After noticing very obvious simularities between eachother, Rainbow Dash and Daring Do go on their seperate adventures to find out the biggest secrect they could ever know.
Rainbow Dash had never been more excited in her life! She was featured in a Daring Do book! She couldn't believe it. All her dreams had come true! She instantly showed Twilight and the rest of her friends. But discoveries are made, and questions are asked. There has never been a more important quest in her life. And she just hoped that she could find answers. In Daring Do's cottage, the same discovery was being found. But with all the same questions, but nothing to start with, would she be able to find the answers she needed too?
"It is very exciting, Rainbow. You even look like her a little on the cover!" Twilight explained.
In a moment of clarity, Rainbow Dash looked at the cover again and saw, for what seemed to be the first time, the similarities she and her favorite author had.
"Strange..." she said to herself.
"What is, Sugar Cube?" Apple Jack asked as she entered the Ponyville Library along side Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy.
"It's strange that Daring and I look so alike," explained Rainbow Dash.
Pinkie gasped with shock and excitement.
"What if she is you from a different dimension come here to fight the villain you're supposed to, but aren't! And she is secretly telling every pony this through her stories!" Pinkie shouted.
"Pinkie," Twilight started. "If this is true, then she would have the same coloring," She explained.
But Pinkie would not give up. She explained as she was bouncing, "She obviously puts makeup on! Silly Twilight!"
Rarity looked at Pinkie with a speck of hopelessness.
"Pinkie, dear. This is a little far fetched, even for you," Rarity said
"So you're saying it's a possibility!" Pinkie cheered.
"Um, maybe Rarity is right Pinkie," Fluttershy explained.
"Can I see the book?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow Dash nodded, and handed her the book. She studied it for a while. She started with a simple similarity test, putting the cover beside Rainbow's face to see what that would do. Then she went to her bookshelves to look at books on doppelgangers to see if there were any answers there.
"Help me look through these, girls," Twilight said.
They looked for a good half an hour, but no luck was found.
"Why are we doing this again? It is probably just a coincidence she looks like me," Rainbow explained, defeated.
"I wanted to be sure, Rainbow. Sorry for this goose chase," Twilight said.
"That's okay, Twi. I got an early morning tomorrow, I'm going to bed," Rainbow said.
"Bye, Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie shouted.
Rainbow Dash could not stop thinking about Daring Do all the way home. Why did they look so alike? Would she ever find out? Did she even care? She didn't know. She was tired, curious, and invested none-the-less.
"Leave it alone, Rainbow Dash! You need to get home, and you need to sleep!" She told herself.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Rainbow walked through her door, and collapsed on her couch. Not even bothering to go to her bed.
The dream she had that night was unnerving. She was bundled tightly in a baby blanket being held by a mare with a sky blue pelt, and a grey stripped mane.
"Star Map!" A stallion called from behind.
Rainbow Dash could not see the stallion, but she could sense an urgency in his tone.
"Traveler! You shouldn't have left her alone. Go back!" The mare shouted.
"But do you think it is wise to give away this filly when we already know we can train her like her sister?" asked the stallion, calmly.
"I am positive. Now, this is hard enough without you here. Can you please go back to our filly?" asked the mare.
"Yes, Star Map," The stallion said, defeated.
The mare landed in front of... Rainbow Dash's parents' house? She knocked on the door twice before her mother opened the door. The pink mare with an electric blue mane smiled sweetly at the mare.
"Firefly, please. Please take care of my little Dasher until we can assure she'll be safe with us?" The mare pleaded.
"Dasher?" asked Rainbow's mom.
"Is it a colt, or a filly?" she asked again.
"Filly, please Firefly. I wouldn't ask if it weren't the utmost of importance," explained the mare. Rainbow Dash was then taken away from the mare, and given to her mother.
"Thank you," the mare said before flying off.
Rainbow Dash woke up the next day with more questions than the day before. Was that just a dream?... or was it a distant memory.
XXXX
Daring Do smiled at the good deed she had done for Rainbow Dash, her new friend, yesterday. She had always worked alone until that day, she had no parents to help her, no siblings either, it was always just her. She had to admit it was a great weight off her shoulders to have help, maybe she'd invite Rainbow Dash to one of her adventures some time. Not just then though. She was recovering still, and it wouldn't be long before Arizotal's stallions would be after her for revenge. As it was when she was a filly, as it was then. She couldn't remember a day when she wasn't either hiding, or fighting Arizotal and his men. Always alone. Even as a filly.
Daring hoped Rainbow liked the surprise she sent her. She smiled once again.
"Daring, you clear and kind mare. How can the world live without you?" she thought to herself.
