Chapters One day as she's outside getting her mail, Twilight realizes there's a letter from her brother. She opens it with a smile on her face and reads it. "Dear Twily," reads Twilight, "I'm going to the Canterlot Comic Con this weekend if you want to go with me? If you are interested, pack your bags and be here by Wednesday. We leave out Thursday morning. Love your big brother best friend, Shining Armor." Twilight tucks the letter back in the envelope and goes inside and immediately starts packing. While Comic Cons aren't her favorite thing in the world, she still would never pass up the chance to spend some one on one time with her brother.
Monday and Tuesday fly by so fast and come Wednesday morning, Twilight is off on the first train to the Crystal Empire. She'll be staying the night at the Crystal Palace in the spare bedroom. That afternoon, she arrives in the Crystal Empire and is greeted at the station by her brother. The two then head off to the castle, where Shining helps Twilight get settled into her bedroom for the night. Once that's done, they grab Cadence and Flurry Heart and the four go out for dinner at the Crystal Cafe.
At the Crystal Cafe, Twilight talks with Shining and Cadence as Flurry Heart snoozes in her highchair. Cadence soon realizes this and they all agree it's time to go. Luckily, they had already finished up all their food and paid by this point. Back at the Crystal Empire palace, everyone turns in for the night. After all, Shining and Twilight have to be up with the sun tomorrow if they want to make it to Canterlot tomorrow in time for the first day of the Con.
The next morning, Shining and Twilight are up with the sun and go meet Rainbow Dash and Spike before the next day of the convention begins. The four friends go and eat at a coffee shop up the street. There, they eat muffins and drink coffee for an hour or two before finally returning to the convention center for the Comic Books and Why They Have Dead Relatives panel.
In the panel, Shining, Twilight, Spike, and Rainbow take seats at the very front of the panel. Shining, Spike, and Rainbow are all fans of the Masked Crusader comic and have a few questions about it especially considering it is a comic that has dead relatives.
"Yes, what's your question?" asks the panel runner, the creator of Masked Crusader himself, Ink Blot Sanders.
"Why is it popular to kill off parental figures in comics?" asks a confuzzled Twilight.
"Well, killing parents off is a way to build character in the main character. It makes them stronger, more yearning to help those around them so the same doesn't happen to them. It shows the main character that those they love are vulnerable and relatable as well. After all, if you were a superhero, you'd likely have one of your enemies kill someone you care for, knowing that that would hurt you deeper than anything else in the world," replies Ink Blot.
"Thanks," replies Twilight. Ink Blot then proceeds on to the next question. He continues to answer questions for three more hours before the panel finally draws to the end. Afterwards, Shining and Twilight stay behind to get his first edition of the comic signed. As they do, Twilight just stands there and fidgets with her Daring Do t-shirt. After a half hour of just fidgeting about, the comic is finally signed and the two leave the panel room and head off to join in on the Comic Con dance fest in the concert hall area of the convention center.
In the concert hall, the two join back up with Rainbow and Spike. The four then happily dance to the music, Rainbow and Twilight in their matching Daring Do shirts. Shining smiles. He's glad he finally found something at the con that his sister can really get into. The dance party lasts for four hours, the four friends enjoying it all the while. At the end of the dance party, Rainbow notices Quibble Pants and she and Spike go over and talk to him. Shining and Twilight go over and chat with one of Shining's old pals, Rusted Gold, who he had noticed out of the corner of his eye earlier. The three then proceed to go out for lunch at the Tasty Street because the next panel isn't for another three hours.
At the Tasty Treat, "how long have you been into comics, Rusty?" asks Shining.
"I got into them three years after retiring from the guard," replies Rusted Gold. "I've been into them ever since."
"What's your favorite comic series?" asks Shining.
"Masked Crusader for sure!" replies Rusted Gold.
"Me too!" replies Shining. The two high hoof.
Twilight just stares at her brother and his friend and rolls her eyes before digging back into her masala. Shining and Rusted Gold talk for another hour before the three finally head back to the convention center for the panel on Anti Bullying and You.
