//------------------------------// // Letter Two - Daring Don't // Story: Letters From a Princess // by Littlecolt //------------------------------// Dear Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, Sorry I didn't immediately write you back after getting your last letter. You know me, I can be a bit scatterbrained at times. The journal that you and Princess Luna wrote in has been left in the castle right where we found it. Also, I would be happy to write to Princess Luna as well! (As you can see from the first line of this letter.) I was overjoyed when I received your response to my previous letter. I should have known better than to think you would be troubled by my writing to you, but you know how much of a worry-wart I can be. As mentioned, of course you may share my letters with Princess Luna. In fact, I would love you to! I’ve always wanted to get to know her better, so Princess Luna, if you’re reading this, hello! I hope you’re having a wonderful day or night! Speaking of days, though, mine was not so wonderful today. I happened to meet a pony who is somewhat of a celebrity, and yet also rather reclusive. As somepony who appreciates her private time, I can fully understand that! Anyway, the pony in question was one A. K. Yearling, author of the popular Daring Do series of books. It was recently announced that the next book in the series had been delayed, and that news hit Rainbow Dash sort of hard. I turned her on to the series back when she was injured in the hospital. It was the first fiction series she’d ever read, so I can understand being so attached to it, but she took it to new levels today, and sadly, I was an accomplice. Rainbow decided that she wanted to make it her personal mission to go and meet Ms. Yearling in person and see why the book had been delayed. She wanted to do anything in her power to help Ms. Yearling so she could write the book. Her heart was in the right place… well, mostly in the right place, but it was honestly none of her business why the book had been delayed. I fell right into line with her, too. Maybe it was the fact that I was a fan of the series as well. I researched and found out where A. K. Yearling lived. I’m sort of ashamed of that fact. As you know, my mother is also an author, and she has connections to Yearling, so I used her to get the information. Not very princess-like, don’t you think? It was really sneaky of me, and I feel so bad about it. I should write her a letter and apologize as well. In any case, we tracked down A. K. Yearling and made a rather surprising discovery. You can’t tell anypony else, but did you know that Yearling actually is Daring Do? In the flesh! She’s real, and she really does go on adventures! After we so rudely invaded her privacy, no doubt bothering her while she was focused on something far more important than her next book, she was attacked and kidnapped! Looking back on it, we should have helped her out a lot sooner than we did, but we were all just so awestruck, we couldn’t move. In the end, the villainous Ahuizotl’s plot was stopped thanks to Daring Do and Rainbow Dash. We helped as well, but it was mostly those two. Rainbow Dash was finally able to make friends with one of her heroes, it just took a little time and a world-threatening plan to thwart. As well as things turned out in the end, I still have some unanswered questions. Was anypony else aware of Ahuizotl’s existence? Were you? If so, you never told us that there was a threat to Equestria like him just roaming around wreaking havoc. In fact, outside of the Daring Do books, I’d never heard of him at all, nor of the magical ruins he nearly used to cause so much suffering. That question aside, this situation made me think of something else, too. What if now that I’m a princess, I’ll be faced with ponies trying to invade my privacy? I wouldn’t appreciate it very much, and yet I took part in doing that very thing to somepony else. Regardless of the outcome, it was wrong. It makes me nervous, maybe a little paranoid, that someone could be snooping around the library right now, staring into my window or following me everywhere I go. I’m sure I’ll get past the uneasiness. I know my friends will help me through it. I know you will, too. Your faithful friend, Twilight Sparkle Dearest Twilight, You're still so formal! We shall have to get you out of that habit. You can just call me Celestia. In fact, I insist that you do, at least in these letters. There is no need to use titles between the two of us, right? So, you met Daring Do, did you? I am glad to hear she is doing well, although still mixed up in the same trouble as always. When I heard the latest book was delayed, I must admit, I was a bit worried, but not for the same reason as Rainbow Dash. You see, Daring Do is a close friend of mine, or rather, her mother was. I suppose Daring is more of an acquaintance than anything. Before the return of Nightmare Moon, we didn’t have you six wielding the Elements of Harmony. I had to make certain Equestria was defended in different ways. I’m sure you know by now that I cannot be everywhere all at once, and I have to call upon my friends and subjects to step up to the task of keeping this nation safe. In the case of A. K. Yearling, her mother was one such guardian of Equestria. Her mother is sadly no longer with us, but Daring Do continues to carry the torch, defending Equestria in her own way. I hope you understand, the reason I never mentioned any of this to you before was because I knew that Daring preferred to work alone. Her reasons for this may be due to everything she's gone through in her life, but I respect her decision. The Daring Do books are not only entertaining stories, they’re also her way of reporting what’s happened to me. In a way, they’re like your friendship letters were, but instead they are a letter to all of Equestria. With each publication, she is saying ‘I’m still here. I’m okay.’ So, even if she may seem a bit distant or reclusive, she really does care about everypony. She just doesn’t want the reality of the dangers she’s facing to scare the populace, and I can appreciate that. Of course, the money she makes from book sales allows her to live out where she does, so that’s a perk. You say Rainbow Dash made friends with her? I’m rather shocked, honestly, but I’m also glad. It’s good to hear that she’s allowed at least one pony into her heart, even just a little bit. There was a time shortly after the death of her mother when I had tried to comfort her. I invited her to the castle, and she accepted gracefully, but from the moment she arrived it became clear that she didn’t want or appreciate my affections. It felt so hopeless; I can’t tell you how bad I felt for the poor dear. She had nopony to turn to, and I thought that I would let her turn to me, but even that was not accepted. Perhaps I had felt that in my own loneliness, she might find a kindred spirit. Perhaps I was looking for such a kindred spirit, too. Alas, nothing came of it, and she returned home a few days later. When I saw the first Daring Do book hit the bookshelves the following year, I was awash with emotion. I was glad that somepony was carrying on her mother’s legacy, and not just anypony, but her own daughter. I was also deeply saddened, too. She was carrying on by herself, the death of her mother still a fresh wound. I was moved to tears. I knew she’d chosen her path on her own terms, and there wasn’t anything I could do but silently support her. I made sure to buy several copies of the book, distributing it to all the libraries in Canterlot personally. If you read a copy from one of the libraries in Canterlot as a child, it was likely one of the books that I purchased. Now, to answer your concerns about privacy, I’m afraid I can’t alleviate your fears much. As a princess, you will no doubt be faced by ponies who want to watch your every move. I believe Ponyville is a much better place for a princess to live than Canterlot, at least on that front, but who knows what might happen. You may even be faced with a crazy situation someday where a large group of school children are trying to follow you around everywhere. Time will tell, but I’m sure you don’t have that much to worry about. Me on the other hoof, I am not only a princess, but one of the two rulers of the nation, so the scrutiny to me is doubly so. Luna is actually having a lot of trouble adjusting, as well. As you know, she hasn’t been back for very long, and a lot has changed since she was gone. Perhaps she could offer you some insight. I will let her take over, here. GREETINGS PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE! IT IS I, PRINCESS LUNA! Did I trick you? Did you think I was going to keep writing in that fashion? Celestia has now fallen over on top her cushion and is laughing quite heartily! It would appear I should try my hoof at humor! Perhaps I shall ask Pinkie Pie for advice. On the subject of the public following you, watching your every move, sneaking in the shadows and stealing pieces of food that you drop on the ground, I can assure you it is all true! However, I have found that if one communicates with the peasants more frequently and in a friendly manner, that they feel less of a need to stalk you. I also learned recently that it is not right to command your royal guard company to confiscate a camera from another, even if the flashing light blinded you briefly and you felt dizzy. Do not try and use the dizziness as an excuse! Nopony will believe you! Celestia has now informed me that I should not refer to our subject as peasants. Perhaps I shall begin to use the word commoner. Okay, apparently that’s no good, either. I shall let you know when I have discovered the proper, politically correct term! Please continue to use whatever term you were previously using until then! Lastly, always remember to take the affections of the public in stride. I am told they mean you no malice, though I still have my suspicions. It may be wise to keep a guard with you, but at a distance, so as not to scare anypony. Perhaps since you interact with the citizens of Ponyville so intimately, you will not have such a problem with this. I pray that this advice has been helpful! Your Royal Highness, Princess Luna P.S. Sorry about the Royal Highness business! My sister said that I should write this post script. She has informed me that this is a casual, friendly letter! I do not understand, though. That is why I signed it “Your Royal Highness” rather than “Her Majesty and Princess of the Night”. All of these changes in formality are going to take some getting used to! P.P.S. It’s Celestia again. We look forward to your next letter, Twilight. Your Friend, Celestia