A thought struck her then. Rainbow Dash. She saw a mare like her before. Daring Do searched her brain for a memory of some sort to help her find the mare Rainbow looked like. Then it struck her like a crumbling Castile falling upon her. That morning! In the mirror! Rainbow Dash looked exactly like her! How is that possible?
XXXX
With a determined exhale of breath, Rainbow Dash knocked on her parents' home. Her mother died two years ago, but she was sure she could get some answers from her father.
"Rainbow Dash!" cheered the elderly frog green stallion with a dark grey mane with balding spots, and fake teeth.
His eyes were dimming. When Rainbow Dash was young, she could remember the deep, lively blue they used to be, but it's like the vibrancy had been erased, and the faded blue is all that was left.
"I was wondering if you could answer a few questions I have," explained Rainbow.
Her father nodded, and invited her in.
It's not like Rainbow Dash didn't know she was adopted, she just never wondered about her birth parents until the day before.
"What would you like to know, Dashie?" asked her father.
Rainbow Dash sighed before she asked, "Who were my birth parents, and why did they leave me?"
Her father looked at her sorrowful, and answered, "Your mom was Star Map, and your dad was Traveler. They explored and mined for a living. They wanted to keep you safe because the job was getting too dangerous to have you around, and that's why your mom and I raised you,"
her father explained. Rainbow Dash chose to say the next sentence very carefully. She didn't want to say the wrong thing, and upset her father. "Did- did they ever say that they were coming back for me?" she asked.
"No," her father said.
That part must have been the dream then, Rainbow concluded.
"Anything else you have questions about?" asked her father.
"Did you name me 'Rainbow Dash', or did my parents?" she asked.
"No. Before we took you in, your name was simply 'Dasher'. We named you 'Rainbow Dash', after we figured out that you loved to race, even at a year old," her father explained.
After hugging her father goodbye, Rainbow Dash set out for Canterlot to find any sort of biography on Daring Do/ A.K Yearling.
XXXX Daring Do shot out of her cottage like a lightning bolt.
"Celestia's grace! I have to find a reasonable conclusion for this misunderstanding. Rainbow and I are nothing but friends! And I am going to prove it!" Daring spoke aloud, still flying fast.
Then a thought stops her in her tracks.
"How am I supposed to do this? I have no family history, and no access to books or belongings of either of her parents. Where ever they are," Daring asked herself.
She then sat down, and started to panic. What was she doing? How did she expect to find all that she needed? Did she want to know? Did she care? She didn't know.
"I work alone," She told Rainbow Dash.
But why? When did it start? Was it because solitude was all she knew? Perhaps, but for how long? Daring's head became dizzy from all the unanswered questions in her head, and she couldn't concentrate. Then she heard a twig snap behind her. She turned to see one of Arizotal's goons prowling towards her. She knew it was only a matter of time before they were after her. Might as well be when she was off guard, and unprepared.
"Bring it!" She shouted, getting into fighting position.
XXXX Rainbow Dash had gotten to the library, right as the librarian was going for a cafe break.
"Please miss, can I use the library? I promise I won't steel any books," she explained.
"I'm sorry," said the elderly grey mare.
"But I can't leave this library unattended in my absence," said the mare.
"Listen, this is kinda a really big deal for me. I need to look up facts about my favorite author to see if we're related," said Rainbow.
The librarian laughed in her face!
"Oh, what a silly fantasy you have created! Sorry dear, the answer is still no," The mare said, wiping a tear off her face.
Some joke! What if she was right though? What if they aren't related at all?
It's not like she didn't have doubts, but it was fun to do the research. Maybe if the princesses... no! Rainbow Dash would not bother their majesties for something they wouldn't care about. Besides, it was her family history, so it was her problem. She flew away, angry with the mare. Rainbow was determined to prove her own doubts, and now this mare wrong! She flew to the Ever Free to ask Zacora for any information, if any, she had on her family. She knocked twice before she heard,
"Come in friend or foe so that I can tell you what you need to know," from inside the hut.
"Hey Zacora," Rainbow said.
"Rainbow Dash! Good to see you, why would you like to know anew?" Zacora asked.
"Well, I do have questions, I just don't-"
"You don't thing I have the answers? The answers I do have. They come in three, I'll explain while you have tea," said Zacora.
Shocked, Rainbow Dash did what she was told to.
"Now Rainbow," Zacora started.
"Your questions are about your family's back story. The first answers are from your father Star Free. Next is yours truly. The final is from the thing you never thought, but that is the number three," She explained.
Rainbow just looked confused.
"What thing? Where do I find it?" she asked.
