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Daring-Do and the Deserted Past Chapter 3

Deviation Actions

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Chapter‭ ‬3

Daring-Do‭ ‬woke‭ ‬up‭ ‬in‭ ‬her‭ ‬bed‭ ‬rubbing‭ ‬her‭ ‬eyes.‭ ‬She‭ ‬had‭ ‬had‭ ‬the‭ ‬most‭ ‬peaceful‭ ‬sleep‭ ‬she‭ ‬had‭ ‬gotten‭ ‬in‭ ‬a‭ ‬long‭ ‬time.‭ ‬She‭ ‬leaned‭ ‬up‭ ‬in‭ ‬her‭ ‬bed‭ ‬and‭ ‬looked‭ ‬over‭ ‬at‭ ‬the‭ ‬picture‭ ‬of‭ ‬her‭ ‬and‭ ‬her‭ ‬father‭ ‬on‭ ‬her‭ ‬dresser.

Her‭ ‬father‭; ‬she‭ ‬had‭ ‬dreamed‭ ‬about‭ ‬him‭ ‬again‭ ‬last‭ ‬night.‭ ‬It‭ ‬was‭ ‬mainly‭ ‬replaying‭ ‬the‭ ‬few‭ ‬memories‭ ‬of‭ ‬him‭ ‬over‭ ‬and‭ ‬over‭ ‬in‭ ‬her‭ ‬head,‭ ‬dreaming‭ ‬about‭ ‬how‭ ‬they‭ ‬had‭ ‬visited‭ ‬a‭ ‬number‭ ‬of‭ ‬exotic‭ ‬locations‭ ‬together.

She‭ ‬had‭ ‬dreamed‭ ‬of‭ ‬him‭ ‬adventuring‭ ‬through‭ ‬faraway‭ ‬places‭ ‬and‭ ‬finding‭ ‬buried‭ ‬treasures.‭ ‬She‭ ‬had‭ ‬tried‭ ‬and‭ ‬tried‭ ‬to‭ ‬be‭ ‬just‭ ‬like‭ ‬him‭ ‬but‭ ‬he‭ ‬always‭ ‬seemed‭ ‬to‭ ‬have‭ ‬had‭ ‬an‭ ‬adventure‭ ‬bigger‭ ‬and‭ ‬better‭ ‬then‭ ‬one‭ ‬she‭ ‬did.

Her‭ ‬thoughts‭ ‬changed‭ ‬to‭ ‬the‭ ‬ancient‭ ‬city‭ ‬Rabalon‭ ‬and‭ ‬the‭ ‬crown‭ ‬inside‭ ‬it.‭ ‬If‭ ‬it‭ ‬could‭ ‬grant‭ ‬any‭ ‬wish,‭ ‬maybe‭ ‬she‭ ‬could‭ ‬use‭ ‬it‭ ‬to‭ ‬bring‭ ‬him‭ ‬back‭? ‬That‭ ‬was‭ ‬it‭! ‬She‭ ‬could‭ ‬use‭ ‬the‭ ‬wish‭ ‬to‭ ‬bring‭ ‬him‭ ‬back‭!

Unless...‭ ‬he‭ ‬never‭ ‬wanted‭ ‬to‭ ‬be‭ ‬found.‭ ‬He‭ ‬was‭ ‬still‭ ‬alive,‭ ‬Daring‭ ‬was‭ ‬sure‭ ‬of‭ ‬it.‭ ‬Nothing‭ ‬could‭ ‬stop‭ ‬him.‭ ‬But‭ ‬if‭ ‬he‭ ‬vanished‭ ‬without‭ ‬telling‭ ‬anypony‭ ‬why,‭ ‬it‭ ‬must‭ ‬have‭ ‬been‭ ‬an‭ ‬important‭ ‬reason,‭ ‬and‭ ‬if‭ ‬he‭ ‬wanted‭ ‬to‭ ‬be‭ ‬found,‭ ‬he‭ ‬would‭ ‬have‭ ‬left‭ ‬a‭ ‬trail‭ ‬for‭ ‬her‭ ‬to‭ ‬follow.

Wait‭ ‬a‭ ‬minute,‭ ‬maybe‭ ‬he‭ ‬did‭?

