8) Daring Do and the Trek to the Terrifying Tower
Daring Do and the Trek to the Terrifying Tower
The Tower went by many names.
The Dark Tower.
The Fateful Tower.
The Terrifying Tower.
All amounted to a rich sense of foreboding that had Daring Do sweating where she stood. As the birds flew overhead, Daring Do looked up at a murder of crows flying by. It felt like she’d swallowed a stone. The gold coated mare sat on the grass, looking through the treeline of the nearby small wooded area near the Clopsdale Academy.
She had no idea why she had returned here. She had no idea what she meant to find.
She’d left a note for Melody letting the poor mare know she’d left and thanking her dearly for her help. But Daring couldn’t keep her in danger.
Sneaking into Clopsdale had been slightly difficult, but Daring was pretty good at disguises, so she had managed it without too much attention being drawn to herself. Hiding among the treeline, the mare reflected on what had happened to her thus far.
Searching an ancient temple she had found the Sapphire Statue; a jackal headed pure sapphire sculpture with the ability to create Everfire from its refracted rays in strong light. Everfire…a flame that never died.
Her journey through the same jungle had lead her down into the caverns below, where she had retrieved the Griffon’s Goblet from the clutches of a monstrous and ancient Black Griffon that had protected it fiercely.
The Griffon’s Goblet…it granted extended life to any who drank from it.
Her research had then lead her to the side of her once mentor, Bravely Blue, who had helped her find the location of Circles Bay, an ancient city that had sank beneath the ocean. A city where she had found the Golden Key…a key that could unlock anything. And then she had been betrayed by Bravely Blue.
Aiming to track down and stop her foes, she had found herself in the ancient deserts. Her travels took her to a cursed maze, where reflections of her family and past had challenged her own self-worth. But she had overcome the obstacles, managing to reach the centre just in time and retrieve the Amulet of Serra. This amulet granted great strength to its wearer.
Her adventures after that had led her to the Alps in Prance, where she had faced down Ahuizotl. But whilst she had gained the Tri-Lock bangle, a bangle that healed the wearer, she had lost her other finds. As Bravely Blue had used the Golden Key to unlock the safe back at Clopsdale Academy and steal the other artefacts away.
And finally, she had braved the ancient tombs beneath Canterlot and stolen the Horn from Queen Serra’s tomb, desecrating her resting place and placing Daring Do as a criminal in the eyes of all Equestria. The horn could fix the broken, and point the way to where one needed to be. And right now, the horn had pointed her back to Clopsdale Academy.
The Orb of Prophesy had told her that her destiny led to the Terrifying Tower; it had said other things that did not yet make sense. But Daring Do knew she would have to go to that place, that dark and foreboding place.
So why had the horn taken her here?
Pulling out the horn from her saddlebag, Daring looked it over, holding it in her hoof. The horn shone a slight yellow before spinning once and pointing once again at the Academy.
Was there something here she needed?
Daring looked around, shoved a dress over her hindquarters, and placed a beret on her head before walking out and heading straight for the correct building. They key to not being noticed and getting away with almost anything is to not look like you are doing anything wrong. It was to act like you had the right to be there.
Entering the main building she consulted the horn as stealthily as she could, it pointed her down the left hall. Stashing it away, she turned and began trotting in that direction.
Looking around gave her a nervous feeling.
What would she find? Would it be something she needed?
She hoped so.
Daring was…
She didn’t want to admit it. She was Daring Do, she was strong and fearless…she was supposed to be fearless.
But Daring Do was scared.
Terrified to go to that tower, terrified of what might await her, and terrified she might be doing the wrong thing. She didn’t want to hide forever, she didn’t want to have to stay held up in some hovel, waiting for Ahuizotl to find her and take the horn from her.
He had the Amulet; he was stronger than ever before. He had the bangle, he could heal himself. He had the key; there were no locks that could stop him. He had fire that could not be extinguished, and no matter how long she waited…he had a drink of life that guaranteed she could never wait long enough.
Ahuizotl was dumb, slow and stupid. But he had teamed up with Bravely Blue. He had her smarts on his side, and that made them extremely dangerous.
Daring was scared.
She was scared if she went to that tower…she’d lose more than artefacts. She was scared she’d lose her life.
Diane Daring Danger Do froze on the spot, her breath coming in short gasps before she shoved herself into a janitorial closet. She was panting, she was hyperventilating. There was a mirror nearby and she turned to it. Her eyes were wide, sweat poured from her face profusely, and the sound of students hooves outside drummed in her head painfully loud, drowning out any thoughts she tried to have, and any attempt to call reason to her fears.
Daring began to lower herself to the ground, clutching at her head. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t see, the world was spinning and Daring felt tears pouring down her cheek.
The world looked to her to save it, and the weight of that bore on her shoulders so suddenly it felt like her back might break, like her wings might be crushed. She couldn’t stand it…
…since when did the world become so heavy to bear?
The sound of the door clicking open had her screaming suddenly, backing away against the wall and looking up as the door was thrust open. For a split second, the light that shone through and gave a silhouette of darkness, of broad shoulders and she screamed again.
Ahuizotl had found her!
“Shhh, it’s okay. You’re safe.” Said soft wise words before hooves encircled the mare.
Professor R B Ravenhoof wrapped his hooves around Daring as she curled up and sobbed, fear and misery gripped her and had her struggling in his grasp, fighting him. It took a few minutes for her to calm down, a few minutes for her sobs to quieten as she curled up against him. And for these moments, Daring Do was little more than a filly, needing to feel safe.
*
The couch was comfy.
Its soft pillows pressed against her cheek as her eyes opened and she looked around.
“You’re awake.” Said a kind voice as Professor Ravenhoof padded over with a warm smile. He placed a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top in front of Daring who let out a croaked, “thank you.”
He smiled and sat down opposite her in his leather chair.
Looking around Daring noticed the scents of cinnamon in the air, before noticing it was the log fire in the corner that burned warmly and comfortingly. The warmth was nice but the brightness had her twitching. It reminded her of Everfire, and she couldn’t help but be slightly afraid.
“You cried yourself to sleep.” The professor said softly.
Daring didn’t answer, and instead forced herself to drink the hot chocolate, ignoring the burn on her tongue and lips as it clearly hadn’t cooled down enough. Better to let her mouth sting a bit than to talk right now.
“What has you so scared, my child?” His voice was melodic and comforting. It made her feel safe.
She didn’t answer, she turned away.
