Rainbow was bored to death and then, out of thin air, Daring Do shows up.
Another day in boring old Ponyville. AJ is out of town, Twilight is busy with her library and so Rainbow Dash is bored to death. As if fortune calls, a well known mare shows up.
This is just a short story about a little adventure of Rainbow Dash and Daring Do.
Daring Do and her number one fan by tio aka truekry
“Well, I’m bored!” With that statement said, Rainbow Dash threw her exhausted self into the small cloud she was sitting on. “My weather duty is done, AJ is up in Manehatten to visit her uncle and aunt and Twilight is re shelving the entire library, again!” That also meant she couldn’t read any of her favorite Daring Do books. She played with the thought to visit Pinkie Pie and play some pranks on one of her friends, but they already did that yesterday so there guards were up to maximum at the moment.
“Excuse me,” a voice called from the street below her. First, Rainbow considered pretend to be asleep. She didn’t know the voice, so it was none of her friends and every other pony who looked for her so early in the morning meant work. She was no friend of work, at least too much work. “Hello, Miss?” This mare was persistent, so she needs a new plan to get rid of her.
“Sorry, but I’m at my lunch break right now, come back later, ok?” She called back without the need to look down who was talking to her.
“I just wanted to ask if you by any possibility know the way to the,” Rainbow could hear that she was flipping some pages in some kind of book or journal. “The ancient castle of the royal pony sisters,” the book was shut. “Yes, that was the name.” Dash was a little surprised. Who was crazy enough to go in the Everfree Forest to visit these old caverns, which hold no longer anything worth a bit? Curiosity got the better of her and so she shifted her position on her belly and looked down to the pony down there. First she thought she was dreaming and rubbed her eyes, but still there she was. A pegasus with a sandy brown coat, wearing a light blue jacket and glasses on her nose. The lenses, of the glasses, were quite thick and let her look a bit nerdy. On her head was the grayscale mane, but it was combed and bound in a bun. She had to get sure.
“You are Daring Do?!” She exclaimed and pointed with a hoof to her. A smile was forming on the pegasus face, on both of them.
“So, you read my books?” Rainbow couldn’t believe it. It was Daring Do, the Daring Do! The Daring Do who Twilight said only exists in the books. In less than ten seconds flat she shook her mane in order, flew down the street and was next to her personal hero, after the Wonderbolts of course. The famous hero and author drew back a bit as Rainbow Dash approached her further. “I take that as a yes,” she murmured between her lips. Rainbow was now looking up and down on her. Her mane, her coat and her cutie mark, everything was exactly like on the cover of each book. But something was strange about her. Why the glasses and this jacket? She could imagine Twilight wearing something like that but not the adventures Daring Do. But all that aside, it was still Daring Do!
“Oh my gosh! It’s such an honor to meet you! I love your books, really!” She reconsidered the sentence in her head and spoke again. “I mean, I’m not an egghead or something, but I really, really love them!” Daring was still smiling, just seemed to be a bit overwhelmed.
“Well, thanks… I guess.” She took a step back from Rainbow and looked around, for what purpose whatsoever. “Now back to my question. You do not know by chance where I can find this castle?” The cyan pegasus squeed in glee.
“Know? I was there when we defeated Nightmare Moon!” She took off the ground, slammed a hoof on her chest and took on a serious face. “I’m Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in all of Equestria, future Wonderbolt and the element of loyalty. I’m quite famous myself, you know? I also have a small fan club of my own.” She practically radiated with pride still hanging in the air.
“So… could you show me on my map where…,” Daring Do whirled around to get something from here saddlebags. They looked pretty stuffed and ready to burst any time now.
“No need for that Daring Do! I, the famous Rainbow Dash, will escort you through the Everfree Forest to the castle,” she announced while landing again and beaming at her idol. Daring stopped, opened her bags and looked again at her fan in front of her. The cyan mare was still beaming at her and when she really was the element of loyalty…
“Well, why not. I mean, you were already there once.” Rainbow had to gather all her strength to not break out in a fangirlish scream of excitement. She would go on an adventure with her idol. That was better than anything she could have hoped for today. And on top of it, Twilight would be so jealous! She could already see how she was standing in the library and tell her all about it. Yes, her friend would be so jelly. “So, you said something about the Everfree Forest. Isn’t it that forest that is famous for housing the most dangerous creatures in all of Equestria?” Was that concern on the face of this adventures mare?