"Drink your tea, Rainbow. And then you can go," said Zacora.
Again, Rainbow Dash did as she was told. When she finished,
Rainbow Dash asked, "How do you know what I want to know?"
"Not the right time, I am only a zebra who speaks in rhyme. Go now before you run out of time!" Zacora said.
"That was a little out of character," thought Rainbow as she flew away.
The thing I never thought... the thing I never thought. What does that mean? I guess I should do some more research... thought Rainbow as she flew further away from Zacora's hut. She arrived back in Ponyville to the whole town calling her name.
"What in the name of Celestia is going on?" She asked.
"Rainbow!" Pinkie shouted as she ran to Rainbow Dash.
"When I went to your house, and saw you weren't there I thought something horrible could have happened! So I told the whole town to start looking!" Pinkie explained.
"Where did you go?" Twilight asked, trotting up to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.
"I went to my father's house in Cloudsdale, and then to the Canterlot library, but the librarian wouldn't let me in, and then Zacora's!" Rainbow explained simply.
"Why? Because of the book cover?" asked Twilight.
The entire town was surrounding them, and Rainbow Dash didn't want them to.
"Can we go somewhere privet?" she asked.
"Yes, we can go to Sweet Apple Acres! I'm sure Apple Jack would want to know this too. Rarity and Fluttershy as well," Twilight said.
So they walked away from the town, and down the street to Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow really didn't want to bother her friends with this mission, it was her mission after all, but with no ideas of where to look next, she really had no choice anymore. All four friends arrived with in minutes of each other, all wondering the same thing,
"What to do next?"
When Rainbow Dash went over, in detail, her adventures of the day, all that was shown was blank/surprised looks on her friends' faces.
"What did Zacora mean by 'The thing you never expect'?" Twilight asked.
"Weren't you listening? I don't know!" Rainbow said, giving up almost completely.
"Could it mean Discord? Would he know about if you're related to Daring Do?" Apple Jack asked.
"Wouldn't Zacora just say Discord? I don't think he's the one," Fluttershy explained.
"Well who else do we know who we'd think wouldn't be apart of this?" Rarity asked.
"The only other ponies I can think of are the princesses, but that couldn't be right, could it?" Rainbow explained.
"No, it has to be someone more astray from your life," Twilight explained.
"The Flim Flam brothers?" Apple Jack asked.
"Gilda?" Pinkie questioned.
The longer they stayed in the barn and thought, the more obscure their answers became.
"Berry Punch?"
"Derpy?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Cake?"
"Oh, just forget it!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow, we're only trying to help," Rarity explained.
"Well, you can stop, because this is hopeless!" Rainbow Dash yelled, exasperated.
She flew out of the barn, leaving all her friends alone. Why would she even want to know if she is related to Daring Do? She was already great friends with her, why did she need to have a sister? Besides, Scootaloo is kind of like a sister, sure they weren't related but that was cool to her. She walked into her house, and there was Daring Do herself waiting for her!
"What?" asked Rainbow Dash.
She was bleeding, and out of breath. Her hat was in shreds, and she could barely stand up straight.
"I got to tell you something, and you won't like it," Daring Do explained.
"Rainbow Dash! What are we still doing here! They'll be here any second! Move, girl!" Daring screamed, consciousness retuning to her.
"No way! Your ribs are cracked, and you can't walk on your forelegs. We're now going anywhere," Rainbow Dash explained.
"What? Rainbow Dash I-" Daring started to say.
But then she felt the pain in her chest and hooves, and realized Rainbow Dash was right.
"It doesn't matter, Rainbow Dash! We are in danger! Both of us! We need to fly!" Daring explained.
"Not until you tell me why you're like this!" Rainbow Dash demanded.
The memory of what happened scared her. Daring didn't want to tell Rainbow Dash what she saw, but now she had no choice. She looked deeply into Rainbow Dash's eyes. Pleading with her one last time not to make her say a word. But Rainbow Dash seemed determined to know.
"Well?" Rainbow asked as she crossed her forelegs.
She flew in place, slowly bobbing up and down repeatedly. Her face was so angry, and Daring could sense the anger grow the longer Daring waited to tell her. Daring gave in, and started to talk.
"I was flying in the forest, going faster than I've ever gone before, and then I was taking a rest in a small clearing," Daring started to explain.
Daring didn't want to say why she was flying, at least not at that particular moment.
"Then one of Arizotal's stallions sneaked up on me! So I was ready to fight! It was a good fight, if I do say so myself, but I lost!" Daring Do started to explain, in her story telling voice no less.