He chuckled softly.
“The brave and strong Daring Do. Your name is one on everypony’s lips at this academy.” He began. “You are renowned in Equestria and beyond. I even gather they might have heard about you in Marên-an-Gwlas. So what is it that has the great Daring Do so frightened she cannot even speak?”
She gulped down more hot chocolate, her hooves shaking until she slipped and the cup fell to the floor, spilling its contents over the rug.
“S-sorry…” She leaned down to pick up the cup when her hoof was grasped. She eeped in panic slightly before looking up, Professor Ravenhoof’s eyes staring firmly into her own. His other hoof placed on top of the one he had already grabbed, and patted it slightly, a warm smile touching his lips.
“Fear is not a weakness, Diane.”
His words left a stone in her throat.
“I’m supposed to be brave.” Daring managed to croak out.
Professor Ravenhoof just smiled and stroked her cheek.
“Dear Diane. Don’t you know?” He asked softly and kindly, looking into the golden mares eyes. “When fear grips you…is the only time you can be brave.”
Daring had no doubt that if she had tears left to shed, they would already be running down her cheeks as she threw herself against him, hugging herself to him tightly.
Daring Do finished her new cup of hot chocolate.
“Thank you.” She said softly to the professor who simply smiled.
The mare was feeling much better now, but she wasn’t really sure what to do.
“C-can...you give me some advice? Or just...some ya know...tips or something on overcoming this…fear.” She said, still feeling ashamed of herself.
He smiled. “Do you feel you need such…tips?”
Daring sighed. “I’m afraid that if I go as I am, I’ll just freeze up and get myself killed.”
The professor chuckled slightly. “I do not think you will be killed, Diane.” He said with a warm smile. “I think you will be fine. All you have to do is remember why you are fighting, why you are there, and why you cannot fail.” He said softly.
His words made sense to Daring, and she knew they were right because they were obvious. It was the same mantra she had used for years. The same life lessons she had taught herself.
But the world had never seemed more real than it had right now.
Never more dangerous.
Daring wondered if she’d really just needed someone else to tell her, instead of her own mind. It was like she couldn’t trust herself anymore.
“I can see your shame by the look on your face. Needing help once in a while isn’t a sign of weakness, nor is refusing to ask for help when it’s required a sign of strength. In reality both are similarly a sign of stupidity.” He chuckled. “If you need help, ask for it, if you refuse to ask for it, then you are simply dooming yourself to failure. And is your image really so important as to demand your life in sacrifice of an ideal? The ideal that the great Daring Do needs no one? Or does the world mean more than your ego?”
His words froze her. He was right; she was being selfish and egotistical.
“Are you saying I should ask you for help?”
He laughed. “Goodness no, I am no use in a fight. But I imagine you know a few ponies that are.” He smiled and went to his desk.
Daring knew it was a sign to leave so she stood up and stretched. “Thank you for your help Professor Ravenhoof.”
She began to walk out before she stopped; she walked back over to his desk, hesitated for a moment before taking off her pith helmet and laying it on his desk.
“Take care of this for me; I’ll want it back when I return.” She smiled softly.
He nodded wordlessly before she turned and left.
She got outside and consulted the horn, this time it showed a different direction. It seemed the horn didn’t base its direction on where she needed to go to complete any specific task or mission, but instead pointed to where she needed to go for herself.
It was an interesting distinction.
She was still scared, but she was ready. And she knew who she needed…which kinda sucked as he was REALLY annoying.
Cloud Zapper had enjoyed Manehatten. This was more than he expected. Canterlot was a regal place filled with modest buildings and skyward spires. But Manehatten had been entirely different. Large glass rectangular buildings that grazed the clouds and made him feel extremely small wherever he went. It had felt vibrant and restless…but also stressed.
He had enjoyed it, but was rather glad to be away from it all.
The birds flew overhead as he stalked through the forest, looking around contently. He had no idea where his quarry had gotten, but he felt his hunting could take a small break.
He breathed deeply before a rustling bush caught his attention. He watched it curiously, showing no outward signs of tenseness, but for all his meek exterior, he was a Royal Guard, and what was not seen was that every muscle was poised and ready for fight or flight if it was necessary.
The sound of hoofsteps approaching reached his ears, the bush rustled and slowly it parted.
“Hello Cloud.”
Daring Do flew overhead and looked around; it took her a little bit to consider that maybe the Pegasus had not stayed in the same place as before. He seemed to not really be the type to like the bustle of a large city such as Manehatten, so maybe he had moved on.
The nearby forest would be a good place to scout, and it wasn’t long before she found an abandoned campsite where a pony had stayed recently before moving on. She was willing to bet that it was who she needed.
Unfortunately for Daring Do, while the Horn was very good at pinpointing locations, it was a big world, and general direction doesn’t help when tracking particular ponies, especially if they were moving too.
Making her way through the foliage she tracked the Pegasus. He was obviously not used to living in the woods; he left a very easy trail to follow.
Daring walked for about an hour before the tracks became very fresh, and the mare found herself smiling as she began pushing through the trees. She walked up behind a bush, and as she pushed through she smiled confidently, having found who she needed.
“Hello Cloud.” The voice drifted up into the air and its words sounded eerily familiar.
Cloud was facing away from her, and as she arched her head to gain a better look, she saw somepony else in the clearing, just walking out of the forest foliage and standing in front of the armoured stallion.
The stallion was another Pegasus.
A long deep purple and black mane wisped in the air around the head of a purple coat adorned with what seemed to be a large paw print cutie-mark. Deep purple eyes shone brightly from his smug expression, and the way he held himself struck a chord with Daring Do.
He was the Pegasus from Canterlot, the one that had shown her the entrance into the catacombs.
Daring smiled and was about to step out and greet them both. If this other stallion was a fighter too, maybe they could both help her. Though she had to admit, this new stallion was a little smaller than Cloud Zapper, and he didn’t look physically strong.
She would tackle that issue, if it was one, when they spoke.
As she took a step forward Cloud suddenly dived at the other stallion.
A blade erupted from a hidden scabbard on Cloud’s golden armour, it flashed as it span up, clenched in the Royal Guards teeth as a look of rage passed over his muzzle. The purple stallion was slammed with a gasping sound as the air was forced from his lungs. His back forced against a tree, the blade resting at his throat as Cloud pinned him.
“Tell whe why I shouldn’t kill whu.” He growled around the hilt of the blade clenched between his teeth.
