Daring woke up screaming like a banshee finding herself on the plane. A figure in the darkness forced her back to what felt like a bed just having her pant heavily hearing shushing. "Hey! Hey hey! Calm down please!" A mares voice said. It was the Bartender. Daring looked around a bit seeing her bags and Ryder's bags stuffed up messily and at the foot of Celestia's bed and nothing but a dim light around everything. "Look.... You're okay.... I've gotcha...."

Daring sniffled a bit holding her aching head. "....Wh-where's Ryder....? This cant be real.... This just cant be!" She said. She noticed the bartender mare avoid her gaze.

"...General Ryder is fine... He's just.... He's badly injured.... He wont be home for some time... Ember Sparks told me to tell you that he wasnt fit healthwise to fly home just yet..." Daring whimpered as she turned to her side facing away from the mare. "....I'm sorry this happened to you.... Shit just... hits the fan at the worst times sometimes..." A sob escaped from Daring.

"...Y-yeah but... this was four hundred pounds of manure hitting an industrial sized fan that tore him up and grazed me and the...." She gasped sitting up. "THE SWORD! WHERE IS IT?!" She started looking around frantically looking over the edges of the bed before being tackled and lied upon by the bartender.

"MISS! I'm going to ask you to calm down! You had to be knocked out by Ember himself just for transport.... I can say the Sword is safe but I'm not in liberty to tell you where it is until we land back in Canterlot. Luna even told me that you should contact her now... Wolf told her what happened and she swears to keep it secret from his sister... All she knows is that you're on your way home..." Daring coughed a bit shaking vigorously.

"....L-L-Luna.... I... I need to talk to her.... NOW!" The bartender took Daring's hand helping her up before putting her arm over her shoulders.

"...Come on... Lets move you to the couch so you can chat it up with Luna.... I'll get you something to eat and something to drink if you'd like.... But you have to stay calm.... Okay?" Daring gave a hesitant nod before they both stood up from the bed and started for the door. She looked around at the still ransacked plane. Things might've been cleaned up slightly but it was just as messy as her mind was after what she had been through. They walked out into the living room area seeing more of a mess. They sat down on the couch and the bartender got up. "Here... I have the remote behind the bar. Even get you a little soda just to calm your stomach.... Princess and Wolf forbid me to give you alcohol... sorry...." Daring sniffled as she leaned back on the couch staring blankly at the dark TV.

"....It's understood.... I'd've killed myself slowly drinking my sorrows away.... I just.... I just want to see him alive and well...." The bartender walked around the couch and hopped behind the bar real quick. Daring looked back hearing her fiddle around behind the bar. "Oh and Miss...? May I ask your name? I dont believe I learned your name...." The bartender mare looked over the bar and smiled coming up with both the remote and a ginger ale.

"Name's Six Shot. But you can just call me Sunset. Think you'd be able to catch the soda real quick?" Daring nodded and held a hand up. Sunset tossed the can of soda gently and Daring caught it and cracked it open just as the mare turned the TV on and set it to another channel. "There. Should be a little bit. Needs to find a signal from one of the royal computers. Luna said she'd wait for it." Daring looked back at the TV slumped over as she sipped her bitter drink.

What felt like hours was only a few minutes. Then that few minutes turned to days. Even weeks in her own mind. After about ten minutes she was almost finished with her soda and she had almost completely calmed down. Just then an image appeared on the screen. It was a yin and yank drawing of both Luna's and Celestia's cutie marks. "....Hello? Is anyone there?" A familiar voice asked. Not even a second later Luna appeared on the screen looking depressed and red eyed, wearing a black tee shirt with white stains on her chest with an ice cream container sitting off to the side empty. Her face lit up a bit but she lost her emotion quickly. "....Daring.... I want to congratulate you on a job well done but.... I cant be happy as I do it...."

Daring averted her gaze. "....I wish I could be happy to even hear that but.... without him I'm just empty....." She said. "....I.... I wish i would've seen the bomb sooner.... Then I could've just had him back away and save himself....."

"Hey... you caught him before the damage could be worse... He could've lost a limb or even his life...." Daring sipped the last of her soda before setting her can on the table in front of her.

"....What do we tell his sister...? She's gonna see me sooner or later... Why cant he just come home sooner....?" Luna started to think a bit humming slightly. Just then her face was pushed to one side of the screen as a line cut it in half.

"...You've just given me an idea that I may need to push onto this matter.... It may break a rule against my mother and father but dammit Ryder needs to come home to his sister!"

Just then on the black part of the TV screen lit up a bit but still revealed so little. "....What do y'want....?" A familiar stallions voice said. "...I'm tryin' ta sleep without havin' ta see my best friend medicated to hell to keep him from screaming in pain..."

Daring whimpered a bit. "...Wolf.... I'm right here you know...." She said. Just then a gasp was heard and half of Wolfs tired face showed up on the screen.

"Darin' I am so sorry... Didnt think y'were even here... How's your head? Y'doing okay there?" Daring sighed and averted her gaze.

"...I guess you had to subdue me somehow... I probably would've used that sword against you just to get near Ryder and help him... but how could I....?"

