A Second Chance

"So what are we celebrating again?" Josh asked, as he picked up a nearby cupcake.

"National Random Holiday Party Day!" Pinkie Pie yelled out excitedly.

Josh simply shrugged, eating the cupcakes. "Well I'm not complaining." Josh said, as Rainbow Dash busted through the door.

"Heya, Twilight! Aren't you excited that—" Rainbow Dash Began before Pinkie Pie interrupted her with a Party horn.

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight said, "So glad you've finally made it!"

Rainbow Dash looked around the room confused, "What is everypony doing here?" She asked.

"We're having a holiday party!" Pinkie Pie informed her.

"So what holiday is today?" Rainbow asked.

"National Random Holiday Party Day!" Pinkie said, jumping in excitement.

"I've never heard of it either." Rarity said as she took a sip of some punch, "But the punch is quite tasty."

"you might say the secret ingredient is-" Pinkie pie began before leaning into Rainbows ear, "a secret!" She loudly whispered.

Rainbow Dash looked around the room, "How come nopony bothered to invite me?"

"I came to invite you personally," Applejack began, "but it seems you were a speck too busy reading the last Daring Do book for the twelfth time." She told Rainbow.

"Yeah, well, in three months and twenty six more days, I'll be able to read the next one." Rainbow said excitedly, as she picked up a cup of punch and began drinking.

"Oh, haven't you heard? The release of the next book got pushed another two months." Twilight informed Rainbow Dash, who paid her back by spitting up the punch onto her.

"Two more months?!" Rainbow said in a panic, "I've been waiting so long already! I don't think I can take another two months! I'll never make it!" She finished as she collapsed face first to the ground.

"Yeah. I can vouch for that..." Fluttershy said.

"Did they give a reason?" Rainbow asked looking up at Twilight.

"The publisher just said author A.K. Yearling won't be able to finish the book for another two months." Twilight answered as she lifted up a tray of cupcakes, "Cupcakes?"

"How could you possibly know that before me? I'm the series' biggest fan!" Rainbow Dash asked Twilight.

"I'm just as big a fan as you! In fact, I'm the one who first introduced you to the books, remember?" Twilight reminded her.

"Oh. Right." Rainbow remembered.

"A.K. Yearling just might be my favorite author. I know everything about her. Where she grew up, where she studied literature, where she wrote the first Daring Do book..." Twilight said before being interrupted by Rainbow.

"Where she lives?" Rainbow asked excitedly.

"Uh... no, though I could probably find out somehow. Why?" Twilight asked Rainbow.

"Don't you get it? The new book is obviously delayed because she needs help dealing with whatever everyday nonsense is distracting her from spending her every living breathing second writing! So I– I mean, fans like me, can get to read the new book ASAP! Think about it! We could help her with her laundry, buy her groceries, cooking her meals, whatever! Now, who wouldn't appreciate that?" Rainbow suggested to everyone, who gave her an odd look.

"Uh, Rainbow." Josh said, "That's kinda creepy."

"Well she could always say no." Rainbow stated.

"Mmh... I suppose you're right..." Twilight reasoned with herself.

"Of course I am. So... how's about getting that address?" Rainbow asked Twilight.

"Don't you think you're overreacting?" Josh asked Rainbow.

"Not at all! I'm just looking out for Daring Doo!" Rainbow replied.

"Looking out for Daring Doo?" Josh questioned.

"I-I mean A.K. Yearling!" Rainbow quickly responded.

"Right....I'm going to be the voice of reason and say this is a bad idea." Josh stated, "I mean, if it was me I wouldn't want a bunch of fans showing up at my door."

"Oh common, she'll love it!" Rainbow said, "Besides, it's not like we'll stay if she doesn't want us."

Josh looked at everyone else, he could tell they agreed with Rainbow Dash. He let out a sigh, "Fine, I guess you're right." He said.

"Does this mean your coming too?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, I got nothing else to do." Josh replied, "And it could be fun."

"Alright then," Twilight began, "I'll go find where she lives, you all get ready. It could be a long trip." She told everyone.

With that, Twilight began searching through books, magazines, newspapers. Anything that could help find where A.K. Yearling lives, meanwhile Josh decided to try on a new outfit Rarity had cooked up for him. His pants now resembled jogging pants instead of the normal Jeans he had become accustomed to, he also now had a long-sleeve black shirt to match the black pants. Rarity said it while she would like to make it more colorful, it should fulfill Josh's need for an outdoorsy outfit.

