//------------------------------// // Bad Blood // Story: Daring Do and the Stigma of Fear // by Witchfinder General //------------------------------// Daring Do And The Stigma Of Fear Chapter 3: Bad Blood Rainbow won the race. Daring chalked her loss off as "being a little rusty," but assured her she would have her rematch as soon as she felt up to par. The three mares about town enjoyed lunch at a rather elegant restaurant that Twilight seemed to have known about during her previous time in Canterlot. Twilight was glad Daring had not further pressed upon the subject. She preferred the mare's relationship to be straightforward, with no unnecessary details released that could cause uneasiness between them. Even if they couldn't help her fear of life beyond that dirty apartment, Twilight and Rainbow would love to have Daring as a friend. The dirty apartment could be cleaned and refurbished and... reorganized. Thinking about the former archeologist spurred on another topic for Twilight: She was no therapist, nor a psychologist. It seems to have been straight luck that she diagnosed Daring's social phobia correctly and that she was making progress with her so easily. Outside on the first day, let alone eating with two other strange mares? It must not have been a severe case. Perhaps, Twilight thought, the disorder was a specific disorder rather than a general one. Twilight had not taken a major interest in psychology, but read a few books on the matter. Perhaps her phobia focused more on the law enforcement that had caused her so much suffering, or anything relating to the incident. She could worry about that later. Instead, she focused on Daring scarfing down her food as if she hadn't eaten a real meal in... ...oh, right. "How is it, Ms. Do?" Twilight asked once Daring swallowed her previous bite. "Good. Very good. A massive improvement over those lousy TV dinners." She took another bite, and complimented it with a sip of water. "You know I'm okay with you calling me 'Daring,' right? What I said before was just the panic talking." "I know, but there's no problem with being a little formal between each other. We've only known each other for barely a day." "On that note, I just want to... thank you for what you're doing. Like you said, we barely know each other and you're already trying to help me get my life back together." "We would've done it for anypony." said Rainbow. "You were awfully quick to trust us, though. I hope I can say this without giving you second thoughts, but shouldn't somepony with a social phobia be a little more reluctant to trusting strange ponies?" "I was wondering that myself, especially considering we broke into your apartment." Twilight gave Rainbow her second death glare of the day. "I couldn't tell you. Perhaps there's something about you two." Daring mused, playing with her food with a fork. "You're not like the picture I had in mind when I thought of ponies on the outside. You're... different. Maybe I'm just too trusting. That can be a good trait or a bad flaw. If you were different types of ponies who intended to use me for your own selfish purposes, my view of the world and its inhabitants would've been proven correct and I would've remained in that pit until the day I died." "The world is far less menacing than you think. It's true there are bad ponies, but there are also good ponies like us." "I know. I trust you. I don't know why but I do." She took another bite, then looked at Rainbow, doing a double take on finally seeing it. "Maybe it's because I feel like I'm looking in a mirror. Just how big a fan are you anyways?" Rainbow laughed. She had expected this to come up sooner or later. "Believe it or not I always looked like this. The reason I got into you in the first place is because you reminded me so much of me." "Aside from the... rainbow colors we could almost pass for sisters." Daring ran a hoof through Rainbow's rainbow mane. "Is it dyed or something?" Rainbow playfully swatted it away. "I chose the series because I knew she could relate to you." Twilight said, taking another bite of her meal. "I haven't been wrong about a book recommendation yet." "Think you can recommend me something?" Daring asked, remembering she finished her last book The Mare With The Dragon Tattoo more than 4 months ago. "Of course, but we can do that later. Right now, I wanna get you out and about as much as possible. With reasonable pacing, of course. Don't want you having another panic attack." "Yes, that was rather unpleasant. I think that was the first one I've had in- Oh, no." "Something wrong?" "It's him." "Hey, it's Fancypants!" Rainbow said, head already turned to find Daring's distress. "Hey, Fancy-" She was silenced by a hoof in mouth by Daring. Her attempt proved futile as the dapper stallion had indeed heard the call and saw the mares. With a smile, he walked over to them. Daring felt a crushing panic and, thinking on her hooves, grabbed a wide-brimmed hat worn by a nearby customer. Daring apologized to the mare before putting it on herself, covering her face from all eyes above. "Good day to you, Miss Sparkle and Miss Dash." "Hello, Fancypants." "Hey, FP." "It's been a while. When was the last time we spoke, if you'll pardon my asking?" "I think... the wedding." "Ah, yes. I remember you two had on the