The other stallion just laughed.
Daring couldn’t just stand by, she dived for the pair. Striking Cloud in the chest, she forced him back, freeing the purple stallion from the Royal Guards clutches.
Cloud gasped. “What are you doing?”
“He helped me! You back off!” She demanded fiercely before suddenly a weight was on her back and a sharp blade was at her throat. She was grasped round the front and keenly aware that one wrong move and her throat would be slit.
A soft voice rang out at her ears. “Thank you for that dear, I hadn’t expected him to attack so suddenly, at least, not before I’d had my say.” He chuckled.
His voice wasn’t too bad; it was soft, gentle, and almost melodic. In many ways it was actually pleasant. But the laugh…the laugh had an edge, an edge that cut deep and brought a shiver to her spine. It was a laugh she could never trust.
“Why are you doing this?” Daring asked, gulping slowly. In front of her Cloud was starting to stand up, glaring at the pony that held her.
“Because you are a stupid mare, as I knew you would be.” He chuckled again. “So Cloud Zapper, I have a message for you.”
Cloud just glared.
“Not so talkative today I see. Well no matter. You only need listen.” His voice was touched by the edges of a smile, and it sounded sinister. “The words I say you need to heed,
If your goal is what you need achieve.
A darkness embrace and rings of power,
Fall upon your lonely hour.” His melodic voice was very well suited for the poem, but Daring couldn’t let herself simply enjoy the words. They had meaning, by this time she had become accustomed to paying attention to poems when she heard them. More often than not, it seemed they were prophecies.
“Some want to rule,
Others wish to sell,
Others desire their enemies fell.
Others desire justice,
Above the fall,
With one in the middle of it all.
A puppets dance,
A blaze of fire,
All marionettes within the pyre.
Know the way and know the price,
Only solved by sacrifice.”
Daring Do did not like the sound of this particular poem.
His breath was suddenly in her ear.
“I know what you dream and the darkness is coming, Diane.” His words made her go suddenly still and cold. “All your fear is true. And all your dread is real.” He continued. His words were barely a whisper on the wind to her ears, but so clear all the same. “And blood will be spilt before this is over.” He said before the blade was taken away in a flash, a hoof thrust her into the dirt and the beating of wings was heard. The flapping unsettled the grass and ruffled her mane as he flew away, her eyes following him for a moment before she tried her best to get to her hooves.
Cloud Zapper was suddenly next to her, helping her up.
“Are you alright?” He asked, his tone authoritative and strong.
Daring Do nodded, getting up only to find her entire body shaking.
“Wh-who was that?” She asked, feeling a chill run through her even though she knew it was actually a warm day.
“He had a different name once. But it has been lost for a long time. He calls himself ‘Shadow’ now.” He sighed. “It’s a dramatically egotistical name for a pony who thinks themselves more important than they actually are.” He grumbled sorely.
“Sorry for pouncing you like that…I thought he wasn’t a bad pony.” She sighed before looking him over. “Are you okay? You seem different?”
Cloud turned away. “I am in situations like this.” He said softly. “The stallion you knew before as Cloud Zapper is simply the pony I am when off duty, relaxed and trying to make friends.” He shrugged. “Not like it works, but it does make ponies take me less seriously, which has its advantages.” He said simply, picking up his sword and sheathing it away. “Because of how I act it makes many ponies forget that I am in fact a Royal Guard.” He said firmly.
Daring had to admit, he looked good when holding himself in a stronger pose. His voice no longer had that annoying edge, and she started to see just how strong Cloud was…a strength he had hidden so well before.
“Why are you here?” He asked curiously.
The question threw her off a little and she had to gather herself before she could really answer. “I, erm, I need your help.” Cloud sighed and turned away. “I think you’ve done enough helping for the both of us.” He chastised.
Daring’s eyes widened before lowering into a glare, the mare suddenly jumping up and landing in front of the royal guard.
“Now you listen here, mister.” She demanded. “I’m sorry I messed up with that ‘Shadow’ guy, but I have the fate of the world on my shoulders right now and you are gonna help me!”
“And why should I do that?” He countered.
Daring took a step back. “Because you are a Royal Guard and if you don’t help me, your Princesses will be in as much danger as every pony else.” Her voice was soft, but her words had a slight bite to it. “I need you.”
Cloud looked at her hard for almost a full minute before sighing and nodded with a gruff huff, obviously not pleased with the arrangement.
Not like Daring was pleased with it either, she wasn’t exactly fond of the Royal Guard.
“So where are we going?” He asked with a resigned tone.
*
“WHAT?!” He shouted, shaking his head. “Oh no, no way in Tartarus, I am NOT going THERE!”
Daring sighed. “I kinda need to. Not like we have much of a choice.” She demanded with a grumble.
He sighed and turned away, starting to pace about the clearing.
“This is…this is suicide!” He shouted, rubbing his temples with his hooves.
Daring knew she was asking a lot. It wasn’t exactly like this was a mission they would easily come back from. She wasn’t even entirely sure what would happen when she got there.
“Look, I’m sorry, but this is what we have to do. I’d bring some other ponies if I could, but I don’t know any. You are the best help I can get.” She said softly.
Cloud grumbled again, which she was starting to find more annoying than the constant talking.
He nodded in agreement, though obviously not happy about this.
The tower stood in the centre of an island. Surrounded by tropical forests, the island was small. The tower was always surrounded by a storm, and the island itself showed no mercy to anypony who braved its shores. No one had ever actually reached the inside of the tower, it was said there were great trials to overcome.
The storm unfortunately declined them the luxury of flying. A bolt of lightning wasn’t a good thing for any Pegasus to deal with making boats the only means of reaching it relatively safely.
Trying to get over her queasy stomach, the Pegasus mare rowed along with Cloud Zapper, braving the stormy seas in their attempt to reach the island. The waves battered them, and the cry of the waves rushed around them as they attempted to ride it out. The island came into view eventually, but even when it seemed so close it took several hours to reach the sand.
Daring Do arrived on the shore with Cloud Zapper, panting softly and trying to wring the salty water from her mane, nearly an impossible task due to the rain that still fell upon them.
When feeling ready she gulped and took out the horn. It span once before pointing directly into the jungle of trees before them. Her eyes followed its gaze and sure enough, there on the horizon, illuminated by a flash of lightning, was a single tower, half-hidden by the surrounding trees.
She sighed and nodded.
“What’s this place called?” Cloud asked over the gale of the wind.
