@Cirrus Light
 

@redweasel  
You Derp’d on the mane, though :P

rainbow dash is a derpy recolor
 

@LookingUnusual  
Dang, that’s right, hah.
 
Interesting. Pretty good idea on the manes.
 
That and the Derpy/Lyra style seem pretty default, though, but it is interesting that Daring had explicitly Rainbow’s in her first appearance.

@Cirrus Light  
I don’t think it was just Dash’s imagination as Daring Do was shown on the cover of the book on the first ep of her.  
 
My guess (with the style at least) is that manes have a habit of representing a lot about the pony. Like how RD and Daring Do have the same style as brave ponies, Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich with partying, Twilight and Moon Dancer with books/studying etc.

@Background Pony #1806  
Well, the first Daring Do episode had a recolor of Dash because Dash was reading it and imagining another version of herself in Daring’s place.
 
Then we introduced her as a real (within the setting) character, and the design carried over because they had to make her stay recognizable as what we previously saw of her.
 
And additionally to both those paragraphs, it’s work to come up with a new design, anyways.
 
I’m almost willing to bet money that’s why.

@Background Pony #1806  
I still say they’re related somehow.

@Background Pony #9F42  
That’s absurd! I know Bruce Wayne. If he’s Batman, then I’m the King of England!

So besides the obvious Clark Kenting thing she does with the glasses, she also borrows the little trick of parting her hair the opposite way! Throw in the cloak to disguise what race of pony she is (and seriously, what pegasus would ever restrict their ability to fly like that? Clearly AK is an earth pony), and it’s just the tiniest bit more believable.

@Algebroot  
“You thought just dyeing your coat and mane with ridiculous colors and painting over your Cutie Mark will fool us?!”

@Ihhh  
 
We’ve got Daring Do, now we just need A.K. Yearling’s design

@Background Pony #30DC  
When EQG Daring Do/A.K. Yearling appears.

EQG edit when?

@Background Pony #1806  
Random pony: (Sees Rainbow Dash without Daring Do) “There’s Daring Do!”

BRUCE WAYNE IS BATMAN!!!

“Of course! Clark Kent is Superman!”

“oooh, you really are just a recolour of rainbow dash”

@Background Pony #1806  
“oh oops, that’s just the photo i took of rainbow dash with this old camera i found… heeeey!”

A.K Yearling is pretty much the pony equivalent of Clark Kent.

If you really want to impress me, ponk, you can explain why Daring Do looks exactly like Rainbow Dash.