Daring Do stared intently at the map resting in her hooves, the poor planning of this operation was leaving her befuddled. The trip to The Avian Empire from Vanhoover was extremely tedious and long. Maybe this is why her employers offered three hundred thousand bits in the first place. Daring Do had seen her fair share of jungles, but this was beyond her, at the time the money was nice and the assignment looked challenging. So, why not? She was indeed falling behind financially as of late, which had been troubling. The cons of an Author were many, especially one who wasn't a particularly dedicated worker.

Daring raised her eyes, staring at a rough, cobblestone trail that was before her, it lead out of Vanhoover and into the Tall Tale Forest, with a bit of novice studying, she had discovered that there was a gorge blocking her path directly to the Empire, so she'd need to take an alternate route. Unfortunately, Tall Tale Forest was known for housing only the most vicious of predators, Timberwolves did not live in these parts, instead, all-natural wolves prowled the forests come nightfall, hunting for anything remotely edible. These ruminations made Daring's stern expression slowly turn into a frown. She needed a plan, her fighting skills were sub-par and she had no means of defending herself while she slept.

But soon enough, the mare found her thoughts derailing and going back to her conversation with Cherry a few hours ago, this spark of a thought soon gave way to an excellent idea. Daring suddenly smiled and folded up her map, shoving it hastily into her saddlebags as she turned her head upwards. It was about midday, excellent.

An Earth Pony sat within the confines of her nature-tinged home, drinking soup from a bowl as she sat by the fire, quietly enjoying herself as she thought of artistic expression and how it defined her. She had many days like these, sitting peacefully in her Living Room and questioning her mark, which was of a brush painting a thistle plant. Many ponies were not concerned about their inner talent, just the outer crust that had formed over their true abilities. Cherry Statice, on the other hand, pondered her very existence nightly.

Knock, Knock

Cherry was startled by the sudden noises and nearly dropped her bowl, her head snapping in the direction of the door as she froze. After a moment, her muscles relaxed and she let out an exasperated sigh. She hastily put down her bowl of soup and slid out of her chair, shuffling over to the door as she questioned the motives of the one outside.

With a gentle hoof, she twisted the knob of her door and opened it up, revealing a physically vibrating Daring Do, who was currently wearing the largest of grins. Before Cherry could say anything, the pegasus zoomed inside, embracing her in a rib-breaking hug.

"Hey! Heyheyheyheyhey!" Daring squeezed Cherry even closer for a moment, before looking directly into her eyes happily. "I just got the BESTEST idea!"

Cherry was at a lost for words, and memories.. Who was she? What is happening? Her eyes slowly locked onto her friend's.

"Listening?" Daring squeaked.

"Y-ye-"

"YOU SHOULD TOTALLY COME WITH ME!" Daring shook her back and forth, causing her eyes to roll around mindlessly in her skull. "I mean.. At least through Tall Tale, but STILL!"

"W-wha... Why?!" Cherry questioned, her voice louder than usual.

"Cuz' I need you!" Daring replied, slowly getting up and helping Cherry to her feet, a determined smile on her face. "Tall Tale can be a pretty dangerous place, so I need somepony to watch my back, Y'know?" Daring nodded to herself, agreeing with her own logic.

"Uhm.. B-.." Cherry's muzzle scrunched up. "U.. I-I mean.. You're my friend, so.. J-just through Tall Tale?" She sighed at her treacherous mouth, which had a very bad sense of preservation.

"Whoo! Yeah! Two adventurers on their way to glory!" Daring Do pressed up against Cherry's side, wrapping one hoof around her neck and pointing the other into the air, as if pointing at some mystical anomaly. "Just imagine! Two friends becoming heroes and getting lotsa' money for their outstanding success at toppli-"

"Uh.. Daring? I thought you were j-just visiting friends," Cherry eyed Daring incredulously. These words immediately shut down the pegasus, who withdrew her hoof from around Cherry, and her grin faded into one of a sheepish smile.

"Ahh-.. Oh yeah, right.. Hehe.. Sorry." She rubbed her hoof against the back of her neck, glancing at Cherry every few seconds.

"It's alright.. It w-would be wrong to scold you for that anyways." Cherry nodded at her, her lips forming into a soft smile. Daring appreciatively smiled back at her as she walked back outside, looking back at Cherry.

"So.. Anything y'need to grab before we go?"

"W-.." Cherry nearly fainted, her body not used to surprises, no matter how little they were. "We're leaving today?!"

"Yeeeep! Unless that's too early for you." Daring's shark-like grin turned into a soft hint of a smile. "Then I can wait."

"No.. N-No.." Cherry placed one hoof against her chest, hoping she isn't having a heart attack. "I wouldn't w-want to make you wait."

