Chapter 11: Read It and Weep
On a peaceful day somewhere out in Ponyville, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and (Y/N) were standing side by side looking up at the sky. Something is heard whizzing around above them and the three turn their heads to track its movements as Twilight walks up to them.
Twilight Sparkle: Hey, Rarity. Hey, Pinkie Pie. Hey, (Y/N). What are you looking at?
Pinkie Pie: Rainbow Dash!
Twilight then looks up along with the two to see Rainbow Dash flying up in the air at high speeds doing aerial tricks.
Pinkie Pie: Isn't she the most daring devil? I mean, the most devilish darer? I mean-
Rarity: She's dazzling!
Pinkie Pie: Ooh, yeah, that's a good word. She's dazzling!
(Y/N): Actually, if I had to come up with a new word for how she is in the air, I'd call her Rainbow-tastic.
Pinkie Pie: Oooh. Rainbow-tastic, I like it.
The four kept following her maneuvers around in the air with astonishment in their eyes. Pinkie follows up by describing a large vertical circle with her head while turning it 360 degrees on her neck. An equally impossible 180-degree turn allows her to see the next trick as they all gasped in awe at the amount of skill that Rainbow Dash had. Pinkie's contortions finally catch up with her and untwist the bright pink body to leave her disoriented for a moment.
However, admiration quickly gives way to terror on the part of the four as they could clearly tell she was messing up her performance.
Twilight Sparkle: Oh no, oh no, oh no!
(Y/N): Please don't crash! Please don't crash! Please don't crash!
Pinkie Pie: Ai yi yi yi yi!
Their gazes drop back to ground level in time with the sounds of a hurtling descent and a very hard landing which made them all cringe in worry.
(Y/N): Well, that's gotta hurt.
Pinkie Pie: So much for dazzling. . . or Rainbow-tastic.
With Rainbow Dash injured, the four took her in to the Ponyville hospital and let the rest of their friends know about the situation. Right now, the Mane 6 are all in front of Rainbow Dash's hospital bed as they had worried looks on their faces.
Applejack: Is she gonna be okay?
Fluttershy: Oh, I'm so worried!
Pinkie Pie: Is her face gonna stay that way?
(Y/N): Uh, no! Look! She's waking up!
Rainbow Dash wakes up woozily from her sleep to see her friends in front of her. She was wearing a green johnny, a bandage is stuck over one of her eyes, and wrappings are visible around the base of one wing so that it is forced to remain splayed out. Finally realizing the extent of her injuries, Rainbow tries to work the injured wing around a bit, but quickly gives up with a loud moan.
A unicorn stallion named Doctor Horse from the end of the bed was examining an X-ray of her broken wing as both Twilight and (Y/N) turn to him.
Twilight Sparkle: How is she, doctor?
Doctor Horse: She's going to be fine.
(Y/N): There's nothing else at all that we need to be concerned about?
Doctor Horse: Nope. Nothing, but a broken wing. Luckily, she has friends like you who got her over here in a jiffy.
(Y/N): Me too. I don't what we could have done if she left alone like that.
Rainbow Dash: Huh, how long do I need to lie here? I've got things I need to do!
Doctor Horse: Well, that all depends on your recovery, but I'd say a few days minimum.
Rainbow Dash: You guys have gotta get me out of here! I'm gonna climb the walls!
(Y/N): And let you get another broken wing or worse, not have a wing at all? No! Not gonna happen!
Pinkie Pie: Wait! Did the crash somehow give her super-duper spider powers?
Doctor Horse: Nnnno, nor did it give her amazing healing powers. She needs to stay in bed for a few days.
Rainbow Dash was downtrodden by that as she falls back onto her pillow.
Rainbow Dash: Few days? Might as well be a few months, or a few years!
Fluttershy: It's not so bad, Rainbow Dash.
Applejack: I bet the chow in here is hoof-lickin' good.
Rarity: And the hospital gowns, they. . .match the curtains!
Rarity then levitates a hospital johnny in front of her.
Pinkie Pie: And look! You have a roommate!
She whisks away the dividing curtain to expose the occupant of the next bed which was an earth pony stallion who has more broken bones than she did. With his face almost totally covered, he can only acknowledge Rainbow with a few eye rolls.
The less-than-excellent news prompts the downed Pegasus to turn over in bed and pull the blanket over herself. Applejack directs a puzzled shrug at the other five visitors, who glance uneasily at each other before all eyes shift toward Twilight, now deep in thought. A squeaking noise draws attention to the open door, through which a library cart loaded with books is pushed into view.
Twilight gets an idea as she gallops toward the door and returns a moment later, levitating a book over to the bed. This is used to poke Rainbow gently a couple of times, then set down by her pillow. She regards it with the clearest loathing.
Rainbow Dash: What's this?
Rainbow Dash picks up the book and holds it out in front of her.
Rainbow Dash: Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone.
Twilight Sparkle: This is the first story in the series. I own all of them.
Twilight lets out a huge grin with a squee.
Rainbow just gives an annoyed look and throws the proffered story away.
Rainbow Dash: No thanks. I so don't read. I'm a world-class athlete. Reading's for eggheads like you, Twilight.
Twilight gives her a slight glare.
Rainbow Dash: Heh, no offense, but I am not reading. It's undeniably, unquestionably, uncool.