Daring-Do‭ ‬suddenly‭ ‬leapt‭ ‬out‭ ‬of‭ ‬bed‭ ‬and‭ ‬opened‭ ‬one‭ ‬of‭ ‬her‭ ‬drawers.‭ ‬Inside‭ ‬was‭ ‬the‭ ‬piece‭ ‬of‭ ‬paper‭ ‬he‭ ‬had‭ ‬given‭ ‬her‭ ‬all‭ ‬those‭ ‬years‭ ‬ago‭ ‬before‭ ‬he‭ ‬disappeared.‭ ‬She‭ ‬grabbed‭ ‬it‭ ‬and‭ ‬ran‭ ‬over‭ ‬to‭ ‬her‭ ‬study room.

Daring-Do‭ ‬grabbed‭ ‬a‭ ‬large‭ ‬map‭ ‬with‭ ‬her‭ ‬mouth‭ ‬and‭ ‬spat‭ ‬it‭ ‬onto‭ ‬the‭ ‬table.‭ ‬She‭ ‬quickly‭ ‬unrolled‭ ‬it‭ ‬and‭ ‬looked‭ ‬for‭ ‬the‭ ‬Sandy‭ ‬Dunes‭ ‬Desert.‭ ‬Locating‭ ‬the‭ ‬desert‭ ‬she‭ ‬grabbed‭ ‬the‭ ‬paper‭ ‬and‭ ‬placed‭ ‬it‭ ‬on‭ ‬top‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬map.

The‭ ‬markings‭ ‬on‭ ‬the‭ ‬paper‭ ‬fit‭ ‬almost‭ ‬perfectly‭ ‬to‭ ‬the‭ ‬map.‭ ‬She‭ ‬adjusted‭ ‬it‭ ‬until‭ ‬it‭ ‬matched‭ ‬the‭ ‬map.‭ ‬The‭ ‬paper‭ ‬showed‭ ‬a‭ ‬location‭ ‬in‭ ‬the‭ ‬middle‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬desert,‭ ‬it‭ ‬was‭ ‬almost‭ ‬a‭ ‬perfect‭ ‬match‭ ‬with‭ ‬the‭ ‬location‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬suspected‭ ‬a‭ ‬certain‭ ‬ancient‭ ‬city‭ ‬to‭ ‬be.

"Rabalon...no‭ ‬way.‭" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬gasped,‭ ‬her‭ ‬mouth‭ ‬hanging‭ ‬open.‭ "‬He‭ ‬found‭ ‬it,‭ ‬and‭ ‬he‭ ‬left‭ ‬this‭ ‬for‭ ‬me‭ ‬to‭ ‬find‭ ‬it‭ ‬too...‭"

Daring-Do‭ ‬stared‭ ‬at‭ ‬the‭ ‬map‭; ‬with‭ ‬a‭ ‬little‭ ‬modification‭ ‬the‭ ‬paper‭ ‬could‭ ‬lead‭ ‬her‭ ‬straight‭ ‬to‭ ‬Rabalon.‭ ‬To‭ ‬the‭ ‬biggest‭ ‬treasure‭ ‬vault‭ ‬she‭ ‬would‭ ‬ever‭ ‬find.‭ ‬A‭ ‬once‭ ‬in‭ ‬a‭ ‬lifetime‭ ‬adventure.

"Wow‭ ‬Daring,‭ ‬this‭ ‬is‭ ‬impressive.‭" ‬Professor‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬leaned‭ ‬over‭ ‬the‭ ‬piece‭ ‬of‭ ‬paper‭ ‬laid‭ ‬out‭ ‬on‭ ‬a‭ ‬map‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬Sandy‭ ‬Dunes‭ ‬Desert in the Atlas' office.‭ "‬I‭ ‬never‭ ‬thought‭ ‬I‭ ‬would‭ ‬see‭ something like this‬.‭"

"Pretty‭ ‬awesome‭ ‬huh‭? ‬I‭ ‬knew‭ ‬my‭ ‬father‭ ‬wouldn‭'‬t‭ ‬leave‭ ‬me‭ ‬with‭ ‬nothing.‭ ‬He‭ ‬found‭ ‬the‭ ‬map‭ ‬to‭ ‬Rabalon‭ ‬and‭ ‬he‭ ‬wanted‭ ‬me‭ ‬to‭ ‬go‭ ‬find‭ ‬it‭!" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬hopped‭ ‬in‭ ‬excitement.