"I got him bleeding, and then he bucked my ribs! So, I got his face, and got him bleeding again! And let me tell you, if I wasn't sweating from the flying, I was sweating then. I showed no mercy, and neither did he!" Daring explained further.
Rainbow Dash was no longer flying at this point, instead she was on the floor, listening intently.
"But then I was ambushed! Four other stallions came and attacked! I was half out of consciousness when they took me, and flew me to Arizotal. And let me tell you, Arizotal was not happy at all when I arrived," Daring continued, fully grabbing Rainbow Dash's attention.
"'Daring Do!' he said. 'I don't know if you know this, but you cost me my plans of destruction' he continued. I was then locked in his dungeon, and kept there for an hour! In the darkness, wet and damp darkness. I was then taken, and tortured! Arizotal didn't like what we did at all, Rainbow. I was strapped in tightly in a stretching device, I guess it broke my fore legs from stretching so much," Daring continued to explain.
"How did you escape?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Daring's eyes widened in fear, she forgot that that would be a question Rainbow Dash would ask. But she had to answer it. She ad to tell Rainbow Dash the truth. Tears returned to Daring's eyes. She couldn't hide them, they just came.
"Daring Do? How did you escape?" Rainbow asked again.
Suddenly stallions flew through the door and windows. Bloody murder on their faces. Panic and fighting instinct grew in Rainbow Dash's body. They slowly surrounded Rainbow and Daring.
"How did you escape?" Rainbow Dash asked, realization hitting her hard.
"I didn't," Daring said, defeated.
The mares were then knocked out, and swimming in their subconsciousness.
XXXX Rainbow wakes up to being strapped to an up right table, looking at who she never thought to see again, Arizotal.
"Wait a minute," Rainbow thought. "The thing I never expected!" She thought once again.
She turned to see Daring Do still passed out. She struggled to release herself from her bonds and get herself and Daring out of there. But the more she struggled, the leather bonds got tighter.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash," Arizotal laughed.
"Let me go, Arizotal! Or else!" Rainbow Dash threatened.
"Or else what? My, my Rainbow Dash. You have as much spunk as your father did, before I ripped him, and your mother to shreds!" Arizotal boasted.
"Wh- what?" Rainbow Dash asked with tears forming in her eyes. "You're lying Arizotal!" She shouted, even though she already knew the truth.
"You doubt me? Don't dare to doubt me, Rainbow Dash! I can end you when ever I want!" Arizotal threatened.
"Then why don't you?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Because you can play a vital piece in my game. I tell you everything you want to know about your parents, and you leave Daring to be tortured until death," Arizotal explained.
"I will never let that happen, Arizotal! Never!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"Very well," Arizotal said as he took a hot iron rod. "I can torture you, until you give in," Arizotal said, getting closer to Rainbow Dash.
XXXX
Daring woke up abruptly! She heard screams of pain, and she was curious as to who was making them. She turned her head both right and forward, and realized that she was back in Arizotal's layer. But who was screaming? An aery realization struck her like a whip when she started to slowly turn her head left, only to see Rainbow Dash and Arizotal. The burn marks on Rainbow Dash were huge, and red. Two on her right hip the size of base balls, four smaller ones at the joint of her calf bone, several on her face and forehead, and Arizotal was raising the hot rod to Rainbow Dash's eye! Daring thrust-ed around in her straps trying to get to Rainbow Dash!
"Arizotal!" She screamed!
And that was when the other two noticed her. Daring Do didn't pay any more attention to them on the count of she needed to get Rainbow Dash out of there! Both Rainbow Dash and Arizotal starred at her. Rainbow Dash with hope, and Arizotal with disdain.
"Daring Do," Arizotal said calmly, with a threatening undertone.
Daring stopped trying to escape to look at her enemy. She was panting hard as she glared at the creature.
"Have I ever told you how much you remind me of your parents?" Arizotal said conversationally.
"No!" Rainbow Dash shouted right before Arizotal knocked her out cold.
"Rainbow Dash!" Daring screamed.
"I never thanked you for bringing her here, did I?" Arizotal asked still conversationally.
"No, you haven't," Daring said, slyly. As if she knew something he hadn't.
"I was wondering when you were going to tell Rainbow Dash the story I told you, you know the one before I threatened to to kill you unless you went and got Rainbow Dash," Arizotal explained.
"I wasn't, Arizotal. She isn't ready for a shock like that," Daring said, playing along. Any second now.
