Spectra Electra scanned her bookshelf. Hundreds of various stories lined the walls, disorganized and messy. The white chipped paint on the wood of the shelves was being eaten away by termites. I need to clean up around here more often, she thought to herself. She moved down a shelf. "Where is it?" She whispered. Finally, she spotted a small leather pouch with a thread tied around the top. "Aha!" Spectra exclaimed.
The unicorn pony trotted out her door with glee as she levitated the pouch with her turquoise magic. She looked around. She spotted the domed castle at the ridge of the mountain, with spires of gold and amethyst. She heard the pouring of the waterfall off the cliff to the right. Spectra cantered along, smelling the fresh spring air. A morning mist traveled through the air, cooling off her coat.
She spotted a shop. "Enchanted Comics" the sign read. "There's the place I'm looking for!" Spectra said. The bel dinged as she trotted through the glass door. She looked around. Thousands of comics and novels lined the shiny quartz shelves. Windows aligned the top of the building, covered in golden vine designs. A shiny golden mist of magic traveled along the white painted walls. Spectra went to the back of the shop to the counter. At the counter, a beige pegasus mare with grey-toned hair waited for her. She wore red glasses, a blue fedora, and a purple cloak.
"Hay, there. What can I get you?" The pegasus asked.
"Do you have the newest Daring Do book?!" Spectra enthusiastically replied.
"Whoa there, filly! That one doesn't come out in two weeks."
Spectra sighed with sadness and slowly walked away with her head down.
"Well...I suppose I have one copy you could have..." The mare suggested.
Spectra's eyes beamed. She raced toward the counter with her bag of bits. The mare giggled and pulled out a book underneath the counter. It was shiny with a red hardbound cover, with an image of Daring Do and another pegasus mare on the cover.
"This edition's got a new character in it's adventures! I bet you'll love her, you seem just like that mare." The pegasus said.
"I can't thank you enough!" Spectra exclaimed as she hugged the new book. She handed the clerk the bag of bits with her blue magic.
"Bye! Come again soon!" The clerk said as Spectra cantered out the door.
Rainbow Dash smiffed the fresh morning air. She was enjoying a relaxing day to lounge in a treetop and read her newest book-Daring Do and The Ring Of Destiny. She still couldn't believe she got on the cover! Rainbow slowly opened the cover, to find pages filled with words. If Twilight hadn't have shown her the series, well, Rainbow Dash wouldn't be quite the same pony! She started to read the first paragraph. "A cool day had passed by, as Daring Do walked among the forest beside her home." She read aloud. "But something wasn't quite right. Six ponies occupied her front room, and which she thought they had trashed her cottage. Glass lay shattered-" Rainbow Dash suddenly paused. A dark unicorn mare walked beneath her, levitated the same book and reading the same words!
"-along the hardwood floor, books scattered around. A spectral haired pegasus tried speaking to her. She-" Rainbow had not realized she was staring right at the unicorn. "What are you staring at?" She asked, looking above.
Rainbow Dash snapped back to reality. "Oh, I'm sorry. I just..." The unicorn gasped.
"You're the mare on the cover! But how?" She questioned.
A.K. Yearling, also known as Daring Do to Rainbow Dash and her friends, snuck up behind the unicorn mare. She nudged her head toward Rainbow. "What?" Rainbow's lips read.
"We have to tell her in private!" Daring mouthed.
Rainbow rolled her eyes and nodded. "Why are you-" the unicorn said. She turned around. Daring Do was waiting behind her with her hoof raised above her head. "HEY! Get away from me!" The unicorn yelled as she ran.
Rainbow Dash sped toward her, along with Daring Do. Appearently, they were a lot faster than the unicorn. Rainbow Dash raised her hoof and bashed her on the head.
Spectra ran. Why were these ponies chasing her? She had no idea. Was that beige pony trying to punch her? Probably. Spectra tripped over a rock, her face hitting the ground. She turned over, to find the blue pegasus from the cover with her hoof raised over her forehead. Spectra's heart raced. With a bash, Spectra was knocked out cold. She felt the throbbing pain under her horn, as her vison slowly dimmed. The last thing she saw was their faces.
Waking up, Spectra rubbed her head as she got up, groggily. "What?" She mumbled. "Where am I?" She looked around. She was in a cottage, with books scattered everywhere. In fact, it was just how her book described it. She attempted to walk forward, and failed. Her left hindleg was throbbing in pain. Spectra examined it. It was bruised and bent in a wrong way, with drops of blood slowly dripping down. Spectra eye's teared up. Immediatley, two ponies came down the stairs.
"Why exactly are we doing it this way?" a voice said.
"Rainbow, it's an EXTREME secret. We can't have everypony knowing it. Thanks alot for being in public."
"It's not MY fault you put me on the cover! How many Daring Do fans are gonna realize the element of LOYALTY is friends with DARING DO, THE ONE AND ONLY!?!"
"Rainbow, calm down. I guess I didn't think it through well enough. Just, don't be seen in public with your book."
"Alright, fine."
The ponies talking came into view. It was the clerk from the comic book store and the rainbow haired pegasus she saw earlier. "Who are you two?" Spectra asked, choking on tears. The pegasi realized she was hurt badly, and came to her as quick as possible.
"We are awfully sorry. We didn't realize you had a leg wound." The beige pegasus apologized, as the other mare wrapped her leg in bandages.
"Well, 'Ash'? You gonna tell her yet?" The blue pegasus said.
"Oh, right!" The beige pegasus exclaimed. She threw off her glasses, cloak, and hat to reveal a less clothed pony with a brown vest. She pulled on a pith helmet, and suddenly Spectra recognized her.
"Oh. My. Celestia. NO. WAY." Spectra was nearly speechless.
"Heh heh, um, I'm Rainbow Dash...and that's Daring Do, the one and only..."
Spectra sqealed with excitement.
