#look mom im famous on tumblr.com

[cobwebears]

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[ask-de-writer]

DARING DO and the ADVENTURE of the X'IBIAN VASE! : MLP Fan Fiction : Part 3 of 21

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DARING DO and the

ADVENTURE of the X'IBIAN VASE!

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck) @ask-de-writer​

And

Carmen Pondiego @askcarmenpondiego​

Cover Art by

Doctor Dimension

52630 words

© 2020 by Glen Ten-Eyck

Writing begun 08/26/15

All rights reserved.  This document may not be copied or distributed on or to any medium or placed in any mass storage system except by the express written consent of the author.

//////////////

Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights.  They may reblog the story.  They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions, provided that such things are done without charge.  I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images.  

All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fictions is actively encouraged.

///////////////////////

Steeling herself, she approached the entrance.  As the black glass doors opened, they revealed a confidant looking khaki colored unicorn mare dressed in a stylish, near form fitting red outfit.  Carmen Pondiego.  Her true mother.

Carmen smiled that sideways smile that she always used when she was about to pull Daring Do’s chain by calling her by her birth name.  Daring Do beat her to it.

“Adora hasn’t been home in a long time, Mother.  Things have changed a lot.  You really meant that about hiding in the open, didn’t you?”

Carmen’s mouth dropped open. Feeling behind her for support, Carmen settled into one of the comfortable overstuffed leather chairs in the VILE foyer.

Softly, she replied, “Yes, dear.  I did mean it.”  She took a shaking breath and added, “You are in time for the lasagna.  I remember how much you used to enjoy it, Adora.”

Daring Do nodded and sat on the arm of the chair.  “I did, mom.  I still do.  I don’t order it often … It reminds me of you.

“I am going to admit that I am really conflicted about the name … and you … and VILE.  It is hard but I am here.”  She reached down and took Carmen’s hoof.

They sat in silence for several minutes.  “Mother, I am not going to ask you for forgiveness. There is too much that I have not forgiven yet.”

Carmen patted the hoof of her estranged daughter and said, “I do understand, Adora.  At least you are here and letting me call you by the name that I gave you.  That is a first step.  I hope, one of many.”

Daring Do nodded slowly.  In the Chineighese of Cantron she quoted the proverb, “The journey of a thousand Li begins with a single step.”

Without hesitation, Carmen replied in the same language, “Whether the journey be a thousand Li or a thousand of thousands, the welcoming door of home is the best place for it to end.”

Taking a deep breath, Carmen suggested, “Let’s go see if the lasagna is ready!  I had it out, cooling.”

“Now that is something that I hoped you would say, mother.”

They wended their way through the maze of the big building.  As they made yet another zig, Daring Do reflected that the Canterlot HQ of VILE was not the biggest nor most impressive of her mother’s organizational HQs. The true nerve center of VILE was the enormous floating island.

They finally entered a comfortable common room with a nice but not fancy dining table and chairs.  It was pretty big, which made sense.  The whole family was there.  Daring Do’s biological father, the alicorn Baron Von Nighthoof sat at one end of the table, space for her mother at the OTHER end showed that they were on the “outs” romantically … Again.

She and her step brother Blendin were next to each other at Carmen’s end of the table.  Her Uncle Marehem, or M for short, was down at the end by the Baron.  Next to him, at Carmen’s end was Kiros.  Technically, Kiros was not family, the others were some form of pony, or at least passing themselves off as one.  Kiros was a wolf hybrid with wings.  M was a changeling even if he was also Daring Do’s uncle.

This was the only part of VILE that Daring Do could accept, even marginally.  Family.  And she knew what was coming besides lasagna.  Snark.  

She was just reaching for her first big slab of some of the best lasagna in Canterlot when she felt it.  Virtually by reflex, Daring Do slammed an elbow back just above her saddle bag at the same time that she made a grab with her other hoof as she spun about.  The move nailed her half brother Blendin, with her map only half out of her bag.

Smiling sweetly she said, “Be glad that you are family, Blendin.  I use the hoof of the last pony to try that as a paperweight!”

Ignoring the comment, which Blendin knew to be perfectly true, he finished removing the map. “Why would you have one of these cheap  five silver X'ibian site maps?”

He spread it out and his jaw dropped.  “This is the original that you made when you were searching for the Darkling’s Tomb!

“Now it really makes no sense at all!  Why did you put that red X on top of Hong Wa?  Do you want me to remove it?  It is a really simple bit of Librarian’s Magic?”

Daring Do laid a gentle hoof over Blendin’s and said, “No, Blendin.  Thank you for the offer but that has become a delightful keepsake to the stupidity of ponies. They broke into my office at the RU and STOLE this.  They also broke many of the figurines of the Royal Darkling Collection being kept for study in my office.”

Baron Von Nighthoof’s brows almost hit his horn, they went up so far.  He clicked on the big Magic Net mirror for the evening news!  The story was not hard to locate.

“Agnes Wordspreader here with This Just IN!  Three divisions of the the Royal Guards, the Royal Heavy Armored Infantry and the Royal Armored Pegassi were mobilized today in DOWNTOWN Canterlot!  They surrounded the building of the lawfirm Robber, Overthrow, and Tyranny for a short while.