In the Anti Bullying panel, Twilight, Shining, and Rusted Gold are joined by Rainbow Dash, Quibble, and Spike at the front of the panel. As they listen, Spike just sits there and reads the newest Power Ponies comic. Meanwhile, the rest of them listen intently. After all, this is a panel that applies to everyone. After two hours, the panel draws to a close and Rainbow goes off to buy a piece of Bronco Barns merchandise for Scootaloo for her birthday. After all, she did promise. Twilight and Shining on the other hand, go and buy some more Masked Crusader and Daring Do merchandise. A few minutes later, Rainbow joins Twilight at the Daring Do stand to buy more Daring Do merchandise herself. Twilight smiles at her friend. After making their purchases, the two go their separate ways once again. Even so, Twilight's just glad her friend is around. She makes being at a con this big a little bit easier.
The next day, Shining jumps out of bed once he hears a knock on his hotel room door. He opens the door to find Rusted Gold.
"What's up?" exclaims Shining.
"You ready to go for breakfast before day three of con starts?" asks Rusted Gold. Shining nods and the two head out for breakfast.
A half hour later, there's another knock on the door of Shining's hotel room. This time, Twilight answers the door and it's Rainbow Dash and Spike.
"You ready to go for breakfast before day three starts?" says Rainbow excitedly.
"Sure," replies Twilight. The three head out the door and to breakfast.
At breakfast at High Ho Biscuits, Twilight, Rainbow, and Spike talk over muffins and biscuits. "So, tomorrow is the final day, too bad," sighs Rainbow.
"I can very much agree to that," sighs Twilight.
"Same here," adds Spike. "But isn't the Daring Do Con in three weeks?"
"Yeah, but three weeks is such a long time," complains Rainbow. Twilight and Spike just giggle.
Meanwhile at Mocha and Latte Sisters' Coffee House, Shining and Rusted Gold laugh over old times.
"Oh, oh, oh, remember your first day as captain, when you lost your helmet, it was hilarious," laughs Rusted Gold.
"It sure was, I was so upset, so annoyed, now, when I look back, all I can do is laugh," replies Shining with a laugh.
Meanwhile back at the convention center, the con workers start setting up the day's three panels before the con goers pour into the hall in a few hours. They are definitely all relieved, they're glad they have one day left, unlike the con goers.
Two hours later, Shining and Rusted Gold arrive at the convention center and a half hour after them, Twilight, Spike, and Rainbow arrive. The five meet up and head into the first panel of the day. This one they're all especially excited about because it's the author Q&A panel today.
In the panel, the authors introduce themselves.
"Hello to our fans!" hollers Ink Blot Sanders. "Welcome to the panel! Let us introduce ourselves, then you can ask us whatever you want within limits of coarse. I'm Ink Blot Sanders, the creator of the Masked Crusader and the Dark Blood comics."
"I'm Patterson Dody, I'm the genius behind the Daring Do comic series with proper backing from Ms. Do herself."
"I'm Angel Cospole, creator of Cospony Life Magazine and The Glamor Mares comics."
"I'm Hexton Polar, creator of Power Ponies comics and The Mane-iac Files."
"Come on, ask us whatever you dare?" encourages Ink Blot Sanders.
Shining is the first to ask them a question, an excited spunk in his voice. "Who is your favorite character to write?"
"My favorite character to write from Masked Crusader is the Masked Crusader and my favorite to write from Dark Blood is Samson," says Ink Blot. "Who wants to share next?"
"I'll go," says Patterson Dody, "my favorite character to write for the Daring Do comic is Ahuizotl. He's the best villain the series has and my personal favorite in general."
"My favorite Glamor Mare comic character to write is Melody Jade, the fashionista of the group," says Angel Cospole with a smile.
"My favorite characters to write are definitely Saddle Rager and Fillisecond," says Hexton Polar.
Another pony goes on to ask a question. It's a stallion with a bright blue coat and a yellow mane named Day Star. "Which villain would win in a fight: Mane-iac or Grim from Dark Blood?"
"Grim for sure," says Ink Blot confidently.