Daring Do shook her head. “It doesn’t have a name, ponies were always too afraid to name it.” She answered eerily.
“Why would they be too afraid to name a place?” He asked, looking confused, passing his eyes from her to the distant tower in the trees.
“If you name a place, you can more easily put it on a map, and even if you say it’s dangerous, some ponies will still go looking for that taste of adventure.” She said, her voice sounding hollow. “It wasn’t named to try and save lives.” She finished, walking ahead of him.
The wind and rain pelted down on both her and Cloud, the soft tanging of the rain splashing his armour was actually a nice sound, but it didn’t feel nice. This was heavy rain, and she was worried there might be flooding.
Heading into the jungle foliage Cloud Zapper let out an exasperated sigh.
“Can’t we just fly overhead? It feels so difficult down here just walking.” He grumbled.
“If we fly, any entrance to any caves or places me might need to go could be hidden by the jungle trees, and the storm is pretty bad, you are wearing metal. You wanna be struck by lightning?”
Cloud grumbled. “Good point…so are you forced to walk often?”
Daring let out a mirthless chuckle, “far more than you’d expect, and far more than I’d like.” She sighed.
Continuing in, she kept an eye on the guiding horn, but they were apparently going in the correct direction.
It was only after around twenty minutes of walking that they stumbled into a clearing and found what they were looking for.
Daring had expected a jagged cave, but this was a perfect square cut into the ground with steps going down, and for some reason, no rain was falling here.
Daring cocked her head, none of this felt right.
She headed down and looked in. There was a large hall, and fires lit on all the walls, illuminating the place. The walls were perfectly sleek and smooth, only marred by the scribing’s of ancient Equestrian, but the writing and pictures seemed to be depicting some kind of history. Pictures of the tower were there, as though it were far older than she had imagined. The pictures had ponies running away from it, suggesting the place had always been considered a terrifying domain.
Something glinted at the far end of the room, and there on a pedestal sat the Sapphire Statue.
“Why would they leave it?” She didn’t get an answer. With that she took a confident step forward, only to leap back onto the stairs with a yelp as the slab on which she had stepped gave way into a deep chasm below, sending up dust and a wave of cold air.
Daring looked around. There were multiple pedestals littered throughout the room, at least five others.
“I don’t get it…”
Cloud shrugged. “This is why we have wings.” He grinned before spreading his wings.
“NO!” She shouted as he rose from the ground with a bat of his feathered appendages, his eyes widening as he was suddenly forced down through the floor below into the chasm. Daring Do reached down and grasped his tail in her maw at the last second. With a grunt of effort she slowly pulled him back and up onto the steps and to safety.
Cloud Zapper’s eyes were wide and he was panting. “W-what happened…?”
“Didn’t you go to flight school?!” She shouted at him, panting for breath. “That’s a chasm down there, it’s too deep, and air pressure and all that won’t allow it. We can’t fly over this thing. It’s basic flight 101.”
Cloud blushed and looked down. “Sorry, I forgot.”
“Forgetting basic things in this place will get you killed.” She flared. “Now this is a puzzle so we need to figure it out.” She sighed and looked around. “There is obviously a safe path that won’t crumble away, but how are you supposed to know where to step?” She asked herself, looking around. “These stones are very reflective…” She remarked curiously, tilting her head at an angle. “Except…these ones.” She noticed there was a path of stones that just didn’t reflect the light very well. They were very dull.
“Well this was easy, I don’t see why-” Then it dawned on her. “Oh…oh no.”
“What’s ‘oh no’?” Cloud Zapper said uncertainly. “I don’t like that ‘oh no’…can we not have ‘oh no’s’?”
Daring sighed and pulled a small drinking cup from her saddlebag and headed outside, Cloud watching her go curiously. She came back with a cup full of rainwater and approached the nearest torch.
“What are you doing?” He asked curiously, “don’t we need that light?”
She suddenly splashed it and the fire puffed out.
“Great…why would you do that?” He asked curiously.
Daring just watched the smoking torch before it suddenly erupted into flames again.
“Wow…what was that?”
Daring sighed before she answered. “Everfire.”
She looked across the room. “These were lit by the Sapphire Statue. Which means there was no light down here when Ahuizotl and Bravely Blue got here, they had to light the torches with the Sapphire Stone to reveal the way, and I’m willing to bet that door over there only opened when the statue was placed on that pedestal.”
Cloud listened and shrugged. “So we can now move ahead, we know the path now…right?”
Daring nodded. “Yeah, we know the path for this one.” She said softly. “But I’m willing to bet the next trials are going to be more difficult.”
Cloud Zapper shrugged. “What makes you say that?”
“Because using the Sapphire Statue for this first one, likely means that the other artefacts are needed for the other trials. And in case you lost count, we only have one of them.”
Cloud Zapper went silent. “So…how will we solve the others?”
Daring closed her eyes and let out an audible sigh. “Good question.”
It wasn’t hard following the path, it just required a bit of turning your head for an angle at the reflections.
Soon they made it across.
“Well that was easy.” Cloud said, trotting for the door.
“Wait, don’t just gallop in. we need to go together and be careful.” She walked in and was thankful to see an already lit room. If the first room had been the one for the statue, then when it was built that room was likely the last to be built, which made sense if the rest of the rooms had been lit by the Sapphire Statue with Everfire before the final room had been extinguished and the pieces taken away.
However what was revealed was not what Daring wanted to see.
The entire room was covered in a massive thorn forest. The thorns were close together, some up to a foot in length, and others seeming almost seated in nature. Their thick brambles glistened in the light of the torches, and were likely quite deadly, and extremely sharp.
“What artefact would get you through here? Looks like this place would tear you to shreds if you tried.”
Daring shook her head. “That’s the idea.” She said gently. “This is meant for the Tri-lock bangle. It heals whoever is wearing it. You aren’t meant to get through here unscathed, just alive.”
“So how do we get through?” Cloud said softly.
Daring pulled out the horn and looked at it. “We need the easiest and least deadly route.” She said not entirely sure if she was speaking to herself, Cloud, or the Horn.
She bit her lip slightly before the horn began to glow, it span and pointed. She sighed with relief.
“Follow me, and do exactly as I do.” She demanded, heading for a part in the thorn brush.