“When the Royal Negotiator emerged, she appeared to be none other than the world famous Antiquities Expert, Daring Do.  She spoke briefly with the Commander of the Royal Armored Infantry who, along with the rest of the military and Guard units, then withdrew.”

There were many pictures of the action, including Daring Do emerging from the R.O.T building.

Carmen, a bemused look on her face, pointed her horn at Daring Do and asked, “What were they looking for in your office, Adora, Darling?”

Wincing at the name, Daring Do ate a fork full of her mother’s absolutely heavenly lasagna before speaking.  “They expected to find the location of the tomb of Im Farst.  That X on the map?  It is the EXACT location of it!  

“All that I have to do is go to the Necropolis,” Daring raised her eyebrows and made a fair imitation of Tyranny’s voice as she added, “That’s like a graveyard, locate the appropriate tomb and dig it up!”

Blendin, like all the others around the table, was giggling so hard that it was difficult to speak.  At last he got out, “The only thing that could make that funnier would be if the 'IT’ that they want is the Heart of Discord!”

In a swiftly planned tactical strike, Daring Do said, “It IS!  They do want the Heart of Discord!”

As the whole table exploded in laughter, Daring Do craftily snagged the last two pieces of lasagna.

Uncle M was wiping tears from his eyes and commenting, “I blew lasagna out my nose!”

Sounding almost innocent, Daring Do offered, “Uncle M, I have something else here for your amusement!”  She hoofed over the folded sheets of R.O.T.’s offer.

M unfolded them and nearly choked.  Tears of joy in his eyes, he implored, “May I make a copy of this?  At Allstable we make custom policies all the time.  Some of this is the finest pure legal worm slime that I have ever read! Really good stuff!

“There is no way that you can win with this.  Even if you fulfill all the terms, the whole expedition cost to them is to be deducted from your payment.  You could end up owing R.O.T. thousands in gold.”

Daring Do smiled around her latest forkful of lasagna and swallowed.  “Feel free to copy it, M. What I need from you is a copy that actually says what this one purports to.”

M grinned and promised, “Piece of Lasagna, Adora …  My seconds!  You are eating my seconds!”

Carmen smiled.  “That gives you more room for the frozen Pomegranate Gelatto that I fixed for dessert.”

Relaxing with a few candied figs to fill up corners, Daring Do asked, “How did the bidding go for the Golden Necklace of Pharow Underrock?”

Carmen leaned back in a comfortably padded chair and steepled her hooves.  “We really only had a little time, Adora.  we could do better with more time.  The best that I could do on short notice was 1.5 million golden bits.”

She pointed an admonitiory hoof and went on, “THAT is BEFORE V.I.L.E.’s 20% cut.  That leaves 1.2 million for you.  The money can be deposited in your Equestrian National account by noon tomorrow, if that is satisfactory to you?”

Daring Do nodded, “The money is quite satisfactory.  Thank you.  I did mention that I had a concern about where the necklace was going.  What will happen to it?”

Carmen’s grin was huge.  “Our buyer has a project that needs a Royal sanction.  He will gift the necklace to Princess Luna for immediate permanent display in the Royal Museum with proper provenance and finder’s credit!”

Her own grin almost as wide as her mother’s at the neatly done cutting out of the Acquisition Committee and Count Umber, Daring Do handed over the simple but perfect wooden case of unmistakable Rom workmanship.  Carmen opened it reverently.  Her drawn breath was ample reward, really.  Daring Do knew that sound and expression on her mother’s face since infancy.

Baron Von Nighthoof leaned over to see it and suggested, “We could duplicate that.  Honor requires that the original be given as promised.  I can think of no neck in all of Equestria that such a copy would grace better than your own, Carmen.”

Daring Do knew that all would be done as promised. Her mother would kill before breaking the trust of her family.  She discreetly took her leave.

The next morning, Daring Do emerged from her room at the Adventurer’s Guild and took a refreshing dip in the Guild’s pool and a quick workout in the gym, followed by a few assorted practice workouts in the projectile weapons range.

Her appetite whetted by the light workout, she sat in the Guild’s dining room and ordered a modest breakfast.  The waiter who brought it was familiar.  She stopped him and said in X'ibian, “Listening to those with whom you disagree is the first step on the journey of understanding.  

“I have listened with care to those whom you and I agree are evil.  Now I wish to learn all that you will share.  It is clear that you know much more than you have said.”

The waiter stared carefully about before he bowed a formal Eastern bow and replied in X'ibian, “You are most observant.  You are also correct.  Sadly, most of what I wish to tell is proscribed by ancient oaths.  

“I will tell you this.  We would far sooner trust you to seek that ancient thing than any other. We know that you will treat where it lies with the respect that is due to our ancient land.  Not even we know where it lies any longer.

The Chineighese invasion and conquest a thousand years past destroyed many scholars and their libraries.  The hidden location of the tomb of Im Farst was lost and has not been refound.”

