Chapters Daring Do and the tale of the one from Ponyville
Class is out, Time for a history lesson
Everypony knows that Daring Do doesn't actually exist, she was a fictitious character in a series of adventure books written by an unknown pony, everypony but two, and they wouldn't speak a word of it if their lives depended on it.
That aside, Miss Cheerilee had just finished class for the day.
She was busy reading through test papers as she walked and was often commenting to herself, some of the particular comments were "hmm, apparently Diamond Tiara has a crush on Pipsqueak aww so cute, anyway... Oh! That's interesting, Scootaloo got top marks, that is rather, strange." When all of a sudden something made her almost faint.
Twilight Sparkle, surrounded by many a excited pony, was reading aloud something new, something that had not been seen in 10 years.
It was a new book, a new volume of Daring Do.
It was fresh off the presses, or so it looked, Twilight must have gotten it from Canterlot, as she had connections in the book stores there, allowing her access to all the newest titles.
Cheerilee's heart rate went up through the roof as she dropped everything, including half of the classes test papers and ran straight for a barn on the horizon.
Within the hour she had made it to Apple Acres and was sprinting towards the main house.
She literally ran through the door leaving a comical pony shaped hole and hurriedly looked around the room for something, or somepony.
Her heart rate lowered a bit when she saw what she was looking for, resting in the rocking chair was a green coated mare with a grey mane from old age with the cutie mark of three apple pies, it was none other than the legendary Granny Smith.
Granny was currently reading a story to the two sisters, Apple Bloom and Apple Jack.
Apple Jack bolted upright from her laying position on a green couch and stared at the panicked Miss Cheerilee and said "What in tarnation is goin' on Miss Cheerilee? I mean its great to see y'all but what on earth was the crashin' through the door about?"
Both AJ and Apple Bloom stared at her but Cheerilee did not return it, she was still staring at the now bewildered Granny Smith.
"S-sorry about the d-door you two, b-but I really need to speak with Granny Smith in p-private if you don't mind."
Apple Jack gave her a angry and confused stare, but decided to give her the benefit of a doubt, "C'mon Bloom, lets go see if Big Mac needs any help." She exited, dragging a protesting Apple Bloom with her.
Miss Cheerilee waited for about five to six seconds and checked if they were being listened to and then sat down on the couch next to Granny Smith in the rocking chair.
"Jade, "she began "It happened, they published a new one, you know what that means, don't you Jade?"
Granny Smith suddenly bolted upright and lost all trace of her old ladies voice and eyes flew wide open.
"Yes dear, yes I do."
To understand how any of this makes sense, we need to go back, far, far back to a time much different than the one today.
It was roughly the 1930's and the entirety of Ponyville was gathered around the tree house awaiting a very special visitor.
As it happened a sixteen year old Miss Cheerilee, known as simply Samantha to everypony else was with a twenty two year old Granny Smith (Jade being her first name), standing at the edge of the crowd eagerly awaiting the said celebrity.
The VIP arrived, sounded by a roar of applause and cheers as she stood on the other side of a velvet rope.
It was the one, the only Daring Do herself, in her green jacket and usual safari hat shaking hooves and signing autographs as she made her way along the velvet rope.
Samantha Cheerilee was different from the present day version, her hair was smooth, long and flowing, with spikes at the front and a radiant beautiful face.
As miss Do drew closer, Samantha's heart rate slowly began to raise, until she was face to face with the teenage adventurer.
Daring looked at her with a raised eyebrow as she signed a copy of Daring Do and the golden idol of Chachapoya and said "Don't have many fan fillies, good to see I have some fans that aren't all drooling guys." and she winked at her.
Jade Smith simply looked down and Samantha and said calmly "well, that went well, no rabid fan attack, no fainting ponies and only seven ponies with exhaustion. I think that went rather well, considering her mass of fans."
Daring Do and the tale of the one from Ponyville
After all the commotion of Daring Do's visit, Samantha decided she would simply rest, and maybe have a bite to eat.
She prepared herself a delicious daffodil sandwich and placed herself on a bench out side of the school, watching all the young colts and fillies play about on the grounds.
A voice came from beside her, and she realised that once again, Jade Smith was by her side.
"Listen," she said in a calmed and relaxed tone "I'm going to Manehattan in a few days for vacation and I was wondering if you would want to come with me."
Samantha was puzzled, why would would she want her to come with her on her vacation? It made no sense.
Jade continued to speak "I realise you will have no idea why I am asking you if you want to come with me but I do, everpony will have an adventure in their lives, an experience that changes them forever. I have a strong feeling that your's will start in Manehattan."
