Morning, Pinkie Pie.
Get your Ponyville Chronicle right here!
Fan-tizzy-astic!
I just love to read about happy happenings and it's always good
to be a pony in the know, you know?
And there's so much to know!
Uh. Seems like a bunch of boring hooey to me.
Does "NEW SHRUBBERY IN CASTLE GARDEN"!
sound like boring hooey to you?
Snooze.
What about...
"PARASPRITE INFESTATION IN FILLYDELPHIA ERADICATED"?
Ah! That's great news!
Ehhhh. Another day, another parasprite hype story.
Noodles named official food of Whinnyapolis!
Author A.K. Yearling announces retirement!
Cloudsdale election heating up for candidate
in favor of cooling it down!
WHAT? Let me see that!
I never knew you were so into politics, Rainbow.
No, this!
It CAN'T be true...
I'd have never have picked noodles as the official food
of Whinnyapolis, either.
But... here we are!
No, Pinkie!
I can't believe...
that the greatest author...
and secret pony adventurer of all time...
A.K. Yearling... is retiring!
A.K. Yearling just retired, like, today.
Are you sure she wants visitors?
Pinkie, the A.K. Yearling I know would never quit
and retire out of the blue!
Something could be really wrong
and we need to make sure she's OK.
OK!
Hey.... you're not just trying to make sure she writes
more Daring Do books, are you?
Of course not!
But that wouldn't hurt either.
Now, come on!
Uh.. maybe she's not home.
Maybe she went to the editor-in-chief of the
Ponyville Chronicle to correct the misprint they've made!
Pinkie: Nope. She's home.
How do you know?
Because she's right there...
looking all sad and alone.
Ah! I knew it!
Something is wrong!
A.K!
Now she's sighing with the weight of the world.
Now she's hanging her head in utter despair!
Now she's shaking her hoof and cursing the heavens
like nothing could ever possibly be the same again!
Why oh why did this happen to her!?
What!?
Whoops.
Never mind, that time she was just stretching. Heh.
A.K., it's us! Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie!
Your friends!
Oh, no. Did somepony ransack your cottage again
and steal some ancient mysterious relic
that's the key to saving all of Equestria!?
Oooh! Sparky!
Nothing's been stolen..
Then is somepony blackmailing you and forcing you to retire?
Cause if they are...
No. Nothing like that.
So.. you're just quitting and moving away!?
WHY. WOULD. YOU. DO. THAT?
I already explained everything to the Ponyville Chronicle.
Oh, really?
"Author A.K. Yearling announced yesterday
that the next adventure novel in her popular series,
'Daring Do and the Curse of the Pharaoh's Tomb'
will be her last.
Yearling looks forward to her retirement."
That doesn't explain anything!
It just says you're giving up writing stories.
But most ponies don't know that you actually are Daring Do
and that the stories are real.
So what you're REALLY saying is that you're giving up
being Daring Do, but you're not saying why!
Of course, if you don't feel like talking about it,
that's A-OK, A.K.!
As your friends, we completely understand.
Right, Rainbow Dash?
Oh. Yeah. We just came to make sure you're all right.
That's.. really why we wanted to find out what's going on.
If you really want to know...
My last quest took me to a village in Southern Equestria
where I started seeing.. these.
"WAKE OF DESTRUCTION:
DARING DO RUINS ENTIRE VILLAGE MARKETPLACE"!
"DARE OR SCARE?
LOCAL ROGUE 'DARING DO' INVOLVED IN FRIGHTFUL FIASCO"?
"DARING DO LEADS BULL INTO CHINA SHOP DURING HIGH SPEED CHASE--"
That's enough!
Everypony I tried to help is mad at me.
That's not true!
They're not mad at A.K. Yearling.
They're mad at "Daring Do".
They don't sell my books in Southern Equestria.
The ponies there don't know who A.K. Yearling is.
They only know Daring Do
and apparently she does more harm than good.
And I guess it's a good thing you look so different
as A.K. Yearling!
So all we have to do is go down there
and explain to these ponies that none of this stuff is true.
Easy-peazy-cheezy!
But that's just the thing...
...it is true.
WHAT?
I guess I've always been so focused
on saving priceless relics and stopping the bad guys
that.. I never really thought about the mess I leave behind.
Then you ARE in a tricky pickle.
But.. why is all this happening now?
Ah.. I guess ponies are finally fed up.
Either way, I'm done with adventures: having or writing.
Come on!
For every one pony who's upset,
there must be at least a hundred that know you're a hero.
I don't think so, Dash.
Well, why don't we go visit this village "Somnambula"
and see for ourselves?
Those articles seem to make it pretty clear
how the villagers feel.
But if we go there, the ponies can tell you in person
just how much they appreciate you.