Daring Do nodded thoughtfully and divided her bowl of mixed fruits with him.  “Share with me the meal of friendship.

“I seek no harm to any ancient thing.  I try to find what is lost and restore it to living memory. Sadly, some things need to stay lost but NEVER destroyed.  I have provision made for that eventuality.”

He sat and ate his portion while Daring Do ate hers.  She divided her Alfalfa Waffle with him too.

Now deeply puzzled, she returned to the building of the R.O.T. lawfirm.  Greeting Horsetense, she spoke cheerfully, “I have the expedition agreement ready for the signatures of the partners!”

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[art-by-rozzai]

had a bad day so more band au headcannons

anyone who wants to write a fic for this is absolutely allowed if they tag me, i’m not gonna make any full length ones but i might post some one shots eventually

anyway i had a really shitty day so here’s me self projecting and creating more band headcannons

check out the first here~

check out the second here~

tag list~

@athenashipsthings @thelesbianspoon @flowersheep @insert--self--hatred @nafsbluebery @sunflowerss0 @nerdiegurlie @stars-and-rose

okays lets do this✨

so last when we left the boys, it’s the day before they release their album “death of a bachelor”

to celebrate, roman suggests they get dinner out and maybe go see a movie??

logan is suprisingly the first to agree, saying that if he doesn’t get to watch the “scary stories to tell in the dark” movie soon he will explode. plus there’s no food in the fridge

virgil is also down to go see the movie, but is more reluctant to get dinner. he hates formal things, so to make him feel more comfortable roman offers they go to the local diner that he knows has virgil’s favorite chicken parm dish and virgil can’t say no to that

patton doesn’t want to see the movie at first-he really doesn’t like scary movies. but he wants dinner with his friends and he might be able to latch onto logan during the scary parts so he goes with it

so patton offers go help virgil with his hair and they end up getting ready together! they talk about everything they can think of as patton does hair and virgil does makeup and they both do each other’s nails and then they’re ready to go out whooooppp

meanwhile roman collapsed on logan’s bed an hour ago and began complaining about how he needed to impress virgil to get him to fall in love with him and has been talking ever since

logan doesn’t mind tho, roman helps him pick out a nice outfit and gives tips on how to woo patt

even though it’s not a date

yet

anyways they get to the diner and they all have an incredible time! by the end of the meal they’re in tears laughing at each other, from roman’s hysterical stories to virgil’s banter to logan’s fun facts and spilt tea to patton’s enthusiastic impressions

they love each over like family :)

and the movie is top notch. virgil is in love with it, him and logan spend the whole time guessing what’s going to happen while roman hides behind virgil and patton shoves his face full of popcorn and squish himself into logan’s arm

and yes virgil can’t stop laughing and logan’s immediate tensing up and blushing

after the movie they just don’t want to go to bed quite yet, so the friends head to the park and enjoy lying in the grass, talking and letting logan point out the stars while roman makes up stories of the aliens and space princesses that protect the galaxy

virgil makes everyone his famous hot chocolate and they stay up until midnight to release their songs

and then the clock strikes 12 and death of a bachelor is available to download

the boys decide that staying up and watching the comments flood in is a terrible idea and instead they put on some disney films and fall asleep on the couch

it’s nice

they wake up to millions of notifications

everyone is freaking the fuck out

this album ??? is beautiful ???

all of the fans are in love but also have a lot of questions-so the fab four start doing monthly live-streams to just chat and answer questions and catch up with their fans

“are y’all single?”

um

well yes

but uh

this question is not goOD ROMAN WHAT THE FU-

anyway virgil comes to patton one day, slams the door, puts his face in a pillow and screams “PATT IM SO GAY HELP”

because roman called his hair pretty this morning and yes it’s stupid and it happens all the time but this time was different

don’t worry tho they won’t admit their feelings to one and other for another three months

death of a bachelor does really well-all of the songs end up going either gold or platinum

their song “victorious” is played on the radio all of the time

so november rolls around and the friends decide it’s time to go on tour! starting with just north america, they post a video on the youtube channel that gives all the locations and dates

it’s to start in april:

virgil is extremely nervous. being on the road for so long and preforming live in front of thousands of people and will anyone even show up and-

logan is slightly nervous but honestly he really enjoys preforming-once he ties the tie around his head like a bandanna he almost transforms into the punk rock bassist he is known by the fans to be

patton!!! is!!! bouncy!!!!!!!! he wants to meet all these people!!!! and he can’t wait to give back to all of them by preforming and meet and greets and social interaction makes him really happy!!

roman is so excited-preforming is his thing. when he’s on a stage, he’s in his element! he can’t wait to show off and travel and be with his friends for even longer :)

but they can’t go on tour with their boring old instruments sooooo

roman and patton team up to paint and decorate all of the instruments

virgil’s piano matches his jacket, lots of purple and swirls and patton paints the classic nightmare before christmas scene on the front (u know, this one but stationary)

and they decorate the microphone stand purple and silver and black

logan gets a dope space themed bass-the outside is dark blue and the inside is painted like a galaxy, with a plain silver pick

roman paints his gutair with a castle and sunset in the back, with a bright red pick to play

patton’s drums have clouds on them nowww like a sunny day with blue puffy clouds

they’re ready to go! but it’s still only december so u kNoW whAt ThaT mEaNs

CHRISTMAS!!!!!