most outstanding dresses. Mazol Tov to your brother, Miss Sparkle. I've known Princess Mi Amore Cadenza since she was a filly, and your brother couldn't have asked for a better wife. You, yourself, couldn't have asked for a better sister-in-law." "I know. Thank you." "Who's your friend?" All eyes were on the covered face of Daring, who refused to even glance at them. Fancypants moved over to the mare. "Excuse me, miss?" The covered head turned away. Fancypants didn't strike the girls as persistent, but he seemed very determined to find Daring's currently hidden face by bombarding her with questions. Twilight looked at her rainbow-maned friend, who looked right back with a waiting look. Twilight knocked over a salt shaker that landed right next to Daring's hoof. It caught the attention of both Fancypants and the hidden Daring Do. "Oops, sorry. I'll get that." Rainbow said. "No, no allow me." Fancypants returned, bending down to pick up the shaker. Always the gentlecolt. Twilight thought. Fancypants bend down as far as his back could, which actually wasn't that far considering his pulled a muscle playing golf yesterday. Fortunately, the shaker hadn't broken open spilling its contents. He had it in his hoof when he heard a gasp above him. Glancing up he saw the startled face of a brown-coated mare with a scar over her right eye. The face ran through the archives that were his mind, and he pieced the face with a name: Daring Do, his former employee. "Daring?" The mare took off her hat, yet still refused to respond and turned away from him once he stood back up fully. "Daring? It's me, Fancy-" "Get away from me." Daring growled, still refusing to make eye contact. "I beg your pardon?" "I said, 'get the buck away from me,' you dirty jackal!" Daring screamed back, surprising the stallion, the mares sitting near her and a few other patrons nearby. Fancypants sported a look mirroring the mare's previous stunned one. "So... you do remember me?" He laughed nervously. "How could I forget you?" Daring's voice was laced with venom. She turned to the two mares next to her, each of whom was watching the event in front of them with piquing curiosity. "He's my former employer. He picked out my assignments, including the one that utterly condemned my life. I know you knew what would happen to me when you gave me that assignment! Bastard!" Daring had risen from her seat, closing in on a nervously backing away Fancypants like a feral cat on the hunt. "I'll see you pay for this! Death by rope or spending the rest of your miserable life in prison where some muscle-bound pony will make you his sweetheart! I'll have your head... your... your..." Her breathing intensified, but seemed more in control than the previous attack. "Daring, please... calm down." Twilight and her friend walked to each side of the fuming mare. "Listen, we know Fancypants. He would never do something like that to another pony." "Yeah. You're overreacting. Besides, how could he possibly plan all this out? You think he had over three years of your life planned out to the smallest detail?" "Daring," Fancypants chose to intervene with a calm, but still obviously shaken tone. "If my word means anything, I would never do that to anypony, especially you. You were my best employee. Do you honestly think me so criminal?" "I... I guess not." She went limp in her recent friend’s hooves, head facing the floor. "I'm sorry. I guess I just... paranoia. It's just paranoia." She glared at Fancypants. "I still don't trust you, though. Just because I barely remember the whole incident doesn't mean I forgot about you. Am I supposed to just believe you just picked out this expedition without even realizing that somehow my head would go on the chopping block? You aren't that nice a stallion." "I don't blame you. I'd be a little suspicious myself." Fancypants stood up fully, dusting himself off. "Perhaps as a show of trust, I'll invite you and your friends to a banquet I'm holding later tonight." He reached into his stylish coat and pulled out a sealed letter. Daring yanked it out of his hoof and ripped it open. Dust expunged from the envelope flew in her face and she coughed. "Sorry." Fancypants apologized. "I was just at the track. Lots of dust clouds kicked up." Daring read the letter. It was a formal invitation in gold cursive font in the seal of Fancypants' proverbial empire of business. Photo-copied. She recognized his hoofwriting. She had received it many times detailing her on assignments and expeditions. "That's Fancypants." She spoke after reading, then closing the classy letter. "Thinking he can buy his way to forgiveness." "Daring," Twilight spoke. "We can make this another lesson. Forgiveness of the ponies you think, but know didn't, cause you to be this way." "But that's the problem! How do I know if they really didn't?" "I can't tell you that. Trust your instinct." Daring said nothing. "When's the party?" Asked Rainbow Dash. The sun lowered slowly over the run-down apartment building until nightfall approached. The three mares entered to the apartment (much to Daring's relief) to ready themselves for the upcoming banquet (much to Daring's disdain). "A party? Why in Celestia's name am I going to a party? A party run by him?" "This party just fell into our laps. You seem to be making great