“Don't sweat it! There is only this manticore around, but since Fluttershy saved it… sort of, it’s harmless. And the sea serpent, who lives in the river, is a really nice guy actually,” Rainbow finished her little motivation speech, not that Daring Do would need it anyway. The sandy colored mare gulped and looked to her guide.
“So, it's not that dangerous?” The stuntmare shook her head slightly and grinned again.
“Well… There is also a hydra, but it lives in the swamp. Also we have to look for this poison joke stuff. It’s nasty,” She finished her explanation on the oncoming danger. “But we will manage. I’m Rainbow Dash and you’re Daring Do!” She said confidential. Daring put a hoof to her chin and thought about it for a moment then nodded.
“I guess you’re right. So lead the way Rainbow Dash,” said the adventurer and tucked her journal away, which she was holding the entire time in her left wing. This was her day and nopony would ruin that for her. Not even Discord or this evil changeling queen. She took off again and flew with her regular speed in the direction of the dark forest in which the castle was located. She was the happiest mare right now.
After a few minutes of flying down the road she looked back, but Daring was missing. Bewildered she flew straight back and found here idol trotting down the way much like her pet turtle Tank. Slow but step by step. “Are you alright?” Daring only nodded. “Then come on! The adventure doesn’t wait for us, you know.” Rainbow knew that this was lightly untrue, because without them there was no adventure but she couldn’t care less. “So come up here and hurry!”
“I can’t,” was the only thing Daring said and pasted through under Dash. She took chase and flew now next to the trotting mare.
“What do you mean? Are your bags to heavy?” She looked at mentioned luggage and put a hoof under it. They weren’t heavy at all!
“No. Didn’t you notice that I never flew in one of my books? That’s because I can’t fly or at least not any more. Since this nasty crash in the jungle my doctors only allow me to fly one hour max a day. My wing will never be what it was.” Rainbow flinched.
“Sorry! I didn’t know that… I would have never…,” but she never came to end her sentence.
“It’s OK. I live quite a while with that and I’m fine. So can we take it slow please?” With that Rainbow landed next to her and matched up her speed, but said nothing. “Is that the famous Ponyville?” Daring asked after a few minutes of walking in silence. Her hoof pointed in the direction of the small town in some distance.
“Famous? For what could Ponyville be famous?” Rainbow answered a little perplexed. She never heard anypony say that this small town was famous for anything. Cloudsdale was famous for actually just being what it is. A city in the skies. Canterlot was famous because it was the capital and Las Pegasus for his casinos and so on. But Ponyville was just, well, Ponyville.
“That it is mostly destroyed once a week.” Rainbow instantly stood still and thought about that sentence. Then she began to count the days between some of the adventures she had with her friends.
“Actually it’s every two weeks,” she said after finish counting. Math was never her strong side, but she was better than AJ at least. “So… What are we looking for? And old treasure, some mystic hocus-pocus or something like that?” They began again trotting down the road which leads direct to the forest.
“I don’t know.” Daring shrugged and kept walking without even looking at Dash.
“What do you mean you don’t know? Then why are you going there in the first place?” Who would risk his life don’t knowing what for?
“I never know but there is always something.” Rainbow Dash sighted. That wasn’t the mare she thought she would be.
A/N: Just silly me trying to write some English stuff. Don't sweat to point out mistakes and to tell me your opinion.
Daring Do and her number one fan by tio aka truekry
“Well, that’s it,” Rainbow pointed out. “The one and only Everfree Forest.” They stood right in front of the entrance to the dark forest.
“OK, wait a second.” Daring threw her bags off her back. They landed on the dirt road, raising some dust. Curiously, she approached her idol and saw her dragging out a journal, which looked like the one she had in her wing when they met.
“What are you doing,” she asked after Daring also took a quill out and began to write something down.
