Daring Do and The Disavowed Connection

Velvet appreciated the gesture, she knew Daring’s concern was well-intentioned. Yet it was a bittersweet reminder of the care and compassion that both her daughter and husband could no longer offer. Gently pushing her away, Velvet stared at her with teary eyes and a brief forced smile. “Thank you for trying to cheer me up,” she spoke with a rasp. “I just wanted to see my oldest friend before I left.”

“What do you mean Velvet,” Daring’s calm tone was laced with curiosity.

“I wanted to wait until we met up for lunch but I just couldn‘t tolerate living in that empty house anymore.” Daring clung to every word, all the while noticing a tone of finality hidden within the permeating sadness of Velvet’s voice.

“Do you have a particular place in mind,” Daring asked. For the first time during her visit, Velvet gave a genuine smile.

“Actually I do, thanks to Luna and my daughter’s old letters to home.” Averting her gaze from Daring, she lifted her head to stare skyward. “Not even death could stay my daughter’s helping hoof,” Velvet spoke in a prideful manner. Daring put a hoof on Velvet’s shoulder, causing her to look back at Daring.

“I’m glad that you’ve decided to travel and experience the world again. Besides we might cross paths someday,” Daring stated.

Velvet's eyes twinkled at the thought, of sharing another adventure together. However melancholy consumed her fleeting cheer, as she realized that such a thing was merely wishful thinking. “Daring, could I possible intrude upon your hospitality once more,” Velvet inquired.

Surprised by such formality from the unicorn, a chuckle slipped past Daring‘s lips before she could suppress it. “You haven’t been this formal since your apprenticeship.” Daring declared with a snicker. Velvet’s cheeks flush red with embarrassment as memories of better days rejuvenated her stunted emotions.

“Old habits die hard but this is also an important request,” Velvet announced. Daring cocked an eyebrow, intrigued to learn what favor Velvet deemed important enough to employ a formal supplication. With Daring’s undivided attention solely focused on her, Velvet’s tenacity wavered ever so slightly. “I know that your sort of busy but I was wondering if I could stay here for the night.”

Pursing her lips, Daring pretended to contemplate Velvet’s inquiry. Moments later Daring broke into a warm smile, thoroughly banishing Velvet’s apprehension. “Of course you can stay here, what kind of friend would I be otherwise. When I get back we can have dinner together before you start your journey,” Daring happily conveyed.

“I look forward to that, now go before it gets too late,” Velvet declared.

“I’ll try to hurry as fast as I can so don’t vanish before I return.” Daring chuckled before getting off the couch, opening the door and jetting off into the sky. Velvet followed her, stopping at the door to watching her sip through the forest. After a few moments, Velvet closed the door and trotted to Daring‘s library.

Easily spotting the huge compendium, Velvet used her magic to open it, and began to reshelve the books that were tossed about. Velvet didn‘t mind, it felt like cleaning after Twilight during a research binge. Allowing herself to be swaddled in memories while her corporeal form continued to methodically clean. Thoughts of being a complete family again soothed her shattered soul.

Soon those memories faded, giving way to what Velvet believed was the catalyst to her blessed life. Daring‘s recount of their first meeting. The singular moment that saved her an otherwise horrid existence. It was 15 years ago in Manehattan, it was quite a different city then it is now. Poverty stricken ponies doing anything to barely etch out a living.

Daring Do was just a fictional character then, merely an escape for a disillusioned pegasus. A.K. Yearling was a school teacher before her writing career finally took off. Yearling was a great teacher, nopony could dispute that. Yet she couldn't shake the ever looming shadow of discontent from her mind.

Try as she might, Yearling just couldn't stitch together a narrative that didn't feel clunky when read. However, she couldn't have guessed that a chance encounter would change the course of two lives that day. On a cold autumn afternoon, Yearling was making her way home from work.

The chill gnawed at her face and neck, pulling her cloak tightly around, she hoped that would offer some relief from the cold. The clopping hooves from passing ponies filled the otherwise silent day. Having moved from a small village, Yearling didn’t know what to expect as several fillies and colts bum-rushed her. They were covered in dirt and shivering, a few of them wore cloaks.

Cloaks being the general term considering that theirs were riddled with holes and tears. Only after realizing they were beggars and not dangerous, did she relaxed her muscles. The sight of them broke her heart, despite knowing that she couldn’t spare it. Yearling withdrew her pouch and extracted two bits. It was a meager amount but they cheered as if they just inherited a fortune.

Replacing the pouch back into the front pocket of her cloak, she continued on her way. A smile spread across on her face as cheers of joys sounded behind her. However, her smile quickly vanished as the familiar lump, where her money pouch should be, was gone. Turning on a hoof, Yearling charged at the group of urchins. In turn, they sprinted away, splitting from the main group as alleyways became accessible.

Realizing that if she didn’t act quickly, Yearling would lose them to the perplexing layout of the city. An idea occurred to her, momentarily pausing. She crouched low to the ground, pulled her leg muscles taut. She vaulted into the air, unsnapping the clasp of her cloak which freed it from around her neck.

Immediately Yearling’s wings unfurled from their resting position. She shot forward as if fired from a cannon, in flight. The cloak that was gently wafting was soon sucked forward by the forceful displacement of the air. Yearling soared high into the sky, the cold nipped at her now exposed wings as she observed them from above.

