The morning sun hung high over Ponyville, its golden light stretching across the sky, bathing the town in warmth. Thunderlane stood in the open field just outside town, his eyes locked onto the streak of blue cutting through the sky. Soarin zipped between clouds, his wings slicing through the air with practiced precision. He twisted his body mid-flight, attempting a maneuver that even the best Wonderbolts would hesitate to try. His form wavered slightly, but he quickly corrected himself, his determination evident in every flap of his wings.

Thunderlane let out a low whistle. "I still can't believe he's actually trying this."

A voice beside him drew his attention. "Trying what, exactly?"

Thunderlane turned to see Comet Tail approaching, his usual calm and curious expression in place. "Oh, hey, Comet. You're just in time to witness some top-tier pegasus insanity. Soarin's been at this for a while now."

Comet squinted up at the sky, watching as Soarin looped into an almost vertical ascent, before pivoting sharply and attempting to rotate his body in mid-air. "That... doesn't look safe."

"It's not," Thunderlane confirmed. "He's trying to pull off something called the 'Tempest Spiral.' It's this crazy advanced aerial trick that only a few Wonderbolts have ever perfected. He read about it in one of those stunt-flying books and got it into his head that he has to master it."

Comet raised an eyebrow. "Wait, Soarin is reading books about aerial tricks now?"

"Apparently," Thunderlane chuckled. "But that's not the weird part. He's not doing this just for fun. He wants to impress Rainbow Dash."

Comet frowned. "They're already dating, though. Why does he need to impress her?"

Thunderlane sighed, glancing back up at the sky as Soarin dove into another attempt. "I think Soarin's still got this insecurity hanging over him. Rainbow's a Wonderbolt now, and even though she's crazy about him, he can't shake the feeling that he's just a weatherpony while she's living the dream."

Comet hummed in thought, watching Soarin prepare for another attempt. "That's... kind of sad, actually. He shouldn't have to prove anything."

"Tell that to him," Thunderlane muttered.

Above them, Soarin soared high into the air again, angling his wings just right. This time, he nailed the first part of the trick—the spin was smoother, the control was tighter. Thunderlane felt a flicker of hope. Maybe he was actually going to pull it off.

But then, disaster struck.

The wind resistance was stronger than Soarin had anticipated. As he reached the midpoint of his spiral, his wings flared out awkwardly, throwing off his momentum. His body jerked sideways, completely breaking his form. Panic flared in his eyes as he struggled to correct himself, but he had lost too much altitude. The ground rushed up to meet him at an alarming speed.

"SOARIN!" Thunderlane shouted, his wings flaring as if he could somehow catch him in time.

But it was too late.

With a heavy thud, Soarin crashed into the grassy field below, sending up a cloud of dust and dirt. The impact was brutal. His body skidded a few hooves before coming to a painful halt. His vision blurred instantly, his head pounding. The world around him seemed distant, muffled, like he was underwater.

The last thing he barely registered was the sight of Thunderlane and Comet Tail sprinting towards him, their voices calling his name as darkness began to creep at the edges of his vision.

A dull, rhythmic beeping filled the room, blending with the quiet murmur of voices. Soarin groaned as he blinked open his eyes, the world around him still slightly fuzzy. His entire body ached, and as he tried to shift, a sharp pain shot through his wing. He winced, only now realizing where he was—the hospital.

"You're awake!" a familiar voice said, relief clear in its tone.

Soarin turned his head slightly to see Comet Tail standing beside the bed, his blue eyes filled with concern. Around him were the rest of the Element Bearers—Thunderlane, Braeburn, Cheese Sandwich, Doctor Whooves, and of course, Spike, who sat on a nearby stool.

"How ya feelin ?" Braeburn asked with a warm, but worried smile.

Soarin groaned. "Like I just lost a fight with a thunderstorm."

Thunderlane smirked. "Well, to be fair, you did try a trick even Wonderbolts have trouble with."

At the mention of the accident, Soarin's heart sank. He had wanted to impress Rainbow Dash, to prove that he wasn't just a weatherpony, that he was good enough for her. Now, instead of proving himself, he had landed himself in the hospital.

Doctor Horse walked in, flipping through his clipboard. "Well, Mr. Soarin, you've certainly had quite a spill. You're lucky you only suffered a fractured wing and a few bruised ribs. However, you're going to have to take it easy for a few days."

Soarin's ears flattened. "A few days? You're kidding, right?"