"Well‭ ‬hold‭ ‬on‭ ‬Daring,‭ ‬I‭ ‬don‭'‬t‭ ‬know‭ ‬about‭ ‬this.‭ ‬Why‭ ‬would‭ ‬he‭ ‬leave‭ ‬the‭ ‬map‭ ‬to‭ ‬you‭ ‬in‭ ‬the‭ ‬first‭ ‬place‭?"

"Who‭ ‬cares‭? ‬We‭ ‬know‭ ‬where‭ ‬it‭ ‬is,‭ ‬so‭ ‬let‭'‬s‭ ‬go‭! ‬Even‭ ‬if‭ ‬we‭ ‬have‭ ‬to‭ ‬dig‭ ‬our‭ ‬way‭ ‬to‭ ‬it,‭ ‬we‭ ‬can‭ ‬get‭ ‬there.‭"

Atlas‭ ‬bit‭ ‬her‭ ‬bottom‭ ‬lip.‭ "‬I‭ ‬don‭'‬t‭ ‬know,‭ ‬the‭ ‬constant‭ ‬sandstorms‭ ‬would‭ ‬make‭ ‬it‭ ‬pretty‭ ‬dangerous.‭ ‬Even‭ ‬if‭ Rabalon ‬was‭ ‬still‭ ‬standing,‭ ‬the‭ ‬sandstorms‭ ‬would‭ ‬make‭ ‬it‭ ‬impossible‭ ‬to‭ ‬get‭ ‬anywhere‭ ‬when‭ one ‬hits.‭"

"Well‭ ‬don‭'‬t‭ ‬we‭ ‬have‭ ‬weather‭ ‬ponies‭ ‬keeping‭ ‬track‭ ‬of‭ ‬that‭ ‬stuff‭ ‬over‭ ‬there‭ ‬anyway‭? ‬We‭ ‬could‭ ‬schedule‭ ‬a‭ ‬trip‭ ‬sometime‭ ‬when‭ ‬there‭ ‬isn‭'‬t‭ ‬a‭ ‬storm.‭"

"Oh,‭ ‬um,‭ ‬I‭'‬m‭ ‬afraid‭ ‬we‭ ‬don‭'‬t‭ ‬have‭ ‬access‭ ‬to‭ ‬the‭ ‬weather‭ ‬data‭ ‬from‭ ‬the‭ ‬Sandy‭ ‬Dunes‭ ‬Desert‭ ‬area.‭" ‬Atlas‭ ‬nervously‭ ‬smiled.

"Oh‭? ‬Well‭ ‬what‭'‬s‭ ‬this‭?" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬jumped‭ ‬and‭ ‬swiped‭ ‬a‭ ‬scroll‭ ‬of‭ ‬paper‭ ‬before‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬could‭ ‬grab‭ ‬it.‭ ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬leapt‭ ‬to‭ ‬the‭ ‬other‭ ‬side‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬room‭ ‬before‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬could‭ ‬stop‭ ‬her‭ ‬from‭ ‬opening‭ ‬it.

"Hm,‭ ‬sandstorm‭ ‬patterns‭ ‬in‭ ‬the‭ ‬Sandy‭ ‬Dunes‭ ‬Desert." Daring-Do read the title of the page.‭" ‬Gee,‭ ‬this‭ ‬looks‭ ‬like‭ ‬it‭ ‬could‭ ‬be‭ ‬useful‭ ‬for‭ ‬exploring‭ ‬a‭ ‬certain‭ ‬ancient‭ ‬city‭ ‬with‭ ‬untold‭ ‬riches‭ ‬don‭'‬t‭ ‬you‭ ‬think‭? ‬Why‭ ‬would‭ ‬you‭ ‬hide‭ ‬it‭ ‬from‭ ‬me‭?"

Atlas‭ ‬brought‭ ‬a‭ ‬hoof‭ ‬up‭ ‬in‭ ‬exasperation.‭ "‬I,‭ ‬uh,‭ ‬fine‭ ‬I‭'‬ll‭ ‬tell‭ ‬you.‭ ‬I‭ ‬didn‭'‬t‭ ‬want‭ ‬you‭ ‬reading‭ ‬it‭ ‬because‭ ‬I‭ ‬didn‭'‬t‭ ‬want‭ ‬you‭ ‬taking‭ ‬too‭ ‬big‭ ‬of‭ ‬a‭ ‬risk‭ ‬for‭ ‬a‭ ‬treasure.‭ ‬I‭ ‬didn‭'‬t‭ ‬want‭ ‬you‭ ‬to‭ ‬go.‭"

"Well‭ ‬why‭ ‬did‭ ‬you‭ ‬not‭ ‬let‭ ‬me‭ ‬see‭ ‬the‭ ‬sandstorm‭ ‬data‭?" ‬Daring‭ ‬opened‭ ‬the‭ ‬scroll‭ ‬and‭ ‬looked‭ ‬at‭ ‬the‭ ‬most‭ ‬recent‭ ‬entry.

