Friends, Forgiveness, and Magic
Daring Doubled
Chrysalis paced back and forth across the library floor, deep in thought. “Do you think she might feel more comfortable if I shape shift into a pegasus or something? I’m pretty sure she was a pegasus too at some point. Or would she think that by using a disguise I’m trying to deceive her?”
“Hmm, that’s a good question. I’d recommend that you give her that choice,” Princess Nightmare Moon suggested. “Let her know that you just want to be friends with her and let her decide if she’s mentally strong enough to face your normal form or not.”
Chrysalis sighed. “That does sound ideal. Do you think I can do this?”
Nightmare smiled. “Hey, I did the same thing with the Equestrian Luna and it worked out for me.” She briefly frowned as she added, “Although Pinkie Pie told me her counterpart did something similar once. Even if the Equestrian Pinkie is more normal than the Pinkie we know, that’s a rather unsettling thought…”
Chrysalis blinked. “I don’t understand. What did the other Pinkie do that was similar to how you befriended your mom’s counterpart?”
“There were a couple of details I missed since she was talking so fast. I think she ate too much sugar the other night or something. Basically, Pinkie said her counterpart stalked a donkey named Cranky until she could befriend him. Sorta like how I stalked Princess Luna around until she stopped blaming me for all the trouble that other Nightmare Moon caused.”
Before Chrysalis could tell Nightmare that she wasn’t a stalker, the front door swung open as a filly and two colts burst into the library. “Hey Chrysalis! Miss Zecora told us you’d be here. Are you ready to go now?” Snails asked.
“I just need a minute please,” Chrysalis said as she glanced back and smiled at Snails, Snips, and Scootaloo.
“What do you need a minute for?!” Scootaloo asked as she buzzed over to Chrysalis and hovered in front of her. “Aren’t you excited?”
Chrysalis smiled. “I’m a little excited. However, I’m also really nervous.”
“Nervous? What are you talking about?” Scootaloo asked.
“I’m going to try and meet with the Cadance from Equestria today. It’s part of the reason why I’m going with you and your class during your field trip today,” Chrysalis told the three kids. “I’m looking forward to meeting Cadance, but from what Pinkie told me she and my counterpart have a…rough past. I’m hoping I can do for her what Nightmare Moon did for Princess Luna. That’s why I’m nervous about meeting her. Though, I take it that you’re not feeling nervous about today.”
“Nope! I get to meet the other Scootaloo and find out how awesome I am! I mean she is!” Scootaloo cheered as she flew around the room in little circles.
“Same with us. It’ll be cool to see what we’re like in Equestria. So, what are you guys doing?” Snails asked Nightmare and Smog.
“Peaceville has been pretty quiet lately, so we’re going to the Crystal Empire and then Canterlot to take care of royal duties and whatever princessy things King Sombra can distract Nightie with,” Smog said as he came down the stairs with a box full of books. “I think the rest of our friends are out doing their own things too.”
Nightmare nodded. “Trixie got a special show out in Clouds-Edge, Rarity is visiting her parents, Fluttershy is out on some bird watching event, and Discord is goofing off in Canterlot, doing who knows what. Gilda and Rainbow are going to Griffonstone to visit Gilda’s family and to pick up the new Bravely Blue book. Ahuizotl, the series’ author, is going to be there answering fan questions and signing autographs. Sunset is the only one staying in Peaceville today.”
“Cool!” the three kids cheered.
The door opened again as Diamond Tiara walked into the library. “Scootaloo, Snips, Snails! Did you find her yet? Oh, there she is,” she said once she spotted Chrysalis. “What are you guys still doing here then? Everyone else is waiting for us!”
“You can relax Diamond, we’re coming,” Snips said.
Diamond frowned with worry. “Sorry, but I don’t really feel like relaxing right now. I need more time to plan out what I’m going to say.”
“Plan out what?” Nightmare asked.
“Oh! Princess Nightmare Moon!” Diamond bowed to the suddenly cheerful alicorn. “I’m so sorry I didn’t notice you earlier.”
“It’s quite alright,” Nightmare giggled, feeling giddy as she basked in Diamond’s admiration of her. “You can get up now. What were you planning again?”
Diamond sighed. “I was talking with Sunset about if you three met my counterpart during your first visit to Equestria. And apparently…the other Diamond Tiara is really mean. And since our class is going to the museum with the other Cheerilee’s class…”
Nightmare nodded sadly. “I understand. You’re probably going to bump into her at some point. You’re right, the other Diamond Tiara was rather cruel. You’re much nicer than her.”
Diamond took her tiara off and played with for a bit as she thought. “Yes, but I’ve been thinking…like, I talked with Apple Bloom about this and…what I’m trying to say is…” She sighed and put her tiara back on. “Maybe I could reform her the same way you guys reformed the Pink One, Princess Twilight, and so on. I mean like, it worked for you guys and I’d like to think I know myself pretty well…so…”
Nightmare smiled. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. I wish you the best of luck on your quest.” Still feeling rather cheerful from Diamond bowing to her, she walked over to the filly and tapped her on her shoulders with her right wing as if she was knighting Diamond.
Diamond giggled and bowed to her again. “I won’t let you down, Nightmare Moon!”
Nightmare smiled. “You only have to worry about letting yourself down.” She glanced up at the clock on the wall and said, “You kids had better get going now. Don’t want to keep them waiting.”
“Okay. Thanks Princess Nightmare! See you when we get back!” Snails said as he, Snips, Scootaloo, Chrysalis, and Diamond left the library. The changeling queen and the tiara loving filly were a little slower than their friends though, still nervous about what they were going to say to Princess Cadance or to the other Diamond Tiara. As they walked to the schoolhouse, Apple Bloom passed by them.
“Howdy there Diamond. So, ya ready?” she asked.
Diamond sighed. “As ready as I’m going to be. No matter how many plans I make or how well I know myself I have like, no way of telling how she’s going to react. You said we switched roles somehow in this universe or that universe or...ugh, whatever way this works! Right?”
Apple Bloom shrugged. “Sure, Ah reckon Ah was supposed to act like a spoiled rich brat an’ Ah acted that way fir a spell. But we’ve already become friends, something that the other DT and AB still can’t say. Sorry Diamond, but Ah can’t help you out as much as ya want me to.”
Diamond gave her a sneaky smile. “Oh you can still help me out, even if it’s only a little bit. No matter what approach I eventually decide on, you’ll play along with it, right? I’m ready…are you?”
Apple Bloom smirked and gave her a hoof bump.
Miss Cheerilee bit her lip nervously as she watched Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walk towards the other Diamond Tiara who was sitting next to the Everfree versions of her students…including the other Apple Bloom. She knew that Diamond didn’t like the Cutie Mark Crusaders (although she didn’t know just how much they really, REALLY disliked each other) and so she was concerned about what might happen next. But her counterpart assured her that the fillies had a plan to improve the situation.
The two classes from Peaceville and Ponyville were on a field trip at the Royal Canterlot Museum in Equestria. The fillies and colts and…other creatures from the Everfree side were ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ at all the museum artifacts locked behind the display cases. She had managed to keep the two classes focused on the tour for almost the entire trip but eventually she had to let them stop to eat lunch. Now Diamond had nothing to distract her from her other self. Cheerilee wasn’t sure what to do.
Seeing the concern on her face, Miss Zecora walked over to her and smiled. “Patience Cheerilee, let’s wait and see. Things may turn out better than you expect them to be.”
Equestria Diamond strutted towards her counterpart and smirked. “Well, well, well, what do we have here? Maybe your little mirror world has some redeeming values,” she said.
Everfree Diamond turned towards her and shot her a confident smile. “What a pleasant surprise. It’s nice to know that I’m just as beautiful on this side of the mirror. I gotta so I like, totally love your mane style.”
Equestria Diamond’s smile became a little less threatening. “Why, thank you! It’s so nice to meet a civilized pony from your world. Before today, me and Silvy here only had the displeasure of meeting that deceitful Nightmare Moon, that monster that looked like Pinkie Pie, and their rotten friends.”
Everfree Diamond tapped her chin in thought. “Oh? You had trouble with them? Well, I’m sure even someone as wonderful as you can make a mistake sometimes. I mean like, I was only able to manipulate them so well because of how much I knew about them,” she said.
Equestria Diamond tilted her head to the side. “Manipulate? What are you talking about?”
“I mean like, sure Princess Nightmare was a little annoying to me at first,” Everfree Diamond lied. “Always going on about darkness this and eternal night that. However, I knew right away that she was a princess and I knew just how…rewarding it is to be friends with royalty. A careful word here and there and now…well, I never have any trouble finding the perfect dress before anyone else can even lay a hoof on it.”
Equestria Silver’s eyes widened. “You’re friends with Princess Nightmare?”
Everfree Diamond winked to Everfree Silver, who smirked confidently and brushed her mane back. “Oh, we’re friends with a lot of people. We’re the most popular fillies in Peaceville. Except maybe for Apple Bloom, but that’s mostly because she used to have magic glass in her eye.”
Equestria Diamond and Silver cringed. “She had glass in her eye?! EWW!”
“Oh, it didn’t hurt her. It was magic glass after all. She’s not like, bleeding anymore or anything. Still, it’s pretty hard to be more popular than that. Especially considering how rich her family is,” Everfree Silver said.
“WHAT?” Equestria Diamond growled. “Are you saying Apple Bloom’s family is richer than mine in your world?”
“Oh no way!” Everfree Diamond said, hurrying to calm her counterpart down. “We’re about equal. I might be richer than her actually, but then again Dad is the one in charge of the money, not me. Of course, ever since I became with friends with her it’s not like money matters.” She smiled as Equestria Diamond’s jaw dropped and continued, “Oh sure, when I first met Apple Bloom we like, almost hated each other. But you know what the difference between you and I is? I figured out how to win Apple Bloom and her little friends over to MY side and ever since then…well, let’s just say school’s been a lot easier for me. Speaking of which…”
Everfree Diamond climbed up on the table they were sitting at and announced to the two schools, “Hey everyone! May I have your attention please? Now, earlier today when our trip to this amazing museum started I talked with Miss Zecora and she agreed that I could buy all you special desserts from Celestia’s Sweet Tooth! The newest and coolest ice cream parlour that just opened up in Canterlot!”