Doctor Horse shook his head. "You're an athlete, Mr. Soarin. I understand this won't be easy, but your body needs time to recover."

Soarin groaned again, sinking into his pillow. This was a disaster. A few days of doing absolutely nothing? He wasn't made for that. He needed to move, to fly, to feel the wind in his mane. How was he supposed to just sit here?

"Don't worry," Comet Tail said, levitating something out of his saddlebag with a knowing grin. "I brought something from the hospital's library to help pass the time."

Soarin squinted at the object. A book? Not just any book, though. 'Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone.'

The pegasus raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

Comet smirked. "Seriously."

Soarin let out a weak chuckle. "I appreciate the thought, Comet, but reading isn't really my thing. That's more your and Twilight's thing."

" There's nothing wrong with reading," Doctor Whooves interjected. "It's good for the mind."

Braeburn nodded. "Yup! I read all the time. Helps me unwind after a long day of work."

"Plus, Daring Do's awesome," Cheese Sandwich added, grinning. "She's like an action hero, but in book form!"

Soarin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I dunno. I just don't see myself getting into it."

"Give it a chance," Comet encouraged. "What else are you going to do while you're stuck in bed?"

Soarin frowned, looking down at the book. He supposed he could at least try, if only to humor them.

Just then, Nurse Redheart walked in. "Alright, visiting hours are over. Soarin needs rest. You can all come back tomorrow."

The others nodded and bid their goodbyes, each offering a few last words of encouragement before heading out.

Now alone, Soarin sighed, staring at the ceiling. This was going to be the most boring few days of his life.

At least, that's what he thought—until a low chuckle broke the silence.

Soarin blinked and turned his head toward the other occupied bed in the room. He hadn't paid much attention to his roommate before, but now he saw the stallion was wrapped in bandages from head to hoof, leaving only one eye exposed.

"Something funny?" Soarin asked.

The bandaged pony gave a slight smirk. "You. Acting like bein' stuck in bed is the end of the world."

Soarin huffed. "For me, it kinda is."

The stallion chuckled again but said nothing more.

Soarin let out a long sigh. Great, just great.

Soarin lay on his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling with a sigh. He tossed a small hoofball up in the air, caught it, and then tossed it again. After a few throws, he decided to bounce it off the wall instead. The rhythmic thump, thump, thump was mildly entertaining—for about two minutes. Then it became just another monotonous sound in an already excruciatingly dull room.

He glanced out the window, taking in the tree swaying gently in the breeze. He had already counted its leaves—twice. He had counted the cracks in the ceiling, the tiles on the floor, and the number of cobwebs in the corners of the room. He had even spent a solid five minutes trying to discern if the little stain on the far wall looked more like a cloud or a pancake.

This was unbearable.

His eyes flickered toward the book Comet had left him. He snorted. Reading was Twilight's thing, or Comet's thing, or anypony's thing but his. He was an athlete, a flyer, a stallion of action—not somepony who sat around with a book all day. And yet… he had nothing better to do.

With a sigh, he picked it up, flipped to the first page, and started reading.

At first, he skimmed, barely paying attention. But soon, something strange happened. The story pulled him in. Daring Do, an adventurer like himself, was navigating through treacherous jungles, dodging dangers at every turn. The descriptions were vivid, the action was intense, and before he knew it, he found himself nodding along, smirking at her clever escapes.

Then, just as Daring Do was about to make a daring leap across a chasm—

"Soarin!"

Soarin yelped and slammed the book shut, stuffing it under his pillow as quickly as he could. His heart pounded in his chest as Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo entered his hospital room.

Rainbow strode up to his bedside, a smirk on her face. "Hey there, Crash. Enjoying your little vacation?"

Scootaloo, carrying a box on her back, grinned. "We brought you something!"

Soarin blinked and quickly composed himself. "Oh yeah? What is it?"

Scootaloo placed the box on his bed and popped it open, revealing a slice of his favorite cake. His eyes widened. "No way! You guys are the best."

He grabbed a fork and took a big bite, sighing in satisfaction. "Mmm. Perfect. Almost makes up for being stuck in here."

Rainbow giggled and leaned in, pecking him on the lips. "Good to know you're still alive and kicking."

Scootaloo groaned. "Ugh, gross. Do you two have to do that?"

Soarin chuckled and nudged Rainbow playfully. "What's wrong, squirt? You don't like a little romance?"