Daring-Do‭ ‬mumbled‭ ‬to‭ ‬herself‭ ‬as‭ ‬she‭ ‬read‭ ‬the‭ ‬latest‭ ‬entry.

"Hey‭ ‬Atlas,‭ ‬what‭'‬s‭ ‬this‭ ‬mean‭?" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬pointed‭ ‬to‭ ‬the‭ ‬graph‭ ‬under‭ ‬the‭ ‬entry.

"It‭ ‬means‭ ‬that‭ ‬there‭ ‬was‭ ‬a‭ ‬large‭ ‬storm‭ ‬a‭ ‬few‭ ‬days‭ ‬ago,‭ ‬the‭ ‬biggest‭ ‬on‭ ‬record‭ ‬in‭ ‬years,‭ ‬and‭ ‬that‭ ‬a‭ ‬large‭ ‬amount‭ ‬of‭ ‬sand‭ ‬was‭ ‬moved‭ ‬from‭ ‬that‭ ‬area.‭"

"So‭ ‬does‭ ‬that‭ ‬mean‭ ‬the‭ ‬storm‭ ‬could‭ ‬have‭ ‬uncovered‭ ‬Rabalon‭?"

Atlas‭ ‬sighed.‭ "It's possible‬.‭"

"Awesome‭! ‬What‭ ‬are‭ ‬we‭ ‬doing‭ ‬standing‭ ‬around‭? ‬Let‭'‬s‭ ‬go‭ ‬already‭!"

"You‭ ‬don‭'‬t‭ ‬know‭ ‬how‭ ‬sandstorms‭ ‬in‭ ‬that‭ ‬area‭ ‬work‭ ‬do‭ ‬you‭? ‬Sandstorms‭ ‬in‭ ‬the‭ ‬Sandy‭ ‬Dunes‭ ‬Desert‭ ‬always‭ ‬come‭ ‬in‭ ‬pairs,‭ ‬one‭ ‬shows‭ ‬up‭ ‬and‭ ‬another‭ ‬one‭ ‬matching‭ ‬it‭ ‬comes‭ ‬by‭ ‬a‭ ‬little‭ ‬bit‭ ‬later,‭ ‬normally‭ ‬a‭ ‬few‭ ‬days‭ ‬afterwards.‭ ‬I‭'‬m‭ ‬just‭ ‬afraid‭ ‬that‭ ‬if‭ ‬you‭ ‬go‭ ‬now‭ ‬you‭'‬ll‭ ‬get‭ ‬stuck‭ ‬inside‭ ‬the‭ ‬second‭ ‬storm.‭"

"Oh,‭ ‬that‭'‬s‭ ‬why‭ ‬you‭ ‬were‭ ‬trying‭ ‬to‭ ‬hide‭ ‬the‭ ‬storm‭ ‬data.‭" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬said.

"Yeah,‭ ‬because‭ ‬I‭ ‬know‭ ‬if‭ ‬you‭ ‬saw‭ ‬an‭ ‬opportunity,‭ ‬I‭ ‬wouldn‭'‬t‭ ‬be‭ ‬able‭ ‬to‭ ‬stop‭ ‬you‭ ‬from‭ ‬going.‭"

"But‭ ‬I‭ ‬have‭ ‬to‭ ‬go,‭ ‬we‭ ‬may‭ ‬never‭ ‬get‭ ‬a‭ ‬chance‭ ‬like‭ ‬this‭ ‬ever‭ ‬again‭! ‬Come‭ ‬on‭ ‬Prof,‭ ‬I‭ ‬know‭ ‬you‭ ‬want‭ ‬to‭ ‬know‭ ‬what‭ ‬kind‭ ‬of‭ ‬incredible‭ ‬treasures‭ ‬might‭ ‬be‭ ‬in‭ ‬there.‭" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬wrapped‭ ‬her‭ ‬arm‭ ‬around‭ ‬Atlas‭' ‬neck‭ ‬and‭ ‬pretended‭ ‬to‭ ‬show‭ ‬her‭ ‬all‭ ‬the‭ ‬riches‭ ‬she‭ ‬might‭ ‬find.