And what a heap of rotten apple cores these articles are!
You really think so?
I know so!
Let's go!
Mmmmmm! This is so cool!
It looks just like that village in your last book
where Daring Do recovers the Doomed Diadem
from The Wild Bunch Gang
who chase after her through the desert!
It should.
I based that entire chapter on my experiences here
in Somnambula.
What happens? No wait, don't tell me.
I CHANGED MY MIND! TELL ME!
Daring Do thwarts Ahuizotl's evil plot to separate
the Sister Crown Relics.
And if it wasn't for her, the region would be cursed
with eternal night and the entire town of Somnambula
would have sunk into the ground!
Ah Pssht! There's no chance that these ponies
don't think you're a hero.
Watch this.
Hiya there, Mister!
I was hoping you could tell me about a pony named Daring Do.
I hear she's an awesome adventure-pony hero.
Daring Do?
Oh, she's awesome, all right.
Awesome at destroying ponies' apple carts
and priceless, sacred statues!
Indeed. Daring Do is a menace
who destroys everything she touches!
What? No!
Daring Do is the exact opposite of a menace.
Ugh. I tried to tell you!
Coming back here was a mistake!
Come on, A.K.! So we picked a bad example.
That was just one angry pony!
Two angry ponies!
It doesn't matter.
I never should have come with you!
You two should just go home.
Come on! We gotta follow her!
I dunno...
it really seemed like she doesn't want us
cramping her saddle.
But we have to convince her that ponies do appreciate her!
As her friend, I have to make sure she believes that.
Ooh. Look, Pinkie! It's the "Get On Inn".
Daring Do stays here all the time in her adventures.
Which means there must be ponies here who love Daring Do!
Maybe they can help us.
Mmmmm.
My nose is telling me to help myself to muffins.
Come on...
Ooo, she's fancy.
I got this!
A good evening to you, Madame!
We are but weary travelers who humbly wish to inquire
on the status of a certain mare of intrigue
taking residence here.
What in Southern Equestria are you on about?
Is it true that Daring Do stays here?
Ha! Not anymore, she doesn't!
Why not?
The last time I rented that rascal a room,
she was in a such a rush to high-tail it outta here,
she didn't even pay her bill!
But-- After that, a band of ruffians showed up
and destroyed half the rooms looking for her.
Guess she made them even more mad than she made me!
No, no, no. You've got it all wrong.
Huh! How do ya figure?
Daring Do was trying to save everypony from the
Curse of the Doomed Diadem of Xilati!
And she was only in a rush because she had to get the crown
back to the Tiara of Teotlale before the curse took effect.
Chapter seventeen.
Sounds like a tall tale to me.
And a hard one to believe now that I know Daring Do
is a scoundrel and a thief!
Every year, ponies come to offer precious glowpaz
to the Sonmambula statue in the village
in hopes for a good future.
Why that poor fella had his glowpaz necklace
stolen by Daring Do just yesterday!
Hmmmm.
THERE'S A.K.!
Daring Do RUINED our town and stole our precious glowpaz!
We need to make sure that if she turns up again,
there will be consequences!
Everypony who's with me, meet at the statue tomorrow!
[sigh] Now I'm getting blamed for things I didn't even do?
Why would I steal from them?
They are SUPER BAD!
But... we're still staying the night, right?
Because I already ate all the free mini muffins!
Listen, A.K., after a good night's sleep,
we're going to fix all of this.
I promise.
I shouldn't be here, Rainbow Dash.
This is never going to work.
Of course it will!
All I have to do is go up there and explain to everypony
how wrong they all are.
Yeah! And then I'll be like what she said!
[sigh] Easy-peazy-cheezy.
Exactly!
Here it is! The remains of your--
I mean our Somnambula statue.
Now that Daring Do has destroyed it, tell me...
where will we hang our glowpaz?
We don't even have any glowpaz because they were stolen
by Daring Do!
Daring Do would never steal anything!
And OK, she destroyed your statue,
but it was because she was trying to save you all
from Ahuizotl!
Ahuizotl?
He's about yay big?
Long neck?
Itty-bitty face?
Weird claw thingy on his tail?
Ooo! Ooo! I know him! He's a baddie.
Trust me, if Ahuizotl had gotten away with the Doomed Diadem,
your entire village would have been swallowed up!
And that's a lot worse than losing some CRUMMY old statue!
Ahem!
This was not some crummy old statue.
It was the namesake of our town.
If you want to understand us, you must first understand her.
Who?
Somnambula...
Long ago this village fell prey to an evil Sphinx
who demanded most of their crops.
Like her fellow villagers, Somnambula didn't have much,
but she used what she had to keep others from giving up hope.