Rainbow smirked. "One day, Scoots, you're gonna find somepony special, and then you'll understand."

Scootaloo crossed her hooves, making a face. "Doubt it."

As they laughed, Rainbow's sharp eyes flickered around the room. When she glanced at his pillow, she noticed something peeking out from underneath it. Her smirk deepened.

"Soarin," she said casually, "you wouldn't happen to be hiding anything from me, would you?"

Soarin stiffened. "What? No. Pfft. Hiding? Me? Nope."

Rainbow tilted her head, stepping closer. "You sure? You're looking kinda… sweaty."

He gulped. "I-It's just warm in here."

Rainbow clearly wasn't buying it, but she didn't push further. Instead, she winked. "Alright, I'll let you off the hook—for now."

Scootaloo stretched her wings. "Well, we'd love to stay, but Rainbow's got a busy schedule today, and I have a training session."

"Yeah," Rainbow nodded. "I just wanted to check on my favorite crash dummy."

Soarin rolled his eyes but smiled. "Appreciate it."

After they left, Soarin exhaled in relief, wiping his forehead. That was way too close. He glanced at his pillow and hesitated for a moment before pulling the book back out.

From the other bed, his bandaged-up roommate chuckled. "You never told me you were dating a Wonderbolt."

Soarin smirked. "You never asked."

The stallion laughed heartily, shaking his head. "Lucky stallion."

Soarin just chuckled and returned to his book, flipping to the page where he had left off. He wasn't going to let a little interruption stop him now.

After all, Daring Do was in the middle of an epic adventure—and he wasn't about to miss out.

Soarin lay back against the hospital pillows, the book propped up against his hooves as he turned another page. The more he read, the more engrossed he became. At first, he had just been skimming, telling himself that he was only reading because there was absolutely nothing else to do. But now? Now he was hanging onto every word.

Daring Do was dodging arrows, leaping over crumbling bridges, and outsmarting cunning villains at every turn. Soarin could practically feel the heat of the jungle and the weight of the temple's looming traps pressing down on him. His heart pounded with excitement.

Then, suddenly, he realized what was happening. He was enjoying this.

He froze, staring at the book as if it had betrayed him. No. No way. He was not turning into an egghead like Twilight or Comet Tail. He was an athlete, a flyer, a future Wonderbolt!

If he admitted to liking the book now, wouldn't that make him a complete hypocrite? He'd laughed at the idea of reading earlier, and now he was hooked? And what would Rainbow Dash think? She already had that knowing smirk when she asked if he was hiding something. If she found out about this, she'd never let him hear the end of it.

Soarin sighed and closed the book just as a knock came at the door.

"Hey, champ!"

Cheese Sandwich's voice rang through the room as he bounded inside, balancing a stack of board games on his back. Following close behind were Braeburn and Doctor Whooves, each carrying their own contributions to their impromptu game night.

"Soarin, buddy, we figured you'd be bored out of your mind in here," Braeburn said with a grin, setting a checkers board on the table. "So we brought some fun."

"Figured we'd play a couple rounds of these to keep your mind sharp," Doctor Whooves added, setting up a strategy game that looked way too complicated for a casual match. "And keep your mood up, of course."

Soarin quickly shoved the book under his pillow before sitting up and stretching. "Uh, yeah! Sounds good."

The stallions gathered around, setting up the games and starting to play. Cheese, being the chaotic ball of energy that he was, threw himself into the games with wild enthusiasm. Braeburn was competitive but lighthearted about it, while Doctor Whooves took each move seriously, deep in thought before making his plays.

But as much as Soarin tried to focus on the games, his mind kept drifting back to the book. The story was unfinished, and the action was ramping up. He found himself wondering if Daring Do had escaped that last trap yet. Had she outwitted the villain? Had she—

"Soarin? You in there?"

Soarin blinked, realizing that Cheese Sandwich was waving a hoof in front of his face. "Huh? Oh, yeah. My turn, right?"

"Dude, you totally spaced out," Braeburn chuckled. "Thinkin' about something else?"

"Nah, just, uh... just tired, I guess," Soarin said quickly, moving his game piece forward without even looking. "Let's keep going."

The others exchanged glances but shrugged it off, continuing the game. Soarin did his best to stay engaged, but the second they were done, he practically shoved them out of the room.

"Alright, guys, this was fun! See you tomorrow!" he said in a rush, pushing Cheese toward the door.