progress, I wanna try this. It'll see where you stand in terms of being around other ponies other than ourselves on a less personal level. Plus, remember what I said about forgiveness? You seem to think he did it and that he's responsible for the way you are, despite the fact that he likely isn't, you should forgive him because [i[it's your own fault." "What did you just say?" Daring had not been paying total attention, but her mind clicked and anger brewed once she heard 'it's your own fault.' My fault? How is it my fault? I didn't do anything. He- "I said, 'You should forgive him.'" Nothing more was said after that. Daring wanted to push upon the subject even to clarify what she heard. The last thing she wanted, however, was to question her own sanity again. I'm doing so much better. I don't want to go through all that again. I'm a good pony. "Listen, I'm gonna run out and buy some food for you. You look like you could really use some." "What's that supposed to-?" "I mean, your kitchen is looking pretty barren." She waved a hoof at her unbearably small kitchen. The cabinets were open... and empty. "Oh. Of course. Use my bits." "Don't worry. I can buy it myself." "If you're doing all this, the least I can do is pay you back. Don't worry, I have plenty." Daring tossed a small bag of bits to Twilight, who put them in her saddlebag. "Take your time, Twi." Rainbow walked in from Daring's room. "Me and Daring can look through and see if you have any dresses to wear. Gotta make a good impression, after all." With that, Twilight left the two mares to themselves. "Oh, I'd like to leave an impression, all right. All over Fancypants' face." Rainbow was surprised at this crude remark. "I don't get it. If you aren't even sure he did it, why do you get so bent-out-of-shape about him?" Rainbow asked. "I never liked him. He's a slime ball, a scoundrel and a womanizer. He has that whore Fleur De Lis molest him in public, for Celestia's sake! Yesterday was the first day in who knows how long I saw him without her. I've always wanted to give him a class-5 bitching for everything that's wrong with him, but then I remembered he signed my paychecks." Daring complained as the two mares walked back into Daring's room. The room, along with the rest of the apartment was notably tidier. Twilight had said she spent the night before cleaning it. Daring, at first, had felt aggravated and violated. She scolded Twilight on being respectful to another pony's property. Then Twilight showed her the file cabinet full of her newspaper clippings and other cursed mementos. Daring had forgotten about her argument right then and there. The sound of closet opening tore Daring out of her recent memories. Rainbow was head first in her closet, scuffling through garments Daring hadn't worn since the last time she stepped out into society. Excluding today, of course. "Holy crap, it's dusty in here!" Rainbow coughed. "When was the last time you even opened this closet?" "Would you find use for anything other than casual wear if you locked yourself away for three years?" "Touché." Rainbow dug through, soon pulling out a red dress with a sparkling tail. "Here. It's the only dress I can find. The only other things you have are tuxedos." A chuckle escaped Rainbow's lips. "Tuxedos? It must be true that every mare with a short mane is a tomboy." "Or a fillyfooler." "Hey, I ain't no fillyfooter. Believe me, I'll be the first on to tell you that nothing feels better inside you than a stallion's-" "Okay, okay!" Daring threw a pillow a Rainbow, laughing. "I don't believe I'm ready for those kind of conversations... yet." "But I'm right, right?" "You bet your flank." "I'm glad we could come to an agreement. Now, if you want to wear a tux to the party I won't stop you. I never cared for wearing dresses myself-" The loud sound of something being torn called Rainbow to attention. She determined the source of the sound coming from Daring. "Daring. You all right?" Daring had a haunted look on her face, eyes wide as saucers. The dress she held was now almost in two. "Daring?" She waved a hoof in front of her face. "I'm going to a party..." She spoke, voice hollow. "Yep, you are. And you just ripped one of the few dresses you-" "I'm going to a party... even though I just stepped out of my apartment for the first time in three years less than two hours ago. I'm going to a party even though I have social anxiety disorder based around a social phobia I earned from being persecuted for the murder of five ponies." "Umm..." Rainbow droned out, not expecting this lucid outburst of realization and completely forgetting what she intended to say no less than seconds ago. "Well... when you put it that way..." "No. No, no, no, no. I'm not doing this. I can't. I'll die. I'll quite literally kill myself somehow. I don't know how but it'll be at that party. Heart attack, beaten up by angry, offended snobs, slipping and hitting my head on the buffet table; It doesn't matter how, but that party will be the death of me..." Ranting relating to these subject went on before Dash had decided she was going to lose it. "Daring, you're overreacting. There's no way any of that's gonna happen... that I know of. It's just a friendly gathering. Fancypants said so himself." "Why should I believe that son of a-" Come come