Daring Do and the Night Shifter

by Derpyx0

Family Ties

The night of their ''warm" welcome from the Tribe of Tall Mountains, Daring Do snuck out of her leaf and hay bed to get some fresh air. She sat next to a small pond of water, just outside the tribe's walls. Even though the tribe leader, Bear, had let them stay the night, she still could not trust him. I mean, why was his cutie mark covered in blue paint? She thought. Maybe his special talent was painting?........ No, she didn't think so. All of the other ponies in the tribe had something covering their cutie mark too. Daring Do looked into the small pond and sighed. Everything was so confusing!
Daring noticed the water in the pond glistening in the moonlight, and heard a few cattails whistling in the shallow wind.
She heard hoof steps approaching her her. She stiffened. She wasn't supposed to be out here this late at night. Right before she could sprint off and hide, she heard a voice say, ''What are you doing out here on a cold night like this?" She turned around to find Spark staring at her.
''I was about to ask you the same thing," Spark laughed a little, then he smiled.
"Well, sometimes I like breath in fresh air when things..... get confusing. To help clear my mind. I mean, none of this makes any sense! We're supposed to be protecting a key from robbers, and we don't know who is trying to steal it in the first place!" Spark ranted.
"Yeah, I normally talk to my mom about confusing things......" Daring trailed off as she stomped at the ground with her hoof. "I... well, ever since she disappeared, I have had to deal with my own problems. I found that a breath of fresh air really helps to clear my mind." There was an awkward silence. Spark looked at the ground, and when Daring glanced at him, he looked... embarrassed. Daring felt bad. She... she didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, Spark. I shouldn't have made you-"
"No, Daring, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up your mom. I... I know you don't like to talk about her," Spark mumbled. There was another awkward silence, and finally Spark said, "I think I better get back inside. We should get some sleep," Spark started walking away from Daring Do and the pond.
He jumped when he heard Daring cry out "Wait!" He hurried back to her.
"What? Daring? Are- are you ok?" he asked with a concerned expression on his face.
"No.... I'm fine... I just... no, I shouldn't ask, it... I- Sorry I startled you Spark," Daring stuttered.
"Daring, if, if something is bothering you, you can tell me," Spark assured.
He waited for Daring to respond, and after about a minute, she blurted out, "Do you have a family?" Spark was surprised. Then, he looked angry, but that look was quickly replaced by a confused look, and then a sad one. It was if Daring Do was seeing all the negative emotions you could think of appearing then disappearing on Spark's face. Finally, he sighed with a look of defeat and sorrow. "I'm sorry, Spark! I didn't mean-" Daring cried out. She didn't want to make her friend miserable! She didn't want to make him angry! She didn't want to- Daring was cut off by a sigh.
"Well, you told me about your mom, so..... I better tell you about my parents.
''I don't remember my parents. They left me at the doorstep of Hoofstep Orphanage when I was just a little colt. I was bullied, and the owners of the orphanage were really mean. I met a few kids who were nice, and we all hung out. We were less vulnerable as a group, and I was nominated as the group's leader.
"Eventually, all the boys were adopted, except me. I was a troublemaker, for I was the pony who always got in trouble for our little pranks. Nopony wanted a son who was a troublemaker.
"Bullies started picking on me again because I no longer had a group, and I was vulnerable. When I was about 11, I ran away. I lived on the streets 'till I was about 16. Then I got a job.
"It was a job that didn't pay well, that was for sure. I got about 20 bits a week. I finally got enough to rent out a cruddy apartment. Soon after that, I had a lucky break.
"I found a poor mutt wandering the streets, and went looking for his owner. I barely had enough to feed me, let alone a dog. I saw a hoofmade poster that said:

"It was the exact dog I had found on my doorstep! I called the number and went to the address the pony on the phone told me to go to. Turns out, the dog belonged to this rich little filly named Silver Spoon. She was so happy to have her puppy back, and I was happy for that reward money. I got featured in the Ponyville Express and finally had enough money to pay off my rent! I got the nickname, Night Shifter, after doing some good deeds at night, and I was the only pony who knew I was the Night Shifter! That name actually means more than just doing good deeds at night, though. They called me the Night "Shifter" because of my shape shifting powers! Then, well, I met you and, well, now we're here!" Daring blinked and Spark blushed. "Oh, right, I was just telling you about my family.. So, I never knew my parents."
"Oh," Daring Do replied.
There was silence. Spark nervously yawned. ''Its getting late,'' he said. ''Time to turn in for the night! Goodnight, Daring,'' Spark said as he got up and walked towards the tribe's boundaries.
''You coming?'' he asked when he realized he only heard one set of hoofsteps, not two.
''Yeah, I'll catch up with you. See you in the morning,'' Daring Do replied, not once taking her eyes off her reflection on the pond's water.
''I....... I just need to search for my adventure," Daring muttered in reply. With that, Spark walked off, pondering the confusing words Daring just said.