“Writing, of course. I’m an author after all.” With that said Rainbow stepped next to her and began to read what was written down only seconds ago.
The sun was shining down on my back, mocking me further. After days without a good sleep and only small rations of hay to eat I was rather weak.
Rainbow looked at the sentence again and then at Daring Do. It was only spring, just about 68 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly clouded. There was no mocking sun. Also she looked well feed and not in the slightest exhausted. Was she lying? She had to read further.
But after what felt like an eternity on this dull road, which seemed to be leading me nowhere, I found a small village. I got some supplies and ate for the first time in days until I was stuffed. After that a friendly villager was kind enough to show me the way to my destined location I was back on the right track.
Small town? Was she writing about Ponyville? But what Rainbow really struck was the fact that Daring Do was referring her. This friendly inhabitant was definitely her. Again she had to restrain herself to not break out in glee in front of her. Daring Do was using her for one of her books. Best day ever! Just as Rainbow finished her victory dance in her mind, the adventurer put her bags back on.
“All right, now I’m ready,” she exclaimed and closed her bags. Rainbow needed a few seconds to recognize what was said. As soon as she was back in the real world she shook her head.
“OK then… Let’s go,” she answered and could slam her hoof in her face instantly. She could have said a cool and awesome sentence, but no. Her brain was busy imagining her dancing in front of Twilight’s nose. Now it was too late, because they were already trotting past the first few trees. The forest looked like always: dark, some unknown flowers here and there and eventually clouds passing above them. Even if this was not her first time in these woods; it still gave her the creeps.
“So, how far in the forest is the castle?” Daring asked, also slightly nervous. Again she was checking her surrounding, much like she was looking for a fast escape route.
“It’s pretty much in the center. We have to follow the road some time and then go through a section with creepy looking trees. After that there is a small river and then a cliff. But we repaired the bridge last time so we will be fine,” that was at least what she was hoping for. If Daring could fly, this would be no problem at all, but so they had to take the same way she took with her friends. Rainbow was no longer so sure about this. Quiet noises could be heard after she finished talking. A limb breaking, the rustle of an unknown animal in the bushes and the clatter of teeth. “Are you…,” Rainbow asked and turned to her companion.
“No.” Daring answered head shaking. They both gulped and looked around.
“Hello, Anypony there?” Rainbow asked into the dark. Again the breaking of a limb sounded through the air, but now it was right next to them. They held their breath and in the next moment a timber wolf jumped into vision.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh,” Daring shrieked and jumped into cover behind Rainbow. She herself was looking at the wooden predator. It seemed to consist of limbs and a few leaves and was only half as tall as a foal. She didn’t want to, but she had to. She felt over laughing her flank off.
“Hahahah… Daring…. That was hilarious….,” she said between small breaths. It was only a pup, still dangerous to some degree but a pup. Daring stared at her, than at the small wolf, which seemed to be confused as well. After a minute of laughter Rainbow got back on her hooves and wiped a tear from her face. “Sorry,” she began, still trying to intake breath. “But that was hilarious! Are you always so... jumpy?”
“Well, it could have been a dangerous animal, you know! If it was the hydra you mentioned, or this manticore... I was just high alarmed,” Daring defended her actions. The stuntmare thought about that a few seconds and agreed.
“You’re right and we should get going anyway. Timber Wolves never leave their pups alone. They probably are around here somewhere.” With that said they got going, leaving the pup alone which only wanted to play with them and now was kinda sad.
“Can we take a small break?” Daring asked only a minute after walking down the path again. Rainbow looked at the sheepish smiling Pegasus and planted her plot on the ground.
“What is it this time?” Not even Twilight needed so many stops on any trip they had been on together.
“Only need to make some notes again,” Daring answered, already dropping her journal on the ground. Rainbow sighed, but at least she could read what Daring Do was writing.