The fillies, colts, and nymphs from both classes cheered. Equestria Diamond and Silver could only stare in awe at all the adoration their counterparts were getting, even from the Cutie Mark Crusaders. But then Diamond asked, “Wait, is there really an ice cream parlour nearby? I’ve like, never heard of Celestia’s Sweet Tooth and I know like, ALL the coolest spots in Canterlot!”
Everfree Diamond giggled. “Oh, it’s not in this Canterlot. It’s a new shop that opened up in the Canterlot back home. King Sombra and Duchess Celestia were there to cut the ribbon and everything. Oh! Here comes our sweet, sweet desserts now everyone!”
A unicorn mare with a brown coat and crazy rainbow hair bounced through into the room. “Konnichiwa everyone!”
Everfree Sweetie Belle frowned and coughed into her hoof.
“Huh? Oh, right. I mean, hello everyone! How are you? Fine, thank you. My name is uh…Twilight Rainbows! I am a normal pony who has come to bring you normal pony ice cream!”
Everfree Silver slapped her hoof across her face before she quickly shot a look to Everfree Scootaloo and pointed her head at the pony. Scootaloo caught the silent message and buzzed over to the unicorn. “Uh, don’t mind her everyone! She’s a little dizzy from bringing all our orders from Everfree to Equestria.” She turned to Twilight Rainbows and whispered in her ear. “Dial the crazy down Eris. We’re trying to get the other Diamond and Silver to be nicer like our Diamond and Silver.”
Eris’ eyes flashed yellow and red as she giggled and whispered back. “Sorry, I’m just so excited to visit this new world that everyone won’t shut up about. But since it’s to help out a friend of a friend of my brother’s, I can dial back my crazy from a scale of jū to ichi. But I warn you, it doesn’t get lower than jū ni.”
Everfree Scootaloo blinked in utter confusion before she shook her head and whispered, “Just stick to the script please.” She then flew back to her friends as Eris started to hand out delicious ice cream treats for all the kids on the trip.
When it came time to pay ‘Twilight Rainbows’ for the ice cream delivery, Everfree Diamond produced a big bag of coins before she gasped dramatically. “Oh no! I like, totally didn’t think about how many of you there were! I wanted to buy ice cream for everyone but I didn’t know how many students were in Miss Cheerilee’s class. I don’t know if I have enough money to pay for all this!” But before any of the colts or fillies could become upset about this, Diamond’s smile returned. “Unless…Apple Bloom, could I please borrow some money from you? I’ll pay you back of course.”
Taking her cue, Everfree Apple Bloom said, “Aw, shucks Diamond. Ya don’t need to pay me back. We’re friends after all, an’ Ah’m happy to lend a helping hoof to a friend. Especially when it gets us all ice cream! Ya remembered what mah favourite flavour is, right?”
Everfree Diamond grinned as Apple Bloom handed over a bag of coins. “Of course AB! I always remember what my friends like.” She then winked at Cheerilee.
Cheerilee hesitated for a second before she remembered that she could get Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara to stop bullying the Cutie Mark Crusaders if she played along. “Well, thank you for this wonderful treat you two! Class, I think Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom deserve our sincere gratitude for this thoughtful gesture.”
Equestria Diamond and Silver gasped again as the two classes cheered for Everfree Diamond, Silver, and Apple Bloom. When the ice cream was served to everyone, they moaned with happiness as the rich flavour of an ice cream cake filled their mouths. Eventually, they couldn’t take it anymore and went to ask the Cutie Mark Destroyers about what happened.
“So…what you’re saying is that you’ve become even more popular because you’re friends with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo?” Equestria Silver asked.
Everfree Diamond nodded. “Plus Snips, Snails, Button Mash, Princess Nightmare, and lots of other people.” She then leaned in closer to the Equestria fillies and whispered to them.
“I know how good it feels to tease a couple of losers, but in the end you only get in trouble for it. The best way to get what you want is to ask nicely. It’s all about making the right connections. Just be a good filly, maybe listen to the teacher a tiny bit more, say the right words, and soon…” Diamond’s cheerful smile slowly turned evil. “You could be more than just the queen of the school. You could be the next BIG thing. You two could be famous celebrities. I heard that you two don’t get along with Apple Bloom and her friends but let’s face it…they’re sisters with three Element bearers, friends with Princess Twilight, and even pen pals with Princess Celestia. If you befriend them, they can help you.”
Equestria Diamond frowned with a little worry. “But we’ve tried being friends with those blank flanks and it didn’t work.”
“You just need to try harder. Learn more about them, make an even bigger attempt to win them over. I know how much you hate namby-pamby ponies like them, but trust me…friendship is a very powerful and rewarding experience.”
She walked away from them with a confident swing in her step. “Think about it, Diamond Tiara!”
After lunch, the two classes continued their field trip through the museum. As Zecora and Cheerilee talked to the classes, members of the Cutie Mark Destroyers and Crusaders followed their teachers at a slower pace so that they could privately discuss how their plan went.
“So do you really think after all this, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon will stop bugging us?” Equestria Scootaloo asked.
“Hey come on y’all. You know how yer Diamond is like, right? She’s nice to ponies when she thinks she can get something outta it. We pulled off this huge trick to get her and Silver Spoon interested in being friends with y’all. The rest should be easy,” Everfree Apple Bloom said.
“I don’t know,” Equestria Sweetie said. “Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are really mean most of the time. You two are much nicer than they are.”
Everfree Silver smiled. “I’ll let you in on a secret…Diamond is a lot nicer than me. I used to be just as bratty as your Silver Spoon once. Well… maybe not that bratty. But after I stopped worrying about hanging out with a ‘cutie cursed’ pony, things turned out pretty well.”
“We may be nicer than them, but they can still learn,” Everfree Diamond said. “I mean this is me we’re talking about. They’ll stop teasing you about your blanks flanks soon. And if you think about it, we weren’t completely dishonest about what we said. Friendship IS rewarding, isn’t it?”
Equestria Apple Bloom smiled. “Ah guess yer right. Well, here’s to being future friends with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.”
As their friends congratulated each other, the two orange pegasus ponies had the same thought. “Hey, where did Eris go?” Everfree Scootaloo asked.
Equestria Scootaloo nodded. “Yeah. Did she just disappear or…”
Eris’ draconequus head burst out of a nearby painting. “HEY KIDS WANNA SEE A ZOMBIE?”
“AAAHH!” the fillies and colts screamed.
Eris floated out of the painting, laughing so hard that several of her interspecies parts fell off, bounced around on the floor, and reattached themselves to her. “Ah, the old jump scare. It may be cheap but boy does it work. You should’ve seen the looks on your faces! Priceless!”
Snips, Snails, and Diamond didn’t seem too upset about the jump scare, but the other fillies were frowning. “Don’t do that! You nearly gave us a heart attack!” Everfree Sweetie said.
“Oh, lighten up sweetie bunches of bell peppers! I’m just pulling your legs. Plus my own!” Eris giggled as her two legs popped off her body, twirled around, and shot out pink sparks for no reason.
Equestria Scootaloo glanced nervously over Eris’ shoulder and down the hall where the rest of the class was. “You’re gonna get us in trouble. Look Miss Eris, thank you for your help but do you think you can come back later?”
Eris’ legs lost teleported back onto her body with a flash of light as she crossed her arms. “Well! How rude. You try and help people and it only leads to more demands.”
“Wait, she didn’t mean it like that,” Everfree Sweetie said. “Eris, we just-”
“No, no. You want me to leave early and I’ll leave. Oh but before I go, if you would all turn your attention to the room down the hall and to the left. You know, the room that’s about to have a lot of broken glass? Whelp, Sayonara!”
As Eris giggled and disappeared with a flash of light, Snails looked at the others in confusion. “What did she mean by broken glass? It almost sounds like she was talking about a museum robbery or some-”
He trailed off at the sound of glass being smashed, followed by the security alarms going off.
“Someone is stealing from the exhibits!” Silver exclaimed.
“Eris was right…well what are you waiting for? Let’s get them!” Everfree Scootaloo cheered as she started running down the hall and to the left.
“Someone stop her!” Diamond ordered. Everfree Sweetie nodded and quickly grabbed her friend’s tail in her magic. “Scoots, what do you think you’re doing?!” Diamond hissed.
“Oh come on Diamond! You should be even more excited about this than me! If we can catch a criminal, your cutie curse would be gone for sure! OR you wouldn’t have to worry about being blank flanks anymore, am I right?” Everfree Scootaloo said, winking at her counterpart and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“Ya know…the last criminal we chased after was actually pretty nice. If we chased after this varmint the same way we chased after Trouble Shoes…” Equestria Apple Bloom said, thinking out loud.
Everfree Apple Bloom stared at her counterpart in shock. “Y’all can NOT be serious. This here’s gotta be the most reckless, dangerous, irresponsible thing we’ve ever-”
“CUTIE MARK DESTROYERS/CRUSADERS CRIMINAL CATCHERS! Yay!”
Everfree Apple Bloom’s jaw dropped as the Crusaders and Destroyers all ran down the hall in the hope of catching a robber. She growled and shook her head. “Ugh! Of all the apple bucking, gosh darn it, stupid schemes…wait for me!” she shouted as she chased after them.
The eight fillies and two colts ran down the hall until they bumped into a pegasus mare, knocking her to the ground and causing her to spill the bag full of jewels she was carrying. The pegasus mare had a light gold coat and a mane and tail that looked like a grayscale rainbow. She was wearing a black suit, a hat, a belt with little pouches full of different coloured crystals, and big red glasses.
The thief quickly scooped up all the scattered jewels and placed them back in her bag, rolling her eyes at the museum alarms. “Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. You can stop going wee-ooh, wee-ooh anytime you want, I heard ya the first time.”
Everfree Scootaloo stared at the pegasus and gasped. “You’re Doctor Do!”
“Who?” Equestria Sweetie asked.