Samantha never shied from the promise of an adventure, something she had quickly learned from Daring, she looked at Jade and simply said "Yes"
Following that conversation Samantha had hurriedly returned to her house and packed her things with such haste she knocked over two statuettes and a vase she had sworn she had placed in the attic and rushed over to Apple Acres to meet with Jade Smith.
Jade herself had only just finished packing when a continuous knock on the door occurred and when she answered it, a tired Samantha waved a hello, walked in and fell asleep immediately on the new green couch.
The next day went by like a blur, things seemed slow one hour and fast as lightning the next but even with that Samantha seemed content to just lay on the couch, waiting for the day to end.
Eventually the morning came and within minutes the duo had made it on the train bound for Manehattan, apparently there was a massive construction going on in Manehattan, something about a structure called the Equestrian State Building.
Nevertheless Samantha read a decent book on the way to the city:Hoof G. Wells' The time machine .
At last the train pulled to a halt, steam and noise and smoke filled the air for a minute on the train station but quickly dissipated, all but the noise, which never got any quieter.
It was unimaginable, grey steel and red brick made up massive buildings that stretched to the sky or jutted up from the ground that stretched on for miles until you hit the massive skyscrapers and the Equestrian State Building which dominated the area and could be seen from all around.
After walking along the long avenues of Manehattan, Jade took her to the place they would be staying, the Luna Palace Hotel.
The Luna Palace Hotel was the most expensive hotel around and Samantha wondered exactly how Jade had managed to secure them not only a room, but the Presidential suite no less.
Jade simply said "If you know the right people, do a good thing here and there, you'd be surprised at what the rewards are."
After checking in Samantha immediately suggested they go to the museum, to which Jade had asked "Why the museum? We are in one of the greatest cities in Equestria and you want to go to the museum?" to which Samantha had simply said "yes."
As the reached the white stone steps that lead to the oak double doors of the Manehattan museum two ponies bolted out the doors, down the stairs. One was a filly with a grey coat and a frilly blonde mane, the other was a colt with a chestnut coat and brown mane who as he ran past muttered something about "Daleks in Manehattan?". The pair ignored them and Jane and Samantha went up the steps and through the doors.
What the pair saw next wasn't what they were expecting, right in front of them, examining a tyrannosaurus skeleton, was Daring Do, without her green jacket and safari hat; But what was even weirder, was that there were no fans asking for auto graphs, nopony fainting or getting extremely excited, she was just by herself.
Samantha asked Jade to do something, which had something to do with staying back for a minute, as she made her way across the room towards the tyrannosaurus skeleton.
Daring was looking at the plaque in front of the display when Samantha walked up next to her and made Daring jump for possibly the first time in years.
"Okay, I thought the ninjas in the temple of Gechang were quiet, you are something new altogethe-hang on, aren't you... YES you are! your'e that girl from Ponyville! ha!" she exclaimed as she shook her hoof firmly "What was your name? I never did think to ask earlier." she said still shaking her hoof.
Samantha managed to stop shaking hooves and said as calmly as possible "Samantha, Samantha Cheerilee."
Daring raised an eyebrow "Cheerilee, huh? Well, what brings you to the Manehattan museum?"
Samantha actually managed to become perfectly calm "Well, its the architecture mainly, I like the look of old things, but its also history and the culture that really draws me in."
Daring Do was almost blown off her hooves "you know something? I think we have a lot more in common with each other than you think, we should chat some time, where you staying?"
The answer hit Miss Do like a brick covered in mirrors, she was staying at the Luna Palace Hotel as well.
Daring Do and the tale of the one from Ponyville
A offer you probably can't refuse
Samantha sat down opposite Daring who was staring down a menu, Samantha picked one up and cleared her throat, once again making Daring jump, this time almost out of her seat.
"Celestia! Are you ever going to stop doing that?"
"Doing what?" replied Cheerirlee innocently.
Daring looked down from her menu,"Oh very funny, what are you having?"
She thought about it, still looking through the menu, "I've always been a dessert person so, I'll have the Chocolate swirl cake with Port Luna Strawberries with some red wine."
Miraculously, a waiter five metres away had heard everything she had said and wrote it down, he then waited, staring at the small notepad he held in his right hoof, waiting for Daring to make her choice.
"I really haven't been too picky an eater, I'll have the same."
The waiter quickly dotted down a two next to the order and briskly walked to the kitchen.
Daring turned and faced Samantha and tapped the table gently with her hoof, "Okay, down to business, I have an offer for you, Come with me for my next adventure; You won't believe how boring it is doing what I do alone, as fun as it is. In two days I head for Damarescus in search for an artefact of extreme importance and value and I want you to join me."
Samantha was dumbstruck, her adventuring with THE Daring Do?
She opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was air, she tried again, with the same result.
"I see, well, you have at least a day to decide, hows about we just chat and eat for know hmm?"