"Nah, it's alright.." Daring waved her off, but a mischievous glint entered her eye. "But if you're ready to go in a few minutes, that's okay too."

"Why are we leaving so early?" Cherry groaned quietly. "You should've told me about this earlier.."

"Nope, I didn't really plan, I just.. Y'know.. I go with the flow," Daring replied, fiddling with the saddlebags draped across her back.

"T-that's not the greatest strategy.."

"Oh hush up, It's perfect! Since when do things ever go right while your traveling anyways?" Daring shrugged off her concerns as she idly kicked her hoof in the dirt. There was a moment of silence as Daring looked at Cherry, raising an eyebrow.

"W-what?"

"Don't you need to pack?"

"Eek! Sorry!" Cherry retreated back into her house, leaving Daring alone outside. Who sighed and looked up at the sky again, It was nearing the end of midday, she really wanted to leave before Luna screwed up the little plans she had. The only good thing coming from this situation was Cherry, she was very comfortable in nature, so the forest shouldn't be much trouble for her. As these thoughts left her mind, Daring rubbed her chin inquisitively, wondering what came after Tall Tale. Peacefully humming, Daring opened up her saddlebags and withdrew her map, leaning against the door frame as she pulled it open.

According to the map, Smokey Mountains came directly after the forest, causing Daring to groan, looks like she finally discovered the effects of not paying attention to Geography in Grade School. She lightly shook her mane back in forth in order to invigorate herself as she continued looking. She'd have to scale the mountain, then she'll end up in another forest, but she can just cut through it to Ponyville, then she'll go to Baltimare.. Take a boa-

"Daring..?" Cherry softly called from the inside.

"Yeesh!" Daring jolted, dropping the map onto the ground and tensing up. "Aw.. Come on Cherry!" She bent down and picked up the map, frowning as she wiped the dirt off the front before looking at Cherry.

"Woah," Daring breathed. Cherry stood there in a intricate leather coat that hung just a mere inch from the ground, she had put on saddlebags, much like Daring. But instead of a sword, there was a small dagger strapped to her chest in a sheath. Cherry frowned.

"T-Too much?"

"N.. No! Holy Celestia you look awesome!" Daring gushed, grinning widely as she examined Cherry. "Why did you even have all this?"

"I.. Uh.. Used to do a bit of traveling.." Cherry coughed awkwardly, before smiling. "I've always wanted to see the world, at least the more positive parts of it." Daring smiled back.

"Cool, where'd you go?"

"W-well, I've been to Macintosh Hills, and went through a bit of the West."

"The West? Even the Princesses don't know what's over there," Daring's eyes widened at the revelation.

"I was adventurous." Cherry innocently grinned at Daring, revealing all her teeth. Daring stared back for a moment, before falling into a fit of giggles.

"I wonder if I'll end up like you when I get older." Daring snickered. "Sitting in a cottage and drinking tea, thinking about all the adventures I went on.."

"Hey! I-I'm only six years older than you!" Cherry fumed, even when indignant, she still spoke quietly. Daring laughed harder at her flustered response and patted her on the back, before pulling her close into a chummy, one hoofed hug as her giggles died down.

"Hey, I'm just kiddin' with you," Daring reassured the mare, who began to calm down. She looked out towards the town of Vanhoover. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah.. I'm ready, but I'm coming back here at the end of Tall Tale."

"Sure!" Daring cheered, letting go of her and trotting into the midday sun. "Just follow me! We'll get going in no time!" As Daring happily pranced down the path to town, Cherry shuffled far behind her, making almost silent pleas for the determined mare ahead to slow down.

TALL TALE FOREST

A Step Into Madness

Dear Client,

We hath taken news of thy application towards the assassination of King Sharpened Feather IV, after meeting with thee personally, we've all concluded as a coordinated team that thee should beest assigned this contract. thy personality appeareth to beest mischievous and boisterous, but under this shroud is undeniable intelligence and planning ability.

But despite thy qualifications, we must remind even the professionals that this is all to beest done in secret, revealing yourself or us wilt result in not just yours, but both of our executions. So under no circumstances shalt thee communicate this contract to anyone besides us and yourself, and under no circumstances wilt thee ever attempt to report us to the authorities. if 't be true we art reported to the authorities, we wilt personally come and kill thee. We have done this before, and we are not afraid to get our hooves dirty.

Signed, Imperius

Author's Note

A MESSAGE FROM THE DUCK

So, After this chapter is where the story finally takes off.

I'll be adding letters/notes/flashbacks every new location our friends reach.

Much like our adventurous author, I did not plan this (Except characters), but I think I know where I'm going come next chapter.

That's it for now.

WITH ALL HIS LOVE, A PECULIAR RUBBER DUCK