“She’s the main villain in the Bravely Blue books! The fearless super thief!” Everfree Scootaloo explained.
“I also go by Daring Do, if you’d prefer. I know how you kids hate your doctors with their drills and such,” Daring Do said with a smirk. “Wanna know something? I kinda knew these glasses would be a bad disguise but I thought to myself, why not have some fun with it? So let’s see here, we already have weak-as-paper display cases. Are you kids gonna tell me you’re part of the museum staff next? Wouldn’t surprise me, the security here sucks.”
“Well the real security guards will be here any second so you’d better return everything you stole, thief!” Diamond ordered.
“Yeah and don’t even think about trying to escape! There’s ten of us and only one of you!” Silver added.
Daring Do chuckled. “No thanks, kid. Any other day I’d love to play guards and criminals with you but I’ve got a full day planned. I need to fly all the way back to purple princess castle and through a magic mirror just to get back to my own universe. I probably should have planned my heists out better than this but hey, I like a challenge.”
“Are you listening to us?” Silver growled. “You’re NOT flying anywhere! Surrender now or we’ll be forced to stop you!”
Daring Do giggled and leaned down to kiss Silver Spoon on her forehead. “That’s cute. You’re cute!” Her right wing unfolded to pat Silver on the back while she patted Diamond’s head with her left hoof.
The two rich fillies growled and swatted Daring’s wing and hoof away. “Stop that!” Diamond ordered.
Daring sighed dramatically, flapped her wings, and lazily flew over their heads. “Oh, if you insist.”
“Um…guys?” the two Apple Blooms said at the same time. The Everfree Apple Bloom pointed to Diamond’s head while her counterpart pointed at Silver’s bare neck.
The fillies and colts gasped as they saw Diamond without her tiara and Silver without her pearl necklace. “She just stole your jewelry!” Equestria Sweetie screamed. “Stop! Thief!”
Daring just laughed as she flew down the halls with her bag full of stolen goods. Her smile only grew as she saw dozens of unicorn and pegasus guards barreling towards her. “About time they showed up. Bet you blink before I do,” she said as she charged toward them.
The museum guards gasped in shock when Daring didn’t slow down at all and instead crashed into a veritable wall of ponies. The guards were dazed from the collision for a few seconds before they all leapt back into action and attempted to restrain the super thief. But Daring moved with incredible speed as she dodged, spun, and kicked all of the guards until she had knocked them out.
“Seriously, your security stinks!” Daring laughed as she flew through the museum.
“I will be fine Miss Cheerilee! Take care of the children and all of you flee!” Daring heard a voice say up ahead of her. She slowed down as Zecora appeared at the end of the hallway she was flying through.
Daring smirked and slowed down, stopping in front of Zecora and hovering in the air. “Okay, this oughta be good. What makes you think you can stop me when those guards couldn’t?”
Instead of answering her with words, Zecora took a pouch full of green powder and blew its contents at Daring. The pegasus smirked and buzzed her wings as fast as she could, blowing the powder back towards Zecora. Daring smiled even wider when she saw that Zecora was unaffected.
“Very good. I recognize paralysis powder when I see it. It’s smart to bring that stuff to a fight but it’s even smarter when you build up an immunity to your poisons,” Daring said.
Even as the smug thief continued to smirk at her, Zecora knew that all she had to do was catch Daring by surprise and she wouldn’t be able to blow the powder away with her wings. But just as she blew another dash of paralysis powder at the thief, they both heard Diamond shouting orders as the Cutie Mark Destroyers and the Cutie Mark Crusaders all came charging down the hall. On Diamond’s command, Snips and Snails shot stunning hexes at Daring while the two Sweetie Bells attempted to grab her in their combined levitation. Daring flapped her wings and did an aerial backflip over the kids as the powder blew over the Destroyers and Crusaders while their spells knocked Zecora back.
Daring smiled cheerfully at her fallen foes. “I gotta give you guys some credit, in any other circumstance, you might have been able to catch me. Except I’m just that good. You’re clever…but you’re not quick enough. You might as well take these back,” she said as she took Diamond’s tiara and Silver’s necklace out from her loot bag and tossed them back to the temporarily paralyzed fillies. “See, I’m a nice gal once you get to know me.”
Daring tipped her hat to them and flapped her wings. “Better luck next time, suckers!” she said as she zoomed out of the museum and into the sky.
Ponies were gathering outside the museum as they all heard the alarms ringing. Among the crowd was Princess Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and a pegasus mare who looked a lot like Daring Do, but with a purple shawl. “Oh no, that’s the museum the fillies and colts from school are visiting! They could be in trouble!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Hey, I think that’s the thief!” Rainbow said as she pointed at the pegasus who smashed through a window and zoomed away from the museum. “She’s getting away!”
“Rainbow Dash, Miss Yearling and I will make sure nobody’s hurt in the museum. As for you-”
Rainbow smirked confidently. “Don’t even need to tell me Twilight. I got her!” She flapped her wings and blasted off the ground, quickly catching up with the thief.
Daring blinked in surprise as a blue pegasus tackled her and tried to pull the bag of stolen goods away from her. “Let go! Those don’t belong to you!” As the two pegasus ponies struggled, Rainbow took a good look at her opponent and gasped, letting go of the bag due to complete shock. “D-D…Daring Do?”
Daring sighed as she retied the bag to her bag. “Another fan? That’s cool, but I’m a little annoyed that you just tried to steal my stuff. I stole it first, thanks.”
“But t-that’s impossible! I was just with Daring Do and even if I wasn’t, she’d NEVER steal from a museum! Who are you? A changeling? An illusion? Unless…” Rainbow gasped again and pointed at her. “You’re from the mirror world, aren’t you? The same day the Everfree school comes by for a field trip, plus the fact that you’ve got crystals in your bag, equals…yeah, you’re her! You’re evil Daring Do!”
Daring smirked as she took off her red glasses and placed them in her bag. “Oh, lighten up sunshine and rainbows. I’m not such a bad girl once you get to know me. Anyway it’s been cool, but I gotta dash.”
She turned around and zoomed away from Rainbow, only to halt in midair again when the other pegasus flew past Daring and hovered in front of her. “You’re not going anywhere, thief!”
Daring rolled her eyes. “It’s always thief this and criminal that with you guys. You know my name; you could at least show me a bit of courtesy and use it. Here to make it fair: what’s your name?”
“I’m Rainbow Dash. Fastest pegasus in this universe!”
Daring chuckled. “Sounds like I wasn’t far off from sunshine and rainbows. Nice to meet you Miss Dash…but what you’ve forgotten is that I’m not from this universe.”
She zoomed away from Rainbow again, her wings moving twice as fast as they were before. She stopped as Rainbow flew up and blocked her path yet again. “Let me rephrase that. Fastest pegasus in this universe and every other one that exists,” Rainbow bragged. “Sorry evil Daring, but you’re just not as fast as me. I’m here to catch you and make you return whatever you stole.”
Daring stared at Rainbow for a few seconds before she laughed out loud. “He, he, ha! Now THAT is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard!” she chuckled some more as she reached into one of her pouches and pulled out a pair of sunglasses, slipping them on.
“Are you kidding me? I’ve caught up to you three times now! And I wasn’t even flying at full speed!” Rainbow shouted.
“That’s not it. I can believe you’re faster than me. It’s the other thing you said that’s cute.” Daring smirked and pulled out two crystals from her pouch. “I’ll catch you later Rainbow Dash…because you’ll never catch me.”
Daring smashed the two crystals together, causing them to explode in a shower of intense white light. Rainbow cried in pain and covered her eyes as she was blinded by the crystal’s light.
“Rainbow? Rainbow! Are you okay? What happened?” she heard Twilight’s voice say.
“Twilight? Where are you?” Rainbow kept her eyes closed as she waved her hoof around in the air, searching for her friend. She felt Twilight’s hooves wrap around her own. “Twilight, I can’t see!”
“Rainbow, calm down! I don’t know as much about crystals as the Everfree Sunset does, but that light wasn’t bright enough to cause any serious damage. I need you to blink as much as you possibly can. Your sight should come back to you soon enough.”
“Thanks Twilight.” Rainbow began to blink rapidly as Twilight led her back to the ground.
“Anytime Rainbow. It looks like the thief got away but we can still catch her! Do you remember any specific details about…hey! What are you doing with A. K. Yearling?!”
Twilight led Rainbow to a team of museum guards who were attempting to arrest A. K. Yearling. The princess tapped a pegasus guard on the shoulder and glared at him.
“Princess Twilight? Sorry you have to see this. This mare just stole several priceless treasures from the Royal Canterlot Museum and attacked several guards!”
Rainbow glared in the guard’s general direction. “No, she didn’t! That’s A. K. Yearling! She’s been signing books and answering questions all day.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell them!” Yearling growled. “I’ve been in the Sun and Sparkle book store all day. I have dozens of witnesses who can verify my alibi. For Celestia’s sake, there’s a poster advertising the whole event right over there!”
The security guard sighed and said, “You all make a very strong argument. But I saw the thief with my own eyes and she looked exactly like Miss Yearling here. Unless you’re telling me that the thief was some kind of evil clone then I don’t know what to believe.”
“Ahem!” They all turned around to see Zecora’s class and Miss Cheerilee’s class walk towards them. The two Apple Blooms stepped forward and smirked at the guard. “Howdy.”
The guard blinked at the two identical fillies. He sighed and ordered his fellow security guards to let Yearling go. “I guess you can sort things out from here, Your Highness.”
“Thank you,” Twilight said as the guards returned to the museum to determine how much was stolen. She turned to the two Apple Blooms. “Girls, do you have any idea what happened in there?”
“We saw the whole thing! In our world, Doctor Do is a fearless super thief. When she heard about the mirror she obviously couldn’t resist the opportunity to steal something from another universe! Now she’s probably on her way back to Everfree where she’ll hide everything she’s stolen!” Snips exclaimed.
Diamond nodded. “What he said.” She smiled at Twilight and added, “But don’t worry princess. I’m sure Princess Nightmare and the Element bearers will stop her.”