Samantha managed a nod as their food was placed upon the table and Daring raised her mine glass.
"well, here's looking at you kid." as she quickly swigged down the red wine.
Daring Do and the tale of the one from Ponyville
Their meals and many, MANY glasses of red wine later the pair were busy laughing over one of Daring's many adventures.
"We were in Perwhoof right?(Peru for those who don't translate) And crawling up his spine his a Perwhoovian tarantula the size of my plate!
So I brush it off gently and he thinks I'm being cheeky, until I point at the spider at which point he shrieks like a little filly so loud that it naturally brought the neighboring villages down on us and we spent the next half an hour running through the jungle!"
"ha, oh dear, that probably didn't end well." commented Samantha whose cheeks were now a rosy red and could clearly be seen on her maroon coat.
Daring on the other hand, didn't have the same red flushed face, you could tell she was drunk, the occasional hiccup and slurred word made sure of that.
The waiter from earlier came over to their table and ever so politely asked "Excuse me young fillies, but might I suggest you head up to your rooms before you collapse, because when you wake up, you will have the headache to end all head aches."
Daring shrugged and sat up from the table almost falling over in the process.
Samantha did the same, but without managed to nearly fall head over hooves.
She slowly walked the drunk adventurer up to the double doors of the presidential suite an pushed them open and slowly, yet sluggishly stumbled to the bedroom.
Daring quickly fell onto Samantha's bed, despite her objection, she went over to Miss Do and checked her temperature, which was completely normal.
What Daring did next she didn't see coming, then again, Daring could occasionally move so fast that nopony could see it coming.
Samantha had no chance.
Daring grabbed her and dragged into the bed and snuggled her, clearly drunk.
Samantha returned the snuggle, before realising what she was doing.
Daring then proceeded to grab the small metal thing off the night stand and wave it in Cheerilee's face.
"I know just what to do with this, he he." she said, "Oh, just don't, please." and she took it off her and placed it back on the night stand.
Then a knock sounded at the door and it opened and Samantha quickly shoved Daring under the covers and told her to be silent and not move.
Jade Smith walked into the room and into the bedroom, past Samantha and to the wardrobe where she took off her green dress and walked back to Samantha.
"So apparently a little birdie told me that you have been offered the chance to adventure with Daring Do? Well, don't mind me, but I think you should take it, you may have found your adventure..." then she noticed movement from under the covers.
"or perhaps it has already begun." she laughed as she left.
Daring quickly got out from under the covers as soon as the door clicked shut a heaped a massive breath.
" HUUUUUUUUUH! AH! woo, bit hard to breathe down there huff."
"Listen, about that trip to Damarescus..." started Samantha smiling.
The following hours rushed Samantha Cheerilee as either the most fun filled, intense hours of her life or the most confusing ever; She could not think quite straight as her mind always moved to something else or the hearty Daring Do embracing her.
She woke up the following morning with only a light headache and Daring nowhere to be seen.
Not only that but she almost no memories of that night, other than being extremely drunk and Daring waving something in her face.
Samantha reached over to the night stand and grabbed the metal object.
Apart from its shiny look, there was something different about it, then she noticed it was slightly moist and she gasped "Oh sweet Celestia, she did, didn't she." then moaned aloud.
Once again, Jade was also not there, Most likely an early riser as well she thought.
She walked back down to the dining hall, eager for breakfast when she noticed something new.
A band was playing, they hadn't played at the place before as one of them was constantly trying to explore.
The explorative pony in question was a aqua greenish unicorn with the cutie mark of a lyre.
The other members of this ragtag band were as follows:
A Stallion playing a piano, chestnut coat with silver and blue hair.
A Mare standing opposite him with a cello and a cutie mark of a treble clef.
And a cream coloured mare with the cutie mark of three sweets, bon bons to be precise.
What was more interesting was that they were all looking at one thing, with the exception of the aqua/green unicorn they were all looking at a particular spot, out the window at the conctruction of the Equestria State Building.
Aside from that there were only two others in the illustrious room, a waiter, and next to him sat Daring Do who appeared to be ordering breakfast.
Unfortunately she continued to look about and to her dismay, across the room at another table, was Jade Smith, who was also ordering breakfast.
Daring Do and the tale of the one from Ponyville
Two's company, three's a crowd
Samantha groaned aloud, but not too loud, the last thing she wanted was for both of them to hear her and invite her over.
She was torn, she was about to choose between her lifelong friend, and her idol, or maybe more than a friend or idol now.
The beginning to panic mare considered trying balancing between the tables, rushing to and fro, but decided against it; I mean we all know where that would end up.
She shifted one way and hastly went back, she was completly unsure what to do.
Sure Jade was a nice pony, she always seemed to see things other ponies ways, but what if she became scarred internally?