After about an hour of waiting, Twilight finished her research. So she and Josh gathered everyone up and they began on the long hiking trip to a remote part of Equestria, really remote. Twilight had a map and Josh looked it over while they walked, it led them through a forest and past mountains with no towns in their path. It was a good three hours of walking until they managed to find A.K. Yearling's house. However it wasn't what they expected, the house looked beat up with broken bits of wood, an old barrel, books and other pieces of junk scattered around the outside.

"Oh no, what happened?" Twilight questioned as they got closer to the house.

"Apparently somepony has intruded on her privacy pretty hard already..." Rainbow Dash added.

Walking towards the house and reaching the broken front door, Rainbow Dash knocked. Only for the front door to drop to the ground in front of them. Walking inside they saw it wasn't any better than the outside, broken bits of all kinds of junk littered the floor and even a broken sink could be seen.

"Hoo-wee, somepony really trashed this place." Applejack said.

"It's like a raging bull was set loose." Josh added.

"Hmm... Maybe..." Pinkie Pie said, "or maybe A.K. Yearling's just a terrible, horrible, unbelievable slob!"

"I hope A.K. Yearling's alright!" Rarity said, looking at a broken mirror.

"Oh no! What if something terrible happened to her?" Twilight added on, she sounded concerned.

"I know! There might be no more books!" Rainbow Dash blurted out, causing Twilight to give her an annoyed look. "Uh... But, of course, I'd be worried about her, too. Heh." Rainbow quickly said nervously.

"What are you all doing here?" A female voice called out, causing everyone to look toward the front door. In the doorway they saw a light gold mare with a purple cloak, red glasses and gray hat with a white ribbon and bow on it.

"Uh... A... K-K... Yearling...?" Rainbow Dash asked, she let out a squeal of excitement.

"We didn't do this! We swear!" Twilight quickly said as A.K. Yearling entered the house.

"What have you done to my house?" She asked, a concerned look struck across her face.

"We didn't do this, Ms. Yearling— whoa!" Applejack said before A.K. Yearling pulled a carpet out from under her, causing her to fall.

"We're awfully glad to see you're alright." Twilight said while A.K. Yearling ignored her and continued to search for something.

"Okay, clearly this isn't the best time, but I've just gotta say how much we all really love your books..." Rainbow said with a nervous chuckle, as Yearling pulled out the book Rainbow was standing on from under her. Causing her to fall back into a pile. A.K. Yearling quickly entered a password with the rings on the spine of the book, the book opened and revealed a golden ring.

"It's safe." A.K. Yearling said with a sigh, as she put it in her cloak.

"Great! Maybe now would be a good time for me to ask her how we can help move the new book along a little faster. Chop chop!" Rainbow Dash rudely said, as Twilight pulled her back with her magic.

"Rainbow Dash, a minute please!" Twilight said, as she pulled Rainbow Dash outside.

"Mrs. Yearling," Josh begin as A.K. Yearling continued to clean up, "I'm terribly sorry for this disturbance, I assure you we only did this because we were concerned about you." He told her, trying to make breaking into her house sound as good as he could.

"I'm sure you did, but I would prefer if you followed your friends and left." A.K. Yearling said, causing Josh to turn around and see everyone else had already left.

"Right! I'll be on my way." Josh quickly said, as he began walking towards the front door. However, he found his path blocked by three menacing looking Stallions. "Oh! Hello good sirs, you must be looking for A.K. Yearling. If you just move out of my way I ca-" Josh began before the Stallions approached him. Josh moved back, he could tell something wasn't right.

Josh moved back as A.K. Yearling turned around and took notice, "Mrs. Yearling, Stay behind me!" Josh said, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. But before he could draw it, he saw A.K. Yearling throw off her cloak, glasses and hat. Doing this revealed her to be wearing a green jacket along with some kind of safari hat.

"No, you stay behind me." A.K. Yearling said, as she and the three thugs began circling her. One quickly went after the golden ring, followed by another causing them all to begin fighting. Josh couldn't tell who was winning but it was sure entertaining to watch as A.K. Yearling fought off three other people while keeping the ring. However soon the ring was knocked away from her and towards the fire place.