Miss Cheerilee sighed. “This has been a pretty exciting day so far. Okay children, it’s time to head back home,” she said to the two classes.
“I’m coming with you!” Rainbow declared. “Even if Princess Nightmare can handle it, I’ve got a score to settle with that thief!”
Everfree Scootaloo suddenly gasped. “Wait! Miss Yearling! Come with us!”
Yearling blinked as the filly and her friends smiled up at her. “What? W-why would I do that?”
Everfree Scootaloo gave her a sneaky smirk and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “My friends and I already know you’re the real Daring Do. If you want to keep your identity secret I totally understand. But think about it! You have the opportunity to travel to another universe and take back everything your evil twin stole! If anyone can stop Daring Do it’s you! Although…I guess Bravely Blue does a pretty good job of it too.”
Yearling raised an eyebrow. “Bravely Blue? Who’s that?”
Scootaloo grinned triumphantly. “Oh, he’s the hero in Mister Ahuizotl’s books.”
Yearling’s eyes widened. “Okay…you’ve got my attention now. Tell me more.”
“So did you two enjoy meeting mister...Owie-zolt…what’s his name?”
Gilda chuckled as she poked her glass and watched the ice cubes bob up and down. “Dad, his name is Ahuizotl. And yeah, Dash and I had a blast!”
“We sure did!” Rainbow squeed as she hugged her signed copy of Bravely Blue Meets Doctor Do. Noticing the look Gilda’s dad was giving her, she sheepishly chuckled and put it back down next to her copy of Bravely Blue and the Fearless Thief .
“Well I’m glad you girls had fun,” Gilda’s father said as he patted his daughter on the head with his wing.
“Dad! Knock it off!” Gilda grumbled, blushing as she waved her dad’s wing away. “Hey Dash, what time is it? Mom should be back by now.”
Rainbow glanced over her shoulder. “I dunno. It’s been a few minutes. Maybe she stopped to buy some more snacks on her way back.”
“I’m back!” They turned around to see Gilda’s mom, a pretty cute griffon with gold coloured feathers that contrasted with her husbands grayish red feathers. She flew down to their table with an excited smile and gestured behind her. “And I brought a friend!”
The two other griffons and pegasus all looked behind her to see a very large creature walking towards them. He had an elongated dog-like head and dog-like hind limbs. He also had ape-like forelimbs, plus a long monkey-like tail with a hand at its end. The dark blue creature straightened the tie on his suit and bowed before them. As he bowed though, his big red glasses dropped of his face. He quickly snatched them up and put them back on, smiling sheepishly.
“Sorry. The glasses, they slip all over the place.”
Rainbow gasped and held her face with her hooves, a big grin spreading across her face. “Ahuizotl just bowed to us!”
Ahuizotl chuckled. “Of course. If one were to ask me, you are more deserving of the praise than I. Miss Gilda, Miss Rainbow Dash, I have heard many stories about the dastardly villains you and your friends faced. Along with that mirror world you discovered. Another universe, full of discoveries to be made…it intrigues me.”
Gilda chuckled, trying to play it cool. “Heh, thanks. But you know how it is, even heroes like us have heroes of our own and Dash and I are big fans of your work.”
“Ah, of course! I was most flattered by your praise when I discovered you liked my tales of Bravely Blue. But of course, I cannot allow my fans to feel as if I value some of them more than others. The reason why I could not properly introduce myself when you were at the book signing and the questioning of my stories,” Ahuizotl explained. “But now, I am on my break and am free to talk with you. While we’re on the subject, may I ask which books are your favourite? You do not have to answer, I am simply curious.”
“These two right here!” Rainbow cheered as she held up her two signed books.
Ahuizotl’s smile became a tiny bit forced. “Ah, of course. You are a Doctor Do fan, yes?”
Rainbow smiled. “Well, sure. You always write her stories really well and she has a super cool origin story.”
Ahuizotl sighed. “Ah yes, I can see why you admire her…as I once did.” He turned to Gilda next. “And you?”
Gilda smiled. “Oh, I like a bunch of them. Bravely Blue and the Sapphire Stone, Bravely Blue and the Ring of Scorchero…I think my favourite is Bravely Blue and the Griffon’s Goblet.”
“You forgot his next book…Bravely Blue and the Idol of Boreas.”
They all looked up to see Daring Do smirking down at them, this time wearing her iconic outfit made up of a dark green vest and a pit helmet. In her hooves she dangled the Idol of Boreas - the griffon kingdom’s greatest treasure - over their heads the same way one would tease a puppy with a biscuit.
“The Idol!” Gilda, her parents, and every griffon in the restaurant exclaimed.
Ahuizotl growled. “You would dare steal a national treasure?!”
Daring just giggled at him. “Aw, did I make you angry Bravely Blue? If you want it…come and get it!”
Daring flapped her wings and flew away, a grayscale rainbow streaking behind her as she flew. Gilda, Rainbow, and several griffons all flapped their wings and chased after her.
Down on the ground, Ahuizotl ripped off his suit, tie, and glasses before he raised his fists to the sky. “DARING DO!” he roared as he charged after his enemy.
Daring grinned as she heard Bravely Blue roar. “Oh, yeah. That’s it you big blue beast of a boy. Show me that passion. Snarl, roar, and chase me all day and night.”
“Stop that!” Bravely Blue roared as he snatched a spear from a nearby griffon and threw it at Daring.
Daring just chuckled as she dodged out of the way. She flew a little closer to the ground and waved her tail at him. “Come on Bravely! I’m right here.” Bravely lunged toward Daring, who flew out of the way just before he snapped his jaws at her. “Ooh, you’re so close Bravely! So VERY close!”
“Stop that!” Bravely roared again as Daring ascended back into the sky and out of his reach.
Gilda growled as Daring continued to evade every griffon that was chasing after her. “She’s too fast! We need something to pin her down!”
“I got something ta pin her down alright!” an older griffon shouted as he flew up next to her. “I brought my throwing mace! An’ here’s a sword for you, kiddo!”
“Thanks Grandpa Gruff!” Gilda cheered as he tossed her a sword, which she then threw at Daring. Other griffons soon caught onto their idea and began throwing pitchforks, swords, maces, arrows, and griffon scones at the fearless thief.
“Now we’re talking!” Daring said as she began to spin her tail into a twister. Every weapon that got close enough to her was blown away by her tail-twister. “Ha, ha! I’m invincible! A whole kingdom literally on my tail and not a single one of you can – OW!”
Daring grunted as she bumped into Rainbow who had flown ahead of her and blocked her path while Daring was distracted. Gilda was next to tackle Daring and the two friends proceeded to drag Daring, kicking and flailing all the way down.
Gilda’s parents, several angry griffons, and Bravely soon caught up to them. “Well, well, Doctor Do. Once again your fearlessness has made you foolish. Only this time, your speed and your dumb luck was not enough to save you. Return the idol you have stolen from these proud griffons and surrender!” Bravely ordered as he and a griffon guard pulled out some hoof and wing-cuffs.
Daring winked at him. “Ooh, bringing out the hoof-cuffs already? And with an audience too! You’re just as bold as you are brave, Ahuizotl.”
“Stop! That!” Bravely growled. “For once, could you NOT pretend we are a married couple?!”
Daring gave him an adorable smile. “Oh but my Bravely Blue, I love you so! I even got you a ring.”
“You got me several stolen rings, you kleptomaniac!” Bravely growled. “And I will not allow you to steal anything else. Return the idol!”
Daring sighed. “Oh all right. It’s in my bag. If one of you griffons could get your sharp, pointy claws off me then-”
“Yeah, I got it,” Gilda said as she pulled the bag off Daring’s back and dug around in it. “Boy, you’ve got a lot of stuff in here. Wait, I think I’ve got the…the…”
Gilda’s parents, grandfather, and Rainbow all stared at Gilda with concern as she shuddered violently. “You okay kiddo?” Grandpa Gruff asked.
“S-so c-c-cold…” Gilda whispered as she collapsed onto the ground, her body shivering and her eyes glowed green and red. Her talons were wrapped around a very large necklace with a glowing bell on it.
“Gilda!” Her parents rushed over to their shivering daughter and tried to rip the necklace out of her claws. The instant they did so, the green and red glow faded from Gilda’s eyes and she stopped shivering.
“Ooh…what was that?” Gilda said as she stood back up. She gulped as she watched several griffons rip the necklace away from their friends, only for one griffon to fall under the same curse after the other. Grandpa Gruff ripped the necklace away from Rainbow, and she hurried over to her friend to figure out what was happening. “Dash, are you alright?”
Rainbow shuddered. “That bell on the necklace…when I touched it I saw something…awful. I think it’s got a fear spell on it.”
“I think you’re right? I saw Griffonstone and Peaceville in ruins. That thing is dangerous.”
“What, this thing?” Daring said as she picked up the necklace. Amongst all the confusion, the griffons who’d been restraining her had let her go free as they tried to help their friends. “I don’t feel anything.”
She tucked the necklace back into her bag, next to the Idol of Boreas. She then flew high into the air and waved at them all. “Better luck next time Ahuizotl!” She blew Bravely a kiss before she turned around and flew far away from Griffonstone.
Bravely’s fists clenched with pure rage as he screamed at his retreating foe. “DARING DO!”
Rainbow winced. “I know Doctor Do has given him trouble in the past…but it feels a lot more real when it’s…real.”
Gilda growled. “No. She won’t be giving him trouble this time. Don’t worry Bravely Blue, WE’RE coming with you!”
Bravely blinked as Gilda and Rainbow gave him confident smirks and smiled. “Many thanks for your assistance Miss Gilda, Miss Dash. With our combined might, we WILL defeat the devious Doctor Do and reclaim your Idol. This, I promise you people of Griffonstone!”
Gilda’s parents and grandfather smiled as Rainbow and Gilda picked up Bravely and flew in the direction Daring had fled. “Go get her, kiddo!” Grandpa Gruff cheered.
As the pegasus and griffon carried him under his arms, Bravely looked up at the two of them. “Um…you will not reveal my secret identity to anyone, will you?”
Gilda raised an eyebrow. “That was a secret?”