Lowering herself to the ground as far as she could, she began to shimmy inside. This part was thankfully a bit wide, but she yelped as her leg was cut slightly. Grunting from the pain she managed to get through to one part, consulting the horn it showed her to turn left. She climbed over a thick branch, careful of where some thorns might be pointing, and barely managing to get over it; Cloud himself was doing well, though it seemed his armour was useful here. Any cuts he might have gotten were hindered by the metal adorning him.
She was told by the horn to actually head away from their destination slightly, she hesitated before obeying and climbing under a particularly sharp thicket of thorns before smiling at what looked like a smaller thorn trail that arced round. Following it she was told to the head to the right, she had to crawl very low for this one, barely managing to get over one part.
The hardest part arose in front of her. She would have to jump over a part that was particularly high.
Gulping she jumped, kicked off one thorn, flipped and arched over and onto the other side, gasping as one thorn scratched her arm. Gritting her teeth she watched Cloud Zapper do the same, his leg caught slightly. He had a few cuts, but none were too bad.
She brushed herself off and was thankful to find the doorway; beside the doorway was a pedestal that had a long stone cylinder on it, the bangle latched around it into a groove.
Obviously needed for the door to be open.
Daring Do reached out and pressed her hoof to the bangle and sighed as her cuts were healed. “That’s better. Touch the bangle, it’ll heal you.” She smiled and watched him obey, smiling when it was done.
“Well that’s useful.” He chuckled.
Daring nodded before heading into the next room.
This room was interesting; it seemed to be filled with chains and ropes attached to large rocks and boulders. They seemed required to place them into particular areas, but they looked heavy.
“Ah, this must be for the Amulet. Thankfully it looks like it’s been done for us.” She smiled.
She also noticed that as it went along, each artefact had to be left behind. This meant that Ahuizotl could no longer heal, he could no longer create Everfire, and he was no longer super strong. This had Daring Do smiling.
Ahuizotl was losing his advantages.
She passed a Pedestal with the amulet on it, Feeling curious she approached it and picked it up, only to watch a large stone door slam down rapidly and crash to the floor, blocking off the door. Her eyes widened before she put the amulet back, and the doorway opened again, that was good, it had her smiling. There was no way to take them back, so she knew they’d be safely out of reach of Ahuizotl.
This room was filled with transparent doors. She could see right through them to the other side of the room, unfortunately these doors were locked and adorning them were faces…and they were talking to each other.
Daring Do sighed.
“What’s going on here?” Cloud asked curiously.
“These are riddle doors. You can either guess the right answer to get through, or you can unlock them with the Golden Key.” She grumbled. “I’ve encountered them before.”
She approached the first one.
They noticed her and smiled.
“So let me guess, one of you lies and the other tells the truth?” She asked curiously.
They laughed. “You mean like our cousins in the Maze of Truth?” Said the one on the right.
“As if, none of us are that easy.” Said the left one with a chuckle, his nostril door knocker dangling back and forth as he chortled.
Daring grumbled. “Fair enough, what is it?”
The right one huffed. “In a hurry I see. Well then, fair enough.” He smiled.
The left started:
“What’s known as murder?”
“And flies on wings?” Said the right.
“What eats decay, and cries all day?” Asked the left.
“But cannot sing?” The right one finished.
Daring shrugged. “A crow. That one’s easy.”
Cloud looked at her curiously. “How’d you get that?”
Daring shrugged. “A group of crows is called a murder of crows, and crows don’t have a bird song unlike most but they certainly cry enough.” She said as though it were obvious. “Did you really NEVER pay attention in school?” She asked incredulously.
The door swung open and Daring entered smugly, heading for the next door.
“So then, what’s your riddle?” She replied.
This door looked grumpy.
“Oh, a challenger, not like the last chap with his shiny key just walkin’ in.” He grumbled. “Ya want a riddle?”
Daring shrugged. “If you’ll open without me answering one, go for it, but if you got one I need to answer then bring it on.”
The left one seemed to have been a sleep. It woke up. “Oh, hello there, dearie.” It said in a female voice. “Oh Right, stop being such a grump and give the nice mare her riddle.” It said with a kind motherly smile.
The right one just grumbled. “Fine. A natural state, I’m sought by all.
Go without me, and you shall fall.
You do me when you spend,
And use me when you eat to no end.” He finished gruffly.
Daring Do just stared and sat back.
“I, erm…” She gulped.
“Balance.” Said Cloud’s voice to her left. She looked at him with her eyes wide before looking back at the back at the door.
“Yeah…right.” The door grumbled unhappily before opening.
“How’d you know that one?” She asked before Cloud just smirked.
“I paid attention in school.” He said before walking ahead of her.
“Oh…sorry for those remarks. I didn’t mean to put you down.” She said softly, trotting to keep up as they approached the next door.
He smiled. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
They reached the next door and sat, waiting.
“Oh, a new couple. Don’t you two look handsome?” Said the left one.
Daring shook her head. “Oh Tartarus no would that ever happen. Just give us the riddle so we can move on.” She said dryly.
“Oh that’s not very nice. I think you’d be fantastic together.” Said the right one in a flamboyant tone.
“Riddle…please?” Daring said grumpily while Cloud just blushed.
“Oh fine. Here it is:
In a pond there are some flowers with some bees hovering over the flowers. How many flowers and bees are there if both the following statements are true?
1. If each bee lands on a flower, one bee doesn’t get a flower.
And 2. If two bees share each flower and there is one flower left out?”
Daring just sighed. “This one’s easy. There are four bees and three flowers. That way if they were all sharing, one flower would be left out, and if they all had only one flower, a bee would be left out. That’s not much of a riddle.”
“Well excuuuuuse me.” Said the left door indignantly before they both flew open.
There was one final door blocking their way out of this room.
This one only had one face. And it looked old.
“W-what…asks...but never...answers?” It asked, getting straight to the riddle without being prompted.
Daring sat down and thought about this one.
“Got an idea?” She asked Cloud before he shrugged.
Daring tried hard, her brain wasn’t working right now. She placed her hooves on her temple and grumbled, trying to think. Questions…questions…what? When? Why? How?”
Her brain clicked.
“Who?” She said to herself. “Who…who! And Owl!”
She said excitedly. The door took a deep breath and nodded before it opened with a loud creek.
Daring smirked and walked through, Cloud Zapper following.
“Good answer.” He praised.
“Thanks.” She smiled as they saw the pedestal with the Golden Key slotted into it.
They walked through the open door to the next room and their next trial.
This time they were met with walls and a smaller room. She poked her head through and found a long corridor leading one way, and then another.