Cheese Sandwich wobbled a bit but grinned. "No problem, buddy! We'll bring more games next time!"

Soarin smiled and waved as they left, then immediately dove for his pillow, pulling the book out like a foal sneaking sweets before dinner. He had barely opened it back to the last page when another voice interrupted him.

"My, my, since when did my little Wonderbolt take up reading?"

Soarin yelped, nearly tossing the book into the air as he turned to see his mother, Tippy Tappy, standing in the doorway with an amused expression. The mare, a graceful-looking pegasus with a light pink coat and a dark brown mane tied in a loose bun, stepped into the room and set a basket of homemade treats on the bedside table.

"M-Mom!" Soarin stammered, quickly shoving the book behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, my son got himself hospitalized, so of course, I came to check in on him," she said, arching a brow. Then her gaze flicked to where Soarin was clearly sitting stiffly, trying to hide the book behind him. A slow, knowing smile spread across her face. "What's that you're hiding?"

"Nothing!" Soarin said way too quickly. "Just, uh... hospital stuff."

Tippy Tappy tilted her head. "Hospital stuff, huh?" She suddenly darted forward, swiping the book before Soarin could react. She looked down at the cover, her smile growing wider. "Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone."

Soarin groaned, covering his face with his hooves. "Okay, okay, you got me. Just... don't tell anypony."

His mother chuckled, sitting on the edge of his bed. "Now, why would I do that? I always thought you only read comic books when you were little. It's nice to see you expanding your horizons."

Soarin peeked out from behind his hooves. "Yeah, well... it's not like I actually like it or anything. I just don't have anything else to do."

"Oh, of course," Tippy Tappy said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. "I'm sure you're only reading it out of sheer boredom. And definitely not because you're enjoying it."

"I'm not an egghead!" Soarin protested, crossing his hooves.

"Never said you were," his mother replied with a smirk. "But you know, reading isn't just for ponies like Comet . There's no shame in liking a good story."

Soarin huffed, ears flicking. "Yeah, well... just don't tell Rainbow Dash, okay?"

Tippy Tappy let out a little laugh. "Oh, don't worry, sweetheart. Your secret is safe with me." She leaned down, kissing him on the forehead like she used to when he was a colt.

Soarin grumbled but didn't pull away. "Thanks, Mom."

She smiled warmly. "Anytime, sweetheart."

As she left, Soarin sighed in relief before looking back at the book. Maybe his mom had a point. Maybe reading wasn't so bad after all.

Still, Rainbow Dash could never know.

With a smirk, he cracked open the book and dove back into the adventure.

Soarin sat on the edge of the hospital bed, stretching his wings with a wince. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of lying around, he was free to go. Nurse Redheart gave him a final check-up, muttering something about "stubborn pegasi and their impatience," before signing off on his discharge papers.

"Alright, you're good to go," she said, handing over the clipboard to Doctor Horse. "But take it easy, Soarin. No intense flying for at least a couple more days."

Soarin nodded absentmindedly, his mind elsewhere. His eyes flickered to the bedside table where Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone lay, the pages slightly bent from the time he had spent flipping through them.

It had been a good read. A really good read. And now, it was staying behind.

"Something wrong?" Doctor Horse asked, raising a brow.

Soarin snapped out of it. "Uh, no! Nothing at all." He stood up, rolling his shoulders. "Just… thinking about getting back to work."

Doctor Horse gave him a skeptical look but said nothing more.

After thanking the hospital staff, Soarin stepped outside, inhaling the crisp Ponyville air. The sun was warm on his feathers, and a few ponies waved at him as he walked past. He absentmindedly waved back, but his focus was elsewhere. He needed to get his hooves on that book.

But how?

He couldn't just walk into Comet Tail's library and check it out—Comet would definitely ask questions. And asking one of the other guys to borrow it for him? No way. They'd figure it out in seconds.

No, if he wanted to keep this a secret, he had to be smart about it. He had to be… stealthy.

A plan was forming in his head. A risky one, but the only option he had.

Soarin smirked to himself, cracking his neck.

"Alright," he muttered. "Time to pull this off."

Whatever he was about to do, he was not going to be caught.

The night was still, the streets of Ponyville bathed in the soft glow of the moon. Every house stood dark and silent, save for the occasional flicker of a candle behind thick curtains. Even the wind had settled for the evening, leaving the town in an eerie calm.