The son of the Pharaoh, Prince Hisan,
was so moved by her compassion,
that he decreed nopony would go hungry again.
But when Hisan stood up to the Sphinx,
the beast captured him, telling the Pharaoh the only way
to get Hisan back was to solve her riddle.
Nopony would volunteer to save the prince.
Nopony except Somnambula.
The Sphinx gave her the riddle,
"I shine brightest in the dark. I am there but cannot be seen.
To have me costs you nothing.
To be without me costs you everything."
As Somnambula thought of the hardship
she and her fellow villagers had experienced,
she instantly knew the answer.
"HOPE!"
She shouted.
The Sphinx was so enraged, it seemed she might still refuse
to release the prince,
so Somnambula asked her for one more challenge,
but if she accomplished it,
the Sphinx would leave from the kingdom forever.
The Sphinx quickly agreed,
asking only that Somnambula walk to the prince...
... across a deep chasm, blindfolded!
Further, the Sphinx had cast a powerful spell
that prevented Somnambula from flying.
But Somnambula never lost HOPE!
She knew she'd need to make a leap of faith
to save the prince.
Guided by the sound of the prince's voice...
she easily made it across.
The Pharaoh asked how Somnambula prevailed
and she explained that she had always hoped
she could make things better for her people
and that hope had carried her through.
The Prince replaced the pearls Somnambula gave up
with a string of Glowpaz.
And around her neck, they glowed bright enough
to light the entire kingdom.
Forever after, Glowpaz became our symbol of hope.
Wow. I had no idea how special the statue was to you.
Somnambula sounds like a pretty cool pony.
But I bet if she were here,
she'd tell you how cool Daring Do is too
because they've both fought to protect this town!
If Somnambula were here today, she would condemn Daring Do
for destroying yo-- OUR symbol of hope!
Hey, buddy!
What did Daring Do ever do to you to deserve all this?
Only... everything!
Dr. Caballeron!?
Yes... Rainbow Dash.
When I saw you, her closest friend,
I knew that Daring Do would not be far behind.
I really do owe you for leading her right to me.
But I didn't mean--
Thank you for helping me break Daring Do's spirit
by destroying her reputation,
but I can't have you running off and telling her my plan.
HELP!
Caballeron?
No!
He's got Rainbow Dash!
Come on!
I'm... coming... Rainbow... Dash...
Oh! I knew you'd come!
You did?
I sure didn't.
What if I cause more trouble?
You won't.
How do you know?
I just do!
You wouldn't let anything happen to Rainbow Dash.
You care too much.
You're right.
Which way did they go?
To the pyramid!
Dash: Somepony help!
Dash: Somepony! Anypony!
Pinkie Pie! Daring Do!
Is that you?
Don't worry, Rainbow!
We'll save you!
If my previous plan didn't cause you to give up, Daring Do,
then the shame of losing your dear friend Rainbow Dash
to the slime will!
Oh, and that ancient magic from the legend is real.
There'll be no flying in the pyramid!
Good luck, Daring Do!
He's right! We'll never get to her in time!
If this really is like Somnambula's story,
then we just have to have hope that we can!
I think we need more than hope, Pinkie.
There was a bridge in the story and there's no bridge here.
What are we going to do?
I don't know, but Rainbow Dash is our friend!
Just like Somnambula. We need to make a leap of faith
and hope that we can save her!
PINKIE!
A-ha!
Wheeee! Hee hee hee!
I knew we'd do it!
Thanks for reminding me to never give up hope, Pinkie.
And I'm kinda hoping you ponies will untie me
before we all take a bath in bubbling green slime!
We're on it!
Not so fast, Caballeron!
YOU stole our glowpaz!
I should have known you were just trying to sully my name
so that you'd be free to steal whatever you wanted.
Of course that was the plan, Daring Do!
At first I just wanted the Glowpaz...
But then I saw an opportunity to write you out of the story
FOR GOOD!
And with the destruction you leave in your wake,
it didn't take too much to convince ponies
you were a villain!
You're wrong, Caballeron.
And I won't let you break my spirit again.
Because I'm never going to give up hope
that I can protect ponies and ancient treasures
from miscreants like you!
Remember! She ruined your statue!
You're fools to believe in her!
Grrrr! You'll pay for this, Daring Do!
OK, OK that's enough!
Thanks for helping me come to my senses.
You two are true friends.
Are you kidding?
That.
Was.
Awesome!
We're just glad you're back to your old self again!
[giggle] Me too!
But I'm glad I realized that even if you're fighting
for something good, you're still responsible for your actions.
And if something bad happens that you didn't intend,
you shouldn't give up hope or lose faith in yourself.
Yeah! All ya gotta do is make it right.
Feel free to use that in your next book!
You know, I think I will.