The rest of the Mane 7 laugh from that as it got Rainbow's attention.
Applejack: Is she serious? Who doesn't like to read a bang-up tale from time to time?
Rarity: Why, a good book is almost as magnificent as silk pajamas on a Sunday morning, heh!
Twilight Sparkle: Reading is for everypony, Rainbow Dash!
Twilight levitates the book back in front of her.
Pinkie Pie: Yeah! I love reading! I mean we have readers reading this book right now as we speak thanks to the author of this book!
(Y/N) raises an eyebrow at that.
(Y/N): Wait. . . what author. . .?
Pinkie Pie: Nothing!
Pinkie gives an innocent grin.
(Y/N): O. . .kay? But she's right, Rainbow Dash. If you want to pass the time just pick up the book and give it a good read.
A nurse pony named Nurse Sweetheart then enters the room.
Nurse Sweetheart: All right, my little ponies. Rainbow Dash needs her rest. You'll have to come
back tomorrow.
Everypony except for (Y/N) and Twilight then leave the room.
Twilight Sparkle: I think you'd like Daring. She's a lot like you. Adventurous, fierce, and undeniably, unquestionably, unstoppable.
Rainbow Dash just waves that off and Twilight then leaves with (Y/N) still in the room with her.
(Y/N): Come on, give it a chance.
Rainbow Dash: No way! I look at one word in that book and probably become a worse pony than I am now!
(Y/N) rolls his eyes at that.
(Y/N): That better have been an exaggeration.
Rainbow Dash: No, it wasn't. (Y/N), trust me, by the time you come back to check on me, you'll still see this book on the bed with me just chilling out. You're not an egghead and I'm not an egghead so we're both non-eggheads like those ponies except Twilight.
(Y/N): *sighs* Whatever. Get well soon, Dash.
Rainbow Dash: Oh, trust me. I'll be better in no time flat!
(Y/N): Still, can you please, just rest. . .
(Y/N) then put his hoof over Rainbow's which made her blush a little.
(Y/N): . . .for me. Okay?
Rainbow Dash: *sighs* Fine.
(Y/N): Great. I'll see you later, Dash.
(Y/N) then walks out of the room leaving Rainbow Dash by herself.
Later on, in the hospital Rainbow Dash was in the room for hours and she was getting bored by the hour. She was bouncing a ball off the far wall and the floor so that it returns to her. After a few cycles, though, it hits the bed's footboard and rolls to a stop on the floor and she hangs her head in resignation.
Later, Rainbow Dash got a food tray a cube of gelatin, glass of juice, and some green food. Rainbow eyeing it with obvious disdain as Applejack's guess at the food quality was nowhere close to the mark. She nips the edge of the glass in her teeth and drinks, but gets the whole thing stuck over her nose. The glass resists her attempt to pull it off, but falls loose on its own. The thing leaves her face temporarily stretched to resemble that of a typical horse.
Next, Rainbow Dash impatiently switches her bedside lamp on and off. She steps up the pace after the first few jabs at the button, but soon slows down again.
To try to pass the time once again, Rainbow Dash tries interacting with her roommate by telling him corny jokes.
Rainbow Dash: . . .to get to the other side! Get it?
His lack of enthusiasm or any verbal response, for that matter sits badly enough with her to make her close the curtain again and she hunkers down in bed.
Rainbow Dash: Never mind. . .
Later, Rainbow Dash's weary face signaled that she was tired being in the hospital for so long. The wall clock's ticking makes itself heard loud and clear as she glares up toward it, and a close-up reveals that it is still 1:00. The sequence of events has literally occurred in less than one minute, and the big hand clicks ahead one notch. Rainbow's jaw drops almost to the blanket in sheer disbelief; she then reels it in for a frustrated growl and sigh. Her next idea for passing time is to bang the back of her head against the bed's headboard a few times. Boredom, or the realization that such activity might worsen a head injury, prompts her to stop, and she unwillingly swivels her eyes to the book on her nightstand. She turns her back to it and crosses her forelegs resolutely.
Rainbow Dash: (I am not an egghead! I'm not! (Y/N)'s not! I shouldn't even care!)
She then glances back toward the nightstand while the book just sits there. . . and then she starts to think very, very hard.
Eventually, as she the book just keeps sitting there, Rainbow Dash slowly reaches her hoof out towards it. . .
Until the door opened to reveal someone and she quickly jerks back to her bed. The pony that came in was (Y/N) as he was levitating on what looked to be a card.
(Y/N): Sorry to come back so, suddenly. I just forgot to give you this get-well card that I made while I was waiting for you to recover.
Rainbow Dash: Oh. . . r-right. Thanks.
(Y/N) puts the card down on the nightstand and walks back out of the room. As soon as he left, with no sound heard, Rainbow Dash scoops up the card that (Y/N) got her and decided to take a look at it.
Rainbow Dash: "If I know one thing about you, it's that even though your flights may not always be perfect, I find you flawless either way. A broken wing just means nothing to me as all I want to see is your confident look that you show everyday. Your best friend, (Y/N)."
Rainbow Dash both smiled and blushed from how much (Y/N) cares about her.
Rainbow Dash: Oh, man! Forget that book! I can reread this card for as long as I want! Especially since it's from (Y/N).
Rainbow Dash then just stares at the card that (Y/N) made for her. However, after about 15 minutes she sighs and puts the card back on the nightstand.