Luna huffed. "...You couldnt have done much other than get the car off him but you'd've burned yourself in the process...." She said. "Wolf... I need to speak with you and this is an order even if its not from your own country! Is this understood?"

Wolf yawned slightly. "Yes ma'am... what d'ya need Princess Luna...?" He asked. Luna took a deep breath and sighed.

"I need you to administer item sixty four alpha to Ryder...." Wolf gasped a bit while Daring just looked a bit clueless.

"But.... Item Sixty four alpha is strictly for you and Celestia for your visits....is Celestia alright with this....?"

Just then a third square appeared on the screen. This time Celestia appeared with teary eyes and a very tired expression. "...I am... I heard guards talking about this but didnt know it was true until I spoke with my sister.... She told me what you told her Wolf.... And Daring.... I'm so sorry you saw that..... It must've been hard to even see that happen.... You arent hurt are you?"

Daring shook her head. "Nope.... Not unless you count emotionally...." She said. Celestia sighed.

"Well... Its alright.... Ryder will be just fine after taking Item sixty four alpha.... If you're wondering what it is its a pill that both heals any and every injury we get and gives us a bit of an extended life by a couple years though it takes a while to kick in... A couple days at max..."

Wolf huffed rubbing his eyes a bit revealing more of his face. "Well that's for you two Princesses.... I aint sure what its gonna take for Ryder...." He said. "We've never tested the drug on any other type of pony and Alicorns such as yourselves know the effects day by day...."

"Well.... Give it to him and keep an eye on him... test him even. Luna will strip something bound to him it be a little power given by father to increase his stamina. Anything you find during this research I want documented. Even if its something small."

Luna huffed. "...I wasnt expecting this much but... Yes do keep an eye on him." She said. "Document his symptoms if any, if he experiences any feeling that isnt normal write it down. Keep him at max three days but any longer has to be cleared by us and we must speak with him about it. Is that understood?"

Wolf nodded into his camera. "Yes princess. I'll leave you to reassure Daring here...." He said. "Wolf out. And Daring... I promise I'll relay any messages to you any way I can. You take care of yourself.... Dont worry about Ryder.... He's gonna be fine...."

Before Daring could say anything Wolf's face disappeared now having the screen be taken up by both Celestia and Luna. Celestia sighed. "...There... We should all try and get some sleep...."Celestia said. "Luna take a nap if you must.... And.... Daring.... We.... we couldnt stop Ryder's cousin or his sister from staying here waiting for you. Twilight is apparently punishing Dash because she dumped Scootaloo on her to hang out with somepony else... Basically we have Dash cleaning things in a section of the castle until your homecoming...."

Daring sighed. "....Then I guess we're gonna have to tell Scootaloo about what happened...." She said. "....She's gonna start crying, she's gonna think her brother's dead..." She started to tear up. "....She's gonna blame me for what happened... I know it... I just know it...." Luna and Celestia started to think a bit as Daring hung her head and started to cry softly. Just then Celestia gasped.

"Sister I have an idea but we must play along with it. I need you to do a little dream walking with Dash and tell her what happened with Ryder and not to mention it to Scootaloo and I'll contact everyone else Ryder is in contact with and yes even Applejack. As for you Daring just go to bed. Luna will contact you and speak with you personally and give you a little time to let it all out. I'll speak with both of you later. Am I understood?" Luna and Daring both nodded. Celestia's face disappeared only leaving Luna's on there as she sought out for the end call icon or something.

"Princess... Can you... Can you and I talk for a moment...?"

Luna looked to the crying mare just as the bartender past behind her getting comfy on a nearby couch. "Yeah... What troubles you?" She asked. "I know Ryder but... what art thou asking about?" Daring sniffled and leaned back on the couch.

"...I just... I wanna talk with Applejack... She was kinda rooting for him and... well... I wanna be the first to let her know what happened... I'll even tell her not to say anything to anyone! I promise...." Luna sighed.

"Go ahead... It saves me from having to hear from Big Mac... 'my sister is cryin' up a storm because o'what your sister told us! Why cant ya just lie to us all?' ...He'd give us hell... Both me and my sister... We'd have to gag him and knock him out just to erase parts of his memory!" Daring sighed.

"We should only tell Applejack with this and not any of her family members.... agreed?" Luna gave a nod. "Alright.... See you soon princess." Luna smiled and gave a short wave before the screen went totally black. Daring looked to Sunset. "Are you going to be up for a while longer? You're welcome to take up a spot on the bed with me if you'd like.... I'd kinda need it after what happened...."

Sunset gave the mare a smile. "Right there for you Miss Daring. If it were you in the generals place i bet he'd do the same." She said. "Do you need a little help back to bed or do you think you can get it by yourself?" The adventurer mare coughed a bit and scooted over a bit.

"Here.... Let me get to the end of the couch and then you help me up. I know I can at least move small distances on my own.... I havent really eaten much anyways... between now and Ryder I probably missed lunch and dinner...." She looked to Sunset. "Tell me... Did anything happen while I was out other than Wolf and Luna?" Sunset nodded slightly.

"You were sorta crying in your sleep... Couldnt tell if it was from the head trauma or if it was from seeing Ryder pinned under a car but... You were definitely crying." She sighed a bit after a yawn. "...And... well maybe you need someone to cuddle up to?" Daring nodded as she stood up hesitantly with the help of the other mare.