Careful not to lose sight of the fillies she was tracking, excitement surged throughout Yearling's body. She was absolutely giddy from tracking down the fillies. Behind her excitement rested the realization that despite life’s unyielding servitude, her spirit had weathered its attempt to break her. Unfortunately, her exhilaration came to an end as the group was soon rejoined by the others that split off before.

They came to an abandoned building, looking around to see if they were followed before entering. Knowing that the hard part was about to begin, Yearling began her descent. Luckily the sun had set, allowing her the cover of darkness to sneak about. Unfortunately, her wings weren't used to the strain that she had just exerted.

Unable to maintain her attitude, her wings gave out. Screaming, Yearling plummeted onto the snowy ground below with a thud. Her last moments of consciousness was her staring into the sky. As she slowly regained consciousness, she immediately realized that her body was shivering uncontrollably.

Riddled with pain, Yearling carefully got back onto her hooves. Slowly, she stretched her legs and wings, checking to see if she had sustained any broken bones. Streaks of pain shot throughout her body when she tried to walk. Falling into the snow again, she whimpered in agony.

After a couple of minutes, the pain finally subsided enough for her to get back to her hooves. Once again, she tried to walk again but slower than before. Bracing herself for what she thought was going to be another wave of pain. Yet, this time it wasn't nearly as bad as it was before.

"Your pretty tough for an old mare," a snarky voice emerged from the shadows.

"Show yourself," Yearling demanded from whoever was hiding in the shadows. Panic slowly gripped her mind as nothing but the crunching of leaves could be heard. Her only mode of escape was by hoof and at the pace of a lazy trot. She didn't know how to fight nor was she in any condition even if she did knew how.

The crunching sound was getting louder, terrified as she was, Yearling maintained a stoic expression. A few more seconds went by before a lone unicorn filly emerged from behind a discarded piece of kitchen appliance. “Why did you come here,” the soft voice asked.

“I was following a group of rapscallions, they stole my money,“ answered Yearling.

“I'm sorry to hear about that but you won't find them up there though," the filly replied in a rather smug tone.

Panic slowly dwindled as Yearling continued to talk to the filly. “So, where have they gone to?"

"I can't really say but if I did know, why would I tell you?" the filly retorted. Realizing that the filly was giving her the runaround, Yearling changed her tactic before answering the filly's smart-aleck remark.

"That really is a shame, since I'd be ever grateful for your assistance. Might have even treated you to a warm meal but if you don't know then I guess there's nothing to be done." That being said, Yearling slowly turned and began to walk home.

The filly just stood there, unsure if she should be outraged for being brushed off like the gnat at a picnic. Perhaps appalled was the correct emotional response since it seemed that the pegasus had no qualms about leaving a filly to freeze in the cold.

That usually works on the fillies in my class but perhaps I just made her mad instead, she thought as her hoof steps now approached the double digits. Reviewing her first adventure, she realized that despite the terror and uncertainty, she certainly enjoyed it.

Her thoughts and stride were interrupted by a pain that steamed from her left flank. Yearling gritted her teeth against it as an angry voice filled the air. "You think your soo much better than I am, don'tcha? If anything, I'm better than you, I've lost my parents, felt the heel of this harsh world grind into my backside all my life."

"Well, I'm still standing, undeterred by its attempts to break me." Yearling was struck by another snowball, this time in the back of the head. A few sobs escaped their forced exile as the filly's bold demeanor began to slowly crack.

"Come here child," Yearling sternly replied. Surprised to hear the sound of crushed snow under approaching hooves, she quickly composed herself. Spotting the filly from her peripheral, she spoke again. "Listen, if that's really how you feel then why don't you change your life?"

The filly simply stared at the pegasus, her silence prompting Yearling to continue. "I've dealt with fillies for most of my life and let me tell you that with that kind of moxie, you could easily achieve your goals." Upon hearing herself being praised the filly gave a weak smile.

"Those are some nice words but they won't put food in my belly," the filly stated.

Yearling carefully considered the filly's words and was inclined to agree. It was true that she would be provided room and board at an orphanage. However, those facilities only seemed interested in molding the next generation to fit society's standards. A place like that would surely crush the filly's spirit, like so many other orphans she has taught in her classroom.

Then an idea popped into her mind, "Since my money is probably gone, I'll make you a deal, come home with me, graduate from school, and I'll forget this had ever happened," she finished. The filly began to protest to which Yearling added that if she preferred to finish school from an orphanage, that would be acceptable as well.

Weighing her options, the filly reluctantly agreed to accompany Yearling home. As they walked, they properly introduced themselves and slowly began to learn about each other. Velvet was snapped back to reality by the realization that she had finished cleaning the library.

With a last check to make sure every book was in its proper place. Velvet extracted a rather large book and made her way to the living room, grabbing a snack along the way. The lack of her friend's presence caused Velvet to sigh as she sat on the couch. A quick glance at the window told her that the sun had nearly set.

It was a strange notion that even though Princess Celestia was gone, the sun continued its daily routine. Velvet knew that Sunset Shimmer had assumed the role of their departed princess. However, it would always be Princess Celestia's Sun to her. Illuminating the darkening room with her magic, Velvet cracked open the book and started to read, pausing intermittently to retrieve a carrot stick from the bowl to munch on.