Rainbow Dash: Okay, how? How is this getting old so quickly? This is from (Y/N) for crying out loud! Nothing from him should go from cool to uncool that fast!
Rainbow Dash then eyes the Daring Do book once again. She looks back and forth between it and the card and get's a worried look.
Rainbow Dash: (I-I don't want (Y/N) seeing me as an egghead! Especially after giving me that card!)
Rainbow Dash then gulps and darts her eyes from left to right before reluctantly scooping the book up and opening it in front of her.
Rainbow Dash: "As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle, the wet heat sapped her energy and slowed her every step. If only she could escape this oppressive atmosphere and fly up into the cool blue sky. But her crash landing in the jungle had injured her wing and she was grounded for a few days. Few days. . . it might as well be a few months, or a few years!"
Her level of enthusiasm begins to build as that last bit catches her by surprise, being an almost verbatim repetition of her own earlier remarks. She sighs, eyeing her own busted wing.
Rainbow Dash: Huh. I'm right there with you, sister. "The mosquitoes buzzed loudly. The macaws cried from the high trees. Yet all of these distracting noises were not enough to cover the sound of the predators following her every step."
As she speaks, in her mind she was imagining how the story was actually as in a deep dark forest, a Pegasus climbs over a fallen tree that had the same mane style as Rainbow Dash, but instead both her mane and tail were neutral colors from black to dark gray. Her coat was light gold, her eyes were also the same as Rainbow's (moderate rose), she was wearing a pith safari hat, and wearing a vest. She had bandages around her left wing and her Cutie Mark was a compass rose.
As Daring Do climbs over a tree, she hears a growl and turns around to find herself nose to nose with one very angry tiger that tries to bite her head off. She jumps clear, but turns to find a panther moving in to cut off her retreat. A glance in a third direction discloses a lynx, while a leopard moves in from a fourth. The explorer stands on the tree trunk as the four big cats close in—and then here comes a fifth contender, a very small and fluffy white kitten. This last sight gives Daring an idea, and she leaps nimbly over the little furball as it yowls angrily and the other four charge past it to give chase.
She gallops through the jungle, pursued by all five felines as the kitten hanging onto the panther's back. She stops short upon reaching the edge of a broad chasm. The snarls from behind her tell just how little time she has to make up her mind. She goes up for a jump, prompting all five pursuers to slide to an incredulous halt and run into each other.
It is then revealed that Daring Do grabbed onto a vine and she gives the predators a mocking salute before safely landing on the other side.
Rainbow Dash: "Safely landing on the other side, Daring finally allowed herself a moment to breathe. She turned around to find herself face to face with the long lost temple that she had sought tirelessly for over sixty days and nights!"
Daring Do's rest ends abruptly when she looks off ahead of herself to see a temple that was constructed of a dog's head with two ruby jewels in its eyes, and a flight of steps leading up into the mouth as the entrance to this structure. Daring Do eyes it wonderingly.
Rainbow Dash: I hate to admit it to myself, and would really hate to admit it to my friends, and I would really, really hate to admit it to (Y/N), but. . . I love this story! I, I. . . I love reading!
Rainbow hugs the book while falling back to her bed. However, she then realizes that now that she loves reading. . .
Rainbow Dash: I'm an egghead. Oh no, I'm an egghead! If (Y/N) finds out I'm an egghead, he'll. . . he'll. . . laugh at me! Probably even say that's it's the most ridiculous thing I've ever done!
Rainbow then looks at the card that (Y/N) gave her with a conflicted look and back towards the book.
Rainbow Dash: I guess my only option is to keep it a secret.
Back inside of Rainbow Dash's mind about the book, Daring Do was walking inside of the temple that she found in the jungle. She gingerly climbs the steps and sniffs the air, eyeing the dark passage beyond the braziers.
Rainbow Dash: "The smell of decay and danger hit Daring Do as she peered into the dimly-lit entrance of the ancient temple."
With Daring Do's composure and confidence restored, she moves ahead. Three pairs of glowing red eyes appear within the gaping mouth of a skull behind her.
She moves through a bug-infested stretch of rubble and bleached bones until one small patch of floor sinks slightly under the weight of her foreleg, followed by the sound of a mechanism kicking into gear. Daring ducks, barely avoiding the three axes that whistle across the hallway and through the space where her head used to be. They wind up embedded in the wall, but she has little time to appreciate the booby trap before another one is sprung. A hidden joint in the floor slides apart beneath her hooves, throwing her into a very uncomfortable spreadeagle position, and she vaults ahead just in time to avoid a blast of fire from below.
Next, several alligators drop into view to snap at her which she ducks and crawls to avoid. A swinging pendulum blade and a volley of darts give Daring Do no quarter, followed by a series of spikes that pop up from the floor, one by one. As she leaps ahead to avoid being skewered, a stone slab at the far end of the hallway begins to descend toward the floor. She gallops ahead through the spikes and slides to a stop on her back with her head directly beneath the dropping monolith. One final burst of motion gets her in the clear before it slams down to cut off her retreat.
Daring Do stands up and wipes the sweat from her forehead with relief that she successfully avoided the booby traps.
