Daringmom Part 1

>Be Daring-Do's son

 

>Just another day in this backwater town on the border of Equestria,

>You're lying sprawled over the back of the couch

>Today was the day mom said she'd be back, but the sun's already going down.

>Doesn't matter too much, it's been that way your whole life,

>You never knew your father, neither did your mom.

>She had a list of candidates somewhere, but most of them were loose ends, deadbeats, or six feet under by now.

>You both figured it was probably best not to solve that mystery.

>You miss her when she's gone, but you don't hate her;

>Quite the opposite in fact, she's your idol.

>The fact that she could easily have had her life ruined by you, yet still spends all her free time with you is enough to admire her.

>You don't expect her to devote her life to you,

>You were an accident,

>You're just happy you didn't ruin her life.

>When you were younger you always asked if you could go with her on her adventures,

>She always said it wasn't a game, and that dangerous things happened out there, that she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if you got hurt.

>Her saying no was reason enough.

I hope you're alright this time, mom...

>you're looking down at a picture of her on the couch, the crackling fire in the corner splaying shadows over its surface.

>If it weren't for that picture, you may well have forgotten her face sometimes.

>So brave... So adventurous... So talented at what she does...

>How could anyone not admire that?

>The scant time you have together is always precious, and you tend to not do much without her

>Just to make those times so much better.

>your dangling hoof strokes the picture by accident, and it falls off the couch

>Damn, she was younger than you are now when she had you... you don't think you would be able to handle that.

>God she's bucking amazing.

>before long, midnight rolls about

>You feed the fire one last time and take your perch atop the sofa back again,

>Guess she'll be coming home tomorrow.

>Maybe we'll fly down to the hot springs, then watch the sun set over red-belly gorge...

>She'll tell you tales of her latest exploits, go on about things that'd make grown stallions quiver in fear as if they were nothing.

>you're not angry she's late,

>So long as she comes home...

>She always comes home.

>With that thought in your head, you drift off to sleep.

 

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>You flutter back to the edge of consciousness to the sound of rustling paper,

>Something heavy bangs down on a desk,

>Your eyes snap open and you realize you've fallen behind the couch

>Someone is standing in the corner of the room, breathing heavily and grunting every so often as they rummage through the assorted crap kept around the house,

>You listen up, it sounds like...

Mom!

>In one move, you propel yourself out of the gap behind the couch and land on the ground next to her,

>She spins around to face you, but before she can do anything about it you wrap your arms around her neck

>She's stunned for a moment, but comes to her senses

>''I misshed you too, shweetie...''

>She's gripping a hunting blade in her mouth,

Heh, did I startle you?

>Your mom chucked the knife onto the desk; it landed blade first and stuck.

>''Little bit,''

>The fire is nothing but smoldering embers now, but that tells you it was about 3 or 4 in the morning.

>As soon as you release her from the hug, you speak,

I'm happy you're home, mom! I don't even know why I worry anymore, I can't wait to hear about-

>As soon as you said home, she put on this really sad smile, like something was wrong.

What's the matter?

>She sighs and turns to the papers on her desk.

>''I'm not staying for long this time,''

>She has a dodgy tone in her voice?

What do you mean? When are you leaving?

>She paws the ground for a second, as if she was thinking up some kind of excuse.

>''...Immediately.''

>Your heart sinks just sinks,

>the urge to say something, to lash out, is almost unbearable.

>But you suppress it.

Okay then...

>It looks like mom wants to say something, her mouth opens slightly and she raises her chin,

>but no words come out.

>It's okay, there's only one thing you'd want to hear right now anyways.

>Your ears droop slightly, and you turn around to leave.

I'm going back to bed, mom.

>See you whenever.

>She hasn't moved since she broke the news.

>Guess it'll be another few months... maybe a year.

>Wait a minute, no!

Wait a minute, no!

>Your ears perk up and you swing around to meet her eyes,

Too many times I've sat around and done nothing but miss you while you were off adventuring the world!

I can't stand for this anymore!

>You didn'y want to pull the guilt card, but it had to be done.

>She looks at you half sad, half confused.

>''Honey, I don't think you realize the importance of why I'm doing this next job, I HAVE to go...''

I know you do, mom,

>''Then wh-''

I'm coming with you.

>She looked shocked.

>''No way in hell I'm bringing you along!''

>What the heck was a hell? Must be some kind of food she's had on her travels.

>Doesn't matter.

Why not?

>''I don't want you getting killed, give it  few more years.''

You were younger than me when you started adventuring alone!

>''I'm different, I had no choice!''

If you had a choice between exploring the world with your mother, and living a bleak existence waiting for her to come back, which one would you choose?

>There was nothing she could say to that, all she could do was look down at the floor.

>I've never been this way with her before, she's probably surprised.

>Now that you think about it, she's probably been steeling herself for this day for a few years now.

>Eventually she mutters something under her breath, like a child admitting they've done something wrong.

Huh?

>''Fine, you can come.''

>Never have four words sent your heart flying so high in the proverbial sky,

>Before she can react, you whip your arms out and give her th biggest hug of your life.

Thankyouthankyouthankyou-

>''Hey, hey, there'll be time for hugging later. Now we pack, I'll explain more on the way.''

>It was actually happening,

>You were going to go on an adventure with your mom,

>The best adventurer to set hoof in Equestria.

>Your amazing mom.