or not.” The writer/adventurer turned her head to study Daring with a lone, critical eye. “And should the princesses decide that you aren’t really a living being?” “Then I’ll make Twilight fix it,” she shot back. “They might be princesses, but they don’t have the right to decide my fate like that! And neither do you.” The real Daring waved a dismissive hoof. “That’s an entirely different debate, one that I do not want to get involved in right now. Should you survive, then maybe, but that’s a big if. I know you, and I know you’re gonna do exactly what you say.” “Shut up!” Daring turned away with a huff. “I’m already sick of you acting like you know everything.” “When it comes to you, I do. Don’t you get it? We’re the same pony, from our memories to our thought processes. Would you think any differently if you were in my horseshoes?” No. To Daring’s horror, she realized that she would be just as upset. She tried to think of some sort of argument, one that would convince her. “You… You can’t condemn me for existing. It’s not like I had a choice!” The real Daring grabbed her such that they were face to face once more. “You have a choice. Those are my memories in your head, my pain, my hopes and dreams. They are what make me unique. They are important to me, and I do not want to share them! You’re a clone, a damn doppelganger, and what you have is mine. Mine, Daring!” Curse her. It was an argument so perfect, because Daring believed it. She would have said the exact same thing! Daring shoved the pony away with a snarl. “You can’t ask me to just throw my future away for you. I’m not the same! I have almost two week’s worth of memories and experiences that you and I don’t share. By that definition, you and I are no longer the same pony!” The real Daring paused and rubbed her chin. “That’s a decent point... but you still have everything in you that makes you me.” “No, I don’t.” Daring walked over to pick up the shawl that had been cast aside and display it to her creator. “I had no idea A.K. Yearling and Daring Do were one and the same. The only existence I know is that which was in the books. That means there’s a whole other half of your life that I know nothing about! We are not the same.” The real Daring came forward and took the shawl, studying it in her hooves with scrutiny. “Okay, another point in your favor. It still doesn’t sit well with me, though.” “I don’t like it, either,” Daring admitted, “but if you’re intending to do something about this, you know I will respond in kind. Which one of us do you think would win in a brawl?” The real Daring huffed a small laugh. “I never intended to fight you. Like I said, I just wanted to talk.” She put the shawl on, her wings hidden effectively beneath it. “But, for the record, I think right now it’s too close to call.” Daring watched as the pony went to pick up her hat and glasses, transforming back into A.K. Yearling. “If they do decide to try and keep me alive, what will you do?” “I will abide by the princesses’ decision,” Yearling said. “I’m not about to go arguing with royalty. Well, not good royalty, anyway.” She reached into her vest and produced something. “I believe you came here looking for this?” Daring’s eyes went wide; the Tear of Ay Dede. It was a night-blue gemstone, tiny flecks shimmering like stars in its tear-shaped surface. Yearling offered it, and she took it slowly, as if it were a newborn foal needing the utmost care. “Thank you. I was so afraid I wouldn’t be able to give it to Fluttershy.” Yearling’s eyebrows rose. “Fluttershy?” Daring pulled the gemstone close and stepped back, blushing. “She’s… somepony I met. In Ponyville.” Yearling eyed her, face unreadable. “You might be different, after all. Tell me, how important is this pony, to you?” “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Daring snapped, tucking the Tear inside her vest. “I see. That important, then.” Daring blushed, anger rising within her once more. “What’s it to you? I’m allowed to have a crush, aren’t I?” “Does she like you?” Daring took a step back, face burning. “I… I don’t know, okay? She might." Yearling locked her with a dark stare. “Be very careful with what you do, Daring. You might end up hurting her.” “What?” Daring shook her head, confusion mixing with her frustration. “Why would I hurt Fluttershy?” Yearling sighed and removed her glasses. “I have been around magic enough to have an idea of how it works, which is another thing you wouldn’t know about. Princess Twilight might be able to extend your stay, but a permanent version of the spell has to be years away, if not decades. You’ll have to come back, what, once a month? Just to stay alive. No room for error.” Daring didn’t like the sound of this, but it was a small price to pay for existence. “What’s your point?” Yearling sat, her expression as grim and focused as ever. “You’re an adventurer, Daring. I’m amazed you were able to stay put in Ponyville for as long as you have. You need to go exploring, and you will go someday. You won’t be able to resist the allure, the thrill of the journey, the exhilaration of the danger! So you’ll leave Ponyville, and leave Fluttershy and Twilight behind.” Daring