since none of the squad are jewish, (although technically patton is half jew since his mom is, but he just really loves christmas and always celebrated that growing up so)

they decide to celebrate at their house

they invite all of their close family to the apartment and have a lovely dinner

and yeah virgil doesn’t invite anyone cuz he was adopted by a shitty family who he doesn’t talk to anymore, bcuz all they did was try and get money out of him

and yeah he has a panic attack when all of his best friends are excitedly talking about their family coming over

and y e a h roman helps him calm down and swears that he will always b there to protect virgil bcuz he’s never met anyone quite like him and it’s not easy to explain but he just wants virgil to know he’s safe with roman

and yeah virgil wishes he could stop falling for roman but the ground keeps disappearing beneath him

so time skip a bit closer to christmas and logan bursts into romans room with an idea

“i can rap”

“we know”

“you can rap”

“kind of but okay”

“christmas rap song for fun”

“yeS”

so they write “gonna kill santa claus” (look it up) and decide to post it on the youtube channel on christmas eve

they film a music video for it where they jokingly set up different traps for santa like poison cookies and fire cracker chimneys and more

virgil sings the chorus, logan raps the rap parts, roman does the bridge, and patton lays down a pretty sick beat

it comes out really nice and honestly really fucking funny

so after a delightful family dinner with everyone over, the friends release that video and the internet fucking dies it’s so funny and logan can rap (??????) and ohmygod all of them are so cute what the fuck

anyway back to christmas dinner

roman has like 6 little sisters, and his mom and dad and papa and nana over

(he’s latino, his mom and dad are both from the dominican republic)

patton invites his mom and dad and little brothers, thomas and dee

and logan invites his two moms

everyone comes over for lunch and gets along reallyyyyyy well

logan’s got the punk mom and soft mom dynamic whereas, patton’s family is all super kind and like homey and boisterous and romans family is wild and crazy and funny and they all instantly click

presents are passed around, lots of money and books and movies and stickers and jewelry

really sweet stuff

and then everyone goes home and the friends have their own little gift exchange

virgil got logan the stephen king book “insomnia” and a (sort of) joke blanket with benedict cumberbatch’s face on it that he can use when he goes stargazing at night

logan gets virgil some noise cancelling headphones and a framed picture of a wedding with virgil’s face cropped on one and gerard ways face on the other

they both can’t stop laughing at the fact they attacked each other’s celeb crush

virgil gets patton a cute little cat stuffed animal that when u push the hand it’s a recording of all of them saying “we love you!!!” and a really sweet card

patton gets virgil a eyore necklace that was super expensive but matches patton’s winnie the pooh one and a itunes card for him to buy more music (and yes a really sweet card)

virgil gets roman two tickets to see mean girls on broadway and a framed picture of the two of them

yeah roman tears up a bit fuck u

roman gets virgil a collage of him and roman and a handmade hoodie that virgil is never going to take off oh and also meet and greet passes to see dan and phil at their interactive introverts tour

and maybe virge gets a little teary too

roman gets patton a recipie book and an apron that says “you BAKE my day”

patton gets roman a new ukelele and a printed out pamphlete of theatre song chords that he can play

roman gets logan the sherlock script and an empty box just to fuck with him

logan gets roman the entire grimm fairytale series and tapes a note to the front that says “bcuz u are an illiterate fool😜”

patton gets logan a phone case with the stars that were out on the day they met, hand painted framed picture of him and logan, and comic con tickets for this spring

logan gets patton tickets to the art museum downtown, a gift card to the coffee shop next to it, and two gold hoop earrings with a note that says “next week, friday at 7. it’s a date ;)”

so christmas is pretty good for all :))))))

and that’s the end of this one i’ll make a part four soon lmao

[evanthenerd83]

April 2017 Story Index

Individual Fiction:

Abandoned (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160014711296/abandoned-flash-fiction-479): A strange morning. A Game of Sight-Tag (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159454180751/a-game-of-sight-tag-flash-fiction-420): The truth behind that shadow in the corner of your eye. Air Conditioner (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160172561831/air-conditioner-flash-fiction-497): Summer is the worst. Allergies (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159541170761/allergies-flash-fiction-427): The reason why I hate Spring. A Photo-Op With A Mouse (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159464478716/a-photo-op-with-a-mouse-flash-fiction-422): Always check those eyeholes. Artificial Reality Simulation (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159754299146/artificial-reality-simulation-flash-fiction-445): Every new device has a weakness in its design. Bad Eyes (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159679285146/bad-eyes-flash-fiction-441): She wanted to avoid their gaze. Biting Your Tongue (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159301966756/biting-your-tongue-flash-fiction-416): The most painful experience you can ever have. Cavities (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159770899296/cavities-flash-fiction-448): Always brush your teeth. Cell Phones Can Be Very Useful (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160084956826/cell-phones-can-be-very-useful-flash-fiction): Isn’t technology great? Cuthia (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159804511811/cuthia-flash-fiction-454): Unspeakable horrors are waiting in the abyss. Daddy Makes Dolls (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160101044036/daddy-makes-dolls-flash-fiction-462): They’re worth it. Dark Things Haunt Desert Roads (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160156127706/dark-things-haunt-desert-roads-flash-fiction): Drive safe. Death Rattle (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159977785021/death-rattle-flash-fiction-475): A horror Movie becomes reality. Don’t Pause Narration Videos On Creepy Photos (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160101045441/dont-pause-narration-videos-on-creepy-photos): They freak me out. Don’t Run With Scissors (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159657410421/dont-run-with-scissors-flash-fiction-437): A piece of advice from your childhood. Dreams of Hatred (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159678517991/dreams-of-hatred-flash-fiction-440): There is no paradise in Sleep. Drop-Off (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159826661541/drop-off-flash-fiction-458): You could fall down one. Elena Is Walking Home Tonight (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159840122076/elena-is-walking-home-tonight-flash-fiction-463): And she knows that she’s making a mistake. Every Parent’s Worst Fear (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160136240781/every-parents-worst-fear-flash-fiction-492): We all have that little, terrified thought at the back of our heads. Feeling Paranoid (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159770902906/feeling-paranoid-flash-fiction-450): Your mind will turn on you. Flickering Lights (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160172564016/flickering-lights-flash-fiction-498): Change your bulbs early. Fog (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160030665406/fog-flash-fiction-481): Things can hide in fog. Getting Used to the Dark (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159238756801/getting-used-to-the-dark-flash-fiction-411): The main problem among horror fans. Goin’ Hunting (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159569381601/goin-hunting-flash-fiction-430): A family tradition between a boy and his grandfather. Going Viral (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159909619801/going-viral-flash-fiction-471): Everyone wants to be famous on the Internet. Handprints (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159996639456/handprints-flash-fiction-477): Don’t stop on the train tracks. He Comes Out at Night (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159231456966/he-comes-out-at-night-flash-fiction-409): There’s something in the woods. He Couldn’t Help Himself (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159826700786/he-couldnt-help-himself-twisted-fairy-tales-2): A search ends and sin begins. Her Legs (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159770901181/her-legs-flash-fiction-449): We met at a party. Her Voice Woke Me Up (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160066426461/her-voice-woke-me-up-flash-fiction-485): A man is woken up in the middle of the night by his daughter. Hiding in the Dark (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160156123316/hiding-in-the-dark-flash-fiction-364): Why do monsters hide in the dark? His Escape: An Alternate Ending to Gravity Falls (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159490663676/his-escape-an-alternate-ending-to-gravity-falls): A look at how it could have ended way too soon. Human Memory is a Fickle Thing (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159996636126/human-memory-is-a-fickle-thing-flash-fiction): We can forget even the most important things. I Hate Spiders (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159502985936/i-hate-spiders-flash-fiction-426): Arachnophobia, ha. I’m Not A Weeaboo (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159754304921/im-not-a-weeaboo-flash-fiction-447): What, I’m not. Infected Cut (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159502895636/infected-cut-flash-fiction-424): Remember to wash a cut before bandaging it. I Need to Finish The Ritual (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159977779126/i-need-to-finish-the-ritual-flash-fiction-474): A little boy’s goal. It’s Always There (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159864387241/its-always-there-flash-fiction-465): I can feel it. Judgement (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159645550346/judgement-flash-fiction-434): The truth behind the end of days. Just My Hoody (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159599533801/just-my-hoody-flash-fiction-431): I couldn’t see that well in the dark. Late Night Sip (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160014692311/late-night-sip-flash-fiction-478): Your cat is staring at you. Lovely Strangers (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159826653326/lovely-strangers-flash-fiction-457): A driver meets a beautiful woman. Make A Wish At The Crossroads (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160101042211/make-a-wish-at-the-crossroads-flash-fiction-489): Be careful what you wish for. Makeover (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159878013421/makeover-flash-fiction-470): Pretty girls always help each other out. Ms. Discolor (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159939298621/ms-discolor-flash-fiction-473): There’s a vampire underneath your bed. Mom Always Locked Up (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159840120186/mom-always-locked-up-flash-fiction-461): She was so paranoid. Nag Hag (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159657408401/nag-hag-flash-fiction-436): She wouldn’t shut her mouth. One Less Mouth to Feed (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159151330201/one>less-mouth-to-feed-flash-fiction-406): A family must survive. Only in an Empty Room (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159840058576/only-in-an-empty-room-flash-fiction-464): Here’s a way to pass the time. Opening The Door Isn’t The Worst Part (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159864388541/opening-the-door-isnt-the-worst-part-flash): We can never know what’s lurking behind a closed door. Pearly Whites (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160136243541/pearly-whites-flash-fiction-493): Brush your teeth. Perfect Faces, Shredded Reflections (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159939295891/perfect-faces-shredded-reflections-flash-fiction): A sleepover ends in horror. Phantom Hands (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160049629691/phantom-hands-flash-fiction-483): You can always hold a hand. Pitch Black Windows (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159877997961/pitch-black-windows-flash-fiction-467): Two brothers are approached by an ice cream van. Poor Julia (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159878001901/poor-julia-flash-fiction-468): Oh, I pity her so much. Psychosis (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159717432686/psychosis-flash-fiction-444): Don’t listen to his voice. She Hated Cats (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159678514251/she-hated-cats-flash-fiction-439): She was a very, very bad girl. Sin of Creation (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159276099191/sin-of-creation-flash-fiction-415): The truth behind our creation. Sleeping Peacefully (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159339889716/sleeping-peacefully-flash-fiction-417): There’s a strange video on YouTube. Split (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159717404011/split-flash-fiction-443): Trauma begets division. Snapshots of a Soccer Field (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160084968621/snapshots-of-a-soccer-field-flash-fiction-488): They didn’t know that he was there. Sneaking Out (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159170848236/sneaking-out-flash-fiction-407): A man hears a sound in the middle of the night. Soda (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160172560156/soda-flash-fiction-496): Don’t leave your drink unattended. Something Bad Is Happening at Disney World (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159471259686/something-bad-is-happening-at-disney-world-flash): Don’t go to such a filthy place. Static (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159541182216/static-flash-fiction-429): A ritual that you can do. Stormdrains (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159415647996/stormdrains-flash-fiction-419): Such an irrational fear. Teeth (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160049627306/teeth-flash-fiction-482): My teeth are all wrong. The Boy in the Attic (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159790436271/the-boy-in-the-attic-flash-fiction-452): A secret is hidden up there. The Girl in the Red Nightgown (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160124828311/the-girl-in-the-red-nightgown-flash-fiction-388): A young boy will never escape his past. The Hypocrisy Theory (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159790445391/the-hypocrisy-theory-flash-fiction-453): I’m going to hell for this. The Mother of Ashes (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159645559291/court-of-telov-the-mother-of-ashes-flash-fiction): A being who is part of a court of Evil. There Are Predators in the Woods (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159238690011/there-are-predators-in-the-woods-flash-fiction): Dangerous and hungry. The Scream (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159804513781/the-scream-flash-fiction-455): An epidemic of horrifying proportions. The Silence Never Lasts (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160136251296/the-silence-never-lasts-flash-fiction-494): My sister was a brat and I’ll never be rid of her. The Sound of Typing (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159754302916/the-sound-of-typing-flash-fiction-446): The creative ones always suffer. The Tree Outside the Window (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159678447451/the-tree-outside-the-window-flash-fiction-438): He always saw it. The Voice in the Dark (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159610236211/the-voice-in-the-dark-flash-fiction-433): A little girl hears a voice at night. The White Sheet (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160066414676/the-white-sheet-flash-fiction-484): Always fresh and always clean. The Wisps (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160030649091/the-wisps-flash-fiction-480): They have ugly faces. Too Deep (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159207421006/too-deep-flash-fiction-408): Don’t go too far in. Tooth Fairy (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159717390066/tooth-fairy-flash-fiction-442): She loves teeth. A little too much. True Love’s Kiss (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159804520731/true-loves-kiss-twisted-fairy-tales-1): Don’t kiss the princess. Underneath the Park (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159426837771/underneath-the-park-flash-fiction-421): The happiest place on Earth has a little secret. Virgin (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159826672036/virgin-flash-fiction-459): The princess was as innocent as she was pure. Waking Up in the Hospital (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159878004921/waking-up-in-the-hospital-flash-fiction-469): A man wakes up when he really shouldn’t. Wendigo (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/160084962881/wendigo-flash-fiction-487): Something hungry is out there in the woods. Within Walls (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159790430851/within-walls-flash-fiction-451): Another way to pass the time.

