Today's writing: Daring Double (Patreon)

ACCOUNTABILITY:

WORD GOAL MONTH TO DATE: 18,000

ACTUAL WORDS WRITTEN (INCLUDING THIS): 5,870

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(contest fic)

DARING DOUBLE

by Kris Overstreet

"Honey, are you sure you don't want to come with me?"

Shining Armor barely lifted his eyes from his suitcase as he levitated khaki shirt after khaki shirt into it. A stack of books followed it in, then floated back out, then danced back and forth before it finally found its way inside for good. 

Standing in the doorway, Cadance chuckled softly. "Thank you, Shiny," she said, "but as much as I would like to share your interests, we already know you'll enjoy this much more without me around to drag you down." 

"Cady, you never drag me down," Shining insisted.

"That's sweet," Cadance said. "And I appreciate it. But I already thought about this before I bought you the ticket. If I went with you every pony would notice the wings and horn, and it would be the same bowing and groveling and interruptions, and we'd never be able to relax." She pointed a wingtip in his direction and said, "By yourself you probably don't have to worry about that."

Shining Armor paused in his packing. "I dunno," he said. "I am the Prince Consort of the Crystal Empire, after all. And captain of the Canterlot palace guard. Ponies have seen my face."

Cadance sighed. "Trust me, Shiny," she said, "once a pony sees an alicorn they don't see anything else." She stepped into the room, wrapping a wing around Shining's barrel and hugging him close. "So go take advantage of your invisibility. I know you want to."

"I'm gonna miss you," Shining said quietly. "And Flurry."

"You better not!" Cadance replied, giggling again. "I bought you that ticket as an anniversary gift so you would go have fun- not so you would spend a weekend pining after us." She slipped her wing off of him and used the tip to give him a nudge in the ribs. "Besides, how many times have you told me about how your mom used to read you the Daring Do novels she edited?"

"Um... three or four?"

"Try three or four hundred."

"Okay, you got me," Shining admitted, laughing. "But I can't help it! The Daring Do stories are some of the most fun adventures ever! Miss A. K. Yearling makes you really feel like you're in the Forbidden Jungles, or the Scorching Desert, or the Unknown Lands in the West! And for all Daring Do's skills, you never feel like she's overpowered or just going through the motions, like the late Silver Age-"

"If you start talking to me about comic books," Cadance warned, "you're going to miss your train."

"I can't miss it," Shining grinned. "Special private train, remember?"

"Only as far as Canterlot," Cadance grinned back. Her magic lit up, and Shining's suitcase closed with a snap, then floated towards the door. "From there to Baltimare you ride just like a normal pony, and that train has a schedule. Now off with you!"

"Okay, okay." Shining followed his suitcase halfway out the door, then dashed back and gave Cadance a kiss on the cheek that lasted considerably longer than a peck. "Love you, Cady."

"Love you more, Shiny."

And then, after pausing in the nursery to wave goodbye to Flurry Heart and her new tutor, Shining Armor and his suitcase began their cross-country trip to Baltimare...

... Baltimare, and Con-Venture.

"This is not going to work,"

"Of course it's going to work! Look, this is only for one day, right? We look exactly alike, and from what Twilight Sparkle tells me-"

"But we're NOT exactly alike! And this is a convention! I've been a convention guest before! This is a place full of obsessive-compulsive detail freaks who remember how many times you used the word 'is' on page 147 of your previous book! Some of them think it might be part of a secret coded message! They NOTICE things!"

"Big deal! It's mostly stuff you already know."

"But it's NOT! There are all sorts of differences, and I don't know what they are! But the fans know, and they're going to spot it!"

"So bluff your way through it. Say you're setting something up for your next book! Blame it on Daring Do thinking it was such-and-so a way instead of-"

"And what happens when the next book comes out?"

"Edited out of an old draft! Now look, I don't have time for this. I've got to find Apep before he reaches Canterlot. You just go out there and sign some autographs."

"With my teeth??"

"Well, what else? We're not unicorns, you know."

"Ohhhhh!!!"

"It's not so bad. My signature's illegible anyway, so don't worry about it."

"That's not the problem!!"

"Look, your first event is the Thursday VIP meet-and-greet. This is Con-Venture's first year as a four-day event, so it'll probably be lightly attended. Then you have a panel on writing convincing antagonists. You know that better than I do, and for any story specifics lean on Groom Q. Q. Martingale- he knows about all this, by the way, except for one little detail. Then there's a one-hour autograph session, and opening ceremonies at seven PM. Plenty of time in between to relax in the green room. You'll be fine, and I'll be back before midnight tonight. Earlier if I get lucky."

"You better be right about this."

"I usually am."

"And I had better get the week I was promised."

"Beginning Monday after the convention ends, sure. After all, A. K. Yearling isn't a one-day guest. Now go knock 'em dead!"

A shadowy figure flew out the hotel room's open window, and, grumbling under her breath, A. K. Yearling pulled her shawl a little tighter around herself and left by the suite door, where her handler waited to escort her down to the convention floor.

Shining Armor adjusted the lanyard that held his large, shiny VIP badge around his neck. The heavy plastic plaque made the lanyard chafe a little, but it was worth it. He'd get all the perks of being, well, of being Prince Shining Armor without actually having to be Prince Shining Armor. First seating at all the major events, first crack at the vendor bazaar, Sunday lunch with all the guests of honor, and a host of other goodies... 

... which included this 11 AM meet-and-greet with A. K. Yearling herself! He'd brought his entire hardback collection of Daring Do books so she could autograph them at the end- but only after all the other Very Important Ponies who didn't have an alicorn princess for a loving wife had their turn, of course. 

.... running out of steam here, hopefully more tomorrow before the Portal game stream on Twitch (7 PM Central 1-15).