Not long later Daring was walking around in her dreamscape listening to the echoes of Ryder's screams of pain, Ahuizotl's laugh, her own cries and sounds of gunshots ringing out. She flinched every time a shape came out of the darkness. A shard of metal, debris from a blown up building, a sword coming close to stabbing her and a hand reaching out to her. She tried grabbing the hand but it disappeared before she made contact. Just then a sigh was heard as all the sounds faded off. "Well... A lot going through ones mind.... Glad I came when I did." Someone said. Daring turned about and saw Luna approaching her. She ran up and hugged her whimpering. "Hey hey... dont cry now... I gotcha..."

Daring sniffled. "... its just... its so hard without Ryder..." She said. "....He's been through so much.... He's been at my side since this started... He's saved my ass more than I've saved my own." The moonlight princess sighed as she broke the hug and snapped her fingers making a doorway off to the side of them.

"Ryder is a hero among the guard.... there was one time Celestia was choking on a piece of melon that the chef left a bit too big and she swallowed it. Ryder wasnt a guard at the time but he rushed Celestia and the guards thought nothing of her. Long story short she saved him from being arrested and gave him the rank of General. Sure he had to go through basic training but he did it all with a few minor mishaps." She took Daring's hand and walked towards the door. "He had so much to worry him for the first three months. His father had kicked him out and he lived with Applejack for a while.... Twilight even told me he looked so tired on some of the days he came in she basically had him take out a little room of his own in the castle and sleep there. Up until the party where he supposedly cheated on Applejack he had that liberty. That's when I talked with my sister asking if he could stay with us since he had nowhere else to go. He slept in my room until his was set up. There were times I found him cuddling me in my bed. Other nights he basically slept soundly in the bed and one time the floor." She opened the door leading out into a large apple orchard. As they stepped through the door disappeared behind them. "I've even found him wandering the castle during the night and one time he ended up wetting himself because he couldnt find a bathroom." Daring snickered a bit with the thought of her colt friend clutching his crotch as a stain grew forming a puddle under him. A smile even forced its way out. "Ah! There we are! There's a smile! Perhaps I can get Applejack to share some good memories before the break up just after you tell her about what happened."

Daring nodded as they started to weave in and out of the trees. As they walked through they heard a bit of chuckling. "Ah sugarcube! Just cant help but piss yourself workin' out here cantcha?" They heard Applejack ask. "Its fine so's long you dont go and keep doing that. Wouldnt wantcha to get a rash now!" As they turned a corner they saw Applejack standing in a clearing with a form of Ryder wearing jeans and a white tank top and a big stain between his legs. He disappeared as Luna and Daring approached. Applejack looked to them and blushed smiling nervously. "Oh.... Hey there you two! Darin'. Princess." She went to bow but Daring hugged her almost tackling her into the dust. Applejack looked to the princess and then at Daring who whimpered slightly. "Uh... Is she okay?" Luna sighed shaking her head sadly.

"Unfortunately no... she isnt.... Something has happened that has her worried out of her mind...." Applejack looked to Daring.

"...Is that true sugarcube? You hurtin...?" Daring gave a nod as a sob escaped. "....I bet it was somethin' Ryder said or did to ya.... Am I right?"

Daring shook her head hesitantly. "...It.... It had to do with Ryder but.... he didnt hurt me in any way... but... he could've if he hadnt snapped out of his trance...." Applejack looked to her confused and then to Luna.

Luna rolled her eyes. "Ryder was apparently near a bomb that went off..." She said. "He survived but is badly injured... Special medical procedures are in effect to get him home within days." Applejack froze and the area around them started to deteriorate and rot away as the sky turned dark over them. She looked back to Daring who was just barely keeping it together.

"...I... I couldnt stop him in time.... if only I had seen it just a second sooner.... He... He would've been on the plane with me..." She broke down slightly sobbing into her friends shoulder.

Applejack whimpered a bit holding Daring close. "...Y-ycant be tellin' the truth..." She said. "....but... y'are.... I just... what the hell're we gonna tell his sister...?" She looked to Luna.

Luna hugged both mares. "...We arent.... We're just gonna try and tell her that he stayed behind for a little while for a well earned vacation but he will be back if that makes any sense...." She said. "...I'd connect you two to his mind but he moves in his sleep when dreaming.... I dont want him to hurt himself when he starts moving about.... For now you two just get your rest.... I'll have some guards drop Daring off in Ponyville after she collects everything in the plane to transfer... I will even have a sheathe ready for the sword. My sister has found a book about the sword, it tells us everything about length and width." The orange mare averted her gaze for a moment and then looked back to the princess.

"Princess... If I can ask.... aint there any way he could just be flown out here n treated for his injuries? He has to be here to at least see his sister...." The princess huffed.