sneered, but couldn’t deny that it made perfect sense. “It’s no big deal. I’ll just have to make sure I’m back in time for the recharge, that’s all.” “I don’t think you understand,” Yearling said. “No. Room. For. Error. None! You miss one recharge, and that’s it, you go poof, like you never existed. Even if Twilight were to create another you, it wouldn’t be the same, because all the memories and experiences you’d earned since being first created would be gone. You wouldn’t even know who Fluttershy is, much less your relationship with her.” Daring stood tall and leaned into the pony's face. “I won’t miss a recharge.” Yearling hit her, a whack right on the cheek. “Don’t be naïve! If you’re really Daring Do, then you know that at some point you’ll be on some extremely important quest where you have to make the decision to save the day or save yourself. When that day comes, you’ll choose to be the hero, because that’s what we do!” Daring stepped back, rubbing her cheek. “S-stop, that’s not—” “It is!” Yearling came forward, maintaining the close distance and her harsh glare. “You know it’s true! And what will happen to Fluttershy then? She won’t have a clue what happened to you, she’ll just know that you’re gone. Forever! Would you put her through that? Can you? We’re not infallible, Daring, and we do buck up.” Daring dropped to her haunches, still rubbing her cheek. Horror and loss were creeping into her mind. “But… B-but I like her. If you met her, you’d understand! How am I supposed to just ignore her?” “If you can’t,” Yearling replied as she turned away, “maybe it’s better you let the spell wear off. I guarantee you, Daring; getting into a romance – with Fluttershy or any pony – will only lead to tears. But they won’t be yours. You’ll be dead, or close enough to it.” Daring drooped, all anger washed away. She wanted to argue, to make some sound, perfect point to discredit what Yearling was saying. But that was just it: Yearling’s argument was exactly what Daring would have come up with. And she had no way to debate it. “It won’t be like that!” she cried as Yearling went to the wall from which she’d come. “I’ll do whatever I have to! Fluttershy is not going to suffer because of me.” Yearling glanced back at her, calm and patient. “Y’know, maybe you really aren’t me. If you were, you’d realize what you were saying doesn’t fit in with the reality of things. I’m not going to stop you. Do whatever you like, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Goodbye, Daring. I don’t think we’ll meet again.” She stomped a hoof, the wall turned and she was gone. The other wall rotated in the same instant, depositing Rainbow Dash face-first onto the hard stone floor. She climbed to her hooves, eyes spinning. “Ooowww… Daring? What just happened?” Daring wanted to fake confidence. She wanted to act as if nothing serious had just occurred and Rainbow had simply taken an odd tumble, but she couldn’t work up the energy. “Nothing.” She stood and trudged out the door, head low. “Not a damn thing.” Daring knew she’d not done a good job of handling Rainbow. She’d maintained a depressed mood all the way back to Ponyville, unable to get Yearling’s words out of her head. Rainbow had been worried, which was perfectly understandable, but Daring didn’t dare share what happened. She was able to convince her fan that she was just depressed because the exploration of the castle hadn’t been very fulfilling. Curious thing was, she’d completely forgotten that she’d been given the Tear of Ay Dede, so when she’d told Rainbow that the journey had been unsuccessful, she’d actually believed it at the time. It wasn’t until after Rainbow had finally left that Daring remembered the jewel in her vest. The sight of the Tear was encouraging, enough so that it gave Daring hope. She wanted to believe that Yearling was wrong. More than that, she wanted to prove it. So she did what she’d planned all along: she brought the Tear to the Carousel Boutique. The owner – one Rarity – was a close friend of Fluttershy’s and had a gift for design. She knew of Daring, having dabbled into her book series out of curiosity, but wasn’t necessarily what one might call a ‘fan.’ Even so, Daring’s appearance in Ponyville had inspired the fashionista to conceive a new ‘adventurer’ line of clothing, much to Daring’s chagrin. Daring commissioned a necklace from Rarity utilizing the Tear of Ay Dede. She had no bits with which to pay for such a job, though, so she was forced to do the only thing she could think of: she promised to model a few pieces from Rarity’s new line once they were finished. She wasn’t looking forward to that – fashion was about as appealing to Daring as walking on hot coals – but for Fluttershy, she took the deal. It was just past sundown when she finally trudged her way back to Fluttershy’s cottage. Lights glowed dimly from the windows, a bastion leading to safety. Yearling’s words still floated through her mind. What if trying backfired? What if she really was destined to disappear, regardless of what the princesses decided? She found herself sitting before the front door, shivering in the frigid air. It was as if entering that