"Well I-"
BOOM! Arizotal was interrupted by Daring Do breaking out of her bonds, and fly kicking him in the face! His goons ran, and flew after Daring as she flew to avoid the stallions. She nose dived to the still passed out Rainbow Dash, and took beatings from the stallions trying to free her. One broken foot, and fractured back later, Daring did manage to free her. She flew as fat as she could dodging booby traps and goons trying to get away. And after literally breaking a wall, she did escape.
XXXX Rainbow Dash woke up in Twilight's bed. Her memory was unreliable at most. What happened? Why was she here? What happened to Daring Do? Wait Daring Do! Arizotal! Her parents!
XXXX Daring felt terrible about what happened to Rainbow Dash. She apologized to her friend Twilight when she found Daring carrying Rainbow Dash on her back passed out. And she was apologizing to Rainbow's other friends when they all heard Rainbow call down to Twilight and Daring.
"Yes, Rainbow Dash?" Daring asked.
"How did you escape?" Rainbow asked.
Daring Do smiled warmly at Rainbow as she explained what happened, leaving out the part about their parents.
"Really!? a nose dive!? I've always done nose dives myself, I have never actually seen one done before!" Rainbow explained excitedly.
"What? a WALL!? Are you okay!? I must have been really heavy after that," Rainbow said.
"Rest some more, Rainbow. You need to build your strength again," Twilight explained, pulling up the blankets.
"Thanks, Twi," Rainbow said, graciously.
XXXX Rainbow felt exhaustion rise in her like water rising as it got poured in a bucket. And she slept.
When she woke up again, it was night. Rainbow Dash could hear chattering and laughs down stairs, and she ventured down the stars to have a look. Spike was roasting marshmallows for s'mores, Rarity was complementing the stary night, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were watching patiently for their s'mores- well as patient as Pinkie could ever be when it came to sweets- Twilight was picking out a book to start reading, Apple Jack was telling a story of her day, and Daring Do was simply enjoying the company of other ponies. Rainbow Dash smiled at her friend's loyalty, and love they had for her. She almost didn't want to disturb them, almost.
"Look whose back from the dead!" Rainbow Dash announced.
"Oh, hello, Rainbow sleep well?" Rarity asked.
"Rainbow Dash! Um," Daring said.
"Hi Daring, thank you for saving me, and staying here to make sure I was alright, I really appreciate it," Rainbow said as kindly as she could.
"No problem at all, Rainbow Dash. Do you remember anything when we were there?" Daring asked, tentatively.
"I do remember Arizotal say something about my real parents, but that's it," Rainbow lied.
In truth, she remembered everything, the deal, the torture, the pain, the black out, she remembered it all. She just needed the information from Daring Do. She had to hear the story from her.
XXXX Daring sighed with relief. But she knew in her gut that Rainbow Dash deserved to know what she knew. But how could she tell her without breaking her young heart? She had no idea. But she had to say something fast, otherwise Rainbow would wonder what happened.
"So, Rainbow how are your burns?" Twilight asked, saving Daring from saying anything too soon.
"They still sting, but I'll live. I got a headache though, that's not fun," Rainbow Dash explained.
More guilt swam through Daring. If only she was more careful with protecting Rainbow. Then this- any of it- might not have happened. Daring took a deep sigh, and walked over to Rainbow Dash. The sorrow in her eyes was prominent, but she had to tell Rainbow, she had to tell Dasher.
"Listen, Rainbow Dash. I have a confession to make, a confession, and a story. I didn't want to tell you, and I really didn't want to know the story myself, but you've got to know," Daring explained.
"What confession, Daring?" Rainbow asked.
"We're sisters," Daring said, deadpanned.
XXXX Every pony gasped in shock except for Rainbow and Daring Do.
"I think I knew that ever since we were kidnapped, I just wanted you to say it," Rainbow explained.
She could see Daring becoming relieved to here the news.
"Do you know what happened to our parents?" Rainbow asked.
XXXX Daring nodded sadly.
"Sit down every pony. I got a story to tell you," Daring explained.
Over Thirty Years Ago
In Manehatten there lived a little pegasus colt with a sandy pelt with a striking rainbow mane and magenta eyes. His grandfather worked as a shoe maker, and his mother a chef. In his pass time, he loved to read the Equestrian map his parents hung up in the main hallway of their house. He used to dream of traveling around Equestria in search of gold and jewels and adventures! His name was Shilling Grove, and he wanted to be an explorer! But his mother didn't want him to explore the world because it was dangerous and a silly way to pass the time. His grandfather, who always dreamed of exploring, always encouraged Shilling Grove's dream. Every night after they'd say prayers, his grandpa always made up adventures that Shilling Grove would go on, and Shilling would always cheer whenever he would defeat the bad guy in his grandfather's stories.