"I'm afraid not... having him fly over in his state would kill him. Turbulent air would give him an extreme amount of pain from the movement, the height would thin his blood making it hard to get oxygen to the brain even if its a pressurized cabin and a chopper couldnt make the distance and would probably have to find an aircraft carrier to help with refueling but he'd have to be hooked up to many machines to keep him stable.... Last I checked no helicopter could help with that. Not even a cargo chopper would be able to do so. Or an Osprey for that matter. No aircraft can keep him stable health wise. He's going to have to stay grounded until they give the all clear." She broke the hug with the mares and wiped each of their eyes with a tissue she conjured up from her magic. "Now awaken you two.... I'll meet you both... Maybe take us out for a drink... You two definitely look like you need it..." She pushed the mares apart almost forcing them to either side of her.

Daring hesitantly waved to Applejack sadly. Applejack just hugged herself before fading away. Daring faded away as everything else did turning to darkness. Once completely dark Daring felt a little warm and sweaty. She opened her eyes to find herself in bed on the plane with sunlight coming through the windows. She sat herself up and looked back only to see Sunset behind her asleep. She got up and saw herself still in Ryder's vest and the pants of Ahuizotl. She sighed just climbing out of bed and getting out of the clothing tossing both items aside before going to her bags. She thought about what would become of her books, her estate and her adventures. As she got dressed she got a pair of her pants on but grabbed one of Ryder's shirts. It was a grey Metallicolt shirt with torn sleeves. She held it up to her nose and smelt his scent on it before putting it on. She sighed shoving her hands in her pockets as she made her way into the living space. Nothing but a semi cleaned mess. She went over and sat at the bar setting her head down on the bar top. She heard the plane door open but she paid no mind as she heard footsteps behind her. A mares sigh was heard. "...Those guards really ripped this thing apart..." A familiar voice said. "...Gonna have to have a few of my own reset things.... Buy new bottles of alcohol to restock the bar...." Daring looked behind her and saw Princess Celestia with her mane up in a ponytail wearing a work out uniform. White sweats and a tank top and a pair of slippers. "Hey... C'mon lets get you out of here... Got someone who wants to see you...."

Daring sighed turning her attention away from Celestia propping her head up with her arm on the bar top. "...whats the point...?" She asked. "...Seeing someone isnt gonna make me feel any better...." Celestia came up and sat next to her.

"Look... I know it hurts to have that happen... Trust me I've been through it too... I was being courted by one of the diplomats of the many countries i do business with.... I forgot which one but.... As I was climbing the stairs with him up to my room for a bit of alone time one of my guards apparently dropped a banana peel from his lunch which he normally had sitting there. I didnt mind as long as he was out of the way but the diplomat slipped and tumbled down the stairs. He had hit his head so hard he had forgotten who I was entirely and well... They couldnt fix him.... We're just lucky Ryder can be fixed...." The grey messy maned pegasus mare whimpered slightly.

"...I just... I wish i saw that bomb sooner..." Celestia huffed.

"Now Daring... I'm going to let you in on something.... There are things in this world that I cant control... it is either my father or my mother's doing.... what happened there was a little bit of both.... My father had one of the ponies Ahuizotl controlled put that bomb there.... If you hadnt seen that bomb he'd be dead.... if you had seen it earlier yes he would've still survived but he would've caught some shrapnel which actually still could've killed him if a piece hit him in the wrong place.... You stopped him at the safe spot where he was gonna be injured yet still survive.... When you got out of there it could've gone many different ways.... You could've stepped out and there could've been a firing squad or you could've gotten hit by the bomb instead of him.... Shrapnel could've hit you and... you know..." The pegasus mare at her side teared up a bit. "....Now come on... please step out of the plane.... Everything will be okay.... I promise you things will look up from here...." Daring looked up at Celestia. "...Hiding in here isnt the best thing for when you've hidden all your life.... Is hiding away when someone you love gets hurt the right thing to do? It isnt even your fault so why hide?" Daring shook her head sniffling a bit.

"I just.... I brought him into this.... I should've left him back here and had everyone else protect me!"

"You would've been dead before you touched down! You needed Ryder! You'd've drank yourself in a tizzy and probably would've ended yourself with a knife from the kitchen for what happened! Without Ryder you wouldnt have completed this mission! Without him you wouldnt have even stepped onto this plane or out from the book store! You probably would've been forced into a mental institution from the things jumbling around in your mind. How would you think if someone you idolized ran up and said 'hey my name is Silver Conquest and I'm hiding my identity from a weird goo monster that wants to fill up my ass and explode me'? You'd probably look at them like they were fucking insane!" Daring thought for a moment. If she hadnt brought him along she probably would've been shot sometime after the initial attack. He wouldnt have been there to save her from the fall and she probably would've been slaughtered by Ahuizol himself if she somehow managed to save herself from the fall. She sniffled a bit letting a few sobs out.

"....Ryder not being by my side would've got me killed.... I basically needed him badly... Thinking back before all this... I thought i would've needed him until he left my side but... he never even let me... sure he left me in the castle after it was revealed he wanted to sleep with me but... who was I to judge...? I felt like i owed him something.... I never really wanted to sleep with a guard... I only said that just to make him feel better but.... boy did he ravage me.... I owe him a lot for helping me through this odd and dangerous adventure...." She looked up at Celestia who put her arm around her. "....Please just... dont tell him i said that.... I dont wanna make him give up hope.... I truly do love him... but... I was scared and needed the protection..." Celestia gave her a smile and held her hand out for a moment.

