Arron and Midnight shielded their eyes from the sun. They had gone from a dark cave back into the morning’s light. After his eyes readjusted Arron glanced at the shadows. It’s still a while before noon, he thought. Eleven’Oclockish… perhaps a little earlier?
Midnight was already taking down the tent with her magic. Arron walked over to one of the toppled pillars, took off his rifle leaning it up against the smoothest side, before using the shovel he found at the diamond dog’s camp to cover the somewhat smoldering fire pit.
When the camp was fully broken down, Arron took out his compass though he didn’t have a map he still had a relatively good idea as to where he was.
“So Midnight,” he looked at the pony, putting his compass away. “If you’re joining me on my little adventure I’ll let you decide where we should go.”
Midnight balked. “Me,” she sounded both unsure and shocked. “But, I was going to follow you.”
Arron laughed. “True, but you probably know this jungle better than I do.”
Midnight’s ears twitched. “Ah…yes, well I don’t know which way you want to go.”
Arron tilted his head. “My car is on the western side of the jungle, I couldn’t possibly drive through all of the thick vegetation.”
“What’s a car?”
Arron smiled at her, “You’ll see.”
Her ears flattened a moment, then she shook her head a few times, he’s keeping secrets from me? No, he doesn’t have any ill intentions. Perhaps this car he’s talking about is too hard to explain? I have no idea what’s going on anymore! After seeing everything inside that cave I don’t know what to believe!
“Midnight, Midnight,” Arron gently shook her. “Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought.”
“Don’t worry about it, just so long as you don’t get us physically lost then I don’t mind,” he paused a moment. “But can’t you think while we walk?”
She shook her head more vigorously, “Of course,” she trotted off into the jungle stopping long enough to turn around and beckon for Arron. “Come on follow me!”
Arron adjusted his rifle and his cap and jogged to catch up to the pony. Midnight was humming a tune, her head swaying from side to side while she trotted along, it was easier for her to maneuver through the brush, though Arron was having a hard time keeping up. He had to move limbs or climb over rocks and roots.
I guess being smaller has its advantages, he thought after nearly tripping over a large root.
Midnight didn’t notice that she was slowly leaving Arron further and further behind. Not wanting to disturb her from her thoughts Arron didn’t say anything. Even if I can only see that white tail of hers I’ll be OK, he thought.
The jungle started to thin out which made things easier for Midnight. Now we can walk side by side again, she blushed a bit at the thought. No, Midnight I don’t think Arron thinks of you like that… but, it would be nice if he did… she looked at her black hoof and frowned. No pony else did, not even my mom and dad… she closed her eyes and pushed the memories of her abandonment away. “Arron,” she fell silent when she turned around. The man was nowhere to be seen. “Arron!” she called out panic stricken. “Arron where are you!” She galloped as fast as her hooves would go, but in her plight to find Arron she got lost herself. She came to a screeching halt when she approached a clearing by one of the river’s waterfalls.
A giant blue ape like creature, it had the head and ears like those of a dog, there was an extra hand at the tip of its tail, the creature was laughing showing off its sharp teeth while it gloated over a brown coated pony who was tied up on a stone slab.
Midnight’s eyes became dots, she swallowed hard before slowly backing away. Ahuizotl, she thought. I’ve heard the diamond dogs talk about him, but he’s far scarier than they described.
While Midnight was trying to make herself scarce the pony on the slab was struggling with her bonds.
“You’ll never get away with this Ahuizotl,” she cried.
Ahouizotl stopped laughing one of his hench cats climbed up on the slab and hissed at her, while two of the painted pony warriors pointed arrows at her.
“You always say that Daring Do…”
“And I’m usually right!” Daring Do retorted cutting him off.
Ahouizotl growled in aggravation. “But this time… this time it will be the end of you!” He pointed a finger of scorn at the impetuous pony.
Daring Do stopped struggling for a moment to roll her eyes. “And yet, I always escape and foil your plans.”
“I know,” Ahouizotl deadpanned. “And its getting really annoying! I mean every trap, every scheme you always foil it…” he gave her a wide conniving grin. “But that ends today, today you…”
Ahouizotl stopped mid monologue when they all heard a commotion coming from the edge of the clearing.
“What now,” Ahouizotl asked annoyed. “Has one of your friends come here to save you Daring Do? I thought you worked alone?”
Arron stepped out into the clearing brushing leaves and a few branches that stuck to his cap and shirt.
“What is that thing,” the question made Arron look up after placing his backpack down.
There was truly an odd assortment of characters staring his way. After curiously looking behind him and not seeing anything he turned around and pointed at himself.
“Are you referring to me?”
Ahouizotl slapped his face and pulled it down his long snoot. “Of course I’m talking about you!” he pointed an accusing finger at Arron.
“It talks,” Daring Do said. “And its bigger than Ahouizotl!”
The warrior ponies exchanged several worried glances and the smaller hench cats bolted for the safety of the jungle.
Midnight got to her belly and covered her muzzle with her hooves. No, no, no, Arron don’t get involved with this you don’t stand a chance against Ahouizotl!