XXXX
In Cloudsdale there lived a small filly with a light blue pelt as blue as the sky with a mane of grey hues, and magenta eyes. She lived with her mother and three sisters. Green Way was the oldest, Free Bird was the second, and Crest was the youngest of the three eldest. Since each sister was well into their teenage years, none of them had time for their sister. And their mother was the CEO of the weather team, so she was always too busy for her youngest filly. Her name was Star Map, and her dream was to travel the world in search for gold and jewels and adventure! But she barely knew how to fly, and never actually believed that her dream would ever come true. So she'd sit on her bed at night, and watch the stars.
On Star Map's tenth birthday, her friends gave her a compass, and an explorer's hat! And that was it. That was the day she believed and wanted with all her heart to be an explorer. And a map cutie mark showed up on her flank. All her friends, and herself were cheering and celebrating her getting a cutie mark because she was the first of her friends to get one. When Star Map ran home to show her mom and sisters, they were actually excited, and showed off theirs as well. nothing was more perfect.
XXXX
On Shilling Grove's tenth birthday, his grandpa gave him a telescope, a map, and a plastic hacking knife.
"This is what I want to do!" Shilling Grove thought to himself.
Then, he looked down at his flank to see a telescope on it. Both his grandfather and him cheered. But his mother, who was already mad that Shilling's grandfather got his those ridiculous things, would have lit on flames if it were possible. She was furious with Shilling Grove for getting that for his cutie mark instead of something practical like a baker or a school teacher. That was then Shilling Grove vowed to changed his name to Traveler, and not keep it at Shilling Grove which he absolutely hated as a name. His grandfather flew him out to the legal court to do just that. And Traveler was never happier.
XXXX
On a family vacation to Manehatten, when Star Map was sixteen, she was barely able to stay in the air. She was teased constantly teased and mocked by Green Way who was pregnant and holding a foal, Free Bird who was the same, and Crest who was watching her three foals be better at flying than Star Map. She was never a good flyer. Even as a filly. She was just never finding a reason to fly until then. Her friends all lived close, and her school was walking distance, there was never any reason to fly at all in Star Map's mind, but here every pony was, mocking her. She hated her family. She wanted to get away.
XXXX
When Traveler was sixteen, he was already living in an apartment with his friend Poppy, a gardener. His grandfather died of old age two years prior, and his mother kicked him out of the house a year later. Traveler was always talking about getting away from the city to make a life of his own, and Poppy always talked of his dream to work in the palace gardens in Canterlot. They both supported the dreams of their friend, always telling him that his dream will come true soon. One morning, while in the park throwing a hoofball, Traveler caught his eye on the most gorgeous pegasus he'd ever lay his eyes on. A sky blue body with a mane of different shades of grey, and her eyes! Her eyes were the exact color his eyes were!
XXXX
When the family arrived, Star Map wanted to beat up every pony in her family. She was angry, upset, and her self-esteem wasn't the highest it had ever been. She would have left if it wasn't for the colt that was staring at her. His eyes! His eyes were the same shade as her's! If that wasn't magical, she didn't know what was. His wings were strong, and his coloring was a fun combination. A cinnamon body, with a beautiful rainbow colored main. She had to meet the stallion, so she walked up to him right when he was walking up to her.
XXXX
Traveler couldn't believe it. The mare was walking towards him too! She noticed him! She noticed him!
"Hello," Traveler said.
"Hello," was her reply.
She looked to see if her family was paying attention, they weren't.
"I'm Traveler," He introduced.
Just then Poppy walked up towards them. He had an uncombed black-ish red mane, and dirt in his ruby red pelt. Traveler thought he was just too unrepresentable for this gorgeous, well groomed mare.
"This is Poppy," Traveler explained.
"Hello, Poppy, I'm Star Map!" She explained.
"What brings you to Manehatten?" Traveler asked.
"A family get away," Star Map explained.
"And so you picked here? Why not Canterlot?" asked Poppy.
Traveler jabbed him in the side.
She actually giggled, and said, "We go there all the time. My mother is the CEO of all the weather teams in Equestria, so my mom takes us to the meetings with the princess all the time."
XXXX Both stallions go wide eyed when they heard that.
"A rich filly, eh? Well, welcome to Manehatten! Where all the horse crap in the world, happens every day!" Poppy explained with cheerful sarcasm.
Star Map realized that this Poppy was a sarcastic, fun loving, doofus. And Traveler, though polite, was trying hard not to laugh at his friend's jokes. She then spotted Traveler's cutie mark, and started to get excited and fly around.