"I wont say a word to him.... Now are you ready to get out of this mess?" Daring gave a nod and took the Princesses hand. They both got up and walked towards the door. Daring had to block her eyes from the early morning light of the sun. Around the plane she saw a few guards but not many. Just four or five. She saw one mare out of everyone out there and that mare was blue, rainbow maned and wearing a wonderbolts track suit with a white teeshirt under the jacket.

The mare was Rainbow Dash. She had a tired but heavy look to her face. Daring broke away from Celestia and rushed Dash only to hug her. Dash hugged and kissed her cheek. "...Hey... C'mon be strong...." She said. "...There's a little filly inside that's asleep but.... she needs to see someone with a smile and maybe a little time with her favorite author and see the new prize you got.... You do have it dont you?"

Daring nodded. "Yeah... It's... somewhere... I do have it though..." She said breaking off of the mare. "You wanna walk me in? I just... I need to talk to you alone...." The blue pegasus mare nodded and looked over to Princess Celestia who was already having guards enter the plane.

"Hey Princess!" Celestia looked over to the mare couple. "We're gonna start heading up to the castle. You good?" Celestia nodded and waved them off. Daring took Dash's hand and they started off towards the castle. Maybe after five minutes they were getting close to the door of the castle. The rainbow maned pegasus looked to her friend. "You okay?" Daring shrugged. "...You seem okay physically... what happened there?" She sighed.

"You know... Gun battles, threats and nearly getting tossed off a roof by your now dead mortal enemy...." Dash gasped.

"Ahuizotl is dead?!" Daring shushed her and covered her mouth.

"Yes... he nearly had me executed but.... Ryder had different plans.... Instead of pulling the trigger on me I just opened my eyes to Ahuizotl with a wound between his eyes and a bit of his blood splattered everywhere behind him... I guess Ryder was trained to do what he needs to protect.... even if it does mean to end a series of books idolized by everyone young and old...." Dash sighed looking forth as they entered the castle.

"...My cousin is a numbskull but... that hard head definitely has some good ideas.... killing Ahuizotl might've ended your books but... what are your books compared to your life....? At the beginning of this you were near pissing yourself scared that he'd end you... but now you're free of him... treasures are still out there but... there wont be anyone to race for that treasure or anyone to set traps for you or idiotically leave an ancient war shield inside the room with the spikes." Daring chuckled a bit looking to the roof as they rounded a corner heading for stairs.

"Heh... Book three, chapter five... The worst part about that was I went and bashed him in the face with it and actually felt bad when he ran for medical attention... Almost wanted to apologize and give him a splint for his busted nose but hell... his minions werent gonna let up with pinning me down after that. Lucky I escaped them... nailed one between the legs with a headbutt and that was all that was needed....I think I actually made one of them piss themselves when I held a machete just staring at him as if i was going to just disembowel him...." Dash stayed silent for a moment as she put an arm around the grey maned mare.

"....So... what are you gonna do now that he's gone....?" Daring just stayed silent. She didnt know what to do. Whether it was Ahuizotl's death or Ryder's absence she was just stuck in one spot in her mind. Kind of like a cornered pawn in chess. "....I know its going to be hard to move on from this.... You're always going to want to put on that disguise and walk among everyone.... thinking of yourself as AK Yearling and not Daring Do in the slightest... only when you're with freinds such as me and Twilight and... Ryder a bit further... Now... Just think... what would Ryder want you to do?"

"...He'd want me to be happy... He'd want me to feel safe and secure like he's been doing thus far..." They started up the stairs but stopped half way up. Daring sat down on the steps and leaned on the wall. "....Tell me... Is it wrong to feel bad about all this....? Ending my books off? Having Ahui killed like that...?" Dash sighed and sat next to Daring hugging her.

"...How do you think I felt after you left to write that book? Twilight had to drag me out one day to her place to try and write a four page essay on what not to do when meeting someone like you... Number one reason: Fuck up in every major way.... I almost got you killed and i almost died myself...." She squeezed the mare a bit. "....I wanted to beat myself up after almost ruining your books then and there... I was just all caught up in being a fangirl... Ryder's probably feeling the same..." Daring pushed Dash off and stood up.

"...He should feel good to take down someone who marked my own head... I know it cost something he loves dearly but... what about the one who he fell in love with... Am I not important to him?" The blue mare stood and took Daring's hand leading her up the stairs.

"I dont know how he feels here. All I know is he's in pain from his injuries... But he'll be better... Right?" Daring nodded. "Good.... At least there's something his sister can know..." Daring went and pinned Dash against a wall just at the top of the steps.

"No! We cant say ANYTHING to her! Just... I dont know make something up that sounds like something he would do! If she asks something about Ryder like where he is or why he hasnt called just.... Just do something and fast! You get me Dash?" Dash nodded scared. "Good.... Now... Is her room still a ways off?" She nodded again and Daring backed off. She sighed. "...Well... tell me a few things that happened in our absence... Things that Ryder might've wanted to know...." Dash sighed and started climbing the stairs with the greyscale maned mare.