cottage was the hardest thing she’d ever done, and why? It wasn’t like she had to make the decision now, right? She shook herself, grimacing and trying to build up her courage. She was being ridiculous! She forced herself to her hooves and went inside, ready to face— “There you are!” Fluttershy was in her face in an instant, nearly making Daring step back out into the snow. “I was so worried, I thought maybe something had happened to you.” Daring could only stare as Fluttershy pulled her inside, slammed the door and began to study her from all angles. “You were... worried about me?” “Of course I was.” Fluttershy stepped back with a hoof over her heart, breathing a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad you’re okay. The Everfree Forest is dangerous enough on its own, but you went to that terrible, scary castle! Who knows what might have happened? It’s so—” she dropped to a fearful stance, “—creepy.” Daring was touched; Fluttershy had been genuinely worried about her! It made her feel justified in her feelings, and her intentions. She offered a calm smile as she said, “I’m okay, so you don’t have to worry anymore.” “So you say,” Fluttershy replied, frowning. “What about the next time you go off on some adventure? I’ll be on pins and needles the entire time!” But then her unpleasant look faded to curiosity. “Did you find what you were looking for?” Daring grinned. “As a matter of fact, I did! I already gave it to Rarity.” Fluttershy blinked. “Rare… Rarity? W-why would you give it to her?” She was hiding behind her mane again, which made Daring nervous. “I wanted it set,” the story-born adventurer explained. “It’s a prize, and it needs to be properly… displayed. Your friend Rarity can do that for me.” She frowned and glanced back at the door, as if afraid the fashion designer might be right behind her. “But boy, was the price steep. At least I don’t have to worry about becoming a model for her on a regular basis.” Fluttershy giggled. “I find it hard to believe that you would agree to model for anything.” “Well, I did.” Daring took a moment to eye her host’s figure before adding, “I think it’ll be worth it.” “I hope so,” Fluttershy replied. “But please, don’t worry me like that. I don’t want anything to happen, you know?” Her words struck Daring, reminding her of Yearling. What if something bad did happen? She wanted to thrust the thoughts back, but they were there and they didn’t want to go away. Even so, as she stared at Fluttershy, she had a sudden urge to confess her attraction. To let it out and be damned with the consequences! Yet the risks involved… It wasn’t a decision she could make so easily. Maybe, if she could just gauge Fluttershy’s opinion… “C-can I ask you a question?” Fluttershy had half-turned away, but paused to smile at her guest. “Of course!” Daring sat, trying to think of how to word her thoughts without giving anything away. It wasn’t easy. But then, Fluttershy had no idea, right? So if she just played her cards right… “If you… If you had only so much time left, and you didn’t know if you could be saved…” She rubbed the back of her head, fighting to figure out the right words. “If… If you had a reason to stay… a really good reason, but there were a lot of risks—” “Stay.” Daring blinked, her train of thought completely derailed. She gazed at Fluttershy, who was now facing her directly with a somber, serious manner. “Y… You didn’t let me finish.” Then Fluttershy stepped forward and rested her head on Daring’s shoulder. “Stay with me.” Daring had dodged cutthroats, tricked monsters and dueled demigods without batting an eye, all while maintaining a cool, focused head. Right now? Her mind was frozen. Her lips worked, but no sound would come out of her throat. Surely she hadn’t just heard that… “I noticed,” the beautiful mare whispered, nuzzling Daring’s neck with all the gentleness of a dove. “You were trying to hide it, but I noticed. And I know you’re scared, because you don’t know what’s coming. So let me be the one to make the decision. Stay, Daring. Please…” Daring did what came naturally: she grabbed Fluttershy and held her close. For a few quiet seconds they held on, Fluttershy’s heart thumping against Daring’s own quiet chest. “H-how long have you known?” “Since the train ride home,” Fluttershy confessed. “You were… obvious.” Daring took a step back to look into Fluttershy’s eyes, noting how she was blushing wildly. “Then why didn’t you say anything?” Fluttershy smiled and averted her gaze. “Why didn’t you?” Daring grinned and rubbed the back of her head, face burning, but she sobered very quickly. “I… Are you sure about this? What if I… y’know… don’t make it?” “You let me worry about that,” Fluttershy declared. “It’s my risk to take.” Once again, Daring was forced to reconsider her view towards her host. She felt so… light. She smiled softly as she said, “I thought you were supposed to be the cowardly one?” “Oh, I am,” Fluttershy countered with complete seriousness. “I’m afraid of many, many things! But I feel safe when you’re around. And happy, and—” Daring cut her off with a kiss, which felt so good it left her seeing stars... and her wings wide open.