However, another mechanism kicks in as stones and dust fall from above, making Daring Do give out a frustrated groan that sounded exactly like Rainbow Dash. Luckily, she was able to get through all of the catastrophe. Daring rolls through another trap just before it slams shut. Her helmet, now in her teeth, has been repeatedly pierced by darts as she brushes these away and puts it on again. She then looks towards the end of the chamber to see a valuable figurine on a pedestal that had two blue dogs sit back to back while holding a diamond.
Daring Do eyes the treasure with astonishment as her pupils dilated. However, all went back to reality with Rainbow Dash as she heard a knock on the door. As the doors slowly open, Rainbow Dash frantically stuffs the book under the blanket and strikes the best nonchalant pose she can.
It is revealed that it was (Y/N) once again who came through the door.
Rainbow Dash: Ah! Uh. . . Hey, (Y/N)!
(Y/N): Hey, Dash. You feeling any better?
Rainbow Dash: Um. . . uh. . . not really. *mocking* It's been so boooring here.
(Y/N): Well, you're in luck. Since I brought your favorite board game.
Rainbow Dash perked up at that.
(Y/N): I asked anypony if they would come to visit, but they all said they had things to do, so I guess I'm on my own this time. Anyways, you love competitions so I thought maybe this could cheer you up.
Rainbow Dash: Wow, I. . . thanks, (Y/N).
(Y/N): No problem, Dash.
(Y/N) then realizes something different about the place.
(Y/N): Hey, where's the book that Twilight gave you?
Rainbow got worried by that and starts to sweat as she doesn't want (Y/N) to find out that she likes to read.
Rainbow Dash: U-Uh. . . Hey! What's that?!
Rainbow Dash points in a random direction behind (Y/N) which he immediately turns to, and sees nothing but the wall. However, this gave Rainbow Dash enough time to pick up the book and quickly place it back on the nightstand where it originally was. (Y/N) then turns back to Rainbow Dash with a raised eyebrow.
(Y/N): A wall? What do you think it was?
Rainbow Dash: Oh, um, nothing I just thought I saw a temple- I-I mean a bug! Yeah, a bug!
(Y/N) was confused by that, but shrugs his shoulders. He then notices the book still on the nightstand.
(Y/N): Oh, you still haven't picked it up, huh?
Rainbow Dash: Well yeah, like I said reading for eggheads and I'm no egghead.
(Y/N): Guess I should've expected that when it comes to you trying to prove stuff.
Rainbow Dash: And win at stuff! Come on, let's play that game already!
(Y/N) smiles from that as he sets the board game down on Rainbow Dash's hospital bed and they began to play together.
Both of them were play very competitively as they were both nearly at the end looking hard at their walls. (Y/N) then notices Rainbow's head tilted to the side to either look at him or what he was doing. When Rainbow sees that, she immediately moves her head back behind the board and (Y/N) gives her a slight glare.
(Y/N): Are you peeking?
Rainbow Dash: Who? Me? No way. You're looking at the wrong Pegasus.
(Y/N): Hmm. Well in that case, sky four.
Rainbow Dash: *chuckles mischievously* (Just activated my trap card.)
(Y/N): Well. . .?
Rainbow Dash: You got nothing, (Y/N)!
(Y/N): Dang it! That's the seventh time!
Rainbow Dash: And now for the last blow as I Rainbow Dash strike with. . . cloud one!
(Y/N): Aw, come on! You got my last cloud!
Rainbow Dash: Ha ha! Knew it! And that was my third win in a row! I always win at this game!
(Y/N) rolls his eyes at that with a smirk before using his magic to clean up the board game neatly and put it back in it's box.
(Y/N): Well, I can see that you had some fun.
Rainbow Dash: You kidding? Anytime I play a game with you (Y/N), it's always fun!
(Y/N): *chuckles* Likewise.
(Y/N) then walks and give Rainbow Dash a one-hoof hug which makes her blush a little as she returns it as well.
(Y/N): Let's hope that wing heals up soon. To be honest, sometimes I feel kind of dull without you Dash.
Rainbow Dash gets a surprised look from that as (Y/N) starts to walk out of the door.
(Y/N): I'll see you soon, Rainbow. I'm glad I was able to keep you company.
(Y/N) then closes the door as he exits as Rainbow Dash's surprised expression turned into a lovestruck one as she sighs dreamily while resting her head on her hoof.
Rainbow Dash: Yeah. . . me too.
Rainbow then looks back at the book and grabs it. However, she looks back at the get well card that (Y/N) left once again and still wonders if (Y/N) will find out about her being an egghead because she read a book. She then decides to take her mind off it by continuing the story that she was reading about Daring Do.
Rainbow Dash: "Daring Do stood at the entrance to the central temple chamber. At last, she was face-to-face with the legendary sapphire statue!"
Back inside of her imagination about the book, Daring Do straightens up with a shining-eyed smile at the rare-looking treasure.
Directly in front of Daring Do is a grid of floor tiles, each marked with a picture of a jungle animal. She lifts one foreleg to step ahead, but quickly yanks it back as if remembering the gauntlet of booby traps she set off earlier. A glance off to one side discloses a battery of holes in the wall, indicating a set of hidden darts ready to fire. She looks around, spots a rock on the floor, and kicks it onto the grid. Once it comes to rest, its weight causes the tile to sink slightly which triggers darts to fly across the chamber and embed themselves on the wall to form a pony-shaped pattern. Daring Do hunches down to study the tiles.
Daring Do: Hmm, there must be a pattern here. What do all these animals have in common?
