Daring Do took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought she could hear it, and she couldn’t stop her hooves from shaking even if she tried. It was the kind of terror she’d felt a hundred times by this point, yet it still found a way of getting to her.

“Come on,” she told herself under her breath. “This is nothing. You’ve faced off power-mad ponies, monsters from Tartarus, even the Princess’ own cooking. This should be a cakewalk.”

Yet as she looked up at the door in front of her, she could feel nothing but dread. This door, a modest door not unlike those you’d find in any house in Equestria, represented everything she fought for. Yet also everything she feared. If things didn’t go well, which they very well might, then she could lose everything. Yet if it went well…

Daring steeled her nerves. Nobody but her could do this. It was a solemn responsibility, one much heavier than the saddlebag she wore now, but that was why it was hers. Nobody else could bear the weight on their shoulders. Knowing this, she raised her hoof and pounded it against the door. The resulting echo made her wince, and she considered turning around, but it was too late.

“Come in,” said a voice from beyond the door. It chilled Daring to the core hearing that voice, one that held her fate in its hooves, but she pressed on. Forgoing her hesitation, she turned the knob, pushed the door open, and walked inside.

The first thing she noticed was that lack of light. Despite being a fairly large room, the only source of luminescence came from the far end, from a ceiling lamp dangling over a plain wooden desk. Behind that desk was a swivel chair, turned so that its back was facing the rest of the room. All Daring could see of the person sitting in it was a tuft of white-and-purple hair.

Daring made her way across the room slowly. As she did, she took in her surroundings. While the room was dark, she could make out several bookshelves lining the walls. Floor lamps were placed near those, spaced out so as to properly light the whole room. Now, however, they were dark, leaving Daring with nothing to look forward to except the pony at the desk.

Daring stopped just a few feet from her destination. She looked over the desk curiously, partially to distract herself from her worries and also to give her time to calm her nerves. Several papers were scattered across its wooden surface, as well as a couple of inkwells and a large number of quills. The powerful scent of ink mixed with fresh paper struck her nostrils like a freight train, and she briefly wondered how anypony could stand the stench for so long. Then she remembered that the person she was about to speak with could hardly be called a pony.

“Hello, Miss ‘Yearling’,” said the voice from behind the desk. It was a mare’s voice, that much was obvious, and she spoke in a mocking tone, as if use of the name ‘Yearling’ was a joke only the two of them shared. To anypony else it would seem odd, but Daring knew why. This mare- No, not a mare. Calling her a mare would imply she had any equine attributes, such as the power to love and care for another being instead of tearing them down. No, this...creature, she managed to figure out Daring’s secret identity not long after meeting her. Whether it was through dark magic or a keen eye, Daring couldn’t say. All she knew was that this pony terrified her.

“Hello,” Daring greeted curly. She didn’t want to sound tense, but she was afraid that was the case. She could feel her legs shake as she struggled to keep herself steady. Worry prickled at her heart and the saddlebag seemed to grow heavier with the second. “I...I was hoping we could speak, if that would be alright.”

The chair spun around so that the mare was facing Daring. She leaned forward, crossing her hooves over each other on the desk as she looked over the adventurer. In the poor lighting, the mare’s normally light gray coat looked like it was made out of smoke, and her icy blue eyes seemed to pierce Daring’s very being.

“Speak?” The mare asked quizzically. “About what exactly?”

Daring bowed her head in greeting, even though her instincts told her it would be more appropriate to kneel before a pony this powerful. But Daring knew better. This mare hated ponies kneeling before her. It meant she couldn’t see the fear in their eyes.

“About this,” Daring said as she reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a notebook. It was immediately snatched out of her hoof by a bright cyan light and floated over to the mare, who opened it and began reading. She didn’t even finish the first page before she put it down. “This is a book,” she stated.

Daring nodded. “Yes it is, Ms. Velvet.” Saying her name was odd. Creatures like her don’t have names, but she did. Twilight Velvet. It was strangely whimsical in comparison to the harsh exterior she seemed to give off.

“And I’m guessing you want me to edit this?” Velvet asked. She twirled the notebook around idly, the glow of her horn giving her an almost ethereal tint.

Daring gulped. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

“And why didn’t you bring me this a month ago, as you were asked?”

Memories of an ancient temple and a dense jungle flashed in Daring’s mind. “I was a little...tied up.”

Velvet placed the notebook on her desk, sighing. “This is unacceptable, Daring Do.”

“I...I understand, Twilight Velvet.”

Velvet pushed her chair from the desk and stood up. She walked over to the wall, where a framed photo of a young stallion hanged. The stallion was white, wearing the golden armor of a Celestial guard. His helmet was in his hooves, so his messy blue mane was on full display.

Without looking to Daring, she spoke. “You come here on the eve of my son’s wedding, asking from me a favor. But you do it not out of respect, and not out of friendship. But out of fear.”

Daring wasn’t sure how to respond. She didn’t even know Velvet had a son. She wasn’t even sure Velvet was physically capable of loving a foal. She wondered how alike he was to his mother, and whether or not he knew of the twisted things she did behind closed doors.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Velvet,” Daring said. Her editor didn’t appear to hear her, but she went on. “I simply know that when it comes to editing, you’re one of the best. Because of you, all of my stories have shined. If not for you I wouldn’t have books at all.”

Velvet chuckled. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Daring. But I appreciate it nonetheless.” She walked over to the author, a small smile adorning her face. “I suppose I can’t blame you for poor timing. I understand your schedule can be hectic at times, and it’s not like you could have stopped the Changeling invasion yourself.”

Daring breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for understanding, Ms. Velvet, I- Wait, what?!”

Velvet giggled. A full-fledged giggle. It was something so rare, so unexpected, that Daring honestly thought it wasn’t possible. It was a simple fact of life. Grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, and Twilight Velvet doesn’t giggle. This was the very same mare who deleted four chapters from one of Daring’s manuscripts on the grounds that Dr. Caballeron’s character was flat and uninteresting. (Which was completely true, but still.)

“Did...Did you say ‘Changing invasion’?” Daring shook her head, trying to dislodge whatever must have been stuck in her ear. She couldn’t have heard that right.

“Yes I did,” Velvet assured her. “And I could tell you all about it over some coffee if you’d like.”

Daring smiled, put to ease some by the offer of focusing on something other than her book. “That sounds pretty good, Velvet. I’d be happy to.”

“Great!” Velvet’s horn lit up, and suddenly each light in the room came to life, momentarily blinding Daring. “Sorry, I like prefer to work in the dark. It’s my zone, so to speak.” She then grabbed the notebook in her magical grip, followed by a quill dripping red ink. The very sight of the scarlet substance made a chill go down Daring’s spine. She’s seen enough of that stuff that it haunted her nightmares. “I can edit while we talk.”

Daring followed Velvet out of the room, down the hallway that led to the kitchen. “Are you sure you can do that?”

Velvet glanced back at Daring, smirking. “You’d be surprised by how well I can multitask.” She entered the kitchen with Daring in tow, where she opened the notebook and set it down on the table. She frowned as her eyes skimmed across the page. “Already found a few mistakes.”

Daring sighed as she took a seat at the table. This was going to be a long night.