“Gah!” Ahouizotl cried. “I don’t care what you are! Get it!” He ordered the warrior ponies and the bigger hench cats to attack.
Arron frowned. It’ll be your funeral; he thought un-slinging his AR using his thumb to click off the safety he aimed at one of the warrior ponies who was drawing his bow. He squeezed the trigger and a five point five six millimeter projectile hit the pony between the eyes. The pony’s magic faded and he collapsed to the earth along with his bow.
If the sound didn’t scare the rest of Ahouizotl’s crew the sight of the dead pony did. They all fled into the jungle in different directions.
Ahouizotl cried out. “You cowards!” He took out two great axes. “I don’t know what you are, nor do I know what kind of magic you’re using, but I don’t care! Your life ends here and after I finish with you, I’ll be taking care of Daring Do!”
“Whatever,” Arron rolled his eyes and aimed at the now charging dog ape creature, “Good bye,” he pulled the trigger again, the report was deafening.
Ahouizotl abruptly stopped, he dropped both of his axes and with a bewildered expression he looked down at a bleeding hole in his chest. He placed his hand on the crimson liquid then brought it to his nose to sniff it and get a closer look.
This isn’t right, he thought. This is…
Ahouizotl’s thoughts were interrupted when another bullet struck him. He looked up at Arron before falling over backwards. Arron walked over to the fallen being.
“Pitiful creature,” he slung his rifle behind his back. “It is not wise to attack a man on a mission from god.” Arron knelt down over Ahouizotl. “And shepherds we shall be, for thee my lord for thee, Power hath descended forth from Thy hand. Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy Commands, so we shall flow a river forth unto Thee and teeming with souls shall it ever be.” he drew his Sig from its holster; leveling it on Ahouizotl’s head he squeezed the trigger twice. Ahouizotl’s head lolled to the left his eyes faded to white before they closed for the last time. Arron crossed himself. “In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti”
Placing his Sig back in its holster he walked over to Daring Do who was staring at him wide eyed, her mouth hung agape and she looked as though she wanted to scream or say something, but all speech died and could not escape.
Arron looked her over, she doesn’t look too banged up, he thought taking his ballisong out of his cargo pocket.
Daring Do squirmed a bit and stared at the knife when Arron flipped it open. Her eyes were glued to the edge that got ever closer to her, then the ropes that bound her were cut and with a flick of the wrist the blade was gone, with the blade safely back inside the hilt Arron slid the knife into his cargo pants pocket. After readjusting his rifle so he could pick up his backpack Midnight emerged from her hiding place and trotted over to him.
Midnight looked at the corpse, “Are you going to bury him like you did with the diamond dogs?”
Arron took a deep breath and shook his head. “No, unlike the diamond dogs who were living the best they knew how, Ahouizotl was entirely evil, he deserves neither honor nor respect. As bad as they were, I don’t think that the diamond dogs would have tied you up like they did if you hadn’t tried to run away, though slavery is still wrong, from what you’ve told me they at least fed you and tried to take care of you.”
“You’re right,” Midnight sighed, rubbing a leg with her hoof. “Even the diamond dogs were afraid of Ahouizotl.” She looked back up at Arron who was frowning. “What was that you were saying before you killed him?”
Arron placed a hand on top of her head. “That was a prayer from a movie about two vigilante brothers who would kill evil people,” he sighed. “They made a sequel, but it wasn’t nearly as good as the original.”
Arron and Midnight walked side by side, the pony was listening to Arron’s tales about the movies he saw where the good guys would triumph over the bad.
Daring Do watched in awe, a black unicorn with snow white mane emerged from the edge of the jungle. She was in complete disbelief when the unicorn trotted up to the giant and was happily talking with it.
The giant seemed disappointed at first, but when the unicorn started talking the giant cheered up. They were both smiling despite the carnage he had created. When the pair were far enough away Daring Do jumped down off the slab she picked up one of the ropes the giant had cut. The rope was cleanly severed.
That knife must have been super sharp, she thought dropping the rope and trotting over to the fallen form of Ahouizotl.
Daring Do carefully unfolded her wings, but winced by the pain in her right one. Damn, its still sprained when I flew into that ambush. So I won’t be flying for a while. She shivered when she looked at the scene she cautiously trotted over to Ahouizotl’s body, he killed him, Daring Do shook her head a few times. I mean he’s really gone… does that mean I don’t have to keep saving the land from his evil? The thought made her sit down and lower her head. What do I do now? When Caballeron finds out that Ahouizotl is dead… what will he do with no one to buy his stolen artifacts, will he retire? Should I retire? Can I really go back to being a normal Pegasus? And without any artifacts to keep out of Ahouizotl’s hands I won’t even be able to write about it. If I don’t need go on any more adventures I can’t publish any more Daring Do books.
She raised her head and looked where the giant and unicorn went. Then again, he’s far more dangerous than Ahouizotl ever was. And that unicorn might be under a spell of some kind! I need to help her!
Daring Do galloped passed the stone slab biting down on the rim of her fallen hat as she passed by, she flipped it over so it was back on top her head, then she sped up to catch up to the unorthodox pair.