We were only minutes in the forest when we heard some strange noises. I was taking a few steps towards one of the bushes when they jumped out. A pack of not less than twelve Timber Wolves. Creatures consisting of wood which I thought only existed in ponytales. My guide was cowering by my side in fear…
“Hey!” Rainbow shouted out. “I wasn’t the one who shrieked, it was you.” Daring looked at her without batting an eyelash and then continued with her task. What she wrote was not in the slightest what really happened. It was only one wolf and a pup on top of it.
I had to do something against these wooden predators or this would be not only my last adventure, since I was responsible for the life of my new friend. Looking around I saw a small branch hanging low from a tree. With a small jump I snatched it off and took it between my teeth. The first carnivore took this as a chance and jumped forward, but I was faster and hit it right on the snout. It backed off, but only a few meters and there were still his friends.
“Give me my fire equipment from my bags!” I shouted at my companion who was still paralyzed in fear. I kicked her with my right hind leg what got her out of her trance like state. “Fire equipment, now!” I yelled again. She understood and started to look for what I wanted in my bags. In the meantime I had enough to do with one wolf after another. They tried to jump at my neck again and again but somehow I was always a bit faster.
“Got it!” the happy guide yelled behind me and swirled around to my side. In her mouth was my magical lighter, which had been a present from my father. She opened it with one hoof and the flames came to life. I lit the tip of the branch in my mouth and grinned to the pack in front of me. Firewood for the night would not be a problem anymore.
Rainbow blinked a few times and looked dumbfounded at the journal between Daring Do’s hooves. She couldn’t believe it! She was reduced to a coward assistant! “Hey! What are you doing? That isn’t what has truly happened! Not even in the slightest,” she said and pointed at the journal.
“I know,” she answered shortly and took the small book away again. “So, I’m ready.” They looked each other in the eyes a few seconds and neither of them said a word. Then Daring stepped past her and began walking again. Not wanting to be left out Dash caught up to her.
“So, why are you writing stuff that didn’t even happen?” She asked curious while looking for an explanation for what happened.
“You know, Equestria is mostly safe, thanks to the princesses, right?” Rainbow nodded. “So the real adventure doesn’t start until we are somewhere out of her supervision. And no one would like to read something like: And I walked down the road for hours and nothing is happening.” After some time she answered.
“Well, yes.”
A/N: Just wanted to thanks everpony for faving and rating this story. It's really awesome to get so many support. I tried my best to do better with my grammar and my choice of words, so that it sounds a little more natural.
In the comments under my last chapter a few offered to proofread further chapters, so I will pick somepony.
Daring Do and her number one fan by tio aka truekry
With the creepy trees behind them, followed by another stop thanks to Daring, they were on the road again. In that small break she wrote once again one of her not so true little parts. It was actually Daring who shrieked every time the flashlight of their helmets hit one of the big old things you could hardly call a plant.
When Rainbow had asked her about it she just shrugged it off and packed her stuff back in the saddlebags. And now Rainbows nerves were on the edge. "I don't even know which parts of your books are true and which ones are only lies!"
"I'm sorry for destroying you precious little fantasy world, but if I would only write whats actually happened none of my books would ever have been published. I made that mistake with my first book. My real first book. It was never published but it contains what really took place back in the jungle and my meeting with Ahuizotl." Rainbow calmed down a bit. So there was enough truth in her stories to fill a book. That was at least something.
"So... Ahuizotl is real? I never heard of a creature like him." Then again, she never heard of Discord ether before meeting him.
"Oh, well yes." Daring tried again to avoid her gaze, but failed and sighted. "But Ahuizotl is not his real name. I made this up to keep his true identity secret. Also he didn't left me in a trap with snakes, sand and closing walls. He just... tricked me." In Rainbows opinion she sounded a bit embarrassed. If her slight blush was any indication.
Rainbow was no one who caught things like subtle hints normally, but now even she knew it was time to change the subject. At least for now. "So what else do you have in you bags? It was kinda cool when you pulled out the helmets for us." That reminded her that she was still caring hers under her wing and she handed it back. "It felt like I was a real explorer."
Daring Do giggled and stuffed it in her bag. "Well, I'm at least a real explorer. So I always go prepared. Going to explore a dark old castle? Maybe it is a good idea to have light and protection. Who knows if you open a door the whole place collapses or something like that." She had a point. The castle was mostly hold together by the ivy that grew around it.