"I got it!" Josh yelled out as he grabbed the ring, this however only served to get the attention of the three thieves. One of them who had an orange mane charged him first. Josh managed to side step him, lucky for him two legs gave him a bit more agility over them. However another one wearing a fedora rammed into him and knocked him to the ground, and jumped onto him. The Stallion was big and Josh struggled to fight him off, he felt one of the other thugs grab at the ring he was still holding. Josh quickly pushed his hand upwards and punched the thief attempting to take the ring.

"Throw it this way!" He heard A.K. Yearling yell, he threw it towards her as he used his legs to push the stallion of him. However, the third tackled A.K. Yearling and the ring flew past her towards the front door. Where a fourth Stallion picked it up and began spinning it on his hoof.

"Many thanks, Daring Do. As you've probably surmised, our earlier search for this treasure was... unsuccessful. So kind of you to find it for us." He said, as Daring Do tried to recover from the tackle but fell back down with a grunt. She seemingly injured her leg.

"Wait a minute, you're Daring Do?" Josh questioned as the two Stallions he was fighting before stood back from him.

"Give it back, Caballeron!" Daring yelled, ignoring Josh.

"That's Doctor Caballeron to you." Doctor Caballeron told her.

"So let me guess," Daring began, "Ahuizotl has put you up to this? You're stealing the ring to give to him so his hold on the Fortress of Talacon will be good for eight centuries as foretold by prophecy!" She asked Caballeron.

"Close, but... no. I'm going to sell this to him, make a bundle, and retire from archaeology in splendor." Doctor Caballeron explained.

"Oi! Can you guys quit ignoring me?" Josh yelled, catching the attention of Doctor Caballeron.

"Well, what do we have here Daring?" Doctor Caballeron asked.

"My names Josh, and sorry but I don't think I can just let you steal that ring." Josh said facing Caballeron.

"Well, "Josh" I must ask what are you going to do about it?" Caballeron asked, looking at the two hench ponies behind Josh.

The two stallions grabbed Josh's arms and held them behind him, quickly tying them with rope.

"Let him go Doctor Caballeron! He's not part of this!" Daring Do said.

"Well, looks like he is now." Caballeron said, as the two hench ponies hoisted Josh up and began carrying him off.

"Let me go you thugs!" Josh yelled, as he was carried off.

"uhh, boss?" One of the hench ponies asked, "What are we going to do with him?"

"Sell him to the highest bidder!" Caballeron answered, "He could make a good servant, or the circus."

Josh struggled to move as the henchponies carried him, "If you even think of trying to sell me, I'll turn you all into paste!"

"Oh please, what can you do?" Caballeron asked.

"I for one, know one of the alicorn princesses personally!" Josh yelled back as he continued to try and get the rope off.

"Ha! You?" Caballeron asked, "Don't make me laugh."

Josh let out a grunt and flopped his head back, he had to just wait out until he got a chance to get away.

[Back at Daring Do's cottage]

"I told you, I work alone!" Daring Do told the mane six as they followed her.

"Yeah? Well Doctor Caballeron took our friend, so like it not we are coming." Twilight said.

"That was his mistake for getting involved." Daring responded, "And besides, you could have jumped in at any time." She said as she flew away.

"Wait!" Rainbow yelled, flying after her.

"I. Work. Alone." Daring said as she flew away from Rainbow.

"But why won't you let me team up with you just this once?!" Rainbow asked, as she now flew next to Daring.

"My work always involves secrets. And since you never know who you can trust, it's best to never trust anypony." Daring informed Rainbow.

"But just because you can't trust some, doesn't mean nopony can be trusted!" Rainbow Dash told her.

"Look, I don't have time to argue-" Daring spoke before Rainbow interrupted her.

"Neither do I. Let's go!" Rainbow said as she flew ahead of Daring.

Daring Do let out a sigh, "Can't believe I'm even talking to her..." She said under her breath.

Josh sat tied to a pole, it was dark now and Caballeron and his goons sat eating some hay. He tried to get away but he just couldn't break the rope.

"You could at least give me some water." Josh said.

"Well you give it a rest already?" Caballeron asked, "Maybe we should just give him away with the ring so we don't have to listen to him anymore." Caballeron said with a laugh.

Just then, the four stallions and prisoner heard a bag of bits hit the ground. They turned to the source of the sound to see Daring Do in what Josh thought was a horrible disguise.

"I have been led to believe you have in your possession an item of significant importance that might be... for sale." Daring Do said in a gravelly voice.