This thought had been scratching at her from the moment she sat down with Daring last night, not to mention the public implementations it could have, the public frowned upon the possible type of relation she had with Daring and not only would shun her, but Daring would take most of it, being a celebrity and all.
And, as if to make matters worse, they both had noticed her too and were making there way towards her.
Jade reached Cheerilee first, about a second before Daring.
"Ummm, morning you two" she said and smiled sheepishly, "Have the two of you met bef...".
Daring interrupted before anymore could be said "Of course! everypony who is anypony has heard of Jade Smith, she is quite the living legend, a forefront of kindness and generosity."
Jade smiled and acknowledged the compliment and turned back to face Samantha.
"Anyway Sam," said daring "have you decided if you want to come to Damarescus with me?"
Jade almost didn't even blink at the question, "Well I HAVE given it some thought and decided that there would be nothing else I would rather do."
Apparently, Jade Smith was more than okay with Cheerilee's decision, although it was her idea to come to Manehattan, it seemed almost natural for others to fnid their adventures around her.
Besides, Jade was to busy with other things to keep track of her friend and was glad she would be in the capable hooves of none other than Daring Do, conqueror of ancient temples.
Samantha was encouraged after having breakfast (Fruit loaf toast and a glass of orange juice, surprisingly a common order at a 5 star hotel) to get some rest and sleep.
The sun had retreated into a magnificent sunset as Cheerilee and Do boarded the plane that would take them to Damarescus; it was a small cargo plane, filled with chickens, most of which were not in their cages.
The plane had two rotors on each wings, each puttered and smoked when they started.
The wings were mostly composed of patch jobs, with odd coloured metals on each section of the wing in patches.
The interior was just as nice, with of course, the walls mostly lined with cages, with only one dirt stained window and a curtain leading to the cockpit.
Outside the window was the vast ocean, and as time went by, it succumbed to land which quickly turned to desert and orangey-cream coloured buildings and bustling markets.
The rustbucket plane landed on a long trail of sand and dirt and as Daring opened the door the heat of Damarescus flooded into the plane and Samantha was instantly sweating.
Daring looked at her and put on her usual safari hat "Pfft, tourist" and laughed as she stepped out into the golden sunlight of morning Damarescus.
As the duo quickly got off the landing strip they were met by a orange coated colt with a large black beard and a turban.
"Daring! You are a sight for sore eyes!" he said in a slight Arabian accent. Daring smiled and ran over to hug him while Samantha tried to get out of the plane, which was failing miserably. "So, who is your friend Daring? It seems whenever you visit me it is always on buisness and with someone else."
Daring smiled "Oh of course I will, I just wanna go after one last artifact, one last temple. Then I'll visit you after I settle down with Samantha." She said as Samantha herself walked up to them. "So," spoke Cheerilee "exactly which temple and artifact are we going after?"
Daring Do and the tale of the one from Ponyville
Daring had arranged a table for two in the Dining hall in an hour, meanwhile just outside the Presidential suite Samantha Cheerilee gingerly opened the double door in front of her and then gasped.
The suite was enormous, with a large open living area with various paintings and artworks adorning the walls and stone pedestals along them.
Then you came to the actual suite itself, with two double doors branching off left and right and a door at the back that lead onto a balcony overlooking the rest of Manehattan.
In the middle of the room were two couches and a few feet left of it, a blackjack table.
The door to the left lead to an indoor pool and spa area, the pool had its own diving platform and board while the spa area was gently bubbling with warm water.
The door to the right of the main area lead to the bedroom, with two large luxurious four poster beds with silk drapes.
Next to the beds were nightstand's with lamps on them and there was a small room to the left of the beds themselves.
This room was the wardrobe and was lined with fine clothes, that apparently all fit, other than the ones on the left, which would most likely fit Jade.
With thirty minutes before she was due in the dining hall, she picked out a dress; It was a light blue, with most likely sapphires encrusted into, it had a note hidden in it saying Treat with care, The Messenger. It also had a small pocket which strangely had something in it.
That something was a small metal object, a small black bottom with white grip leading to a silver top with blue semi-sphere on the very tip.
She placed the object carefully on the night stand next to her bed and forgot about it.
"Strange, the name is familiar, but I really cant my hoof on it." she said while swishing around in the dress in front of a mirror.
The sun edged its way lower and lower until it had finally reached the point where it was only half, showering the sky around it with purple, orange and red.
The dining hall was mostly silver, with large glass windows with red velvet curtains.
The floor was littered with various tables with ponies and unicorns all being served, ordering food or chatting over a glass of wine, there was even a romantic candle light dinner between a filly and colt.
And there at the only table with one occupant, was Daring Do, her mane loose and slightly wilder than usual in a splendid pink dress with a red rose in her hair.