"Where do I start? After you guys took off Scootaloo cried her eyes out.... Luna had to comfort her and I gotta say she did better than even her own mother did.... Had her calmed within a minute and then just last night she had a little accident thinking about her father and what happened.... Thought she heard a gun shot in the halls but a guard idiotically dropped a tray of food he was bringing to my room.... I just wanted to hide away and just try and not think about you but... I saw the news reports about murders and stuff here in Equestria and it just made me think of you.... Not even kidding when I say they spoke about the attack at the signing... Said you had just disappeared and they wanted to at least question you. Guards even said that you werent gonna be found. Not even disclose a location or an anonymous interview. Nothing so I promise you were safe there...." They turned a corner.

"Well... Anything from Twilight?" Dash nidded.

"Well... she did say if she ever tried to call you or vice versa to Celestia or something.... She would just pray for your safety... Either that or have us fly out there to save your ass and my own cousins. I'm pretty sure AJ would've actually saved Ryder.... Cant say for the other mares.... Fluttershy is still kind of afraid to even speak to Ryder... Rarity will speak but not reveal any information about anyone. Pinkie blabs about almost anything but... Eh... You already know what me, Twilight and Applejack are like." Suddenly they heard crying coming from somewhere down a hall. Dash sighed as she started to jog. "Dammit.... Not now... Not now Scoot... Why? Why now?!" Daring hurried after her as they went down the hall. When they turned a corner they saw Scootaloo huddled up in blankets on the right side of the hall. Her door was open slightly. Dash sighed as she came to the filly's side. The blanket was a dark blue one with Luna's cutie mark on it. She held it tight against herself almost hiding herself as if she were Daring herself. "...Scoot? What's wrong squirt?"

Scootaloo whined a bit and sniffled as a guard came out of the room. He was a unicorn guard clad in silver armor. He sighed as he dragged out a hamper stuffed with sheets. "Another accident I'm afraid." He said. "Lucky you had me outside this door .... She thought someone was going to shoot her or something..."

Daring sighed as Dash picked the filly up. "Nothing like that is going to happen here...." She said resting her hand on her blanketed back. "...You've got guards and princesses around you... you're probably in the safest place possible..."

Dash sighed as she took the blanket off her cousins head. "....You're soaked...." She said. She looked to Daring as the filly cried into her shoulder. "...C'mon... lets get her changed.... She isnt gonna calm down unless she's dry.... Trust me on this..." Daring nodded as they wiggled past the guard into Scootaloo's room. The bed was stripped bare and there were clothes strewn about the floor with a back pack near by. Daring even closed the door and leaned on it watching Dash as she stripped the blanket off the filly. Scootaloo was wearing grey sweat pants with a darker grey stain running between her legs and a black tank top. Dash huffed grabbing a few pieces of clothing. "Jeez.... did you even use the toilet before you went to take a nap?"

The filly shook her head as she rubbed her eyes. "...I... I want Ryder...." She said. "....I-Is he back yet...? I... I wanna talk to him...."

Daring turned away. Not only because her friend was starting to change the soiled clothing of her cousin but she didnt wanna show any emotion towards the filly that'd give anything away. "...He uh... He stayed back to try and find you something that'd make you happy." She said. "I told him I'd stay but... He wanted me to get back here as quickly as I could. To uh... keep my treasures safe!"

"...C-can we call him then....? I.... I really wanna talk to him...."

Dash huffed. "Squirt... What Miss...." She said stopping herself.

Daring sighed. "It's fine... I feel it might be time for me to just come clean with everyone.... I just..... I should start small like with this filly here... Then to a few guards maybe... It's gonna be bound to happen anyways...." Dash sighed.

"Well... I guess since she said this its time for me to tell you.... Those books that Princess Twilight and I read... Those Daring Do books... You know those books right?" Daring heard no answer. "...Well... You can believe me and her when we say... Those books are real deals.... That mare right there? She's the real Daring Do.... She can back me up on that.... Do you wanna ask her yourself.....?" Again no answer was heard. Only a sob. The Cyan mare sighed and grunted a bit. "Well... All done here... You gonna be okay?"

Daring turned back around and now saw the little filly wearing blue jeans and a black tee shirt. Her eyes were still teary but not as bad as before. Scootaloo nodded a bit glancing at Daring nervously. They came over and Daring cracked a smile. "...Y-you're the real... D-daring Do....?" She asked. Daring nodded. "....How can you prove it....?"

Daring sighed. "Well... It's hard for me to even say who I am is true.... but... It's true... Ask Dash, Celestia, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy and even Princess Twilight herself. They're all going to say the same thing. Even the same thing as your big brother said..." She said. "But... If I remember correctly you asked to speak with him over the phone?" Scootaloo nodded. "...Well... I hate to say this but he left his phone on the plane... By the time I found it it was just too late to turn back and get it to him..." She took the filly from her cousins arms and hugged her. "...Dont worry though... he loves you very much... he wanted me to tell you that when I got here..." She kissed the filly on the fore head fixing her mane as well.

"....D-do you think he told the truth there...? About him loving me...?"

Dash gasped. "Of course squirt!" She said joining in on the hug. "He does love you! More than ANYTHING in the world. Before you came to my door I'd get him calling me every night asking if I was going to be watching you any time soon but I kept telling him no... He was always hurt to hear that but he never gave up hope... But now that your mom and dad are gone... I bet you he's gonna spend every waking moment with you when he gets back... Who knows what he's gonna do... I bet he's gonna move back to Ponyville and find a place there where you two can live together and just not be plagued by the bad memories.... Your mom would've dragged him back whether your dad liked it or not but.... Ryder stayed away because he was afraid to see you cry when your Dad told him to go away...."