Daring Do studies the pattern of the tiles for a few more seconds before getting an idea in her mind.
Daring Do: Ah-ha! These animals are all predators. . . except. . . rats!
Daring Do spots a rat symbol on a tile and one hoof is lifted and placed gently on this spot and absolutely nothing happens in response. Daring has squeezed her eyes tight shut, but opens one of them to peek through the rivulets of sweat oozing down her face.
Daring Do: Phew!
Getting all four hooves onto this tile, she jumps across the grid to zigzag her way from one rat to the next and is soon at the base of the steps leading up to the Sapphire Statue's pedestal. She throws a savage grin back at the obstacle she has just conquered and climbs up to the prize. She takes her helmet off briefly to acknowledge the Sapphire Statue in genuine awe. To inspect for booby traps, she waves a foreleg above it to check for wires, wipes the sweat out of her mane, rubs her front hooves together and then Daring Do just gets bored with the whole thing and snatches the Statue in her teeth. She drops out of sight and gallops away, not noticing that her action has caused a peg to extend itself upward from the pedestal.
Daring Do puts the treasure in her hat, but hears the sound as she turns back to the peg suddenly drops back into its hidden groove and the ceiling begins to cave in. Before Daring Do can take a step onto the floor grid, the tiles crumble away to expose a lake of steaming lava underneath.
Several of the columns lining the walls topple into the molten rock as the liquid surface rises up very steadily to swallow the pedestal's lowest steps. Daring scrambles up to the top, looking desperately for a way out of this mess, and lets her glance rove from the tumbled columns to the chamber's ceiling hole. Gritting her teeth, she jumps from the pedestal and gets herself balanced on one broken end. Just before this too is swallowed up, she leaps high and snags the edge of the hole.
Outside, on the temple roof, Daring is flung skyward by a sudden burst of steam and the lava overflows through the hole. The dazed explorer does a graceless belly flop onto the forest floor, the Statue falling out of her helmet to land a few feet away.
However, as she was about to get up to grab the figurine and escape, a huge figure blocks her way. This thing rests on all fours, with huge, gorilla-like arms and a dog's hind legs. The underbelly is the same lighter shade of blue as the hands, as are the muzzle and the extra hand at the end of the long slender tail. A few spots in the lighter hue are visible on the back. Gold circlets ring the forearms, tail, and neck, and the eyes are set at the end of a long snout above a mouth filled with cruel teeth. Two dog ears stand straight up from the head, showing gold piercings. This is Ahuizotl.
Ahuizotl: *Pinkie's voice* Hello, Rainbow Dash.
This drops Rainbow Dash back to reality as she sees Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and (Y/N). She panics when she spots these ponies, especially (Y/N) as she barely enough time to hide the novel under the blanket.
Rarity: How's our patient doing today?
Applejack: You know, (Y/N) told us that you're doing just fine, but you're lookin' sweatier than a pig wrangler on a summer's day.
(Y/N): Need some air conditioning?
Rainbow Dash: Y-Yes! No! Uh, maybe. . . L-Look thanks for visiting, but-
An earth pony nurse named Nurse Snowheart then enters the room with some food for Rainbow Dash.
Nurse Snowheart: Okay, now, dinner time for Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow grabs the tray off the cart and feigns enthusiasm over the unappetizing food.
Rainbow Dash: Oh, just in time. I am sooo hungry.
Rarity: Oh, well, don't mind us, Rainbow Dash.
Applejack: Yeah, just go ahead and eat up.
Finding herself hemmed in by these two on either side, and both Pinkie and (Y/N) at the foot of the bed, she has no choice but to dig in. Which she proceeds to do in the most ill-mannered and uncouth way possible. The horrid display, and the particles of flying food that accompany it, are enough to send these four visitors toward the exit.
(Y/N): Well. . . you seem to enjoy it a little too well.
Rarity: Yes, uh, on second thought-
Pinkie Pie: Uh, we'll see you tomorrow, Rainbow Dash, aheh. . .
After the door is closed, she quickly spits out the mouthful over the side. Coming up with a clean face, she retrieves the book and plunges back in.
Rainbow Dash: (I feel bad that I kicked them out, but they can't find out that I like reading.) "You thought you could evade me and capture the relic for yourself, but you are sadly mistaken, Miss Do."
In Rainbow Dash's imagination of the book, Ahuizotl is now standing in front of Daring Do as he now holds the Statue in one main hand and a small gold kitten figure in the one on his tail.
Ahuizotl: And now, you shall meet your doom!
As Daring Do struggles to rise, he brings the kitten figure up to his lips and blows into the tail, generating a shrill whistle with overtones of a cat's yowl. With that being heard, the wild cats from earlier including the kitten, surround Daring Do as they all had weapons in their teeth.
Ahuizotl: *laughs maniacally*
Rainbow Dash in reality was surprised at seeing this antagonist in the story.
Rainbow Dash: Whoa! Who is this dude?
Back inside of Rainbow's imagination of the book happening, back inside of the temple, Daring Do is lashed to a stone table on her back with the four jungle cats standing around her.
Daring Do: You won't get away with this, Ahuizotl!
Ahuizotl: But I already have.
Ahuizotl pulls a lever to trigger a trap which worries Daring Do.
Daring Do: *groans* Not again.
