Daring Do Returns

Daring Do logbook

Adventure #142

Entry #1

I'm not sure what I just saw... All I know is that kid isn't normal. She has this... ability to... Ugh, I don't believe it. I need to see this a few more times to be sure, but... Argh! Why isn't seeing believing!?!

Anyhow, we made it into Fillydelphia mostly safe and sound. I got cut up a little bit and I should probably get it checked out but Zönta seems almost... ashamed. Back in Hollow Shades, she protected me. This timid little zebra filly lost her mind to protect me and... now she's ashamed. Just what is going on in her head!?

~                    ~                    ~

The duo had arrived it town looking pretty scrappy. Daring mostly had only small nicks and cuts, but one larger gash on her foreleg, but limping was manageable. Zönta, however was virtually untouched, save a burn up most of her foreleg. Her coat showed no sign of cuts, her mane was pristine, and yet, she looked like she wanted to die.

Daring had been carrying Zönta for a while after the timberwolves had been taken care of, but once Zönta came too, she scrambled away and just hung her head and walked in silence. Nothing. The pegasus mare hadn't said much either, being in shock from the impossibility she had witnessed.

The first line of order was finding some healing potions and magical gauze. Walking around for  while found a small shop bearing large red block letters above the door reading

GreenMane Pharmacy

Walking up, one of the letters simply burst out in a shower of sparks, surprising some nearby ponies. After a pause, Daring was the first to say, "Well, it's something I guess."

Upon entering, a friendly voice rang out, "Well hey there! Welcome to GreenMane Pharmacy! What can I ge-"

A large earth pony buck walking out of a back room was cut short by the sight in front of him. He had a kaki vest over his dark-carmel coat. He wore a pair of maroon glasses over his lavender eyes, a mortar and pestle with the letters Rx on it, and of course, sported a tow-toned forest green mane.

A moment passed. "Hi, we'd like to buy some healing gauze and four healing potions. How much'll tha-" It was Daring who got cut off this time. The buck rushed back into the back room and after some crashes, a lot of urgent yells, and an "OW!", he came back with a burlap sac and promptly slung it right over Daring's back then gave them one open healing potion each.

"Sorry miss, but I won't just let you walk in all banged up like that and pay for what you obviously need. It's on th' house."

Snapping herself out of the initial stun, Daring just looked down at the potion in her hoof, then to Zönta, and finally back to the buck, giving a thankful smile. "I've met a lot of ponies, griffons, diamond dogs, and everything in between, but It's been too long since I've met a buck like you. Thank you."

"It's my policy. By the way, sorry for not introducing myself, but hello! I'm Rex and you kinda look like you're the famed Daring Do?"

"Mmmmmmaybe... Yeah. Say, Rex, we're trying to get to the San Palomino Desert and... kind of got thrown off course. Do you know where any sort of hotel might be where we can crash for a night?"

"Sure thing I do! Take a right outta my shop, head down three blocks, a left, and keep goin' until you see Sunny Days' Inn. Tell my girl Sunny I said heyo and she'll be pretty nice to ya. Unless it's her sister, Night Star. Don't say a thing about me or she'll kick ya out. We kinda used to go out, but things turned... sour."

Daring nodded and looked to Zönta, whom had been smiling at the energetic buck. That's new. A few more thanks and they were off to meet Sunny (or Night).

The sun setting over the horizon, the two were walking down Mane Street, Daring shooting occasional glances at Zönta. The filly's momentary smile had disappeared, only to be replaced by the same sullen, shameful expression. "Hey, Zönta, I don't hate you, you know."

She stopped walking.

Daring stoped as well and turned to look at Zönta. "You saved me and I just want you to know we're here right now because of you. There's no reason in the world to be ashamed."

Zönta had gone rigid and began shivering. A tear fell to the pavement, a spot of dark on the almost glowing pavement. She never wanted to use her curse again. It was bad- evil even. She was shunned for it. She was so angry and disappointed for breaking her promise- that she'd never use it.

"I- I- I'm just so sorry Daring. I- I used it though I p-promised never t-to use it", Zönta had managed. Then the floodgates opened. Tears falling like gems glistened as they fell to the ground and it confused and broke Daring Do's heart.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I knew you don't want to talk about it and that's my fault. You broke a promise to yourself and that's understandable, but why don't we at least get to that Inn before night falls, huh?"

A nod.

~                    ~                    ~

"Hey there and welcome to Sunny Days Inn. I'm Sunny Days how can I help you two?"

The Inn was beautiful. The entrance would deceive anypony passing by on the street, for it looked like just another building, but the inside was something else completely! The walls were a slightly faded yellow leading all around behind the service desk. It looked like it was hoof-carved and whoever made it sure had talent. Past the stairs was another room where three other ponies sat, one listening to a radio and the other two playing chess and laughing. It wasn't anything special about it, in fact the whole place was really basic. It was just... homey.

Daring and Zönta went up to the grinning golden-coated pegasus mare sitting behind the desk. "Hi, Miss Days. We'd like to-"

"Please," she said, "Sunny's just fine. I'm not too formal."

"Well, Sunny, can we get a room? We were recommended this place by Rex, around the corner and he made it sound pretty good."

"Oh! Rex sent you? He's such a nice buck, selfless as can be... Tell ya' what, I'll give you a room for a discount if you promise to tell everypony about this place. One room, two beds for maybe about... Oh, 40 bits per night. Deal?"

Daring smirked. "You're going to get a lot of business then because I travel a lot. You've got a deal, Sunny!"

It didn't take very long to settle in, both with little to no belongings. The sun had set by now and the crescent moon was dominating it's territory. Not much needed to be said, so Daring and Zönta just went to bed (fluffy comfy).

~                    ~                    ~

That night, Daring got a replay of the unworldly scene that played out that night. When Zönta used her magic. They were just backing into the tree as Daring thought I swear to Luna, if this becomes a reoccurring thing I'm gonna be really annoyed...

The timberwolves came out like shadows, their eyes, thirsty for blood. One of them had a bloody maw and was even still chewing on a small bone. Another had a deep gash over one of it's eyes, but no harm was done. Counting all of them, there were six. Zönta had a glaze over her eyes and she was shivering violently. Small gasping noises were just barely audible for Daring, but the Timberwolves heard it loud and clear, because everyone know dogs can smell fear.

Daring started running through her options. The trees overhead were almost a solid, so there was no flying out, running would get them run down, fighting... they'd maybe get out in pieces. There was nothing. Just forest.

It took a moment to realize Zönta wasn't cowering behind Daring any more... She was walking right up to the front of the pack! That madmare is going to get killed! No thinking. Now to move.

Daring made a mad dash for Zönta of course, grabbing the zebra filly waiting for no response. The Timberwolves were a bit slow to react, but Daring bought them some time knocking two apart. They'd be dealt with again later. Now the hunt was on. A crazy zebra filly and an adventurous pegasus mare running from death itself with no options.