Rainbow could not ignore the fact that Daring started to opening up. When they met a few hours back she only answered in short but precise sentences. That meant she was on the best way to became friends with Daring Do. By now she was sure Twilight wouldn't only get jelly, she also would've to be proud of her too. After all, she was the princess of friendship now. "In my bags are also a lot other things beside cool helmets. Some rope, rations, maps, stuff to write, binoculars, a tent and a sleeping bag, change of clothes and at least some bits of course. Always organized and prepared."
Rainbow could only blink. Again she sounded more like her purple friend than like the adventures mare from the books she loved so much. She always was kind of jumpy and easy to scare. It was like she lied about her whole personality. Disappointed she hung her head low and got a step ahead by double up the speed of her trot. Rainbow heard Daring call out to her if she done something wrong, but she didn't answer. For a moment, just merely a second, she thought about leaving Daring as soon they reached their target. Shaking her head quickly she dismissed the idea completely. Even if Daring wasn't truthful to her fans, she would be. And she never wanted to tell someone like young Scootaloo that she left a pony in the dark forest she swore to protect.
Sometimes she wondered if whoever assigned the elements messed up with her and Applejack. Her orange friend was dependable, like the most dependable pony ever. She on the other hoof simply wasn't. But when she tried to lie to her friends about liking books the hell broke loose like Discord had changed her back then too.
"Watch out!" Was all warning Rainbow got before something hit her in the back and she tumbled together with her attacker on the ground. She looked around and found a big bear towering above her. "Leave her alone!" She heard scream Daring. Rainbow in the mean time was focused on the sharp teeth in the maw of the big brown beast. She tried to get her hooves under the bear but he was to strong and kept pushing her down, still roaring at her. For just an moment she thought her live was over, right here and now. Not through a big heroic act, not in the biggest and risky stunt ever done. But it was not be. In slow motion a rope caught around the neck of the big animal and it stopped. The other end of said rope hung in Darings snout and she kept pulling.
The bear looked around, rolled his eyes and pulled back. Like she was nothing Daring took to the air and flew past the big animal and Rainbow. With some rustling she landed in a few bushes on the side of the road who lead through the forest. Then his attention changed back to Rainbow. A mighty paw was stretched out and the blue Pegasus closed her eyes. But nothing happened except she heard the bear growl with what had to be annoyance. She opened her eyes again and looked up. The bear was pointing on the way and Rainbow followed his gaze. The path right in front of them lead through a big patch of poison joke. She must have been in such a hurry that she didn't even notice the danger in front of her own snout.
She gulped and looked back to the bear. Now, in the right light there was something about him she recognized. "Berry? Is that you?" The bear only nodded and got off her. Slightly embarrassed Rainbow also back to her hooves with a fast flap of her wings and started dusting of. "Thanks Berry. You saved us a lot of trouble. But next time try not to sound so... you know, like a bear. You really scared Daring." With mentioning her name she remembered that her newest friend was still in the bushes. "Stay here!" she ordered the bear and jumped in where Daring flew through.
The sandy coated mare was lying on the ground, mouth rolled out of her mouth and was not breathing. "Daring!" Rainbow dashed over to her and picked her up in her front hooves. "Daring? Are you OK?" She held one of her ears near her snout.
"Is he gone?" Rainbow blinked. She was playing dead and she took the bait? Without warning she dropped the author who let out a small yelp and started rubbing the back of her head. "What was that for?"
Rainbow stepped back to Berry. The bear was waiting for her return. As he spotted her he started growling again. "Sorry Berry, I'm no Fluttershy. But if you want to know, she is OK. But I'm curios. Why are you even out here? Shouldn't you be back at the cottage?" The bear started to make some motions with his paws and growled along. "Yeah, I had to ask." The second time today he rolled his eyes at her and stretched his had out, followed by putting a paw behind his ear. Rainbow started listening and then she heard it. "Oh! The river. You were going fishing!" She said happy that she understood the animal. "Ewww... You were going fishing." And again the bear rolled his eyes.
