Feathered Trail

by A Peculiar Rubber Duck

Rating: mature
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Romance, Original Character, Adventure, Daring Do, Lyra, Gore
Length: 3465

Daring Do takes up the job of toppling the Griffin Government overseas, and in the process, ends up building a rag-tag team of followers that begin to change her motives.

Cold, Heartless, Efficient, Resourceful

...

Absolutely none of these adjectives were related to a pegasus mare by the name of "Daring Do"

Unfortunately for her employers, this wasn't a known fact. So when she came in one morning, equipped with a determined glint in her eye and a streak for trekking through corrupt jungles. They hired her on the spot. None of them suspecting that they just gave a semi-psychotic author one of the hardest and well-hidden contracts in the Equestria Underbelly.

But these unaware ponies can rest-assured. Because this author knew exactly what she was getting into! Right..?

No.. Not really.

With those thoughts, enter Daring Do. Preparing to embark upon a journey that she cannot even begin to fathom. The many ways it'll tamper with her physical well-being and commandeer her (already questionable.) mental health never crossing her mind... Absolutely nopony has ever said, "The supposed Undercover Government Assassin who packs a toothbrush.. should never be hired."

Published 2016-07-19 22:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-07-19 22:10:01 UTC

1. Preparations

"Peanuts..?"

...

"Check.."

...

"Books..?"

...

"Check.."

...

"Toothbrush?"

..Meow.

"Oh shut it, Snazzle.. You should always keep your teeth brushed, no matter where you go," Daring Do lightly scolded her cat. Who was laying peacefully on the bed beside her, staring down her owner with sharp eyes.

The apartment Daring Do was currently living in was.. Dull, to say the least. It had an air of vacancy due to the exclusion of any unique trinkets or decorations. It contained only the most basic of living necessities. Despite this feeling of emptiness, it held a rustic and warm tone because of the wooden design. Hilariously enough, it was the least peaceful apartment in the entire building, due to the mare inside of it. Who was walking back and forth between the kitchen and the coffee table. Her bizarre behavior explained by the knapsack that lay upon said table, the flap pulled open as Daring deposited numerous dry food products inside.

After a few more trips back and forth, Daring took a moment to stare into her bag. Running over a mental checklist in her mind in order to make sure everything required was there, but a discrepancy was quickly detected, a very large one. She had forgotten the most important item needed to make the journey.

"Aha.. I almost forgot.." She murmured to herself solemnly as she trudged over to a small mahogany case secluded in the corner. As her shadow fell over the object, she withdrew a key hidden deep in her mane, which she then used it to unlock the mysterious box and pull out what lay within.

Her hoof wrapped around the handle of a sharp, and certainly threatening sword. It was short and light enough to make it easy to carry with one foreleg, but it still had the means of viciously hurting opponents if so needed. It was in a sheath, which had an apparatus attached to it that allowed it to be strapped to her waist underneath her saddlebags (so it could be concealed.) The only thing that would be in sight was the very back of the handle, poking out reliably. She pulled the sheath to her side and closed the strap around her abdomen. Sparing Snazzle a look of seriousness before her demeanor faded back into one of determination and excitement. She took one good look around her apartment once more before stomping her hoof in triumph.

"Great! It's time to go! Snazzle, be good and don't hurt Mr. Grimlock while I'm gone, Kay?" She flashed a toothy grin towards her cat, who lazily shifted in response. Daring used one hoof to hoist her saddlebags into the air before plopping them on her back, her legs almost buckling at the sudden strain. She winced at the impact.

"Eeeeshh.. Bad idea," she grumbled, rocking back and forth for a moment as she got used to the weight. Once her body situated itself, she shook her mane in excitement and headed out the door into the hallways.

She headed down the stairs and to the front desk, where she exchanged greetings with one Mr. Grimlock, handing him her apartment key as she trotted out the door and into Vanhoover's morning light.

Daring Do walked through the streets of Vanhoover, exchanging brief greetings with familiar faces and admiring the scenery as she made her way around the town, but she was not out for sight-seeing, she was looking for something else. After a good fifteen minute walk, she reached the corner of town and followed a short gravel path through the woods, when she emerged on the other side, a cottage stood in a small clearing of the forest. The windows were only barely illuminated, and the sounds of intense wildlife all around seemed to make the pony-made house more opposing. Daring Do walked up to the front door and raised her hoof up.

Knock, Knock

"Heeey.. Cherry? I know you're in there," Daring called out impatiently as the door swung open. A lithe navy-blue mare stood in the doorway. Her violet eyes the only thing Daring could see within the darkness of her home. The Earth Pony's desaturated pink mane was flat, and dragged along the floor as she stepped back, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Oh.. Hello Daring.. I didn't expect to see you today," Cherry Blossom greeted her softly, her voice having a melodic inflection and calming effect, "Please come inside.. I'll prepare some tea." Cherry scurried back into her own home as Daring stepped inside.