Bravely blinked in shock for several seconds before he shrugged. “I suppose it was not.”
Apple Bloom sighed as she finished explaining the whole situation to the two teams. “And that covers just about everything.”
The Equestrian Rainbow Dash and Daring Do had agreed to come with the Cutie Mark Destroyers on their journey back to Everfree. When Zecora and her class came back through the mirror and returned to Peaceville, the Cutie Mark Destroyers and Apple Bloom led them to Clear Crystal Caverns. With the other Element bearers out of town, Diamond believed the best person they could turn to for help at the moment was Sunset Shimmer. Gilda had a very similar idea. She, Rainbow, and Ahuizotl came up with a plan to catch Doctor Do, during the flight and then train ride to Peaceville. In order for their plan to work, they needed magic and crystals and the best mare to turn to for that was Sunset.
So the two groups arrived at Clear Crystal Caverns around the same time, only for Daring Do and Bravely Blue to snarl at each other as they both mistook the other for Doctor Do or Ahuizotl. Sunset had separated the two with her magic and waited for Diamond, Apple Bloom, Gilda, and the two Rainbow Dashes to explain what happened.
Bravely sighed as Sunset lowered him back to the ground. “It would seem I owe you an apology Miss Do.”
Daring sighed and offered him a weak smile. “That’s got to be the first time I’ve ever hear Ahuizotl apologize. Call me crazy, but I believe your story.”
Bravely smiled. “Very good. I look forward to working with you.” He stepped forward and shook Daring’s hoof.
The two Rainbow Dashes slowly smiled as they examined each other. Equestria Rainbow’s gaze drifted to her counterpart, then at Gilda, and then back again. “This place just got two hundred percent cooler.”
Everfree Rainbow grinned. “You know what the ONLY thing that could make this day better is?”
“Watching Daring Do smash Doctor Do’s face into a wall while she says ‘stop hitting yourself’ over and over?” Gilda suggested.
“OOH! That’s even better!” Everfree Rainbow chuckled.
Bravely chuckled. “I agree, it would be MOST amusing. Daring Do, could you please make that image a reality?”
Daring giggled. “I’ll try.” She turned to Sunset and asked, “So what’s this plan you guys have to trap Doctor Do?”
Sunset levitated a small glowing crystal in front of them. She frowned in concentration as she cast a spell over the crystal and smiled triumphantly as the crystal transformed into Gilda’s Element of Zeal. “Perfect.”
Early morning the next day, hundreds of griffons were gathering around the Griffonstone palace as they put their plan into action. Sunset, Bravely, Daring, the two Rainbows, and Gilda’s family stood amongst the crowd as Gilda went over the last few details with the griffon’s king.
“Okay as long as we’re just sitting here waiting I’ve got a question. You seem to know Daring – I mean Doctor Do pretty well. What’s her story?”
Everfree Rainbow beamed. “Ooh, it’s such an cool backstory! I’ve read Bravely Blue’s books fifteen times by now but I’ve never heard it straight from Bravely Blue’s mouth! This is going to be super awesome!”
Bravely sighed. “The true story isn’t very different from how I portrayed Daring in my books. Although perhaps…I was a little more generous with my winning streak. The truth is Doctor Do has beaten me just as many times as I’ve beaten her. I’ve been able to reclaim several treasures she has stolen or discovered many an ancient tomb before she did…but there are still treasures that she has hidden from the world forever. And of course, I have been unsuccessful in arresting her.”
“So we’re equal in this world? I’m…not sure how to feel about all this,” Daring said. “Was my other self always like this or did something happen?”
Bravely sighed and began his tale. “I was born in a village just outside of the Everfree kingdom. My mother, she desired a daughter instead of a son. She had planned to name me Ahuizota, but once she discovered I was male she named me Ahuizotl in her bitterness. Which as you might imagine, would be like naming a unicorn ‘Pony’ or naming a griffon ‘Griffon’.”
“Yeah, an ahuizotl named ‘Ahuizotl’…I wondered what that was about,” Daring mumbled.
“Indeed. My parents, they loved me as much as they could despite my mother’s desire for a daughter. My childhood was fairly normal and I grew up with the same hunger for adventure, power, and world domination that any ordinary boy would have.”
Daring gave him a weird look while Gilda and Sunset nodded in response to his story. “Um…most colts I know don’t grow up wanting to take over the world,” Equestria Rainbow said.
Bravely raised an eyebrow at her. “No? How odd. Are they not at least power hungry?”
“I don’t know! Do I look like a boy to you?”
“Well your voice is a little raspy…” Gilda’s mom cheerfully said.
Equestria Rainbow growled at her before she turned back to Bravely. “Can we get back to Doctor Do now?”
“Yes, of course. I eventually traveled to King Sombra’s School for Academics and buried myself in my archaeology studies. It was there that I met Amy Katherine Do. Born to a pegasus stallion named Derring Do and a unicorn mare named Julia Yearling.” Bravely sighed at the memory. “They are good people. They didn’t deserve what happened next.
“As an ahuizotl, I was considered the weird one when I arrived at the school. Even though Everfree is a very loving country, there were still some bullies who teased me. Amy came to my defense and we became good friends. I always admired her bravery and intelligence and it was in fact I who gave her the nickname Daring Do. She was a fast learner and quickly obtained her doctorate. One day after many hours of researching in the library together, she became obsessed with the secrets in a book and expressed her desire to travel to the Forest of Fear in search of the ancient Temple of Destruction. I tried to warn Daring how unbelievable foolish it would be to travel to such a location but she was playful as always, treating it like a game.
“Within the Forest of Fear is where she encountered the creature that changed her life forever. The Frostfear spider.”
“The what?” Daring asked.
“Here, there’s a picture in the book,” Everfree Rainbow said as she pulled out her copy of Bravely Blue Meets Doctor Do and flipped to a page. Equestria Rainbow and Daring backed up in shock at the illustration of a gigantic, hideous spider.
“The Frostfear spider is a very rare creature; they are almost extinct. Three times the size of a pony, they hunt for prey in the darkest of jungles. Due to their infamous reputation and hideous appearance, anyone with a brain would flee at the sight of the monster. But the Frostfear spider’s greatest weapon is their venom. They can inject their prey with the poison or simply spit the venom at the prey until it seeps into their skin. Anyone who comes into contact with the venom has their concept of fear ‘frozen’ in their minds. It erases the creature’s natural fight or flight response and turns them into a fearless fool, even to the point where they do not remember what the word 'fear' means. The prey will then turn around to fight the spider and often become its meal.
“However, Daring was faster and craftier than any monster. She was turned into a fearless fool yes, but she was successful in defeating the Frostfear spider. She returned to me with bags full of treasure and incredible stories.
“But even though she retained her courageous and kind attitude, her altered mental state became clear to me. She stopped caring about risks…and eventually she ceased caring about laws.
“She became the world’s greatest super thief. Stealing treasures not for knowledge or even for money but for FUN.”
Bravely sighed as he finished his explanation. “She is not in control of herself. She cares only for the thrill of the hunt now and she is not afraid of who she hurts.”
Daring shuddered. “That’s the scariest story I ever heard. I really hope that spider doesn’t exist in my world.”
Equestria Rainbow sniffed and rubbed her eye. “Poor Amy…”
Everfree Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “You going to be okay?”
“Yeah! I’m not crying! There’s just dust in my eye…hey look! The speech is starting!”
“Attention Griffonstone! The immortal King Grover has an announcement to make!” a griffon said to the crowd.
King Grover hovered down onto the stage. He was larger than most griffons and wore a bright gold crown. Among his dark feathers were a pair of pinkish white feathers and dark blue feathers. The king claimed that these feathers were a gift from Celestia and Luna back when they were princesses and that by attaching them to his back, he had gained immortality. Nobody knew if he was telling the truth but considering how old he was and that they couldn’t find any other explanation, the griffons accepted the story.
“A great tragedy has befallen our kingdom. The Idol of Boreas was stolen yesterday, and much of our pride with it. But does this mean the end of our race? NO IT DOES NOT!” King Grover shouted. “We are a mighty kingdom, united by our friends, allies, and family! And it is with the help from these friends and allies that I present to you a treasure to fill the holes in your hearts! Step forward, Gilda!”
Gilda walked onto the stage and bowed before the king before she addressed the crowd. “What’s up Griffonstone? I’m Gilda. When I was a kid some of you knew me and some of you didn’t. But you should ALL know what I’ve done by now. I became friends with a group of pretty cool creatures and saved the world a dozen times. And here’s the proof.”
She placed her Element on the pedestal before her. “When combined with the other five Elements, these fancy necklaces have more magic than anything else in our entire world. My Element is called the Element of Zeal, which is like super loyalty. I’m loyal to my friends, my family, and my kingdom. That’s why I’m giving my Element to you, the people of Griffonstone. I hope it brings you the same kind of pride it’s given me.”
“Mine mine mine mine mine mine…”
“The trap is set,” Bravely said. “Doctor Do was fearless enough to steal the Idol. Even if she knows this is a trap she won’t be able to resist stealing an Element of Redemption.”
“Mine mine mine mine mine mine…”
“Once she steals the fake Element, the tracking spell I placed on it should lead us to wherever she hides it. Hopefully that’s where the Idol will be, along with any other treasures she’s stolen,” Sunset said.
“Mine mine mine mine mine mine…”
Daring nodded. “It’s a brilliant plan. We’ll need to put up a fight to make it look convincing before she let her go. We’ll also need to…does anyone else hear that?”
“Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine…”
With a burst of speed, Doctor Do flew up to the stage, yanked the fake Element of Zeal away, and flew off. “MINE!”
“There she is! Grab her!” King Grover ordered.
Doctor smirked as three pegasus ponies and an army of griffons chased after her. “Ooh, hello there beautiful!” she shouted to her counterpart. “You from the mirror world? Don’t worry, I’ll be back to chat with you once I stash this somewhere safe. We have so MUCH to talk about.”
“You’re not stashing that Element anywhere! Give it back, Doctor Do!” Daring shouted.