Poetry:

Beware the Roots and the Screams (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159191001991/beware-the-roots-and-the-screams-poetry-219): I wish I couldn’t walk through the woods. The Cat in the Hat Returns (https://evanthenerd83.tumblr.com/post/159381102651/the-cat-in-the-hat-returns-poetry-220): Fun is fun.

Two-Sentence Horror Stories:

[cobwebears]

soldavekat requested by @femmestuck for the @homestuck-gift-giving ^^ hope you like it

[cobwebears]

happy gay month sickos

[cobwebears]

very helpful june

[cobwebears]

Probably gonna delete this in the morning but here’s a sneak peek of the things im working on

[cobwebears]

you know what day it is

click for better quality

[cobwebears]

gay

[ask-de-writer]

Daring Do and the Adventure of the X'ibian Vase : MLP Fan Fiction : Part 3 of 21

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Daring Do

and the Adventure of the X'ibian Vase!

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

And

Carmen Pondiego

Cover Art by

Doctor Dimension

52630 words

© 2015 by Glen Ten-Eyck

Writing begun 08/26/15

All rights reserved.  This document may not be copied or distributed on or to any medium or placed in any mass storage system except by the express written consent of the author.

//////////////

Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights.  They may reblog the story.  They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions, provided that such things are done without charge.  I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images.  