"Oh, uh, well... I did have another buyer lined up, but he's not here, so... sounds like we have a deal!" Caballeron said, before a scream rocked the jungle.

"Caballeron!" A voice yelled out, as trees began moving to the side. And a massive dark blue monkey like creature with a hand on its tail.

"Ahuizotl!" Daring yelled in a whisper.

"The ring!" Ahuizotl demanded, however this just caused Caballeron to drop it and run away in fear.

Daring Do quickly jumped and grabbed the ring, this caused Ahuizotl to yell in anger and jump at Daring.

"Be cool, Rainbow Dash, be cool... she's got this!" Rainbow Dash said to herself.

"RAINBOW!" Josh yelled out, "STOP GUSHING OVER DARING AND UNTIE ME!"

"Oh! Right!" Rainbow Dash quickly ran over and began untying Josh as Ahuizotl approached Daring.

"The ring, Daring Do! Give it to me!" Ahuizotl demanded.

"Now, Ahuizotl, you know I love you, but I can't give you the ring 'til I've properly proposed." Daring Do said smugly, as she put the ring around her neck.

"Interesting, because my friends here have a proposal of their own. " Ahuizotl said with a laugh, he snapped his figures on his tail and 4 big cats jumped out from behind him.

"Bring it!" Daring Do said, boldly.

The first beast jumped at her, she punched it right in the face causing it to fly backwards. After this the second one jumped at her, but Daring Do jumped over and slammed down on its head. She then launched at a third one and kicked it into a bush, a fourth jumped at her and she got into a tussle. While Josh was finally freed from the rope, Daring Do's that landed in front of them and Rainbow quickly picked it up.

"Daring Do! I've got your hat! You want me to toss it? Daring Do! Daring Do!" Rainbow yelled at, catching the attention of Ahuizotl.

Ahuizotl jumped at Rainbow and grabbed her in his tail-hand. Josh jumped at Ahuizotl in a counter attack, however this wasn't well thought out and Ahuizotl punched Josh away using his massive club-like fist. This sent Josh into a nearby bush, where he laid on the ground in pain, letting out a groan.

"Don't worry, Daring Do! I'll come help you!" Rainbow said, as she was held in Ahuizotl's grip who then threw her into a bush. This distracted Daring Do long enough for the wild big cats to jump onto her and somehow tie her up with rope.

"Don't bother! I'd say you've already helped plenty." Daring Do said as she was carried off.

"What have I done?" Rainbow Dash asked herself as she watched Daring Do be carried off towards an ancient temple.

"Rainbow....Please get off me." Josh said, as Rainbow quickly realized why the lander felt softer then it should have. Getting off of Josh, he sat up. "What happened?" Josh asked Rainbow.

"I messed up, big time." Rainbow said, as she looked down in defeat. Just then they heard the sound of multiple ponies approaching, and out of the brush came Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Twilight.

"Thank goodness you're both alright!" Rarity said, as they came to a halt.

"Quick, where does it hurt?" Twilight asked Rainbow.

"In here." Rainbow Dash said, putting a hoof to her chest. "Daring Do and the ring have been captured by the dreaded Ahuizotl, and it's all my fault." This caused everypony to gasp.

"Dash, I'm sure whatever you did was an honest mistake." Twilight told Rainbow, trying to comfort her.

"Whatever. Let's just go home." Rainbow Dash said, as she stood up and began walking sadly away.

"We can't go back now! Looks like she needs our help more than ever!" Applejack said, trying to get Rainbow to stay.

"Trying to help is how I got in this mess in the first place. You were right, Twilight. We should've stayed out of this." Rainbow said, as Twilight approached her.

"Look, there is more going on here than meets the eye. In every Daring Do book, there always is! We can't turn our backs on her!" Twilight told her friend, who shrugged her off.

"She doesn't want my help, Twilight." Rainbow said, as they continued walking.

"Perhaps. But she might need it anyway." Twilight tried to cheer her friend up.

"No. My hero's way better off without me." Rainbow said, her voice full of sadness.

"This don't sound like you." Applejack said, stopping Rainbow Dash.

"Where's the Rainbow Dash who would help anypony at the drop of a hat?" Pinkie asked, as she hugged Rainbow from behind.

"Or pith helmet, as the case may be." Rarity couldn't help but add on.