“How about I give you this instead?” Doctor Do reached into her bag and pulled out the same bell from the other day. She gave the bell a mighty shake and smirked as beams of dark magic shot out from it. Several griffons were knocked down to the ground and trapped within cages that materialized around them.
“Whoa! I can see why he wants this thing so much!” Doctor Do chuckled. She rang the bell again and grinned as Bravely was trapped within the cage that appeared around him. “Better luck next time Ahuizotl!”
“DARING DO!” Bravely roared. He pulled at the bars with all his might and was rewarded when he was able to rip the cage apart. But by that time, Doctor Do was too far away.
Doctor Do cheered as she flew back into her secret hideout. “Oh yeah! Daring Do is undeniably, unquestionably, unstoppable!”
She giggled to herself and began sorting out her stolen treasures. “Let’s see…the Element goes here, the Idol goes there…aw man, now I don’t want to sell this thing,” she said as she examined the bell. “Well…I could always sell it to the guy, take the money, and steal the bell right back.” She chuckled. “What’s the worst that could happen to me?”
Just as she said that, Gilda, King Grover, Daring, and the two Rainbow Dashes all crashed into her hideout and tackled her to the ground.
“We’ve got the Idol!” Gilda cheered as she held up the Idol of Boreas
“And I’ve got everything she’s stolen from the museum!” Daring announced. “At least…I hope that’s everything.”
Sunset teleported into the room with a flash of magic, bringing Bravely with her. “Good work everyone. Mission accomplished.”
Bravely smirked and walked over to Doctor Do, pressing his tail hand on her back. “Once again your fearlessness has made you foolish-”
Doctor Do rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time sweetheart.” She gave him a smile and said, “Seriously though, congratulations. You beat me again, even if you did need a LOT of help this time. I guess we’re tied now?”
“Wait, seriously? That’s it?” Gilda asked.
Doctor Do giggled. “Of course, kid. Not everyone is the next Eternal Twilight or Pink Demon you know. I’m not interested in taking over the world or anything like that. I’m just looking for a bit of fun. What’s wrong with that?”
Daring glared at her. “Is it true about your parents? Is it true that you were friends with Ahuizotl? And you gave all that up?! How can you be so selfish?!”
Doctor Do’s smile faded. “I asked them if they wanted to join in the game but they said I couldn’t play! They said it was 'against the law' to steal from museums! I just wanted to have some fun.” She turned her head around to Bravely and said, “Ahuizotl…Bravely, baby…you know I love you.”
Bravely sighed. “There was a time when I loved you too Amy…but too much has happened. You need help Doctor Do and I need my friend back.”
“My brave and blue best friend. I know you’re mad at me but I never stopped being your friend Ahuizotl,” Doctor Do said with a smile. “Which is why I’m sorry about this.”
With her teeth, Doctor Do grabbed a crystal that was lying on the ground and crunched it with her mouth, shutting her eyes tightly. A blinding flash of light filled the room and Doctor Do took the opportunity to grab the bell.
“You win this round! But I’ll get you next time Bravely!” Doctor said before she kissed Ahuizotl on the head and flew far away with the bell.
As the light faded away and their sight returned to them, Bravely Blue growled. “Another day, Daring Do. I will hunt you down and bring you to justice.” He smiled at the others and said, “And hopefully I will not be alone.”
“You won’t be. If you ever need our help again, you just let us know,” Gilda said as she shook Bravely's hand.
King Grover bowed his head to Gilda as she gave him the Idol. “Once again, you have made your kingdom proud of you Miss Gilda. With the help of your friends we have reclaimed the Idol of Boreas and our kingdom’s pride with it.”
“This could make for a pretty good book, right?” Equestria Rainbow said as she nudged Daring and gave her a hopeful smile. Daring chuckled and put her hat back on, telling Rainbow that she’d think about it.
“Another win for us,” Sunset said. “Still…why’d she leave all these treasures to us and take that bell with her?”
“Who cares?” Gilda asked with a shrug. “It’s just a bell.”
“But it can trap people in cages. And didn’t you say it had some kind of fear spell on it?” Sunset asked.
“Oh yeah, forgot about that. But hey, we’ve got King Sombra, Nightmare, and Pinkie on our side,” Gilda said.
“I guess you’re right. Still…I’ve got a bad feeling about that bell…” Sunset mumbled.
Doctor Do touched down beside the abandoned shack and knocked on the front door. “Hey, anyone in there? I brought your fancy bell!”
The door opened and a cloaked creature stepped out. “You’re on time. That’s…good, I suppose.” The cloak obscured every detail about the person who had hired her to bring the bell back to him. Doctor Do couldn’t make out any features of the creature, except that he was a quadruped. Still, she was getting paid to bring this bell to him and while she didn’t care about money, she still liked the things it could buy.
“Follow me please. My…master…” the creature shivered a bit as if the word left a bad taste in his mouth. “He…he wants to talk to you.”
Doctor Do shrugged. “Sure.” She followed the creature into the shack and into a small room in the back. He pointed at an object sitting on the table and closed the door behind her.
Doctor Do walked over to the table and raised an eyebrow at the block of dark blue stone that was sitting there. “This is…just a rock.” She stared at it for a few more seconds before she took the bell and necklace and dropped it over top of the rock. “Are you a…magic rock? Hello, anyone in there?” she tapped the side of the stone.
The bell on the necklace glowed at the same time the stone did. The dark blue material began to melt into another shape until it resembled a skull with horns.
“I…am…awake…”
“Really? Sweet. I brought your bell, buddy. Can I have my money now? Of course it doesn’t need to be money, if you have any other magic beam shooting treasures I’ll accept those too,” Doctor Do smiled.
The skull’s eye sockets glowed red. “Where…is…your…terror?”
Doctor Do frowned in confusion. “Ter…er? Say that again, I didn’t hear you the first time.”
“There…is…venom…in you…”
“Wait, hold on…something is coming back to me…” Doctor Do scratched her head. “Okay terror sounds like…fear…and scared…I think?” She shook her head and smiled. “Nope, still can’t remember. Funny, I know what fearless means but I still can’t even remember what fear means. I look it up in a dictionary and I think I’ve got it but somehow it doesn’t stick, ya know?”
“A…pity…no matter…I have…other uses…for you…”
“Hold on there buddy. We had a deal and now you need to pay me. Unless she has a deal with someone, Daring Do works alone. So you had better pay up first because I’m not interesting in making any more deals.”
“Terror…is gone…from the ponies…I…will bring…it back. My kingdom…will rise…once more…”
“Oh cool, you’re a king? That’s the second one I’ve met today. Although that brings up a good question: who are you?” Doctor Do asked.
“I…Am…GROGAR…Fear…me!”
Doctor scratched her head again. “Okay, I caught about half of that. Who’s Grogar? And what does that word mean again?”
“You…will know…soon enough…you will ALL know…soon enough…”
The bell, the skull, and the skull’s eye sockets glowed brighter than before. With a flash of light, Doctor Do and the magic skull were gone.
Hehehehehehehe..... HEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BOW TO OUR SOON TO BE REVIVED DARK LORD! BOW TO HIM!
YES! THE GOD OF AU'S IS BACK BABY! HAHA
As you can tell, I'm very happy to see you update.
Oh, I was hoping for a chapter like this. And it did not disappoint.
D'aw, I love how the Elements inspire the youth with their deeds. Spreading their virtues is definetly the most important task of the Six. And Nightmare being giddy about being a princess is not getting old.
Oh, devilish wee Diamond, I know what you are doing.
Ah, this field trip was a joy. Eris at her best and it looks like Diamond is becoming more and more of a leader. I wouldn't be surprised that if we get to see her CM removal, it will be in a moment of true leadership.
I get the feeling that they are supposed to be very hard. I mean, griffons have razor sharp beaks, they can manage them. A true and hard boiled griffon warrior enjoys them as food and can use them as a weapon if necessary.
That is most alarming. That means she could also break into the Crystal Castle and get around Sombra's security system which I guess consists heavily of fear spells. I wonder if this is how she broke into the Crystal Empire Museum, I wouldn't be surprised if the king has added a few of his spells there, too.
This had me on the floor laughing. Marvellous.
Smart little Sunset is improving her crystal magic more and more. I guess she is becoming one of the great crystal experts of this day and age. Me likes.
Judging from who I think this bell belongs to, it will at least be neverending agony.
Ah, hi, Grogar, how are you doing? Here to doom us all? I thought so. Please wipe your hooves once you have some again.
Are we going to see how it went with Chryssy and EQ-Cadance next time?
Why didn't Doctor Do steal the typos instead?
'to Peaceville'?
'visiting'?
Is there a possesion indicating apostrophe missing on 'series' or can you say it like that?
Missing space.
There are either some words missing or one 'from' or 'one of' too much.
'talk' or is this a pun that Doctor Do is making? In this case, forgive me.
Is the exclamation mark at the end there on purpose?
6067165
Wow. 'The God of AU's'? Well it's nice to know people still like my writing. Thank you and sorry I took so long to update.
6067235
It's funny, I don't have an editor so every time I finish a chapter I have to spend another hour or so going over it again looking for typos by myself. I usually correct all of the typos I find the first time and yet you always manage to catch the ones I missed. Thanks. I wasn't sure about the series' author or stealing from the exhibits but I decided to take your advice on those just to be safe. All those typos are fixed now.
Glad you all liked the chapter.
Oh yeah! Grogar! I love this guy! He is such a big bad guy! A great opponent, he will become!
Who is Grogar?
6068360
An evil goat that is the King of the Tamberlon.
I feel like Doctor Doo is one of the most fun villains we've seen.
Called it!
This reminds me: Chrysalis as an individual is good here and bad there, but both Equestria and Everfree still face a changling threat. Aren't there other changling queens out in the badlands who still want to infiltrate and conquer Everfree? Does that mean those evil queens have alternate version in Equestria who would be moderates Cadance could reach out to?
I love this, I'm assuming in Everfree, having a city that only species with wings can visit is seen as fairly tribalist, and Cloudsdale is tied to a mountain, so at least parts of it can be visited by everyone.