Among the bushes near the Golden Oak Library, a lone figure lay in wait, clad in a tight black bodysuit that covered every inch of his body except for his eyes. Soarin held his breath, his heart hammering against his ribs. He had already been lying here for what felt like hours, waiting for the last light in the library to flicker out.

Patience was never his strong suit, but this was a mission that required absolute stealth. He watched as, one by one, the lights in the Golden Oak Library dimmed and died, until the only glow left came from the soft embers of the fireplace within.

He counted the seconds. Ten minutes. Twenty. Thirty.

An entire hour passed. Nothing. No movement.

It was time.

Moving like a shadow, Soarin crept toward the front door, every step deliberate and silent. He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a set of lockpicks. A little skill he had picked up from Cheese Sandwich.

"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Just gotta—"

Click.

The lock turned. Soarin grinned triumphantly and slowly pushed the door open, slipping inside.

The library was pitch black, save for the dim light of the embers. He could hear the soft snoring of its residents—Comet Tail, Twilight Sparkle, and Spike—all tucked away upstairs. Perfect.

Moving carefully, he flicked on a small lamp and made his way to the shelves, eyes scanning the titles. He had to be quick.

"Come on, come on," he whispered, running his hoof along the spines of the books. "Where are you?"

Then he saw it—Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone.

He grinned, reaching for it eagerly. His mission was almost complete. But as soon as his hooves wrapped around the book, something strange happened.

He froze.

Just a peek, he thought. Just to make sure it's the right one.

He flipped it open, eyes scanning the words. Before he knew it, he had lowered himself onto the floor, his mind being pulled into the story. The thrill of adventure, the pulse of excitement—he was there alongside Daring Do, dodging traps and deciphering ancient puzzles.

His breathing slowed, his focus narrowing. He forgot where he was. Forgot the time. Forgot that he was stealing the book.

CRACKLE!

A sudden surge of electricity shot through his body, jolting him violently. A sharp yelp escaped his lips as he convulsed, his vision blurring. His mind barely registered the pain before his body collapsed onto the floor.

"What in the name of Celestia—?!" Comet Tail's voice rang out in the dark.

The moment Soarin hit the ground, he scrambled to his hooves and bolted for the open door, panic taking over. But before he could make his daring escape, a blue aura slammed the door shut in front of him.

He spun around, wings flared, only to see Comet's horn sparking with residual magic. Twilight, now fully awake, flicked on the main light, her tired but alert eyes scanning the scene.

That was when Comet Tail finally saw him.

"…Soarin?"

The magic dissipated immediately. Soarin groaned, still feeling the residual sting of the shock spell.

Comet took a sharp step forward, his expression twisted with disbelief and exasperation. "You broke into my library!"

Soarin winced. "Uh... yeah?"

"Are you insane? I could've fried you! Why would you—" Comet's gaze darted to the book on the floor. His eyes widened. "Wait. Were you trying to steal Daring Do?"

There was silence.

Soarin fidgeted. Comet just stared. And then, as if reality had hit him all at once, Comet Tail started laughing.

It wasn't a small chuckle. It was a full-blown, near-maniacal howling laughter. He doubled over, clutching his sides, his whole body shaking.

"You—you seriously—you—" Comet wheezed between gasps. "You decided to break into the library... instead of just asking me to borrow the book?!"

Soarin's ears flattened, his face turning red. "I—It's not like I could! If anypony knew, it'd be humiliating!"

Comet wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "Why? Because it would mean you like reading?"

Soarin groaned, rubbing his face. "I just—Look, I didn't want anypony to find out! Especially Rainbow Dash."

At this, Twilight, who had been observing quietly, opened her mouth as if to say something. But before she could speak, Comet held up a hoof, still laughing. "Nope. Nope, Twilight, let him figure this one out himself."

Twilight smirked but said nothing.

Comet sighed, stepping forward and levitating the book toward Soarin. "Listen, dude. You don't have to steal books. You can borrow them. Y'know, like a normal pony."

Soarin hesitated before reaching out and taking the book.

Comet smirked. "And for the love of Faust, stop trying to be a ninja. You're terrible at it."

Soarin groaned, stuffing the book into his saddlebag. "Yeah, yeah, I got it."

Twilight finally spoke, shaking her head in amusement. "You really should tell Rainbow Dash, though."

Soarin scoffed. "Yeah, right."

Comet gave him a knowing smile. "Trust me, just tell her. Who knows? You might be surprised."