All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fictions is actively encouraged.

///////////////////////

Steeling herself, she approached the entrance.  As the black glass doors opened, they revealed a confidant looking khaki colored unicorn mare dressed in a stylish, near form fitting red outfit.  Carmen Pondiego.  Her true mother.

Carmen smiled that sideways smile that she always used when she was about to pull Daring Do’s chain by calling her by her birth name.  Daring Do beat her to it.

“Adora hasn’t been home in a long time, Mother.  Things have changed a lot.  You really meant that about hiding in the open, didn’t you?”

Carmen’s mouth dropped open. Feeling behind her for support, Carmen settled into one of the comfortable overstuffed leather chairs in the VILE foyer.

Softly, she replied, “Yes, dear.  I did mean it.”  She took a shaking breath and added, “You are in time for the lasagna.  I remember how much you used to enjoy it, Adora.”

Daring Do nodded and sat on the arm of the chair.  “I did, mom.  I still do.  I don’t order it often … It reminds me of you.

“I am going to admit that I am really conflicted about the name … and you … and VILE.  It is hard but I am here.”  She reached down and took Carmen’s hoof.

They sat in silence for several minutes.  “Mother, I am not going to ask you for forgiveness. There is too much that I have not forgiven yet.”

Carmen patted the hoof of her estranged daughter and said, “I do understand, Adora.  At least you are here and letting me call you by the name that I gave you.  That is a first step.  I hope, one of many.”

Daring Do nodded slowly.  In the Chineighese of Cantron she quoted the proverb, “The journey of a thousand Li begins with a single step.”

Without hesitation, Carmen replied in the same language, “Whether the journey be a thousand Li or a thousand of thousands, the welcoming door of home is the best place for it to end.”

Taking a deep breath, Carmen suggested, “Let’s go see if the lasagna is ready!  I had it out, cooling.”

“Now that is something that I hoped you would say, mother.”

They wended their way through the maze of the big building.  As they made yet another zig, Daring Do reflected that the Canterlot HQ of VILE was not the biggest nor most impressive of her mother’s organizational HQs. The true nerve center of VILE was the enormous floating island.

They finally entered a comfortable common room with a nice but not fancy dining table and chairs.  It was pretty big, which made sense.  The whole family was there.  Daring Do’s biological father, the alicorn Baron Von Nighthoof sat at one end of the table, space for her mother at the OTHER end showed that they were on the “outs” romantically … Again.

She and her step brother Blendin were next to each other at Carmen’s end of the table.  Her Uncle Marehem, or M for short, was down at the end by the Baron.  Next to him, at Carmen’s end was Kiros.  Technically, Kiros was not family, the others were some form of pony, or at least passing themselves off as one.  Kiros was a wolf hybrid with wings.  M was a changeling even if he was also Daring Do’s uncle.

This was the only part of VILE that Daring Do could accept, even marginally.  Family.  And she knew what was coming besides lasagna.  Snark.  

She was just reaching for her first big slab of some of the best lasagna in Canterlot when she felt it.  Virtually by reflex, Daring Do slammed an elbow back just above her saddle bag at the same time that she made a grab with her other hoof as she spun about.  The move nailed her half brother Blendin, with her map only half out of her bag.

Smiling sweetly she said, “Be glad that you are family, Blendin.  I use the hoof of the last pony to try that as a paperweight!”

Ignoring the comment, which Blendin knew to be perfectly true, he finished removing the map. “Why would you have one of these cheap  five silver X'ibian site maps?”

He spread it out and his jaw dropped.  “This is the original that you made when you were searching for the Darkling’s Tomb!

“Now it really makes no sense at all!  Why did you put that red X on top of Hong Wa?  Do you want me to remove it?  It is a really simple bit of Librarian’s Magic?”

Daring Do laid a gentle hoof over Blendin’s and said, “No, Blendin.  Thank you for the offer but that has become a delightful keepsake to the stupidity of ponies. They broke into my office at the RU and STOLE this.  They also broke many of the figurines of the Royal Darkling Collection being kept for study in my office.”

Baron Von Nighthoof’s brows almost hit his horn, they went up so far.  He clicked on the big Magic Net mirror for the evening news!  The story was not hard to locate.

“Agnes Wordspreader here with This Just IN!  Three divisions of the the Royal Guards, the Royal Heavy Armored Infantry and the Royal Armored Pegassi were mobilized today in DOWNTOWN Canterlot!  They surrounded the building of the lawfirm Robber, Overthrow, and Tyranny for a short while.

“When the Royal Negotiator emerged, she appeared to be none other than the world famous Antiquities Expert, Daring Do.  She spoke briefly with the Commander of the Royal Armored Infantry who, along with the rest of the military and Guard units, then withdrew.”

There were many pictures of the action, including Daring Do emerging from the R.O.T building.

Carmen, a bemused look on her face, pointed her horn at Daring Do and asked, “What were they looking for in your office, Adora, Darling?”

Wincing at the name, Daring Do ate a fork full of her mother’s absolutely heavenly lasagna before speaking.  “They expected to find the location of the tomb of Im Farst.  That X on the map?  It is the EXACT location of it!  