The light fell on what seemed to be a wall in front of her, crumbling slightly, but thick and strong, it only had a single small entrance and a wall just beyond that. She knew what this was.
It was a stone maze.
She smirked.
This was it.
“They’re at the end of this maze.” She said softly.
“How can you tell?” Cloud asked softly.
“Because this maze is meant for the Alicorn’s Horn.” She said, pulling it out.
Before this point she had already consulted the horn in private. She had told him she had an artefact, but she hadn’t showed it him, kept it under her coat…but now he saw it.
“This is the artefact?” He asked, his voice dropping low.
Daring nodded. He knew they’d been using an artefact, he’d even seen glimpses of it, he didn’t know what it was though, and she had purposely not told him. But it was time, and the way his eyes bore into her own she knew his reaction wasn’t a good one. But maybe it was one she deserved.
“That’s the horn of royalty isn’t it…from the tomb that was desecrated.” He said softly. “You defiled a royal tomb and desecrated the body of an ancient Queen.” His soft voice took on a hard tone. “So you lied when we first met.”
Daring Do gulped. Cloud seemed to have become like a cold statue.
“Are you going to stop me now?” She asked softly.
Cloud slowly shook his head. “I thought I could trust you. I believe your motives are just and this is to save Equestria…but I cannot condone what you have done.” He said firmly. “Lead us through this.”
He said, walking past her coldly, his posture had assumed that of a Royal Guard once again, not her companion.
His friendship was gone…and she couldn’t blame him.
Letting the horn glow and point, she began walking in silence. The maze was bigger than she first thought. The walls went to the ceiling so it was impossible to look over, simply go through, so she had no idea how to judge its size, but it seemed to be utterly massive.
It took them almost half an hour before they finally managed to get through.
“What if we made a mould out of the rocks?” A voice said from the clearing ahead. The voice of Ahuizotl.
“Don’t be stupid. It’ll likely need to detect the horn’s magic. I doubt a mould will fool the pedestal.” Said the voice of Bravely Blue.
“Just calm yourselves. I’m sure she will be here soon, and then all we need do is to take the horn from her.”
This voice was from neither Bravely Blue nor Ahuizotl.
That was the voice of Shadow.
Cloud’s eyes widened, stepping back his armour hit the wall with a soft clink, making both him and Daring Do freeze.
“What was that sound?” Bravely Blue asked curiously.
Daring motioned for Cloud Zapper to follow her back into the maze but the Pegasus shrugged her off, suddenly his sword was drawn and he burst out round the corner into the opening. His blade glinted and he dashed right for Shadow but suddenly something wrapped around his throat, and flung him back, smashing him against the stone wall of the maze. Ahuizotl holding him there by his tail.
“And who is this little morsel?” His dark voice asked with the hint of a smile.
“His name is Cloud Zapper. Me and Cloud are old buddies. Right Cloud?” Shadow asked, approaching him with a smirk.
Cloud glared and lashed with his sword cutting into Ahuizotl’s tail with a vicious downward swipe causing Ahuizotl to throw Cloud back with a primeval strength in pained retaliation, the closed door to the final room stopping Cloud’s path as he struck the stone hard, gasping as he fell to the floor, the sword clattering to the ground.
“Ahuizotl here is a little stronger than a pony, so you might not want to make him so mad.” Shadow said mirthfully, chuckling softly. “Nice of you to join us though, seriously, I was getting bored with miss know-it-all and mister know-nothing.” He grinned as both Bravely Blue and Ahuizotl glaring at Shadow for the remarks.
Daring Do tried to stay hidden, listening to the carnage, hoping Cloud was safe.
“I’m surprised you are here alone, I mean, I know you hate partners, but how’d you get past the thorns or riddles?” Shadow asked. “Let’s face it; you aren’t exactly the sharpest blade in the armoury.” He chuckled. “You could never catch me after all.” He seemed to be pacing a bit by the way his voice changed in distance. “But then again, maybe you aren’t alone…” He said curiously, looking back at the maze, smirking. He turned to Ahuizotl and nodded to him.
Heavy footsteps came closer to Daring Do, she meeped and ran into part of the maze, turning left.
Ahuizotl entered and the sound of him taking a deep breath was very audible to her, even as her heartbeat drummed in her ears.
“I can smell you…I know you are here...Daring Do.”
His voice made her shiver. But she had faced him before; she knew she could beat him. She just needed a good place to ambush him.
Daring Do headed a little bit further into the maze, knowing he was following and tracking her. His footsteps ever in her ears. She hid around a particular corner, smirking to herself.
“I can smell your tension, Daring Do.” His droning voice sounded out, his accent sharp to her ears. “Do you plan to ambush me?” He asked with a chuckle. “It would be a mistake…it is true that I no longer wear the amulet that provides with strength. But did you know that such strength is not immediately taken away?”
Daring Do’s blood suddenly went cold.
“I have had to save it, so it does not deplete entirely. I could have used it many times to achieve what I want…”
Daring’s heart pounded louder and suddenly she was terrified again, her breathing was burning in her throat before suddenly the wall she had her back to exploded as claws burst right through the stone and grabbed her, yanking her by the throat, the stone, rubble and rock falling down cutting at her body before she was slammed with great force against another wall, pinned there by the monstrous beast that was Ahuizotl.
“…I was saving it for you.” He said with his foul breath filling the air as his yellow eyes bore into hers, his sharp toothed maw menacing as he grinned.
He threw her.
She gasped, striking another wall and falling down, shaking as she looked up. He approached, walking on his legs and his knuckles in gorilla fashion, his smirk searing her to the bone with fright.
“I am going to make you hurt, Daring Do. So very much.” He said with a chuckle. His voice was filled with a malicious mirth that sent shivers through her with every syllable.
Daring looked around, hoping for anything that could help her.
Ahuizotl unfortunately, didn’t give her much time before he charged. Doing the only thing she could, she turned and flew, swiftly round a corner while his body crashed through a wall and charging after her. She twisted and turned in the maze, his form bursting through wall after wall, erupting dust and rubble into the air as she fled for her life.
Ahuizotl seemed to be slowing down, each wall exerting more and more effort.
Daring noticed this and she suddenly smirked. Some sliver of her confidence seemed to come back as a plan finally formed in her head.
Flying faster she put as many walls between her and Ahuizotl as she could.
It was finally in Daring Do’s favour, when the ape-like creature Ahuizotl, ran out of strength. He struck a wall, his head snapped back and his eyes crossed, falling back unconscious.