"Well, I can't argue that, sadly," sighs Hexton.
"Ahuizotl would beat both of them combined easily," says Patterson, his ego inflating slightly. The three then argue it out for a few minutes before finally agreeing that in hindsight Grim would actually beat both Ahuizotl and Mane-iac combined.
The next person to ask a question is Rainbow Dash. "What's your favorite Daring Do book to take inspiration from?" she inquires.
"For sure, Daring Do and the Sapphire Statue, it's my personal favorite and inspires several of my comics, especially my early ones," replies Patterson.
"Who is your favorite villain to write to face Daring?" asks Twilight.
"My favorite villain to write to face Daring Do," replies Patterson, "is Dr. Caballeron. He's such a fascinating character with so much untapped potential to work with."
A young filly at the front named Bright Eyes then takes the opportunity to ask the most random question of the panel. "If your characters were turned into dragons, what would they look like?" This stumps all the authors and they don't know what to tell her.
"Well," stutter the writers before speaking, "we'd probably make them sky dragons with the colors of the ponies they are based on." This satisfies Bright Eyes.
"I hope to see that as a comic someday," says Bright Eyes.
"If more ponies want that as well, then maybe we'll all make dragon comics, won't we?" says Ink Blot. The rest nod in agreement. They all rather like the idea of turning their ponies into dragons including Cospole, which the rest of the writers truly took with shock and a heavy dose of surprise.
The panel continues for another hour and a half before finally coming to an end. Everypony then leaves the room and goes off to grab lunch in the dining hall. Once they have their meals, Shining, Rusted Gold, Rainbow, Spike, and Twilight, go and sit down at a table on the far side of the room. The five then begin to talk, crack jokes, tell stories, and laugh for two hours before heading into the second panel along with everypony else. This panel is one featuring AK Yearling and Patterson, which has both Twilight and Rainbow freaking out big time.
At the panel, Rainbow and Twilight sit at the front quietly as they listen to AK Yearling and Patterson talk back and forth as well as answer their questions. Meanwhile in the back stand Shining, Rusted Gold, and Spike. They're only in here because Twilight and Rainbow dragged them along. Once they see that the girls are too busy asking questions, the three slip out and begin playing Ogres and Oubliettes in the hallway as the girls enjoy the panel.
In the panel, Rainbow finally takes her chance to ask a question very eagerly. "AK, do you read the comics Patterson writes about your characters?"
"No, I've never been one for comics myself, but my characters are definitely perfect for the medium," replies AK with a smile.
The panel runs for two more hours before finally coming to an end. Once it does, Twilight and Rainbow get all their Daring Do merchandise they bought and the Daring Do shirts they're wearing signed by both Patterson and AK. The two are thrilled. They then walk out to join the boys with smiles spread across their faces.
"I take it you enjoyed yourself," says Shining to Twilight with a smile.
"Don't you know it? AK is my favorite author after all!" replies Twilight. The five then walk off to look around and interact with others before the third panel at 7:00 PM that night.
After three hours of just hanging out and grabbing dinner, it's finally 6:30 and the five return to the convention center to get ready for the 7:00 panel. A half hour later, they, along with everyone else flood into the room housing the panel and the panel begins. The five then sit down at the front of the room and wait for the speakers to come onto the stage. Five minutes later, the two speakers come onto the stage-the actor for the upcoming Masked Crusader movie set to play Masked Crusader himself, Jackson High Hoof and then the director of the movie, G. Chagrin.
"Hello, Masked Crusader fans, we're here to answer your questions about the upcoming movie, ask us whatever you please!" exclaims G. Chagrin.
"Mr. High Hoof," asks Shining Armor, "who is the actor playing Grim? who is the actor playing your villain for this movie, Shadow Master?"
"Well," replies Jackson High Hoof, "my twin brother, Tony High Hoof is playing Grim, the pony playing Shadow Master is the King of Hoof City himself, Hoofton Skinback."