Daring walked through the home, her eyes running over the numerous artifacts and abstract decorations that hung on the walls and sat on the shelves. It wasn't long before she reached Cherry's living room, there were two fluffy chairs angled slightly towards one another with a glass table between them. The fireplace on the other side of the room was gently flickering and crackling, sending small wafts of heat through the room on occasion. There was a door opposite to Daring as she entered, slightly ajar as the sounds of Cherry's soothing humming flowed from the room beyond. She took a seat in the closest chair to her, waiting for her friend to return.

After a few agonizing minutes of waiting, Cherry returned to the room with a small tray balanced on her hoof. She gently set it down upon the table, revealing two ornate teacups filled with very ordinary (but very healthy) Green Tea. With a sigh of contentment, Cherry slowly sat herself down in her chair and directed her attention to Daring.

"So.. What brings you here to my abode..?" Cherry began the conversation quietly, but wholeheartedly.

"Well, I just came to inform you about how I'm leaving for the next few weeks." Daring explained, her loud voice contrasting with Cherry's calm demeanor.

"Oh? Are you going on vacation?"

"Nope!" Daring reached over and picked up her teacup, taking a sip from it before flashing a grin at her friend, "I'm going to the Avian Empire!"

Cherry visibly winced, her breathing quickening for just the smallest of moments before she picked up her teacup as well, sipping at it. She took a deep breath before placing it back down. "Aren't you worried you're going to get hurt?"

"Definitely." Daring concurred, her expression changing into a stoic one for a few seconds, before changing back to a mischievous grin. "Buuuuuut.. I've gone over all the, uh.. Egghead stuff in my brain, and statistically the chances of me being attacked by some scavengers or something is reeeaaally low." She punctuated her points with a few exaggerated hoof gestures.

Cherry raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure..?"

"Positive." Daring placed her hoof against her chest, "I swear on it."

With these supposedly earnest words from Daring, Cherry's concerns wilted considerably, and she smiled once again. "Oh, I forgot to ask.. But.. Why are you going to the Avian Empire?"

"Ehhhhhhhh-" Daring rolled her eyes slowly to the right as she thought of a response, "In order to meet old friends, Y'know.." Her voice faded away.

"Uh.. Yeah.. I know.." Cherry nodded, accepting the answer for what it was. She retrieved her teacup once again and sipped at it. Daring reciprocating her as they both fell into awkward silence.

...

Daring stared at Cherry, causing the mare to gradually turn red in embarrassment as she squirmed in her seat.

...

"S-stop doing that!" Cherry squeaked as she covered her eyes with her mane. Causing Daring to snap out of a trance.

"Oops, sorry, just thinking.." Daring sheepishly responded, rubbing the back of her head.

"It's okay."

"Sooo.. I think I should be going. I came here just to tell you how I was leaving, after all." Daring broke the silence before it even began.

"Yeah.. That makes sense.. I'll take your teacup if you wish." Cherry began to rise out of her seat when Daring suddenly stood up. Making the mare fall back into her seat again.

"Nahh, Don't worry about it. I got it." Daring gingerly picked up the tray, breaking several unwritten rules of being a house-guest as she walked through the door to Cherry's kitchen, leaving the mare to sit there, bewildered and embarrassed that her own guest just took over her responsibilities.

After a few minutes, Daring returned with a content smile upon her face, stopping in front of Cherry, who just sat there with a guilty expression on her face. Daring ignored this and looked down at her friend, holding out a hoof to bump.

"Thanks for inviting me over," Daring grinned as Cherry tapped her hoof together with hers, before letting it shakily drop to her side. Both Daring and Cherry said goodbye to one another as the pegasus shuffled out of her home and back into the outside world, leaving Cherry to her devices.

Now with her friends (friend) taken care of, It was time to start her journey, but the question is, where does she even begin?

Author's Note

A MESSAGE FROM THE DUCK

First, Let me apologize for the short/boring chapter, It's more of a introductory prologue.

Second, New Story, Hurray! :derpytongue2:

Third, I need the small amount of people viewing this story for an opinion come Chapter five (If I survive that long), tell me whether I should add a comedy tag or not. I don't like adding a tag that is up for heavy debate, so I'd rather have a minority vote. (This story won't have many people then, either.)

Purposeful Disclaimer.

I would like to warn everyone here that my writing incompetence has embedded itself deep within my soul, and that if you experience any side-effects while attempting to read this fan-fiction (excruciating liver pain, need to gouge own eyes out, death, blindness, insatiable bloodlust, etc.) It is not my fault, this is because I have written "Disclaimer", which has the power to vanquish any type of responsibility for my indirect actions towards you, friends or family members.

WITH ALL HIS LOVE, A PECULIAR RUBBER DUCK

2. Cherry Companion

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. :twilightsheepish:

WITH ALL HIS LOVE, A PECULIAR RUBBER DUCK