//------------------------------// // Secrets // Story: Daring Do and the search for the Winter Pearl // by DemonWriterX //------------------------------// “SECRETS” It was dusk and the rest of the couples had gone back to their rooms for the night, except for one. There was a bar at the end of the dining room which Ahuizotl noticed when he saw Blanco, drowning his sorrows with alcohol for the past two days. At first, Ahuizotl just ignored him as he thought his existence was now meaningless since his job on delivering the pearl was finished. But, once Daring and Ahuizotl realized that Petite could not have been the one in charge, they decided to go to Blanco and find out the truth. Ahuizotl maneuvered himself on top of the ceiling. His large nails digging into the roof as he stealthily moved along until he was right on top of the disheveled Blanco. He had mountains of glass shot glasses around him and had his chin on the table, obviously too depressed to go back to his room. Ahuizotl scanned the room and watched the bartender go into the employee’s kitchen. Ahuiztol slowly reached down with his tail and snatched the white unicorn. Blanco immediately let out a yelp but Ahuiztol clamped his muzzle shut with his fingers. He climbed quickly along the sides of the building, avoiding the windows and being seen by the guards. Ahuizotl tossed Blanco against the rooftop. The white unicorn shook his head and stumbled to his hooves, ready to fight. Unfortunately a lasso fell right on top of him, he was spun around, the rope twisting around his body and forced to the ground. Blanco’s horn immediately glowed blue making Ahuizotl place a horn lock over it. It was a metal plate used by the guards of Maris to take in unruly unicorns and Ahuizotl managed to steal one. “Let me go!” Blanco roared. “Who dares do this to me?” He shouted, violently struggling against the rope. Daring tightened the rope with a harsh tug. “Now, calm down!” She commanded. “Or else we are going to have a bad time together…” Blanco glared in the darkness and saw Daring Do come into view, instantly recognizing her from her pith helmet and camo gear. He let out a gruff. “Daring Do...I see you have finally tracked me down. How is your side?” He remarked with a knowing grin. His muzzle was immediately slammed against the roof by Ahuizotl’s hand tail. Blanco spat out blood and turned to see Ahuizotl glowing dangerously at him. “Remember me?” Ahuizotl said with a low voice. Blanco smirked through his bleeding mouth. “I see you are walking, hmm usually when I attacked, the victim takes weeks before they could walk again...I sense you know a bit about that, Daring Do?” Daring tossed the rope down. “It's not that hard to figure out pressure points. All it takes is an anatomy book.” She tapped against the metal helmet on Blanco’s head. “Comfy?” Blanco’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?” Daring flicked her mane back and rolled her eyes. “Please, like you don’t know...how about the winter pearl?” “And who you work for.” Ahuizotl growled when he walked besides Daring. Blanco let out a snort. “Sorry, thief and boss-conventionality. You understand me, don’t you Ahuizotl?” Ahuizotl response was snatching Blanco from his hind legs and dangling him over the edge of the building. Blanco’s eyes widened from the height and without his horn, he couldn’t teleport to safety. Daring rushed forward in sudden fear for Blanco’s life. “I understand I don’t have much patience.” Ahuizotl said darkly, giving the unicorn a shake. “And you know all about my temper, Monsieur Blanco.” “Y-You are bluffing!” Blanco shouted, his eyes fell on Daring Do. “You can’t just stand aside and let him do this!” Daring’s eyes glanced over to Ahuizotl, but his eyes were staring straight at Blanco with a stern and serious gaze. She knows about Ahuizotl’s cruelty, especially to his own tribe members who refuse to follow his orders and about the times he had left her in a sinking temple and deadly trap. But, she felt this was different. She let out a bored sigh and leaned against the brick layering. “I don’t know, after you sucker punched me back at the temple and stole the winter pearl from me, I’m kinda considering it…” Blanco began to sweat. “Y-you cannot be serious!” Daring turned her head away from Blanco to polish her helmet. “Well, think about it this way...you just gave away a powerful artifact that could plunge Equestria into non-stop winter to a dangerous buyer. If you don’t tell us who it is, than I could just walk away and grab a drink by the bar….” She gave Blanco a small smile when she leaned forward. “Any suggestions?” She asked batting her eyes at him. Blanco gulped and looked down. Ahuizotl let out a small hum. “My arm is getting a bit tired, Miss Do and it seems Blanco made his choice.” Daring sat down and ran her hoof along the brick wall, a small pout forming. “I guess you are right, Mister Ahuizotl.” She turned away and motioned her hoof at Blanco. “Just toss the guy and we can go get a drink.” Ahuizotl grinned and made a motion with his arm, making Blanco scream out. “Alright! Alight! I’ll tell you!” Blanco was tossed back onto the roof, he let out a grunt from having the air knocked out of him. Ahuizotl crossed his arms while he watched Daring circle around Blanco like a predator to his prey. He chuckled softly at the sight of her. “I was contacted by Petite’s assistant, Neve, to get the winter pearl for Petite and for his Museum.” Daring let out a scoff at Blanco’s answer. “You can’t honestly think that Petite only wanted the pearl just to display it in his museum.” Daring said with a snap of her teeth. She was losing her patience with the unicorn. “And what about the ponies invited to this place? Something is not right about that.” “L-Look, Miss Do...I just got paid a mountain of bits from Petite to get the pearl and to escort the aristocrats here. I was told by Neve that Petite wanted only the pure couples and to get rid of the rest who were unfaithful. It was a strange request but I got paid! Handsomely! No doubt.” Daring’s brow arch. “Pure?” “Yes, yes.” Blanco nodded. “Petite is a fan of faithful romances, he only wanted to bring the best aristocrats here to promote his museum. If you are doubtful of me, go ask Neve! He told me so himself!” Daring glanced up at Ahuizotl, who gave her a nod. They have gotten all the information needed from Blanco. Daring suspected that Blanco was kept out of the loop from the real plan for the pearl. She thought Petite couldn’t have known about its power but she was wrong. She would have to talk to Neve, the nervous pony must know about Petite’s true plan and action for the pearl. Daring gave Blanco a pat of the head, making him scowl at her. “Thank you so much for your time. Anything else you want to say?” She asked and Blanco gave her a glare. She clicked her tongue and motioned her hoof back to Ahuizotl. “Okay...how about to him?” Blanco let out a short series of curses towards Daring. She laughed loudly at him and banged on his helmet. “I don’t think so!” She sang. “Better hurry, it’s getting late and I am so tired. Ahuizotl on the other hoof seems like he’s ready to take you away...and between you and me, he is still pretty mad when you paralyzed him. He might want to get even.” She gave out a short “Shhhh” in between her teeth, showing him a painful expression. “I might see you again in a wheelchair.” “Alright! You little witch!” Blanco yelled. Daring gave him a smirk as Ahuizotl was silently laughing behind him. “There is one small thing. Petite wanted to make sure everypony was as pure as they were when they arrived. There is a pink drink you should avoid.” Daring eyes widened and whirled to Ahuizotl, who also looked at her in shock. “It is almost like a love potion but instead of “falling in love”, it makes the ponies who drink it either lust for their partner or avoid them. It is very potent…” “L-lust?” Daring repeated, clutching her head. She felt the ground sway from underneath her. “Yes, depending how much you drink it...just earlier today, a couple split up after they consumed one glass of the drink.” Ahuizotl covered his mouth feeling his stomach lurch from the revelation. The bottle from the gift basket, it was filled with the powerful potion and during their recent conversation with Petite. He had a glass. He covered his eyes and closed them tightly, is that the reason why he is infatuated with Daring Do? He was under a spell. The night before, they were under a spell. None of what happened was real.