"Wow! Are you an explorer? Where have you been? Who have you met on your adventures? I'm an explorer too! Well, I'm meant to be one, I've never been anywhere except for Cloudsdale, Canterlot, and now here! Is it exciting? Is it dangerous? What's it like?"
Star Map was going out of her mind with excitement, doing loops, and speeding, she was having a grand old time asking this experienced explorer everything she could.
"Actually, I haven't gone anywhere either. I'm just like you," Traveler explained.
"Oh," Star Map said, disappointed and ashamed.
XXXX In all truth, Traveler wanted to tell her that he did in deed travel a lot, but he hated lying to ponies he liked. Especially pretty ones. Star Map looked back at her family to see what they were doing. It turns out, they were still trying to figure out the map they were carrying.
"Do you two want to hang out?" Star Map asked.
"Yeah we do!" Traveler said.
They were then in the sky flying higher and higher, leaving Poppy on the ground. Traveler felt safe with Star Map. He felt that what ever he did, this mare would support him more than his mother ever did.
XXXX Star Map felt secure and confident with Traveler beside her. He didn't mock her for her weak flying skills, he didn't laugh when she nearly fell, Traveler was a perfect gentlecolt, and she was amazed by him.
"Star Map!" Her mother yelled.
It was time for her to check into the hotel with her mother sisters, nieces and nephews. She wasn't looking forward to spending two weeks with her entire family. She'd rather stay home alone like she usually did, but there she was. And the sooner she could go back to Traveler and Poppy the better she would be. She couldn't believe it. She looked back longingly at the cute pegasus and his red earth pony friend. If only she could get away from her family.
"We'll be here all day! Come here if you can!" Poppy called.
Star Map smiled at that.
XXXX "Wow, wasn't she something?" Traveler sighed.
"Sounds like you have a crush!" Poppy said, bumping Traveler's shoulder.
"So what if I do? She's attractive! And she comes from a better family than I ever did," Traveler said. His mind wondered to that beautiful pony for the entire hoofball game.
XXXX
Star Map did not come the next day, she was family locked. Meaning mental abuse all day everyday for two weeks. She tried to escape to the park the next day, but she was forced to see the city. All she could think of Traveler. She needed to see him again, but the entire two weeks, it was all about what her mother needed to do. And what the fouls needed to do. Star Map could not stand her family. She was angry and bitter the entire trip. Until, the Friday before they left! She finally saw Traveler at a bakery arguing with the owner. He said that his mother had wanted him to live with her again, and Star Map was surprised that Traveler lived alone at six-teen years old! He gave her his address to mail letters, and Star Map gave her's in return.
They sent letters to one another all about their days, and how much Star Map's mother was annoying, they'd talk about that. They always talked about the day they would see each other again. And finally, when each of them where eight-teen, Star Map finally moved out of her mother's house, and went to Manehatten. And there they were. Poppy and Traveler. She embraced them with all her love. She couldn't believe she was seeing them again. They sit in the park for hours just catching up.
XXXX He couldn't believe it. He just could not believe it. After three years of letter writing, Traveler finally saw Star Map once again. And she wasted no time. Right then and there they started to travel. It was all in the last letter Star Map sent. They would meet her in the park where they met with everything they would need to travel. Star Map herself had an explorer's hat on. It looked like she had it for years, just waiting to put it to use.
There first stop, which took two days, was to Canterlot. Star Map asked a favor from Princess Celestia to let Poppy work in the gardens as one of her employes. Poppy was ecstatic when he heard the news, and he thanked her when ever he go the chance. And when they said good-bye, Traveler promised to see how Poppy was liking his job when ever they were in Canterlot. The princess then walked up to the filly and colt.
"You two have much loyalty in your hearts. That will get you far in life, you know," The princess said, winking at the pair. She then went to go show Poppy where he could start.
Traveler and Star Map got to go to amazing places! Fillydelphia, Los Pegasus, they traveled the world together. But the most dangerous place they went to was Saddle Arabia. When they were nine-teen, they found a cave in Saddle Arabia to hide from a sand storm. And in that cave, there was a huge pile of gold, jewels, diamonds, silver, and coins. They were so excited! They thought they were lucky beyond belief. But little did they know, the dweller of the cave wasn't happy with them steeling his things. He called himself Arizotal, and he called after them as they flew away from the creature.
"I will have my revenge!"
For a few months Star Map believed that Arizotal would come for his revenge. But after a year of nothing from the strange creature, she became more relaxed. Traveler and Star Map were twenty, Traveler purposed! The wedding was a small wedding, only with Poppy, and Fire Fly, Star Map's friend, with Celestia herself wedding them. Though the numbers were miniscule, Traveler and Star Map treasured their wedding. And promised that their foals would never be treated like they were. They would be respected, believed in, and never made fun of.