to the Sabbath Down by the ruined bridge Witches and demons are coming Just follow the magic call Muffled singing pierced the air and interrupted the conversation of the two now-surprised ponies. "What the heck is that?" Asked Rainbow. "...My ringtone." She scurried about in search of her cellphony, which was ringing for the first time in months. She found in in the pocket of a coat she hadn't worn in a while as evidenced by how dusty it was in appearance. She blew off the likewise dust-covered phone and opened it. It read "Unknown Caller." "Who is it?" Asked Rainbow Dash in interest. "I... don't know. You answer it." "You really want me to go through your personal-" "I don't care about that. Just answer it!" "Okay! Geez." Pressing a button and putting the cellphony to her ear, she greeted with a polite but obviously curious tone. The voice that responded back was female, tomboyish like her own. "Hello, is Daring Do there? May I speak with her?" "Who is this?" "Spitfire. Of the Wonderbolts." Daring didn't know what to make of Rainbow's wide-eyed look of shock. "Spitfire?!" The rainbow pony exclaimed. "Spitfire?" The brownish pony also said in surprise, albeit much milder. "Yes. Spitfire. Who is this?" "Rainbow Dash. Remember, we met at the gala?" "Oh, yeah. The gala and that Cloudsdale water job, right? Didn't you do a sonic rainboom at that wedding, too?" "Yep, that was me. I also did a sonic rainboom at the Young Fliers Competition." "A sonic rainboom?!" "That was you? I barely remember that. Think I hit my head or something. That's pretty impressive, to be able to do two of those in your life." "Thanks, although I actually did three of them in my life." "Three?!" "Three?!" Rainbow was so distracted riding off the high of her ego being stroked by compliments from her first hero she almost forget about her second hero in the same room as her. "Yep. One when I was a filly, one at the competition and one at the wedding." She directed the phrase at both of the mares at once. "Sweet Celestia." "Damn, that's pretty awesome." Rainbow heard chattering past Spitfire's voice. "Hey listen, I'd love to keep talking about this, but I'm heading out soon. Gotta stay focused. Is Daring there?" "Yeah, she's right here." "Put her on please, if you would. Nice talking to you." "Like-likewise." Rainbow tried to keep her voice from cracking under excitement. She had just had a conversation with two of her heroes in one day. "Here she is." Rainbow handed the phone to Daring, who reluctantly took it. "Hello? Hello? Anyone there?" "H-hello." "Daring?" "Yes..." "Wow, it's so nice to hear your voice again after so long. How've you been?" "Okay, I guess." "You don't sound to happy. Everything all right?" If Spitfire had heard of what Daring went through, it didn't sound like she was gonna bring it up. "I've just been going through some rough times, that's all." "I'm sorry to hear that, but hey you're going to that party tonight, right? Fancypants said he invited you and a couple others. I'm guessing Rainbow Dash is the other?" "Yes. her and a friend of hers named Twilight Sparkle." "So, you going?" "...I guess I am." "Cool. Me and the rest of the Wonderbolts are going there, too. If you want you can come sit with us and hang out. Catch up on old times." "I- I don't know." "Please? It's been so long since we talked to each other. I miss you." Daring could almost feel the puppy-dog eyes from the other side of the line. "Fine." "Sweet! See you there." The phone clicked, and Daring shut her own off. She looked up to find Rainbow staring at her. She blushed under the gaze, making Rainbow apologize for making her feel uncomfortable. "How do you know Spitfire?" "She's a foalhood friend." Daring wasn't at all comfortable sharing this. "What did she say... if you don't mind me asking?" "She wants us to sit at her table with the rest of the Wonderbolts and 'catch up on old times.'" Rainbow emitted an unusually high-pitched squeal, which made Daring cringe away in shock. "Sorry. I'm trying to stop doing that." "Keep trying. That can't be good for your vocal chords." "Right." She rubbed the back of her neck. "But this works even better! Now it's not only just us, but you got a another friend you can hang out with." "I said she was a childhood friend. We... stopped talking a while ago." "Why?" Daring glared at her. Rainbow shrunk back. "...oh, sorry. But I'm sure she'd be happy to be friends with you again." "We'll see." Rainbow shot a confused look. "I may be the social phobic here, but Spitfire has the worst social skills in the world. She's brash, crude, never thinks twice before saying anything..." "But she's still your friend, right?" "Yes." "And you wouldn't want to deny meeting an old friend, would you?" "I suppose not." "Then we're going to that party." Daring sighed. "Fine." "Can I ask you something else?" "What?" "Your ringtone. Was that Mercyfoal Fate?" "Yes. I'm a fan of the band." "You don't strike me as somepony who would be into that kind of music." "Well, my job had me digging up and finding a whole bunch of ritual sites and altars relating to demons and the like. I guess I just developed an interest in it, and obviously I can't practice it so this music fills the void." "Huh. Interesting." "Can I ask you a question?" "Yeah?" "Three Sonic Rainbooms?"