Soarin frowned, narrowing his eyes. Something about Comet's tone felt off. Almost like he knew something Soarin didn't.

One thing was for sure though. This was the worst heist ever conducted.

The night was still and quiet, the only sounds coming from the movie playing on the screen in front of them. Rainbow Dash and Soarin were cuddled up together on her couch, wrapped in a shared blanket. The heist movie they were watching had reached a tense moment, the main character sneaking past security with a stolen gemstone clutched in his hooves.

Soarin shifted slightly, barely paying attention to the screen. His mind was elsewhere. He had something on his chest, and if he didn't say it now, he wasn't sure he ever would. Taking a deep breath, he turned his head slightly toward Rainbow Dash. "Hey, Dash?"

She perked up, tearing her eyes from the screen. "Yeah? What's up?"

Soarin swallowed. This was it. "I, uh… I gotta tell you something."

Rainbow sat up straighter, eyes now completely focused on him. "Oh? What is it?"

Soarin rubbed the back of his head. "So… while I was in the hospital, I, uh… kinda got into Daring Do."

There was silence. He braced himself for laughter, maybe some teasing. Instead, Rainbow's eyes widened in pure excitement. "No way! Are you serious?"

Soarin blinked. That was not the reaction he expected. "Uh… yeah?"

Rainbow practically jumped on him, grabbing his face. "This is amazing! What did you think? Which part hooked you? Did you like the Sapphire Stone? Oh my gosh, wait, are you gonna read the rest of the series? Which book are you on now?"

Soarin opened his mouth, but words failed him. He had spent days worrying about this, thinking she'd laugh at him, maybe even call him a hypocrite. But here she was, bouncing on the couch with a huge grin, more excited than he had ever seen her. "You're… you're not making fun of me?" he asked hesitantly.

Rainbow stopped bouncing and tilted her head. "Why would I make fun of you? Daring Do is awesome! What, you think just because I'm cool, I can't like books?"

Soarin shook his head. "No, it's just… I gave Comet and Twilight such a hard time about reading, and now here I am sneaking into a library in the middle of the night just to get my hooves on another book."

Rainbow snorted. "You broke into a library?"

Soarin grumbled. "Not my proudest moment."

Rainbow smirked knowingly. "Lemme guess, Comet caught you?"

Soarin sighed. "Yeah… and he zapped me."

At that, Rainbow burst into laughter. "Oh man, I wish I was there to see that! That's golden!"

Soarin pouted. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up."

Rainbow wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh, I will. But seriously, you have no idea how happy I am that you're into Daring Do. Now we can talk about it together!"

Soarin gave a small smile. "You really don't care?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Duh. You know how I got into it?"

Soarin shook his head.

Rainbow leaned back into the couch. "I was training with my team when I broke my wing. Had to stay in the hospital for a while, and my parents came to visit. And guess who they brought with them?"

Soarin raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Uncle Rainbow Blaze."

Soarin blinked. "Wait… the Rainbow Blaze? The racer?"

"The very same," Rainbow said, grinning. "He brought me the first Daring Do book, said it'd help pass the time. At first, I didn't want anything to do with it. I mean, reading? Me? Pfft."

Soarin chuckled. "Yeah, sounds familiar."

"But then I got bored. And Blaze egged me on. Said if I didn't like it, he'd drop it. So I gave it a shot. And… well, you know the rest."

Soarin smirked. "So you're telling me that Rainbow Dash, the coolest mare in Equestria, was also a closet egghead?"

Rainbow huffed. "I was never in the closet about it! Unlike you." She poked his chest. "But hey, now that you're part of the 'egghead club,' maybe you'll have an easier time connecting with Rainbow Blaze when you meet him."

At that, Soarin's smile faded slightly. He leaned back into the couch, thoughts swirling in his head. "Rainbow… do you think your family will accept me?"

Rainbow frowned. "What? What kind of question is that?"

Soarin hesitated. "I mean… you're a Wonderbolt. Your dad, Bow Hothoof, was in the military. Your uncle's a racer. And I'm just a weather pony in Ponyville."

Rainbow's expression softened. "Soarin, you're not 'just' anything. You're an amazing flyer, a great friend, and the pony I love. My family is gonna love you too."

Soarin let her words sink in, but doubt still lingered. "Bow Hothoof… he was military. I know the type of ponies that work there. They have high expectations."

Rainbow smirked. "Yeah, Dad's got a lot of pride, but he's also the biggest dork ever. You'll see."