I respect the heck out of whatever creature came up with that business and name, they clearly have good business-sense. And you know Sombra did this so he could take Celestia out for ice cream!
Networking is magic! It seems like Everfree DT has some keen insight into how to win over her counterpart, guessing (and I think she's right) that once DT gets into the habit of being nice to everyone, she'll learn to enjoy the intangible rewards as well as the tangible ones. I do hope we see the results of this in later chapters!
I like that Daring Do, good or evil, just kind of wings it and improvises everything.
And this is why, when you are an elementary school teacher escorting kids around and you run into a thief stealing objects but not actually threatening lives, you just let them go rather than try and fight them right in front of the kids.
heheheheheheheheh. Oh, the romantic tension between these two is even more delicious than between the other pair!
I've been wondering about this since the first time we learned about Bravely Blue. Ahuizotl in Everfree are pretty rare, so even if most creatures believe Bravely Blue is fiction, they're going to assume that he's an obvious self-insert for Ahuizotl. I like to imagine in Everfree a lot of creatures realize what's going on, but nobody wants to ruin the great novels, so they let Ahuizotl believe he has everyone fooled with his "secret identity." Kind of like how the cops in Gotham have to know that Bruce Wayne is Batman, but they pretend otherwise so as not to rock the boat.
Pretty sure AK Yearling is also leaving out of her novels all the times when Equestrian Ahuizotl sucessfully stole artifacts as well.
Wow, I really hope we learn a bit more about the race of ahuizotls, and how they are able to exist in peace with Everfree despite these cultural/biological predilictions to megalomania.
Sounds like she's kind of a victim as well, but how do you force an anti-venom into a mare that can't be caught?
I love this entire thing. Instead of "oh, you griffons lost your idol, so abandon the cornerstone of your culture and instead embrace the superior pony ideals of friendship," Griffonstone remains Griffonstone.
... It means you're in way over your head, Doctor Do.
Like a lot of us, I saw that goat-cyclops and thought of Grogar, so good to see one of the greats being brought in. Interesting that he is thoroughly evil in both worlds. Also, I can't be the only one speculating how Daring Do will react to spending quality time with a good Ahuizotl... I wonder if Doctor Do realizes that her greatest theft ever would be stealing Bravely Blue's heart.
Forgot a major thing I wanted to write: I love how in this chapter, it is shown how Everfree stands together. While it is nice having Discord's and Nightmare's magic and the Elements of Redemption at hand, they don't need those here.
They combined griffon strength and courage, Ahuizotl's knowledge of Doctor Do and the magic of one clever unicorn to succeed. This was awesome.
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You do write a huge, bustling, interesting and very detailed AU that we love to explore with you.
And those are just typos, they can be fixed easily. Things like plotholes and inconsistencies would be way worse, and you avoid those masterfully while having said huge and detailed universe.
6070213
Brings me to a thought I had recently. I'm not entirely sure that Canon Ahuizotl is evil. Maybe it's one big misunderstanding. You can completely disregard Read it and weep because everything he says there is read aloud by Dash from the book, meaning it could be tweaked for propaganda. The only line in the two Daring Do episodes that can be viewed as evil is his
"Oh, Daring Do, I will so miss your amusing laughter-jokes. Now I must leave to commence the ring-placing ceremony to unleash eight hundred years of unrelenting, sweltering heat!"
from Daring Don't. And who says that the prophecy wasn't just misunderstood by pony archeologists and the unrelenting, sweltering heat could be just a means of energy supply or it is just metaphorically. Like for an ancient power station or something. Granted, Ahuizotl's behaviour is... eccentric to say the least, but view it like this:
You are the deity of a handful of remaining Aztec ponies whose civilization is struggling and crumbling because artifacts that could save their hindquarters are constantly taken by some pony archeologist who keeps getting details wrong and thinks you are evil. You are to caught up in the situation, slowly turning eccentric and crazy from pressure and are to proud to admit weakness, especially in front of your struggling pony companions.
Regard this, he has pony followers. Why should those want unrelenting, sweltering heat if it's not something positive? OK, probably they don't know what is about to happen, but they should know their own writings and culture. But on the other hand they probably fell prey to the 'crumbling civilization'-thing and much of their culture is lost.
But see what I mean? It's one big 'probably'.
I'm relieved to read that others have an issue with that, too. Seriously, what they did is colonization.
I think griffons were portrayed way too negative during the last episode, probably to explain why EQ-Gilda is a jerk, but they could have had it a little more balanced. I guess they tried to make the point that griffons lost their identity, but I feel it's portraying them as inferior that they crumble apart like this, that none of the old griffons like Grampa Grumps tries to uphold their proud ways.
Sombra did say that he wanted to take over the world as a colt when facing the Kid Empress of Darkness and Fear and her Fort Bluster. Probably it's the water supplies around the Crystal Empire?
Or it's an umbra pony thing as well, depending on how true Canon Sombra's origin story is as well here in Everfree and in Equestria. You can't deny that he has an affinity and a talent for dark magic in both universes.
Now I want to hear about Everfree-Sombra's past and upbringing.
guides.gamepressure.com/princeofpersia/gfx/word/913754750.jpg
Reminds me of this guy. And makes me realize that Daring just met a deity of darkness herself. I'm afraid.
And he will hopefully be defeated while Daring will be healed by a princess who is granted power by a positive deity, along with her adventurous friends.
Hm, MLP is quite like Prince of Persia '08.
With a blowpipe? If there is an anti-venom at all.
But there are always the Elements of Redemption, and we know those can remove corrupting poison.
While I think that there are Cloudsdale pegasi in Equestria who are tribalists, I guess it's a more practical issue there because Cloudsdale has to be moveable to keep the weather factories working. They don't have to do that in Everfree because they don't have to make the weather, they just tweak it if it gets out of hand.
You make excellent points. Yes, just because there's a peace treaty that doesn't solve everything. Even sweet Chrysalis was kind of biased as a nymph in the flashback in Unstoppable. And she talked about 'her mother's tactics' in Return of Redemption. Her mother that was probably raised after the peace contract as well. That's scary.
You could say that Equestria probably has decimated the changeling numbers either actively or passively and Chrysalis is the one big remaining changeling ruler, that there is one hive that has banded together from several to have as big of a number as possible.
And that in Everfree because of the freedom of choice and the more moderate conflicts (at least Luna made it sound like this) that there are more hives with smaller numbers of changelings. That changelings can pick hives like they can pick a political party and follow the queen they like. Don't like the opinion of the Cloudsdale Hive? Join the Peaceville Hive or the Crystal Empire Hive.
Plus, in Everfree some people exist differently or at all, Nightmare is a prime example with existing as her own person instead of an alter ego. Discord's whole family (who might have existed in Equestria long ago). And if Iron Will continues his relationship with Iris, his possible offspring would be changeling-minotaur-hybrids. On the other hand, in Equestria Mrs Will could also be Iris the changeling in constant disguise and his son a hybrid... Just less socially accepted...
Nonetheless, this could also work in reverse. Kind of.
6072097 Don't even get me started on Ahuizotl and Daring Do and who's the real villain. Ahuizotl dresses and sounds like a native, and is allied with indigenous tribes of ponies. Daring Do seems to have no allies in the region, she just bursts into ancient temples and steals relics. I'm reminded of when Indiana Jones stole that relic from an ancient temple, and his rival Belloq shows up with a group of the locals at his back, presumably the direct descendants of whoever built that temple and therefore possessing the right to determine who should get to keep the idol. Indiana runs off with the rightful property of that tribe, who had probably been compensated by Belloq to let him keep the idol.
In terms of "800 Years of Unrelenting Heat": The key is the setting: That argument is set in an isolated valley, where the only inhabitants we see are the tribe living in that "fortress," and they're the ones who want to turn up the heat. Why shouldn't they? There doesn't seem to be anyone else around to care, for all we know there's a windigo infestation they are burning out. Then Daring Do, after she prevents the Heat Spell, takes the extra step of permanently destroying that tribes home with them inside it. Real heroic indeed.
To me it felt more like missionary work. RD and Pinkie feel a calling in their cutie mark/soul, and the pair of them are sent by the all-seeing, all-knowing tree to spread the word of friendship to the poor, benighted Griffons. They even work as a pair, like many missionaries do. After they secure a local convert they can go home, comfortable in the knowledge that silly Griffon ideas like "pride" have been replaced with a foothold for Harmony. (Full disclosure: I saw The Book of Mormon like 1 week before that episode, so it may have colored my thinking).
The Griffons in the stories seem like they had a great thing going, and it lasted for 14 generations, so I was really pissed that they weren't able to restore the Griffons to the way they were before.
That's a more pragmatic answer, but then again Everfree is more pragmatic in general.
That, or in Equestria Chrysalis crushed all rival queens pre-season 2 so as to absorb all changlings into her own hive and swell her ranks before the invasion.
I like that idea, changlings can do their own thing.
Fun chapter on the whole, but I do wonder if it was particularly necessary to involve the canon universe; could've just had a story with alternate Daring Do and alternate Azuhitol without needing to bring anyone from the canon universe in or have the various other interactions between the universes. I feel the focus on these crossovers as of late has taken away focus from the actual universe the story takes place in. Also, the more crossovers we have, the more difficulty I have in accepting that all of this is somehow going on in the show's universe.
On an unrelated note, I did want to respond to this bit in the comments:
6072097
How in the world can it be considered colonization? Colonization is when one country takes control of a piece of land (which may or may not be already inhabited) by sending settlers there. As there is neither settling nor gaining control of griffonstone, I don't see how in the world the term colonization applies. Or, beyond that, what the problem even was. Ultimately all that happened was that Rainbow Dash/Pinkie Pie pointed out a way to improve things. Considering that taking and using good ideas from other countries/cultures is a way to improve things, I don't see the issue with what happened.
6077102
I agree, colonization was the wrong word that I lazily picked. Like 6072563 said, missonary work fits it. I guess I wrote that because those two often go hand in hand.
And I don't doubt Pinkie's and Dash's good intentions. I just think Griffonstone was too much designed to be a blank slate for the ponies. I get the point that they lost their identity and fell prey to their instincts.