Atlas‭'‬s‭ ‬eyes‭ ‬widened,‭ ‬as‭ ‬dangerous‭ ‬as‭ ‬it‭ ‬was,‭ ‬she‭ ‬realized‭ ‬that‭ ‬the‭ ‬crown‭ ‬would‭ ‬be‭ ‬the‭ ‬discovery‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬century.

‭"‬Ok fine,‭ ‬I‭'‬ll‭ ‬help‭ ‬you‭ ‬get‭ ‬there,‭ ‬but‭ ‬I‭'‬m‭ ‬warning‭ ‬you‭ ‬that‭ ‬with‭ ‬your‭ ‬wing‭ ‬in‭ ‬such‭ ‬bad‭ ‬shape‭ ‬it‭ ‬won‭'‬t‭ ‬be‭ ‬easy.‭" ‬Atlas‭ ‬reasoned.

"No‭ ‬problem,‭ ‬I‭ ‬can‭ ‬handle‭ ‬anything‭!" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬struck‭ ‬a‭ ‬pose.

Professor‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬rolled‭ ‬her‭ ‬eyes.‭ "‬Well,‭ ‬because‭ ‬of‭ ‬your‭ ‬wing‭ ‬you‭ ‬are‭ ‬going‭ ‬to‭ ‬need‭ ‬some‭ ‬way‭ ‬to‭ ‬get‭ ‬all‭ ‬the‭ ‬way‭ ‬out‭ ‬into‭ ‬the‭ ‬desert before the second storm,‭ ‬and‭ ‬I‭ ‬happen‭ ‬to‭ ‬have‭ ‬just‭ ‬the‭ ‬thing.‭ ‬Come‭ ‬on.‭" ‬Atlas‭ ‬waved‭ ‬her‭ ‬hoof‭ ‬and‭ ‬walked‭ ‬down‭ ‬the‭ ‬hallway.

Daring-Do‭ ‬grinned‭ ‬and‭ ‬followed‭ ‬her,‭ ‬practically‭ ‬bouncing‭ ‬with‭ ‬excitement.‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬led‭ ‬her‭ ‬into‭ ‬the‭ ‬garage‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬museum.‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬walked‭ ‬up‭ ‬to‭ ‬the‭ ‬large‭ ‬object‭ ‬covered‭ ‬in‭ ‬a‭ ‬tarp‭ ‬that‭ ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬saw‭ ‬yesterday.

"I‭'‬ve‭ ‬been‭ ‬waiting‭ ‬for‭ ‬the‭ ‬day‭ ‬when‭ ‬I‭ ‬would‭ ‬get‭ ‬to‭ ‬see‭ ‬this‭ ‬in‭ ‬use.‭" ‬Atlas‭ ‬said‭ ‬to‭ ‬herself‭ ‬as‭ ‬she‭ ‬grabbed‭ ‬the‭ ‬tarp‭ ‬in‭ ‬her‭ ‬mouth.

"Daring-Do,‭ ‬say‭ ‬hello‭ ‬to‭ ‬my‭ ‬latest‭ ‬project.‭" ‬Atlas‭ ‬yanked‭ ‬the‭ ‬tarp‭ ‬off‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬object.‭ "‬I‭ ‬call‭ ‬it:‭ ‬The‭ ‬Skywagon‭!"

Daring-Do‭ ‬stared‭ ‬at‭ ‬the‭ ‬device‭ ‬in‭ ‬front‭ ‬of‭ ‬her.‭ ‬It‭ ‬was‭ ‬a‭ ‬round‭ ‬pod‭ ‬with‭ ‬two‭ ‬sets‭ ‬of‭ ‬wings‭ ‬on‭ ‬the‭ ‬top‭ ‬and‭ ‬bottom.‭ ‬It‭ ‬looked‭ ‬like‭ ‬a‭ ‬train‭ ‬car‭ ‬but‭ ‬with‭ ‬wings‭ ‬and‭ ‬no‭ ‬massive‭ ‬wheels.

"Uh,‭ ‬what‭ ‬is‭ ‬that‭ ‬thing‭?" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬asked,‭ ‬dumbfounded.