Daring approached him and smirked. “What’s wrong Ahuizotl? Headache?” She chuckled before walking away, heading back to the door. The sound of clanging and clashing reached her, she galloped and found herself watching as Cloud Zapper and Shadow fought.
Shadow wielded a curved blade and Cloud Zapper used his straight guard sword.
Swords were not the tradition weapons of choice by ponies, they were usually left for Minotaurs and Griffons, creatures with opposable fingers and thumbs and hands instead of hooves. But some ponies could learn to specialise in the sword, and it seemed both Cloud and Shadow were masters. Holding the blades in their maws, the swords were designed with a special round pommel on the hilt, allowing it to be gripped and swung around by the mouth.
Shadow was fast and precise, whilst Cloud was strong and brutal. His onslaught was mostly dodged, Shadow obviously not trusting his ability to block the blows, but his attacks were always guarded by Cloud who didn’t seem to ever rely on dodging, simply pressing the attack.
Daring looked to the side and watched Bravely Blue watching the scene. She approached.
Daring snuck up and suddenly pounced, Bravely Blue moved; her hoof came up, grasping Daring Do by the head and smashing her into the floor, holding her there.
“I taught you everything, Diane, including how to fight.” She smirked. “I may be getting on in my years, but I used that nice Bangle and now I may look like I’m old, but you’ll be surprised what this old body can do when healed of all the afflictions of age.” She laughed.
Daring Do kicked out, landing a blow on Bravely Blue’s stomach, knocking her back.
“That’s going to cost you darling.” She glared.
Daring Do got up.
“You can’t win Bravely Blue, you won’t gain immortality!”
Bravely Blue laughed. “Oh wow, this is rich. You finally did your research and all little too late. What are the odds that the when you finally learn something from me, you use it against me.”
Daring glared. “I learned plenty from you.”
The golden mare dived on the sky blue mare, her hooves lashing out. Daring was surprised at how strong Bravely Blue had become, it was as though she were in her prime, rather than getting on in her later years.
Bravely Blue managed to wriggle out of Daring’s grasp and deliver a powerful blow which had knocked Daring to the ground with a thud. The Alicorn’s Horn rolled out of Daring’s saddle bag.
Their gazes snapped to the object, their conflict momentarily forgotten in favour of the Horn. They both dived for it, hooves grasping frantically. Daring grabbed it before a hoof struck her gut, the horn slipped from her grasp as the world went a little darker, the wind having been knocked from her. Bravely Blue picked it up, ran to the door and thrust the tip of the horn into a hole in the side of the pedestal.
The door, with a mighty groan, slid upwards, revealing the room beyond. Daring Do dived at her; Bravely Blue removed the horn and dived through the door.
Daring struck Bravely Blue and they both fell into the dark room just as the door slammed shut, cutting them off from everyone else.
Bravely Blue groaned, she’d struck her head against the ground from Daring’s tackle and was obviously dazed. Daring Do got up and looked around.
The room was like a smooth dark cave, covered in the same crystals that had littered the Griffon’s caves back in Elda Rodeo. The place was huge and travelled up for miles. The inside of the Tower was just hollow, and they were at the base. At the very top was a single oculus hole in the spire of the Tower that let down a solitary bright ray of light that landed on what looked to be a silvery pool of water in the centre of the room.
Daring approached and reached down, her hoof pressing on the water and into it, but no ripple was caused, and it didn’t feel like…anything. It was like the water wasn’t there.
She looked around at the designs along the side of the pool, carved into the rock and cocked her head.
“I don’t get it.”
Suddenly a flash of pain lit Daring’s eyes up with stars and she fell down, looking up at Bravely Blue holding a large rock.
“That’s because you are stupid.” She pulled out from her saddlebag the Griffon’s Goblet.
The goblet was silver, shimmering in a fashion similar to the water.
“The water can only be picked up by the Goblet.” She smiled, reaching down and filling the goblet with the silvery liquid.
“Drinking from the Goblet extends life, but it takes many drinks and can deteriorate the mind of the drinker over time whilst keeping the body strong. But one drink of this water in the goblet, and immortality is bestowed on the drinker.” She said, her words an awe-filled whisper. Before she pressed her lips to the edge of the Goblet.
Daring’s eyes widened before she launched herself up, striking the Goblet from her hooves, sending the Goblet flying and landing into the pool.
“NO!” She shouted as she struck Daring Do to the ground. “How dare you!”
“Why do you want to live forever?” Daring Do said, climbing to her hooves and backing away. “Don’t you get it? You’ll see your friends, your family, all waste away without you. You’ll be alone. Do you have any idea what that will be like?”
Bravely Blue scoffed. “I am OLD Daring Do. I may have been healed of aches and pains but I am still OLD!” She shouted. “I am past the halfway point of my life. I am white maned when I was red in my youth!” She shouted heatedly. “I am old and one day I shall die!”
“We all die…it’s the way things are.” Daring Do said softly, finally seeing why all this was happening.
Bravely Blue was no longer brave.
She was terrified.
“I won’t let that happen to me.” The blue mare said with narrowed eyes, jumping into the pool and fishing around for the Goblet underneath.
“Bravely Blue don’t!” She shouted. “Life isn’t meant to last forever! We only have so much time and that’s the point! Nothing lasts forever and that’s what makes time precious! Time with loved ones, time with those we care for and those that love us. Time for friendship. Life is supposed to end so all that stuff has meaning…what meaning would it have if it lasted forever? What meaning would it keep if it was always there? It would be part of the background, part of nothing special…” Daring implored. “Please…don’t do this.” She ran at Bravely Blue who pulled a whip from her saddlebag and lashed it out, Daring’s hooves were suddenly tied and she found herself falling against the edge of the pool.
As her eyes opened groggily she noticed a single depiction, a pony standing in the pool drinking the goblet, and the next picture looked like…
“BEATRICE WAIT!” Daring shouted as the blue mare lifted the cup to her lips. “NOT IN THE POOL!” She begged as Bravely Blue took a large gulp.
“It’s done…I’m immortal...” She said and smiled, turning to Daring Do, her eyes glistening with tears of pure joy. “Now I’ll never be afraid again.” She said, her eyes wide, her pupils dilated…she looked insane…she looked broken and lost. Fear had changed her.
For a moment nothing seemed to happen until Bravely took a single step towards Daring. Confusion passed over her features, and then once again, fear clouded her eyes as she looked down.