Daring teared up a bit pushing her wings through Ryder's shirt holes. "....Scootaloo... i know this may sound weird to say but... while we were out.... He never shut up about you..." She said. "He said he missed you, he didnt wanna leave you alone and all sorts of things.... He needed you more than you needed him but... his job came first to protect me to get a treasure that would save everyone in Equestria.... He did so... Saved you, me and your cousin here...." The little filly whimpered slightly resting her head on Daring's shoulder. "...Don't worry... Ryder will be back soon.... I promise you that...."

Scootaloo hugged the mare tightly. Daring hugged back getting Dash closer as well. "....I... I hope you're right.... I miss him...." She said. Daring sighed.

"I miss him too..." She looked down at the filly. "How about this? What say we get out of this castle and head for some ice cream? Rocky Road always cheered me up.... You up for it?" Scootaloo looked to Dash. Dash just smiled. The filly looked back to Daring rubbing her eyes a bit.

"That.... that sounds good.... But maybe a little lunch first...? I-I was always told to eat something before ice cream... Okay?" Daring smiled and set the filly on the ground.

"Sure... I could eat something... You wanna get some shoes on while I go find a princess to help us get some lunch?"

Dash gave a slight laugh. "Just go and get em! Why wait for us to answer?" She said. Daring smiled as Scootaloo rushed over to her backpack and started to dig into it.

"Alright you two please hurry. I'll meet you in the dining hall if i have to." Dash smiled and nodded as she leaned against the wall. Daring gave a bright smile and opened up the door and rushing out. Not long later Daring was walking with Celestia at her side in a mood completely opposite to the way she was in the room. "...I... I lied to a filly... A filly who's brother I nearly killed with explosives...."

Celestia took the sad mares hand. "...Daring it isnt you who planted the bomb... it was Ahuizotl... He didnt want you to get away with that sword. He would've had you both killed in the process.... It's best for injury than death... Would you rather have a filly know she's going to see her brother soon or would you rather have to lie to them about her dead brother?" The mare sighed hanging her head.

"...It's worse either way because we're still lying... She's young and alone... I dont wanna lie to her but I dont want to tell the truth either..." Celestia huffed.

"Listen to what you're saying. You've lied for years but the truth is being revealed slowly. How do you think those who know the truth react?" Daring shrugged as they turned down another hall. "Well? What of Dash and her friends? Surely they've had some thought about your identity being brought onto them. Twilight especially. Dash told me that they saw you- Only as A.K. Yearling mind you- but they said they saw you in the forest bathing in a lake and got frightened when you caught them but I have always seen through your disguise. Your picture on the book cover and you yourself had similarities and I put two and two together but I told nopony except my sister. Even she knew of your secrets and swore to secrecy from then on. Even we couldnt take on the information. I sat in my room writing entry after entry of my findings until I spoke with Twilight about it. I didnt know how to take it but it was something I was willing to live with." She huffed. "We should try and tell the truth but tweek it a bit. Say Ryder was injured and wasnt fit to be on the plane. He got sick and needed to stay grounded until he returned or something. Just dont lie to her." Daring sighed looking up at the ceiling.

"...Well... I need to talk that over with Dash... She knows that filly better than I do.... And... I hate to ask but... Can I ask for a favor...?" Celestia stopped in front of the dining hall door and looked at the mare.

"For you I will grant almost any favor. You've faced hell and returned triumphant. You deserve something and if i cant give it to you it can not be obtained through normal means. What is thy wish?" Daring looked around at the empty halls. No guard in sight. She beckoned the princess lower. Celestia bent down a bit. Just enough to listen to what Daring was about to say.

"...In a few days once Ryder is better... I.... I want to have a press conference about the attack and... maybe to just... Reveal who I really am since my books arent going to be going on anymore.... With Ahuizotl dead I have no conflict in my books... No antagonist to my protagonist... I'm just as normal as anyone else now..." Celestia gave a warm smile.

"Well... Its going to be a big step there but... I can get you out to Ponyville and just get everything ready with Twilight. She'll keep you there as well as Scootaloo. We dont wanna keep you both here... knowing his room is still here..."

"Another favor princess....?" Daring averted her gaze. Celestia sighed a bit.

"Okay okay fine... I'll let you use his room for tonight but you might need to have Dash and Scootaloo in there too... Cant have Scootaloo on her own after she had that accident... A couple of warm bodies next to her should help keep her calm... that and a warm glass of milk.... maybe some filly padding just to be safe but... hopefully we can avoid that pathway.... I hope..." Daring huffed.

"Anything I have to do there I'll do it.... But maybe before then we can call Wolf and check on Ryder? " Celestia smiled a bit before going into the dining hall with Daring. Where it all started.