“All that I have to do is go to the Necropolis,” Daring raised her eyebrows and made a fair imitation of Tyranny’s voice as she added, “That’s like a graveyard, locate the appropriate tomb and dig it up!”

Blendin, like all the others around the table, was giggling so hard that it was difficult to speak.  At last he got out, “The only thing that could make that funnier would be if the 'IT’ that they want is the Heart of Discord!”

In a swiftly planned tactical strike, Daring Do said, “It IS!  They do want the Heart of Discord!”

As the whole table exploded in laughter, Daring Do craftily snagged the last two pieces of lasagna.

Uncle M was wiping tears from his eyes and commenting, “I blew lasagna out my nose!”

Sounding almost innocent, Daring Do offered, “Uncle M, I have something else here for your amusement!”  She hoofed over the folded sheets of R.O.T.’s offer.

M unfolded them and nearly choked.  Tears of joy in his eyes, he implored, “May I make a copy of this?  At Allstable we make custom policies all the time.  Some of this is the finest pure legal worm slime that I have ever read! Really good stuff!

“There is no way that you can win with this.  Even if you fulfill all the terms, the whole expedition cost to them is to be deducted from your payment.  You could end up owing R.O.T. thousands in gold.”

Daring Do smiled around her latest forkful of lasagna and swallowed.  “Feel free to copy it, M. What I need from you is a copy that actually says what this one purports to.”

M grinned and promised, “Piece of Lasagna, Adora …  My seconds!  You are eating my seconds!”

Carmen smiled.  “That gives you more room for the frozen Pomegranate Gelatto that I fixed for dessert.”

Relaxing with a few candied figs to fill up corners, Daring Do asked, “How did the bidding go for the Golden Necklace of Pharow Underrock?”

Carmen leaned back in a comfortably padded chair and steepled her hooves.  “We really only had a little time, Adora.  we could do better with more time.  The best that I could do on short notice was 1.5 million golden bits.”

She pointed an admonitiory hoof and went on, “THAT is BEFORE V.I.L.E.’s 20% cut.  That leaves 1.2 million for you.  The money can be deposited in your Equestrian National account by noon tomorrow, if that is satisfactory to you?”

Daring Do nodded, “The money is quite satisfactory.  Thank you.  I did mention that I had a concern about where the necklace was going.  What will happen to it?”

Carmen’s grin was huge.  “Our buyer has a project that needs a Royal sanction.  He will gift the necklace to Princess Luna for immediate permanent display in the Royal Museum with proper provenance and finder’s credit!”

Her own grin almost as wide as her mother’s at the neatly done cutting out of the Acquisition Committee and Count Umber, Daring Do handed over the simple but perfect wooden case of unmistakable Rom workmanship.  Carmen opened it reverently.  Her drawn breath was ample reward, really.  Daring Do knew that sound and expression on her mother’s face since infancy.

Baron Von Nighthoof leaned over to see it and suggested, “We could duplicate that.  Honor requires that the original be given as promised.  I can think of no neck in all of Equestria that such a copy would grace better than your own, Carmen.”

Daring Do knew that all would be done as promised. Her mother would kill before breaking the trust of her family.  She discreetly took her leave.

The next morning, Daring Do emerged from her room at the Adventurer’s Guild and took a refreshing dip in the Guild’s pool and a quick workout in the gym, followed by a few assorted practice workouts in the projectile weapons range.

Her appetite whetted by the light workout, she sat in the Guild’s dining room and ordered a modest breakfast.  The waiter who brought it was familiar.  She stopped him and said in X'ibian, “Listening to those with whom you disagree is the first step on the journey of understanding.  

“I have listened with care to those whom you and I agree are evil.  Now I wish to learn all that you will share.  It is clear that you know much more than you have said.”

The waiter stared carefully about before he bowed a formal Eastern bow and replied in X'ibian, “You are most observant.  You are also correct.  Sadly, most of what I wish to tell is proscribed by ancient oaths.  

“I will tell you this.  We would far sooner trust you to seek that ancient thing than any other. We know that you will treat where it lies with the respect that is due to our ancient land.  Not even we know where it lies any longer.

The Chineighese invasion and conquest a thousand years past destroyed many scholars and their libraries.  The hidden location of the tomb of Im Farst was lost and has not been refound.”

Daring Do nodded thoughtfully and divided her bowl of mixed fruits with him.  “Share with me the meal of friendship.

“I seek no harm to any ancient thing.  I try to find what is lost and restore it to living memory. Sadly, some things need to stay lost but NEVER destroyed.  I have provision made for that eventuality.”

He sat and ate his portion while Daring Do ate hers.  She divided her Alfalfa Waffle with him too.

Now deeply puzzled, she returned to the building of the R.O.T. lawfirm.  Greeting Horsetense, she spoke cheerfully, “I have the expedition agreement ready for the signatures of the partners!”

(to be continued)

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[cobwebears]

I can’t believe this is my first post to hit 200 notes

Probably gonna delete this in the morning but here’s a sneak peek of the things im working on