"Why‭ ‬this‭ ‬is‭ ‬the‭ ‬innovation‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬century‭!" ‬Atlas‭ ‬exclaimed‭ ‬with‭ ‬a‭ ‬large‭ ‬grin.‭ "‬A‭ ‬device‭ ‬that‭ ‬can‭ ‬grant‭ ‬the‭ ‬gift‭ ‬of‭ ‬flight‭ ‬to‭ ‬unicorns‭ ‬and‭ ‬earth‭ ‬ponies‭! ‬I‭'‬ve‭ ‬been‭ ‬tinkering‭ ‬with‭ ‬it‭ ‬for‭ ‬a‭ ‬while‭ ‬now,‭ ‬and‭ ‬this‭ ‬is‭ ‬the‭ ‬perfect‭ ‬opportunity‭ ‬to‭ ‬test‭ ‬it‭ ‬out.‭"

"Cool‭!" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬said,‭ ‬walking‭ ‬around‭ ‬the‭ ‬Skywagon.‭ "‬So,‭ ‬does‭ ‬it‭ ‬work‭?"

"Does‭ ‬it‭ ‬work‭? ‬HA‭! ‬What‭ ‬a‭ ‬silly‭ ‬question‭ ‬to‭ ‬ask.‭" ‬Atlas‭ ‬pretended‭ ‬to‭ ‬laugh.

"So‭ ‬does‭ ‬it‭?"

"Um....I‭ ‬don‭'‬t‭ ‬know,‭ ‬it‭'‬s‭ ‬just‭ ‬a‭ ‬prototype,‭ ‬I‭'‬ve‭ ‬never‭ ‬actually‭ ‬flown‭ ‬it.‭ ‬But‭ ‬it‭'‬s‭ ‬relatively‭ ‬easy‭ ‬to‭ ‬fly,‭ ‬I‭ ‬based‭ ‬the‭ ‬controls‭ ‬on‭ ‬the‭ ‬movements‭ ‬of‭ ‬a‭ ‬pegasus‭ ‬in‭ ‬flight,‭ ‬so‭ ‬you‭ ‬should‭ ‬be‭ ‬able‭ ‬to‭ ‬pick‭ ‬it‭ ‬up‭ ‬really‭ ‬quick.‭"

"This‭ ‬thing‭ ‬could‭ ‬really‭ ‬get‭ ‬me‭ ‬all‭ ‬the‭ ‬way‭ ‬to‭ ‬the‭ ‬Sandy‭ ‬Dunes‭ ‬Desert‭?"

"Yep,‭ ‬the‭ ‬fuel‭ ‬tank‭ ‬is‭ ‬big‭ ‬enough‭ ‬to‭ ‬get‭ ‬you‭ ‬there‭ ‬and‭ ‬back‭ ‬in‭ ‬one‭ ‬go.‭ ‬It‭'‬s‭ ‬a‭ ‬real‭ ‬technological‭ ‬marvel‭!"

Atlas‭ ‬climbed‭ ‬into‭ ‬the‭ ‬Skywagon‭ ‬and‭ ‬pressed‭ ‬a‭ ‬button‭ ‬on‭ ‬the‭ ‬control‭ ‬panel.‭ ‬She‭ ‬turned‭ ‬and‭ ‬smiled‭ ‬at‭ ‬Daring-Do.‭ ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬stared‭ ‬back‭ ‬at‭ ‬her‭ ‬as‭ ‬the‭ ‬Skywagon‭ ‬did‭ ‬nothing.‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬frowned‭ ‬and‭ ‬kicked‭ ‬the‭ ‬engine,‭ ‬the‭ ‬machine‭ ‬groaned‭ ‬and‭ ‬roared‭ ‬to‭ ‬life‭ ‬in‭ ‬the‭ ‬garage.

Daring-Do‭ ‬covered‭ ‬her‭ ‬ears‭ ‬at‭ ‬the‭ ‬loud‭ ‬noise‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬engine.‭ "‬It‭'‬s‭ ‬a‭ ‬little‭ ‬loud‭!" ‬She‭ ‬yelled.

"What‭? ‬I‭ ‬should‭ ‬be‭ ‬proud‭? ‬Why‭ ‬thank‭ ‬you,‭ ‬I‭ ‬am‭!" ‬Atlas‭ ‬smiled‭ ‬again.

"No‭! ‬It‭'‬s‭ ‬a‭ ‬little‭ ‬loud‭!"

"WHAT‭?"

"TURN‭ ‬IT‭ ‬OFF‭!"