“W-what the…” Her hooves were turning grey, cracking lightly as she tried to pull it from the water, her eyes widened in terror. “Wait...no!”
Bravely Blue was screaming now as her body slowly began petrifying to stone.
“I tried to warn you…There are seven items that must entwine, yet the poem only mentions six. The final item is Reason.” She said softly. “Only found by those bravely bold…those that are willing to take the leaps of faith, but are smart enough to know when to jump.” She said softly.
“You weren’t brave or bold...you were terrified and rash.”
Daring Do felt tears come to her eyes; Bravely Blue’s cheeks were also stained with tears as they ran down her features
“You did learn from me after all.” She said softly. “You were such a good student, Diane.”
Daring looked up at her, both of them staring at each other, a soft pathetic smile touching Bravely Blue’s muzzle.
“I’m sorry.”
Then she was frozen, her face turned grey and her eyes closed as her entire body turned to stone. A statue of Bravely Blue stood there now, one hoof off the ground holding the Griffon’s Goblet, looking on with a soft smile, forever to remain.
The ground suddenly began to shake and rumble, vibrations running up through the stone that sent a panic through Daring Do. She knew what this was, she’d felt it often enough. The place was coming down!
Daring rushed to open the door from the inside, the way was clear of any foes and Cloud Zapper lay in a heap on the ground, but he at least seemed to be conscious. Daring pulled Cloud up from the ground, spread her wings and shouted to him over the rumbling earth.
“Up there!” She called, pointing to the oculus. “Go!”
Her own wings beat heavily as she left the ground with a burst of speed, heading for the hole and her salvation from the falling rubble. It was as she and Cloud made their way to safety that the walls and seals fell in and the tower collapsed in on itself, filling the air with dust that must date back to the dawn of Equestria.
The rubble blew out and when it was over, the sky began to clear of its storms. The magic this place had held must have caused the storms, and now it was over.
Daring Do landed with Cloud and walked up through the rubble. There was no sign of Shadow or Ahuizotl, maybe they had escaped. But there in the centre, was a singular statue among the rubble with not a mark on it. Perhaps it could never be destroyed, an immortal statue.
Bravely Blue’s soft and maybe prideful smile looked out at Daring Do as she gazed at the stone, Cloud Zapper beside her.
“She was special to you wasn’t she?” Cloud asked softly.
Daring nodded.
“She was my mentor.” She answered softly, walking towards the statue something clinked against her foot. She moved a piece of rubble and picked up what looked like a wooden box, seals ran along the outside that seemed to hum with a single touch.
“What’s that?” Cloud Zapper asked hesitantly, to which Daring Do simply shrugged.
She pried at the lid but it wouldn’t open.
“I’ll find out at home, for now...I think this adventure is over.” She said softly.
*
Daring Do and Cloud Zapper decided to stick together for a while, especially if Ahuizotl and Shadow were still alive . Daring wanted to be alone, but for now, it seemed their needs aligned.
Retrieving the Horn from the rubble had been difficult, but they’d managed. Daring offered it back to the Princesses who pardoned her after Cloud explained what had happened and why Daring had done the crime.
No one punished her.
They were told of what happened to Bravely Blue, and the statue was brought to Canterlot for study by the Mystic Guard for a way to perhaps return Bravely Blue back to normal.
Apparently the Goblet would have worked, but only if the drinker wasn’t standing in the pool at the time. A simple mistake, a stupid idea. But she hadn’t been standing in the pool the first time she’d tried to drink from it; it was Daring Do that had knocked the Goblet away.
It was Daring Do’s fault.
Everyone was avoiding her, as if knowing that any punishment for her crime they could bestow would be nothing compared to how she punished herself for the loss of her mentor and friend.
Daring took off into the skies once more to clear her head, hopefully riding the air currents and enjoying the sun on her coat could relieve the aches of her adventures, but before long she realised her wings had taken her back to Clopsdale.
Professor R B Ravenhoof entered his office that morning with a yawn. He walked to his desk, put down his coffee and slumped into his chair, a second yawn caught in his throat as he froze. Where the pith helmet had been there was now simply a note.
It read:
‘Dear Professor Ravenhoof.
Thank you.
I could not have faced what I did on that island and in that tower without your advice on conquering my fears. You are wise and I can see how your words helped Bravely Blue become the mare she was.
She was strong and wonderful, smart and beautiful, and above all, she was the bravest mare I have ever met.
The world is darker without her, and I will miss her more than I can say.
I have taken back my pith helmet, thank you for looking after it.
She gave it to me. Did you know that?
It was hers, and she gave it to me when I didn’t think I could stand up in the world. When I was afraid.
She taught me to be brave.
I don’t know when I’ll see you next, but I have a feeling my adventures are going to take me far from here. I’m going to start researching more, and be more like Bravely Blue. I’m going to be bold, I’m going to be strong, and I’m going to be brave.
Because life is too short. It doesn’t last forever and it shouldn’t, it’s because things don’t last that they become precious.
And this life is precious to me, so I’m going to stop those that might try to ruin it for me, or other ponies.
That’s my duty.
That’s my destiny.
Yours sincerely,
Diane Daring Danger Do’
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Soooooo, are there like other series' coming out or are you just going to expand this one?
5097810 daring didnt kill the griffon. the griffon will return...maybe..who knows. ;). also, based on the first book that was written alongside the actual show, I found that the books would in fact simply be short. which works as they are meant to be books for children. the books, will grow longer as time goes by and if kids read them, by the time they get to later books, the plot will be able to keep its pace much more easily.
I sincerely hope you read more and enjoy it. ^-^
4669898 series 2 is in cue and will be done after I have finished my latest commission. series 3 will come after that. and I will also be doing a series of bestiary books, guard handbooks and other stuff that take my fancy. ^^
5111025 a descriptive or anecdotal treatise on various real or mythical kinds of animals, especially a medieval work with a moralizing tone?
5135191 in explanation...for a bestiary we're talking the equestrian equivalent to a short but concise encyclopaedia on that particular species covering their culture, anatomy, and society. :)
5135649 lololol i was just messing around, no need for literal terms, i get it.
5135649 lololol i was just messing around, no need for literal terms, i get it.
Did you make these before or after the Daring Do Collector (super awesome head canon ) set of books came out?
7298856 before. I was in my third book by then and already had a hardback of the first book out and being sold before there was even a hint from hasbro about releasing an actual daring do collection.