Ahuizotl along with his crew bail out and the door closes as spikes emerge from two opposite walls, which begin to grind slowly toward each other. Daring struggles against her bonds to no avail. Meanwhile, spiders crawl out along the spikes, cobras slither from a hole in the gold medallion, and spouts on the walls begin to dispense. . .
Daring Do: Quicksand!
She keeps straining as all four perils gradually converge on her, the table starting to sink into the muck.
?: Rainbow Dash?
Back in reality, Rainbow was tunneled under her blanket with a lantern inside of it and Doctor Horse had come inside of the room.
Doctor Horse: Rainbow Dash!
Rainbow immediately takes the blanket off from over her to see Doctor Horse in front of her.
Rainbow Dash: Oh, good evening-
Doctor Horse: Morning.
Rainbow Dash: Morning, Doc.
She looks quickly out the window and finds the sun rising over Ponyville and she realizes that she pulled an all-nighter with reading the book.
Doctor Horse: Have you been up all night?
Rainbow Dash: Uh, of course not.
Rainbow Dash takes the lantern and blows it out before grinning and she hides it behind her back, placating the doctor.
Doctor Horse: Well, I'll be quick. Congratulations, Rainbow Dash, we're checking you out of the hospital.
Rainbow Dash bites her hoof nervously at hearing that.
Rainbow Dash: What? Later today?
Doctor Horse: No. Right now!
Rainbow Dash: Right now?! 'Right now' right now?
Doctor Horse: 'Right now' right now.
Nurses then charge in with a wheelchair to scoop up Rainbow Dash with all of their might.
Rainbow Dash: But I don't feel better!
Doctor Horse: Now take it easy, Rainbow Dash. Remember to stay off that wing for a week.
The pink nurse pushes her out in the chair as Rainbow Dash tries desperately to reach back behind herself to get a last view of the Daring Do book. the discharged patient gets one final shove out in the front entrance of the hospital to roll her onto the walkway.
Rainbow Dash: How will I ever find out what happens to Daring Do?
Rainbow then hops out of the chair to start pacing around in worry.
Rainbow Dash: Is Ahuizotl going to get away with the statuette? What's gonna happen to Daring?! Ah-ha! Twilight has a copy of the book! Uh, but I can't ask her after I called her an egghead and all. . .
She flops onto her back and groans loudly.
Rainbow Dash: Ugh, this is making me sick all over again!
Rainbow Dash then gets a brainstorm in her head about someone else who might have the Daring Do book.
Rainbow Dash: I don't see (Y/N) read a lot, but he does have a tiny little library in his house in case Twilight ever visits him. Hmm. . .
When nighttime came along and everypony was asleep in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was still awake hiding behind houses to see if anypony was out walking or (Y/N) was on patrol and too her relief, there was no sign of him anywhere.
Rainbow Dash: Sorry, about this (Y/N).
Rainbow Dash swiftly maneuvers herself to where (Y/N)'s house was very sneakily and slowly tiptoed around his house before climbing into his backyard. She looks around the area before glancing upward to reveal an open upper-story window that was cracked a little which get's her attention as she climbs upward and onto the window before opening it as slowly as she could. She looks back to see if anypony was looking at her breaking and entering, and seeing that the coast was clear, she immediately dips in.
Rainbow Dash slowly walks in (Y/N)'s house interior before hearing a snoring noise which makes her freeze up in fright and she looks to see that she was in (Y/N)'s bedroom with him sleeping soundly in his bed. She walks up to see his sleeping face and smiles at him.
Rainbow Dash: *quietly* Pinkie wasn't kidding when she said that (Y/N) looks cute when he sleeps.
Rainbow Dash then realizes something and that (Y/N) was immobilized at doing anything since he was asleep. She gets a romantic thought as she blushes and leans her head forward towards (Y/N) to see if she could take a quick peck at his lips.
However, as she was closing in, (Y/N) turns to the side still asleep which made Rainbow Dash jerk back to the wall as she almost thought that she woke up (Y/N).
Rainbow Dash: *quietly* Uh, maybe I should just grab the book while I can.
Rainbow then tiptoes out of (Y/N)'s bedroom and walks all around the place in his home to see what she could find. She looks inside of different rooms that he had and came across his game room, training room, and living room. She eventually came across one room and opened the door to look inside and she was in his small little library of books.
Rainbow Dash: *quietly* Perfect! I still don't get why he needs so many books just for Twilight. . . and I guess in this case now, me.
Rainbow Dash then looks around the room to see if (Y/N) had the book anywhere on the shelves. She looks at the title of one and throws it back over her indicating that it wasn't what she was looking for.
Rainbow Dash: No.
She grabs another book from the shelf to take a hard look at it and it still wasn't the book that she was looking for.
Rainbow Dash: No!
Rainbow Dash then repeats this process with a bunch more books in the room and eventually it became a mess with random books scattered everywhere.
Rainbow Dash: No! No! No! Ugh, come on! At least one Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone?
Rainbow Dash then looks at the top shelf to see another row of books at the top which she gets an excited look at. She was about to fly up at it to continue her search before a small sting came onto her right wing. She rubs it to ease the pain a little before looking back up at the top shelf with a frustrated groan.
Rainbow Dash: *sarcastically* Well, that's just great. The book could be up there waiting for me to read and finish it and because of my stupid painful wing.