Soarin exhaled slowly. "And Blaze?"

Rainbow grinned. "Blaze is a free spirit. He's competitive, yeah, but he doesn't care about status. He almost lost a wing once, you know. Docs said it was a miracle he could even fly again. He's all about perseverance, not titles."

Soarin looked into her eyes, searching for any sign of doubt. There was none. "You really think they'll like me?"

Rainbow leaned in and kissed him softly. "I know they will."

Soarin smiled, warmth spreading through his chest. "Thanks, Dash."

Rainbow smirked. "No problem. Now, back to business."

Soarin blinked. "Business?"

Rainbow's smirk turned mischievous. "Since you're an official Daring Do fan now, we're having a reading marathon."

Soarin groaned. "Oh, come on, Dash—"

"Nope! Too late!" Rainbow shot up from the couch, grabbed a book from her shelf, and plopped it into Soarin's lap. "Welcome to the club, egghead."

Soarin sighed dramatically, but a smile tugged at his lips as he opened the book. Maybe being an egghead wasn't so bad after all.

"Who do you thinks she is?"

Soarin raised his eyebrow. "Who?"

"A.K Yearling. Do you think she is like a retired adventurer writing about her past experiences or something?"

Soarin chuckled. "Don't know but remember not to get too attached to that idea. The reality is often disappointing."

Twilight Velvet stared intently at the blank sheet of paper before her. The flickering candlelight cast restless shadows across her desk, as if mirroring the frustration bubbling in her mind. Crumpled pages littered the floor around her chair, discarded ideas that had died before they could take flight. She had spent hours trying to craft the perfect opening, yet all she had accomplished was filling the wastebasket with failure.

She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "Twelve drafts, all garbage," she muttered under her breath. "Maybe I've finally run out of stories."

A gentle knock at the door pulled her from her brooding. Before she could answer, it creaked open, and Night Light stepped inside, balancing a steaming cup of jasmine tea on a saucer. The familiar floral scent filled the room, offering a moment of comfort amidst her turmoil.

"How's our fearless adventurer doing?" he asked playfully, setting the tea down beside her.

Velvet groaned and slumped forward, resting her forehead against the desk. "Utterly lost. This might be my greatest challenge yet," she said dramatically.

Night Light chuckled, leaning against the desk. "Come on, it can't be that bad. You've written, what, a dozen of these books?"

"Thirteen," she corrected, then sighed. "And that's exactly the problem. I've written thirteen books, each with grand adventures, cunning villains, and daring escapes. But now, all the villains have been defeated. The relics have been found. What else is left to tell?"

She stared at her husband, her eyes searching for an answer she didn't have. "And yet, I signed a contract for at least two more books. I thought inspiration would strike, but here I am, writing and rewriting the same tired openings, only to throw them away. Maybe this is it. Maybe Daring Do has finally run out of adventures."

Night Light sat down across from her, his expression thoughtful. He took a sip of his own tea before saying, "You know, maybe it's not about running out of adventures. Maybe you're just looking in the wrong place."

Velvet frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well, think about it," he said, waving a hoof. "Every book has been about what Daring does best—fighting villains, finding treasure, escaping death. But what happens after? What if there's an adventure beyond the adventure?"

Velvet froze, her mind suddenly racing. An adventure beyond the adventure?

Night Light continued, not noticing the shift in her expression. "Maybe she's forced to go on an adventure she didn't expect. Maybe something more personal. A journey that isn't just about survival or treasure. Maybe this time, she has to figure out who she is when she's not facing mortal peril."

Velvet suddenly shot up from her chair, knocking over a few crumpled pages. Her eyes shone with newfound energy. "That's it. That's exactly it!" she exclaimed, grabbing her quill and furiously scribbling down notes. "Daring Do has always been about the thrill, the danger, the race against time. But what if she finds herself in a situation where there's no enemy to fight, no ancient artifact to retrieve? What if the biggest challenge she faces is figuring out who she is without the adventure?"

Night Light grinned, watching as his wife fell into a frenzy of inspiration. "I'll leave you to it, then. Wouldn't want to get in the way of a genius at work."

Velvet barely acknowledged him, too absorbed in the words now spilling onto the page. Night Light smiled as he left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. He knew better than to disturb her when she was in this state.

As he walked down the hallway, he took one last sip of his tea and chuckled to himself. "Guess even the greatest adventurers need a little nudge sometimes."