Atlas‭ ‬pressed‭ ‬another‭ ‬button‭ ‬on‭ ‬the‭ ‬control‭ ‬panel‭ ‬and‭ ‬the‭ ‬Skywagon‭ ‬shut‭ ‬itself‭ ‬down.‭ ‬Atlas‭ ‬reached‭ ‬into‭ ‬the‭ ‬cockpit‭ ‬and‭ ‬pulled‭ ‬out‭ ‬a‭ ‬heavy‭ ‬book.‭ ‬She‭ ‬tossed‭ ‬the‭ ‬book‭ ‬over‭ ‬her‭ ‬shoulder‭ ‬and‭ ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬instinctively‭ ‬caught‭ ‬it.

"What‭'‬s‭ ‬this‭?" ‬She‭ ‬asked,‭ ‬looking‭ ‬at‭ ‬the‭ ‬book.

"The‭ ‬manual,‭ ‬it‭ ‬will‭ ‬tell‭ ‬you‭ ‬everything‭ ‬about‭ ‬how‭ ‬to‭ ‬fly‭ ‬it.‭ ‬I‭ ‬want‭ ‬you‭ ‬to‭ ‬read‭ ‬it‭ ‬before‭ ‬we‭ ‬go.‭" ‬Atlas‭ ‬said.

"I‭ ‬have‭ ‬to...read‭?!"‬ Daring-Do‭ ‬opened‭ ‬her‭ ‬mouth‭ ‬in‭ ‬shock.

"Yes,‭ ‬just‭ ‬the‭ ‬first‭ ‬chapter,‭ ‬that‭ ‬will‭ ‬tell‭ ‬you‭ ‬how‭ ‬to‭ ‬fly‭ ‬the‭ ‬Skywagon.‭ ‬Read‭ ‬that‭ ‬while‭ ‬I‭ ‬set‭ ‬everything‭ ‬up‭ ‬for‭ ‬your‭ ‬journey,‭ ‬I‭ ‬want‭ ‬to‭ ‬pack‭ ‬everything‭ ‬you‭ ‬might‭ ‬need‭ ‬into‭ ‬the‭ ‬Skywagon.‭"

"Oh‭ ‬man....‭" ‬Daring-Do‭ ‬slumped‭ ‬her‭ ‬head.

A‭ ‬pipe‭ ‬sticking‭ ‬out‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬Skywagon‭ ‬coughed‭ ‬and‭ ‬spat‭ ‬a‭ ‬cloud‭ ‬of‭ ‬black‭ ‬smoke‭ ‬in‭ ‬Daring-Do‭'‬s‭ ‬face.‭ ‬She‭ ‬coughed‭ ‬and‭ ‬shook‭ ‬her‭ ‬head.‭ ‬She‭ ‬just‭ ‬wanted‭ ‬to‭ ‬get‭ ‬to‭ ‬Rabalon‭ ‬and‭ ‬get‭ ‬that‭ ‬crown‭ ‬already.

Daring-Do‭ ‬sat‭ ‬at‭ ‬a‭ ‬table‭ ‬and‭ ‬opened‭ ‬to‭ ‬the‭ ‬first‭ ‬page‭ ‬of‭ ‬the‭ ‬manual.‭ "‬Great,‭ ‬no‭ ‬pictures.‭" ‬She‭ ‬sighed.

Atlas‭ ‬poked‭ ‬her‭ ‬head‭ ‬into‭ ‬the‭ ‬room.‭ "‬Don‭'‬t‭ ‬worry‭ ‬Daring‭; ‬the‭ ‬first‭ ‬chapter‭ ‬is‭ ‬only‭ ‬43‭ ‬pages‭ ‬long.‭"

Daring-Do‭ ‬groaned‭ ‬and‭ ‬slammed‭ ‬her‭ ‬head‭ ‬on‭ ‬the‭ ‬table.
The third chapter in Daring-Do's latest adventure.

After hearing about Rabalon, the ancient city in the sands, Daring-Do dreams that night of her father, who had mysteriously disappeared when she was very young, leaving only a single gift. But Daring-Do discovers her father might have left behind more then she thought.

Cover art by :iconqsteel:

Chapter 1: [link]
Chapter 2: [link]
Chapter 3: You're reading it silly >.>
Chapter 4: [link]
© 2012 - 2024 MrFugums
Comments3
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TheRandomJunker's avatar
OH NO! You made Daring an egg-head!