"Now, who wants to see the Comic Con early trailer exclusive?" asks G. Chagrin. Everypony cheers at this and he turns on the video player and plays the trailer. Everypony in the room watches it with wide eyes including Twilight and Rainbow Dash. Spike, however, being a child, has fallen asleep, which everyone can agree is probably for the best since this is a trailer he shouldn't be seeing to begin with anyways. After seven minutes, the trailer comes to an end. Everypony then cheers once again. G. turns off the video player. "Any more questions?" he asks.
No pony answers him. "Okay then, any thoughts on the trailer?" he asks.
"The trailer was amazing!" everypony exclaims in unison.
An hour later, the panel comes to an end and everypony turns into their rooms for the night. Tomorrow is the last day and they can't believe it. This is one week they never want to end, alas, they know all good things have to end eventually.
It's the day the convention has finally come to a close and everypony is packing up and heading out. Shining helps his sister pack her bag and then packs his own placing the comics on top of everything. They had a fun weekend together this week and they're sad it's coming to an end. Fifteen minutes later, they hop on the train. They then go and take their seats across from Rainbow Dash and Spike.
"This week was fun!" says Rainbow Dash.
"It sure was!" reply Shining and Twilight and unison. "Too bad it has to end."
"Yeah, but we have the Daring Do Con in three weeks, so look forward to that," replies Rainbow.
"True, true," replies Twilight.
With a chug and a bump and an eek, the train pulls out of the Canterlot station and starts on its merry way. A few hours later, it stops in Ponyville, and Spike, Rainbow, and Twilight hop off but not before Twilight gives her brother a hug and a goodbye. The train then pulls back out of the station in route to the Crystal Empire. Twilight had a fun weekend with her brother, she just wishes it wasn't over.
The next morning, Twilight and Shining wake up at 5:00 and head for the train station, which they arrive at by 7:00 and then hop on the 7:30 train to Canterlot. The two can't wait for the Con. As the two board the train, they put their suit cases under their seats then sit down. The train then pulls out of the station and heads on its way.
After three hours of being on the train, the train takes an unexpected stop. "Why'd the train stop?" Shining asks the conductor.
"There's a fallen tree on the tracks, it'll be another two hours of waiting, sorry," replies the conductor.
Twilight looks over at her brother. "It'll be alright Shining," she says, "we'll still be there in time for the Con this afternoon."
Two hours later, the train is finally off the track and the train pulls out once again and chugs merrily on its way. After four more hours on the train, they finally arrive in Canterlot. A few moments later, a thrilled Shining and a happy Twilight hop off the train and head for the Canterlot Convention Center.
About a half hour later, the two arrive at the Center and sign in and get their badges. The two then head off to the merchandise signing area. Twilight stands there reading her Daring Do books as her brother gets all his merchandise signed. After an hour, the two head off to the first panel of the week. Twilight is surprised, as she sits in the panel with her brother, she can't help but enjoy herself. She even asks a few questions of the creators herself while non comparable to the over twenty her brother asked them. After the panel, the two go and buy some new Canterlot Comic Con exclusive comic concept art, figurines, and comic issues. Twilight even discovers the Daring Do Comic Series, which she happily buys the first twenty books of as well as the con exclusive Daring Do figurine and con exclusive Ahuizotl plush. Shining smiles. "I see you found the Daring Do comic book series." Twilight nods her head. The two go and drop their purchases in their room in the hotel upstairs before returning back downstairs to the convention area.
Once they're back down in the convention area, Twilight and Shining bump into Rainbow Dash and Spike unexpectedly. "Rainbow, Spike, what are you two doing here?" asks Twilight.
"Daring Do comics, I just bought the first twenty five and the two con exclusive items-the Daring Do figurine and Ahuizotl plush," says Rainbow.
"I bought those too," replies Twilight.
"I'm here because I love comics, plus I wouldn't stop bugging Rainbow, so she agreed to bring me along," replies Spike.
After a few hours of chatting with their friends, Shining and Twilight part ways with their friends and return to their hotel room. Spike and Rainbow do the same. The four will likely meet up again tomorrow, for now, though, they're just ready to catch some shut eye. Twilight can't help but admit, maybe she was wrong about Canterlot Comic Con, she ended up enjoying herself after all.