Rainbow then plops to the floor in slight frustration from that before looking at all of the books that she scattered on the ground and back up at the top shelf before getting a mischievous smile.
Rainbow Dash: Hmm. . .
Eventually Rainbow Dash built herself up using all of the books that she had scattered around into a single tower of books to get to the top shelf of the tiny library. As she was balancing herself on the tower, she looks across the row of the books that was there and realizes something different about that row of books.
They were all Daring Do related books.
Rainbow's eyes sparkled from that as she takes a look at each book across from the row and eventually she sees one that makes her ecstatic.
(Y/N) indeed had Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone.
Rainbow Dash grinned excitedly as she snatches the book from it's spot on the row and sits down on the book tower that she was one while opening the book to turn to the last page she was on when she was in the hospital.
In her imagination of the book, Daring Do was still in the four-way death trap set off by Ahuizotl.
Daring Do: Feels like the harder I struggle, *grunts* the tighter the ropes get!
However, the entire atmosphere began to shake as Daring Do looks around, however it was back in reality and Rainbow Dash was wondering why she was moving side to side. She takes a look down to see that the tower of books that she has made was losing its balance as she gets a worried look and gulps.
Rainbow Dash: Uh Oh.
The stack of books then all topple over to the ground taking Rainbow Dash along with it. The crash that she made to the floor was indeed very loud and she was dizzy for a moment before shaking her head to regain her composure and get scared from what she did.
Rainbow Dash: I'm sure no one noticed that extremely loud crash to the ground. . . right?
However, her words were indeed wrong as someone immediately bursts into the room which made Rainbow Dash freeze up in fright and it was (Y/N) who looked in the library before seeing a dark shadowy Rainbow Dash and get's a serious look.
(Y/N): You there! Don't move an inch! Turn around and face me slowly!
Rainbow Dash was sweating as she thought that she got caught before getting an idea. She did indeed turn around to face (Y/N) slowly with her hooves up. . .
Before throwing a book directly at (Y/N)'s face which hit him in between the eyes.
(Y/N): Ow!
Seeing an opening as (Y/N) rubs his head, Rainbow Dash runs out of (Y/N)'s library as fast as she could while carrying the Daring Do book with her.
When (Y/N) recovers from the hit, he growls as he makes himself teleport to where Rainbow
Dash was as she nearly made an escape not before (Y/N) teleported in front of her and lifts her up with his magic and pins her to a wall.
(Y/N): You've got guts if you think that you can just break in and rob my place. . .
(Y/N) walks over to turn the lights on so he can get a more clear view of who he was facing. When he flips on the switch he gets a shocked look of when he got a clear look of Rainbow Dash.
(Y/N): Rainbow Dash!?
(Y/N) let's go of Rainbow on the wall who had a nervous smile and drops to the floor.
Rainbow Dash: H-Hey, (Y/N). . .
(Y/N): What are you doing here?! More importantly, at night?! Even more importantly, in my library?!
Rainbow Dash had a nervous look as she looked at the book that was behind her and tries to think of something to divert herself from the situation that she was in.
Rainbow Dash: I was uh. . . I was. . . wanting to come see how you were doing except, I must've took the wrong door!
(Y/N) didn't fall for that as he gave a bored glare to Rainbow Dash.
(Y/N): You came through the window where my bedroom was when you could've just knocked on the door.
Rainbow Dash: I. . . I have bad vision in the dark!
(Y/N): Not from what I saw.
Rainbow Dash: I was. . . sleepwalking?
(Y/N): That's not how sleepwalking works. Just tell me the truth!
Rainbow Dash: B-B-B-But, I can't!
(Y/N) raises an eyebrow at that.
(Y/N): Why?
Rainbow Dash: Because you'll laugh at me and think it's probably the most ridiculous, most craziest, most stupidest thing I have ever done!
(Y/N): Laugh? Ridiculous? I'm not getting the picture. Dash, just tell me what's going on and I swear and I won't laugh at you.
Rainbow Dash looks down at the ground with slight shame about what she was about to say as she had no more ways out of this situation, but the truth.
Rainbow Dash: Promise?
(Y/N): Promise.
Rainbow Dash: *sighs* I'm. . . . . . an egghead.
(Y/N): Say what?
Rainbow Dash: I was wanting to take a look inside of your library to see if you had. . .
Rainbow Dash then takes the book from behind her and shows it to (Y/N).
Rainbow Dash: This.
(Y/N): That's. . . Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone.
Rainbow Dash: Yeah, ever since I was cooped up in the hospital I actually did read it.
(Y/N): You actually that thought it was "that" good? Good enough to even come into my house and try to take it?
Rainbow Dash: Good? Try awesomely amazing. This book is undeniably, unquestionably, un-put-down-able!
Rainbow then gets a sad look on her face.
Rainbow Dash: But then I had to put it down; I was sent home before I could finish it. I didn't want to go inside of the library and ask Twilight for it since I already called her an egghead, but I felt like maybe since you have a book collection, I probably could take a peek at the last chapter before heading home. I thought you only had that library for Twilight whenever she visits.
(Y/N): Are you kidding me? I read a lot as well.
Rainbow Dash shot a surprised look at that sentence.
Rainbow Dash: Really?
(Y/N): Yeah, and the Daring Do series are actually my favorite book series out of all of them!
Rainbow Dash: Really?!
