//------------------------------// // A New Friend // Story: Daring Do And The Pegasus Pendant // by Sonic The Pony //------------------------------// Thanks to everypony who has read this so far. Thanks to Prince Luna for help with naming and assistance with the story. Two days later, Daring Do was perched high amongst the jungle trees, peering through the camouflaged binoculars at Ahuitzotl's house on a baron, desolate island. Do could see the mote crawling with hidden creatures lurking in it's depths. She could see the barbed wire coiled hastily around the solid brick wall. She could taste Death's scent in the humid air. Zooming in to get a better look, Do found that the windows were tinted so she couldn't plan anything from here. She would have to improvise one whilst exploring. Now she had to find a way in. The entrance was too heavily guarded, so the only other way was the roof, assuming that there was an entrance there. She took off, spreading her tanned wings out as she glided towards the roof. Seeing a trapdoor, Do opened it and peered into blackness. She dived head first into it. She gasped as a foul, moist stench pierced her nose. Before her lay a pony who's light brown coat was barely visible as it was covered in - blood. His wings were bent and crooked and he looked in agony. Do ran over to the unconscious stallion as he stirred in his sleep. "Wake up!" She pleaded. The pegasus woke suddenly, as if Do had just shouted in his ear. His eyes widened at the sight of her. "It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you," she said. Do tried to smile warmly, but the pony seemed to get the wrong impression. Backing away, he tripped over his arm and yelped with pain. Do rushed over to him and carefully took his injured arm, wrapping it gently in a bandage she found in her bag. He winced slightly as she covered a gaping wound that was seeping blood, but he seemed to have calmed down. He sat there while she cleaned out his wounds and watched her. "Thanks," the pony said quietly when she had finished. Do examined the pony, who's long, matted mane was probably chocolate brown under the splashes of blood. His hazel-brown eyes twinkled at her as if tears were welling up and his telescope cutie-mark was barely visible under the musky darkness of the prison-like room. His lighter-brown coated body quivered and shivered in fear of the new stranger, still somewhat suspicious of her. Extending a hoof, she said, "No probs. I'm Daring Do." "I'm Stellar Spike ," he smiled, taking her hoof more confidently now. He could sense that she was a friend, not a foe. "Mind if I call you Stell?" "Sure," he grinned. "What happened to you? Is Ahuitzotl holding you prisoner for something?" Stell hesitated before answering. "Yeah." Do glared into his innocent, hazel, inquisitive eyes. He was hiding something from her. "Okay, I'm on a mission to take this thing from Ahuitzotl that he took from me called the Pegasus Pendant. It's like... err -" "A weapon?" Stell asked. "Yeah," Do replied, "how do you know?" "Because I know what it is," he said with a sly smile. "And I overheard him raging at it." Do narrowed her violet eyes. "Raging?" "Yeah. He can't manipulate it because he isn't a pegasus; only pegasi can wield the weapon. I assume that's why he was angry." Despite his innocent smile, she didn't trust this pegasus. But maybe he could help... "I don't suppose you know where Ahuitzotl's keeping it, do you?" "Probably in his bedroom, still lying in some jewelled chest." "Hey, Stell... Er, would you like to err, help me find it?" Do sighed to herself. She always worked alone, always! But she had to admit to herself that with the place so heavily guarded that even she couldn't do it herself. "Sure!" He smiled. "How long have you been here, Stell ?" "Ever since he found out about the Pendant. He kept me prisoner here to get information out of me." "Did you tell him anything?" Do asked eagerly. "No. He beat me until I was drenched with my own blood." Do wasn't the kind of pony who took pity on others, but she had to give him some kind of sympathy. "How about you come with me once I escape with the Pendant? Do you have a home?" He sad eyes suddenly lit up with joy. "Seriously? I can come with you?" "Err..." That had not been what Do had meant, but she didn't see why not. "Sure," she sighed. Without warning Stell wrapped his hooves around her excitedly, thanking her. Do wasn't used to being hugged by anypony, let alone a boy! She didn't know how to respond, but after a few hesitant seconds she embraced him back. They broke apart and looked awkwardly at each other. "So, Stell, let's go!" Keeping close to the shadows of the walls, Stell leading the way. After several minutes, they heard a rough growl from behind them. Poised as if to leap were two snarling tigers, white teeth bared and gleaming like the Sun's deathly rays. Do leapt to the side to avoid dagger-like claws that tore at the air beside her. She glanced at Stell who was wrapped up in his own fight with the other tiger. Do whipped out her dagger and somersaulted over another swipe, landing gracefully behind it. The tiger span around, wildly slashing it's claws at her. She cursed as blood seeped through a fresh, gaping gash in her chest. The tiger growled, as if grinning an evil smile at her. Once again it leapt, but Do was ready; she countered the attack by grabbing the beasts paw in mid-air, ducked beneath it's swipe and lunged the blade deep into it's heart. "DO!" Stell screamed. She span around, expecting to see him being wrestled by a tiger three times his size. She was wrong. She had a split second to see an eight foot tiger tearing at her with desire in it's eyes. Next thing she knew, she was on the floor, being knocked over by Stell who was now slashing at the tiger with her own ruby-encrusted dagger. Do jumped up and sprang at the beast with her rope, encasing it in coils. "Quick! Finish it of!" The beast was shaking madly in attempt to free itself. "I- I... can't." The dagger clattered to the floor. Was he really too scared to kill? Do threw the rope to Stell who caught it. Then she scooped up the blade and drove it into the tiger's upper chest. She let go of the dagger. She had to find some bandages soon, otherwise she would bleed to death. She was getting faint too, and could feel her temperature plummet. After a few moments of panting, Stell said, "Sorry," and Do could see him going red. "It's okay. It doesn't matter if you're scared to kill something." She tried to smile, but failed. "No, it's not that. It's this." And he drove the blade into her chest.