And when Star Map and Traveler were twenty-one, on one hot day in June, in the cabin they built a year before, they gave birth to a beautiful filly. Her eyes magenta, her mane in grey hues, and her pelt a sandy color. Growing up, Daring Do was a good foal. Always ate what she was told, always fallowed the rules, never lied, and always thought her parents her entire world. And when Daring Do was very small, about two, they started to run. The creature from four years ago came back, and they fought for their peace, and lives back. And only growing up to this, Daring Do felt it important that she never leave her parents.
She was trained in fighting, spying, defense, tracking, and weaponry. By the time she was eight, Daring Do could join her parents while they explore without the fear of being defenseless. After all, Arizotal never stopped hunting them, and they never stopped being hunted. When they stole from him those four years ago, they had no money left, and they were starving and homeless, and they got desperate when they reached that cave. But the three or four times they were captured, they weren't brought to a cave, but a temple made entirely out of gold and stone. They'd always escape and fight to get to Daring. And then, their lives changed forever when Star Map realized the shocking news.
When Daring Do was nine years old and got her cutie mark, a compass showing that she is exactly like her parents, Star Map discovered she she was already ten months pregnant with another foul. Admittedly she was slower, and she thought she had gained a little wait, but she figured it was just her getting older. She never dreamed of letting another innocent soul into their life. So when she gave birth to this filly, it was decided that she will be put into a family. Daring was only ten so she had to stay home with Traveler as she went to Fire Fly's house, and pray she will take her daughter.
"It's okay, Dasher. Mommy and Daddy loves you," Star Map calmed her crying infant.
After an unexpected dispute with Traveler, Star Map convinced him to go back. Her heart was pounding, and she was crying. For herself, for her foal, but more importantly, she cried for the filly's future that she won't be able to be apart apart of.
"Please keep my filly safe, until I can come back for her," she begged. And then she left the filly.
"I'll be back, Dasher. I promise," She said to herself as her tears flew down, and touched the ground.
Alas, she would never see her little filly again. While on the run from Arizotal, Traveler find certain information about certain rings that would help Arizotal rule the world. And he wanted that information. When Daring Do was eleven, the ponies who worked for Arizotal finally got them for good. Arizotal kept them in the dungeon for days without food. And he'd force them to do labor, and beat them when they wouldn't tell him what he wanted. They never told. They swore to him they would die before they would tell him anything.
"Is that so?" Arizotal said one day, bored of the same answer.
He then held an object up in the air with his tail. At first glance Traveler and Star Map couldn't understand what he was holding, until it moved.
"Tell me what I need to know, or she dies!" Arizotal shouted threateningly.
"No!" Star Map screamed and tried to fly towards Daring, but exhaustion and the lack of food prevented her from doing so.
"Let her go! She has nothing to do with this!" Traveler yelled angrily, nearly passing out doing so.
"Spunk Traveler? I like spunk in my victims. Fine. I'll keep her as a pet until you two come to your senses," Arizotal said.
And he did. For three more months Star Map and Traveler still said nothing about the rings. Arizotal was fed up with them one evening. He just wanted them to die! He was pacing back and forth in his quarters while the bone thin filly sat helplessly chained to the corner.
"You're Traveler and Star Map's daughter, right?" Arizotal said after a few hours in silence.
Daring Do jumped from hearing his voice and forgot to answer.
"Answer me, dog!" He demanded.
With another jump, Daring managed to stammer, "Y-y-yes, M-master."
The little filly was in tears upon answering her master.
"Then you go everywhere your parents do, right?" Arizotal asked.
"Ye-yes, Master," was Daring's response.
He then demanded Traveler and Star Map to be awakened. They were put on upright tables, and forced to keep quiet. He then put Daring in view of them, and Traveler feared the worst.
"Kill them!" Arizotal shouted.
And two pegasi sped their way both holding knives. In one moment the knives cut through the skin of both Star Map and Traveler. Their blood dripped rapidly down their bodies as their daughter watched in shock. She was then thrown to the ground by Arizotal.
"Take her memories!" was the first memory Daring Do had.
Present Day
Daring Do didn't really know the reason why she had been fighting Arizotal for so long, and for what purpose (Other than keeping the world safe from him). Yesterday she found out. She has been fighting Arizotal for the revenge of her parents. She vowed to keep it a secret from Rainbow Dash- Dasher. She was only Twenty, and didn't need the burden of knowing how her parents died, and what her sister goes through daily. But these are the truths of their family back story.