(Y/N): Yep, I finished another book of it not too long ago.
Rainbow Dash gave out a relieved sigh from that.
(Y/N): Why were you so persistent on me not knowing?
Rainbow Dash then looks down guilty once again.
Rainbow Dash: I didn't want you to see me as an egghead. You know me as an awesome and confident pony to you like you said on that card that you gave me. After seeing that, I couldn't bear to even think how you might react if I like reading. I'm sorry that it came to this way, (Y/N).
(Y/N) smiles as he walks up to Rainbow Dash and wraps her in a one-hoof hug which give the blue Pegasus a surprise.
(Y/N): Why should I care if you like reading or not? Dash, there's more than just knowing what you like when you're friends with me.
Rainbow Dash blushes as she returns the hug with both hooves.
Rainbow Dash: Y-You mean that?
(Y/N): Of course, there's no reason to break into somepony's house just because you like to read. And I would never, ever, EVER, judge you by what you like. You're perfect of who you are in front of me. A cute, athletic, tomboyish, and as you always like to say, awesome pony.
Rainbow Dash blushes from the last part.
Rainbow Dash: (H-He. . . He called me cute.) T-Thanks (Y/N). That's. . . nice of you to say. Sorry, about all of this again.
(Y/N): No problem. Tell you what, how you and I read the last chapter together before we both have to go back to sleep.
Rainbow Dash: Really? You'd do that for me?
(Y/N): Sure, of course Dash.
Rainbow Dash blushes red as a thought came into her mind.
Rainbow Dash: Hey, um, (Y/N)?
(Y/N): Yeah?
Rainbow Dash breaks the hug a little bit as she stares into (Y/N)'s (E/C) eyes and realizes that she was right up in his face. She looks down and bites her lip before looking back up and closing her eyes to then close the distance to give (Y/N) a kiss on the lips. (Y/N) goes wide-eyed from that as Rainbow quickly ends it after a few seconds with an embarrassed look on her face.
Rainbow Dash: There. . . uh. . . that was for what you said about me. Thanks. . .
(Y/N): N-No problem at all, Dash.
Rainbow Dash: Well, let's go and finish up this chapter.
(Y/N): Sure thing.
Both Rainbow Dash and (Y/N) were now in (Y/N)'s bedroom with Rainbow Dash leaning right next to (Y/N) while reading the last of the Daring Do book.
Inside of both of the ponies' imagination, Daring Do was still in the trap. After a few groans and a bit of thrashing, she flips her head forward so that her helmet ends up lying on her belly, brim up. Casting her frantic eyes about the room and noting the position of every detail, she hooks one rear leg into the helmet, snags the brim in her teeth, and pulls back as if trying to launch a slingshot. When she lets go, the helmet is flung across the room to bounce off one spike. It whirls around the edge of the gold medallion on the wall, then ricochets crazily between several other spikes. Daring Do sucks in a huge breath and holds it as the quicksand envelops her face and on its last bounce, the helmet bangs into the lever Ahuizotl pulled to start this engine. It flips up, causing the spiked walls to retract and the table to rise above the surface of the draining sand. Now free of her bonds, Daring heaves for breath and knocks a few grains out of her ears.
The exit slides open, and she stands up with her helmet in her hoof.
Daring Do: Another day, another dungeon!
Back outside, Ahuizotl was sitting on a throne surrounded by the wild cats and the white kitten was sitting on his lap as he strokes it and laughs.
Ahuizotl: With Daring Do out of the way, the world will suffer mightily at my hands. I am victorious! *laughs evilly*
He laughs for a few seconds, but a blur of light gold stops him in his tracks. It also leaves his tail hand holding a whole lot of nothing.
Daring Do: I'll take that!
Ahuizotl: Huh? Wha?
Daring Do swings on a vine and lands on a high ledge way over the mythical creature.
Ahuizotl: Noooooooo!
Daring Do: Better luck next time, Ahuizotl!
She gives her helmet a nudge and gallops away leaving Ahuizotl to wail.
Ahuizotl: Curse you, Daring Do! *cries*
Rainbow Dash and (Y/N): "And so, with Ahuizotl defeated, and the sapphire statue secured. . . the world was safe and sound once again, thanks to Daring Do!"
Rainbow Dash let's out an admired sigh as she leans on (Y/N) once more and he wraps her up in one hoof.
(Y/N): Awesome, huh?
Rainbow Dash: Yeah, that was awesome!
(Y/N): You know I have the sequel to that, Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet. I'll go get it.
Rainbow Dash sees (Y/N) about to get up, but seeing the position that they were in, she wanted that to continue more as she wraps her hoof around him as well which makes (Y/N) look back at her.
Rainbow Dash: Wait. C-Can we stay like this for a little longer?
(Y/N) blushes from that which Rainbow notices and gets worried.
Rainbow Dash: I-I-I mean it's okay if you don't want to! I-I just thought-
She stops her stammering sentence as (Y/N) strokes her mane with Rainbow Dash laying on his shoulder. This makes her blush even harder.
(Y/N): It's okay. I don't mind.
Rainbow Dash looks at (Y/N) and smiles as she snuggles on his shoulder. (Y/N) smiles back as they both close their eyes to rest peacefully for part of the night.
Rainbow Dash: ((Y/N), one day. Just one day, I'll tell you why I would want more moments like these with you.)
Chapter 11 End.