But I'm also put of by the fact that the Tree of Harmony, probably one of the most powerful beings in this world, who until now just picked his bearers from the ponies, The Chosen Species, was the one sending them. I just get the feeling that just ponies can do right and the stupid other species have to listen to them and live their ideals if they want to be part of this world.
6079113 Yes, This exactly. The ponies don't have ulterior motives, but I can't say the same thing about that tree. Notice how in that episode, the Tree of Harmony chose not to send Twilight, even though she wanted to go, and was very knowledgeable about Griffon culture? I think that's because the Tree knew Twilight's magic could probably save the idol, and that's the last thing the Tree wanted. It wouldn't be good enough for Griffons to revert to their golden age of mutual pride in an idol (which I admit sounds a little silly), the Griffons have to be converted to the ideology of Harmony that the Tree represents just as much as Discord represents chaos.
So far we've seen the Tree send out ponies on Friendship missions two times: To Griffonstone, and to Our Town. A serious friendship problem in the classic mold (i.e. friends not getting along because of a grudge or something) doesn't seem to be enough to trigger the tree. What does? Well, in both Griffonstone and Our Town, there is an attempt to live by an ideology other than Harmony. Yes, by virtually every objective measure, the "Pride" ideology of Griffonstone and the "Equalism" ideology of Our Town are not as good as the dominant "Harmony" ideology that the Tree promotes and presumably most of Equestria lives by. Nevertheless, it seems disconcerting to me that the Tree focuses its efforts on rival, competing ideologies and cultures, like it wants to stamp out any other way of living.
6079196
A little maybe. But the results speak for themselves. Griffons like shinies and so it fit for their first union. And I think while in those glorious 14 generations, they still had the idol around to be proud of, but I can't imagine that by that time they didn't develop true togetherness (like here in Everfree). The strong unit of a strong species doesn't crumble because the shiny thing is gone.
There doesn't seem to be negative information about griffons in ancient documents, like the griffons of the Golden Age targeting their greed towards ponies instead each other or becoming to proud and claiming themselves superior, so why change their ways so drastically? I don't say that Gilda should have dropped Pinkie and Dash to rescue the idol, but your point with the Tree not letting Twilight (or Rarity for that matter) go is excellent.
But no, Equestria works differently, a golden idol is materialistic and that is bad. So, shame on the griffons.
I still don't know what to think about Starlight Glimmer. I can imagine that something á la Animal Farm has taken place. A virtuos idea at first, but slowly falling apart with Starlight getting too wrapped up in her ideals, taking them to the extreme. Maybe like with Queen Solar Flare, she thought one had to keep strong magic to defend the place if necessary and the others don't have to bother with that. But then the success and the power went to her head.
But I find it interesting that she only seemed to get delusions of grandeur when Princess Twilight came into town. She didn't seek out Twilight or one of the other princesses.
And who says that right now, Our Town isn't going through the whole shtick again. One dictator goes, another rises.
Animal Farm, I love that book.
I can't agree more. Well, we will see where the next missions lead us and what they are about. I sincerely hope this is not becoming a trend and there will be missions were maybe the Mane Six come home changed instead of changing the place they are going to.
That's what I love about Everfree. The ponies have changed as well with the union of this colourful country, like EQ-Discord said: They spread friendship and chaos at the same time. Take Sunset Shimmer for example. In Everfree, she is the spoilsport, the first one to slap Discord's wrist if he attempts to do something too extravagant. But by Equestria standards, she seems chaotic and wild.
The ponies enjoy getting their minds twisted at the Chaos Corner and Discord enjoys them enjoying his work. That keeps him (as) sane (as possible) and good, he is accepted with few conditions like Sombra's laws. Same with Chrysalis, she isn't denying her culture and nature, she is using her gifts, her understanding of love to everyone's advantage and people like her for that.
6082373 I would say the weakness of the idol is that despite 14 generations of success, griffons pretty much abandoned civilization when they lost the idol, so it's definitely not a perfect system. You know who would have been perfect at reviving Griffonstone's Civilization? Flim and Flam. They'd show up, fit in like a glove with the greedy griffons, and within a week they would have sold the griffons the Emperor's New Idol, even better than the Idol of old, because it can only be seen by a True Griffon. The griffons would try and out-do each other with how awesome each of them found the idol to be, and then they'd start organizing a government around protecting it. Flim and Flam would have headed out with a sack of bits, and all the Griffons would start organizing around their new idol, which cannot possibly be stolen since it doesn't actually exist.
As for Starlight Glimmer, I'm personally convinced she really believed everything she said, especially the parts that contradict each other, that's the way of true believers. Yes, she was harsh and even cruel to recruit others, but it seemed like she really did want everyone in town to be happy, she was just absolutely convinced there was only one way to do it. I find it disturbing that at the end of that episode, ponies that have known Starlight Glimmer for years (who I am sure she thought of as her friends) cheerfully write her off to freeze to death in the snowy mountains, and go back home to enjoy the friendship and community of Our Town that Starlight sacrificed everything to try and achieve.
I think Animal Farm isn't quite the right metaphor for Starlight Glimmer and Our Town. The key message of that book is that the political elites who seize power will always use it to benefit themselves at the expense of everyone else, no matter what doctrine they cloak themselves in. The thing about Starlight though, is that her house was the same as everyone else's, she didn't seem to have nicer possessions than anyone else, she also never granted herself a title like "Mayor" or "Dear Leader" or something. She worked constantly to keep her twisted community running, but it seemed to me that she wanted to be a part of that community, not above it. She gets super excited to bag a princess, but the only thing she seems to want out of Twilight is an example of a high-profile conversion so Starlight can enlarger her community even more. Animal Farm fits as a metaphor for Our Town only if you combine Boxer and Napoleon as one character.
That's a good point about lessons. It seems like the Tree is sending out the Mane 6 only to teach others lessons, never learn any themselves, and I'm not a fan of the protagonists having nothing more to learn. I would love to see them go to Saddle Arabia or the Buffalo or something and pick up a new skill or hobby or perspective they bring back to Ponyville. Part of why I love this series so much is, it seems like it stays more true to the ideals of the show than the show actually does.
6082691
You're right, that metaphor was clumsily picked. I shouldn't make metaphors past midnight. That hardly ever works for me.
I guess I was a little influenced by the scene in the cavern, but point is, we are seeing this from the perspective of the Mane Six, an outsider's perspektive. Of course she seems villainous there...
But she did organize the village (I take), even though she was totalitarian and harsh sometimes.
Now, the Mane Six leave after having brought those ponies their idea about friendship, but they didn't seem to have given them help in organizing their town. Yes, they don't want to patronize them again and trust in them to figure this out themselves and you could say they keep contact via letters, but what if they don't have a pony good with agriculture, no pony good with town management? Too much freedom at sudden is a frightening thing. Say what you want about Starlight, but she kept them together and at pace.
I have this image in my head that after the Mane Six have departed, the Our Town ponies are cleaning up the party and then going, "So, has anyone an idea what to do next? No? Well, horseapples."
Or them ending up like in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, overdemocratizing everything and getting hardly anything done.
Same with Griffonstone. Griffonscones do not fix rooftops (well, not anymore, the old recipe was used as putty on occasion).
But your idea with Flim and Flam is brilliant.
A story where nobody would really be the good or bad guy, it would have commentary on materialism, greed, pride and blind ideology. The griffons would start to find the virtues in themselves by thinking about what a 'True Griffon' is and probably realize that they knew that once and fire new ideals of honor and pride around their idol.
And Flim and Flam would see all this and probably learn a lesson too, a little step towards being better ponies by feeling good for having done something really productive even though they conned them (like with Equestria Diamond Tiara, some ponies require unique ways of teaching).
Agreed.
While I do see the growth the Mane Six had as characters and I don't doubt that they can share a lot, I hope they will get lessons for themselves out of new missions. Until now, for the Mane Six we just had something every viewer of the show could have told you without the premiere and... well, yeah, Pinkie and Dash did make amends with Gilda, but I can't say that they learned something.
6082945 You're right, I hadn't really considered how that town would be run without Starlight. A large percentage of the population are the dissatisfied and the desperate, people who join cults usually are. They're probably going to flail around a lot, and I wouldn't be surprised if Blackjack or some other pony ends up becoming a new dictator, just to give those aimless souls some direction.
Starlight still was villainous, don't get me wrong, but she performed the equivalent of keeping the trains running on time for Our Town.
I feel more confident of Griffonstone, the Griffons are individually confident and assertive, they just need a basis of cooperation, and friendship will apparently be that new basis. I do feel bad the old Griffonscones have been discontinued, they reminded me of Discworld's Dwarven Bread, I feel like a great postscript of this episode would be Pinkie getting yelled at (or at least glared at in a slightly disappointed fashion) by her family, especially Maud, who mail-ordered authentic Griffonscones from Griffonstone and preferred the original gravelly flavor.
Agree on the Griffons slowly admitting to themselves there is no new idol would be good for them, though I can see them teaching their kids that in future generations, the idol is like Santa Claus. If you think about it, the original idol was probably an Emperor's New Clothes kind of deal as well, I really doubt it was actually made of magic gold from collected winds, I think some canny young griffon named Gregor with a vision for his people found this really beautiful and made up a story to rally them.
I kind of hoped Flim and Flam would learn that exact lesson you describe from helping Granny Smith get over her fear of water, but alas that was not meant to be.
And yes, I definitely want to see the Mane 6 learn lessons from tree missions. One of the most important meta-lessons this show should be teaching kids is that people often have to learn the same lesson over and over again (it's why I don't object to Fluttershy frequently learning to be more assertive, that's got to take a ton of practice).
Could you have the characters from the human world (especially the rainbooms, principal Celesta, vice principal Luna, the dazzlings, Flash Sentry, Sunset Shimmer, and Human Twilight show up in this? Please? I would like to see their reactions to The Everfree kingdom.)
Grogar..... OH CRUD wait, is the Grogar from Everfree a good guy? Or is he the one Daring just met up with?
Such a DBZA fan I can taste it.