"She's here where she's got no business being. She should be at home." Rainbow Dash said, pushing Pinkie off her and began walking away once more. Until Twilight stopped her with a speech.

"It's fine to look up to Daring Do, but you've put her so high up on a pedestal, you can't even see your own worth anymore! She's in the fortress, and we're here, and we wouldn't be who we are if we didn't go in after her! And neither would you! So, are you with us, or not?" Twilight said, causing Rainbow to look at her.

"Uh, guys." Josh interrupted, "While I hate to ruin such a lovely teaching moment, we might want to get a move on."

"Right, what's the plan?" Rainbow asked.

Josh, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy all entered the temple. Rainbow Dash left to help Daring and while she did that, they had to get the ring back from Ahuizotl. Running towards the sound of rhythmic thumping, they found themselves looking into a room of tribal looking stallions with spears and Ahuizotl in the middle with the ring.

"Remember the plan, you guys get the ring. I'll distract Ahuizotl." Josh said, as he went to run into the ring Twilight stopped him.

"Don't get yourself hurt, okay?" Twilight asked Josh, she got the repose in the form of a nod and thumbs up.

Walking into the room, Josh noticed he startled the tribal ponies. He could only imagine what they thought he was, "Ahuizotl! Give up the ring, or I'll take it by force!" Josh demanded.

Ahuizotl simply laughed, "Or what?"

Josh then pulled out his sword, "Or I'll slice and dice ya into a fine plate of sushi!" He said, boldly.

"Oh no! Please don't!" Ahuizotl pleaded, kneeling. "Please don't use your sharp sword!"

"You're mocking me, aren't you?" Josh said, looking at Ahuizotl.

"No, I'm just so scared of your scary sword!" Ahuizotl said, "Oh wait.." Ahuizotl began laughing as in all three of his hands caught swords that the tribe ponies threw at him, "I have a sword, plus two!"

Josh looked at Ahuizotl shocked, however he quickly recomposed himself. "Then parry me, casual!" Josh said as Ahuizotl launched at him. Josh quickly blocked his first attack before needing to jump away to avoid the second, while the third slash coming from his tail cut a hole in his shirt.

"HEY! THAT TOOK ME AN HOUR TO MAKE YOU BEAST!" Rarity yelled as she and everyone else began pelting Ahuizotl with small rocks.

"Glad you could join the party, who knew he had swords!" Josh said, blocking another strike.

"I did!" Twilight said, as she bucked a tribal pony who approached her from behind.

"Fair enough!" Josh yelled back, just before Ahuizotl kicked him away.

"And now, you shall meet your doom!" Ahuizotl said as he ran at Josh.

As Ahuizotl jumped at Josh, he remembered that he had magic. Summoning a shield in front of him and promptly remembering to take note that he should remember what he can do. As Ahuizotl plopped down, Josh jumped over him and grabbed the ring.

"GET BACK HERE!" Ahuizotl shouted getting up.

"Pinkie! Catch!" Josh yelled out, throwing her the ring.

As Pinkie Pie caught the ring, a game of cat and mouse began. Pinkie passed the ring to Applejack, who then had it taken by a tribal pony, who had it taken by Twilight then throwing it to Fluttershy. This went on as Rainbow Dash and Daring Do began removing every ring. As they removed more rings, the temple began to shake.

"STOP HER!" Ahuizotl yelled, as the tribal ponies ran towards Rainbow and Daring.

"Ponies, run this place is going down!" Rainbow Dash yelled out to her friends, this caused them all to run out of the collapsing temple. Barely escaping, they watched at the temple behind them.

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called out, worried her friend may not have made it.

"Hey look! Rainbow and Daring Do are okay!" Josh yelled, as he pointed towards Rainbow Dash waving Daring Do goodbye.

"Hey guys, I made it!" Rainbow said, landing.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, as the mane 6 embraced her.

"Glad that all worked out." Josh said, "Guess that wasn't a bad idea after all."

"Of course it wasn't, I always have good ideas!" Rainbow said cockily.

"Well, I'm just glad everypony is alright." Josh said, suddenly he could hear snickering. "What?" Josh asked.

"You just said "everypony"." Twilight pointed out.

"What? No I didn't, I said everybody." Josh quickly responded.

"Whatever you say, now let's head home. I'm sure it's been a long day for everypony." Twilight said, getting an agreeing nod from everybody. And they began the hike back home.