"Sure. I was going to do that here in a bit anyways. I was notified that Ryder was given the medicine Luna and I take for speedy recoveries. I'm a bit curious as to what the effects on him would be.... Nopony but me, Luna or our niece have taken this medicine." Daring followed Celestia all the way to the end of the table. All she could think of there was her and Ryder having a meal before their adventure. First meal after the attack too. "....My niece was one of the first alicorn... born nearly a thousand years ago. Her parents died and I adopted her feeling she needed someone to guide her through life.... Without Luna I basically felt alone.... Everyone I asked who knew her said she was miserable... I found her in an orphanage but she wasnt in there... I found her at a grave site a few miles from there in the rain.... I took her back and things just.... went on from there..." Celestia sat down and hung her head a bit. Daring took a seat to her right. "...M-my apologies Daring.... She just.... I only call her a niece because she wasnt related to me... Though my only sister was on the moon I still made it seem like she was hidden away, learning somewhere on how she could be a princess.... When in reality she was just a unicorn filly whom i've wanted at my side forever...." Celestia looked to Daring. "....I.... I'm rambling arent I....?" Daring took the princesses hand and squeezed slightly.

"Come on Princess.... Focus.... We dont want Scootaloo coming in to see a sobbing princess now would we?" Celestia shook her head. "....Well.... Why dont we take a few breaths, have a drink and calm down before that happens... otherwise she's really gonna think something is wrong...." Celestia sniffled and wiped her eyes.

"Y-you're right... She can probably pry information out of me when I'm like this... I cant take any pressure when im crying...." She clapped her hands and instantly a unicorn waitress dressed in a suit. This one was a mare. Red mane, red orange coat and black and red suit. Celestia looked to the waitress. "Mango smoothie for me and a.... a straw berry banana smoothie for my friend here." Daring looked to the waitress.

"Ah no no no! Cant have that! Change that to a chocolate peanut butter smoothie! I'm allergic to strawberries." The waitress smiled and nodded before teleporting away. Daring looked to Celestia. "That's something I dont want to happen.... No surprise allergy attacks and if it did end up happening I'd need my allergy shot and I almost always keep one on me... The only time I've left it back in my home was during the attack... I was vulnerable.... I still am.... Please tell me your staff wont try poisoning me..."

"Please... If they wont try it on me they wont try it on you. Besides we have antidotes and allergy shots for all kinds of reactions. Most of our guards are always prepared with my on-call doctor. Unicorn fellow who can teleport right to our sides within moments of being called. Would you be okay if I was the one to administer the shot if something were to go wrong?" The adventure mare nodded. "Well let me have someone get the doctor down here with an allergy shot for strawberries. I'll be back in a moment." Celestia got up and flew right over the table landing at the door and exiting.

Later that day Daring was dressed in silver pegasus guard attire holding Scootaloo's hand and with Dash walking at their side at a semibusy mall. Dash was wearing a Wonderbolts baseball jersey and jeans. Daring smiled as Dash flicked her with her wings. "Gotta love being out like this not having to worry huh?" She asked. "I mean yeah you're still ready for things but I can see you're happy."

Daring sighed. "It does feel good to stretch my wings in public without having to use a bathroom to unwrap bandages...." She said. "....It's going to take some getting used to but... I guess I need to relax... So many years of running, hiding.... I just havent had the time to sit back and relax... take a look at the world to see how it is behind the hell and those willing to unleash it...."

"Hey language! There's a filly present!" The rainbow mare snapped. Daring smiled at the filly at her side.

"Oop. Sorry... But there are bad ponies out there willing to do bad things for their own gain.... I guess you could say I was a guard but on a supernatural level.... Kinda like you Element of Harmony holders huh?" Dash released her cousins hand and put them on the back of her head looking towards the sky.

"Yeah but you've done it a lot more than we have. We've saved Equestria four times and that isnt even NightMare Moon levels. That was almost global. Almost meaning there would've been a never ending sunrise slash sunset going on. If you were in my shoes what would you do if you faced Nightmare Moon?" The armored mare gulped as they turned a corner.

"Before or after her reformation back to Luna?" Dash hummed.

"I'd say after her transformation back to Luna. Like something triggered it again and sparked the nightmare within."

Scootaloo shivered gripping Daring's hand a bit tighter. "...I'd probably be flying away scared if that helped me to fly..." She said. "Princess Luna is so nice... I dont see how she could become Nightmare Moon again... I cant even see how anyone can become a nightmare even when they're so nice all the time."

Daring picked Scootaloo up putting her on her back and gripping her with her wings. "I'm with the little one here... I'd probably be running scared..." She said. She gulped a bit and started to slow her stroll.

Dash hummed as all the color drained away from her friends face. "Hey? You okay?" She asked. Voices started to assault Daring's ears. She looked around and there wasnt anyone yelling, whispering or even having a semi loud conversation. She went a few steps then collapsed. Scootaloo got off of her back and rushed behind Dash scared. Dash snapped her fingers in Daring's face. "Hey! C'mon stay with me! I know what you're going to do now just keep it together! Be strong! Breathe!" Even with her trying to breathe normally it turned to hyper ventilating. She started to sweat profusely before blacking out. "NO! SOMEONE! CALL AN AMBULANCE NOW!" Next thing you know she heard crying and that was all.

"....It's my fault... he's injured because of me...." She said in her own mind. "...I couldnt save him.... I couldnt save myself....."